Good morning, this is Kansas City Local Pulse for Sunday, November 16, 2025.
We start with breaking news from Osage County where a deadly shooting involving law enforcement has the entire region shaken. Four Kansas officers are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries after a standoff on Highway 50 that closed roads late into Saturday evening. Neighbors in the area are shocked and say police presence this weekend felt heavier than usual. Meanwhile, a man was found dead after a house fire in Johnson County on Friday night, with investigators still on the scene near 175th Street.
Turning to our weather, we are waking up to a picture-perfect November day. We’ll see clear skies and highs in the low 60s, making it a great Sunday for outdoor plans. No rain is expected until tomorrow, with showers rolling in for the Monday morning commute, so this is a good weekend to get outside before clouds settle in.
From City Hall, a big update for Olathe employees and retirees—there’s frustration over steep increases in insurance premiums that were discussed at this week’s city council meeting. Family budgets are feeling the strain, with some retirees seeing their monthly costs double. Elsewhere, Belton’s public safety spending review is underway with a citizen-driven committee closely examining $3.6 million in new funding, hoping to improve local patrols and emergency response without raising taxes.
In business news, downtown is buzzing for the grand opening of Green Bean Roasters on Main near Union Station, offering jobs for a dozen Kansas Citians and fresh coffee flavors not seen before in the city. Unfortunately, two longtime shops—Harmony Books on Troost and HomeBake Goods in KCK—are closing their doors by month’s end amid rising rents and shifting consumer habits.
For those looking for work, Kansas City continues to hold steady with unemployment just under five percent. Major hiring pushes are underway at Providence Medical Center in Wyandotte and Amazon’s distribution center near Grain Valley, with more than 300 new positions posted this week.
As for real estate, home prices in the Northland and Brookside neighborhoods remain strong. The average single-family listing is now just over $330,000, about ten percent higher than last year, with demand up for homes near top-rated schools and the new streetcar extension.
On the cultural front, Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph expanded its veterans program this week, honoring local heroes and promising new transitional housing at a luncheon Monday morning. The Base Academy of Music is making music education more accessible for youth near 18th and Vine, inspiring the next wave of local musicians.
Looking ahead, the Plaza Art Fair wraps up today, and tomorrow marks the start of the citywide food drive, hoping to match last weekend’s record delivery of 7,000 pounds of fresh produce—so remember to bring donations to any participating Hy-Vee or Costco.
Let’s talk sports. The Kansas City Mavericks edged out Wichita 3-2 last night at Cable Dahmer Arena with standout saves from Jack LaFontaine and hard-fought goals from Lucas Vanroboys and Kirby Proctor. The Mavericks are building momentum heading into next week's series at home. And the big event tonight: our Chiefs face the Broncos at Mile High at 4:25 p.m. Travis Kelce is expected to lead the charge. The Chiefs sit at 5-4 but are looking strong on defense. This is a crucial matchup as the Broncos come in with an 8-2 record, but the Chiefs hold three wins in their last five face-offs.
On the topic of schools, the Lee’s Summit Titans celebrated their robotics club qualifying for state, and Blue Valley North’s girls’ basketball team took the regional title in a nail-biter Friday night.
In public safety, the FBI concluded its Summer Heat Initiative in the metro, with nearly two dozen suspects now charged in a sweep targeting child sex crimes over the past week. Police urge caution near Excelsior Springs after a tragic hit-and-run on Wednesday that left a woman dead on Highway 92—anyone with information should contact authorities.
Finally, a feel-good story for our Sunday: Kansas City seniors are coming together through creative writing workshops at the Westport Library, sharing stories and fighting loneliness, reminding us all how strong our sense of community can be.
Thank you for tuning in to Local Pulse today. Don’t forget to subscribe, and we’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai.
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