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

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Our readers like the Crown Center ballpark plan

The responses signal a rebound in public sentiment from 2024.

News

We asked readers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="last week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/04/23/royals-stadium-crown-center-reader-survey" data-vars-content-id="68f61f35-ae47-4723-8495-ff6209ecee8e" data-vars-headline="Our readers like the Crown Center ballpark plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/04/23/royals-stadium-crown-center-reader-survey" target="_self">last week</a> to tell us what they thought of the Royals stadium plan at Crown Center, and the results were overwhelmingly positive.Why it matters: The responses signal a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rebound in public sentiment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/04/22/royals-hallmark-crown-center-stadium-downtown" data-vars-content-id="68f61f35-ae47-4723-8495-ff6209ecee8e" data-vars-headline="Our readers like the Crown Center ballpark plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/04/22/royals-hallmark-crown-center-stadium-downtown" target="_self">rebound in public sentiment</a> from 2024, even as many questions are left unanswered.

🛒 Want cheaper groceries? Shop local

Grocery prices just hit a three-year high. I bought the same basket of produce at City Market, Trader Joe's, Hy-Vee and Aldi. Here's who came out cheapest.

Grocery prices recently saw their biggest spike in three years, but KC shoppers often have a cheaper route: local.

How to behave around guide dogs

Some tips to safely interact with guide dogs and support their handlers.

Culture

Wednesday is International Guide Dog Day, and we&#x27;ve got some reminders on working dog etiquette.Why it matters: Seeing a cute dog out and about is always a treat — and doubly so if they&#x27;re doing an impressive job — but distracting working dogs can be dangerous for their handlers.

Why the WNBA is returning to KC after two decades

It's also nine months after the WNBA passed on Kansas City for expansion.

Nine months after the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="WNBA passed on Kansas City" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/07/08/kansas-city-wnba-expansion" data-vars-content-id="5d179a2a-1cb3-4001-b4c8-b3aa178725eb" data-vars-headline="Why the WNBA is returning to KC after two decades" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/07/08/kansas-city-wnba-expansion" target="_self">WNBA passed on Kansas City</a> for expansion, the league returns Monday night with a preseason game between the Minnesota Lynx and Nigeria&#x27;s national team.Why it matters: It&#x27;s the first WNBA game in the city since the Detroit Shock faced the Lynx at Municipal Stadium in 2005, and officials hope a strong turnout strengthens the city&#x27;s case for a future franchise.

Local nonprofit turns unwanted guns into garden tools

No ID, no paperwork, no questions. The Kansas City nonprofit is one of the few routes for permanently destroying an unwanted gun, and it's coming to Johnson County Saturday.

Kansas City nonprofit <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Guns to Gardens" data-vars-click-url="https://www.gunstogardenskc.org/about" data-vars-content-id="e72f699a-a560-478b-9395-a890179a66ed" data-vars-headline="Local nonprofit turns unwanted guns into garden tools" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.gunstogardenskc.org/about" target="_blank">Guns to Gardens</a> is destroying unwanted firearms, cutting them up and handing the pieces to blacksmiths who turn them into garden tools.Why it matters: There&#x27;s no easy way to permanently get rid of an unwanted gun in the U.S. Owners can sell, trade or surrender them, but a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CBS investigation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/police-sell-guns-crime-atf/" data-vars-content-id="e72f699a-a560-478b-9395-a890179a66ed" data-vars-headline="Local nonprofit turns unwanted guns into garden tools" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/police-sell-guns-crime-atf/" target="_blank">CBS investigation</a> found that in most cases they end up back in circulation.<ul><li>Guns to Gardens is one route where they&#x27;ll end up as scrap metal.</li></ul>

KC runs its largest security drill yet for World Cup

More than 200 local, state and federal officers tested their response at the National WWI Museum as part of a $79M federally funded push to keep Fan Fest attendees safe.

More than 200 law enforcement officers ran a World Cup security exercise Tuesday at the National World War I Museum and Memorial.Why it matters: It was a large-scale, real-time training session for the people who will be keeping Fan Fest attendees safe this summer.

KC crash data signals early signs of improvement

Serious and fatal crashes are down after four years of increases.

Travel

Kansas City traffic data shows fatal and serious injury crashes may be starting to decrease after a four-year upward trend.Why it matters: It&#x27;s a sign that KCMO&#x27;s street safety initiatives might be starting to take hold, despite the numbers lagging behind predictions and city officials saying it&#x27;s too early to tell.

Kansas City police will use drones as first responders

Drones will be launched remotely from "nests" throughout the city.

The Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) is taking to the skies thanks to a fleet of drones, a new team of pilots and special permission from the federal government.Why it matters: Police say the technology will be used to respond to emergency calls faster and help officers on the ground, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="local" data-vars-click-url="https://kansascitymag.com/police-departments-around-kc-are-deploying-camerad-up-drones-and-retailers-are-using-the-devices-to-deliver-packages-is-everyone-good-with-this/" data-vars-content-id="771eb851-820b-4b25-b8c5-ae144ed685b1" data-vars-headline="Kansas City police will use drones as first responders" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kansascitymag.com/police-departments-around-kc-are-deploying-camerad-up-drones-and-retailers-are-using-the-devices-to-deliver-packages-is-everyone-good-with-this/" target="_blank">local</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national" data-vars-click-url="https://www.aclu.org/documents/eye-in-the-sky-policing-needs-strict-limits" data-vars-content-id="771eb851-820b-4b25-b8c5-ae144ed685b1" data-vars-headline="Kansas City police will use drones as first responders" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.aclu.org/documents/eye-in-the-sky-policing-needs-strict-limits" target="_blank">national</a> concerns over law enforcement&#x27;s expanded reach remain.

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.

KC businesses train staff for ICE encounters as arrests surge

Kansas City business owners are prepping staff for rising ICE activity in workplaces.

Local businesses are training staff to respond to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ICE encounters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/01/15/ice-detention-expansion-kansas-city" data-vars-content-id="93d002a9-89d0-435e-bc6a-9cbed883e747" data-vars-headline="KC businesses train staff for ICE encounters as arrests surge" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/01/15/ice-detention-expansion-kansas-city" target="_self">ICE encounters</a> as immigration arrests rise across the metro and move farther into neighborhoods and workplaces.The big picture: Immigration arrests jumped 76% in Missouri and nearly tripled in Kansas last year, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Deportation Data Project" data-vars-click-url="https://deportationdata.org/" data-vars-content-id="93d002a9-89d0-435e-bc6a-9cbed883e747" data-vars-headline="KC businesses train staff for ICE encounters as arrests surge" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://deportationdata.org/" target="_blank">Deportation Data Project</a> figures analyzed by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="KCTV5" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kctv5.com/2026/01/24/ice-arrests-surge-kansas-city-metro-following-trump-immigration-orders/" data-vars-content-id="93d002a9-89d0-435e-bc6a-9cbed883e747" data-vars-headline="KC businesses train staff for ICE encounters as arrests surge" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kctv5.com/2026/01/24/ice-arrests-surge-kansas-city-metro-following-trump-immigration-orders/" target="_blank">KCTV5</a>.<ul><li>Business owners say the shift is forcing them to prepare for law enforcement situations they never expected to encounter on the job.</li></ul>

Bitter cold weather sends more people to KC shelters

Bitter cold weather sent more people to warming centers across the metro this weekend.

Kansas City&#x27;s cold snap last weekend pushed shelters and warming sites to their limits, resurfacing the question of how the city can increase its shelter space.Why it matters: When temperatures plunge, getting people experiencing homelessness indoors becomes a greater safety issue.

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.

Inside Kansas City's efforts to reconnect the Westside

The project aims to provide a better quality of life in this historic neighborhood.

Kansas City is looking at ways to reconnect the Westside neighborhood to the greater downtown area decades after it was separated by interstates.Why it matters: The project, dubbed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Reconnecting the Westside" data-vars-click-url="https://reconnectwestside.com/" data-vars-content-id="c5f766bc-d723-4247-ad49-a2ca2613dc78" data-vars-headline="Inside Kansas City&#x27;s efforts to reconnect the Westside" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://reconnectwestside.com/" target="_blank">Reconnecting the Westside</a>, aims to provide a better quality of life in a historic neighborhood that can feel worlds away due to a lack of connective infrastructure.

AI scams create new risks for police

A voice-cloning scam tricked a woman into thinking her mom was held hostage.

A call convinced a Lawrence, Kansas, woman that her mother had been taken hostage, prompting police to track the call and pull over a car — only to learn it was all an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI scam" data-vars-click-url="https://lawrenceks.gov/citybeat/october-2025/ai-voice-cloning-scams-hit-lawrence-what-you-need-to-know/?utm_" data-vars-content-id="5253de33-55d8-4c6f-9385-27e78bab885c" data-vars-headline="AI scams create new risks for police" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://lawrenceks.gov/citybeat/october-2025/ai-voice-cloning-scams-hit-lawrence-what-you-need-to-know/?utm_" target="_blank">AI scam</a>.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AI-powered" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" data-vars-content-id="5253de33-55d8-4c6f-9385-27e78bab885c" data-vars-headline="AI scams create new risks for police" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/technology/automation-and-ai" target="_self">AI-powered</a> fraud is growing faster than police training and laws can keep pace, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="futurists tell Axios" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/14/artificial-intelligence-ai-crime-fraud-theft" data-vars-content-id="5253de33-55d8-4c6f-9385-27e78bab885c" data-vars-headline="AI scams create new risks for police" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/14/artificial-intelligence-ai-crime-fraud-theft" target="_self">futurists tell Axios</a>.