News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Rightfully Sewn Expands in Crossroads; Grocery Plan Falls Through
By Kevin Collison Rightfully Sewn, a non-profit seamstress training and apparel manufacturer, is substantially expanding its Crossroads space and hiring more people thanks to a pair of big new garment contracts. The expansion however, signals that plans for a gourmet grocery and wine store at the northeast corner of 18th and Wyandotte have fallen through….
Nick’s Picks | Mask Mandates, Vaccine Supplies and Medicaid Expansion
Nick Haines provides an early look at the news for the upcoming week in Kansas City.
Italian Gardens Pizza Revives Memories in East Crossroads
By Kevin Collison It’s off the beaten path, tucked in a still gritty industrial corner of the East Crossroads next to Tension Envelope, but once you spot the bright Italian colors emblazoned on the cinder-block building, your taste buds will remember the way. “Once people find us, they know where we are,” said John David…
Grain Belt Transmission Line Forges Ahead Amid Landowner, Lawmaker Pushback
Kansas and Missouri residents could soon reap the benefits of Grain Belt Express, a massive high-powered transmission line delivering renewable energy.
Downtown Apartment Plans Totaling $412M Filed Before New City Incentive Deadline
By Kevin Collison City Hall’s deadline before tighter tax incentive policies took effect prompted a final batch of applications for several downtown apartment proposals totaling 1,200 units, the largest a $254 million development at 15th and Main. The biggest proposal was submitted by an entity called Sky Real Estate LLC. It calls for a 506-unit…
Rural Johnson Countians Pay the Price of Progress at the Edge(rton)
Edgerton, Kansas, is on track to approve Northpoint Development’s proposal to expand Logistics Park Kansas City, despite resistance from nearby rural residents.
More High School Seniors Are Hesitating About College
The pandemic has disrupted the normal pipeline for college admissions. It’s all starting to show up in data that could spell trouble for the future of higher education.
New BLU HWY Restaurant Follows Back Roads and Streetcar Expansion
By Kevin Collison James Taylor’s new restaurant concept, BLU HWY at 51 Main, packs a lot of traveling metaphors from the back roads of America to locating near the last stop of the streetcar expansion at UMKC. “It’s an American culinary road trip based off several concepts I’ve had,” he said. “It’s elevated road trip…
Nick’s Picks | Snow Day, Earth Day and the Rest of the Week’s News
Nick Haines’ weekly news forecast includes a snow day, Earth Day, the Academy Awards and preparations for any protests in the wake of the Derek Chauvin trial.
Torn Label Opening ‘Public House,’ Tripling Size, Adding Food
By Kevin Collison Torn Label is joining the recent wave of microbrewery expansions in the East Crossroads with plans to open the Torn Label Public House by the end of this month. The microbrewery at 1708 Campbell that began operation in late 2014 is more than tripling the space of its original tap room and…