Kansas City Sunday News Walk: Gifting, Fighting & Prepping

As always, the angels inspire our Sunday look at the world by way of news links. In this collection we check pop culture, community news and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Here's How To Buy Local For Holidaze . . . 

Looking for gift ideas around Kansas City? Try these DIY classes and experiences

This story was first published in KCUR's Creative Adventure newsletter. You can sign up to receive stories like this in your inbox every Tuesday. Christmas and Hanukkah are right around the corner, and for those that celebrate, it's gift-buying crunch time.

Quick Review Of Ongoing Complaints . . . 

Parents react to rolling blackouts for some Olathe school bus routes

OLATHE, Kan. - Beginning Jan. 5, 2023, the Olathe Public Schools district will implement rolling transportation blackouts for certain bus routes. An online to parents said the reason for the decision is because of an existing lack of school bus drivers and an uptick in driver illness.

Hometown Collectables Debut

KC area Hy-Vee stores, Negro Leagues Museum collaborate to release Buck O'Neil bobblehead

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Hy-Vee stores in the Kansas City area have partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to release a brand-new, limited-edition Buck O'Neil bobblehead, celebrating the city's baseball legend.

More Deets On Off-Season . . .

Royals Take a Chance on Former Yankees Reliever

Brooks Kriske will always be remembered by Yankees fans as the right-hander that produced one of the wildestinnings in baseball history. The reliever threw four wild pitches in the 10th inning at Fenway Park back in July of 2021 to blow a game against the Red Sox , the first time in MLB history that a pitcher has thrown four-plus wild pitches in an extra inning.

Newspaper Prints Longstanding Gripe . . . 

Kansas City can do better than the oddly-shaped mayor's Christmas Tree in Crown Center

OPINION AND COMMENTARY The more I think about it, the more it upsets me. How in the world is this a thing? It's so ugly and misshapen. That "thing" that has occupied too much of my mind this holiday season is the mayor's Christmas Tree in Crown Center. It's so bad.

Angels Show Compassion . . . 

Victoria's Secret Bans Cashmere Because of Its Ties to Animal Abuse - Why Isn't the Fabric Vegan?

Victoria's Secret may still be guilty of promoting unrealistic beauty standards and selling fast fashion lingerie items. But environmentalists and sustainable fashion enthusiasts are currently celebrating a relatively small win, after the brand recently took a firm stand against the use of cashmere. On Dec.

Prez Plans To Party

Biden plans pre-holiday remarks to 'celebrate' accomplishments

By President Biden plans to speak to the American people this week, before the Christmas holiday and the new year, about what he sees as his major accomplishments since taking office, according to White House officials.

Redux: Prediction From 2015

Is Trump finally politically dead? Sort of | Robert Reich

Congress ends its first post-Trump term, the biggest political question hanging over America is: When will the Republican party finally reach its anti-Trump tipping point - when a majority of Republican lawmakers disavow him? Again and again, it looks like the tipping point is near but the party remains under Trump's thumb.

Show-Me Debt Connection

The student loan company being used to attack Biden's debt relief plan

MOHELA now manages the accounts of nearly 7 million federal student loan borrowers, more than double what it had two years ago. Last yea,r it brought in more than $130 million in revenue, the bulk of which came from its federal contract to service student loans.

COVID CONT'D?!?!

China's cities battle first wave of COVID surge as wider spread looms

BEIJING, Dec 18 (Reuters) - Streets in major Chinese cities were eerily quiet on Sunday as people stayed home to protect themselves from a surge in COVID-19 cases that has hit urban centres from north to south. China is currently in the first of an expected three waves of COVID cases this winter, according to the country's chief epidemiologist, Wu Zunyou.

Radio Free Europe Reporting . . .

'The Bakhmut Meat Grinder': Russian Troops Are Pummeling This Donbas City. It's Unclear Why.

In a courtyard outside a battered apartment building in the eastern city of Bakhmut, the crackle of a makeshift fire on which an elderly woman named Alla was trying to boil water was occasionally interrupted by the crack, whistle, and thump of incoming Russian artillery. She didn't flinch.

El Papa Prepared

Pope Francis has already signed resignation letter in case of bad health | CNN

Pope Francis has revealed in a new interview that he has already signed his resignation letter to be used in the event of him becoming "impaired." Francis made the comment in an interview with Spanish news outlet ABC, published Sunday, when asked what would happen if a pope is suddenly rendered unable to perform his duties due to health issues or an accident.

Another Look At The Lineup

Report: Toney to return, Hardman expected back against Seahawks

HOUSTON (KCTV) - The Kansas City Chiefs expect to get wide receiver Kadarius Toney back on Sunday against the Houston Texans according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter. Toney, Kansas City's midseason pass-catching acquisition, did not play during the last three games after suffering a hamstring injury during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11.

Snow Sneak Peek . . . 

A calm and cold Sunday before a busy weather week

Hide Transcript Show Transcript WE HEAD INTO A WEEK WHERE MOTHER NATURE WILL REMAIN UNDEFEATED. KATIE: SHE HAS CONTROL THIS WEEK. SHE GAVE ME AND ALL OF US HER PLAYBOOK SO IT'S UP TO US TO DECIPHER WHAT HER PLAN IS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD BUT ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL HITS THAT ARE GOING TO COME THROUGH THIS WEEK THAT WILL IMPACT YOUR DAY AND SOME THAT MAY PROMPT WEATHER ALERTS.

George Michael - Faith is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.