News & Issues

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

Folks hold up pink white and blue signs that read "We Are Still Here" at a transgender rights protest in Kansas City.

‘Transas City’: KC Offers Sanctuary Amid Anti-Trans Push 

A loud clatter of skateboards, abandoned by riders grinning at a near wipeout, interrupts conversations among friends and new acquaintances.   It’s the first time Late-Nite Bite, a monthly sober and queer event, has set up shop at Goofball Sk8boards in the Waldo neighborhood of Kansas City, and it’s clearly a success.   Late-Nite Bite…

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2000 Vine Project Nears Completion, Brewery Opening Soon

By Kevin Collison After five years, the developers of 2000 Vine are nearing the finish line of an ambitious historic renovation project that’s now the vanguard of an investment surge occurring in the 18th and Vine District. The renovation of the two, 150 year-old buildings into a blend of office, retail, a restaurant and the…

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Tenants have been meeting to discuss their goals and the lawsuit they plan to join. (Vicky Diaz-Camacho | Flatland KC)

Affordable Housing In Kansas City, At What Cost?

For years, poor living conditions and health issues plagued tenants in an affordable housing complex in Kansas City. Now, tenants are fighting back.

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UMKC Seeks 5,000-Seat Arena, Retail By Streetcar Stop

By Kevin Collison UMKC is pitching a development proposal that would anchor the south end of the new streetcar extension with a 4,000- 5,000 seat arena for sports and cultural events, according to a request for proposals issued Monday. UMKC is asking developers to submit proposals for a project that, while the university would not…

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An electric school bus being assembled at IC Bus in Tulsa.

Electric Vehicle Fleets are Coming on Fast 

The electric vehicle revolution is bringing the battle to throttle climate change and achieve sustainability to unlikely locales in Kansas.

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Boutique Hotel Plan Returns for Historic Building on Grand

By Kevin Collison A proposal to restore the historic Mason Building at 1110 Grand and reopen it as a 35-room boutique hotel has returned, led by a developer with a similar hotel venture in Lincoln, Neb. Nicholas Castaneda, a principal with the 49-room Kindler Hotel in downtown Lincoln, wants to redevelop the distinctive, copper-faced building…

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Members of the Missouri House throw paper into the air to celebrate the end of the 2023 legislative session.

Winners and Losers of Missouri’s 2023 Legislative Session

Just 43 of more than 3,000 non-budget bills introduced during the 2023 session of the Missouri General Assembly passed. Here are the winners and losers.

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Nick Haines

Nick’s Picks | Missouri’s Transgender Restrictions and KC’s Charter Changes

Top stories this week include new Missouri transgender restrictions, possible changes to Kansas City’s charter and graduation for many local students.

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Port KC Seeks Big Project with Public Parking by New Soccer Stadium

By Kevin Collison Port KC is seeking proposals for a big mixed-use development that could add hundreds of apartments, hotel rooms and commercial space to the riverfront, and address its need to provide parking for the new women’s professional soccer stadium. The request for proposals (RFP) is seeking submissions for what’s called Parcel 9, a…

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A mother and two children sitting in the grass.

More People Opting for End of Life Alternatives

Ten states permit end of life via Medical Aid in Dying. Why do patients request to end their lives early, and how do medical providers make sure they mean it?

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