Kansas City News Lounge: Locals Wired Up, Testing Debt Limits & Vlad Smells Blood

This morning we celebrate hottie Angela for her groundbreaking performances as an actress and producer. And so her body of work inspires our peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Ballers Run At Gigabit Speed

NFL Draft: Google Fiber to upgrade Wi-Fi Service at National World War I Museum and Memorial

Organizers will start work on Wednesday making sure a few hundred thousand NFL fans will have reliable Wi-Fi connection at the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City. Crews will be installing Google Fiber 5G at the National World War I Museum and Memorial beginning at 10 a.m.

Developers Set Agenda & Continue Earning Corporate Welfare

Incentives Approved for Crossroads Apartment Plan; Affordability Debate Continues

By Kevin Collison A 12-story apartment project planned for the Crossroads dropped 11 affordable units from its original plan after being turned down on its $3 million incentive request from the Kansas City Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The 112-unit project proposed by Copaken Brooks for 1818-22 Main was approved for an 18-year property tax abatement...

Show-Me GOP Flex On Hiring

Missouri House votes to ban diversity spending in government

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri's Republican-led House on Tuesday voted to ban state government spending on diversity, equity and inclusion, including at public colleges and universities. During work on the state budget, lawmakers voted to prohibit government funding from paying for staff, vendors, consultants and programs "associated with diversity, equity (and) inclusion."

Ladies Confront Crackdown

Kansas law singling out abortion clinics contested at high court

Share this post or save for later TOPEKA - An attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights says a 2011 state law that targets abortion clinics with a "regulatory scheme" was an unjustified attempt to restrict access to a fundamental right.

History Restored In The Dotte

Sauer Castle owner moving forward with repairs after avoiding tax sale

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - There's encouraging news regarding Sauer Castle, KCK's celebrated Civil War-era landmark. Sauer Castle is no longer part of an upcoming Wyandotte County tax sale, according to a spokesperson from the Unified Government of Wyandotte County. The castle's owner is moving forward with repairs, now that he's entered into a partnership with a metro construction executive.

All About Angela's Survival

Adult film star breaks silence after 'almost dying' in intense scene

Adult entertainer Angela White has thrown cold water on rumours she 'almost died' while filming an intense sex scene with fellow porn star Keiran Lee. Keiran, 39, recently made headlines when he claimed Angela, 37, was rushed to hospital with a burst appendix after they filmed an hour-long sex scene in 2013.

White House Funds Voting Tech

Biden starts democracy summit with $690M pledge for programs

WASHINGTON -- WASHINGTON (AP) - President Joe Biden is opening his second Summit for Democracy with a pledge for the U.S. to spend $690 million bolstering democracy programs around the globe. The Biden administration wants to use the two-day summit that begins Wednesday to zero in on making "technology work for and not against democracy," according to a senior administration official.

MAGA Loses Heavyweight

"Look, I just can't": Chris Christie pledges never to support Trump again

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is seriously considering a 2024 presidential campaign, told Axios that he will never support Donald Trump for president again - even if he wins the Republican nomination. Why it matters: No potential GOP candidate has made such an explicit pledge, underscoring the degree to which Christie is betting on the viability of an anti-Trump lane in the primary.

Far East Sends Warning

China warns of retaliation if Taiwan's president meets US House speaker

The Chinese government has threatened retaliation if Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, meets the US House speaker this week, and urged the US not to let her transit through the country, saying it would be a "provocation". Tsai departs on Wednesday afternoon for a 10-day trip to visit Central American allies, Belize and Guatemala.

Republican Money Talks

McCarthy tries to drag Biden to negotiating table on debt limit

Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is trying to ramp up pressure on President Biden to negotiate a package of fiscal reforms in exchange for raising the debt limit, but Democrats still refuse to sit down with him, setting the stage for a high-stakes standoff this summer. McCarthy on Tuesday tried to kickstart negotiations by laying out...

South Of The Border Surrender

Video shows guards at Mexican detention center flee fire that killed 38 without releasing migrants

Newly released footage shows guards at a Mexican detention center racing away from a massive fire that killed 38 migrants without attempting to free those trapped behind locked gates. The surveillance footage, obtained by Noticias 26 Univision El Paso, captured the guards quickly fleeing the National Institute of Migration (INM) in Ciudad Juárez as the flames could be seen building up in the corner of the room.

Vlad On Warpath

Putin will 'smell blood' to seek more land if Bakhmut falls, says Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Wednesday that defeat in the battle for Bakhmut would allow Vladimir Putin to "feel blood" to push for Ukraine to accept a peace deal surrendering land. The Ukrainian president issued the dire prediction amid reports that Putin's "private army", the Wagner Group mercenaries, had likely seized an industrial complex in the eastern town and now controlled around two thirds of it.

American Royal Redux

You can catch all 40 of the new Kansas City Parade of Hearts sculptures in one place

Parade of Hearts is back for its second year, and 40 heart sculptures decorated by local artists are almost ready for their debut. For one day only, all of this year's designs will be on display in one place: American Royal Center in the West Bottoms. The public art project, which displays larger-than-life hearts around the metro, also raises money for a handful of local charity organizations.

Springtime Starts Today

Beginning our spring warmup in the metro today

Hide Transcript Show Transcript THOUGH, RIGHT? YEAH. THERE'S GOING TO BE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WIND TODAY. I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO NOTICE THAT WIND REALLY RAMPING UP ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. THOSE ARE OUR WINDY DAYS. BUT THERE WILL BE A BREEZE TODAY.

David Guetta & Bebe Rexha - I'm Good is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.