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KC puts $1M toward new homelessness strategy

City leaders say the flexible fund will help move people experiencing homelessness indoors faster.

News

Kansas City leaders are launching a $1 million <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Housing Gateway Program" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kcmo.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2898/1746" data-vars-content-id="5360b410-406a-4697-bf7a-1ec7b006171d" data-vars-headline="KC puts $1M toward new homelessness strategy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kcmo.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2898/1746" target="_blank">Housing Gateway Program</a> to move people indoors more quickly as homelessness rises.Why it matters: The effort relies on flexible local dollars that aren&#x27;t tied to federal restrictions, giving the city more control over how quickly and where the money is deployed.

Olympic fever packs the ice at KC Curling Club

Nearly 600 people signed up to try curling during the Winter Olympics surge.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Kansas City Curling Club" data-vars-click-url="https://kccurling.com/" data-vars-content-id="8651eaec-21c1-41d4-9a2f-e88329246674" data-vars-headline="Olympic fever packs the ice at KC Curling Club" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kccurling.com/" target="_blank">The Kansas City Curling Club</a> has signed up hundreds of new people to try curling since the Winter Olympics began, flooding its facility with first-timers eager to slide a stone.Why it matters: The club is the only dedicated curling facility within 350 miles of KC, and Olympic buzz is boosting interest in the niche winter sport.

Health coverage hits harder in Kansas than in Missouri

Kansas families spend nearly 10% of income on employer coverage, slightly more than Missouri households.

Health

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Employer health coverage" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/11/charted-health-insurance-coverage-family-income" data-vars-content-id="c429a5f5-7d49-4bd8-aca6-42b912e2a71e" data-vars-headline="Health coverage hits harder in Kansas than in Missouri" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/11/charted-health-insurance-coverage-family-income" target="_self">Employer health coverage</a> eats up nearly one-tenth of a typical family&#x27;s income in both Kansas and Missouri, with Kansas households facing a slightly heavier burden, a new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Commonwealth Fund study" data-vars-click-url="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2026/is-employer-coverage-affordable-how-states-stack-up" data-vars-content-id="c429a5f5-7d49-4bd8-aca6-42b912e2a71e" data-vars-headline="Health coverage hits harder in Kansas than in Missouri" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2026/is-employer-coverage-affordable-how-states-stack-up" target="_blank">Commonwealth Fund study</a> shows.

Fed World Cup funding to pay for officers, drone defense in KC

Kansas City is getting more than $79 million from the federal government.

Kansas City is getting more than $79 million from the federal government for public safety ahead of the World Cup, leaders announced Thursday.Why it matters: Organizers and public officials want to be ready for anything ahead of the city&#x27;s massive fan influx this summer, although leaders say there are no specific threats at this time.

Red envelopes tease new Asian Glow Fest

The City Market is marking the Lunar New Year next Saturday.

Culture

The City Market is marking the start of the Lunar New Year with traditional red envelopes next Saturday — and teasing a new Asian street festival coming to Kansas City next month.The big picture: The envelopes kick off the countdown to the first <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Asian Glow Fest KC" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/events/1257934742949273/1257934749615939" data-vars-content-id="c36c405b-e28d-4a9f-b3d4-aa7f11867b9d" data-vars-headline="Red envelopes tease new Asian Glow Fest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1257934742949273/1257934749615939" target="_blank">Asian Glow Fest KC</a>, an event in March that will gather Kansas Citians in celebration of South Asian culture with food, art, and shopping.

Where to dance salsa like Bad Bunny in Kansas City

The Super Bowl halftime performance included a viral salsa moment with Lady Gaga.

Bad Bunny is in the spotlight even more than usual thanks to a high-energy, dance-heavy <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Super Bowl" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/02/09/super-bowl-lx-takeaways" data-vars-content-id="61797a90-699c-4092-9c9b-956e7133d6e1" data-vars-headline="Where to dance salsa like Bad Bunny in Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/02/09/super-bowl-lx-takeaways" target="_self">Super Bowl</a> halftime performance that included a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="viral salsa moment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUhNeMNAD0d/" data-vars-content-id="61797a90-699c-4092-9c9b-956e7133d6e1" data-vars-headline="Where to dance salsa like Bad Bunny in Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUhNeMNAD0d/" target="_blank">viral salsa moment</a> with Lady Gaga.The big picture: The NFL&#x27;s choice of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bad Bunny sparked controversy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/02/09/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-latino-san-francisco-mission" data-vars-content-id="61797a90-699c-4092-9c9b-956e7133d6e1" data-vars-headline="Where to dance salsa like Bad Bunny in Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/02/09/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-latino-san-francisco-mission" target="_self">Bad Bunny sparked controversy</a>, but the performance leaned into unity — with a live wedding and stars like Pedro Pascal and Jessica Alba <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dancing to salsa" data-vars-click-url="https://www.salsavida.com/news/bad-bunnys-super-bowl-lx-halftime-show-puts-salsa-on-the-biggest-stage-in-america/" data-vars-content-id="61797a90-699c-4092-9c9b-956e7133d6e1" data-vars-headline="Where to dance salsa like Bad Bunny in Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.salsavida.com/news/bad-bunnys-super-bowl-lx-halftime-show-puts-salsa-on-the-biggest-stage-in-america/" target="_blank">dancing to salsa</a> music.

"KC Streetcar Takes" wants your hottest opinions

The new comedy series asks riders to defend their spiciest opinions on board.

A new weekly comedy interview series on the KC Streetcar is built around one question: What&#x27;s your hot take?The big picture: A viral New York show proved that public transit plus strong opinions makes for addictive internet content, and KC now has its own version built for Midwest voices.

Mortality and coffee: Inside KC's Death Cafe

A monthly Death Cafe in Kansas City offers a welcoming space to talk about dying without fear.

A monthly meetup at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Waldo Crows Coffee" data-vars-click-url="https://crowscoffee.com/waldo/" data-vars-content-id="45230823-25d2-4703-8a2c-774f382ff7c4" data-vars-headline="Mortality and coffee: Inside KC&#x27;s Death Cafe" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crowscoffee.com/waldo/" target="_blank">Waldo Crows Coffee</a> is a judgment-free place to talk about our shared inevitability: We are going to die.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Death Cafes" data-vars-click-url="https://deathcafe.com/" data-vars-content-id="45230823-25d2-4703-8a2c-774f382ff7c4" data-vars-headline="Mortality and coffee: Inside KC&#x27;s Death Cafe" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://deathcafe.com/" target="_blank">Death Cafes</a> have grown worldwide as more people look for informal spaces to talk about dying and loss outside of hospitals, funerals and crisis moments.

Where to scatter ashes around Kansas City

You don't have to book a cruise or put an urn on the mantel.

With cremation on the rise, we got to wondering — where are people scattering their loved ones? Why it matters: Kansas Citians don&#x27;t have an ocean or mountains, but we do have plenty of local options that can provide meaning and closure beyond an urn on the mantel.

How Kansas City honors Black history

Libraries, museums and artists are spotlighting Black history all month long.

Things to Do

Kansas City&#x27;s Black history lives in music halls, libraries, art studios, and community spaces throughout the metro. Here&#x27;s how to celebrate Black History Month across the city.

"Heated Rivalry" craze fills KC's library waitlists

Readers are flooding waitlists for the queer hockey romance turned HBO hit.

You may have to wait a bit if you&#x27;re looking to borrow a copy of &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Heated Rivalry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/01/09/crosby-ovechkin-feud-inspires-heated-rivalry" data-vars-content-id="0efcaf51-2252-4b73-a473-d2de4126d964" data-vars-headline="&quot;Heated Rivalry&quot; craze fills KC&#x27;s library waitlists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/pittsburgh/2026/01/09/crosby-ovechkin-feud-inspires-heated-rivalry" target="_self">Heated Rivalry</a>&quot; from your local library.Why it matters: The &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gay hockey smut" data-vars-click-url="https://www.thecut.com/article/heated-rivalry-series-show-book-women-explained.html" data-vars-content-id="0efcaf51-2252-4b73-a473-d2de4126d964" data-vars-headline="&quot;Heated Rivalry&quot; craze fills KC&#x27;s library waitlists" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.thecut.com/article/heated-rivalry-series-show-book-women-explained.html" target="_blank">gay hockey smut</a>&quot; book-turned-HBO-streaming hit has exploded into a mega pop culture sensation, sending reader demand soaring.

KC's Death Cafe helps people talk about dying

The Waldo event creates space for honest, agenda-free talks about death.

A <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Death Cafe" data-vars-click-url="https://deathcafe.com/profile/28673/" data-vars-content-id="4df31e45-943b-4158-a34e-99808b7e1ef6" data-vars-headline="KC&#x27;s Death Cafe helps people talk about dying" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://deathcafe.com/profile/28673/" target="_blank">Death Cafe</a> at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Crows Coffee" data-vars-click-url="https://crowscoffee.com/" data-vars-content-id="4df31e45-943b-4158-a34e-99808b7e1ef6" data-vars-headline="KC&#x27;s Death Cafe helps people talk about dying" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crowscoffee.com/" target="_blank">Crows Coffee</a> in Waldo brings Kansas Citians together to talk openly about death.Why it matters: As anxiety about aging, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="longevity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/pro/health-tech-deals/2025/12/29/longevity-companies-surging-2026" data-vars-content-id="4df31e45-943b-4158-a34e-99808b7e1ef6" data-vars-headline="KC&#x27;s Death Cafe helps people talk about dying" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/pro/health-tech-deals/2025/12/29/longevity-companies-surging-2026" target="_self">longevity</a> and end-of-life care grows, these conversations are part of a broader effort to make death less taboo and easier to talk about.

What KC couldn't stop reading last year

Library checkouts reveal KC's favorite books, from fantasy to memoirs.

Winter is for reading, those bitterly cold days beckoning a good book and a cozy couch, and the most popular books of 2025 are in thanks to our local libraries.The big picture: These annual roundups tell us what local folks are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reading" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/11/17/kansas-city-independent-bookstores" data-vars-content-id="d9c5eac4-64dc-406e-8968-ef298469a353" data-vars-headline="What KC couldn&#x27;t stop reading last year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/11/17/kansas-city-independent-bookstores" target="_self">reading</a> — and they give us great ideas for our own lists this year.

Donna Kelce joins "The Traitors," and KC is watching

Chiefs fans can now watch Mama Kelce compete on reality TV.

Mama Kelce will appear on Season 4 of &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Traitors" data-vars-click-url="https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/the-traitors" data-vars-content-id="22fd1759-fc72-4614-b5aa-3480ea936fcf" data-vars-headline="Donna Kelce joins &quot;The Traitors,&quot; and KC is watching" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.peacocktv.com/stream-tv/the-traitors" target="_blank">The Traitors</a>,&quot; bringing a little hometown energy to one of TV&#x27;s most chaotic reality shows.Why it matters: Donna Kelce has become familiar to Chiefs fans through her sons, Travis and Jason Kelce, and now she&#x27;s stepping into the spotlight on her own, this time without a football field.