News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Committee Shelves Barney Allis Plaza Rebuild Plan, Endorses Short-Term Fix
(Updated July 9, 2020. An effort to revive the planning process for redeveloping Barney Allis Plaza failed Wednesday when the Finance Committee split 3-3 on a motion by Councilwoman Heather Hall to have the matter brought back to the Council. Committee members Hall, Katheryn Shields and Melissa Robins voted in favor of reviving the issue….
Doing Our Doody To Combat COVID
Kansas researchers believe analyses of wastewater can help health authorities track the prevalence of the coronavirus.
Pandemic Forces Food Chain Reaction By Small Farmers
The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing small farmers to rethink the food chain to connect their products with customers.
Pioneering Daycare for Kids with Weakened Immunity Close to Start
By Kevin Collison Construction is expected to begin this September on what’s being described as the nation’s first licensed day care center for children with weakened immune systems in a rent-free building near Hospital Hill. The RJ Children’s Haven project at 2924 Cherry St. has been in the works for two years, and developers and…
Seeking Opportunity in Unlikely Zones
Flatland is exploring the implementation of Opportunity Zones in the Kansas City area, on both sides of the state line, and tracing their impact.
Downtown Food Drive Launched to Help During Covid Crisis
The Downtown Council Community Improvement District is collecting food donations throughout May to help replenish smaller food pantries serving families and individuals affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The FEED KC program allows donors, either downtown businesses or residents, to text the Ambassadors of the Downtown CID who’ll then come to their location and pick up…
A Good-Hearted Artist Meets His Moment During Pandemic
Kar Woo, founder of Artists Helping the Homeless, has thrown himself into meeting the mounting needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Grip of Pandemic, Kansas Meatpacking Workers Say ‘We’re Right Next To Each Other’
Workers in Kansas meatpacking plants are worried that precautions now being taken aren’t enough to slow the rapid spread of the coronavirus.
Nick’s Picks: Reopening Week Comes With Many Questions
A new month comes with new questions about how to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kansas City Symphony’s ‘Celebration at the Station’ Pivots to Broadcast
“Celebration at the Station,” the Midwest’s largest free Memorial Day weekend concert, will shift from an outdoor concert to a television broadcast this year.