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Schools adopting AI could see benefits (and more work)

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

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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.

Trump's cheap beef plan lands hard in cattle country

Kansas' top farm advocate calls it "anti-American." Economists say it may backfire on beef prices.

President Trump&#x27;s plan to fight high ground beef prices with up to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="300,000 metric tons" data-vars-click-url="https://rollcall.com/2026/08/21/trump-creates-beef-with-ranchers-over-new-import-plan/" data-vars-content-id="9caf1d0a-d7b4-4b9f-a6de-9f8beb471621" data-vars-headline="Trump&#x27;s cheap beef plan lands hard in cattle country" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://rollcall.com/2026/08/21/trump-creates-beef-with-ranchers-over-new-import-plan/" target="_blank">300,000 metric tons</a> of tariff-free imports is facing opposition from cattle farmers, and the Kansas Farm Bureau&#x27;s president is leading the charge.Why it matters: Beef built KC, and it remains a big economic driver. Cattle are the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="biggest single sector of the Kansas economy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_apprprtns_1/documents/testimony/20250306_01.pdf" data-vars-content-id="9caf1d0a-d7b4-4b9f-a6de-9f8beb471621" data-vars-headline="Trump&#x27;s cheap beef plan lands hard in cattle country" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_apprprtns_1/documents/testimony/20250306_01.pdf" target="_blank">biggest single sector of the Kansas economy</a>, at $11.7 billion and nearly 39,000 jobs, and Missouri&#x27;s cow herd <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ranks third in the nation across roughly 60,000 farms" data-vars-click-url="https://mofb.org/fire-up-the-grill/" data-vars-content-id="9caf1d0a-d7b4-4b9f-a6de-9f8beb471621" data-vars-headline="Trump&#x27;s cheap beef plan lands hard in cattle country" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://mofb.org/fire-up-the-grill/" target="_blank">ranks third in the nation across roughly 60,000 farms</a>.

KC Streetcar fights extreme heat with water-spraying trucks

Tracks are susceptible to deterioration during the hottest parts of the day.

Streetcar officials are testing a new way to prevent extreme heat from damaging the tracks. Why it matters: This summer has been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="exceedingly hot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/08/07/more-extreme-heat-coming-to-kc-as-impact-grows" data-vars-content-id="d6bfb680-8514-4eb7-8ca0-e72ea5a2d740" data-vars-headline="KC Streetcar fights extreme heat with water-spraying trucks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/08/07/more-extreme-heat-coming-to-kc-as-impact-grows" target="_self">exceedingly hot</a>, with peak temperatures threatening people&#x27;s health and city infrastructure.

KC set transit records as soccer fans swelled

The streetcar's five busiest days ever all came during the World Cup, and KCI logged its biggest outbound day in 54 years. Here's how the metro moved 800,000-plus riders.

Transit

Record crowds moved through Kansas City&#x27;s airport, streetcar and buses during the metro&#x27;s six World Cup matches.Why it matters: The city&#x27;s hosting stretch from June 11 to July 12 tested how well KC moves people at a scale it had never attempted.

The same ride-share is double the fare for some

Uber and Lyft can quote riders different prices for the same trip. Here's how to skip the guesswork.

Rideshare apps can quote two fans heading to the same Kansas City World Cup events very different fares for the same trip.Why it matters: With stadium <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="parking scarce and able to top $900" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/05/kc-world-cup-parking-transit-guide" data-vars-content-id="3bdd7dbf-4c29-4c0f-bfa0-7671aa0222ae" data-vars-headline="The same ride-share is double the fare for some" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/05/kc-world-cup-parking-transit-guide" target="_self">parking scarce and able to top $900</a>, some fans will lean on Uber and Lyft to reach <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="matches" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/17/kansas-city-world-cup-match-argentina-algeria-recap" data-vars-content-id="3bdd7dbf-4c29-4c0f-bfa0-7671aa0222ae" data-vars-headline="The same ride-share is double the fare for some" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/17/kansas-city-world-cup-match-argentina-algeria-recap" target="_self">matches</a> at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kansas City Stadium" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/09/inside-kc-world-cup-stadium-arrowhead" data-vars-content-id="3bdd7dbf-4c29-4c0f-bfa0-7671aa0222ae" data-vars-headline="The same ride-share is double the fare for some" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/09/inside-kc-world-cup-stadium-arrowhead" target="_self">Kansas City Stadium</a> and the free downtown <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="FIFA Fan Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/12/fifa-fan-festival-kansas-city-opening" data-vars-content-id="3bdd7dbf-4c29-4c0f-bfa0-7671aa0222ae" data-vars-headline="The same ride-share is double the fare for some" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/12/fifa-fan-festival-kansas-city-opening" target="_self">FIFA Fan Festival</a>, but the fare often comes down to timing and luck.<ul><li>Uneven app pricing is drawing national scrutiny, and a recent investigation put numbers to it.</li></ul>

How locals can make KC a World Cup success story

Leaders are counting on residents to lean into the festivities.

World Cup organizers and neighborhood leaders say the way Kansas Citians engage with the tournament&#x27;s festivities will play a big role in the city&#x27;s success during the monthlong event.The big picture: Local organizers expect lots of visitors and a big economic impact, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="questions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reddit.com/r/kansascity/comments/1ttpsej/kansas_city_still_expects_650000_world_cup/" data-vars-content-id="2ac76d14-5c03-424f-aba1-1b1a8249f0c6" data-vars-headline="How locals can make KC a World Cup success story" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/kansascity/comments/1ttpsej/kansas_city_still_expects_650000_world_cup/" target="_blank">questions</a> remain over whether KC is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ready to handle" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kcur.org/history/2026-05-27/kansas-city-world-cup-2026-tickets-transit-bid" data-vars-content-id="2ac76d14-5c03-424f-aba1-1b1a8249f0c6" data-vars-headline="How locals can make KC a World Cup success story" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kcur.org/history/2026-05-27/kansas-city-world-cup-2026-tickets-transit-bid" target="_blank">ready to handle</a> the event — and whether the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="projections" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2026-06-01/kansas-city-still-expects-650-000-world-cup-visitors-how-will-we-know-how-many-actually-come" data-vars-content-id="2ac76d14-5c03-424f-aba1-1b1a8249f0c6" data-vars-headline="How locals can make KC a World Cup success story" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2026-06-01/kansas-city-still-expects-650-000-world-cup-visitors-how-will-we-know-how-many-actually-come" target="_blank">projections</a> will actually pan out for local businesses.

🚍 Your World Cup transit guide

Stadium parking is scarce and selling fast, with passes topping $900. Here's how to reach Kansas City's six World Cup matches by shuttle and transit — plus, the roads to avoid.

Getting to Kansas City&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="six World Cup games" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2026-04-16/kansas-city-world-cup-buses-transit-shuttle-game-transportation" data-vars-content-id="f470583c-8e66-4c0b-8778-4117d5c0294c" data-vars-headline="🚍 Your World Cup transit guide" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2026-04-16/kansas-city-world-cup-buses-transit-shuttle-game-transportation" target="_blank">six World Cup games</a> at Arrowhead Stadium will mean navigating scarce parking, paid shuttles and road closures.Why it matters: The cheaper options are already selling out, so planning your ride now can save real money and spare you the worst traffic.

Greenline trail around downtown KC is gaining ground

The path is still far from finished — but it's closer than you might think.

A proposed trail encircling downtown Kansas City that has been quietly in the works for years is building momentum with a new public exhibit and active construction plans.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Greenline KC" data-vars-click-url="https://www.greenlinekc.com/" data-vars-content-id="77566b26-2004-42f7-a58c-e2c4099c932e" data-vars-headline="Greenline trail around downtown KC is gaining ground" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.greenlinekc.com/" target="_blank">Greenline KC</a> is still far from finished — but it&#x27;s closer than you might think, with several multimillion-dollar projects paving the way.

Paid parking is coming to Berkley Riverfront

Port KC is trying to manage traffic as the neighborhood expands.

It will soon cost to park your car at Berkley Riverfront.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Port KC" data-vars-click-url="https://berkleyriverfront.com/parkingpolicy/" data-vars-content-id="31b28931-ab8a-4f3d-a0a4-c014b566243d" data-vars-headline="Paid parking is coming to Berkley Riverfront" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://berkleyriverfront.com/parkingpolicy/" target="_blank">Port KC</a> is trying to manage traffic as the neighborhood expands and demand for space increases.

KC Current cuts game day shuttles

Team leaders want fans to use the KC Streetcar's Riverfront Extension.

The KC Current will no longer offer game day shuttles, with team leaders encouraging fans to take the KC Streetcar now that the Riverfront Extension is open.Why it matters: Fans accustomed to using the free shuttles are going to have to make other plans, which may include earlier arrivals and later departures.

KC's streetcar finally hits the river

The KC Streetcar's Riverfront Extension opened Monday, dropping riders just steps from CPKC Stadium less than a month before the World Cup hits town.

<figure><img alt="Diverse group of officials and professionals in business attire pose outdoors at a streetcar inauguration, pressing a ceremonial lever beside a blue RideKC Streetcar sign." height="720" id="4da6d5d7-7e34-44fb-879c-da02799d032c" src="https://images.axios.com/5q_l8DEtwgP91eRilojud82h1IY=/2026/05/18/1779134599293.gif" width="1280"/><figcaption>KC knows how to celebrate. GIF: Abbey Higginbotham/Axios</figcaption></figure>The KC Streetcar&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Riverfront Extension" data-vars-click-url="https://kcstreetcar.org/about-streetcar/streetcar-riverfront-extension/" data-vars-content-id="a96d549e-2170-4254-99b9-daa00d4c6418" data-vars-headline="KC&#x27;s streetcar finally hits the river" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kcstreetcar.org/about-streetcar/streetcar-riverfront-extension/" target="_blank">Riverfront Extension</a> officially opened Monday, connecting downtown to Berkley Riverfront Park for the first time and capping a decade of planning and setbacks.Why it matters: The 0.7-mile extension lands less than a month before the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2026 FIFA World Cup" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kcur.org/housing-development-section/2026-04-21/kc-streetcar-berkley-riverfront-opening-cpkc-stadium-world-cup" data-vars-content-id="a96d549e-2170-4254-99b9-daa00d4c6418" data-vars-headline="KC&#x27;s streetcar finally hits the river" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kcur.org/housing-development-section/2026-04-21/kc-streetcar-berkley-riverfront-opening-cpkc-stadium-world-cup" target="_blank">2026 FIFA World Cup</a> hits town, dropping riders just steps from CPKC Stadium and a $1 billion riverfront district that&#x27;s still being built up.

Residents weigh in on the future of 71 Highway

Project leaders say the highway hasn't delivered on its intended purpose.

City planners are meeting with residents today for the final community summit meant to reimagine U.S. Highway 71 and the future of its surrounding neighborhoods.Why it matters: The project, dubbed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Reconnecting the East Side" data-vars-click-url="https://reconnecteastside.com/" data-vars-content-id="e3149641-fee5-4d3f-97e5-f7967e4a2ebd" data-vars-headline="Residents weigh in on the future of 71 Highway" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://reconnecteastside.com/" target="_blank">Reconnecting the East Side</a>, seeks to address the harms created by the highway, which <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="demolished" data-vars-click-url="https://reconnecteastside.com/history" data-vars-content-id="e3149641-fee5-4d3f-97e5-f7967e4a2ebd" data-vars-headline="Residents weigh in on the future of 71 Highway" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://reconnecteastside.com/history" target="_blank">demolished</a> swaths of minority neighborhoods and created one of KC&#x27;s most dangerous roads.

Transit 🚗

KC Streetcar fights extreme heat with water-spraying trucks

KC set transit records as soccer fans swelled

The same ride-share is double the fare for some

How locals can make KC a World Cup success story

🚍 Your World Cup transit guide