Kansas City Council

The Kansas City Council temporarily extended liquor sale hours for June 11 through July 19, allowing some bars to stay open up to 23 hours a day during the FIFA World Cup.

The Kansas City Council recently removed a 75-year-old rule that required businesses to provide a certain number of parking spots. Some residents and visitors say the change will exacerbate an already frustrating parking situation.

Mayor Quinton Lucas has introduced a trio of ordinances he hopes can help save historic buildings from falling into disrepair, and start to replenish the population in those emptying neighborhoods.

In early April, the Kansas City Council passed an ordinance removing a 75-year-old rule that required businesses to provide a certain number of parking spots. Some residents and visitors say the change will exacerbate an already frustrating parking situation.

A special program is bringing empty Kansas City storefronts back to life by placing entrepreneurs in prime downtown spaces to show off for an influx of international visitors. City leaders hope the program leads to long-term opportunities for small businesses and building owners.

El equipo llegó a un acuerdo con Hallmark Cards para llevar a cabo un “proyecto transformador" que creará un nuevo estadio de béisbol en Crown Center, cerca del centro de Kansas City, según anunció John Sherman, propietario de los Royals. El anuncio se produce una semana después de que el Concejo Municipal aprobara un paquete de financiamiento.

Kansas City Council still has a lot of questions and financial details to work out before the new Royals stadium is a done deal. A ballpark at Crown Center brings the team back into the heart of the city — but some community advocates are criticizing the team's continued lack of transparency.

The team reached a deal with Hallmark Cards on a "transformative project" that will create a new ballpark at Crown Center near downtown Kansas City, Royals owner John Sherman said. The announcement comes a week after the City Council passed a financing package.

If everything goes right, new taxes generated by a $1.9 billion ballpark will help pay off Kansas City's $600 million loan to help finance the deal. But if it goes wrong, that public money could be drained from city services.

The city will now start to finalize the ballpark deal with the Royals, even though the team has not announced Washington Square Park as its preferred location. Kansas City would be on the hook for about $600 million of the $1.9 billion stadium.

Council unanimously passed an ordinance Thursday that requires food trucks to operate no less than 300 feet from the nearest restaurant, a sixfold increase. Violations would be punishable by fines of up to $500 or jail time — and food truck operators say the restrictions could force them out of business.

Kansas City could approve a plan for a new Royals stadium located at Washington Square Park as early as Thursday. Opponents say city leaders are undermining their vote against a downtown stadium, while supporters say they're looking forward to new jobs.