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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Kansas City.

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Get smarter, faster on what matters in Kansas City with Travis Meier and Abbey Higginbotham.

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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.

KC Current opens Riverside stadium, training complex

The new campus expands youth development and will host the Netherlands in 2026.

Sports

<figure><img alt="Group of people in business attire cutting a teal ribbon at a ceremony with a microphone and audience visible, indicating an official opening event." height="720" id="9e1a3037-8ee1-45c2-995e-9ffc8ecfb3dc" src="https://images.axios.com/XUi1vDAaKkES3W4Z9EF7tTkhN-4=/2026/02/24/1771971363224.gif" width="1280"/><figcaption>Riverside Stadium &amp; Performance Center unveiling. GIF: Abbey Higginbotham/Axios</figcaption></figure>The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kansas City Current" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/11/26/womens-sports-kansas-city-ranking" data-vars-content-id="51e9f77e-c7b7-4bbf-8b77-617bcb013a5f" data-vars-headline="KC Current opens Riverside stadium, training complex" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/11/26/womens-sports-kansas-city-ranking" target="_self">Kansas City Current</a> opened a 2,000-seat stadium and new training complex in Riverside on Tuesday, completing a $52 million expansion of its player facilities.The big picture: With the Riverside campus now open, the Current has a dedicated development home separate from CPKC Stadium, where the club plays its NWSL matches on the riverfront.<ul><li>The campus will serve as a year-round base for the club&#x27;s second team and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="youth development programs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kansascitycurrent.com/news/kansas-city-current-introduces-teal-rising-alliance" data-vars-content-id="51e9f77e-c7b7-4bbf-8b77-617bcb013a5f" data-vars-headline="KC Current opens Riverside stadium, training complex" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kansascitycurrent.com/news/kansas-city-current-introduces-teal-rising-alliance" target="_blank">youth development programs</a>.</li></ul>

Ping-pong balls fly at new Ricochet game bar

Trying to catch your errant ping-pong ball is part of the experience.

Business

A new bar in the Crossroads will send you running across the room chasing your ping-pong ball, but that&#x27;s all part of the experience.The big picture: It&#x27;s one of the many games at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ricochet" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ricochetsocial.com/locations/kc" data-vars-content-id="55a0092a-06ef-4863-94f0-396dbb1d9e8a" data-vars-headline="Ping-pong balls fly at new Ricochet game bar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ricochetsocial.com/locations/kc" target="_blank">Ricochet</a>, a social lounge hosting its grand opening Tuesday at 1720 McGee St.

How to navigate Johnson County's new express lanes

The $572 million project wraps up roughly three years of construction.

Johnson County drivers will see new express lanes on U.S. 69 open this Saturday as part of an effort to reduce congestion.Why it matters: The $572 million project wraps up roughly three years of construction and is intended to address an increasing number of cars on one of the busiest highways in the metro, per the Kansas Department of Transportation

Google confirms $10B Project Mica in KC

The $10B campus will cover its own energy costs under a deal with Evergy.

Google confirmed Thursday it will build its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="massive Project Mica data center campus" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/07/29/port-kc-google-data-center" data-vars-content-id="d270a40b-1697-4b47-a904-e47e92e32b4e" data-vars-headline="Google confirms $10B Project Mica in KC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/07/29/port-kc-google-data-center" target="_self">massive Project Mica data center campus</a> in Kansas City — and it will cover the full energy costs under an agreement with Evergy.Why it matters: The confirmation of the project in the Northland cements one of the largest development packages in the city&#x27;s history.

KC Mayor Lucas rolls out $2.5B budget for 2026

Public safety will remain the largest slice of the general fund at 75%.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas used his State of the City address on Wednesday to lay out a $2.5 billion budget and a list of priorities for the 2026 World Cup and day-to-day needs.

These big developments will change KC in 2026

2026 is shaping up to be a transformative year in KC. Here's what we're watching.

The new year is upon us, bringing the expected debuts of some major developments that will shape how residents interact with the city.The big picture: 2026 is shaping up to be a transformative year in KC. Here&#x27;s what we&#x27;re watching.

Kansas approves Chiefs stadium deal

Kansas lawmakers voted to bring the Chiefs across state lines by 2031.

Kansas leaders voted Monday to approve a deal that clears the way for the Kansas City Chiefs to move to Kansas, effectively ending the franchise&#x27;s more-than-60-year run in Missouri.Why it matters: In a press conference, Gov. Laura Kelly called the deal the largest economic development project in Kansas history, saying it represents a minimum of $4 billion in total development and more than 20,000 jobs.

Construction begins at massive Historic Northeast project

The 22-acre plan will provide housing and communal amenities for Kansas Citians.

Kansas City leaders gathered Tuesday to celebrate the start of construction on a 22-acre redevelopment plan to provide housing and communal amenities in the Historic Northeast.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$180 million project" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/06/30/hardesty-development-historic-northeast-kansas-city" data-vars-content-id="fa723654-eddd-414e-a076-7d0ff0858016" data-vars-headline="Construction begins at massive Historic Northeast project" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/06/30/hardesty-development-historic-northeast-kansas-city" target="_self">$180 million project</a>, which Mayor Quinton Lucas during the gathering called &quot;the most important thing that we&#x27;re working on today,&quot; is considered a major investment in a part of town that has experienced decades of decline.

City checks drinking water pipes at 78,000 homes

The agency tells Axios it has not found any lead service lines yet.

KC Water sent about 78,000 letters to households where the city still needs to confirm the material of the service line that brings drinking water into homes.

Development 🏗️

KC Current opens Riverside stadium, training complex

Ping-pong balls fly at new Ricochet game bar

KC puts $1M toward new homelessness strategy

How to navigate Johnson County's new express lanes

Google confirms $10B Project Mica in KC