summer heat

Heat index values have tied decades-old records in parts of the Midwest this week, subjecting many of Missouri’s outdoor workers — landscapers, Streetcar construction crews and more — to potentially dangerous conditions.

Kansas City Public Schools, which does not have central air conditioning in many of its secondary schools, will release all students early for the rest of the week because of safety concerns. Other districts in the area are canceling outdoor sports, moving recess indoors or encouraging staff to wear shorts.

The Prison Policy Initiative put Missouri and Kansas on a list of “famously hot states” that lack universal air conditioning in prisons. During excessively hot summer days, inmates say that it can feel like a "pizza oven" inside — and the state isn't doing enough to fix the issue.

Historic redlining and lack of green spaces in the Kansas City metro means that, even in the current heat wave, some people will experience temperatures at least 11 degrees warmer. These heat islands are driving up energy costs and causing public health concerns.

Lower income neighborhoods and people with health conditions are at a higher risk of adverse health impacts from an extreme heat wave sweeping across the Midwest.

In the days before air conditioning, electric fans were how Midwesterners beat the heat. One local collector is restoring a rare set of antique fans that once cooled travelers in Kansas City’s Union Station.

The Kansas City metro area is under a National Weather heat advisory as temperatures approach the triple digits. Several places are opening their doors to the public while dangerous heat continues.

Think of this year’s drought as a sort of dress rehearsal to consider the drier, hotter future that scientists predict climate change has in store. Long-lasting droughts could alter the way we live.

The number of disconnection notices sent to customers by utility company Evergy has nearly doubled over the last year.

Despite an alarmingly hot summer, all public pools in Kansas City, Missouri, have closed early because of funding and staffing issues. Plus, how western Kansas' prehistoric ocean could help scientists understand the future of life in a changing climate.

Dogs and cats can't cool themselves as efficiently as people, making them more susceptible to heatstroke.

A heat advisory is in effect in Kansas City until Thursday night, with heat values up to 108 degrees. Temperatures are staying high at night, which means it's harder to cool off when the sun goes down.