News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Lux’s Big Downtown Apartment-Hotel Tower Seeks $34.1M in Incentives
By Kevin Collison Lux Living’s big apartment and hotel proposal at 14th and Wyandotte now has a price tag and public ask. The 27-story tower would cost an estimate $194.5 million and is seeking a $34.1 million tax incentive package. It includes asking for a 20-year property tax reduction, according to documents filed with a…
Nick’s Picks | Kansas City Braces for ‘Extreme Heat Warning’
The National Weather Service has issued an “extreme heat warning for Kansas City. Expect as many as five 100-degree days over the next week.
Plaza Area Council Now Official, Plans to Boost District’s Next Century
(Editor’s note: This article originally was published Jan. 11, 2023) By Kevin Collison A new civic effort to shepherd the Country Club Plaza and environs into its second 100 years has organized as a nonprofit, and plans to hire staff and begin pursuing its goals by the end of the year. What’s called the Plaza…
KC Artist Marks Civil Rights Victory with Brown v. Board of Education Mural
Michael Toombs’ mural marking the U.S. Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling greets visitors at the Washburn University School of Law Building.
City Manager Outlines Big Downtown Agenda at Three Light Event
(Editor’s note: This article originally was published March 22, 2023) By Kevin Collison They were topping off the $140 million Three Light project Tuesday, but big downtown investments are far from over, according to City Manager Brian Platt. In a wide-ranging interview following the ceremony for the 26-story apartment project scheduled to open in September,…
Missouri Cattle Producers Slash Herds Amid Worsening Drought
The worsening drought in Missouri is forcing livestock producers to sell off their cattle herds, decisions that will be felt at the supermarket cash register.
Lawrence Follows KC in Becoming a Transgender Safe Haven
Lawrence City Commission has passed an ordinance declaring the city a transgender safe haven, following a similar step taken by Kansas City in May.
Wolfepack BBQ Sets Up Smoker in Columbus Park
(Editor’s note: This article originally was published Jan. 12, 2023) By Kevin Collison A well-known Columbus Park landmark is reopening this spring as Wolfepack BBQ and its owners first order of business is soothing the neighborhood indigestion caused by its previous operator. “We want to have a neighborhood welcoming day to start things off on…
Waldo and Plaza-area Projects Push for Port KC Tax Breaks
The Port Authority of Kansas City is considering tax breaks for two housing proposals in Waldo and near the Country Club Plaza that are drawing criticism.
The Way We Were: Mapping Historic Landmarks in Kansas City
Kansas City has about 300 landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places, and more than 100 on its local Register of Historic Places. Check the maps.