Nathan Pilling

Kansas City’s Worlds of Fun sold. It will ‘continue normal operations’ in 2026 Two years after Cedar Fair merged with Six Flags, ownership of Worlds of Fun is once again changing hands.

Six Flags is selling off a group of seven amusement parks that includes Kansas City's Worlds of Fun and Six Flags St. Louis. www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Tornadoes, large hail possible as Kansas City faces season’s first severe weather A powerful storm system could unleash large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes on the Kansas City area. Here’s what the forecast says about when storms are most likely to hit.

"All severe hazards are possible, including damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes, and heavy rainfall." www.kansascity.com/news/weather...

4 injured in shooting outside church funeral in KC’s Scarritt Point neighborhood Kansas City police said four people, including a police officer, suffered injuries in a shooting outside a funeral service at the New Beginning Apostolic Church Friday morning.

Four people, including one police officer, injured in a shooting during a funeral service at a church in Kansas City’s Scarritt Point neighborhood. www.kansascity.com/news/local/c...

Amid questions about felony, Lee’s Summit School Board candidate says he’s withdrawing The Lee’s Summit man, whose charge was dismissed after he went through diversion, said he was dropping out to support like-minded candidates.

Amid scrutiny of his background, a candidate for Lee’s Summit School Board said he’s suspending his campaign. His name will still appear on ballots, according to the Jackson County Election Board. www.kansascity.com/news/local/c...

Final four-man bobsled results:

In case you were sleeping this morning: Caleb Furnell and his Team USA squad sit in ninth halfway through four-man bobsled competition.

KC native slides for Olympic bobsled gold this weekend. Here’s how to watch Caleb Furnell, a 2019 graduate of Lee’s Summit West High School, will compete on a U.S. bobsled team in Italy on Saturday and Sunday.

Four-man bobsled hits the ice this weekend to close out #MilanoCortina2026. Here's how to watch Lee's Summit West's Caleb Furnell as he pushes for a medal at the Olympics (set an alarm): www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Arson probe underway after fire at KC warehouse once tied to ICE detention center Witnesses told police an unidentified woman started a fire at a south Kansas City warehouse which many feared could have become an ICE detention facility.

The south Kansas City warehouse tied to plans for an ICE detention facility was set on fire Thursday, and police are investigating. www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Kansas City firm backs out of deal to sell warehouse to ICE for detention center The firm said “baseless speculations, inaccurate narratives, serious threats towards their leadership, employees and families” led them to comment on the potential sale.

After weeks of scrutiny, Kansas City development company Platform Ventures backs away from selling a warehouse to the federal government. www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Employees exchange gunfire at Johnson County nursing home during argument Gunfire erupted between staff members at a Johnson County senior living facility early Tuesday, but no one was injured.

One person is in custody after two employees exchanged gunfire during a confrontation at a Leawood nursing home early Tuesday, police said. www.kansascity.com/news/local/c...

Argentina’s soccer federation explains why it picked KC for World Cup base camp The defending champions will be spending a lot of time in Kansas City during the 2026 World Cup.

As Argentina and Leo Messi defend their World Cup title this summer, Kansas City will be their base camp. www.kansascity.com/sports/fifa-...

Independence Avenue’s ‘truck-eating’ bridge in Kansas City claims another victim The infamous Independence Avenue’s ‘truck-eating’ bridge has claimed another victim.

Kansas City’s notorious Independence Avenue Truck-Eating Bridge snares another victim: www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

KC police chief calls for ‘drastic’ budget cuts: Hiring freeze, no overtime An internal memo calls for sweeping cuts to ensure basic services within the department through the end of the fiscal year.

Police Chief Stacey Graves is calling for “drastic” cuts at the Kansas City Police Department as a result of a budget imbalance, according to an internal police memo. www.kansascity.com/news/local/c...

How Kansas Citians are protesting ICE as part of national day of action The Star is covering anti-ICE movements around Kansas City.

Dispatches from ICE protests in Kansas City on a frigid Friday: www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Independence to rebuild old plant with 9 times more power to fuel AI data center AI firm Nebius will break ground on its Independence hub this year. Keeping the center running will take four contracts and a new power plant.

A large AI data center is set to open in Independence, and city officials plan to reopen and expand an old power plant to fuel it. www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Lee’s Summit grad clinches spot on USA bobsled team for 2026 Winter Olympics Caleb Furnell, a 2019 Lee’s Summit West graduate, will represent the United States on a four-man bobsled team in Italy.

Lee's Summit West grad Caleb Furnell will compete on a four-man bobsled team representing the United States at #MilanoCortina2026 next month.

A look back at his path through a significant injury in high school and how it sent him to the Winter Olympics: www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Kansas City winter storm: Forecast tweaked, snowfall and timing explained Snow and dangerous cold is on the way — just not all at once. See what’s in store for Kansas City as forecasters refine the weekend winter storm outlook.

Winter is coming. www.kansascity.com/news/weather...

He had a 1-in-5 shot at $4.56M. KC-area man talks controversial Squid Game exit Liberty’s Trinity Parriman was in the last five of 456 players on the second season of Netflix’s reality show Squid Game: The Challenge.

Liberty's Trinity Parriman had navigated his way through a field of 456 players to get a 1-in-5 shot at $4.56 million on Netflix's Squid Game: The Challenge. Here's why he walked away from the game: www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

KC company tied to site of rumored ICE facility says ‘negotiations are complete’ Federal agents are reportedly targeting a warehouse in Kansas City for a detention facility. Platform Ventures says it received an offer.

The latest on a large warehouse in Kansas City targeted for a possible ICE detention facility: www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Snow squalls, heavy snow bursts may bring whiteout conditions in Kansas City area Near whiteout conditions could develop as bursts of heavy snow showers or more intense snow squalls sweep across the Kansas City region. Here’s when they are expected.

Bursts of snow showers and more intense snow squalls expected to sweep across the Kansas City region this afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service. www.kansascity.com/news/weather...

‘We made everybody feel at home.’ Beloved diner in Tonganoxie destroyed in fire The fire at Flashbacks — part restaurant, part local history museum — also destroyed the home of proprietors Debi and Charlie Conrad.

Took a trip out to Tonganoxie today to learn about Flashbacks, a beloved community institution that for years has served up breakfast food and community before it was destroyed by a fire on Friday: www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

After a bystander was killed in NYE police chase, Independence weighs policy change The vehicle pursuit policy change follows the death of a motorist on New Year’s Eve and reporting on the issues surrounding the policy.

Independence city officials mulling changes to the city's law enforcement vehicle pursuit policy after years of deadly crashes and questions about how police choose to chase at high speeds. www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

KC police arrest volunteers serving free meals in Kansas City parking lot. Why? Kansas City Food Not Bombs said it has been serving a free meal at a parking lot off Independence Avenue for 13 years.

Kansas City police arrested two volunteers with Kansas City Food Not Bombs for trespassing in a parking lot where the group has long served meals, the group said. www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Hi, could someone get in touch with me about this? npilling@kcstar.com. Thanks!

Former KC neighbor swapped Christmas cookies with woman killed by ICE: ‘Senseless’ A Waldo neighbor recounts Renee Good’s time in Kansas City and reacts to the fatal Minneapolis ICE shooting that killed her.

"I think it’s senseless. I just pray that we don’t have more violence over it."

A Kansas City neighbor of Renee Good recalls woman killed by ICE officer, says her family moved out a year ago and planned a move to Canada ahead of Trump's second term. www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Woman fatally shot by immigration officers in Minneapolis has ties to Kansas City Renee Nicole Good, the 37-year-old woman fatally shot by immigration officers in Minneapolis Wednesday, has ties to the Kansas City area.

A woman shot and killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis earlier today has ties to Kansas City. www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Suspected road rage homicide shuts down U.S. 71 southbound lanes in Kansas City Kansas City police closed U.S. 71 southbound near Blue River Road for a homicide investigation; traffic diverted at East 75th Street with multiple police vehicles on scene.

Kansas City police are investigating a suspected road rage shooting on U.S. 71 that left one man dead. www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

The top photos that tell the story of Kansas City’s 2025 What was the most memorable moment of the year in Kansas City? Take a look through our highlights, captured by The Star’s award-winning visual journalists.

A lovely recap of Kansas City's 2025 in photos made by our stellar visuals team: www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Neighbors of troubled KC apartment complex sue, seek fixes: ‘Should be ashamed’ Many units at the Kansas City apartment complex are unrented, and poor security at the site has led to regular break-ins, the lawsuit said.

Neighbors of the troubled Olive Park Village apartment complex in Kansas City, where few residents remain, say break-ins are common. One resident sleeps with a light on as a "don't break in here" signal. www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...

Smithville woman says detectives coerced false murder confession. Now she’s suing Lori Ackerman was charged with murder following the death of her fiancé, Shannon Tate, in 2020. A Clay County jury acquitted her last year.

A Smithville woman who says a pair of detectives in Clay County coerced her into falsely confessing she murdered her fiancé in 2020 has filed a lawsuit over their investigation, which led to a lengthy criminal prosecution. www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...