Kansas
Brian Platt suspended with pay from city manager position
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – On Wednesday, a Kansas City jury sided with a former communications director over being forced out by city manager Brian Platt. A day later, Platt has been suspended.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas announced on Thursday evening that he had suspended Platt with pay, effective immediately.
A dayslong trial ended with the jury taking the side of former Kansas City Communications Director Chris Hernandez and awarded him $700,000.
A lawsuit centered on whether City Manager Brian Platt told staff to lie to the media – and to the public – in 2022. Hernandez said he was demoted when he pushed back.
In March 2024, Platt signed a nearly 4.5-year contract extension after he dropped out of the race for Austin, Texas, City Manager.
Lucas relayed that he was temporarily appointing Deputy City Manager Kimiko Gilmore as interim city manager.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Kansas
On the road again: Arkansas baseball heads to Kansas after brief stop in Fayetteville | Whole Hog Sports
Kansas
Police chase ends in injury crash early Wednesday in southeast Kansas
INDEPENDENCE, Kan. (WIBW) – An early-morning police chase on Wednesday came to an end when the vehicle being pursued crashed out in Montgomery County in southeast Kansas, officials said.
The crash was reported at 2:48 a.m. Wednesday at the south junction of US-75 and US-400 highways. The location was about six miles north of Independence.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2006 Infiniti M35 four-door sedan was headed south on US-75 as it fled from law enforcement officers.
The Infinit’s driver failed to yield at the stop sign at the US-75 and US-400 highway junction and traveled across US-75 at a high rate of speed.
The car then left the roadway to the east, where it struck a signpost and a fence before coming to rest off the east side of the roadway.
The Infiniti’s driver, Darrius B.S. Scott, 26, of Independence, was transported to Wilson Medical Center for treatment of suspected minor injuries. The patrol said Scott was wearing his seat belt.
Additional details weren’t immediately available.
Check wibw.com later for more information as it becomes available.
Copyright 2026 WIBW. All rights reserved.
Kansas
Kansas City, Kansas, homeowners capitalize on World Cup with streamlined short-term rental licensing process
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, is making it easier for homeowners to get short-term rental permits as the city prepares to host the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches this summer.
The Unified Government loosened its short-term rental requirements ahead of the World Cup and launched a new digital licensing system starting in February.
KCK homeowners capitalize on World Cup with short-term rental licensing process
With three weeks left before the World Cup begins, about 10 applications remain under review out of more than 70 applications for short-term rentals.
Kalin Callewaert is a real estate agent navigating the process for the first time.
She received her special use permit from the Unified Government a week ago.
“The short-term rental situation was outside of my comfort zone,” Callewaert said. “This was just a really good opportunity because it’s supposed to bring more volume.”
Now that her property has been approved, Callewaert can begin marketing it — though she has some uncertainty about demand.
Jason Gould/KSHB 41
“What I’m hearing in the community is that there’s not as much traffic as what they were initially anticipating,” Callewaert said. “So I don’t know, I just have to hope for the best.”
She says that could have an impact on short-term rental pricing, meaning people who rent may pay less.
KCK Mayor Christal Watson, who is also new to her role, sat down with me Tuesday afternoon.
The updated requirements were in the works before her term began, but she supports them.
“I’m still floating the newbie mayor right now,” Watson said jokingly.
Jason Gould/KSHB 41
She emphasized the changes are about efficiency, not weakening oversight.
“Not so much in laxing it so they’re taking advantage of our policies, but just doing it in a manner that expedites the process,” Watson said.
The hosting period goes from May 4, 2026, until July 31, 2026.
Visit the Unified Government’s website to learn more about the steps to obtain a short-term rental license.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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