Plan to Cap Freeway Dividing Downtown Wins Strong Fed and Private Support

By Kevin Collison Federal elected officials joined Mayor Quinton Lucas Friday to say they’re confident funding can be arranged to build a four-block park deck over the South Loop. “This is going to be the rare project where we announced it, we talked about it, but you will see shovels in the ground soon,” Lucas…

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Development Agency Ignores City Hall, Rejects $62M River Market Apartment Plan

By Kevin Collison A $62 million River Market apartment project backed by City Hall had its incentive request rejected by the PIEA board Thursday, another casualty of what critics say has become an increasingly chilly development climate in Kansas City. The 246-unit development was proposed three years ago for a public parking lot northeast of…

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Broomsquire Amanda Lee Lazorchack at the entrance of her workshop.

A Broomsquire Walks Among Us

Local artist Amanda Lee Lazorchack makes handcrafted brooms in the ancient way. This is her story.

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Smithville Mayor Damien Boley on a bike path.

‘Ten Years to Save the Planet’: Kansas City Metro’s Small-town Mayors Take Up Climate Fight

Mayors and local officials founded Climate Action KC, and are taking measurable steps to reduce emissions and create healthier communities throughout the Kansas City metro.

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Man in a hat and glasses stands in front of rural l

Grain Belt Express

The midwest has the highest potential for wind energy generation in the US. The Grain Belt Express would transmit wind power from western Kansas through Missouri and Indiana, making renewable energy available for more consumers. However, arguments against the project come from landowners who do not want their land used by private companies, and from…

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Kansas City Southern headquarters with a city-owned parking lot in the foreground.

City Manager Brian Platt Talks About Potential Railroad HQ Expansion, Police

By Kevin Collison City Manager Brian Platt continues his conversation with CityScene KC covering topics including a potential expansion by Kansas City Southern once its merger with Canadian Pacific is concluded, the Buck O’Neil Bridge linear park concept and the police department. Word is Kansas City Southern may expand its downtown presence following its merger…

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Kid holding flower

Weekend Possibilities | Earth Day, Planet Comicon and Snoop Dogg

It’s a busy weekend, from an Earth Day celebration and Planet Comicon, to Midwest Pottery Fest and Record Store Day.

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Man in a hat and glasses stands in front of rural l

Price of Progress: Grain Belt Express Pits Public Benefit and Private Property Rights in Race Against Climate Change

The Grain Belt Express, an 800-mile transmission line that would connect renewable wind energy in Kansas with customers in several states to the east, is facing opposition from landowners in its path.

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City Manager Brian Platt Q & A: ‘Good Progress’ on Decking South Loop

By Kevin Collison City Manager Brian Platt has been on the job 16 months since coming here from Jersey City in December 2020. He recently sat down with CityScene KC at the Rochester Brewing and Coffee in the West Crossroads to talk about greater downtown and other topics including the Kansas City Police Department and…

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Marijuana plants

Time Running Short for Dueling Missouri Marijuana Legalization Efforts

With the end of the legislative session only weeks away, and organizers of an initiative petition campaign sounding the alarm about an even more pressing deadline, dueling efforts to legalize marijuana in Missouri face uncertain fates.

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