News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Trucking Careers Offer Quick Training, Good Money In Kansas City — And Beyond
Believe it or not, there is a high-demand job out there with a starting salary of as much as $45,000 a year that requires as little as four weeks of training. The job is truck driving, and there are hundreds of thousands of available positions right now for trained drivers around the country, according to…
Olathe High School Students Learning ‘Magic’ of Welding
Gary Pommier is a veteran welder, but the process of heating and melding metal continues to amaze him to this day. “I have been around welding my entire life,” he said, “and it is still magic. When you make a good weld, it is a matter of pride.” Pommier is passing along that passion to…
Chances Social Completes STRETCH’s Entertainment District
By Kevin Collison Chances Social opens Sunday at 419 E. 18th St., and owner STRETCH views his new coffee shop and bar as the last ingredient in the homegrown, East Crossroads entertainment district he started 15 years ago with Grinders. “Grinders is known as a dive bar with good cocktails,” he said. “This will be…
Neighborhood Champion: Julie Boye
They do it for no pay and little fanfare. Who are they? They are the neighborhood leaders who fight to improve some of the most distressed neighborhoods on the East Side of Kansas City, Missouri. These are the men and women who advocate for better housing, less crime, and more economic opportunity. Through its coverage…
New Westport Master Plan Calls for Shorter Buildings, Wider Sidewalks
By Kevin Collison A new master plan intended to guide the future development of Westport over the next 20 years proposes height restrictions along its primary streets, wider sidewalks and potential historic designations for nearby neighborhoods. The Westport District Master Plan is in response to concerns two years ago over two large apartment proposals and…
Liberty Memorial and World War I Museum Salute Memorial Day
Downtown Kansas City is the place to commemorate Memorial Day activities this weekend with the World War I Museum offering half price admission and the KC Symphony performing its annual outdoor concert at Union Station Sunday. “During Memorial Day weekend, it’s important for people to spend time recognizing and honoring those who made the ultimate…
Mildred’s Original Downtown Spot Shifts to More Visible Quarters
By Kevin Collison Most people associate Mildred’s, the popular cafe and coffee shop, with the Crossroads Arts District. But did you know there’s another Mildred’s in downtown, one that predates the Crossroads location at 19th and Wyandotte by almost a decade? That’s why Mildred’s is relocating from the lobby of the Ten Main Center building…
What’s The Story Behind That Shiny Spire In Independence, Missouri?
Like many Metropolitan-area residents, Valorie Wells Fenton has driven by the silver spire that corkscrews skyward in Independence, Missouri. She heard it’s the place Mormons expect Jesus to return and wondered if the site may be to Mormons like the Vatican is to Catholics. After talking with family and friends about the church, she realized…
$95M Crossroads Apartment Proposal Clears First Hurdle, Challenges Remain
Updated June 28: The Kansas City Council approved the TIF amendment that will allow tax incentives to help build the project’s garage at its meeting Thursday. Renderings of the Track 215 project also were furnished by staff. The next step is seeking a property tax abatement from Port KC) By Kevin Collison Backers of a…
New Headquarters Marks Another Turning Point For KCK’s Youthfront
Over its 75-plus years, Youthfront, a Christian ministry that supports youth pastors and offers summer camps and other programs for young people, has made several key transitions. And now it’s changing locations. Well, slightly. The organization’s 38 full-time staff members are moving into new headquarters at 4600 Rainbow Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas, and preparing…