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Schools adopting AI could see benefits (and more work)

Schools are shifting the "show your work" model to AI assignments.

News

Schools are adding the &quot;show your work&quot; model to AI assignments, with new technology to track learning and prevent cheating.Why it matters: Banning AI won&#x27;t stop kids from using it, districts and experts say, but there are ways it can assist learning and track progress.

"Ted Lasso" is sending fans to the Negro Leagues museum

Searches for the Kansas City museum jumped more than 5,000% after the season four premiere.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is riding a &quot;Ted Lasso&quot; wave, with fans pouring in since the show <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="came home" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kmbc.com/article/ted-lasso-negro-leagues-baseball-museum-satchel-paige-kansas-city/73502562" data-vars-content-id="fec1ad99-76b9-4923-99be-59237d6cb381" data-vars-headline="&quot;Ted Lasso&quot; is sending fans to the Negro Leagues museum" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/ted-lasso-negro-leagues-baseball-museum-satchel-paige-kansas-city/73502562" target="_blank">came home</a> to Kansas City.Why it matters: The series showed the museum to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="biggest audience in Apple TV history" data-vars-click-url="https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/ted-lasso-season-4-ratings-apple-tv-1236834053/" data-vars-content-id="fec1ad99-76b9-4923-99be-59237d6cb381" data-vars-headline="&quot;Ted Lasso&quot; is sending fans to the Negro Leagues museum" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/ted-lasso-season-4-ratings-apple-tv-1236834053/" target="_blank">biggest audience in Apple TV history</a> right as it raises <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$35 million" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kctv5.com/2026/02/13/negro-leagues-baseball-museum-announces-35-million-expansion-historic-kansas-city-site/" data-vars-content-id="fec1ad99-76b9-4923-99be-59237d6cb381" data-vars-headline="&quot;Ted Lasso&quot; is sending fans to the Negro Leagues museum" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kctv5.com/2026/02/13/negro-leagues-baseball-museum-announces-35-million-expansion-historic-kansas-city-site/" target="_blank">$35 million</a> to build itself a new home.

Ticks are having a banner year

The lone star tick, not the Lyme one, drives most cases here. A new CDC report ranks Missouri second in the country for alpha-gal antibodies.

This year&#x27;s tick season has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="been a doozy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/28/tick-season-record-summer-fall" data-vars-content-id="9e7bc04b-b713-4909-a556-9ab3435c3962" data-vars-headline="Ticks are having a banner year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/28/tick-season-record-summer-fall" target="_self">been a doozy</a>, and another peak is coming in the fall.Why it matters: Tick bites can transmit diseases, like Lyme disease, but in Kansas City the bigger threat is the Lone Star tick, which spreads ehrlichiosis and can trigger <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="alpha-gal syndrome" data-vars-click-url="https://health.mo.gov/conditions-diseases/communicable-diseases/tickborne-disease/alpha-gal-syndrome" data-vars-content-id="9e7bc04b-b713-4909-a556-9ab3435c3962" data-vars-headline="Ticks are having a banner year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://health.mo.gov/conditions-diseases/communicable-diseases/tickborne-disease/alpha-gal-syndrome" target="_blank">alpha-gal syndrome</a>, an allergy to red meat.

City says Southwest Trafficway sinkhole is "complex"

Sinkholes aren't exactly a common occurrence in KC.

A sinkhole on Southwest Trafficway, one of Kansas City&#x27;s busiest streets, is &quot;complex in nature,&quot; city officials tell Axios, as crews work to understand what happened.The big picture: Sinkholes aren&#x27;t exactly a common occurrence in KC, and this big one came out of nowhere.

Missouri voters to decide new congressional map in November

November's election will run on the old map, and voters will decide on the new one.

Missouri&#x27;s Supreme Court unanimously blocked the state&#x27;s new congressional map Thursday and ordered a statewide vote on whether it ever takes effect, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="overturning Secretary of State Denny Hoskins" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/08/04/missouri-congressional-map-referendum-rejected" data-vars-content-id="a0761022-bad1-4157-8aa9-2634c9335169" data-vars-headline="Missouri voters to decide new congressional map in November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/08/04/missouri-congressional-map-referendum-rejected" target="_self">overturning Secretary of State Denny Hoskins</a>&#x27; decision and validating a petition with more than 305,000 signatures.Why it matters: November&#x27;s election will run on the old map, meaning much of Kansas City <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reverts to 5th District" data-vars-click-url="https://www.abc4.com/news/national/ap-missouri-court-blocks-trump-backed-us-house-map-and-orders-it-to-be-put-to-a-vote/" data-vars-content-id="a0761022-bad1-4157-8aa9-2634c9335169" data-vars-headline="Missouri voters to decide new congressional map in November" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.abc4.com/news/national/ap-missouri-court-blocks-trump-backed-us-house-map-and-orders-it-to-be-put-to-a-vote/" target="_blank">reverts to 5th District</a>, where Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver has won with at least 60% of the vote in the past two elections.

What KCMO's empty City Council seat means

A sudden vacancy at City Council Tuesday has triggered a search for a replacement.

Mayor Quinton Lucas is searching for an interim City Council member after announcing a sudden vacancy this week. Why it matters: Whoever fills the seat will only serve for 11 months but may have a large role in shaping the city for years to come.

What Kansas City gets in the Royals stadium deal

City council approved agreements on community benefits, construction and financing.

The Royals&#x27; downtown stadium is another step closer after City Council on Thursday approved a package of agreements on community benefits, construction and financing. Why it matters: Public documents shed light on what the Royals are promising the city, including funds to address homelessness and benefit public art.

Why Missouri has a sales tax holiday, and Kansas doesn't

Missouri is ditching sales tax this weekend on back-to-school items.

Business

Missouri is ditching sales tax this weekend on back-to-school items — but Kansas isn&#x27;t.Why it matters: The same computer, binder or pair of jeans will be cheaper in Missouri on Friday through Sunday, no matter which state you live in.

Missouri voters reject Republican-led amendments

More than 1.4 million Missourians voted yesterday.

Voters defeated two hot-button Republican amendments by large margins in yesterday&#x27;s election.The big picture: Roughly 1.4 million Missourians voted yesterday, a number not seen in a primary since 2004, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Missouri Independent" data-vars-click-url="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/08/03/missouri-turnout-could-hit-1-4-million-as-ballot-measures-drive-primary-interest/" data-vars-content-id="e04febea-c1b7-458f-8f6d-6e90dc0c478a" data-vars-headline="Missouri voters reject Republican-led amendments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/08/03/missouri-turnout-could-hit-1-4-million-as-ballot-measures-drive-primary-interest/" target="_blank">Missouri Independent</a>.

State rejects Missouri map referendum

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the petition the same day voters cast ballots under the map.

Missouri&#x27;s new congressional map is set to govern the midterms after Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a petition Tuesday seeking to put it to a statewide vote.Why it matters: The decision, made on the day voters used the map, locks in district lines that give Republicans a 7-1 advantage and turn Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver&#x27;s Kansas City-based seat into a Republican-leaning one.

When to go to the polls

Metro election clerks told us when their polls get slammed. The early afternoon is the one stretch nobody flagged.

Voters looking to skip a line in Tuesday&#x27;s Kansas and Missouri primaries have a narrow opening: the early afternoon.Why it matters: Voting is your civic duty, but doing it on a workday means finding time between the office, errands and a line you can&#x27;t predict.

Kansas governor candidates address rising costs

Ten candidates want to represent their party in the general election in November.

Ten candidates want to win their party&#x27;s vote for Kansas governor as Democrat Laura Kelly wraps up her second term.Why it matters: The primary candidates are trying to differentiate their approaches to solving affordability issues as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="property taxes rise" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kcur.org/housing-development-section/2026-02-26/kansas-homeowners-now-carry-a-bigger-tax-burden-than-commercial-property-owners" data-vars-content-id="e6181e6a-3e6a-459d-96ae-4596b776ab6c" data-vars-headline="Kansas governor candidates address rising costs" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kcur.org/housing-development-section/2026-02-26/kansas-homeowners-now-carry-a-bigger-tax-burden-than-commercial-property-owners" target="_blank">property taxes rise</a> across the state.

These Republicans are vying for Cleaver's 5th District

Voters will decide in the primary election Tuesday who will take on incumbent Emanuel Cleaver.

Republican voters from Troost Avenue in Kansas City to Rocheport near Columbia will decide on Tuesday which candidate will battle for Missouri&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new 5th Congressional District" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/07/31/analysis-the-problem-with-missouri-congressional-maps" data-vars-content-id="2f25780f-4511-4efa-bac9-fb082110ac45" data-vars-headline="These Republicans are vying for Cleaver&#x27;s 5th District" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/07/31/analysis-the-problem-with-missouri-congressional-maps" target="_self">new 5th Congressional District</a> in November&#x27;s general election.Why it matters: The winner will face longtime Democratic incumbent Emanuel Cleaver.

Analysis: The problem with Missouri congressional maps

It's really hard to find a decent map of Missouri's new districts.

It&#x27;s really hard to find a comprehensive map of Missouri&#x27;s new congressional districts.The big picture: The midterm primaries are on Tuesday, but after a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="messy redistricting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/03/25/missouri-court-kansas-city-congressional-map-fight" data-vars-content-id="d0c781c4-20c6-462c-ab69-7ed14ff051dc" data-vars-headline="Analysis: The problem with Missouri congressional maps" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/03/25/missouri-court-kansas-city-congressional-map-fight" target="_self">messy redistricting</a> process, voters (myself included) have to dig to figure out where the boundaries fall.

Politics 🇺🇸

Missouri voters to decide new congressional map in November

What KCMO's empty City Council seat means

What Kansas City gets in the Royals stadium deal

Why Missouri has a sales tax holiday, and Kansas doesn't

Missouri voters reject Republican-led amendments