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Red Friday shifts to Thursday ahead of Chiefs opener

Friday is the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

News

Red Friday is actually Red Thursday this year, as the Chiefs and Ronald McDonald House Kansas City launch their annual flag fundraiser ahead of the season opener.Why it matters: The annual event combines our passion for football with a good cause — raising money for the families of children receiving medical care in KC.

DOJ sues KCK schools in first-of-its-kind case

The district could lose $70 million in federal funding, and Olathe and Shawnee Mission may be next.

The Trump administration is signaling that its lawsuit against Kansas City, Kansas (KCK) Public Schools over transgender student policies could be the first of several, with two other Kansas districts potentially next.Why it matters: KCK schools could lose more than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$70 million in federal funding" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kcur.org/education/2026-09-01/justice-department-sues-kansas-city-kansas-public-schools-transgender-policies" data-vars-content-id="f03e4eb4-1d00-4515-8d58-e0de7bfbcc1b" data-vars-headline="DOJ sues KCK schools in first-of-its-kind case" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kcur.org/education/2026-09-01/justice-department-sues-kansas-city-kansas-public-schools-transgender-policies" target="_blank">$70 million in federal funding</a>, about 16% of its budget, while two other Kansas districts have rejected similar settlement terms that involved <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ending &quot;gender support plans&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-finds-four-kansas-school-districts-violated-federal-law" data-vars-content-id="f03e4eb4-1d00-4515-8d58-e0de7bfbcc1b" data-vars-headline="DOJ sues KCK schools in first-of-its-kind case" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-finds-four-kansas-school-districts-violated-federal-law" target="_blank">ending &quot;gender support plans&quot;</a> and letting parents see records about their children&#x27;s gender identity.

Gray hair beauty trend hits Kansas City

Even some younger women are embracing the look.

Culture

Searches for gray hair salons and services have surged on Yelp, according to data shared with Axios.Why it matters: America is getting <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="older" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/12/jobs-report-health-care-boomers" data-vars-content-id="ade3b830-0ca4-4eb3-9bc5-42590bbd2649" data-vars-headline="Gray hair beauty trend hits Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/12/jobs-report-health-care-boomers" target="_self">older</a>, and more people are embracing their grays rather than hiding them.

Home-sharing services lacking in KC

Seniors are trading space for affordability, companionship and safety.

Older adults are increasingly choosing to share their homes with housemates. Why it matters: As rents climb and homeowners <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="stay put" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/17/boomers-millennials-kids-homes" data-vars-content-id="17171c0d-b003-4e2a-9381-b0b7d0f4eba4" data-vars-headline="Home-sharing services lacking in KC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/17/boomers-millennials-kids-homes" target="_self">stay put</a>, seniors are trading space for affordability, companionship and safety.

Don't trash your to-go coffee cup

Your daily caffeine routine just got a little more eco-friendly.

Paper and plastic to-go cups are now recyclable across the Kansas City region.Why it matters: Your daily caffeine routine just got a little more eco-friendly.

Kansas City is struggling to get a chin-up on fitness

A 2026 report factors in basic exercise, nutrition, health outcomes and more.

Kansas City ranks No. 82 out of the nation&#x27;s 100 largest cities in the latest American College of Sports Medicine <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fitness Index" data-vars-click-url="https://acsm.org/about/community-impact-programs/american-fitness-index/" data-vars-content-id="a05c6be6-83d2-4e8a-a7d1-c8bbaea9a20d" data-vars-headline="Kansas City is struggling to get a chin-up on fitness" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://acsm.org/about/community-impact-programs/american-fitness-index/" target="_blank">Fitness Index</a>.Why it matters: The index measures more than who&#x27;s hitting the gym. It factors in basic exercise, nutrition, health outcomes and the environments that make healthy living easier — or harder.

A national defense production site in KC is expanding

The site makes non-radioactive parts for nuclear weapons.

A federal facility that produces nonradioactive components for nuclear weapons is expanding in Kansas City.The big picture: Government officials say they&#x27;re creating jobs and bolstering national security, while opponents criticize the idea of using nuclear weapons to prevent conflict and push for changes in Washington.

Where KCMO's park system ranks among big cities

Kansas City's park system isn't the best, but it's far from the worst.

Environment

Kansas City&#x27;s park system isn&#x27;t the best, but it&#x27;s far from the worst and well above average, per the Trust for Public Land&#x27;s new rankings.<ul><li>TPL&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="annual report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tpl.org/parkscore" data-vars-content-id="efeb6357-5b3a-46a9-97fa-02aa959f6a79" data-vars-headline="Where KCMO&#x27;s park system ranks among big cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tpl.org/parkscore" target="_blank">annual report</a> ranks the 100 most populous U.S. cities&#x27; park systems relative to one another based on five categories: access, acreage, amenities, equity, and investment.</li></ul>

Greenline trail around downtown KC is gaining ground

The path is still far from finished — but it's closer than you might think.

A proposed trail encircling downtown Kansas City that has been quietly in the works for years is building momentum with a new public exhibit and active construction plans.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Greenline KC" data-vars-click-url="https://www.greenlinekc.com/" data-vars-content-id="77566b26-2004-42f7-a58c-e2c4099c932e" data-vars-headline="Greenline trail around downtown KC is gaining ground" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.greenlinekc.com/" target="_blank">Greenline KC</a> is still far from finished — but it&#x27;s closer than you might think, with several multimillion-dollar projects paving the way.

Grassroots club reshapes River Market with native gardens

The club maintains 14 gardens and has planted 130 trees.

A &quot;plant heist&quot; might sound silly to some, but it&#x27;s a common activity for a small community of gardeners with a penchant for street beautification and habitat restoration.Why it matters: The River Market Garden Club&#x27;s roots extend well beyond their retaining walls, with spinoffs in adjacent neighborhoods, a growing network of plant enthusiasts and backing from the city.

Kansas City tree planting ramps up for Earth Day

Trees can reduce extreme heat, filter pollution and absorb stormwater.

Kansas Citians are planting trees this month to cool neighborhoods, reduce pollution and improve quality of life.Why it matters: More trees can reduce extreme heat, filter pollution and absorb stormwater across Kansas City — plus, they make being outside more comfortable.

Birds begin their deadly journey through KC

A special action Thursday will recognize April 13–20 as Dark Sky Week.

Millions of birds are about to make Kansas City a pit stop on their annual spring journey north — often to their demise.Why it matters: Our feathery friends are especially susceptible to big city lights during their nocturnal flights, leading to thousands of deaths locally each year as they become disoriented and crash into buildings.

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.

Winter travel in KC: What to know

Snow and extreme cold could make driving, transit, and flights trickier across the KC metro. Here's what to know before you head out.

Public Safety

This weekend&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="winter storm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/01/22/stay-home-kc-snow-predictions-rise-ahead-of-winter-storm" data-vars-content-id="a5c6a997-4cd5-49c9-98dd-2ddc43263aec" data-vars-headline="Winter travel in KC: What to know" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/01/22/stay-home-kc-snow-predictions-rise-ahead-of-winter-storm" target="_self">winter storm</a> is expected to make travel around KC increasingly hazardous.The big picture: If you don&#x27;t have to travel this weekend, don&#x27;t. If you must, here&#x27;s what to know before heading out.

Axios What's Next

A heat table showing U.S. cities with the highest and lowest ParkScore in 2026. D.C. earned 85 points out of 100 for the overall quality of its parks system, the highest in the analysis, followed by Irvine, Calif., Minneapolis and St. Paul. Durham, N.C., had the lowest overall score, at 36, followed by Glendale, Ariz., and Lubbock, Texas. Cities have scores across five metrics, including park access, acreage, amenities, equity and investment.