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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jackson County short-term rental owners concerned ahead of World Cup 2026
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A change in property classifications has short-term rental owners in Jackson County concerned. This comes as Kansas City's first World Cup 2026 match is scheduled for one year from Monday. Ribbon cutting to take place for Margaritaville Hotel Kansas City Short-term rental owners, including those who operate Airbnbs and VRBOs (Vacation Rentals by Owner) are concerned this might affect lodging options for soccer fans, and thereby, owners' chances to make money. Some rental owners complain they learned of the change in classification when their new Jackson County tax assessments arrived in the mail. In some cases, property taxes on their properties jumped by 200-300 percent. Its causing some to question the big increases they'll have to pay, after their properties are changed from residential to commercial. 'It's taxation without representation,' Laura Williams, who operates a Waldo-based short-term rental property, said on Monday. 'We were never given a notice. All we got was this piece of paper right here,' Williams said, while sharing her new tax assessment paperwork on the Waldo property. Williams showed FOX4 her annual taxes more than tripled to $6,872. That's on top of the short-term rental taxes and registration she already pays to Kansas City, Missouri. 'Who is going to want to rent out their house for the World Cup when it's going to cause their property taxes to triple?' Williams asked. 'I think it's something people in Kansas City should be concerned about.' On Monday afternoon, a spokesperson for Jackson County said this reclassification is the result of a change in state law that defines properties that are available for rental periods of less that 30 days as 'transient housing', which means they don't qualify as residential. Jackson County Tax Assessor Gail McCann Beatty addressed this change with county leaders in late May. However, no one would answer specific questions from FOX4 about local effects of the change on Monday. Jackson County Sixth District Legislator Sean Smith said he believes this change from Jackson County may be unconstitutional, and that the assessor's office didn't inform the public about upcoming changes in their taxes. Smith wants to know if this affects all short-term rental operators, including those who register their properties as an option of renting them. 'The implementation and execution have been very poor. It should have been talked about in the public, so that if somebody is on the registry, but they have no way of using it, they could have made an informed decision,' Smith said. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Smith also believes this increase in tax assessment is being applied to short-term rentals in Kansas City, Missouri only, and not in other Jackson County cities. He said he intends to address these concerns at a Wednesday morning legislative meeting. Smith has produced . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Shots fired at police officer in Shawnee early Tuesday morning
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Shawnee Police Department is investigating after someone fired shots at an officer Tuesday morning. Shawnee police said around 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, someone shot at an officer near 67th Street and Midland Drive in Shawnee. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV There is an active police presence at the scene with around 10 patrol cars and at least one K-9. FOX4 has a crew at the scene and will update this story as more information is available. This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Where are fireworks legal in the Kansas City area in 2025?
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Fourth of July is less than a month away, which means it's almost time for fireworks. But is it legal to buy or shoot them off where you live in the Kansas City metro? This year, fireworks sales in Missouri are permitted to start on Friday, June 20, and run through Thursday, July 10. In Kansas, , allows for the year-round sale of fireworks in the state by permanent retailers and extended sales periods for seasonal retailers. Local ordinances however still regulate when fireworks can be set off and sold. But buying fireworks in both Kansas and Missouri doesn't mean you can shoot them off in every city. Some metro areas do not permit fireworks at all, while others have varied regulations. Here's a breakdown city-by-city of where you can shoot off your Fourth of July fireworks. Some regulations may change ahead of the Fourth of July holiday. FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joe's Weather Blog in your inbox Belton: Fireworks can be discharged from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 28 through July 2, noon to 10 p.m. on July 3, and from 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4. The possession, sale and/or use of bottle rockets, skyrockets and Roman candles are prohibited. Blue Springs: Fireworks are allowed from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 1-3 and from 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4. Bottle rockets and aerial luminaries are prohibited, according to city code. Gladstone: The possession, sale and use of fireworks are prohibited in Gladstone under city ordinance. Grandview: The sale or use of fireworks is not allowed in Grandview under city ordinance. Independence: You can shoot off consumer fireworks from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 3 and 5 and from 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4. It's against city code to have or use sparkler bombs, sky lanterns and altered or combined fireworks. Kansas City, Missouri: Shooting off fireworks is illegal in Kansas City under city ordinance. Lee's Summit: Fireworks can only be discharged on July 2 and 3 between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m., and July 4 between 10 a.m. and midnight. Each household is required to have a free Fireworks Use Permit before discharging fireworks within the city limits. Liberty: Non-aerial fireworks are allowed from 4-10 p.m. on July 3 and 4. Aerial fireworks are allowed during the same timeframe for Liberty residents who live on three-acre tracts of land or more. North Kansas City: Fireworks are not permitted within city limits, according to city code. Parkville: Fireworks can only be discharged on July 1-3 and July 5 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on July 4 from 10 a.m. to midnight. All aerial fireworks are prohibited. Platte City: Fireworks are allowed from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. from June 20 to July 3, and from 10 a.m. to midnight on July 4, except on Sundays when fireworks can't start before noon, according to city code. Raymore: This year, fireworks are allowed from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 1-2, from noon to 10 p.m. July 3 and from 10 a.m. to midnight July 4, according to city code. Raytown: Consumer fireworks can be discharged from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 4 and noon to 10 p.m. on July 5. Stick rockets, missiles, sky lanterns and other items which, in the opinion of the Fire Marshal, are deemed dangerous, shall be prohibited, according to city code. Riverside: Fireworks can only be used from June 20 through July 5. Bottle rockets are prohibited, according to city code. Smithville: Fireworks can be discharged from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. July 3-5. to the hours between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. beginning June 20 through July 5. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Bonner Springs: City code only allows fireworks from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. from July 3-4. Fireworks are not allowed in city parks or parking lots. Bottle rockets and lanterns are illegal. Sales of fireworks are permitted from June 27 through July 4. De Soto: Fireworks are prohibited to sell or use in De Soto unless they're part of a public display with a permit issued, per the city code. Gardner: The sale of fireworks is permitted between June 28 and July 4 in Gardner. They can be discharged from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 2-4. Click here for details on where they can be discharged. Kansas City, Kansas: Fireworks are legal, except for sky lanterns, rockets and missiles, to sell from June 29 through July 4, according to the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and KCK. You may shoot from July 2 through July 4, 9 a.m. through 11 p.m. Lawrence: The city ordinance states that the use, possession, handling and sale of fireworks are prohibited except for the use of fireworks for display, as outlined in supervised public displays. Novelty items such as party poppers, snappers, snakes, sparklers, toy caps and toy smoke devices are acceptable. Douglas County: People can ignite or discharge fireworks and novelty items legally on private property in the unincorporated areas of the county on July 2 and July 3 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and July 4 from 7 a.m. to midnight. Leawood: Fireworks cannot be sold, used or possessed in Leawood, city code says. Lenexa: The sale and use of fireworks is not allowed in Lenexa. Merriam: Fireworks are illegal in Merriam, according to city ordinance. Olathe: Fireworks are illegal to possess and shoot off in Olathe, police say. Overland Park: It's illegal to buy or use fireworks in Overland Park with some exceptions such as snappers, snakes, toy pistols or canes with caps. Any device that produces a visible or audible effect through combustion or detonation is not allowed in Overland Park. Prairie Village: Fireworks aren't allowed in Prairie Village's city limits. Roeland Park: Only novelty items like sparklers, snakes, snappers, smoke devices and cone fountains are allowed, but they're limited to noon to 10 p.m. on July 4, the city said. Bottle rockets or aerial fireworks are not allowed. Shawnee: The City Council voted in May of 2022 to allow fireworks during a specific time frame. The city says fireworks may be legally set off within city limits between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. on July 3 and July 4. Bottle rockets, sky lanterns and M80s are not allowed. Tonganoxie: Fireworks are allowed from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on June 30 through July 4. Bottle rockets are not allowed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘No Kings Rally' organizer hoping for thousands on Saturday
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Metro leaders are preparing for protests Saturday. Republican Governor Mike Kehoe's also activated the Missouri National Guard ahead of the 'No Kings Rallies' across Missouri. Authorities are making plans now to try to make sure they stay peaceful. 'To send out troops against American citizens is kind of ridiculous, really,' Indivisible Kansas City Founder Beverly Harvey said on Friday, talking about Governor Kehoe's activation. State House Minority Leader Ashley Aune told FOX4 Friday that just because the Missouri National Guard's been activated does not necessarily mean there will be a presence at the protests. Kansas attorney general blocked from denying gender changes on driver's licenses Republican Missouri Congressman Mark Alford says the National Guard is there to protect police officers and citizens should they need it. Congressman Alford added that he thought Governor Kehoe's decision was very wise. 'I'm praying for peaceful protests,' he said. 'There's going to be one in Lee's Summit. There's going to be one there near the Plaza at Mill Creek Park. You have every right to disagree with Donald J. Trump and his policies, but let's do it peacefully.' House Minority Leader Aune says she always wants Governor Kehoe to feel like he can activate Missouri's National Guard if need be. 'That said, there has been no indication that I'm aware of that any of the protests planned in our state are going to be violent in any way,' she said. The rallies are timed to coincide with Saturday's military parade in Washington D.C. The local rally has gained extra attention amid the White House's crackdown on illegal immigration. Marines are seen standing guard at a federal building in Los Angeles FOX4 asked Harvey if she thought things would get out of hand on Saturday. 'I know that our group won't get out of hand,' she replied. 'Indivisible prides itself nationally and all the groups, there's like 2,000 groups that will be around the United States tomorrow, on peaceful demonstrations, protests, whatever you want to call it, so we pride ourselves on that. We can't guarantee there won't be instigators. It wouldn't surprise me if there's instigators that show up to try to cause trouble.' The Kansas City, MO Police Department (KCPD) tells FOX4 they expect a peaceful gathering, adding that they have response plans in place should any issues arise. FOX4 does not know if KCPD will have more officers on patrol Saturday due to the protest at Mill Creek Park. It starts at noon and is scheduled to go until 3 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Merriam ‘Spreads the Love' for its 75th Birthday
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The city of Merriam has put together a special initiative to 'Spread The Love' as it celebrates its 75th birthday. Donna Kelce to make reality TV debut on Peacock's 'The Traitors' It's called 'Hearts Across Merriam.' The goal is to bring people together through art and discovery. Once a month, the city hides hearts across various public spaces, encouraging visitors and residents to find them and post photos on social media. Merriam resident and local artist Dierk Van Keppel brought the hearts to life and FOX4 got a look inside where all the art is made. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
