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November 2025 |
REGIONAL NEWS |
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Phil LeVota named interim Jackson County executive — Phil LeVota has been appointed interim Jackson County executive. He has appointed former Lee’s Summit City Manager Steve Arbo as county manager. LeVota will serve the remainder of the current term, which ends in 2027. Read more about the changes.
Johnson County streamlines zoning for new development — Johnson County officials plan to reduce the number of zoning districts, improve approval procedures and revise development standards. The changes would allow some proposals to be approved administratively rather than by public hearing. Look into the new zoning rules.
Kansas City police unveil new vehicles — The Kansas City Police Department has received new utility task vehicles donated by the Police Foundation of Kansas City. The vehicles will help officers access hard-to-reach areas, including trails, alleys and industrial zones. Learn more about the vehicles.
Liberty councilman honors educator through one-man play — Councilman Shelton Ponder is performing a one-man play to honor Mr. Clarence Edward Gantt, a WWII-era educator from the Garrison School. The productions aim to connect the community to Gantt’s legacy during segregation. Read about the performance.
Free store in Overland Park offers household goods — The Johnson County Free Store is helping residents by offering donated household items, including cleaning products and paint, at no cost. The initiative also diverts usable goods from landfills. Learn about the store.
Leawood approves Hallbrook North Development — Leawood city officials have approved the Hallbrook North mixed-use development near College Boulevard and State Line Road. Plans include residential, retail and corporate spaces. Learn about the expansion.
New partnership expands Raytown’s co-responder program — A partnership between ReDiscover Mental Health and the Raytown, Missouri, police and fire departments pairs mental health professionals, police officers and community paramedics to respond to 911 calls involving individuals facing a mental health, substance use, or related crisis. The initiative aims to reduce arrests, emergency room visits and repeat calls. Learn more about the program.
New amusement park in Bonner Springs reaches key milestone — Mattel’s Adventure Park, a STAR Bonds project, has been approved for a development agreement. Construction is expected to begin by October 2027, with an opening slated for May 2031. Read more about the development.
Jackson County celebrates 100 years of public health service — Jackson County is celebrating a century of public health service with the release of a commemorative book chronicling its history and milestones. Learn more about their service.
ICYMI: Parkville and Lee’s Summit launch farmers markets — Parkville opened a new Farmers Market Pavillion at English Landing Park, while Lee’s Summit launched Green Street Market. Each will hold events and markets that will welcome vendors, local farmers and entertainment. Learn about the Parkville farmers market here and Lee’s Summit’s Green Street market here.
KC Streetcar Main Street extension now open — The KC Streetcar’s Main Street extension is officially open, adding 3.5 miles of track and connecting Union Station to the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Rides remain free, with streetcars running every 10 to 18 minutes. The $352 million project, funded through federal and local sources, debuted late last month with live entertainment and a drone show near the UMKC stop. View more information. |
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MARC NEWS |
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Regional housing partnership expands coalition to tackle housing challenges — MARC announced the expansion of its Regional Housing Partnership, bringing together a broader coalition of local governments, nonprofits and developers to address housing affordability and access across the region. Learn about the event and sign up for updates to stay informed on the work.
MARC hosts Data and Digital Summit — MARC held the Data and Digital Summit on Oct. 21 at the Kauffman Foundation. The event featured keynotes and panel discussions on innovation, data storytelling and artificial intelligence. Learn more about the event.
Review and comment on the draft Climate Action Technical Report — MARC received a grant through EPA's Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program to develop a comprehensive climate action plan (technical report). The report services as a pathway toward building community health, economic prosperity for all, and achieving net zero emissions. Learn more about the plan update and share your input by Nov. 7. View more information.
MARC to re-launch KC Gov Jobs for public sector roles — MARC will re-launch KC Gov Jobs, a regional job board designed to connect applicants with public sector opportunities across the metro. MARC members can access the platform at no cost and are encouraged to opt in for automated job postings. For more details, contact Ashley Z. Hand.
Celebrate Vibrant Success Stories in December — Join MARC on Dec. 5 to honor local projects that have advanced sustainable planning through the Planning Sustainable Places (PSP) program. The event will spotlight initiatives that integrate transportation, land use and environmental goals to create vibrant, connected and green communities. Attendees will hear showcase presentations, engage in a Q&A with past PSP sponsors and receive updates on the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan. Learn more and register.
Register for the December Managers Roundtable — Join regional leaders for the final Managers Roundtable of the year, set for Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MARC Board Room. This session will spotlight key milestones from 2025 and preview strategic priorities for 2026. Register here. |
STATE & NATIONAL NEWS |
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Missouri implementing a new child care relief strategy — The Missouri Child Care Works program has allocated $2.5 million to aid eligible families cover child care costs. The program splits expenses among caregivers, employers and the state to ease financial burdens for working families. Learn more about the initiative.
Missouri unveils public safety scholarship — The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development has introduced a scholarship for public safety personnel and their dependents. The aid supports licensing, certification and degree programs at Missouri colleges. The application deadline is Nov. 5 for the 2025–2026 academic year and Dec. 15 for the 2026–2027 academic year. View more information.
Kansas eyed for new nuclear energy projects — TerraPower, founded by Bill Gates, is exploring the development of a nuclear reactor in Kansas to serve Evergy. Separately, Deep Fission is proposing borehole-based reactors to support AI workloads from data centers and energy-constrained industries. Read about the projects.
Federal shutdowns threatens benefits in Missouri and Kansas — Programs such as SNAP and Head Start face funding shortfalls if the federal government remains shut down through November. MARC is monitoring the impact on Head Start services and providing updates to affected families here. Learn more about the shutdown implications here. |
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GRANT OPPORTUNITIES |
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Visit our Grant Opportunity web page for current grant opportunities open to local governments. |
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