The Trump White House is pushing ahead with an extraordinary effort to game the system by redrawing congressional maps ahead of the midterms, with eyes on Missouri's 5th District, which includes Kansas City.

Why it matters: Republicans are hoping to pick off more than a half-dozen Democratic-held seats across the country in 2026.

The big picture: The push to add Republican House seats is sparking a chain reaction as the parties fight over the majority.

Context: Redistricting for partisan advantage is nothing new, but it's usually done after the census every 10 years. The next census is scheduled for 2030.

• In Texas, President Trump has encouraged Republicans to embark on a redistricting project that he's said could net the party as many as five seats.
• In Missouri, Republicans believe they could flip another congressional seat.

Zoom in: Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Missouri) told St. Louis Public Radio last week that the Trump administration is targeting Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II's district, according to KCUR.

• Missouri's congressional maps are drawn by the state Legislature and approved by the governor.
• After the 2020 census, Missouri Republicans floated a map that would have split Kansas City's Democratic-leaning 5th District, but infighting and pushback led them to abandon the plan, according to the Missouri Independent.
• Cleaver called Trump's new push for redistricting "dangerous," but the state's conservative Freedom Caucus wants a special session, calling the current map "weak" and "diluted."

The other side: Leaders in Democratic states, led by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, have vowed to punch back by drawing new Democratic seats.

Between the lines: "The battlefield is extremely narrow compared to 10 or 20 years ago," said Matt Gorman, a former National Republican Congressional Committee official.

The bottom line: If Democrats seize the lower chamber, it would derail Trump's legislative agenda for his final two years in office.

Barbecue fans can now get rewarded for eating their way through Kansas City.

Why it matters: The revamped KC BBQ Experience, from Visit KC, encourages people to explore more than 100 local barbecue joints while driving traffic to businesses that are part of the region's $4 billion tourism economy.

How it works: Users sign up for free on VisitKC.com to get a digital "passport" sent to their phone.

• Diners check in at participating restaurants to earn points.
• Visit KC member restaurants are worth 100 points per visit. Non-members are worth 50.
• Just 100 points earns your first reward — a branded bottle opener — while the biggest prize, a custom apron, requires 3,000 points.

Behind the scenes: The program first launched in 2018 as an app with check-ins and photos but no real incentives. This version took months to build after switching platforms.

• "We felt that allowing users to earn points toward prizes would be an engaging way to hopefully drive participation and encourage more people to support our local restaurants," Visit KC's Makenzie Wolters tells us.

The big picture: Visit KC has more than 900 members, including restaurants and event organizers.

If you go: You'll need to be on-site to check in and rack up points.

• The new Museum of BBQ at Crown Center is the official prize redemption location.

The bottom line: Kansas City's barbecue culture already inspires loyalty. Now it comes with swag.

🏗️ Port KC approved $10 billion in revenue bonds for Project Mica, a large data center project in the Northland. The 500-acre site will include five buildings and major infrastructure upgrades. The project includes $1.75 million in upfront workforce investments. (Port KC)

⚽️ The U.S. Women's National Team will play its first-ever match at CPKC Stadium Oct. 29. The opponent hasn't been announced, but tickets go on sale this Friday. (KSHB)

🌳 Kansas City Council greenlit a Crossroads Community Improvement District. The CID can impose a half-cent retail sales tax and assessments on neglected properties to fund neighborhood security, trash pickup, and landscape initiatives. (Kansas City Business Journal)

🍇 The spotted lanternfly, a striking insect often mistaken for a moth, is making its way toward Missouri. The bug eats fruit and could be detrimental to the state's $4.2 billion wine and grape industry. (KCTV5)

Our questions about dog doo disposal generated some thoughtful responses — and even another question.

What we learned: People are particular about their poo, and there's no one-bag-fits-all approach.

• Here are some responses to our questions.

🐶 Do you mind if people throw their waste bags in your curbside bin?

Cheryl Jernigan says no — "assuming it was bagged" — and is "just glad they were picking it up and disposing of it."

• "In a similar vein, I had a friend get upset because a person let their dog pee on her car tire… Understandable at a first glancing thought. But what else has your car tire been through and gotten slopped on it as we drive around?"

Another reader had "strong feelings on dog poop: pick it up and take it to a public bin or your own bin!"

• They added: "One time, a dog owner dutifully bagged their poop and then gracefully placed in our planted urn along the sidewalk."

🐶 Is it OK to cop a poop bag from a public waste dispenser if you have your own bags in hand?

Our respondents all agreed this was OK. Whew.

Richard Potter asks: "is it ok to let my Yorkiepoo urinate on the neighbors yards? Trees? Shrubbery? Flowers?"

• Hit reply to join the conversation.