News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Jim’s Alley Bar Adds Cozy North Woods Vibe to East Crossroads
By Kevin Collison Jim’s Alley Bar, the new creation by the owner of King G, is about celebrating family roots and chilling in a cozy North Woods-feeling place with an ice cold yard beer served in a koozie. “It’s demographic is totally mixed at this place,” said Eric Flanagan. “We’ve had everyone from an older…
Missouri Lawmakers Vow to Expand Child Care Access. Governor’s Speech May Lay Out the Plan
On Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Mike Parson is expected to lay out his vision for addressing what some legislators have framed as a child care crisis in Missouri.
City Spending $3M for NFL Draft, Big Economic Payoff Expected
(UPDATED Feb. 10 with more details from an NFL press release:) “In partnership with the Kansas City Sports Commission and the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL today released the first renderings of the 2023 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light that will come to life in Kansas City, April 27-29. The league previously announced that…
Local Cable Company Looks Back to the Future: Old Everest Becomes New EverFast
A local cable operator with a new owner hopes to counter the cord cutting trend.
Rail Delivered for Final Stretch of Streetcar Extension on Main
One year after the arrival of its initial rails near Crown Center, the final delivery is underway near UMKC for the steel required to complete the 3.5-mile long streetcar extension on Main Street. Trucks will be delivering the 429 rails necessary to build the southern half of the streetcar route during the next couple weeks,…
Wolfepack BBQ Sets Up Smoker in Columbus Park
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 the right foot,” said co-owner Sam Parker. He and his…
Plaza Area Council Now Official, Plans to Boost District’s Next Century
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 Area Council intends to be an umbrella organization for looking…
New Support Group for Country Club Plaza Takes Shape
A new support group for the Country Club Plaza and its environs has been organized as a nonprofit, and plans to hire staff by the end of the year.
Historic Scarritt Apartment Renovation Plan Advances
By Kevin Collison A $47.5 million plan to renovate the historic Scarritt office tower on Grand Boulevard and its adjoining Arcade into 126 apartments was endorsed for tax incentives Monday by a Port KC committee. The 11-story tower at 818 Grand and its four-story arcade at 819 Walnut are considered among the most attractive historic…
‘This is Do or Die’: Western Kansas Farmers Push to Save the Ogallala Aquifer Before it’s Too Late
After decades of irrigation, the aquifer that makes life possible in dry western Kansas is reaching a critical point. But a new plan could save more of what’s left.