Kansas City Big Picture News Gathering

We're knocking off a bit early tonight in hopes of getting started sometime before noon tomorrow . . . Because goals are important!!!

In the meantime we share this peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines for our fellow news junkies . . .

Kansas City Smashing Pumpkins

Smashing good time: Kansas City families dispose of leftover Halloween pumpkins in unique way

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) --- Families had a smashing good time disposing of leftover Halloween pumpkins at a local farm farm Sunday morning. Urbavore Urban Farm invited visitors to bring their old jack-o-lanterns to annihilate with baseball bats and hammers, crushing them into bits for compost and snacks for pigs.

Big Agra Life Lesson

Corporate money keeps university ag schools 'relevant,' and makes them targets of donor criticism

Large donors can put universities in potentially awkward positions when faculty conclusions conflict with the interests of those benefactors. Data collected by Harvest Public Media and Investigate Midwest show corporations have given at least $170 million to ag colleges in the past decade.

Meth Town Needs Po-Po

Independence hopes incentives will help recruit, retain police officers

by: Heidi Schmidt Posted: / Updated: INDEPENDENCE, Mo. - Police departments across the metro are struggling to hire enough officers to fully staff their police forces. The department said it needs to hire at least 30 officers. Independence said it hopes offering incentives will help the department recruit officers and fill those openings.

Tribute To Coach

Community mourns beloved Olathe North football coach Josh Dirks

SHAWNEE, KS (KCTV) --- The Olathe and Shawnee communities remembered the life and legacy of coach Josh Dirks. The Olathe North football coach's family says he died of pneumonia on November 4, 2021. "[He] was a phenomenal father," said senior right guard Mason Hyskell. "[He] was always wanting the best for everybody."

South Side Development Slap Fight

Grandview residents say "not in my backyard" to mixed-income development Libertad

On Tuesday, October 12, the Grandview City Alderman voted 4-2 to defeat an ordinance that would approve a 62-unit multi-family development at 12529 Lemon Tree Lane. The mixed-income project included 55 affordable and seven market-rate family units on three acres near I-49 and 127th St.

Celeb Fashion Faux Pas

'Blatantly disrespectful': Kendall Jenner's 'inappropriate' wedding attire sparks backlash

Kendall Jenner's latest look is raising eyebrows online after the model opted to wear "barely-there" dress to a friend's wedding. Over the weekend, the 26-year-old attended pal Lauren Perez's wedding dressed in a $1,815 ($1,450 USD) black Diamond-Cutout Two-Piece Maxi Dress from New-York-based brand Mônot.

Prez Biden Saves The World?!?

Joe Biden wants America to lead the world against the climate crisis. That goal faces a big test this week.

President Joe Biden's ambitions to lead the world in slowing the planet's warming will be tested on two continents this week as he travels to Scotland for the most important climate talks in years, while back home lawmakers come closer to making his visions a reality.

MAGA In Contempt

Trump ally Bannon taken into custody on contempt charges

WASHINGTON (AP) - Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of former President Donald Trump, surrendered to federal authorities on Monday to face contempt charges after defying a subpoena from a House committee investigating January's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Bannon was taken into custody Monday morning and is expected to appear in court later in the afternoon.

Flack Money Talk Disappoints

Psaki says 'no economist' is predicting higher inflation when pressed by NBC reporter

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki rejected an NBC reporter's line of questioning on Monday about Americans' economic concerns by arguing "no economist" is projecting higher inflation. "Americans are seeing their dollars, their paychecks stretched right now," NBC's Peter Alexander said at Monday's White House press briefing.

Courtroom Chaos After Riot Shootout

From irresponsibly pointing a gun, to 'tsking,' DA's closing in Rittenhouse trial was pathetic

The case against Kyle Rittenhouse collapsed almost before it began. As the prosecution and defense made their closing arguments Monday, with the jury likely to get the case Tuesday, it looks even more likely that he will be acquitted on murder charges. Rittenhouse killed two men and wounded a third while protecting businesses during riots in Kenosha, Wis.

Mad At Vlad

US anger at Russian anti-satellite missile test debris

The US has condemned Russia for conducting a "dangerous and irresponsible" missile test that it says endangered the crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The test blew up one of Russia's own satellites, creating debris that forced the ISS crew to shelter in capsules.

Top Talk Talks Politics

Fauci says partisan divide 'hindered' pandemic response

White House medical advisor Anthony Fauci said in an interview Monday the partisan divide related to COVID-19 "really hindered" the nation's pandemic response. Fauci told former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist in a virtual interview hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center addressing a public health issue like COVID-19 "requires synergy among all elements of our government, where we realize that the common enemy is the virus."

East Meets West Online

Biden, Xi kick off virtual meeting with calls to increase communication

BEIJING - U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off a virtual meeting on Tuesday with a positive tone and cordial remarks. Biden said he hoped to meet face-to-face sometime and that he looked forward to a candid conversation.

Conspiracy Theorist Admits Delusion

Alex Jones found liable in Sandy Hook defamation lawsuit

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is liable for damages in a lawsuit brought by families of Sandy Hook shooting victims after he falsely claimed the attack was a hoax, a Connecticut judge ruled Monday. Why it matters: This is Jones' latest defeat in defamation lawsuits related to his conspiracy theories about the 2012 mass shooting.

Diva Toasts To Freedom

Britney Spears broke 14-year sobriety streak with glass of champagne

Britney Spears had first gotten sober in 2007 following her very public mental break down The 39-year-old pop star revealed she enjoyed her 'first glass of champagne' while dining with fiance Sam Asghari at Catch in West Hollywood on Sunday evening She had reportedly been abstaining from alcohol for the last 14 years On Friday November 12, Judge Brenda Penny terminated her conservatorship in a Los Angeles Superior Court Britney Spears revealed that she enjoyed her 'first glass of champagne' in nearly 14 years during a celebratory dinner at Catch in West Hollywood on Sunday.

Planets Align

Partial lunar eclipse visible around Kansas City on Friday morning

by: Alex Countee Posted: / Updated: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - There are four eclipses sprinkled throughout the year 2021. There was a total lunar eclipse in late May, where we only saw a part of it. An annular solar eclipse happened over the North Pole in June, and there will be a December total solar eclipse around the South Pole in December.

Community Spirit Awakens

Photos: Día de los Muertos parade at Mattie Rhodes Center

Day of the Dead 2021. // Photo by Jim Nimmo For almost 20 years in Kansas City's West Side neighborhood, the Mattie Rhodes Center hosts a parade-and opens up its gallery-for the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos). Tiny decorative sugar skulls are handed out to children all night, and a collective of food trucks awaits everyone at the...

Ballers Brag After Destroying Raiders

Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill: Patrick Mahomes is 'still the same guy'

The Kansas City Chiefs are back! For a few weeks now, we've been waiting to say those six words - and finally, here we are. In their 41-14 defeat of the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday Night Football, the Chiefs looked dominant on both sides of the football.

Sound Of Local Music Comeback

Journey bringing 'Freedom Tour' with Billy Idol to Kansas City in 2022; tickets on sale this week

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - "Don't Stop Believin'" that you will have a good time at the T-Mobile Center in 2022. The rock legends are coming to Kansas City with special guest Billy Idol on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m.

Enjoy Autumn

Warm winds push temperatures into the 70s

Monday, warm winds will keep temperatures up at night as well as during the afternoon. The low will drop into the middle 40s. Tuesday will be mostly sunny, windy and warm with a high in the lower 70s. On Wednesday, another quick moving cool front will push some clouds, showers and colder air into the area.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for tonight . . .