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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.

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.

The least romantic places to take a date in KC

From a windy Liberty Memorial to Trader Joe's chaos, KC dates get real.

Things to Do

👋🏼Abbey here. Kansas City has enough rooftop restaurants, steakhouses and cocktail bars with low lighting to convince anyone they&#x27;re in love. Try taking them somewhere mildly miserable instead to see if the love is real!

🫶🏼 Your Galentine's Day game plan

From smash rooms to pottery, KC venues host friendship-first events.

The day before <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Valentine&#x27;s Day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/02/11/five-last-minute-ideas-valentines-day" data-vars-content-id="a55cb470-ad2c-4552-85bc-4a21be1444a9" data-vars-headline="🫶🏼 Your Galentine&#x27;s Day game plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/02/11/five-last-minute-ideas-valentines-day" target="_self">Valentine&#x27;s Day</a> has evolved into its own celebration of platonic love, known as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Galentine&#x27;s Day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3IGnf5Rg-Ws" data-vars-content-id="a55cb470-ad2c-4552-85bc-4a21be1444a9" data-vars-headline="🫶🏼 Your Galentine&#x27;s Day game plan" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3IGnf5Rg-Ws" target="_blank">Galentine&#x27;s Day</a> or Palentine&#x27;s Day, and Kansas City venues are marking it with friendship-first events across town.Why it matters: The holiday helps make love feel less exclusive and reminds us of the importance of platonic relationships, according to Marisa G. Franco, a psychologist and author of &quot;Platonic,&quot; a research-backed book about how to make and keep friends.

Where to dance salsa like Bad Bunny in Kansas City

The Super Bowl halftime performance included a viral salsa moment with Lady Gaga.

Bad Bunny is in the spotlight even more than usual thanks to a high-energy, dance-heavy <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Super Bowl" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/02/09/super-bowl-lx-takeaways" data-vars-content-id="61797a90-699c-4092-9c9b-956e7133d6e1" data-vars-headline="Where to dance salsa like Bad Bunny in Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/02/09/super-bowl-lx-takeaways" target="_self">Super Bowl</a> halftime performance that included a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="viral salsa moment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUhNeMNAD0d/" data-vars-content-id="61797a90-699c-4092-9c9b-956e7133d6e1" data-vars-headline="Where to dance salsa like Bad Bunny in Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DUhNeMNAD0d/" target="_blank">viral salsa moment</a> with Lady Gaga.The big picture: The NFL&#x27;s choice of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bad Bunny sparked controversy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/02/09/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-latino-san-francisco-mission" data-vars-content-id="61797a90-699c-4092-9c9b-956e7133d6e1" data-vars-headline="Where to dance salsa like Bad Bunny in Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2026/02/09/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-latino-san-francisco-mission" target="_self">Bad Bunny sparked controversy</a>, but the performance leaned into unity — with a live wedding and stars like Pedro Pascal and Jessica Alba <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dancing to salsa" data-vars-click-url="https://www.salsavida.com/news/bad-bunnys-super-bowl-lx-halftime-show-puts-salsa-on-the-biggest-stage-in-america/" data-vars-content-id="61797a90-699c-4092-9c9b-956e7133d6e1" data-vars-headline="Where to dance salsa like Bad Bunny in Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.salsavida.com/news/bad-bunnys-super-bowl-lx-halftime-show-puts-salsa-on-the-biggest-stage-in-america/" target="_blank">dancing to salsa</a> music.

Good Karma's shelves tell the story

The KC coffee shop curates products with culture and consistency at the center.

Food and Drink

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Good Karma" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/goodkarmacoffee_/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="816984c0-d926-48e2-b638-30e03bdc2deb" data-vars-headline="Good Karma&#x27;s shelves tell the story" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/goodkarmacoffee_/?hl=en" target="_blank">Good Karma</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Black Pantry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/theblackpantry/?hl=en" data-vars-content-id="816984c0-d926-48e2-b638-30e03bdc2deb" data-vars-headline="Good Karma&#x27;s shelves tell the story" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/theblackpantry/?hl=en" target="_blank">The Black Pantry</a> are two businesses under one roof in KC that sell coffee and support Black creators by being intentional about what they stock on the shelves.Why it matters: We&#x27;re continuing Axios KC&#x27;s February spotlight on Black-owned businesses with a look at Good Karma, a coffee and retail shop carving out space in a crowded market by leaning into culture, consistency and community.

Mortality and coffee: Inside KC's Death Cafe

A monthly Death Cafe in Kansas City offers a welcoming space to talk about dying without fear.

Culture

A monthly meetup at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Waldo Crows Coffee" data-vars-click-url="https://crowscoffee.com/waldo/" data-vars-content-id="45230823-25d2-4703-8a2c-774f382ff7c4" data-vars-headline="Mortality and coffee: Inside KC&#x27;s Death Cafe" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://crowscoffee.com/waldo/" target="_blank">Waldo Crows Coffee</a> is a judgment-free place to talk about our shared inevitability: We are going to die.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Death Cafes" data-vars-click-url="https://deathcafe.com/" data-vars-content-id="45230823-25d2-4703-8a2c-774f382ff7c4" data-vars-headline="Mortality and coffee: Inside KC&#x27;s Death Cafe" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://deathcafe.com/" target="_blank">Death Cafes</a> have grown worldwide as more people look for informal spaces to talk about dying and loss outside of hospitals, funerals and crisis moments.

Black-owned kitchen blends Caribbean and Ethiopian flavors

From braised goat to Ethiopian tibs, Midtown restaurant delivers bold, spice-driven dishes.

Goat, oxtail, whole snapper and salmon share the menu at a Midtown restaurant that blends Caribbean and Ethiopian cooking.Why it matters: We&#x27;re starting Axios KC&#x27;s February spotlight on Black-owned businesses at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Black Garlic" data-vars-click-url="https://blackgarlicrestaurant.com/" data-vars-content-id="be10f3c6-9f89-4547-af14-395b9a9a0b28" data-vars-headline="Black-owned kitchen blends Caribbean and Ethiopian flavors" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://blackgarlicrestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Black Garlic</a>, a restaurant that stands out for the sheer range of what comes out of its kitchen, from Haitian staples to Ethiopian tibs.

5 time loop movies to watch on Groundhog Day

These five films will have you reliving the same day in the best way possible.

Groundhog Day is here, which means one thing beyond weather predictions: watching the same day repeat on screen. Here are five time loop movies worth binging.

How Kansas City honors Black history

Libraries, museums and artists are spotlighting Black history all month long.

Kansas City&#x27;s Black history lives in music halls, libraries, art studios, and community spaces throughout the metro. Here&#x27;s how to celebrate Black History Month across the city.

Things to Do 🗓

Ping-pong balls fly at new Ricochet game bar

Olympic fever packs the ice at KC Curling Club

The least romantic places to take a date in KC

🫶🏼 Your Galentine's Day game plan

Where to dance salsa like Bad Bunny in Kansas City