KSHB 41 reporter La’Nita Brooks covers stories in Kansas City, Missouri, and stories offering solutions on crime. Share your story idea with La’Nita.

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Hundreds of people filled the streets of Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday for the KC Pride 2026 parade. The route started in Westport and ended near Country Club Plaza.

This year’s theme, “It’s all ours,” represents everything Pride has built and all that is to come — a message that resonated deeply with many in the crowd.

“I feel like today means like we matter, like as queer people,” said attendee Erynn. “I’m a lesbian but anyone who’s queer, trans — especially right now — it feels like they’re trying to make us matter less. They’re trying to almost reduce visibility. And something like this, to me, says you’re not going to silence us and we’re going keep being visible and keep being who we are, and we’re going to do it in a joyful fun-loving way.”

The parade drew people from across the region, including some who came to KCMO specifically for the event.

Brian Luton

“I’m from Pittsburg, Kansas, so we came up to spend the day and hangout and go to the parade,” Stan Forrest said.

For others, the day was about community and a decades-long journey.

Brian Luton

“I came out 50 years ago,” Fanny Mandelberger said. “So, obviously to be in community. To keep the not so much a fight just living your authentic self. I’m grateful to my ancestry that taught me resilience, (to) stand up for who you are.”

Those in attendance said they hope the celebration continues to grow.

“It was amazing,” Forrest said. “We had a lot of fun. Everyone here is so joyful, it’s really refreshing to see.”

Brian Luton

A social media post from Our Spot KC/KC Pride this week sparked discussion after it suggested Kansas City, Missouri, officials were banned from attending this year, due to the city council’s rescission of the city’s conversion therapy ban. The organizations responded with a new statement on social media and the original post has since been removed.

“We posted the wrong draft. We are human, after all, and we’ve been quite busy running our biggest weekend of the year,” KC Pride said in part on social media.

An excerpt from the new statement can be read below.

PrideFest continues at Theis Park through the weekend.

Below are more sights from the parade Saturday morning.

Brian Luton/KSHB

Brian Luton/KSHB

Brian Luton/KSHB

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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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TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The Kansas Highway Patrol has confirmed that two individuals died and one child was left seriously injured following a semi-vehicle crash on Friday, closing a portion of I-70.

According to the KHP Crash Log, the incident was reported around 3:47 p.m. on I-70 in Wabaunsee County.

A 2024 Kenworth Construction (semi) was eastbound on I-70 when, for an unknown reason, it crossed the center median into the westbound lanes of traffic.

The semi struck a 2020 Buick Envision, which was westbound in the right lane of traffic.

The Kansas Highway Patrol released the identities of the individuals involved.

The driver of the Buick, 70-year-old Barbara Krier, of Great Bend, died of a fatal injury. Another occupant in the Buick, 50-year-old Steven Reed, of Topeka, also died of a fatal injury.

A 7-year-old child was also in the vehicle at the time and suffered a serious injury. The child was taken to a hospital.

The semi driver, Jason Webb, 45, of Cheboygan, Michigan, was also taken to a hospital with a suspected minor injury.

View the full Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log report HERE.

NESS COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Ness County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) arrested a Ness City man following the execution of a search warrant Thursday morning.

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, KBI agents and Ness County sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at 609 S. School Street in Ness City. During the search, law enforcement discovered large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, LSD, marijuana, and mushrooms, and seized 130 firearms. Explosive materials were also located, which required assistance from the KHP Hazardous Devices Unit to safely secure the scene before the search could resume.

Following the operation, the Kansas Department of Revenue’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABC) completed a tax assessment on the seized narcotics, successfully collecting over $118,000 from the suspect for the lack of required drug tax stamps.

Chad Sunley, 45, of Ness City, was arrested on requested charges of  distribution of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, distribution of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school, distribution of LSD within 1,000 feet of a school, distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, distribution of mushrooms within 1,000 feet of a school, manufacturing explosive devices, possession of stolen firearms, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and no drug tax stamp.

Sunley was booked into the Ness County Jail.