The summer EBT food program for qualifying families with children is returning for Missourians in 2024, and will be a permanent program going forward, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today. The benefit will provide an extra $120 per child over three summer months.

The last time Fort Osage opened a new gymnasium, David Shrout was a scrappy junior on the Indians basketball team, handling the basketball. 56 years later, Shrout was the school board member handling the oversized scissors, surrounded by the “Fort Family,” as the community celebrated the opening of its new Field House Jan. 2.

From celebrating the Chiefs, to singing of Black History, meeting local farmers, putting on another Caring Communities Day, planting gardens, partnering in classrooms and joining in holiday festivities and much more — it’s been a fabulous year. Here’s our annual look back.

LINC’s eight-month old local food distribution program got a lot weightier for the holidays. The Local Food Purchase Assistance program added 540 hams and 25 turkeys to the 1,500 boxes of produce that went out to area families.

LINC Chess’ first tournament of the 2023-2024 season drew 142 students from throughout the area, representing 43 different schools. Here are some of the sights and sounds from the tournament held Dec. 9 at North Kansas City High School.

From North Kansas City to Grandview, from Kansas City’s West Side to Buckner, Mo., LINC’s Caring Communities school programs pounced on the new school year. See the sights and sounds. We’ve got video.