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Could Chiefs move to Kansas? State takes step toward trying to lure team away from neighboring Missouri

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Could Chiefs move to Kansas? State takes step toward trying to lure team away from neighboring Missouri


On Friday, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly made a move that will enable the state to lure the Kansas City Chiefs as well as the MLB’s Kansas City Royals from Missouri, via ESPN. Kelly signed legislation that will help both professional sports teams pay for new stadiums if they indeed decide to change locations. 

The Chiefs have had every intent to remain at Arrowhead Stadium, extending the lease in a renovated facility and stadium complex that would keep the franchise in the state of Missouri for the next several decades. The renovation plans still have a hurdle to clear, however, and the state of Kansas is officially ready to pounce. 

Earlier in the week, Kansas lawmakers approved a House bill that would change certain criteria for STAR (sales tax and revenue) bonds qualification, via the Associated Press. STAR bonds are a financing tool that allows Kansas municipalities to issue bonds to finance the development of major commercial, entertainment and tourism projects. The measure now goes to the Kansas Senate. 

The attempt to lure the Chiefs to cross the state line from Missouri to Kansas has been in play. The bill will also require any pro sports team development to include a 30,000-plus seat complex with at least $1 billion in investment. This is also an attempt to lure the Kansas City Royals’ new MLB stadium plans into Kansas. 

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The Chiefs announced plans to renovate GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium this year, but those plans may be changing, thanks to some developments back in April. The voters in Jackson County, Missouri, rejected a sales tax measure that would have helped fund major renovations to Arrowhead Stadium and a new downtown ballpark for the Royals. 

With the measure not being passed, the Chiefs may have to look elsewhere and build a new stadium. A potential move to Kansas doesn’t force the Chiefs to relocate to another city if they can’t reach a deal with Jackson County. Kansas legislation doesn’t have to put a stadium sales tax up to vote, giving the Chiefs an option they’ll strongly consider. 

“I do feel very much a sense of urgency, and we will approach it from a broader perspective going forward because time is short for us at this point. So, we need to see what other options are out there for us,” Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt said back in April, via a transcript provided by the team. “I really can’t speculate on how any of that is going to turn out. 

“GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is a special place for our family and our fanbase. That was one of the reasons we focused on it with the last effort. Going forward, it may make more sense for us to be in a new stadium.”

The Chiefs will have options in building a new stadium, which appears to be the plan going forward with the STAR criteria passed. Hunt isn’t abandoning an opportunity to remain at Arrowhead Stadium, but getting a new stadium is gaining traction. 

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The new stadium may not be an open-air stadium, either. 

“We were obviously very focused on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Obviously it’s a special place for our fanbase and I believe it could be a special place for our fanbase for another 25 years with the right renovation,” Hunt said. “But we’re just going to have to be open minded in how we approach this. 

“That may involve a new stadium, and it could be an open-air stadium or it could be a dome stadium.”





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Police identify teen found shot to death in south Kansas City, Missouri, church parking lot

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Police identify teen found shot to death in south Kansas City, Missouri, church parking lot


KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri, police released the name of a teenager found shot to death June 24 in the parking lot of a church at Bannister and Raytown roads.

Tytus Bridgeford, 16, was found about 9:30 a.m.

Police asked for the public’s help to identify the victim and were able to get that information released Thursday.

No motive is known for the homicide and no arrests have been made.

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This is the 72nd homicide of the year in KCMO.

There had been 97 homicides in KCMO at this time last yearl

If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.

Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.

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Can you guess the most Instagrammable site in Topeka? One company identified 10 in Kansas.

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Can you guess the most Instagrammable site in Topeka? One company identified 10 in Kansas.


Strike a pose and snap a photo at Topeka’s most Instagrammable location.

An organization recently named the Topeka Zoo the eighth most Instagrammable place in Kansas.

Top 10 most Instagrammable places in Kansas

Bonus Finder, a media company based in Denmark, checked the social media hashtags of more than 2,700 landmarks across the United States.

These were found to be the most popular Kansas sites, according to the hashtags.

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  • No. 1: Flint Hills has the most popular Kansas hashtag with 75,888 posts.
  • No. 2: Kansas Speedway has 22,275 posts under its hashtag.
  • No. 3: Allen Fieldhouse has 13,353 hash tagged posts.
  • No. 4: The Sedgwick County Zoo hashtag has 13,327 posts.
  • No. 5: Grinter Sunflower Farms has 10,795 hashtagged posts.
  • No. 6: INTRUST Bank Arena has 7,323 posts.
  • No. 7: Monuments Rocks Natural Landmark has 7,111 posts hashtagged.
  • No. 8: Topeka Zoo had 5,865 hashtagged posts.
  • No. 9: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve has 5,116 hashtagged posts.
  • No. 10: The Wichita Gardens have 3,371 posts hashtagged.

Topeka Zoo employees and other reaction to the ranking

The Topeka Zoo has nearly 30,000 followers on Instagram. The zoo also has a TikTok account with more than 35,000 followers and 1.3 million likes. On Facebook, the zoo has more than 55,000 followers and more than 44,000 likes.

“That’s very exciting,” guest engagement supervisor Brea Schmidt said. “I’m very happy to hear that. We definitely work hard every day to make sure we are sharing what we think guests want to see. So, to hear we were found eighth most Instagrammable is pretty exciting.”

Jen Goetz, creative and strategy director for the zoo, said the magic is in finding balance between what people want to see and following the zoo’s mission of conservation and education.

When asked what other Topeka sites they would have liked to see on the list, Schmidt and Goetz gave a shout-out to their neighbor, the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center.

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“I’m not surprised our incredible, growing Topeka Zoo made the list! From special displays like Zoo Lights to the furry faces that greet you, the Topeka Zoo is a must-visit attraction here,” president of Visit Topeka Sean Dixon said in a written statement. “The zoo is located in our beautiful Gage Park, which is where you’ll find more photogenic fun like the carousel and mini train.”

Here are some more Instagrammable sites in Topeka

Dixon said while the list didn’t include them, there are plenty of Instagrammable places across the city.

“And there are several other Instagrammable spots across Topeka that would have made our list,” Dixon said. “Don’t miss the rainbow-painted Equality House, the stunning Kansas Capitol, NOTO and its many murals, the Governor’s Mansion trails, and more.

“There is no shortage of photo ops when you know where to look.”

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Kansas City Chiefs join forces with Hallmark for Christmas rom-com ‘Holiday Touchdown’

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Kansas City Chiefs join forces with Hallmark for Christmas rom-com ‘Holiday Touchdown’


The Kansas City Chiefs are bringing together what the holidays are all about: football and Hallmark movies.

The NFL team has partnered with Hallmark to create an original holiday film centered around its back-to-back Super Bowl champions.

The movie, called “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,” will begin production next month, filming entirely in Kansas City, Missouri. Fans will watch scenes at the GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, the first time a movie has been shot in the venue.

“This partnership unites two passionate fanbases and gives us an opportunity to show Chiefs Kingdom’s energy and tradition on one of the most-watched channels during the holiday season,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said in a news release.

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To honor the project between the two Kansas City-based organizations, the city lit up its downtown skyline purple and red on Wednesday night, the news release shared.

Who will be in ‘Holiday Touchdown’?

While no Chiefs players have been announced to be in the movie, the team revealed its three leads.

The film will star “Shifting Gears” actor Tyler Hynes, “Two Scoops Of Italy” actor Hunter King, and “Better Call Saul” actor Ed Begley Jr. in the sports holiday romantic comedy.

What is ‘Holiday Touchdown’ about?

“Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” will follow Chiefs super fan Alana Higman (King), who’s determined to win the team’s Fan of the Year contest, and fan engagement director Derrick (Hynes). The two begin to feel romantic tension as Derrick evaluates whether Alana’s family deserves to the win the contest.

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But when Alana’s grandfather (Begley Jr.) loses his vintage Chiefs winter hat, she begins to question her future with Derrick unless “a little Christmas magic can throw a Hail Mary.”

50% of Hallmark viewers watch sports during the holidays

While the collaboration may seem odd, the Chiefs and Hallmark are assured that the movie makes the perfect holiday crossover.

More than half of Hallmark Channel viewers also watched sports during the channel’s Countdown to Christmas aired last year in 2023, according to the news release.

“With Hallmark and the Kansas City Chiefs both homegrown, rooted in values, tradition and community, there is a special alchemy between these two iconic organizations,” Hallmark Chief Brand Officer Darren Abbott said in a statement. “By blending the warmth of Hallmark storytelling with the excitement of professional football, we are thrilled to give audiences a front-row seat to this community’s spirit, rich traditions and passionate fans.”

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