Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri, City Council approves efforts to stop predatory towing
KSHB 41 reporter Isabella Ledonne covers issues surrounding government accountability and solutions. Share your story with Isabella.
Big changes are coming to the regulations covering towing businesses in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council unanimously voted to crack down on predatory towing at Thursday afternoon’s meeting.
“It’s a new day,” Councilman Darrell Curls said.
Curls is the sponsor behind the proposed new towing ordinances.
Jack McCormick
Among the changes are a vehicle owner bill of rights, creating an electronic reporting system to the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD), and enforcing fines for violators.
The penalty for a first violation is a fine between $250 and $500 and/or 30 days in jail. A second violation could mean a fine of $500 to $750 and/or 90 days in jail. A third violation will mean a fine of $750 o $1,000 and/or 180 days in jail.
“A lot of times, what happens is people don’t know their rights when it comes to towing,” Councilman Curls said. “The ones that are affected are always the ones that can least afford it.”
The city council swiftly passed the ordinance after dozens of people shared their voice on how they suffered at the hands of illegal towing.
Councilman Curls said he started work on the legislation six months ago.
“I think that this is something that’s been long overdue,” Councilman Curls said. “This came from my constituents, my family members, as well as some of my colleagues expressing concerns about towing fees that affect everybody in the city.”
Tow truck drivers also shared their voice at Tuesday’s committee meeting on the ordinance.
Isabella Ledonne
“I’m all for regulation, I think all of us are here for that,” Josh Baker, Jackson County Tow Service, said. “The problem is nobody here [on council] tows.”
Drivers cited problems with the Kansas City Police Department’s communication and the city taking a large profit from public tows.
Isabella Ledonne
“Underneath the guise of public protection, you guys [the city] are profiting $143 off of every single tow that we bring down, and you own no tow trucks,” Junior Johnson with Empire Tow Service said.
Councilman Curls responded to their concerns by explaining that the police department is confident in their enforcement, and any profit problems within the city will be addressed.
“I know the director of public works is looking into that [profiting] and I think there will be some changes in regards to that if it hasn’t already been made,” Councilman Curls said. “We’ve had KCPD at the table for these discussions, and they were very confident that they would be able to enforce this ordinance.”
Now it’s up to Jackson County to pass legislation requiring all tow truck drivers to have a license.
According to Councilman Curls, Jackson County is the only county in the area that does not require licensure.
“Clay, Platte, and Cass County had something,” Councilman Curls said. “Jackson County was the only one that didn’t.”
The legislature is expected to take up the ordinance on Monday, May 5.
At Thursday’s meeting, the City Council also decided to dedicate funding to keep buses and IRIS micro transit running.
Two ordinances that would provide $2.75 million for the transit buses and an additional $3.25 million for KCATA and IRIS will be discussed May 6th in the council’s Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee meeting.
The Ride Share program was supposed to end on Thursday, but council members pledged an additional $500,000 on Wednesday afternoon to keep it running.
It’s unclear how long that funding will last, but the KCATA stated it costs about $500,000 a month to keep IRIS in service.
Jack McCormick
“I would love to see some more definition to [the funding], but I feel confident that we have the opportunity to work with council and help define what this looks like and find an opportunity to fund both sides of the services more long term,” Tyler Means, KCATA chief mobility and strategy officer, said.
According to the KCATA, IRIS helps more than 300 people get to work every day. Councilman Wes Rogers said they still need to find a long-term solution for public transit.
Jack McCormick
“We figured out how to keep the buses running, we figured out how to keep IRIS going,” Councilman Rogers said. “At least in the short term, everything’s going okay. I saw Bobby Witt hit a home run today. This is not a home run, it’s an infield single, but it’s a positive.”
IRIS rideshare will continue at least throughout the next week.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Homicide detectives in Kansas City, Missouri, were called to the scene of a deadly shooting Saturday morning.
Just before 7 a.m. Saturday, police received a reported shooting call near E. 4th Street and Holmes Street.
When officers arrived, they located an adult male in the street who had been shot.
Paramedics transported the victim to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
A police spokesperson said detectives believe the victim had an interaction with one or more suspects in a vehicle when one of the suspects opened fire, striking the victim.
The spokesperson said the incident happened in an area with several apartment residences – detectives are interviewing potential witnesses for additional information.
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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.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 8, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 8 drawing
37-47-49-51-58, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 8 drawing
Midday: 4-6-2
Midday Wild: 6
Evening: 1-3-0
Evening Wild: 6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 8 drawing
Midday: 1-1-1-9
Midday Wild: 3
Evening: 8-8-9-9
Evening Wild: 8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 8 drawing
Early Bird: 13
Morning: 11
Matinee: 15
Prime Time: 07
Night Owl: 13
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from May 8 drawing
02-18-20-23-36
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
- Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
- Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
A Jackson County judge on Friday denied Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway’s attempt to immediately stop Kansas City-based CBD American Shaman and several affiliated companies from selling kratom products.
The motion for a temporary restraining order, which was filed alongside the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, took particular aim at the more potent 7-OH products, which Hanaway argues are “hazardous opioids” banned by state and federal law.
Jackson County Circuit Judge Charles McKenzie’s ruling Friday stated there are “competing affidavits” from experts on both sides of the argument, following a hearing on the motion earlier this week.
“The court cannot find, based on the oral argument of the parties, the respective competing affidavits presented and the pleadings, whether the plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits at this juncture in the proceedings in order for the court to grant relief in the form of a temporary restraining order,” McKenzie’s order states.
Hanaway’s argument was backed by sworn statements from an undercover narcotics officer with the highway patrol who said 7-OH is being used to cut fentanyl and a woman whose brother died from a kratom overdose. Her office also submitted a FDA report that points to 7-OH as “a potent opioid that poses an emerging public health threat” and state health data showing synthetic 7-OH was involved in at least 197 Missouri deaths.
American Shaman submitted statements of its own from five toxicology and addiction experts, who largely said there wasn’t enough evidence to show that 7-OH and kratom posed a public health risk. One who researched narcotics said she had never heard of 7-OH being used to cut fentanyl.
Company owner Vince Sanders’ statement detailed how he came up with the idea to create 7-OH products, which now has an “enormous” demand particularly among people who need pain management.
Sanders could not be reached for comment about the ruling Friday.
McKenzie denied a temporary restraining order “without prejudice,” meaning that he would like to see more evidence.
“It is because of this finding that the court determines it necessary to hold an additional hearing,” he wrote, “where it can consider the parties respective positions with the potential of testimonial evidence and other properly introduced evidence, all as more fully developed by the parties, in order to further analyze these issues.”
The judge will consider “other injunctive relief sought in the pleadings at a future hearing to consider the issues,” the order states.
Hanaway filed a similar lawsuit Thursday against Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading LLC, and its owners Dustin Robinson and Ajaykumar Patel.
The group received a warning letter from the FDA for producing 7-OH products last year similar to one received by Shaman Botanicals.
“This is another step in our ongoing crackdown on kratom manufacturers who flout the law and try to justify endangering Missourians in the name of profit,” Hanaway said in a press release Thursday. “Our mission is to safeguard Missourians from unregulated and addictive substances, and we will continue to pursue every legal tool available to protect public health and safety.”
This story was originally published by the Missouri Independent.
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