Kansas City

Kansas City Members

Membership

Postcard with an image of a city landscape of Kansas City’s skyline on a transparent background

blue

Axios Kansas City Partners

Kansas City Alerts

Alert

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

Axios Kansas City Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

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

Axios Kansas City

Standard

How surplus World Cup food is feeding KC families

Families likely ate the same food served to Lionel Messi on his birthday.

News

Kansas City families likely ate the same food served to Argentina soccer star Lionel Messi on his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="birthday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.komu.com/fifa_world_cup_2026/lionel-messi-celebrates-his-39th-birthday-in-kansas-city-during-a-joyful-world-cup/article_973846c7-3143-5cd1-b293-a86f15744f0b.html" data-vars-content-id="116ad0e8-8575-4e0c-ad7d-cb564afc44a7" data-vars-headline="How surplus World Cup food is feeding KC families" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.komu.com/fifa_world_cup_2026/lionel-messi-celebrates-his-39th-birthday-in-kansas-city-during-a-joyful-world-cup/article_973846c7-3143-5cd1-b293-a86f15744f0b.html" target="_blank">birthday</a>.Why it matters: The surplus food was recovered as part of a collaboration between FIFA and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pete&#x27;s Garden" data-vars-click-url="https://www.petesgarden.org/" data-vars-content-id="116ad0e8-8575-4e0c-ad7d-cb564afc44a7" data-vars-headline="How surplus World Cup food is feeding KC families" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.petesgarden.org/" target="_blank">Pete&#x27;s Garden</a>, a KC nonprofit that turns food waste into meals for families in need.

The kratom crackdown splits KC at the state line

Kratom and 7-OH became felonies to possess in Kansas on July 1. Across the state line, they're still legal, even as cities pass their own bans.

A product local leaders and law enforcement <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="call" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/investigations/drug-regulation/kansas-city-missouri-city-council-adopts-regulations-on-7-oh-kratom" data-vars-content-id="2ac406ed-9813-4186-929b-ff8d634bd406" data-vars-headline="The kratom crackdown splits KC at the state line" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/investigations/drug-regulation/kansas-city-missouri-city-council-adopts-regulations-on-7-oh-kratom" target="_blank">call</a> &quot;gas station heroin&quot; is now illegal in Kansas — and the federal government may soon make it illegal nationwide.Why it matters: Possessing kratom or its derivative, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), became a felony in Kansas on July 1, splitting the rules in a metro that&#x27;s home to the Midwest&#x27;s largest 7-OH producer.

Boomers own KC's family-size homes

Empty nesters own nearly 28% of Kansas City homes with three-plus bedrooms while millennial parents own about 19%, per Redfin. The good news: KC's young families still fare better than almost anywhere else in the country.

Empty nesters are sitting on Kansas City&#x27;s family-size homes.Why it matters: The people who have the space aren&#x27;t necessarily the ones who need it — and that&#x27;s making a tight <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="housing market" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" data-vars-content-id="568d03eb-e433-4c4a-ac6b-14196ee149f1" data-vars-headline="Boomers own KC&#x27;s family-size homes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/mortgage-rates-home-prices-predictions-2026" target="_self">housing market</a> even tighter.

Your 2026 primary election guide

Missouri votes on phasing out its income tax and Jackson County's assessor. Kansas picks candidates for an open governor's seat and decides how its Supreme Court justices get chosen. Here's your guide before Aug. 4.

Election

Your paycheck, your property taxes and your courts are all on the line in the Aug. 4 primary election. Here&#x27;s what to know before you head to the voting booth.Why it matters: Primaries draw a fraction of November&#x27;s turnout, and the voters who show up decide these questions for everyone.

Soak up KC's final World Cup weekend

Kansas City's moment as a host city is almost over.

Things to Do

It&#x27;s the last big weekend for World Cup activities in Kansas City, with the final days of Fan Fest, a couple of major concerts, and the last local match.Why it matters: KC&#x27;s moment as a host city is almost over — but not before Argentina returns to battle Switzerland in a quarterfinal.

What Kansas Citians wanted to know about the World Cup

The searches map how hosting the tournament reshaped KC's soccer interest.

Sports

Kansas City&#x27;s Google searches during the World Cup told a different story from every other host city, new data shows.Why it matters: The searches map how hosting the tournament reshaped KC&#x27;s soccer interest in real time, down to which national teams locals typed into Google.

Local clothing designers are repping soccer swag

Colorful kits, U.S. Soccer collabs and collections of shirts, scarves and hats festoon KC.

Business

Local clothing designers are creating World Cup-inspired apparel meant to meet the moment with colorful kits, U.S. Soccer collabs and collections of scarves and hats.Why it matters: These aren&#x27;t just T-shirts — they&#x27;re memories and souvenirs from a once-in-a-generation event that&#x27;s happening in Kansas City. That&#x27;s why people are buying them and why designers have spent years preparing for this moment.

Beer and water at KC Stadium is expensive

There is a wild variance in prices across U.S. host cities.

Thirsty? If you&#x27;re at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kansas City Stadium" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/08/fifa-banners-arrowhead-chiefs-signs-kc-missouri" data-vars-content-id="c1176083-6b04-4218-a56e-b6fbf1d97a6c" data-vars-headline="Beer and water at KC Stadium is expensive" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/08/fifa-banners-arrowhead-chiefs-signs-kc-missouri" target="_self">Kansas City Stadium</a> for a World Cup match, you&#x27;ll pay at least $18.39 for a beer.Why it matters: There is a wild variance in prices for food, water and other drinks across the 11 U.S. cities hosting the World Cup this year.

At the KC match, the Dutch stay sunny

The Dutch spirit couldn't be dampened despite storms.

Despite afternoon storms and a mid-match shower Thursday, the Netherlands vs. Tunisia match in Kansas City started and ended on time. The big picture: The Dutch spirit couldn&#x27;t be dampened — fans brought their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="chants and cheers from the march" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/25/dutch-march-in-kc-was-the-biggest-in-the-country" data-vars-content-id="8ee04b84-296e-4386-835c-9929d7e18157" data-vars-headline="At the KC match, the Dutch stay sunny" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/25/dutch-march-in-kc-was-the-biggest-in-the-country" target="_self">chants and cheers from the march</a> to the stands, and their team won, 3-1.

Dutch march in KC was the biggest in the country

Crowds hopped to "Links Rechts" and unleashed orange smoke and confetti.

The biggest Dutch march in the U.S. to date took place in Kansas City on Thursday.The big picture: The Power and Light District <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="says" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaBHvRFjrJS/?img_index=1" data-vars-content-id="213ee287-09ed-496e-9167-1dcd214228de" data-vars-headline="Dutch march in KC was the biggest in the country" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaBHvRFjrJS/?img_index=1" target="_blank">says</a> roughly 22,000 fans turned out, stretching down Grand Avenue as far as the eye could see.

Interactive map: 216 World Cup watch parties in KC

Watch Party Radar aggregates websites, social media posts, and articles.

With the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="World Cup " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/11/world-cup-fifa-travel-immigration-woes" data-vars-content-id="994cc7c5-0698-45f0-ae8a-6f91bda41e3a" data-vars-headline="Interactive map: 216 World Cup watch parties in KC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/06/11/world-cup-fifa-travel-immigration-woes" target="_self">World Cup </a>in full swing, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Watch Party Radar" data-vars-click-url="https://watchpartyradar.com/?city=chicago" data-vars-content-id="994cc7c5-0698-45f0-ae8a-6f91bda41e3a" data-vars-headline="Interactive map: 216 World Cup watch parties in KC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://watchpartyradar.com/?city=chicago" target="_blank">Watch Party Radar</a> shows you where to catch the latest match from anywhere in the world.

How law enforcement is stopping drones at the World Cup

In KC, 14 drones have been seized, resulting in 5 federal criminal citations.

Drones are no longer simply toys for hobbyists and for cameras in the sky — they&#x27;re real threats to public safety and large-scale security, experts tell Axios.Why it matters: U.S. leaders are pushing for hostile drone defense programs across the country, including in Kansas City, where police are using military-grade tech and working with federal law enforcement to patrol the air.

World Cup fans love KC. Tourism leaders want more of that.

Politicians are banking on positive fan interactions to improve America's image.

The World Cup is America&#x27;s chance to win back foreign visitors amid falling international tourism and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unpopular" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260406-why-some-travellers-are-rethinking-trips-to-the-us" data-vars-content-id="e343e24e-4e15-4ac3-927b-530a2a8d3b6c" data-vars-headline="World Cup fans love KC. Tourism leaders want more of that." data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260406-why-some-travellers-are-rethinking-trips-to-the-us" target="_blank">unpopular</a> federal policies, national and local tourism leaders said at a Visit KC panel Tuesday.Why it matters: Locals are welcoming foreign fans in Kansas City and across the country, and politicians are banking on those positive interactions to improve America&#x27;s image.

KCI warns of heavy traffic this summer

Summer travel demand and World Cup visitors could clog lines.

Travelers should expect heavy traffic at KCI through July, especially around World Cup game days, airport officials say.Why it matters: Travelers could encounter longer lines and delays as large groups of tournament travelers clog lines and summer trips push security into overdrive.

Sports 🏅

Soak up KC's final World Cup weekend

What Kansas Citians wanted to know about the World Cup

Local clothing designers are repping soccer swag

Beer and water at KC Stadium is expensive

At the KC match, the Dutch stay sunny