river

Flying Asian carp, river barge traffic, and dangerous eddies all awaited Steve Kueny as he floated his massive fruit, called "Huckle Berry," from Kansas City, Kansas, to Napoleon, Missouri. But after 11 hours, Kueny completed his journey — squashing the world record.

Severe storms and winds kept racers in the MR340, a river race from Kansas City to St. Charles, from finishing the endurance race. But they still plan to celebrate.

State regulators are considering a request from Missouri Prime Beef Packers, which processes more than 3,500 cattle per week near Pleasant Hope, to treat wastewater from its operation using microorganisms and discharge it directly into the Pomme de Terre River.

Courtney and Phil Wasson are not professional boat racers, but for several years the duo has competed together in the MR340, the world’s longest non-stop river race. It begins in Kansas City and goes for 340 miles down the Missouri River.

River Hawk Boat Shop in Lee's Summit crafts sleek, state-of-the-art racing boats that are in demand for the MR340, a 340-mile river race that kicks off this week from Kansas City. Their boats have won every race for the past eight years, and the new owners are hoping to do it again.

Negro Creek runs for 6.5 miles south of 151st Street, through parts of Overland Park and Leawood, but few people knew its name until the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. An informal committee that included members of the NAACP and other community groups began exploring the creek's origin but couldn't agree on an alternative name for the creek.

The Missouri River Relief cleanup drew more than 150 volunteers, even with the threat of severe rain. Volunteers picked up a 10-mile stretch of the riverfront in Kansas City, finding everything from tires and lawn chairs to headlights and fenders.

The rooftops, pavement and lawns surrounding the Blue River and its creeks take a toll. Efforts to clean it up and restore native vegetation could help.

Roger MacBride, the captain of The Kansas City Lady, wants more people to engage with the river he loves. The boat has become a friendly space for friends, artists, musicians and just about anyone hanging around onshore.

Steve Snell encountered rough weather, angry cows, swarms of mosquitoes and hard paddling. The paintings and videos that he made along the way tell the story of his adventures on the Mighty Mo.

Whether by kayak or canoe, the best way to get a close-up view of the region’s lakes and rivers is to paddle them.

Whether it's a day trip or staycation, there are plenty of ways to explore the historic river towns found along the Missouri River — the longest river in North America.