Kansas City Try On: Local Network Upgrade Ahead Of NFL Draft, Biden '24 & Cover Story

Right now, iconic hottie Ashley inspires our peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Cowtown Baller Countdown Starts

Preparations entering final stages one week out from the 2023 NFL Draft

BELOW THE FREEZING MARK. THAT'S COMING UP. WE ARE IN THE FINAL COUNTDOWN. KANSAS CITY IS JUST ONE WEEK AWAY FROM WELCOMING THE NFL DRAFT TO TOWN. NEWSCHOPPER 9 WOOD ABOVE UNION STATION AND THE WORLD WAR ONE MUSEUM TODAY AS CREWS CONTINUE TO GET THE STAGE AND DRAFT EXPERIENCE READY.

Mobile Tech Winning

Cell carriers make upgrades to boost signal in Kansas City during NFL Draft

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Organizers expect over 300,000 people to be in Kansas City next week for the 2023 NFL Draft, and that means cell phones might run a little slow downtown. But multiple cell phone carriers are taking steps to help.

Show-Me Reroute

MoDOT announces road closures related to Buck O'Neil Bridge - Downtown Council of Kansas City

Crews with the Buck O'Neil Bridge project will begin bridge work along the westbound Interstate 70 ramp to southbound I-35 just after Broadway Blvd. requiring the TOTAL CLOSURE of various portions along the north side of the Downtown loop beginning at approximately 10 p.m. on Friday, April 21, until approximately 5 a.m.

Justice In The Dotte Reconsidered

Podcast about Kansas City, Kansas, investigates police corruption while telling victims' stories - Kansas Reflector

The story of Roger Golubski, a police officer accused of corruption and whose investigations put at least one innocent man in prison, has been a top story in Kansas City, Kansas, for the past few years. The Kansas City Star has run dozens of columns, editorials, news stories and in-depth feature stories about FBI investigations into Golubski.

Kansas City Royal Crisis

There's no shortcut to the Royals' biggest problem

Internet slang changes all the dang time, with older phrases falling out of favor and new ones seemingly appearing out of nowhere. A relatively recent phrase started to crop up around the start of the pandemic and has cemented itself as a common term in the gaming community lately, born in the fires of Twitch and competitive gaming: skill issue.

EPIC PROGRESS!!!

Ashley Graham a MAXIM cover girl! The model, 35, lands front

Ashley Graham stripped down to her lingerie for the May/June 2023 cover of Maxim that debuted this week. This is a big change for the lad magazine which often featured young stars like Melissa Joan Hart in 1999 when she was only 22 and a size two.

Forever Prez Campaign 2024

Biden reportedly prepping for 2024 announcement next week

President Biden is reportedly preparing to announce plans to run for re-election as early as next week. The Washington Post first reported Thursday that Biden's team is eyeing a video launch for Tuesday, which would coincide with the four-year anniversary of when he launched his 2020 bid.

First Son Questions Persist

Hunter Biden tax probe improperly handled - whistleblower

The employee is prepared to "contradict sworn testimony to Congress by a senior political appointee", and reveal "clear conflicts of interest" and "preferential treatment and politics improperly infecting decisions and protocols", the letter states.

MAGA Redesigns GOP

Trump killed the 'values voter' wing of the GOP. It isn't coming back in 2024.

Unlike in Republican presidential primaries past, just two candidates - Pence, the former Catholic turned evangelical, and Scott, who speaks of finding a "God Solution" to the country's racial divide - stand alone in making explicit appeals to Evangelical voters. Trump and DeSantis, meanwhile, are relying solely on their reputations as brute-force brawlers in the culture wars.

Vlad Attack Postscript

Ukraine war: Russian warplane 'accidentally fires on own city'

Belgorod - a city of 370,000 - is around 25 miles (40 km) from the Ukrainian border. It lies just north of Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv, and has been frequently shelled since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Elon FAILS Upward

SpaceX rocket explosion illustrates Elon Musk's 'successful failure' formula

The spectacular explosion of SpaceX's new Starship rocket minutes after it soared off its launch pad on a first flight test is the latest vivid illustration of a "successful failure" business formula that serves Elon Musk's company well, experts said on Thursday.

Hollywood Ending

Alec Baldwin: Criminal charges dropped over shooting, say lawyers

"We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident," his lawyer, Luke Nikas, told the BBC in a statement.

Cowtown Reading List Exposed

Book recs: A Kansas City bookstore owner, librarian and author share what they're reading

Literature lovers are back on KCUR's Up To Date with 12 recommendations to add to your reading collection. Kansas City Public Library director of readers' services Kaite Stover, author Steve Paul, and BLK + BRWN bookstore owner Cori Smith share their favorite books of the moment.

Springtime Cold Front Approaches

FORECAST: A few upcoming overnight lows will drop into the 30s

Thursday's cold front brought some big changes to the region and will keep us locked into a cool pattern for the next few days. Expect a breezy evening before the wind settles a bit overnight. Lows will be cool in the lower 40s. As we step out Friday morning, our wind becomes stronger again from the northwest.

Fantasy (with GAYLE & Em Beihold) is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.