Kansas City Roundup: COVID Emergency Cancelled, Debt Limits & MAGA Legal Fights

Right now we are honoring J-Lo's age-defying booty as we take a quick peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines. 

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Toy Train Can't Be Stopped

Kansas City Streetcar extension sees more progress south

The Kansas City streetcar's 3.5-mile southern extension to the Country Club Plaza and University of Missouri-Kansas City has started to heat up, with multiple milestones on the horizon in the year ahead. Crews with KC Streetcar Constructors recently started two to three weeks of welding the southern route's remaining track, combining six 80-foot rail sticks into 480-foot rail strings at Brookside Boulevard, between 49th and 51st streets.

More Deets On Bridgework

Work continues on the Buck O'Neil Bridge in Kansas City

Starting next week, southbound 169 Highway will be closed for 600 days as part of the Buck O'Neil Bridge replacement. The closure will begin on Monday, Feb. 6 and last until Fall 2024. The closure will allow crews to tie the southbound bridge into U.S.

Debatable Rock Chalk Schemes

At $1.5 billion, Kansas Chamber's flat tax plan would be bigger tax cut than Brownback's

A plan by the Kansas Chamber to implement a flat income tax would come with a price tag far bigger than the tax cuts of former Gov. Sam Brownback that were eventually repealed amid massive budget shortfalls. The Kansas Chamber's plan would generally implement a 5% flat tax on both personal and business income.

Show-Me Creative Accounting

Renewed efforts underway in Missouri to subsidize music, film industry

JEFFERSON CITY - After failing to gain traction in the Legislature last year, Missouri lawmakers renewed their attempts Monday to help a company that has developed a $130 million music production facility in Chesterfield. Under legislation sponsored by Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, and Sen.

Hipster Notes Reconsidered

Letter from the Editor: This must be the place

Pitch Bitch. Lovebirds, welcome to the February issue of The Pitch. While spirits are high and rebirth is in the air, as we ride the wave of enthusiasm for a new year, this magazine brings together our traditional (yet wildly untraditional) look at sex, love, and relationships in the City of Kansas.

Hottie Endures . . .

Jennifer Lopez, 53, flashes bra after CUT from Kim Kardashian's photo

Jennifer Lopez had a fresh look to share early on Monday morning. The 53-year-old Shotgun Wedding actress took to Instagram to post three new images from the spring 2023 Coach campaign. The pinup was seen in a black bra and undies under a cardigan as she flashed her toned legs.

Prez Cancels COVID Crackdown

Biden tells Congress he'll end COVID-19 emergencies on May 11

President Biden told Congress on Monday that his administration will end twin emergencies related to the COVID-19 pandemic on May 11, 2023, more than three years after they were enacted. The COVID-19 national emergency is set to expire on March 1, while the public health emergency (PHE) will expire on April 11.

Proving Smutty Payout

Manhattan DA presenting evidence in Trump-Stormy Daniels investigation to grand jury

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office is presenting evidence to a grand jury about former President Donald Trump's alleged hush money payment to a adult film star in 2016, according to a person familiar with the investigation. The move lays the groundwork for possible criminal charges against Trump.

MAGA Vs. Scribe . . .

Trump sues Bob Woodward for publishing audio recordings of White House interviews

Former President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit Monday against Bob Woodward claiming the veteran journalist did not get his consent to release audio recordings of interviews conducted during the last two years he was in office. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of Florida, focuses on the October release of "The Trump Tapes: Bob Woodward's Twenty Interviews with President Donald Trump."

Free Money Forever . . . 

Biden's new debt ceiling problem: Wall Street's not freaking out

The White House and Treasury are already putting up resistance to the idea, which Treasury says would amount to a default. But disclosures over the past several years - driven in part by investigations by House Republicans - have revealed that officials believe the government has the technical capacity to implement payment prioritization, though it would be experimental and risky.

Exit Strategy Eludes Veep

Some Democrats are worried about Harris's political prospects

As a longtime leader of the Cobb County Democrats, Jacquelyn Bettadapur has become highly attuned to the factors shaping her party's fortunes in her home state of Georgia: the rise and fall of Stacey Abrams, Democrats' unexpected surge in 2020, the enduring influence of Donald Trump.

Red Flex Confronts GOP

China Urges Kevin McCarthy Not to Repeat Pelosi Visit to Taiwan

(Bloomberg) -- China called on US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy not to visit Taiwan, raising the specter of a repeat of the showdown last year when his predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, made her own trip to the democratically run island.

High Flying European Escalation

Ukraine says Poland sending 'positive signals' about providing F-16 fighter jets

A top Ukrainian official on Monday said Poland is sending "positive signals" about sending F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv as the next big debate over western security assistance for Ukraine heats up. Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's presidential office, wrote on Telegram that Poland is ready to "pass them on to us in coordination...

Stockpiling War Games

Zelenskiy: Ukraine needs more weapons, faster

Bakhmut, Vuhledar and other sectors in Donetsk region -- there are constant Russian attacks. The General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces said earlier on Sunday that its forces repelled an attack near Blahodatne in the eastern part of the Donetsk region, while Russia's Wagner private military group said it took control of the village.

Politics Of Plague Redux

COVID-19 pandemic 'is probably at a transition point,' WHO says

The World Health Organization said Monday that COVID-19 remains a public health emergency but the pandemic is at a "transition point." The agency said its International Health Regulations Emergency Committee met on Friday to analyze data on the state of the pandemic.

King Chuck Preps Clap Back

King Charles Is Ready to Trash Harry - or Declare a Truce

The British press is reporting that King Charles III might do a BBC interview to retaliate against Prince Harry's accusations. But other U.K. reports say Charles wants his son at the coronation. Maybe Harry's right: Most royals coverage is nonsense.

Curtain Call For TV Star

Cindy Williams, 'Laverne & Shirley' actress, dead at 75

Cindy Williams, who starred in "Laverne & Shirley," has died at the age of 75 following a brief illness, according to her family. Williams portrayed Shirley alongside Penny Marshall's Laverne on the popular sitcom. The star's children, Zak and Emily Hudson, shared a statement following her death.

Dangerous Curves Indeed

A Harm Reduction Guide to Better Booty-Bumping Kits

Every drug user I talk to regularly has heard my case for putting drugs up your butt. It's a conversation that doesn't work in certain settings, but if you have some privacy even the warier folks often express some level of interest. The most common complaint I hear is that someone tried it and it didn't work.

Adult Actress Rampage Reported

P*rn Star High On Cocaine Bit A Cop & Ran Half-Naked Through The Streets After Crashing Her Car

A 34-year-old p*rn star - a term I choose to use out of respect for the profession - found herself in a court in the UK after a cocaine-filled afternoon got away from her. Romana Lawson, who cleverly goes by Romana Ryder when she performs, crashed her car into a van recently.

Always Ahead Of Local News Game

Nick's Picks | Chiefs in the Super Bowl, and Other News

Do we have to go to work today now that the Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl? Or does Kansas City have to win for that to happen? Expect lots of news stories this week about the cost of snagging a Super Bowl seat and of Kansas Citians defacing their bodies to commemorate the occasion.

Powering Up Home Team

Kansas City home honors Chiefs with elaborate light show

Kansas City home in Carriage Hill Estates Neighborhood offers elaborate Chiefs light show While you still might see some Kansas City homes with Christmas lights on, there's one with lights dedicated to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Tonight's Twinkle Toe News

Kansas City Ballet Performs Devon Carney's 'Cinderella' - KC STUDIO

Kansas City Ballet dancers Molly Wagner as Cinderella and Anthony Krutzkamp as The Prince in Kansas City Ballet's 2014 production of "Cinderella" (photo by Steve Wilson) The "Cinderella" story is more than a fairy-tale romance, which is why it's captured imaginations for more than 300 years.

Party People Planner

The best KC events in February 2023

The best events and things to do in Kansas City in February 2023.

Coldness Cont'd

KC's cold weather continues

NEAR ZERO, BUT I DID NOT SEE ANYBODY COMPLAINING ABOUT THE COLD, BUT IT WAS COLD YESTERDAY. IT IS STILL CHILLY OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW. WE ARE LOOKING TOWARDS THE STADIUM. WE HAVE SOME OF THAT SUNSHINE. WE ARE CURRENTLY AT 20 DEGREES, WARMER THAN IT WAS YESTERDAY EVENING.

Washed Out - Feel It All Around was the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.