Second of two installments About 16.4 million Americans served during World War II, according to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. Just 66,000 — fewer than one out of every 250 who served – were still alive in 2024. Among those, 1,321 lived in Missouri in 2024, while 352 lived in Kansas.…
First of two installments Consider it an example of just how small two towering global figures could be. The year: 1961. The event: a high-stakes summit that called for discretion and diplomacy, given that two titans on the world stage — Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower — for years had maintained an often-frosty distance from…
Now that there’s a new pope and Kansas City has picked a new city manager, what’s left to report on this week? Here are some newsworthy stories to watch… Missouri Legislative Session Ends Missouri lawmakers are on a sprint to the finish line this week. The legislative session officially ends on Friday. And lawmakers still…
Arrowheads, skinning knives, spearheads pulled from Kansas City fields, and prehistoric woven fibers teased from centuries-cold fire pits sit on the floor of a closed wing of the Wyandotte County Historical Museum. They are now under a year-long review to comply with strict federal guidelines designed to give Native American tribes greater control of the…
3 Big Holidays We’re marking three big holidays this week, none of which qualify you for a day off. Today is Cinco de Mayo. Sunday is Mother’s Day. And Friday is Victory Day, a new holiday declared by President Donald Trump to mark the end of World War II, though the power to create public…
When Carthesa Hutson’s son, Chris, finally got around to getting his driver’s license he was almost 19. She remembers being at the DMV with him when he paused on the application question about becoming an organ donor and looked to her. She told him to follow his heart. “He said, ‘Well, if I’m not here,…
Brace for Severe Weather Be prepared for some bumpy weather today. The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center says damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes are possible. The most severe storm activity is expected north of metro KC, but our local TV meteorologists say the volatile storm path could change quickly. Picking a New Pope…
When Michael Palacio was born 18 years ago this month, he was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, tuberous sclerosis, which causes epilepsy and autism. And Michael now has both. As his parents began to respond to Michael’s needs — and continue to parent Michael’s two older siblings — one issue that arose quickly was…
Remembering Pope Francis It’s going to be a week of mourning as Catholics around the world mark today’s passing of Pope Francis. The Argentinian-born pontiff was 88 years old. Francis’s death triggers a series of rituals and procedures. His papal ring will be destroyed, and his rooms will be sealed. He will lie in state…
Would you want your livelihood to depend on your daughter’s choice of dance escorts? Don’t laugh. Nathan Proctor has heard anecdotes to that effect in his role with PIRG, a Denver-based federation of state-based public interest research groups. Proctor is the senior director of PIRG’s right-to-repair campaign, which aims to break down the barriers that…