Kansas

Kansas Amber Alert: Jaxon Halley abducted in Kansas City

Published

2 hours ago

July 17, 2024

Kansas Amber Alert: Jaxon Halley abducted in Kansas City

UPDATE: Law enforcement confirms Jaxon was found safe. The amber alert has been canceled. The suspect is still at large.

An Amber Alert has been issued for Kansas and Missouri after 2-year-old Jaxon Halley was forcibly abducted in the Kansas City area, local officials say. The suspect’s last known location was on the Missouri side.

The incident began at around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday when Jaxon and his mother were forcibly taken at gunpoint during a domestic incident at their home in Kansas City, Kansas, according to the amber alert.

“The child and the mother were driven into Missouri where the mother escaped from the suspect at around 3:28 pm,” police said. “However, the suspect kept Jaxon Halley and left in a unknown direction.”

The suspect, 39-year-old Darryl Livingston Jr., is accused of threatening to kill both the woman and her child, which is why law enforcement believes Jaxon is in imminent danger.

Livingston is described as a 39-year-old black male with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 185 pounds. He was last seen wearing a multi-colored pink, purple and white basketball jersey with black jean shorts.

The suspect and child are believed to be traveling in a silver 2016 KIA Forte with license plate 018JA6, although it may also be displaying a temporary tag from Missouri.

Anyone who sees Jaxon, Livingston or the suspect vehicle is urged to call 911 immediately, or call the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department at 913-596-3000 if you have any other information that could help investigators.

This is an amber alert. Please check back or follow @BNONews on Twitter as details become available. If you want to receive breaking news alerts by email, click here to sign up. You can also like us on Facebook by clicking here.

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4 free activities that are worth a try in Kansas City

Published

9 hours ago

July 17, 2024

Press Room

4 free activities that are worth a try in Kansas City

You don’t need major funds to have fun in Kansas City; just look at these affordable activities. Plus, we’ll never send you walking aimlessly in the park. Instead, we are making sure you get your money’s worth (even though you aren’t spending it).

Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead

Parents + grandparents, put away your moo-la. This barnyard bash is free with the Sunflower Summer Program. Watch a live milking demonstration, fish in the pond, pan for gold, and let your kids bottle feed baby goats.

Kansas City Public Library

The modern library card is powerful. Rent physical books, download magazines, stream music, watch movies, and listen to audiobooks for free.

Kansas City museums

These museums are free to visit and span a variety of topics.

Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

Enjoy free admission every first Tuesday of the month at this scenic garden with 1,700+ species of plants.

Did we miss your favorite freebie? Let us know + we’ll update our guide.

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Slidell’s Corey Cousin has been drafted by the Kansas City Royals. Here’s when

Published

16 hours ago

July 17, 2024

Press Room

Slidell’s Corey Cousin has been drafted by the Kansas City Royals. Here’s when

Slidell outfielder and right-handed pitcher Corey Cousin called it a “dream come true.”

Cousin was drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the second pick of the 18th round of the MLB Draft on July 16. He was the 527th overall pick.

Cousin had hopes of being taken in rounds 3-10, which were held on July 16, but the St. Tammany Farmer Hitter of the Year said although the excitement was delayed a day, it was special.

“Yesterday, we knew it was a 50/50 chance, but it didn’t happen,” Cousin said. “Then today came, and I was told that it would be a high possibility, so I just had to wait one day. It’s a feeling that I’ve never had before. Signing with a college was pretty big, but this is just different. It’s a dream come true. I still get chills.”

Cousin was in Georgia when he found out he was drafted after leaving for a travel ball tournament earlier in the day.

“I was in the hotel when I found out. I’m just here with my team and coach, so it’s special,” Cousin said.

The 6-foot, 182-pound athlete throws over 90 miles per hour and finished his senior season with a 7-0 record in 60 innings with 86 strikeouts. The District 6-5A MVP dominated at the plate, hitting .450 with 12 doubles, two triples and two home runs to go with 39 runs scored and 18 RBIs.

MLB.com noted that scouts project him as a center fielder.

“A quarterback in school, Cousin showed good speed entering the Draft with a 6.4-second time in the 60-yard dash. He has some decent pop as a right-handed hitter, and some evaluators believe he could be at least a solid defender in center field. He committed to Oklahoma last July, but Kansas City might have an eye on signing him here,” the website’s draft analysis said.

Now, Cousin has a decision to make — he can sign with the Royals or attend college.

“Today was really hectic, so we’ll talk about what we’ll do tomorrow,” Cousin said. “We’re going to sit down after my game and talk about what will be best for me. We’ll figure things out after I sit down with my family and my agent. It’s an exciting time.”

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As Living Costs Soar, Kansas City Pinches Pennies to Afford Rent and Mortgages – Northeast News

Published

24 hours ago

July 17, 2024

Press Room

RobyLane Kelley
Editorial Assistant

Behind the Epidemic

Supply and demand is not a foreign concept; High demand for a product with low supply means the product seller can mark up its prices. The need to buy out of necessity continues, which includes housing. Many recent studies have shown Kansas City Metro lacks the number of dwellings – rentals, and otherwise – to adequately house its citizens within city boundaries.

The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) stated in its June 25 review, that Kansas City has yet to recover, since the 2008 recession. MARC suggests that Kansas City has “underbuilt” since this recession — resulting in a shortage of anywhere from 12,000 to 24,000 dwellings.

This study says while the metro does continue to build roughly 6,700 units annually, this will not be sufficient to close the gap. Without factoring in population growth, MARC says the city would need to build at least 10,000 units per year for a decade to meet current needs.

Crunching the Numbers

Homeowners continue to struggle as well — comparing house-hunting for first-time homebuyers to searching for an oasis in the middle of a housing desert. According to Redfin, in May 2019, the average cost of a home in Kansas City, Mo., was $208,000, with 869 homes sold. This same data states that May 2024 saw homes sold for an average of $280,000, with 760 homes sold.

comparatively, in Kansas City, Kan., May 2019 data shows 177 houses sold for an average of $145,750. May 2024 shows 127 homes sold in said area for an average of $225,000.

With supply low and demand high, rent and home prices are skyrocketing. However, minimum wage has also risen during this time. In 2019, the minimum wage in Missouri was $8.60, and as of January 2024, it now sits at $12.30. Although, data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator suggests this increase is not livable. This data is broken down by living expenses including rent, food and medical, among others.

The livable wage provided with its data – last updated in February 2024 – based on the number of adults and children, which occupy a household. The foundation of this data states that one working adult with no children works at a poverty wage of $7.24, a minimum wage of $12.30 and a livable wage of $21.70. Nearing the Kansas border, some Missouri citizens may be working for Kansas’s Federal minimum wage at $7.25 – only a penny above the previously stated poverty wage.

Working Toward Solutions

Kansas City has generated programs — including grants — to help citizens find affordable housing. Many of these grants are for property owners, so they can build or revitalize their area. These grants include: Rebuild KC, Choice Neighborhood – one of the grants, which helped fund Samuel Rodgers Place and the Housing Trust Fund.

A housing application is available for Kansas City, Mo., residents called the Public Housing Program through the Housing Authority of Kansas City (HAKC). According to its website, eligibility will be based on “annual gross income, U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status, local federal preference and criminal record.”

This local federal preference is separated into three groups.

1: Working, Work Training Program, Elderly and Disabled

2: Homeless, Job Training Program, Housing Factor and Rent Burden

3: Non-Preference

After “initial” eligibility is met, HAKC will request additional documentation to ensure tenants will meet qualifications for the environment they are working to cultivate. Space is limited through the program as the number of units it operates through is over 1,900.

Federal grants for housing, eligibility information and applications can be found at https://www.usgrants.org/missouri/90511-kansas-city-missouri-housing-grants.

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