Kansas City Racket: Bittersweet BBQ & American Concerts In Crisis

Once again we're inspired by celeb and Insta hottie Syd as we take another peek at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Local Hobo Connections

Jackson County to open $2.9M trail connection linking Little Blue Trace and Rock Island

Jackson County expands trail network with Little Blue Trace-Rock Island link.

Local Menu Cutbacks

World Series of BBQ in KCK will be smaller, with fewer options. What to expect

The long-held Kansas City tradition, scheduled to begin Sept. 30, will look very different this year. Here's what to know.

About Reforming The Dotte

Freshly minted lawmaker ignites long-sought audit of powerful Kansas City-area government

Frustrated residents of the combined Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas, government have sought accountability for its use of tax money for many of the years since the two entities merged into a unified city-county government in 1997. Remarkably, their new state representative may have achieved that reckoning mere months after taking office.

Show-Me Presser Politics

Missouri election clerks tell federal appeals court it's too late to switch congressional maps

The 116 local election offices in Missouri are part of the Missouri Association of County Clerks.

Local Icon Redux

'These barns are built with purpose': Inside the American Royal's new $375M home in KCK

"This is a building for food and agriculture," said Jackie McClaskey, noting the American Royal campus is nearly the size of seven football fields. "This is a building to be able to showcase our state's and our country's most important industry - an industry that is led by people with grit and passion and persistence."

More Than Handful Of Controversy

Is Sydney Sweeney hurting acting career by posing in naked sports ad?

Sydney Sweeney famously doesn't shy away from nudity on screen when it's important to her character. And now the actress is flaunting her monumental assets for commercial gain as well.

MAGA Supreme Push Back

Trump lashes out at Supreme Court after mail ballot loss

Following the Supreme Court's decision to block Trump's mail-in ballot plan on Monday, Trump said the justices he initially nominated are a "shell of their original selves."

GOP Challenges War Dept.

Thomas Massie pushes surprise impeachment vote of Pete Hegseth | CNN Politics

House Democrats were privately dreading a politically charged - but purely symbolic - vote on impeaching President Donald Trump triggered by one of their own members.

American Hip-Hop Crisis

Ed Sheeran Addresses Macklemore's Removal From Tour in New Statement

"Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter's decision, it was not mine. Macklemore's contract for the tour was with the promoter, not me."

Elite Hangout Hot Mess

Trump announces closure of Kennedy Center after name ruling

The Kennedy Center in Washington will be closed, US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, citing financial issues and renovations. The move came hours after a federal judge blocked the institution f...

Politicos Collab Against Machines

Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon call for curbs on AI at 'pro-human' summit

Leftwing senator and far-right strategist rail against tech oligarchs but offer competing visions on Chinese 'cold war'

Voting Stays Losing?!?

State of U.S. democracy reaches new low, report finds

A new global democracy report finds the U.S. at its lowest level of democratic performance in the 50 years it has been measured.

Iran From Wartime Costs

Iran war costs $38 billion as CBO warns of higher inflation, depleted weapons

The war with Iran has cost the US at least $38B through the end of July and is expected to further push inflation higher, according to a nonpartisan CBO assessment.

House Remains Divided

Democrat rebels defy Jeffries to hand GOP critical win just before midterms

Two moderate House Democrats defied Hakeem Jeffries by voting with Republicans on a key procedural vote, raising questions about his bid to be speaker of the House.

GenX Stays Competitive

Poor Gwyneth Paltrow. She's been eclipsed by Sydney Sweeney's boobs

The Goop founder saucily went topless on TikTok while modelling sweaters this week. But everyone was too busy talking about the Euphoria star's naked sportswear ad to notice

JoCo Construction Season FAIL Followup

Mission's $12M Johnson Drive overhaul frustrates drivers, local businesses

Lane closures and blocked turns along one of Mission's busiest corridors are causing traffic confusion and cutting into sales for nearby shops as the major construction project stretches into next year.

Tonight's Soggy Forecast

First Warn for storms today into Wednesday

A First Warn is in place now through Wednesday morning for two waves of rain & storms. The first wave brings scattered storms that pose a severe threat. The second wave brings concerns for enhanced flooding potential as rain & storms culminate over the same areas overnight.

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.