πŸ“· Excelsior Springs Ends Flock Contract, πŸš— 75 MPH Coming to Missouri, πŸ₯ Hospital Network Changes


Here's what's making headlines:
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πŸ₯ Saint Luke's and Children's Mercy flag 2027 insurance network changes.
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πŸ“š Rainy Day Books and Made in KC opened together in the Power & Light District.
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βš–οΈThe KC Council ranked a permanent jail first for public safety tax money.

πŸš— Missouri is raising speed limits to 75 mph on rural stretches of I-35, I-29, I-49 and I-55.

These are just some of the stories making headlines around Kansas City this week. Scroll down for all the details!


KANSAS CITY'S BIGGEST HALLOWEEN PARTY TAKES OVER THE KC LIVE! BLOCK

🎧 Fri, Oct. 30: MEDUZA, Grammy-nominated Italian house trio, 7 PM

🧟 Sat, Oct. 31: End of Days, 6 PM (21+). The Power & Light block goes post-apocalyptic, and one ticket gets free cover at 10+ bars and nightclubs.

  • General Admission: free cover 7 to 10 PM
  • VIP: free cover until midnight, all-inclusive drinks 7 to 11 PM
  • Premium VIP: free cover until close, premium drinks, private lounge at No Other Pub with buffet and reserved costume contest viewing

πŸ’° Costume contest pays $10,000 in cash and prizes. 🎢 DJ Travisty spins all night.

Use code KCLIVE for the lowest price.

This Week in KC

TWO KC HOSPITAL SYSTEMS FLAG 2027 INSURANCE NETWORK CHANGES

Saint Luke's leaves Aetna Medicare Advantage Jan. 1, 2027; Devoted Health, Humana and UnitedHealthcare stay. Medicare enrollment closes Dec. 7. Children's Mercy lists many 2027 ACA Marketplace plans as out of network, including Ambetter, BlueKC, CoxHealth, Oscar and UnitedHealthcare. Missouri's insurance department blames one insurer leaving the KC Marketplace and knows of no carrier dropping the hospital. Patients in treatment can ask their insurer about continuity of care. Hotline: 800-726-7390.

Original sources: Saint Luke's, Medicare plans page | Children's Mercy, insurance page | Missouri DCI, 2026-10-21​

CAR NO. 551 CLOSES IN THE RIVER MARKET TROLLEY

The deli in a restored 1940s streetcar at 426 Delaware St. served its last day Oct. 18 after about a year, the Star reports. The car ran KC's rails 1947 to 1957. The owner's dessert business, Tasty Unicorn, continues.

Source: Kansas City Star, 2026-10-21 (paywalled) | Union Station, 2016-03-21​

KANSAS OPENS A $2 MILLION GRANT FOR DRONE TEST RANGES

AIR KS opened Oct. 22 for a one-time $2 million grant for drone test ranges and beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations. Airports, governments, companies, nonprofits, colleges and tribal governments can apply for equipment, software, infrastructure and services. Applications close Nov. 22; awards come in December; projects finish within eight months.

Original source: Kansas Department of Commerce, 2026-10-22​

TWO VACANT BUILDINGS PARTIALLY COLLAPSE ON KC'S EAST SIDE

The buildings collapsed Thursday afternoon, Oct. 22, in the 5100 block of E. 27th St. near Quincy Ave. A front wall fell onto the sidewalk and part of the street, and the neighboring roof caved in. No one was hurt. KCFD says both buildings had previous fires; KCFD Rescue and the Dangerous Buildings division are investigating. No cause had been released as of Friday morning.

Sources, KCFD statement as reported (no KCFD post found): KCTV5, 2026-10-22 | JC Post, 2026-10-23​

OLATHE SETS BOUNDARY MEETINGS AFTER SIX SCHOOL CLOSURES

Boundary meetings are coming this fall for neighborhoods tied to the closures of Black Bob, Heritage, Scarborough, Tomahawk and Walnut Grove elementaries and Indian Trail Middle after 2026-27. Each meeting will show multiple options, and some schools staying open will see changes. Proposed boundaries go to the school board in December, with new boundaries set by January 2027. Families can also use the district's online feedback form. The district has not posted meeting dates.

Original source: Olathe Public Schools, boundaries page​

BARBECUE BIBLE AUTHOR STEVEN RAICHLEN VISITS KC MONDAY

Raichlen appears with Kansas City PBS Monday, Oct. 26 (doors 4 p.m., program 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.) for his memoir Man on Fire, in conversation with Museum of BBQ founder Jonathan Bender, followed by audience Q&A. A $75 one-time gift to Kansas City PBS includes barbecue bites, a signed book and a mini bottle of KC sauce matched by quiz. Space is limited and members get first access. The event page does not list the venue.

Original source: Barbecue Bible, event page​

MEET KC CREW

KC Crew runs adult recreational sports and social events across Kansas City, from sand volleyball, kickball and pickleball leagues to tournaments, 5Ks and adult field days! You can sign up as a full team, as a group of friends, or on your own and get matched with other players, which makes it an easy way to meet new people. It is also a standing reason to get your friends together on the calendar. Now more than ever, we need community, and an awesome fall or Halloween event is a good place to build it!

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β€‹πŸƒ Fall Events with KC Crew
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Three rec sports events from KC Crew

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Graveyard 5K & Fun Run
Β· 9th annual

πŸ“ Elmwood Cemetery, Kansas City, MO

⏰ Sat, Oct. 24 · 5K at 9 AM, Fun Run follows

✨ Vendors, face painting, awards and more. Runners, walkers, strollers and dogs welcome!

πŸ”— runsignup.com/Race/MO/KansasCity/Graveyard5kRunWalk​

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Flag Football Turkey Bowl

πŸ“ Shawnee Mission North, Kansas City

⏰ Sat, Nov. 14 Β· 9 AM–2 PM

✨ Men's, women's and coed divisions

πŸ”— kccrew.com/event/flag-football-turkey-bowl​

​
Glow Volleyball Tournament

πŸ“ Hy-Vee Arena, Kansas City

⏰ Fri, Nov. 20 Β· 6–10 PM

✨ Coed teams of 6, with an LED volleyball

πŸ”— kccrew.com/event/glowvolleyballtournament​

🏒 DEVELOPMENT SCENE

KC COUNCIL RANKS A PERMANENT JAIL FIRST FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TAX MONEY

The council passed a resolution Thursday ranking Public Safety Sales Tax priorities: first, a permanent jail converted from the temporary detention center; second, a new police station and community resource center, treated equally; third, infrastructure and equipment. It asks for a financing plan capping annual debt service at $21M. Correctional officer starting pay rises from $19.27 to $25.40 an hour, retroactive to Oct. 18. Retrofitting the unopened 7740 E. Front St. facility would cost about $120M.

Original sources: KCMO Legistar, Res. 260886 | KCMO Joint Committee, 2026-10-20 | The Beacon, 2026-10-23 | Axios KC, 2026-10-22

PASSED

πŸ›οΈ KC COUNCIL MOVES MARIJUANA TAX MONEY TOWARD COLD-WEATHER SHELTER

Ordinance 260918 passed committee Oct. 20 and, per the city's file, the full council Oct. 22. It directs about $485K from the neighborhood cleanup fund plus $514,476 in Housing funds to shelter; Housing says it needs $1M for cold weather.

Original sources: KCMO FGPS Committee, 2026-10-20, Ord. 260918 | Meeting detail​

πŸ“· EXCELSIOR SPRINGS VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO END ITS FLOCK CAMERA CONTRACT

Unanimous vote Oct. 19. Resolution 1687 ends the Flock agreement on 30 days' notice with no penalty and removes the cameras; payments stop in fiscal 2027. The 15 cameras were covered Oct. 20. Oct. 5 minutes record 11 residents speaking against.

Original source: Excelsior Springs City Council, 2026-10-19, Resolution 1687 | KCTV5, 2026-10-20 | KSHB.

πŸ“‹ KC HICKMAN MILLS STRATEGIC PLAN PASSES THE COUNCIL

File 260915 went to the Neighborhood Planning and Development Committee Oct. 20; the city's file lists it as passed by the full council Oct. 22.

Original sources: KCMO NPD Committee, 2026-10-20, File 260915 | Meeting detail​

🚲 PRAIRIE VILLAGE ADOPTS E-BIKE RULES

Ordinance 2526 defines micromobility devices and lets police cite parents who knowingly let a child break the rules. Under-18 riders need helmets; first offense is a logged warning, then $50.

Original source: Prairie Village City Council packet, 2026-10-19, Item XIII.B | KSHB, 2026-10-19​

POSTPONED OR DELAYED

πŸ–₯️ INDEPENDENCE POSTPONES THE PATMOS EASTGATE DATA CENTER VOTE TO NOV. 2

Resolution 26-765: a 285,000 sq ft building at 2500 S. Little Blue Pkwy, 17.5 MW in phase one, six generators, under 10,000 gallons of water a day. Abatement runs through 2043 with PILOT payments of $0.14 to $1.01 per sq ft. The council held the Oct. 19 vote; Nov. 2 it would approve NorthPoint transferring part of its city lease to Patmos, targeting a Nov. 12 closing.

Original source: Independence City Council packet, 2026-10-19, Resolution 26-765 | KSHB​

πŸ™οΈ COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA TIF IS NOW ON THE NOV. 3 COMMITTEE AGENDA

Ordinance 260924 would reimburse up to $210M of a $1.49B project: 645,000 sq ft of office, 751 apartments, 278 hotel rooms. No committee action Oct. 20; the city's file lists it for the Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee Nov. 3.

Original sources: KCMO FGPS Committee, 2026-10-20, Ord. 260924 | Docket memo​

ADVANCING

🎭 OVERLAND PARK COMMITTEE ADVANCES RIO THEATRE DEAL, UP TO $425,000

The Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee voted 5-0 Oct. 21 to negotiate a conditional, forgivable loan to Dream Theatre LLC ($200K toward purchase, $225K for exterior work) with a 10-year operation commitment. Developers also want a sales tax exemption on construction materials. Full council expected Nov. 2.

Original source: Overland Park FAED, 2026-10-21, Item 3 | Johnson County Post, 2026-10-22 | KCTV5, 2026-10-23​

πŸ—ΊοΈ OVERLAND PARK WARD MAP OPTIONS ADVANCE

A committee reviewed three options Oct. 21 (deviations 8.4%, 7.9%, 4.8%). Final options return Nov. 18; council decision by December.

Original source: Overland Park staff report, 2026-10-21​

OPENINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

🏨 ALADDIN HOTEL CONVERSION SET FOR DEC 10 OPENING

The 1925 hotel at 1215 Wyandotte becomes 122 apartments (Port KC lists 120) in a $38M project by Molzer Development, Free Heel Capital and Cardinal Crest. Invitation-only opening Dec. 10, with a rooftop cocktail bar.

Original sources: CTRL Theory Media release, 2026-10-22 | Port KC project page​

πŸš— MISSOURI RAISES SPEED LIMITS TO 75 MPH ON RURAL STRETCHES OF I-35, I-29, I-49 AND I-55

MoDOT's list: 55 miles of I-35, 64 of I-29, two I-49 stretches (45 and 24 miles) and four I-55 stretches in southeast Missouri. Signs change this fall; follow the posted limit until then. MoDOT may return a stretch to 70 mph based on crash data. I-70 is not included.

Original sources: MoDOT, 2026-10-21 | MoDOT 75 mph map (PDF)​

🌳 LEE'S SUMMIT SYLVIA BAILEY PARK GETS A $520,000 LWCF GRANT

For the 49.6-acre park at 1800 SE Ranson Rd. Phase one costs $3,225,500, with a $2,705,500 local match.

Original source: City of Lee's Summit, 2026-10-19​

πŸ‘Ά FIRST SAFE HAVEN BABY BOX IN THE METRO UNVEILED AT KCFD STATION 14

Unveiled Oct. 21 for about $30,000 in city funds. Missouri law covers infants 90 days or younger. Hotline: 1-866-99BABY1.

Original source: Mayor's video, Instagram | KSHB | KCTV5 | FOX4, 2026-10-21 | Law: RSMo 210.950.

BUSINESS SCENE

NOW OPEN

πŸ“š RAINY DAY BOOKS AND MADE IN KC OPEN TOGETHER IN POWER & LIGHT

The two local brands now share a Power & Light District space, announced Thursday, Oct. 15. It gives the downtown loop its only bookstore.

Sources: Made in KC, Instagram, 2026-10-15 | KC Power & Light District, Instagram, 2026-10-15​

πŸ€„ BAM BIRD SOCIAL BRINGS A MAHJONG STUDIO TO BLUE SPRINGS

The studio at 1512 NW Mock Ave., Suite C offers beginner lessons and open play, Tuesday through Saturday. Prices are not listed on its site.

Source: Bam Bird Social​

β˜• CAFΓ‰ EQUINOX ADDS PERMANENT GREENHOUSE SEATING IN OVERLAND PARK

Renovations are done at the cafΓ© inside Family Tree Nursery, 8424 Farley St., with year-round tropical-temperature seating. An official grand opening is planned this weekend; details to come.

Sources: CafΓ© Equinox, Instagram, 2026-10-20 | CafΓ© Equinox​
​

COMING SOON

🍽️ FIVE FOUR AND LA MADELEINE JOIN BLUHAWK PHASE 2 IN OVERLAND PARK

KCTV5 reports both are joining Phase 2 next to AdventHealth Sports Park, with no opening dates announced. La Madeleine plans eight KC-area cafΓ©s, the first in late fall 2027. No announcement from Bluhawk or either restaurant found.

Sources: KCTV5, 2026-10-22 | la Madeleine, 2026-09-29​

πŸ“– THE READING GARDEN BOOKSTORE AND PLANT SHOP PLANS A NOVEMBER OPENING IN OLATHE

The Johnson County Post reports it will sell books, plants and gifts at 1489 E. 151st St. in the Indian Trails center. No announcement from the shop found.

Source: Johnson County Post, 2026-10-15​

πŸ¦ͺ THE SHUCKERS UNION OYSTER BAR PLANS A DECEMBER OPENING IN EAST CROSSROADS

Startland News reports the 2,300 sq ft bar at 1739 Oak St. will serve oysters, crab legs and lobster rolls, Wednesday through Saturday at first. No announcement, license or permit found.

Source: Startland News, 2026-10-15​

β˜• COACH ADDS A COFFEE SHOP AT LEAWOOD'S TOWN CENTER CROSSING

Coach's store locator lists The Coach Coffee Shop at 4311 W. 119th St. No opening date or hours given.

Source: Coach store locator​
​

WORTH KNOWING

πŸ₯ KCATA PITCHES A VA CLINIC FOR THE FORMER NORTHLAND KMART

KSHB 41 reports KCATA is pursuing a VA outpatient clinic at the vacant Kmart on NE Vivion Road, estimated at $85 million to $100 million. Nothing is final; KCATA is awaiting site selection and seeking demolition money. No KCATA or VA document found.

Source: KSHB 41, 2026-10-21​

SPORTS SCENE

THIS WEEKEND

🏈 THE UNDEFEATED CHIEFS VISIT SEATTLE SUNDAY NIGHT

The 5-0 Chiefs, the AFC's only undefeated team, visit the Seahawks Sunday, Oct. 25 at 7:20 p.m. CT on NBC. Kickoff is tentative under the NFL's flexible scheduling, so confirm before planning a watch party.

Original source: Chiefs schedule​

⚽ THE KC CURRENT HOST THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT IN THEIR FINAL HOME MATCH

Sunday, Oct. 25 at 4 p.m. CT at CPKC Stadium, on ESPN. The club is aiming for a record crowd of 18,000 across the stadium and Current Landing.

Original source: KC Current, 2026-10-17​
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WORTH KNOWING

🚩 ST. JAMES ACADEMY WINS KANSAS' FIRST GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL STATE TITLE

St. James beat previously unbeaten St. Thomas Aquinas 26 to 7 on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at Shawnee Mission South, finishing 12-1 as the No. 6 seed. The Chiefs presented the championship.

Original sources: KSHSAA state bracket | Chiefs, 2026-10-15​

πŸ•―οΈ CHIEFS MOURN FORMER DEFENSIVE END ALLEN BAILEY

The Chiefs posted a statement Oct. 21 on his death, calling him "an excellent teammate, generous man, and kind soul." Bailey played in Kansas City from 2011 to 2018, with 61 starts and 19.5 sacks, then two seasons in Atlanta.

Original sources: Chiefs on X, 2026-10-21 | NFL.com career stats​

🧀 TWO SPORTING KC GOALKEEPERS GET A U.S. YOUTH CALL

Jack Kortkamp and Jacob Molinaro are among 12 goalkeepers invited to a U.S. Soccer camp Oct. 27 to 30 in Fayetteville, Georgia.

Original source: Sporting KC, 2026-10-21​

⚽ OWEN WOLFF MADE MLS'S 22 UNDER 22 LIST

Wolff is No. 16, his fourth straight year on the list.

Original source: Sporting KC, 2026-10-20​

🍌 BANANA BALL IS COMING TO KAUFFMAN STADIUM JUNE 18-19, 2027

The Indianapolis Clowns are the home team. The ticket lottery closes Oct. 31 at 10:59 p.m. CT at bananaball.com/tickets, which does not list the KC dates.

Original source: not located (news reports only; no original source for the dates)

πŸš‹ ROOS STREETCAR WRAP EVENT AT THE UMKC STOP FRIDAY

Free, Friday, Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. at 51st and Brookside. KC Streetcar also marks the Main Street Extension anniversary Oct. 24 with ridership figures.

Original source: KC Streetcar/UMKC media alert, 2026-10-22​
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THE COUNTDOWN

Fri, Oct. 23: Roos streetcar wrap event, 11 a.m.

Sun, Oct. 25: Current vs. Spirit, 4 p.m. Β· Chiefs at Seahawks, 7:20 p.m. (tentative)

Tue, Oct. 27 to Fri, Oct. 30: U.S. Soccer goalkeeper camp (Kortkamp, Molinaro)

Sat, Oct. 31: Banana Ball ticket lottery closes, 10:59 p.m. CT

Sat, Nov. 7: Kingdom XP at Arrowhead

Kansas City's Wealthiest Zip Codes of 2026

If you're moving to Kansas City or exploring KC metro real estate in 2026, Kansas City’s wealthiest zip codes for 2026 are out, and the number one isn’t in Leawood or Overland Park, it’s in Kansas City, Missouri. Instead of counting down, I look at where wealth actually concentrates and why the surprises happen.

REAL ESTATE SCENE

​SPONSORED BY MOVING TO KC​

13559 Terrace Park Drive Parkville, MO

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 5

Square Footage: 4,470 sq ft

Lot Size: 0.26 Acres Lot

Price: $775,000

Listing Provided by: Kyle Talbot with
Moving to KC | Keller Williams Metro
​

1264 W Gregory Boulevard, KCMO

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 2

Square Footage: 1,812 sq ft

Lot Size: 8,096 sq ft

Price: $435,000

Listing Provided by: Kyle Talbot with
Moving to KC | Keller Williams Metro
​

That’s it for today! Wishing you an amazing week.

Looking to buy, sell or relocate? ​​
Schedule a call with me!​
​

Thank you for being a part of the KC Scene community!
​

β€” Kyle Talbot

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