FEATURED STORY
Kansas City’s new Ferris wheel didn’t get tax breaks — but the surrounding entertainment district might
Some Northland bus lines shut down as Kansas City moves away from subsidizing suburban transit
Bus routes go away in Gladstone on Sept.1. To keep the existing RideKC bus lines going, the city faced a bill rocketing up 400%. Instead, Gladstone decided to dump the service — like other parts of the Northland — and shift to a patchwork where riders hop from Uber-like cars for short hauls to buses…
The zoning dispute that has Prairie Village warring with itself over housing
The tension runs high at Prairie Village City Hall these days.
Earlier this month, amid high-stakes debates over whether to squeeze more housing into the leafy Johnson County suburb, a group fighting against possible zoning changes took particular offense to cutting off public comment.
High-fee crypto ATMs center around low-income parts of Kansas City
Finance professor Jocelyn Evans first encountered a cryptocurrency ATM on the way to talk about financial education with students last fall. Evans stopped at a gas station on her way to Sumner Academy in Kansas City, Kansas. She came across the machine with the word “BITCOIN” on the screen. Store staffers weren’t familiar with the…
Kansas taxpayers — not casinos — are underwriting ‘free’ sports bets that entice gamblers
Kansas taxpayers subsidize the millions of dollars nationwide sports gambling apps hand out to bettors for their initial wagers that get them in the habit of gambling. The new sports betting industry also makes hardly any revenue for the state, amounting to a small drop in the bucket of the state’s multi-billion dollar operating budget.…
Kansans can lose big on sports betting with a single click. Experts want more protections
Online sports betting poses a heightened danger of addiction to Kansans. The new industry makes it legal and easier to place bets on things ranging from the outcome of games to the coin toss during the Super Bowl.
Missouri’s secretary of state reins in environmentally minded investing
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft says his rule is the first of its kind, placing Missouri on the cutting edge of how some states might think about regulating ESG, or “environmental, social and governance,” investing. The practice takes into account social concerns and personal beliefs.
Student loan freeze set to end, threatening financial burden for borrowers
As a first-generation college student, Becky Divine’s family encouraged her to pursue higher education. To do so, she had to take out student loans before graduating from Metro Business College in 2012. As a massage therapist, Divine’s work was ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. That, combined with the death of her partner in 2019 that…
Do major sporting events like the NFL Draft actually increase sex trafficking? The answer is complicated.
Amid the excitement over Kansas City hosting the 2023 NFL Draft and the sizable economic bump that could accompany the three days of festivities, a few people are concerned about an uptick in an unwanted money-making enterprise — the selling of sexual services. “Anytime you get a large sporting event, the World Series, the Super…
FAQ: What you need to know about the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City
Kansas City is down to the final details of its ambitious effort to host this year’s NFL Draft, an event that is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to its main downtown site and other events around the area for three days beginning April 27. A giant stage is under construction in front…
Jackson County anticipates a 30% increase in property values this year
For three weeks, staffers in the Jackson County assessment department have been on a tour. Their venues: packed rooms in public libraries and community centers. Their audience: homeowners with lots of questions about their property taxes.
With notices of property value assessments expected any time, anxiety among residential property owners is rising. For at least…
FAQ: What you need to know about Kansas City’s new airport
Nearly one month has passed since the opening of the new terminal at Kansas City International Airport, and visitors still seem dazzled as they browse in shops and admire the art in the airy shopping nodes, with the aromas of barbecue and Brazilian dishes drifting from the many restaurants situated around the two concourses.
Since…
As Royals look to build a new $2 billion stadium, Kansas City service workers want to see employee protections
Bill Thompson cooks at a fast-food restaurant, shares a car with his wife and helps care for an older family member. He’s got a lot to manage, but Thompson has found time to attend “listening sessions” that the Kansas City Royals have organized to discuss plans for a new downtown ballpark. “We want to have…
What does the NFL Draft mean for Kansas City?
Kansas City will host the 2023 National Football League Draft, an extravaganza that organizers predict will draw more visitors than any single event in the city’s history. The three-day event, from April 27 to April 29, will take place in the area around Union Station and the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Described…
Driving while poor: Project GreenLight wants to help drivers reinstate their licenses
In a city like Kansas City, car ownership is rarely a choice. For decades, the city has been planned around driving. Walkable neighborhoods are scarce, sidewalks are crumbling or nonexistent in some areas of the city, and access to public transportation can be spotty. But owning a car is not cheap — or easy. From…
Breaking down the new KCI terminal’s $1.5 billion budget
The opening date for Kansas City’s new airport terminal is Feb. 28, and the public will get the chance to see the city’s costliest infrastructure project at an open house on Feb. 18. Serious conversation about a new terminal began a little less than a decade ago, and the road to the terminal’s opening has…
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