News & Issues
Sounding Smarter
The Pentagon is confident that “Jihadi John” a British member of the Islamic State militant group, has been killed today in an air-strike. If nothing else, the strike demonstrates that it’s always a bad idea to use a nickname that starts with “Jihadi.” France’s RTL Radio reports that a formal dinner with French President Francois Hollande and…
A call for help, from the helpers
Holding her daughter Ravaira close to her, Lajua Manning smiles as she looks out the window. A full-time student training to be a registered nurse, Manning, also a full-time mom, has worked full-time as a certified nursing assistant for five years. She says the juggle may be the hardest thing she has ever done. But there’s…
Parents, staff pan KC school district plan for Attucks Elementary
About 80 people attended a Wednesday evening open house hosted by Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS), and a sizeable contingent came with one question: Why Attucks? Staff and parents wanted to know why the district was proposing to close Crispus Attucks Elementary School, located at 2400 Prospect Ave. “What is the district trying to do?”…
Skywalk Memorial Installation
Today’s Skywalk Memorial dedication sought to bring some closure to one of Kansas City’s greatest tragedies, when, on July 17, 1981, two skywalks at the Hyatt Regency hotel collapsed, killing 114 and injuring around 200 people. At the center of the memorial space is a stainless steel sculpture by Kansas City artist Rita Blitt. She spoke with…
UG says no to police body cameras in KCK, for now
Citing high costs and legal unknowns, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County has rejected a federal grant for body cameras for the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department. In the wake of the Ferguson crisis in Missouri, police body cameras have received national attention, and KCMO Mayor Sly James has expressed a desire to bring the…