Kansas City's largest family-owned coffee brand and its sister logistics company are planting their flags downtown this spring.

Why it matters: The move by Paris Brothers Inc. establishes a seven-year lease at a long vacant space in the Power & Light District, one of KC's busiest neighborhoods.

The big picture: President Joe Paris recently took over the more than 40-year-old family business from his dad and uncle. "It's been stressful," he says. "Like, don't mess it up, right?"

• His vision for the move centers around culture, energizing roughly 200 employees and building a brand that represents KC.

Driving the news: The company recently announced its first-ever headquarters near 13th Street and Baltimore, bringing teams together for the first time.

Context: Kansas Citians are likely familiar with the big "Parisi Coffee" sign towering up out of the Crossroads. But the coffee team is just one part of the Paris Brothers business.

• The company's warehousing and grocery distribution lines operate out of SubTropolis, an underground business park.

What they're saying: We want to "be good stewards of Kansas City," Paris tells Axios.

• Power & Light president John Moncke said in a statement: "They are one of Kansas City's great homegrown success stories, and their decision to locate downtown is another strong signal of the confidence businesses have in the future of our urban core."

Zoom in: Part of the move is about recruiting. Paris says attracting employees to underground offices has been difficult since the pandemic.

• He also wants his coffee lab and test kitchen to build energy across departments. "We're all foodies," he says.

State of play: Parisi has only two cafes — in Union Station and downtown Overland Park — but Paris says the coffee business is growing through private-label sales and its organic coffee brand, Mother Earth, is sold in stores.

• Paris Brothers' grocery distribution is also expanding to include more local and clean-label brands, including James Beard winner Yoli Tortilla and Jack Stack barbecue sauce.

What we're watching: The new HQ won't include a coffee shop, but Paris says the Crossroads space could eventually become one.

As the Trump administration ramps up federal immigration enforcement, experts say children across the country may be absorbing the fear and uncertainty of ICE operations.

Why it matters: Experiencing traumatic events in childhood can create lasting physical and mental health challenges that extend into adulthood, Sita Patel, a clinical psychology professor at Palo Alto University, tells Axios.

The big picture: Patricia Lopez Ruiz, a bilingual therapist at the Mattie Rhodes Center who works in schools, tells Axios that some children who are aware of a relative's immigration status have experienced a major increase in anxiety and stress symptoms.

• Exposure to constant media coverage, unpredictability and violence creates stress and trauma that Patel says "will absolutely have an impact on many people's life course in terms of health and capacity to contribute and thrive."

Zoom in: Kids may come to school tired, distracted or struggling to concentrate, Lopez Ruiz says.

• Children may show stress through withdrawal, avoidance, changes in eating, or loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed, she says.

What to expect: Lopez Ruiz urges parents to look for changes in routines and behavior, including isolation from friends or developmental regression in younger children.

• Parents often notice small shifts first, she says. If concerns persist, families can seek counseling or case management support.

The latest: Holding New Therapy, a Kansas-based virtual practice, recently launched a two-week support group, Parenting During an Immigration Crisis, for parents from various racial and ethnic backgrounds.

• Licensed clinical social worker Ana Regalado-Gil says she created the group after noticing a rise in anxiety in her office and community.
• Some children worry their parents "won't come home," she tells Axios. Others have nightmares, refuse to go to school, or ask for constant reassurance.

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🚌 Bus riders across the metro are unionizing as part of a push to add stops, increase frequency, and improve amenities while avoiding future budget cuts to the KC Area Transportation Authority. (KCUR)

🎷 The American Jazz Museum in the 18th and Vine District is expanding after a $3.2 million grant from the City Council. The Blue Room jazz club will be revamped with room to grow its exhibits in the coming years as the Negro Leagues museum moves down the block. (Business Journal)

👜 Luxury brand Coach is opening a coffee shop in Leawood's Town Center later this year. Only a few others exist in the nation, with bag-shaped pastries and latte art carrying the brand's letter C. (Kansas City Star)

Johnson County drivers saw new express lanes on U.S. 69 open on Saturday as part of an effort to reduce congestion.

Why it matters: The $572 million project wrapped up roughly three years of construction and is intended to address an increasing number of cars on one of the busiest highways in the metro, per the Kansas Department of Transportation.

The big picture: Drivers who want to use the express lanes will need to familiarize themselves with the rules, signs and costs.

• Those who don't will still be able to use the two free lanes.

How it works: Express lanes run between 103rd Street and 151st Street, and are separated by double white lines that drivers should not cross. If you do, you could get a ticket.

• Each direction will have two entrance points, marked with price signage and a dotted white line.

Costs range from 35 cents for partial lane use during less busy hours to $1.50 for full lane use during morning and evening commutes.

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