Whether you're a motor boat pro, a dinghy dabbler, or just maritime-curious, KC has options to get everyone on the water.

The big picture: As summer heats up and KC experiences increasingly warm, dry weather, living the lake life is sounding better and better.

The fine print: There are a lot of ways to define "boat," so we're recommending lakes that support motorized vessels capable of carrying more than one person. We'll get to personal watercraft and sailboats later.

• Make sure to get your boat license (and fishing permits) for Missouri and Kansas.

📍Smithville Lake

Why we like it: Smithville Lake is the metro's largest body of water. With four parks, three campgrounds, three marinas and two beaches, there's lots to explore.

What to do: If you don't have a boat, don't sweat it. You can rent one at Camp Branch Marina. Rates start at $80 and go up to $325.

Zoom out: Make a day of it; eat at Chop's BBQ, bring your clubs for Paradise Pointe, and end the day with a rosé at Ladoga Ridge Winery.

📍Lake Jacomo

What to do: Jacomo boasts the largest boat rental facility in the KC metro. Its fleet includes jon boats and pontoons, starting at $70.

Zoom out: While there's plenty more to do around the lake, its proximity to downtown Lee's Summit (7.5 miles) makes for an ideal day out.

• Mix up your favorite scent at Embers Candle Bar, fill your belly with some "bones" at Konrad's, and finish with a beer at Smoke Brewing Company.

📍Longview Lake

Why we like it: Longview Lake has trails, a full-service marina and plenty of room to roam.

What to do: Splash or lounge at the beach. Hit the greenway on foot or the bike paths on two wheels.

Zoom out: Apart from its own robust trail system, Longview is near the Rock Island Trail and Cedar Creek.

Keep reading

Use of the 988 mental health crisis line varies widely across the country, with Kansas and Missouri landing near the middle of the pack, a new analysis finds.

Why it matters: The national suicide prevention and mental health hotline was launched nearly three years ago to help address America's mental health crisis.

Zoom in: Missouri logged an average of 28.2 contacts per 1,000 residents last year, while Kansas came in at 26.7, per new research published in JAMA Network Open.

• The national average was 23.7.

Zoom out: Alaska (45.3 contacts per 1,000 people), Vermont (40.2) and New York (38.8) had the highest 988 contact rates among states in 2024.

• Delaware (12.5), Alabama (14.4) and Florida (15.6) had the lowest.

How it works: "Contacts" include all calls, texts and chats sent to 988, including those forwarded along to more specific services, like the Veterans Crisis Line.

What they're saying: Several factors may be contributing to the state and regional differences in 988 use, says study author Jonathan Purtle, associate professor and director of policy research at New York University's School of Global Public Health.

• Missouri launched a new ad campaign this spring to raise awareness of 988, with billboards, digital ads and social media messages encouraging people to call when in crisis.
• Many Americans remained unfamiliar with 988 as of last summer, per Ipsos polling.

The latest: Starting July 17, SAMHSA will end the 988 Lifeline's "Press 3" LGBTQ+ youth option, which connected callers directly to counselors from The Trevor Project, a service that supported about 1.3 million young people.

• This change comes after funding for the specialized line ran out despite the general 988 line remaining fully funded .

If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat with someone at 988lifeline.org. En español.

Go deeper

B-2 bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Missouri, were part of an offensive operation in Iran on Saturday, FOX4 reported. The strike, which damaged three nuclear facilities, marked the most direct and consequential U.S. military action against Iran since 1979, Axios reported.

🌪️ Dorothy's house — or rather, the model that they used to film the twister scene in "The Wizard of Oz" — is on display at the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas. It's the first time the "tornado house" has been dropped into public view. (KCUR)

🍕 Food waste app Too Good To Go recently started connecting Kansas Citians with local restaurants, offering discounts on items that could otherwise end up in the garbage.

• We downloaded the app. It offers low-priced "surprise bags" from spots like Post Coffee and Providence by the Slice, but items sell out quick.

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👋 Hey, it's Travis.

The World Cup kickoff event at Aspiria in Overland Park yesterday was hot, windy, festive and a lot of fun.

• Bands played. Soccer balls were kicked. Dogs performed tricks (Purina was a sponsor).

What they're saying: "This is a great moment for all of Kansas City and our entire region to come together," KC Mayor Quinton Lucas said at a pep rally. "We will be outstanding hosts. We will make great memories, and we're going to make sure the world sees what an exceptional community we have."

Let me know: What questions about the World Cup can I help answer?

• Hit reply on this email and ask away.