News & Issues

Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.

First Friday Hopes to Create New Tradition with Alley Art

By Kevin Collison After hitting the reset button last month, this week’s First Friday in the Crossroads is returning art vendors to the mix in what organizers hope will become a new tradition. “We’re going to have all the art vendors in some of our cool alleyways,” said Jeff Owens, president of the Crossroads Community…

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Firefighter training students at the Fort Osage Career & Technical Center.

“American Graduate: Getting To Work” Sparking Firefighter Careers

The “American Graduate: Getting to Work” series visits the firefighter training program at Fort Osage Career & Technical Center.

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Mildred’s New Central Downtown Location Now Open on Baltimore

By Kevin Collison Mildred’s has opened at 908 Baltimore, leaving its original location inside the Ten Main Center office tower for a more visible, pedestrian-friendly spot in the old La Rue Building. The popular coffee shop and cafe originally started downtown in Ten Main long before it opened its better-known second location in the Crossroads…

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Picture of Zero Reasons Why rally.

Suicide-Prevention Specialists Urge Parents To Safely Store Guns, Ammo

Suicide-prevention advocates say access to guns in households with at-risk teenagers is a recipe for disaster.

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Westside Flats Residential Development Nearing Completion

By Kevin Collison Westside Flats, a $10 million, 33-unit residential project at 17th and Madison, is nearing completion after a larger plan was dropped three years ago because of neighborhood criticism. “We are excited to be part of the community and neighborhood,” said Austin Bradley, vice president of development for EPC Real Estate. “It’s been…

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Pirate’s Bone Burger ‘Plants’ its Flag in Crossroads

(Editor’s note: this story originally appeared Sept. 27, 2019, it’s part of an occasional reminder of businesses that have opened along the streetcar line) By Kevin Collison Pirate’s Bone Burger, the newly-opened Crossroads diner, has nothing to do with pirates, definitely not bones, and when it comes to burgers, don’t go in expecting a greasy…

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Retiring City Manager Troy Schulte Reflects on Downtown’s Revival and Future

(Editor’s note: City Manager Troy Schulte announced this week he plans to retire in February after serving 10 years in the job. He was given an opportunity to speak to the Downtown Council’s 3rd Annual Office Summit Wednesday. Schulte reflected on what’s been accomplished downtown during his tenure and what he’d like to see moving…

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Kansas City skyline

Want To Know 10 Interesting Factoids About The KC Metro?

The U.S. Census Bureau has released its American Community Survey, which updates many revealing statistics about the Kansas City area.

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Sponsored Post: Kansas City – Not Silicon Valley – Can Define Workplace Design

The following article was produced and paid for by Helix Architecture + Design: The open office debate, catalyzed by a (perhaps infamous)​ ​Washington Post piece​, has made headlines for more than five years. Often seen as a trademark of the tech industry, the open office has been broadly implemented to varying degrees of success. It…

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The plan to extend the KC Streetcar to the riverfront using the Grand Boulevard viaduct also includes building a parallel pedestrian/bike bridge.

Port KC Steams Ahead on Riverfront Projects, Charts New Boundaries

By Kevin Collison Reviving the riverfront and retreating from providing incentives in what was described as the “central business corridor” were major topics at the Port KC meeting Monday. The board approved supporting a $15 million affordable apartment project planned near Berkley Riverfront Park. The Bridgeside Lofts project planned by Prairie Fire Development is part…

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