Latest news with #STARBonds
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
4 The People: What to expect next in Missouri special session
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri General Assembly's special session is halfway home. The Senate got a through after . Next up it's on to the House. Rudi Keller, deputy editor of the Missouri Independent, joins FOX4 to talk about how the session got to this point and what to expect in the next week. Meantime, no special session for Kansas lawmakers, who passed a STAR Bonds stadium package last year. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri Senate President Ty Masterson joins FOX4 with his observations on the Missouri package from a Kansas perspective, and with a deadline looming on the STAR Bonds package, when the dust might settle for both states. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Tributes continue for Sarah Milgrim after antisemitic shooting in D.C.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tributes are still pouring in for 26-year-old Sarah Milgrim, a Kansas native whose life was cut short last week in what the FBI says was a targeted antisemitic attack in Washington, D.C. Milgrim and her boyfriend, Yaron Lischinsky, were gunned down Wednesday night. The FBI is investigating the attack as a hate crime. While the nation processes yet another act of senseless violence, those who knew Sarah are remembering the person she was warm, witty, deeply empathetic and fiercely proud of her Jewish identity. Kansas leaders not planning on extending STAR Bonds At a vigil held in her memory, Milgrim's best friend, Amanda Birger, shared stories of their bond—one that spanned years and felt more like family than friendship. 'I want people to speak about who she was, how wonderful she was, and how much we care about others,' Birger said. 'She was smart and funny and empathetic.' Birger described Sarah as a natural peacemaker and someone who could light up a room, not with volume, but with presence. 'She would wait for her moment and be quiet for like 30 minutes,' Birger said. 'But then punch in with like the funniest thing I've ever heard.' Sarah and Yaron had been planning a future together, friends say. The couple had even talked about getting engaged. Birger described Yaron as, 'One of the smartest people I've ever met. He spoke several languages.' She added, 'He was the perfect partner for Sarah—he was very smart, which she loved.' 1 critical after being shot in Westport, attempted drive to hospital: KCPD Details about memorial services for Sarah and Yaron have not yet been announced. FOX4 will share updates as soon as they become available. The Shawnee Mission School District, where Sarah graduated from Shawnee Mission East, also released a statement mourning her loss. That statement reads: Yesterday, we received the devastating news that Sarah Milgrim, a 2017 graduate of Shawnee Mission East High School, was killed in a senseless act of violence in Washington DC. We are devastated, for Sarah, for her partner Yaron, for her family, and for all who knew her in the Shawnee Mission East community and beyond. While the investigation is ongoing, early reports suggest this was a targeted act of violence motivated by antisemitism. I know I speak for all in the Shawnee Mission community when I say hatred in any form is unacceptable. Violence is never the answer. There is much that divides us in this nation, and in our world, but it is NEVER acceptable to settle our differences with violence. 'An 'eye for an eye' leaves the whole world blind.' That this act appears to have been motivated by antisemitic hate makes the tragedy even more horrifying. The American Experiment was begun by people who were fleeing religious persecution, and the freedom to exercise our religious faith without fear of harm is literally written into our constitution. Many of our Jewish families in Shawnee Mission emigrated to this country specifically to escape the horrors of the Holocaust, and unfortunately, even our own community has not been immune to the horrors of antisemitic hate. Friends, we cannot allow this to be who we are becoming, either as individuals or as a society. We are a broad, diverse society, but we can never allow our differences to spill over into hate. If we do, we are all wounded. Sarah's death is a huge loss for all of us. She had already earned masters degrees in natural resources and sustainable development, and in international affairs. She was just beginning to make her mark on the world. I urge you not to allow her death to go unnoticed. Sarah believed this world is for everyone. All of us must find ways to reach across our differences, to work together for the better world we all crave. Let's do this for Sarah. May her memory be for a blessing. Sarah Milgrim's memory is already inspiring a community to speak louder, love harder, and stand up against hate in all its forms. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas City Royals ‘gone' without Missouri funding bill: Former lobbyist
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A late bid by Missouri Republican Governor Mike Kehoe to get a stadium finance bill passed in the legislature ran headlong into bipartisan opposition in the State Senate late Tuesday afternoon. The State House easily passed the package, which would use tax revenues generated by the stadiums to pay off bonds. Minutes after it crossed the rotunda, though, it stalled. Wednesday in the metro, Democratic County Executive Frank White would not comment on the situation at the state capitol. What is Royals pitcher Cole Ragans gameday superstition? White was on the 'vote no' side of the April 2024 sales tax election to try to keep the Chiefs and the Royals in Jackson County. 'I think that the Governor and Jefferson City [were] waiting for some leadership from Jackson County, from Kansas City, from somewhere, and they didn't get it,' Former Missouri Lobbyist and Former Chairman of the Jackson County Democratic Committee Phil LeVota said. 'So, they decided they need to do something, so this is going to be the general assembly either saves the Chiefs and the Royals or loses them.' The Chiefs wouldn't comment on Tuesday or Wednesday. 'The Kansas City Royals organization appreciates the dedicated efforts of the Missouri Legislature to pass this legislation,' the Kansas City Royals said Tuesday. 'We are grateful to Speaker of the House Jon Patterson and the Missouri House for recognizing the longstanding partnership the Royals organization has had with the State of Missouri and the Greater Kansas City region. This legislation is an important piece as we consider options for our team's future home. We will review it in detail, toward fully understanding the important opportunities it presents. As we've said, we look forward to making a decision that is in the best interests of our team, our fans, our partners, and our regional community. We remain grateful to the State of Missouri for putting forth their best proposal, and for their continued leadership and partnership.' LeVota has been critical of White. In April, he said he'd be interested in the Interim County Executive position if White got recalled. 'I think if this doesn't happen, the Royals are gone,' LeVota said. 'Chiefs, who knows what they're going to do, but this is a big thing that could keep them in Missouri, and if not, they could leave.' As crime rises in Kansas City, Mayor Lucas prepares for trip to Qatar However, Former Chief of Staff to Republican House Speaker Rod Jetton, Chris Benjamin, says he does not see this as a 'be-all end-all' for the Royals in the Show-Me State. In June, Kansas approved using Sales Tax and Revenue Bonds to try to compel either team to hop the state line and move to the Sunflower State. 'I mean those STAR Bonds over in Kansas, I mean we're going into a year that that was kind of offered up to the table, and it hasn't been accepted,' Benjamin said. LeVota says the State House not taking up a vote on a $500 million bill that would have benefited state schools, hospitals, and police departments which the State Senate passe,d is part of the reason why there's a lack of progress in the State Senate when it comes to this sports funding bill now. 'One Senator said publicly, 'There's not a House Bill that's going to come through this Senate until we're done,'' LeVota added. The Missouri state legislature must gavel out no later than 6 p.m. Friday. Governor Kehoe could call a special session if the sports funding bill doesn't pass. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill could make STAR Bond tax districts for malls in Kansas
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Lawmakers held a hearing on Monday for a bill that would make STAR Bonds available to mall redevelopment projects in Kansas. Substitute for Senate Bill 197 would let cities or counties establish STAR Bond projects to redevelop malls. The projects would need to be approved by the state's secretary of commerce. The bill would allow the use of STAR Bonds if at least 50% of the mall is unoccupied. Mall redevelopment projects would need to invest a minimum of $10 million before being eligible for STAR Bonds. STAR Bond districts would be created to recover the investment through sales tax revenue. Under the bill, entities in the STAR Bond district would be required to collect visitor data consisting only of ZIP codes for all sales, including cash sales. The data would be made public within 90 days of being received. STAR Bonds are a financing tool that is paid through sales tax revenue generated from the development, according to the Kansas Department of Commerce (KDC). The KDC reports that STAR Bond projects have no specific financial threshold in rural areas but must be of major regional or statewide significance. Included in the bill is a provision to eliminate the city or county authority to exercise eminent domain to acquire property for STAR Bond projects. The bill would also extend the STAR Bond financing act to July 1, 2028. Cats with bird flu reported in Manhattan Americans for Prosperity Kansas opposed the bill, saying STAR Bond districts result in higher taxes. Proponent testimony was provided by representatives of the KDC and Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce who said the STAR Bond program is a tool that provides substantial economic benefits and attracts outside visitors. The Kansas Department of Revenue indicated the bill could reduce state revenue depending on the cost to finance specific projects by foregoing sales and compensating use taxes. The agency said it was unable to estimate the fiscal effect. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
