School lunchrooms' grim tale: This is the crisis that Covid built

A food service crisis up and down the supply chain has districts scrambling after new resources and paring down menu options to meet the critical task of feeding students. “School is the only place where some of our kids get a hot meal.”

Cleaver: KC now a model in nationwide struggle to provide rent and utility assistance

In a quick trip home from Washington, D.C.’s wars Saturday, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II stepped into the nest of Kansas City’s most vexing struggle. “Lack of adequate housing,” Cleaver said, “is the No. 1 issue right now in the United States. No question about it. This is it.”

LINC helps parents bring media attention to dangerous traffic at King Elementary

Parents and neighbors at Martin Luther King Elementary School — with LINC’s help — say they are just getting started in trying to protect their children from the dangerous traffic that rushes by their school.

Spread the word: Kansas City opens clinic to speed pandemic aid for rental and utility bill assistance

The city wants everyone’s help in spreading the word to get more households to apply. “We need to get the message out that you are not alone,” 3rd District City Councilwoman Melissa Robinson said. “A lot of people are in this situation for the very first time.”

'Justice in the Schools' legal help for families expanding to Center School District

Legal assistance for housing problems, eviction threats, foreclosure, consumer complaints and other matters is coming to the aid of Center School District families as LINC expands its support of the Justice in the Schools program.

Fort Osage breaks ground on new administration, transportation facility

The Fort Osage school board and its constituents had a pretty big wish list for its community and its construction partners when it put two ballot issues before voters last April. Thursday morning, the first ceremonial shovels of dirt got turned for the big-ticket item — a new building for transportation, maintenance and administration.

Emotional day: LINC school families enjoy safe, joyful reunions

The promise of a new year, new friends, new games and educational adventures unfolded across some 40 LINC Caring Communities before- and after-school programs Monday in the Kansas City, Hickman Mills, Center, North Kansas City and Grandview school districts.

Landlords, United Way urge renters to apply for Covid-19 relief for back-due bills

A massive federal relief effort is trying to catch up with the vast need of renters and landlords who are struggling with rents, utilities and mortgages because of the pandemic. More funds are coming and renters with past-due bills should apply, say the United Way of Greater Kansas City and local landlords.

'Absolutely Awesome!' Center opens new Indian Creek Elementary to rave reviews

Once the red ribbon was cut and the first tours were under way, students Jaiden and Janae Taylor joined the wide-eyed procession inside Center School District’s new Indian Creek Elementary School Thursday as some of the most precious guests. See what they like the most.

Safe for you; see how LINC is primed for this most critical school year

We’ve learned a lot in the past year and a half. And everything we know about hardship, strength, resilience and unity has primed us for what looms as the most critical school year probably in a lifetime. Everyone has a role. Here’s ours.

'I got a scare.' LINC/Morning Star, Truman Medical Centers double down on vaccinations

The pursuit of the unvaccinated is dogged now — “drilled-down” — as Truman Medical Centers has returned with its mobile clinic to Morning Star’s community center at 27th and Prospect Avenue for moments just like this . . .

All aboard! How you and everyone can play a role in this most critical school year

We’ve learned a lot in the past year and a half. And everything we know about hardship, strength, resilience and unity has primed us for what looms as the most critical school year probably in a lifetime. But it’s going to take all of us, and here’s why.

'Whatever children and teachers need,' GEHA team delivers for Cler-Mont Elementary

Just get all the teachers to put together a list. Then GEHA representatives Karen Rutherford and Niki Nelson said they’d take it from there. See what it means to Cler-Mont Elementary School in the Fort Osage School District.

'Teetering on crisis,' KC medical directors plea for vaccination, masking; here's how to save lives

It was a roll call of pain, fear — even death. Kansas City area medical directors shared their grim accounting with the city in a public call for help Friday, beseeching a community “teetering on a precipice” to get vaccinated and to mask-up against Covid-19’s Delta variant. The Morning Star vaccination clinic is stepping up.

Making our Schoolyard Gardens grow; kids' Thanksgiving harvest dreams start here

July’s sun was mounting the sky toward a 100-plus-degree heat index. But Hartman Caring Communities Coordinator Martin Jackson mopped his head with a towel and put his thoughts on Thanksgiving. By then, he said, these beds of soil LINC staff were building with the Kansas City Community Gardens will have been planted, watered and nurtured by LINC’s after-school kids.

'We see you. We hear you.' Tolbert Academy students speak to community in mural challenge

It was quite a day: Teenagers working with artists and entrepreneurs, stretching their imaginations in a mural design as broad as the community they love — and as close as the fear and joy in their hearts. Lee A. Tolbert Academy students poured their heart and soul into the Startland MECA Challenge, and now they wait.

Junius G. Groves, 'Potato King,' to be enshrined in Kansas Business Hall of Fame

Junius G. Groves, a figure well known to the annual Kansas City Black History Project for his rise from slavery to wealthy landowner and businessman, will be enshrined in the Kansas Business Hall of Fame. Groves became known as “The Potato King of the World” and one of the wealthiest African-Americans of the early 20th Century.

Seven years after Kaboom, Genesis School plans community fair, makeover in 'Project Prepare'

It’s been seven years since Genesis School and neighbors came together to build the playground provided by Kaboom! Now, the playground is in need of a makeover, and this time around Genesis is planning a community fair and rally Aug. 7 to get everyone primed and ready for the coming school year.

#GetVaccinated! Morning Star clinic opens with new hours in fight against Covid-19 Delta variant

The fight against the Covid-19 Delta variant is on in Kansas City, and LINC’s vaccination clinic with Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church and Heart to Heart International is opening for walk-ins on selected Tuesday mornings beginning July 27 at 10 a.m.

Fort Osage schools to turn closed highway road stop into mecca of real-world learning

“The possibilities are endless,” said Fort Osage Superintendent Jason Snodgrass. The beloved JBZ's Rockin' B & Mercantile, closed during the pandemic, will become a student-run coffee shop and community event space across five acres of land.