Quinton Lucas

Platt's firing came three weeks after the city lost a whistleblower lawsuit accusing Platt of retaliation, which cost the city nearly $1 million. Kansas City Council member Melissa Robinson said it was necessary to "restore public trust."

Kansas City Council voted unanimously to fire city manager Brian Platt, who was suspended three weeks ago after the city lost a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit. Platt is being represented by a law firm that specializes in employment discrimination.

The six-month plan would fully fund the transit agency while it seeks funding from other places and demands more accountability from KCATA. It calls for reinstating fares and could end the city’s rideshare service IRIS, which was meant to fill transit gaps.

The Kansas City Council passed a $2.5 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, its largest ever. The police department will get even more money than before, while council members will discuss a proposal next week to fully fund the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority in the short term.

Platt was suspended two weeks ago after the city lost a lawsuit claiming he had encouraged employees to lie to the media. He is the highest-paid employee in the city.

Kansas City’s public safety sales tax has been used to support the police department and emergency and medical services. Mayor Quinton Lucas and other officials want voters to renew it so the city can use the money to build a new jail and rehabilitation center.

After Lee's Summit leaders announced plans to change the name of their airport to the "Greater Kansas City Regional Airport," Kansas City Council approved its own plans to establish a policy around the use of the name "Kansas City."

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas announced on Thursday night that City Manager Brian Platt has been suspended from his position. This comes after a whistleblower lawsuit alleged Platt told the city communications department to lie to the media.

Mayor Quinton Lucas released a letter Thursday night announcing Brian Platt had been suspended from his position.

Kansas City officials are proposing an increase of $23 million in police department funding in the city's new $2.5 billion budget. Mayor Quinton Lucas hopes this will help officers address the public safety issues, but the city's lack of local control of the KCPD has not left him optimistic.

An attorney for Tom Keating, who volunteered for the nonprofit that has paid for Mayor Quinton Lucas’ Super Bowl trips, is demanding an apology and threatening further legal action.

A politically-connected trade group donated $24,000 to a nonprofit that paid for Mayor Quinton Lucas, an aide and security personnel to travel to Phoenix for the 2023 Super Bowl. This year, the Mayors Corps of Progress for a Greater Kansas City is once again footing the bill.