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World Cup demand sparks lodging scramble in Kansas City

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World Cup demand sparks lodging scramble in Kansas City

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Kansas City is preparing for a surge of visitors as it gets ready to host World Cup matches this summer, with hotel availability and short-term rentals already tightening months before the first game kicks off.

Tourism officials estimate hundreds of thousands of visitors could pass through the metro during the tournament, while the city has roughly 36,000 hotel rooms. Some of those rooms are under contract with FIFA and unavailable to the general public, adding pressure to an already competitive lodging market.

That demand is pushing some locals to take unusual steps. Adam Kinner, a short-term rental host who owns multiple properties in the Kansas City area, says he even plans to rent out his own home during the World Cup and move in with his parents.

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Short-term rental properties are booking up in the Kansas City area ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Olivianna Calmes)

“I will actually be moving back into my parents’ basement,” Kinner told FOX. “The opportunity is just so large here that it would be silly not to take advantage of it.”

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President and CEO for Visit Kansas City and the Kansas City Sports Commission, Kathy Nelson, says the city has been preparing for this moment for years and is closely monitoring hotel capacity as bookings accelerate.

“The energy, the excitement, the anticipation is unbelievable,” Nelson said. “Everyone’s about to show up on our doorstep.”

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A map highlights cities selected to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Olivianna Calmes)

Nelson says Kansas City is one of the smallest host cities in the World Cup lineup, alongside major destinations like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, but officials are confident visitors will spread out across the region to find places to stay.

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New hotel development is also racing the clock. A 45-room boutique hotel called River Market Hotel is set to open this spring, just weeks before matches begin. The hotel’s managing member, Mike Heitman, says the timing adds pressure but also opportunity.

Hotel construction continues in Kansas City’s River Market area as the region prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Olivianna Calmes)

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“It’s exciting and scary at the same time,” Heitman said. “There’s a good chance we will have been open by just a week or two.”

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Kansas City will host six World Cup matches at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, including group stage games, a knockout round, and a quarterfinal. Tourism officials estimate the event could bring more than $600 million in economic impact to the region, making it the largest tourism event the city has ever hosted.

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Detroit, MI

Brief rally not enough for Tigers vs Rangers as win streak ends at 3

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Brief rally not enough for Tigers vs Rangers as win streak ends at 3


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ARLINGTON, TX – The Texas Rangers pounded Detroit Tigers starter Framber Valdez and then kept the onslaught going against the Tigers bullpen in a 10-4 victory at Globe Life Field on Thursday, July 2.

The Rangers scored five runs off Valdez in five innings – and it would have been far worse but the Tigers played some great defense behind him.

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Meanwhile, Texas starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi looked like he was going to have a no-hitter, retiring the first nine Tigers and not giving up a hit until the fifth.

Then, everything switched. Colt Keith, who broke up the no-no, and Hao-Yu Lee homered off Eovaldi, as the Tigers tried to come back. The Tigers (37-50) had several chances late against the bullpen of the Rangers (45-43), but they couldn’t get the big hit at the big moment, stranding five runners in the sixth and seventh innings.

At the plate: Cold start in Texas heat for Tigers

Eovaldi came into the game with wins in his last three starts.

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Make it four.

Eovaldi baffled the Tigers early, striking seven of the first nine Tigers. It was a masterful start of the game for someone who came into the game with a season-high of nine strikeouts. Eovaldi’s no-hitter lasted into the fifth inning until Keith hammered an 0-2 cutter for his sixth homer of the year.

That seemed to loosen things up for the Tigers. Zach McKinstry slapped a single. Then, Lee blasted a ball to left field. Alejandro Osuna, the Rangers left fielder, jumped up at the wall and appeared to rob it. But he couldn’t hold onto it, as Lee had a two-run homer.

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Suddenly, the Tigers cut the Rangers lead to 5-3.

The Tigers loaded the bases in the sixth, but right-handed reliever Peyton Gray struck out Lee.

The Tigers threatened again in the seventh, putting two on but couldn’t score.

On the mound: Defense helps out Framber Valdez

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The Rangers came out swinging against Valdez. And they didn’t miss many. Only three in fact.

Valdez gave up five hits in the first two innings, not to mention a walk with the bases loaded, a sacrifice fly and a homer by Elias Díaz.

It would have been far worse, but Kerry Carpenter came to the rescue with his defense. In the first inning, the Rangers had runners on first and second when catcher Kyle Higashioka drilled a ball into the right-center gap – 102.2 mph off the bat. It looked like two runs. Easy.

But Carpenter played it perfectly. He broke on the ball, sprinting full speed toward the wall, covered a country mile (OK, maybe it just looked that way), reached out at the last second with his backhand and snagged the ball, just as he reached the warning track.

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It was a fantastic play, stranding two runners and saving two runs.

Then, the Rangers stranded two more in the second inning.

So, even though Texas had a 3-0 second-inning lead, it could have been far worse.

Then, Carpenter made another fine play in the third inning. He ran up on a blooper, fielded the ball and threw out a runner at second, preventing another big inning.

In fact, the Tigers’ defense was great all around. There was McKinstry, diving for a line shot followed by Lee making a great play at second. And Kevin McGonigle had a fantastic play at third.

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Right-hander Beau Brieske, who was called up on Wednesday when Will Vest was placed on the injured list, pitched the sixth. He gave up a monster homer to Josh Smith, who pounced on a first-pitch fastball.

Then, the Rangers put up three more runs against lefty Drew Sommers, who didn’t record an out.

Next up: Taking a break for soccer

The Tigers are off on Friday because of a World Cup game across the way at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with Australia –.which had a vocal contingent of fans in the Globe Life stands Thursday – facing Egypt in the Round of 32 in the afternoon.

The Tigers’ series vs. the Rangers resumes Saturday (4:05 p.m., Detroit SportsNet) with right-hander Jack Flaherty (1-8, 4.97) on the mound for the Tigers, while right-hander Kumar Rocker (2-6, 3.83) will start for the Rangers.

The game will be played indoors, much to the chagrin of Hinch.

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“I think our players should have to play outside in Texas one time in their career, so they know what it was like,” Hinch said before the game. “There’s nothing like coming here in the middle of the summer. Now we have a nice little push roof to keep everybody cool.”

The Rangers played outdoors in Arlington from 1972 (when they moved to Texas from Washington) to 2019, when Globe Life Field opened.

Contact Jeff Seidel at jseidel@freepress.com or follow him @seideljeff.





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Milwaukee, WI

Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face-covering and park ordinances?

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Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face-covering and park ordinances?


Video circulating this week shows masked federal agents in Milwaukee arresting people. City leaders say the face coverings violate a city ordinance — but whether federal agents are required to follow local ordinances is a legal question that may ultimately be decided by a federal judge.

RELATED | Father with no criminal record detained by ICE on Milwaukee’s south side, family says

Local attorney Russell Jones said the answer depends on the specific ordinance and what federal authorities are doing.

“The issue becomes whether or not the local ordinances interfere with the operations of the federal officers acting under federal law. If it does, federal law will supersede it. Right, it’s the supremacy clause of the Constitution. If it doesn’t interfere with their operations, then typically they will follow those ordinances. So that’s really the question: do the ordinances interfere with the legitimate operations of the federal agency?” Jones explained.

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For the past week, masked federal agents have been seen in Wisconsin arresting people they say are in the country illegally.

Watch: Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face covering and park ordinances?

Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face covering and park ordinances?

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Galo Suarez described one encounter.

“They broke our side window, and they told us that if we didn’t comply, we would face several heavy consequences,” Suarez said.

Images have also surfaced of what appear to be federal agents in Milwaukee County parks.

Federal agents wearing masks and being in county parks, according to city and county leaders, are against local ordinances.

Milwaukee’s city ordinance prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings. A Milwaukee County ordinance prohibits any law enforcement agency from using a park as a staging area without a permit.

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When asked whether a resolution to the legal question was possible now, Jones said it likely falls to the courts.

“That’s a question that eventually probably some federal judge will answer,” Jones said.

Before the city’s face covering ordinance was passed, City Attorney Evan Goyke wrote in a memo that “it is legal and enforceable.”

Enforcement of the ordinance would fall to Milwaukee Police, who earlier this week said they have “requested a formal written legal opinion from the city attorney’s office regarding the ordinance’s applicability and enforceability.” TMJ4 News reached out to Goyke on this and is waiting to hear back.

ICE has already stated it “will not abide by unconstitutional bans,” noting that “ICE officers wear face coverings for one reason: to protect themselves and their families from real-world threats including agitators.”

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Jones said the practical challenge of enforcing a local ordinance against federal officers adds another layer of complexity.

“Enforcing a local ordinance right is typically done with an arrest or issuing a ticket, and certainly arresting ICE officers would interfere with their operations,” Jones added. “Ultimately, a federal judge will decide if these ordinances interfere with federal operations, and if they do, they will be superseded by federal law, and if they don’t, then ICE would likely have to follow them.”

This story was reported on-air by Jenna Rae 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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Minneapolis, MN

Local historian tells Minnesota’s patriotism through soldier letters

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Local historian tells Minnesota’s patriotism through soldier letters


As we approach America’s 250th birthday, patriotism is running high. Minnesota has a long history with a deep sense of patriotism. In the 1860s as the county was divided over slavery, young Minnesota men stepped up and volunteered to defend and fight for the principles the United States was established on. Local author and historian Hampton Smith tells the stories of patriotism through letters written by soldiers. FOX 9’s Randy Meier has more.



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