Economic Development

Mike Burke, an attorney, former Kansas City Councilman and mayoral candidate who was well known for his forward-thinking approach to economic development, passed away Sunday.

A decision from the National Labor Relations Board found Starbucks violated labor law hundreds of times. While workers in Kansas City wait on decisions for unfair labor practice charges of their own, they say more direct action is needed.

Many of the cities and counties surrounding Kansas City have already passed legislation objecting to the construction of a new landfill on Route 150, citing threats to economic development, noise and odor pollution, and proximity to homes.

Surrounding cities have voiced opposition to a possible landfill in southeast Kansas City, Missouri. But the city continues to claim there are no plans for such a project. Plus: An Overland Park game café has become a home and hangout for "three generations of nerds."

Federal agents now control several accounts and two cars that they say were funded or bought with misappropriated funds by former Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City controller Lee Brown.

Surrounding cities have voiced opposition to a possible landfill location in southeast Kansas City, Missouri, along Route 150 and 155th Street. Kansas City said there are no plans for this project, but Missouri representatives say an application could be filed soon.

The state entered an agreement with Integra Technologies to provide $300 million of incentives for the company to build the plant and create 2,000 new jobs in Wichita. But the deal still hinges on federal funding.

Kansas City is deeply involved in remaking the warheads that stock the U.S. nuclear arsenal. A plant on the southern edge of the city makes most of the non-nuclear parts for nuclear weapons. That plant is expanding rapidly, spreading billions of federal dollars around the metropolitan area.

The Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City sued Lee Brown, claiming he misrepresented nearly every fact about his professional life to get the job and then used his position to steer agency funds to his bank account.

The Plaza Area Council is bringing together community stakeholders to revitalize Kansas City's historic shopping district and surrounding neighborhoods, and make it more "inclusive and diverse" for the future.

Kansas has more than $2 billion in budget surplus. The Republican-controlled Legislature and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly may use the 2023 session to spar over how that money can be used through tax cuts and government spending, among other political issues.

The owner of the Kansas City Royals says the team plans to abandon Kauffman Stadium and build a downtown "ballpark district." But experts say the payoffs aren't so clear, especially if taxpayers have to help foot the bill.