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

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Income tax vs. sales tax: Missouri voters decide

Missouri's General Assembly wrapped its 2026 session with a constitutional amendment that would phase out the state income tax and let lawmakers expand the sales tax to cover it.

News

KCMO voters will likely decide this year whether to begin phasing out Missouri&#x27;s income tax and let lawmakers expand sales tax to make up the difference.Why it matters: Missouri <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="collected" data-vars-click-url="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/05/14/lawsuit-challenges-missouri-plan-to-expand-sales-tax-to-phase-out-income-tax/" data-vars-content-id="48b6da0e-b181-43d8-aca1-1db64e2dd7ec" data-vars-headline="Income tax vs. sales tax: Missouri voters decide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/05/14/lawsuit-challenges-missouri-plan-to-expand-sales-tax-to-phase-out-income-tax/" target="_blank">collected</a> $9.2 billion in individual income tax last year, about 65% of state revenue. Replacing that money would require adding about 8.5% to the state sales tax unless lawmakers start taxing things that are currently exempt, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/03/12/missouri-house-oks-switch-to-sales-tax-from-income-tax/179787/" data-vars-content-id="48b6da0e-b181-43d8-aca1-1db64e2dd7ec" data-vars-headline="Income tax vs. sales tax: Missouri voters decide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/03/12/missouri-house-oks-switch-to-sales-tax-from-income-tax/179787/" target="_blank">reported</a>.

KC's guide to Memorial Day weekend

Cheer on KC's pro teams, spend time outdoors, or lean into the holiday's patriotic traditions.

Things to Do

Memorial Day marks a weekend of remembrance and the unofficial start of summer.The big picture: Whether you want to cheer on KC&#x27;s pro teams, spend time outdoors, or lean into the holiday&#x27;s patriotic traditions, there&#x27;s no shortage of options this weekend.

Worst times to drive in KC this Memorial Day weekend

AAA predicts this will be the busiest Memorial Day ever for travel.

Travel

Consider staying off Kansas City highways Thursday and Friday afternoons if you want to avoid the worst <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Memorial Day weekend" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/23/memorial-day-weekend-2025-federal-holiday-meaning" data-vars-content-id="729b3ad1-a1d1-4e88-a782-8dee7001c9c2" data-vars-headline="Worst times to drive in KC this Memorial Day weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/23/memorial-day-weekend-2025-federal-holiday-meaning" target="_self">Memorial Day weekend</a> traffic, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="INRIX" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ace.aaa.com/travel/advocacy/memorial-day-travel-forecast-safety-tips.html" data-vars-content-id="729b3ad1-a1d1-4e88-a782-8dee7001c9c2" data-vars-headline="Worst times to drive in KC this Memorial Day weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ace.aaa.com/travel/advocacy/memorial-day-travel-forecast-safety-tips.html" target="_blank">INRIX</a> forecasts.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AAA predicts" data-vars-click-url="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2026/05/45-million-americans-planning-memorial-day-weekend-getaways/" data-vars-content-id="729b3ad1-a1d1-4e88-a782-8dee7001c9c2" data-vars-headline="Worst times to drive in KC this Memorial Day weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2026/05/45-million-americans-planning-memorial-day-weekend-getaways/" target="_blank">AAA predicts</a> this will be the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="busiest Memorial Day ever" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/12/memorial-day-travel-forecast-record-aaa" data-vars-content-id="729b3ad1-a1d1-4e88-a782-8dee7001c9c2" data-vars-headline="Worst times to drive in KC this Memorial Day weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/12/memorial-day-travel-forecast-record-aaa" target="_self">busiest Memorial Day ever</a> for travel — meaning your departure time could <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="make or break" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/23/travel-delays-shutdown-security-airfare-prices" data-vars-content-id="729b3ad1-a1d1-4e88-a782-8dee7001c9c2" data-vars-headline="Worst times to drive in KC this Memorial Day weekend" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/23/travel-delays-shutdown-security-airfare-prices" target="_self">make or break</a> your trip.

CPKC Pavilion is an ode to the Missouri River

The transit hub was intentionally designed to reflect the river nearby.

It&#x27;s hard to miss the newly opened KC Streetcar stop down at Berkley Riverfront, whether you&#x27;re stepping off under its reflective roof or gaping at the glowing pylons at night.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CPKC " data-vars-click-url="https://portkc.com/project/cpkc-pavilion-at-berkley-riverfront/" data-vars-content-id="63cfd0a1-6626-4e91-aa80-df42941fdb5e" data-vars-headline="CPKC Pavilion is an ode to the Missouri River" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://portkc.com/project/cpkc-pavilion-at-berkley-riverfront/" target="_blank">CPKC </a>Pavilion is more than just a shiny new transit hub. It&#x27;s a work of art symbolizing the Missouri River flowing nearby.

Inside The Antler Room, 9 years running

Husband-and-wife team Nick and Leslie Newsam Goellner have spent nine years running one of KC's most quietly decorated kitchens.

Food and Drink

The Antler Room, a husband-and-wife-run spot in the Longfellow neighborhood, has been serving Persian, East Asian and Mediterranean dishes side by side.Why it matters: Nine years running, this <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="small restaurant" data-vars-click-url="https://www.theantlerroomkc.com/about" data-vars-content-id="531af843-feff-4f8b-b69e-fec31cdf93c9" data-vars-headline="Inside The Antler Room, 9 years running" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.theantlerroomkc.com/about" target="_blank">small restaurant</a> is one of KC&#x27;s longest-standing fine-dining standouts, with three <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="James Beard " data-vars-click-url="https://www.visitkc.com/articles/kansas-citys-james-beard-award-restaurants-and-bars/" data-vars-content-id="531af843-feff-4f8b-b69e-fec31cdf93c9" data-vars-headline="Inside The Antler Room, 9 years running" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.visitkc.com/articles/kansas-citys-james-beard-award-restaurants-and-bars/" target="_blank">James Beard </a>semifinalist nods for chef Nick Goellner and a menu that still changes daily.

World Cup Fan Fest will allow dogs some days

Organizers want Kansas City to be the most pet-friendly host city.

KC&#x27;s Fan Fest will open the doors to dogs during three Sundays of World Cup celebrations.Why it matters: Organizers said Tuesday they want Kansas City to be the most pet-friendly host city this summer, combining the passions of sports and pet ownership through animal activities and dog adoptions.

Ideas for Mother's Day in Kansas City

Here's how locals can celebrate mom, from flowers to brunch.

Mother&#x27;s Day is Sunday, and whether you&#x27;re booking brunch, picking flowers or planning a quiet day at home, the KC metro has options for whatever mom is into.

Lonely in your 20s? Join the club

Loneliness carries the same mortality risk as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, the Surgeon General warns. KC native Madi Lamb founded Quarter Life Club after her own quarter-life crisis at 25, and now hosts meetups across the city for twentysomethings tired of feeling alone.  A few notes: URL slug: Front-loads "gen z loneliness" because that's what people will actually search. "Kansas City" anchors it locally, "Quarter Life Club" gives the brand. Keeps the slug under the typical 60-character SEO best practice. SEO headline: Built to rank. "Lonely in your 20s" is searchable, "Gen Z loneliness epidemic" picks up the trend keywords, and "Kansas City social club" captures local intent. Mirrors your article headline's hook. Social headline: Two sentences for stop-scrolling power. The first names the problem with a stat that hits ("more than half of Gen Z"). The second teases the local solution. The pause between them creates curiosity. Social description: Leads with the most arresting stat (15 cigarettes a day) because that's the line that makes a reader keep going. Names Lamb and the club so readers know there's a real story, not a think piece. Lands on the emotional hook ("tired of feeling alone") which mirrors the article's voice. Want me to push any of these in a different direction?

More than half of Gen Z is lonely, and a Kansas City social club believes the cure is the same thing that scares them most: walking into a room of strangers alone.Why it matters: Loneliness isn&#x27;t just a feeling. It carries<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" the same mortality risk as smoking 15 cigarettes a day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/connection/index.html" data-vars-content-id="b9bc5efb-bcc1-4105-ae33-1dc574e1b8a7" data-vars-headline="Lonely in your 20s? Join the club" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/connection/index.html" target="_blank"> the same mortality risk as smoking 15 cigarettes a day</a>, according to the Surgeon General.

Current Landing debuts town square, watch parties

It's built to host watch parties on a video board the size of an apartment.

The Kansas City Current debuted its new town square at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Current Landing" data-vars-click-url="https://currentlanding.com/" data-vars-content-id="6a30e7d4-8b4b-410e-8d3f-05712444daa9" data-vars-headline="Current Landing debuts town square, watch parties" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://currentlanding.com/" target="_blank">Current Landing</a>, including a video board the size of an apartment.Why it matters: It&#x27;s the team&#x27;s gathering space outside the stadium, built to host watch parties and act as the welcome mat to everything teal.

Tiny drinks, tiny prices at Lifted Spirits

The East Crossroads distillery's new happy hour menu features five mini cocktails for $6, served Wednesday through Saturday.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lifted Spirits Distillery" data-vars-click-url="https://www.liftedspiritskc.com/" data-vars-content-id="258668cf-140d-4477-8ac9-19ba822477f3" data-vars-headline="Tiny drinks, tiny prices at Lifted Spirits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.liftedspiritskc.com/" target="_blank">Lifted Spirits Distillery</a> is shrinking its cocktails and the tab that comes with them, joining our running list of KC happy hours that won&#x27;t <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="break the bank." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/04/13/kc-happy-hours-that-wont-break-the-bank" data-vars-content-id="258668cf-140d-4477-8ac9-19ba822477f3" data-vars-headline="Tiny drinks, tiny prices at Lifted Spirits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/04/13/kc-happy-hours-that-wont-break-the-bank" target="_self">break the bank.</a>The big picture: The East Crossroads distillery is in on the mini cocktail trend with a new happy hour menu of $6 in glasses about half the size of a standard cocktail.

Grassroots club reshapes River Market with native gardens

The club maintains 14 gardens and has planted 130 trees.

Environment

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.

KC has an LGBTQ+ "Shark Tank" for relationships

At "Where to Find Us," your best friend gets three to five minutes and a slideshow to sell you to a roomful of singles.

Imagine your best friend taking the stage in front of hundreds of people, slideshow ready, to pitch you as the city&#x27;s most eligible single. That&#x27;s a typical evening at a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Where to Find Us" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/wheretofindus.xo/" data-vars-content-id="3d51c966-0e16-4a81-b2ed-34b472ccbc19" data-vars-headline="KC has an LGBTQ+ &quot;Shark Tank&quot; for relationships" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/wheretofindus.xo/" target="_blank">&quot;Where to Find Us</a>&quot; event.Why it matters: Co-founders <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lo Mchel" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/lo.mchel/" data-vars-content-id="3d51c966-0e16-4a81-b2ed-34b472ccbc19" data-vars-headline="KC has an LGBTQ+ &quot;Shark Tank&quot; for relationships" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/lo.mchel/" target="_blank">Lo Mchel</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tiffany Watts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/hookedonkc/" data-vars-content-id="3d51c966-0e16-4a81-b2ed-34b472ccbc19" data-vars-headline="KC has an LGBTQ+ &quot;Shark Tank&quot; for relationships" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/hookedonkc/" target="_blank">Tiffany Watts</a> started the show in 2024 to build a dating space for the LGBTQ+ community, not just one that lets them in.

Afterword finds a new home in Hyde Park

Afterword Tavern & Shelves is reopening this summer in Hyde Park, four times the size of its old Crossroads spot.

Beloved KC bookstore-bar <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Afterword Tavern &amp; Shelves" data-vars-click-url="https://www.afterwordkc.com/" data-vars-content-id="86cc1184-6c11-4bf7-a79c-10e2e9f1a159" data-vars-headline="Afterword finds a new home in Hyde Park" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.afterwordkc.com/" target="_blank">Afterword Tavern &amp; Shelves</a> is reopening this summer in the former Brewer&#x27;s Corner space in Midtown.Why it matters: The literary cocktail bar closed its East Crossroads location in January after seven years, leaving regulars without their go-to spot and the city without one of its most distinctive bars.

Things to Do 🗓

KC's guide to Memorial Day weekend

Inside The Antler Room, 9 years running

World Cup Fan Fest will allow dogs some days

Ideas for Mother's Day in Kansas City

Lonely in your 20s? Join the club