Kansas
‘A breaking point’ Kansas City Activists reflect on five years after George Floyd protests
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – It has been five years since the killing of George Floyd, a moment that ignited nationwide protests and renewed demands for racial justice and police reform. In Kansas City, some protestors feel their calls for justice remain unanswered.
At Mill Creek Park on the Country Club Plaza, where demonstrations erupted in May 2020, community members gathered to reflect on the progress made and the work that remains.
Demonstrators recall scenes of chaos that unfolded during the protests. People recall shielding their eyes from tear gas, seeing water bottles thrown, and people getting trampled in the crowd.
“That situation that day, man, it changed the look of America,” said Pat Clarke, a longtime community outreach advocate who was on the ground trying to de-escalate tensions.
Eric Morrison, senior pastor at Kingdom Word Ministries, said what he witnessed shows how cries for racial justice in the wake of George Floyd’s death reached a tipping point in Kansas City.
“When you see something like that happen to a person, and knowing this country’s history, you recognize a breaking point,” Morrison said. “As a 62-year-old Black man, it’s the repetitiveness of it. If I’ve seen it once, I’ve seen it again.”
Now, five years later, questions remain whether the city has truly seen progress.
Despite the passage of time, many activists say their calls for justice remain unanswered.
“It still hasn’t changed for me,” said Morrison, “until we see policies being implemented, when we see police officers that have been in these places abusing people white, black or whatever, and they’re still on the force, and they’re being suspended with pay… until that goes away, until they are literally charged with a crime, then it’s there and it’ll be there,” he said.
Since 2020, city leaders say some reforms have been made. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas pointed to new transparency efforts, including more opportunities for public comment during Board of Police Commissioners meetings and shifting officer-involved shooting investigations to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
“Often, rioting is the voice of the unheard,” Lucas said. “A lot of people felt unheard in the system and the process. Hopefully, after all these years, people feel more heard.”
According to a KCPD spokesperson, 2020 also marked the rollout of body cameras for officers and updated use-of-force training. Chief Graves implemented ICAT training for our law enforcement members, which stands for Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics. KCPD describes it as an ‘innovative and evidence-based approach’ to use-of-force training.
Clarke said it’s hard to tell where change is headed.
“I’d say it’s changing,” he said. “But in what direction? I can’t tell you.”
He has had ongoing conversations with local police about what police reform could look like, even proposing the idea of sensitivity training.
“There’s a lot of officers who come in that’s never dealt with a community like this before,” said Clarke, “They didn’t grow up in one.”
Activists say the next step forward must involve community unity and legislative action.
“Things have to change in that way because behind the blue wall is freedom.”
Meanwhile, city leaders say the work for justice continues.
“It’s making sure that when we talk about Black people — in Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas, and America — that we’re actually standing up for victims in more situations,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas. “On the accountability side, including with policing and the city more broadly, it is making sure that we’re not only paying high legal settlements — which we do — but also making sure that we’re finding ways to not be in those settlements at all. That we’re doing the training necessary to not get in those situations.”
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – It may not seem like a lot of relief, but gas and diesel prices have declined over the past week.
Friday morning’s national average for a gallon of unleaded gas was $4.39, according to the Automobile Association of America.
That’s down three cents from $4.42 on Thursday; down 16 cents from a week ago; but was up 17 cents from $4.22 a month ago and up $.23 from $3.16 a year ago.
In Kansas, AAA says, unleaded gas on Friday was averaging $3.96 a gallon — down four cents from $4.00 on Thursday; down 13 cents from $3.96 a week ago; but up 26 cents from $3.70 a month ago; and up $1.07 over $2.89 a year ago.
Diesel fuel also was dropping in price. AAA says Friday’s national average for a gallon of diesel was $5.52 a gallon — down three cents from $5.55 on Thursday; down 12 cents from $5.64 a week a go; but up six cents from $5.46 a month ago and up $1.98 from $3.54 a year ago.
Kansas diesel fuel prices, according to AAA, checked in at an average of $4.98 on Friday. That’s five cents below $5.03 on Thursday; down 16 cents from $5.14 a week ago; but up 24 cents over $4.74 a month ago; and up $1.72 from $3.26 a year ago.
In Topeka, GasBuddy.com on Friday morning showed unleaded gas prices ranging between $3.77 and $4.09 in Topeka, with diesel fuel going for between $4.94 and $5.29 a gallon.
Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.
Kansas
Sunflower soak: Rain welcomes Arkansas baseball to Kansas, might stay awhile | Whole Hog Sports
Kansas
NFL Trade Rumors: Kansas City Chiefs linked to $15M New York Giants pass rusher and $10M Chicago Bears tight end in bold ESPN proposals
The Kansas City Chiefs continue to be linked to potential trade targets despite entering the 2026 season with one of the NFL’s deepest rosters. Recent speculation from ESPN connected Kansas City to New York Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet. In the proposed scenarios, the Chiefs would send a 2027 fourth-round pick for Thibodeaux or a 2027 third-round pick while receiving Kmet and a fifth-round selection. While neither proposal gained traction with the opposing teams, the rumors have sparked debate about whether Kansas City should make a significant move before the season.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Kayvon Thibodeaux / Cole Kmet |
| Current Team | New York Giants / Chicago Bears |
| Rumored Team | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Contract Status | Both under contract |
| Salary Cap Hit | Thibodeaux: manageable rookie extension window; Kmet carries a significant future cap number |
| Trade Likelihood | Low to moderate |
| Latest Insider Update | ESPN floated hypothetical trade proposals |
| Potential Return | 2027 fourth-round pick for Thibodeaux; 2027 third-round pick for Kmet |
Which teams are interested in Kayvon Thibodeaux and Cole Kmet?
Kansas City emerged as the most notable team connected to both players through the ESPN exercise. The fit is understandable. For Thibodeaux, the Chiefs could add another proven pass-rushing threat alongside their current edge group. Defensive line depth remains one of the most valuable assets in today’s NFL, especially for teams with championship aspirations. Adding a player of Thibodeaux’s caliber would strengthen the rotation and provide insurance against injuries. Kmet addresses a different need. While Travis Kelce remains a central piece of the offense, he is approaching the later stages of his career. Kmet offers a combination of blocking ability and receiving production that could help Kansas City maintain stability at tight end while preparing for the future.
What insiders are saying about the trade rumors
According to AtoZ Sports’ Charles Goldman, the concept behind pursuing Thibodeaux makes sense, but the compensation falls short. New York has little incentive to move a talented edge rusher for a mid-round draft pick when pass rushers are among the league’s most sought-after players. Goldman was similarly cautious regarding Kmet. Although he acknowledged the tight end would fill a practical role in Kansas City’s offense, he questioned whether investing draft capital and future money in Kmet is the best long-term strategy. Instead, he suggested the Chiefs may be better served developing a successor to Kelce through the draft.
Contract details and salary cap implications
Any trade discussion involving Kansas City begins with the salary cap. The Chiefs would likely need to create additional financial flexibility before taking on a notable contract. Thibodeaux presents the cleaner situation. He remains young, productive, and could be controlled through future contract negotiations. There are no reported no-trade restrictions complicating a potential move. Kmet’s situation is more challenging. His future cap numbers could require restructuring or a new agreement if Kansas City wanted to keep him long term. That added financial commitment makes the decision more complicated than the draft-pick cost alone.
How the trade could impact both teams
For Kansas City, acquiring Thibodeaux would strengthen a defense already built to compete for another Super Bowl. A deeper pass rush often becomes critical during playoff runs, where one extra pressure can change a game. Kmet’s arrival would have a different effect. He could ease the workload on Kelce while giving the offense a more balanced tight end room. At the same time, surrendering valuable draft assets could limit future roster-building options. From the Giants’ and Bears’ perspectives, keeping proven starters may provide more value than collecting future picks. That reality is why both proposed deals remain long shots, even if the Chiefs continue to surface in trade conversations.
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