Kansas City Community Illuminated: Holiday Lights & Life Lessons

Once again . . . We pick a darker theme for this post and hope it doesn't stay up until noon. 

However . . . This is one of our favorite parts of TKC wherein we share some of the nicer and/or community focused local news we've been reading throughout the recent cycle . . . Take a peek:

Holiday lighting ceremonies underway across KC metro

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - 'Tis the season for tree-lighting ceremonies! There were at least five city tree-lighting festivals across the metro Friday night. In Overland Park, the festivities included a holiday-themed craft fair, sleigh rides, pony rides, photos with Santa and more.

KCPS is strategizing to stretch its limited financial resources

Kansas City Public Schools’ far-reaching proposal to restructure the district is an effort to improve academics, extracurriculars and the buildings where students learn.

Hickman Mills school district will soon have the highest teacher salaries in the Kansas City area

The Hickman Mills School District in south Kansas City will soon rank highest in the Kansas City, Missouri, area for teacher pay. At a meeting Thursday night, the school board voted unanimously to approve an increased teacher salary schedule. First-year teachers in the district currently make a minimum of $38,000 - the lowest teacher salary in the metropolitan area.

Watch KMBC's Friday Football Patrol for Nov. 18, 2022

Hide Transcript Show Transcript KAREN: TONIGHT, IS THE NIGHT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS PLAY FOR. THE CHANCE TO GO TO STATE. THERE ARE A HAND FULL OF SEMI FINAL GAMES BEING PLAYED IN OUR AREA AND ALAN SHOPE KICKS OFF OUR COVERAGE ON THE KANSAS SIDE ALEC: SIX DAYS DOWN TO TWO TEAMS. OLATHE NORTHWEST AND GARDNER IS ON THE STATE FOR THE WIN.

Kansas City's Nutcracker with a 21st Century twist opens

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Experience a Christmas classic with a 21st Centenary twist. You can now actually immerse yourself in the Nutcracker, thanks to Lighthouse Artspace in Zona Rosa. It's the same venue that also hosted Immersive King Tut and Immersive Van Gogh earlier this year.

Crown Center offers free activities to enjoy the holidays

Hide Transcript Show Transcript JAMIE: THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS NEARLY HERE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL FREE WAYS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN CELEBRATE RIGHT HERE AT CROWN CENTER. YOU CAN ENJOY CROWN CENTER AT THE HOLIDAYS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE.

Acts of kindness across Chiefs Kingdom prove fans go the extra mile

LENEXA, Kan. - Last Sunday's Kansas City Chiefs game against the Jacksonville Jaguars was a cold one for fans, but fans' warm hearts continue to shine through and steal the show. People in Chiefs Kingdom continue to take care of each other and go the extra mile to help, in one case quite literally.

Woman injured in fiery crash in Leawood faces long recovery

A woman who was pulled from a burning car earlier this week by Leawood police officers remains hospitalized. Her daughter told KMBC's Brian Johnson it will be a long road to recovery.Police body camera video showed Leawood officers running toward the burning car after the fiery crash Monday afternoon near 117th Street and Tomahawk Creek Parkway.Caroline Kill, 51, was the woman pinned underneath.

Veteran with painful diabetic condition finds breakthrough in Kansas City area

LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - A hometown hero battling painful diabetic neuropathy in his feet has found a solution and wants others to know about it. More than 34 million Americans suffer from diabetes. As that number rises, so do the number of people who suffer from painful diabetic neuropathy.

'The house is on fire': Boy raises alarm, helps family escape burning home

An Overland Park family was able to escape unharmed after their home erupted in flames early Friday morning.Jeff Jennings, his wife, and their three grandchildren were all at home when fire broke out before 6 a.m.Jennings' 10-year-old grandson, Jason, heard the glass breaking in his bedroom window, saw the flames and alerted the rest of the family."He heard something.

Christmas store for KC's homeless in need of donations

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A Kansas City shelter wants a thousand local families in need to wake up to presents under the tree on Christmas morning, but they need your help to get the job done. "We have seen moms and dads struggling to keep up with food demands and even utilities," Dr. Terry Megli, CEO of City Union Mission, said.

Jackson County families celebrate 'National Adoption Day'

The Jackson County Family Court is celebrating National Adoption Day one day early with families making it official. "He came to us and it was a good gift, a good gift from God," said Auston Mavis, who adopted his son three-year-old son Russell.

Weekend Possibilities | World Cup Watch Party, Nighthawk and Early Winter Magic

The beautiful game interrupts regularly scheduled American football programming starting Sunday. 12:30, 4 & 7:30 p.m. The Classic Holiday Movie Series at Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road, starts this weekend with multiple showings of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." Tickets for the holiday throwback series on the region's largest screen are just $3.50.

Cold and blustery for your Saturday

Hide Transcript Show Transcript THEY ARE IN THE TEENS. WARM COAT WEATHER GLOVES HAT YOU'LL WANT ALL OF THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEADING OUT THIS EVENING. TEMPERATURES JUST SLOWLY COME DOWN TO THE LOW TWENTIES. WE'LL HANG OUT NEAR 20 DEGREES BY 10:00.

HOPEFULLY, we'll have more for the morning update . . . STAY TUNED!!!