Kansas City Link Pool: B-Ball, Tax Hike, Ukraine War, COVID Reopen & Coffee

Iconic hottie Heather starts our peek at the morning as we check pop culture, community news and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Fanboi FYI

The Big 12 basketball tournament is back in Kansas City this week. Here's what you need to know

The 2023 men's and women's Big 12 basketball championships are getting underway at Kansas City's T-Mobile Center and Municipal Auditorium, respectively. This week's tournament will bring plenty of great games, a lot of disruptions to downtown traffic patterns, and one Shaquille O'Neal.

Six Figure Kansas City Stays Winning

Jobs that now pay $100,000 in Kansas City - Kansas City Business Journal

Most technical sales representatives, electronics engineers and education administrators weren't making $100,000 in Kansas City before the pandemic. But they are now. Those are three of the nine occupations for which median annual salaries reached six figures between 2019 and 2021, according to a new analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data by The Business Journals.

Golden Ghetto Inflation Worsens

Overland Park City Council approves placing sales tax on June ballot to pay for street upgrades

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After much discussion, the Overland Park City Council Monday night approved placing a 3/8-cent sales tax on the June mail ballot for street and related infrastructure repairs. Council members agreed the city, now just more than 60 years old, needs improvements to its streets, road and related infrastructure.

About Local Filters

What's in your water? At least one area has more 'forever chemicals' in its drinking water than currently advised

They're called "forever chemicals." They don't break down in landfills.They can be in everyday products like the floss you used this morning, the clothes you're wearing right now, and food packaging from your most recent meal.Both Missouri and Kansas will soon have to make big changes to test for these forever chemicals in the water you drink, due to new guidelines in the works from the U.S.

Kansas City Airs It Out

Kansas City, Missouri, officials look to Kansas for help in landing transatlantic flight at KCI

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas sent a letter earlier this year to Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly asking for help to land a transatlantic flight at the new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport.

Starlet Endures

Heather Graham is chic while promoting her new series Extrapolations

Heather Graham exuded business chic in an eye-catching suit on Tuesday as she enjoyed a press day to promote her upcoming Apple TV+ series titled, Extrapolations. The Twin Peaks alum, 53, flashed a smile towards the camera as she was joined by one of her co-stars, Matthew Rhys, during the busy day.

Prez Pushes Higher Taxes For Good Cause

Biden launches battle on Capitol Hill with call for Medicare tax hike

President Biden fired the opening shots of the battle over spending and taxes that will consume Capitol Hill this year when he proposed on Tuesday a 5 percent Medicare surtax on people who earn more than $400,000 a year. The White House is hailing the proposal, which is part of Biden's budget plan, as...

White House Fact Checker Confronted Nationwide Push Back

'A surreal experience': Former Biden 'disinfo' chief details harassment

"It was a surreal experience to be forced to confront this guy," Jankowicz told POLITICO in an interview. In one video, she says, the man said her newborn should be put in "baby jail." Now, it looks like Jankowicz will be back in the spotlight. Rep.

Vlad Marches Forward At Horrific Cost

Russians Claim Control Over Bakhmut's East, Ukrainians Defiant

KYIV (Reuters) - The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group said on Wednesday his forces had taken full control of the eastern part of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and NATO'S secretary general said it could all fall to the invading army in the next few days.

Far East Enjoys All Clear

U.S. to lift Covid testing requirements for travelers from China

NBC News has learned that the U.S. is planning to lift Covid-19 testing requirements for travelers from China as early as this week as a House panel investigating the origins of the virus holds its first hearing.

Youngster Star Gets Serious

Ben Savage, star of '90s sitcom 'Boy Meets World,' is running for Congress

subscribe to The NPR Politics Podcast podcast Ben Savage, the former star of the 1990s ABC sitcom Boy Meets World, is running as a Democrat for a U.S. House seat covering the district that includes Hollywood.

Building Up Local Dirt

Divided Plan Commission Endorses Project That Replaces Urban Farm

By Kevin Collison The City Plan Commission narrowly endorsed a planned apartment project that would replace the Cultivate KC urban farm in Midtown despite protests it was breaking an agreement reached with community support in 2015. Sustainable Development Partners is seeking an amendment to an earlier development plan to build a 100-unit, two-building project southeast...

Gracious Java Reporting

Core Coffee thanks customers after one year in business

Abby HooverManaging Editor Core Coffee at 546 Olive St. in Pendleton Heights celebrated its first anniversary this past weekend with friends, family and neighbors. They pulled out all the stops with balloons, cake, specials from Peter May's House of Kielbasa, local artists sharing their work, and Girl Scouts selling cookies out front for the casual and welcoming event.

Midweek Local Chill . . . 

Cloudy and chilly conditions in the metro Wednesday

Hide Transcript Show Transcript JUST SCAN AND GO ANY MORE AND YOU'RE DONE. SID IF YOU CAN THIS MORNING STARTING TO LOSE SOME VISIBILITY HERE, THAT COULD BE THE CEILING OR THE BASE OF THE CLOUDS STARTING TO GET CLOSER TO THE GROUND OR DRIZZLE. 42 DEGREES WITH AN EAST BREEZE.

Fenne Lily - Lights Light Up is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.