summer heat

Pools around the Kansas City metro officially opened this weekend, while Johnson County offers even more places to swim. This summer will see a blend of familiar favorites and some new places to try.

Kansas averages 25 dangerously hot days per year. That’s 10 more than it would in a world without climate change, according to the report.

About $378 million of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding remains to be distributed. Without federal staff, some experts and advocates worry that low-income customers won’t be able to pay for cooling as the months get hotter.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program was designed to help those with few resources cover their home energy bills in the summer and winter — but the entire staff was fired last week. Since October, the program has helped more than 100,00 Missouri households.

A 15-year-old sophomore at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School collapsed and died during football practice this month. Similar tragedies have occurred repeatedly in several states.

Thirty-four Missouri residents — aged 11 months to 96 years — died last year due to heat-related illness, according to the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services.

Much of Kansas City experiences some heat island effect. As global temperatures rise, Kansas City planners and environmental experts are trying harder to make these hot spots cooler. Plus: Missouri hasn't just outlawed abortion — it's also funding anti-abortion organizations that are working in neighboring states.

Bluejacket is the third Overland Park pool to close since 2013, leaving the city with four pools to serve nearly 200,000 people. Like many cities, it's shifting from smaller public neighborhood pools to larger aquatic centers — essentially mini water parks.

More than 300,000 people are expected to head to Sedalia for the Missouri State Fair. Keeping that many people safe is a responsibility that’s actually too big for the town of about 22,000 people — but each year they get plenty of help.

Kansas City Public Schools invested millions in keeping students cool this year after districts grappled with record-high temperatures last fall.

More than 10,000 households around Kansas City lack access to any kind of air conditioning — and during the summer, many more struggle to afford their electric utility bills. Some programs around Kansas City are trying to help.

Kansas City may not be as well known for its lakes as other parts of the Midwest, but you can still find plenty of waterfront access within a short drive. Here’s a guide to the Missouri and Kansas towns where you can enjoy the lake life this summer.