Kansas
‘A dream come true’: Parallel Parkway resurfacing project brings relief to KCK residents
KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel.
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Kansas City, Kansas, residents say a long-awaited road resurfacing project on Parallel Parkway is overdue. But now work is underway as part of a larger $19.1 million street resurfacing plan.
The Unified Government’s public works department operates by a motto: “To use the right treatment at the right time, on the right street — and to keep good roads better longer.”
For some community members, Parallel Parkway’s time for repairs is been long overdue.
KCK resident Carolyn Wyatt said she was surprised to see progress on road repairs.
‘A dream come true’: Parallel Parkway resurfacing project brings relief to KCK residents
“It’s like a dream come true,” Wyatt said.
Wyatt has been vocal about the condition of Parallel Parkway for years, attending meetings and speaking up to keep the issue in front of Unified Government officials.
“I felt if nobody talked about it, if I didn’t keep going to meetings, maybe it wouldn’t have gotten done until maybe next year,” Wyatt said. “Or maybe never.”
The moment is bittersweet for Wyatt.
“Our tax dollars should have been at work all the time, not just now,” Wyatt said. “We’re getting a little attention, but there’s more streets that need this done.”
Wyatt said the road’s condition had real consequences for people who drove on it daily.
“You’ll tear your car up for one thing,” Wyatt said. “It’s horrible. You’ll have to go up Quindaro just to get a decent ride, so I always avoid Parallel.”
She said the frustration goes beyond the road itself, pointing to broader concerns about investment in the community, particularly in the Northeast neighborhood.
“They always leave us last on everything except for our taxes,” Wyatt said. “We first.”
KCK resident Rebeca Molina is part of a Facebook group where residents have complained about road conditions in Wyandotte County.
She shared similar frustrations to those of Wyatt.
Al Miller/KSHB 41
“If you suffer from migraines or headaches, this is like the worst stretch…and it’s been like that for years,” Molina said.
Molina said Parallel Parkway is a critical road for the area.
“It’s such a vital part of a lot of people’s commute actually,” Molina said. “We’ve got the school down here, we’ve got schools down there, churches, so it’s going to be nice for the commute,” Molina said.
Thousands of other drivers have shared similar frustrations.
Brandon Grover, road and bridge rehab program manager for the Unified Government, said road conditions have been the top concern on resident surveys for more than a decade.
“The condition of the roads has been the number one request for I think the last six cycles, so 12 years,” Grover said.
I met Grover at 17th and Parallel Friday as the team continued resurfacing along Parallel Parkway.
Al Miller/KSHB 41
Resurfacing work on Parallel Parkway between North 9th Street and North 18th Street began Monday, March 9, and the work is expected to take about 15 days to complete, weather permitting.
The broader project covers Parallel Parkway between 9th Street and I-435, as well as State Avenue and in other northeast neighborhoods, as part of the $19.1 million 2025/2026 Street Resurfacing Plan.
Parallel Parkway has consistently been identified as a top pavement priority by both residents and the governing body.
Grover said the road sees heavy use and its condition worsened significantly in recent years.
“This area especially deteriorated pretty rapidly over the last five or six years, so we knew we had to jump on it and make some major improvements really quickly,” Grover said.
The road’s recent history
Grover said by 2020 and 2021, crews began noticing problems and started budgeting for repairs in 2025.
He described the resurfacing process as removing the first few inches of deteriorated asphalt and laying new asphalt on top.
Without additional treatment, the road should last 10 years.
With ongoing maintenance treatments every couple of years, it could last 25 years.
The cost
The cost of the work adds up quickly.
One foot of pavement, one lane wide, runs about $12 a foot — roughly $230,000 per mile for pavement alone.
A stretch like Parallel Parkway costs around $750,000 because some of it is concrete, which requires more effort to remove.
Grover noted there are cost-saving measures built into the process: concrete millings are used to repair alleys, and asphalt millings are recycled into new asphalt that gets laid back down on the road.
The bigger picture
The project is part of a broader, citywide pavement challenge.
The Unified Government manages roughly 2,400 lane miles of pavement, and the overall condition of that network has declined over time.
A full pavement assessment completed in 2018 showed a network-average Pavement Condition Index, or PCI, of 56 out of 100.
A follow-up assessment in 2022 showed that number had dropped to 48.
PCI is a standardized rating system used to measure pavement conditions and help public works departments make data-driven decisions about which streets need attention first.
The lower the score, the more expensive repairs become.
That citywide challenge is also reflected in pothole activity.
Since Jan. 1, 2026, public works crews have patched more than 9,000 potholes across the community.
Resurfacing projects like the one on Parallel Parkway provide a more durable improvement on corridors that carry significant traffic.
Roads that get routine maintenance mean fewer potholes to patch.
Al Miller/KSHB 41
In addition to asphalt resurfacing, residents may also see related concrete curb and gutter repairs, along with pedestrian access ramp replacements in areas scheduled for pavement work under this contract.
No road closures are expected, but drivers should slow down and give crews plenty of room to work safely when entering work zones.
What took so long?
Grover said residents have asked why progress moved so slowly.
He cited two reasons: the need to coordinate with the BPU and gas companies, which can take a couple of years, along with the challenge of collecting enough funding.
The Unified Government is already coordinating with utility companies on projects planned for 2028 and 2029.
Road projects are funded through a dedicated sales tax fund — public works receives one-eighth of a cent sales tax for neighborhood infrastructure improvements — and a special street and highway gas tax.
The commission authorized an additional $6.5 million specifically for State Avenue and Parallel Parkway efforts in last year’s amended budget.
“Unfortunately, it’s kind of a perfect storm of problems,” Grover said. “Some things changed within the priorities of the Unified Government and it got put on hold for a little bit, but we kept pushing and pushing and pushing, and we have enough money now to actually get it done.”
Grover said the public works team uses a data-driven approach to determine which roads to prioritize.
Residents can submit requests through the 3-1-1 system or the MyWyco app, which the team reviews daily.
“We’ve taken a lot of effort into making sure we’re doing this the right way,” Grover said. “It feels great to be able to give the public what they’re seeing and what they’re wanting to make sure they’re having the best experience they can on their road network.”
Grover also acknowledged any disruption the project causes for drivers.
“We want to apologize for the inconvenience that this kind of work is, but sometimes it just has to happen in order to make the progress you’re going to see after this is done,” Grover said.
Molina and Wyatt said they hope to keep pushing for more improvements across the community.
“It’s kind of like a sword with a double-sided edge,” Molina said. “It’s nice because you do see it, but it’s also a slap in the face because there’s so much money that has not been put back into the community. It’s nice to see that it’s being done, but it’s also a shame that not more can be done.”
Wyatt echoed that sentiment, expressing concern for neighbors on fixed incomes.
“I feel more sad about the senior citizens that are on a fixed income, and they can’t afford to pay their taxes,” Wyatt said. “Our taxes should have been at work years ago, not just now. We still living. We still living today.”
Residents can learn more about current and upcoming street, sewer, stormwater, and other infrastructure projects by visiting the Public Works Department’s “In The Works Construction Projects Map” at wycokck.org.
Grover also answered resident questions in a Facebook live Friday.
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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In 2025 at Kansas Speedway, Kyle Larson set a significant record.
In 2026 at the 1.5-mile intermediate track, the driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet might simply settle for a win in Sunday’s AdventHealth 400.
In winning last year’s spring race at Kansas, Larson led 221 laps, most in NASCAR history for a driver in a 400-mile race on a 1.5-mile speedway.
That victory, however, was Larson’s last in the NASCAR Cup Series, though he did claim the 2025 series title by finishing third in the Championship 4 Race at Phoenix in November.
Statistics augur well for Larson as he tries to end his 32-race drought on Sunday. He has led 761 laps at Kansas Speedway since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2021, more than double the total of any other driver. Denny Hamlin is second with 337.
His 1,842 laps led on 1.5-mile tracks in the Gen 7 era (since 2022 inclusive) more than double the total of the next driver on the list (Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron at 912).
Larson has led laps in 21 of the last 22 races on 1.5-mile speedways, including the last 10 in a row. If he leads 25 laps on Sunday at Kansas, he will surpass Kevin Harvick’s track-record of 949.
The two-time series champion is the only repeat winner in the last 11 races at Kansas, having won three times during that span, including the last two spring races.
His history considered, Larson has every reason to be confident at a track he thoroughly enjoys.
“Kansas is a lot of fun,” Larson said. “It’s really fast. You’re always trying to carry a lot of speed and momentum off the corners and run big arcs into the entry. There are two different ends of the racetrack, but I feel like you approach the corners in a similar way.
“In the race, you settle into a comfortable pace and balance and try to run as close to the wall as possible without hitting it. It’s a fun place. It can be challenging, but it’s good because you have options to move around.”
Chevrolet teams have been dealing with a new body style this season. Chase Elliott’s win at Martinsville is the car maker’s only trip to Victory Lane so far.
“I think we’re gaining on it,” Larson said. “I think the body stuff maybe is what we’re fighting right now. Entries (into the turns) seem to be pretty loose at most tracks, and then the window of balance is pretty narrow…
“I think we’re not bad on speed. I feel like we’re close to a win, but at the same time, I feel like we have a lot of work to do to get our cars better to where a win would be much easier.”
If a victory for Larson is realistic possibility, Kyle Busch might be satisfied with a top-10 run. On a miserable afternoon last Sunday at Bristol, Busch started 29th and finished 25th, two laps down, after tangling twice with the Toyota of Riley Herbst.
Busch’s winless streak reached 101 races at Thunder Valley, and Richard Childress Racing, the organization that fields Busch’s Chevrolets, has failed to score a top-10 finish in eight straight races for the first time since 1981. RCR is the only multicar team without a top-10 finish this year.
Ty Gibbs got his first Cup Series victory at Bristol last Sunday, but the odds are heavily against another first-time winner at Kansas. In 40 Cup races at the track, there has never been a first-time winner.
Toyota drivers have won six of the first eight Cup races this season, and they’re likely to be strong again at Kansas. Tyler Reddick could become the fourth driver in series history and the first since Dale Earnhardt in 1987 to win five of the first nine races in a season.
Both Reddick and 23XI Racing teammate Bubba Wallace, who is making his 300th career start, are former winners at the 1.5-mile track. The 23XI organization has three victories at Kansas, most at any single venue.
Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin boasts four Kansas victories, more than any other driver. He has finished in the top-five in seven of the last nine races there.
If a Toyota driver wins on Sunday, it will be the first time a single manufacturer has won seven of the first nine races in a season since Chevrolet accomplished the feat in 2007.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – Three Kansas City-area school districts violated federal law according to the U.S. Department of Education. The department said to came to the conclusion after investigating claims for eight months.
The districts involved are:
- Olathe Public Schools
- Shawnee Mission Public Schools
- Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools
Topeka Public Schools was also found in violation of federal law.
The department said the investigation focuses on alleged Title IX violations and violations involving the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA.
FERPA INVESTIGATION FINDINGS
The department said it opened the investigation in August after the Defense of Freedom Institute filed a complaint alleging the violations.
The investigation determined all four school districts have policies that likely prevent schools from notifying parents whether their children are using different pronouns, going by different names, or having different names printed on their diplomas.
The department of education said the policies violate parents’ rights under FERPA to access school records pertaining to their children.
TITLE IX INVESTIGATION FINDINGS
The Department’s Office for Civil Rights said it determined the Kansas City, Kansas, Public School District and Topeka Public Schools violated Title IX .
The investigation found the two districts have policies that allow male students to use female restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms, according to the department.
The findings went on to say the two districts have “single-sex athletics based on gender identity.”
In addition, the Office for Civil Rights reported that KCK schools denied investigators access to information during the inquiry.
The department also said its investigation determined that Olathe and Shawnee Mission School Districts violated Title IX with policies that allow students to use restrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms based on gender identity.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DEMANDS
To remedy the violations the districts must take action, according to the Department’s Offices of Civil Rights and Student Privacy Policy.
According to information from the department, those actions must include, but are not limited to:
- The Districts will no longer allow students to participate in athletics based on “gender identity,” rather basing participation on the student’s sex;
- The Districts will ensure that the use of bathrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, and overnight accommodations is based on sex, not “gender identity;” and,
- The Districts will inform school personnel that “gender support plans” and other related documents having to do with a student’s so-called ‘gender transition’ will be made readily available and accessible to parents and guardians.
If any district involved cails to reach an agreement, the districts could lose federal funding, according to the Department of Education.
OLATHE RESPONDS
The Olathe School District responded to the notice Friday afternoon.
In a letter, the district said it has responded to all three issues involved in the investigation. It also points out that it has met with investigators over the claims for months.
The district says the claims, and investigators findings are not accurate.
“The three issues were not new to Olathe as the District was already in compliance with the law at the time of your 2025 letter. Olathe has confirmed that its staff were, and continue to be, in compliance with the law as they work with our students and families,” the district said in a letter.
Read the full letter to the Department of Education below:
KCTV5 asked Kansas City Kansas Public Schools and the Shawnee Mission School District for responses to the findings.
Their responses will be added to this article when they are received.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With less than two months until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in cities across the country, KC2026 announced the lineup of artists expected to perform at the Kansas City FIFA Fan Festival.
From the Chainsmokers to Flo Rida to Kansas City legend Tech N9ne, fans can expect to see dozens of performances from top acts over the course of the 18-day event.
Here are some headline dates scheduled during the “world’s biggest football party,” according to KC2026:
- The Chainsmokers — June 13
- Flo Rida — June 19
- Cimafunk — June 20
- Gabby Barret — July 3
- The All-American Rejects — July 11
- Tech N9ne — June 12 and July 11
Several other performers will take to the stage outside of the National World War I Museum and Memorial. The list of artists can be found in the poster image provided below:
According to KC2026, all acts and dates are subject to change, and tickets to the event are already available on the KC2026 Fan Fest website.
General admission is free and open to the public; however, the organization is offering other packages to upgrade the experience. Here’s everything you need to know:
- General Admission — Free
- On a first-come, first-served basis
- Premium Garden Pass — $55
- Includes all the benefits of general admission, access to expedited entry lanes, exclusive standing-room viewing in the Premium Viewing Area, premium restrooms, a dedicated bar area and access to premium food options.
- Legacy Lounge Pass — $225
- The Legacy Lounge Pass includes all the benefits of the Premium Garden Pass with access to an air-conditioned lounge, a two-tiered viewing structure, all-inclusive food options, a premium beverage package, climate-controlled restrooms, unique photo opportunities with iconic Kansas City sports memorabilia and access into the Premium Viewing Area.
The FIFA Fan Festival will serve a maximum of 25,000 people daily and include KC match days, USMNT match days and the Fourth of July.
Fans can expect the stage at the event to be twice the size of Chappell Roan’s massive October 2025 concert, when she performed two sold-out shows on the lawn of the World War I Museum and Memorial to approximately 30,000 fans each night.
Over the course of the tournament, the festival will have themed days to get fans in the World Cup spirit. For a list of those themed events, click here.
For more information about the tournament, tune into Kansas City’s World Cup headquarters, FOX4 News, for the latest announcements before and during the historic summer event.
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