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Editor

BRANSON’S OZARK MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS SEASON IS UPON US

November 17, 2024 by Editor

Ozark Mountains Provide Magical Backdrop for Unforgettable Holiday Experiences

When it comes to celebrating Christmas, no place does it quite like Branson, Mo., where the entire town takes on a holiday glow and entertainers pull out all the stops to create festive events sure to please visitors of all ages. Holiday-themed performances from many of Branson’s most beloved talents abound; fans of every musical genre and era will find themselves enchanted by artistic and technical wizardry, amused by comic shenanigans and touched by the warmth and sincerity poured into each offering.

Dublin’s Irish Tenors & the Celtic Ladies kicked off Nov. 2 unveiling of A Celtic Christmas. They’ll deliver gorgeous renditions of Irish classics and traditional holiday favorites through Dec. 28 at King’s Castle Theatre, 2701 W. 76 Country Blvd. (417-334-2500)

Perennial favorites the Haygoods made their dazzling holiday-season bow on Halloween with The Haygoods Christmas Extravaganza, their annual knockout performance filled with beloved tunes. Shows continue through Dec. 28 at the Clay Cooper Theatre, 3216 W. Highway 76. (417-339-4663)

Holiday-themed performances from many of Branson’s most beloved talents abound for the rest of the year. ‘The Hits’ Christmas Show, delivering top tunes from multiple genres, airs through Dec. 15 at Branson Event Center, 4230 Gretna Road. (417-294-6070)

The ever-popular Legends in Concert kicks off A Merry Country Christmas on Nov. 2 at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater, 1600 W. 76 Country Blvd. Conjuring Brooks & Dunn, Johnny Cash, Garth Brooks and other legends, performers will sing the fame-inducing hits plus favorite holiday selections through Dec. 23. (417-339-3003)

The Hughes Brothers Christmas Show, voted Best Christmas show 16 years running, delights audiences through Jan. 7, 2025, as the four brothers and their families offer songs, dances and moving stories explaining the symbols of Christmas at their Hughes Brothers Theatre, 
3425 W. 76 Country Blvd. (417-334-0076)

The Knudsen Brothers, better known as SIX, for the number of singing siblings behind their distinctive “orchestra of sound,” perform their SIX Christmas Show through Dec. 27 at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater. (877-749-7469)

The Presleys, one of the first families of Branson, has been entertaining audiences for over 50 years with their country, gospel and bluegrass blend, sprinkled with dollops of humor. They make it extra special with Presleys’ Christmas Jubilee in their Christmas tree-filled theater watched over by a pair of giant nutcrackers. Catch them through Dec. 14 at Presleys’ Country Jubilee Theater, 2920 W. 76 Country Blvd. (417) 334-4874)

Saddle shoes, poodle skirts and duck tails populate Hot Rods & High Heels 1950s Christmas, a holiday homage to the birth of rock ‘n’ roll, though Dec. 30 at Clay Cooper Theatre, 3216 W. 76 Country Blvd. (417-332-2529)

Kings Castle Theatre is where you’ll find Branson’s Christmas Wonderland, the area’s largest holiday production, complete with a Rockettes-style chorus line and a magical sleigh ride. Through Dec. 31 at 2701 W. 76 Country Blvd. (888- 462-7267)

Branson’s own “America’s Got Talent” stars and creators of two popular PBS Christmas specials visit Christmas traditions around the world in The Duttons’ Christmas Show, their multi-generational family extravaganza featuring Celtic fiddles, orchestral renditions of Christmas classics, winter fantasies coming alive and more surprises. Through Dec. 31 at Dutton Family Theater, 3454 W. 76 Country Blvd. (417-332-2772)

The Emmy-winning Texas Tenors are back with Deep in the Heart of Christmas, featuring the best of harmony-laden country, opera and beloved holiday characters, at the Mickey Gilley Grand Shanghai Theatre, 3455 W. 76 Country Blvd. through Nov. 23. (417-336-0888)

It wouldn’t be Christmas in the Ozarks without the Clay Cooper Country Express Christmas, Cooper, his wife, Tina, and their extended performing family belting out rock, country, patriotic songs and other tunes, plus comedy galore, through Dec. 29 at the Clay Cooper Theatre, 3216 W. 76 Country Blvd. (877-317-2604)

Set at the dawn of World War II, Sanders Family Christmas turns a soldier’s sendoff into a rousing, moving holiday celebration in North Carolina’s Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church — actually, the stage at Little Opry Live, 3562 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway. Catch it through Dec. 18. (417-335-4832)

What would Christmas be without A Christmas Story? The Shepherd of the Hills’ Playhouse Dinner Theatre brings the beloved story of Ralphie Parker and his pursuit of a BB gun to life for old and new fans of the holiday classic through Dec. 26. 5586 W. 76 Country Blvd. (417-334-4191)

Cassandré – The Voice of an Angel Christmas Spectacular features the team of vocalist Cassandré Haygood and multi-instrumentalist Timothy Haygood, supported by an array of soloists and dancers and the Stardust Band, now joined by the Johnson Strings. Through Dec. 5 at Hughes Brothers Theatre, 3245 W. Highway 76. (800-422-0076)

Showboat Branson Belle Christmas Cruises adds kid-friendly Santa’s Pancakes & PJs cruises to its Christmas Celebrate! and Carols on the Belle offerings, Nov. 9 through Dec. 30, 4800 State Highway 165. (417-336-7171)

The Grammy-winning trio of Larry, Steve and Rudy Gatlin present their eagerly awaited, one-night-only Gatlin Brothers Christmas show on Nov. 15 this year, at the Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts, 189 Expressway Lane. (417-335-2000)

Matthew Boyce’s Retro Christmas Spectacular features Boyce, the Garland Girls and a certain special guest from “up North,” revisiting holiday classics from the Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, the Beach Boys and others, Nov. 4-Dec. -20 at Americana Theatre, 2905 W. 76 Country Blvd. (417-544-8700)

Anointed by Elvis Presley Enterprises 2013’s Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist, Dean Z has been shaking up audiences in Branson and worldwide for years. Catch Dean Z: The Ultimate Elvis, delivering his Christmas tribute to the King through Dec. 30 at Clay Cooper Theatre, 3216 W. 76 Country Blvd. (417-879-6060)

As original as Dolly herself, Christmas at Dolly Parton’s Stampede is an extravaganza on horseback, complete with “visits” to the North and South poles, plenty of elves and a four-course dinner feast. Through Jan. 4 at Dolly Parton’s Stampede, 76 W. Country Blvd. (417-336-3000)

A Shepherd’s Christmas Carol is the Shepherd of the Hills Homestead’s take on Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol, including characters from its beloved Shepherd of the Hills production, in dinner-theater format through Dec. 26 at Shepherd of the Hills Playhouse Theatre, 5586 W. 76 Country Blvd. (417-334-4191)

Elvis’s cousin Jerry Presley, renowned for his performances as Elvis, is combining forces with the singing Blackwoods family for a joint extravaganza billed as Elvis LIVE! and the Blackwoods! Christmas Show. Catch it at God & Country Theaters, 1840 W. 76 Country Blvd. (417-334-6806)

Don’t miss An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City, where a certain red-nosed reindeer leads the nightly Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Christmas Light Parade and the Broadway-style Coming Home for Christmas production brings Christmas traditions to life at Red Gold Heritage Hall. The Frontier Fa-la-la Follies take place at the Silver Dollar Saloon and other attractions abound. Nov. 4 through Jan. 4, 399 Silver Dollar City Parkway. (417-336-7100)

Of course, Branson can’t celebrate Christmas without one of its first performing families getting in on the fun. The Mabe family, aka Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers, are celebrating more than 60 years as entertainers, and they’re packing their holiday revue full of decades’ worth of country hits, magic, comedy and plenty of Ozarks spirit, through Jan. 3 at Branson Famous Theatre, 645 Historic Highway 165. (417-231-4999)

About Branson

Branson is a one-of-a-kind family vacation destination — and an incredible value — nestled amid three pristine lakes in Missouri’s beautiful Ozark Mountains. Attractions include a historic downtown, an entertainment district lined with theaters featuring over 100 live performances, an internationally recognized theme park, fascinating museums, several shopping areas and a full range of dining options. Lodging offerings include hotels, motels, resorts, RV parks and campgrounds, with easy access to meeting, sports and conference facilities. Branson’s convenient location is less than one day’s drive for one-third of America’s population; and nearby Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF flyspringfield.com ) are also available. Call 1-877-BRANSON for help planning your next vacation, sporting event, convention or reunion. Learn more at explorebranson.com.

Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: COMMERCIAL, missouri magazine, NEWS & TRENDS Tagged With: Missouri

Kansas lawmakers pass tax cuts; send bill to Gov. Kelly; stadium debate up next

June 29, 2024 by Editor

 

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas legislators cleared the way Tuesday for a debate on trying to lure the Kansas City Chiefs from Missouri by approving broad tax cuts that many lawmakers said they needed to see before considering a plan to help the Super Bowl champions finance a new stadium.

The Legislature took up the stadium proposal during a special session that convened Tuesday amid heavy lobbying for the plan. The measure would allow the state to issue bonds to help the Chiefs and Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals finance new stadiums on the Kansas side of their metropolitan area, which is split by the border with Missouri.

But top Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature promised that the stadium proposal wouldn’t be debated until the Legislature approved a plan that would cut income and property taxes by a total of $1.23 billion over the next three years. Many lawmakers argued that voters would be angry if the state helped finance new stadiums without cutting taxes.

“We definitely need to demonstrate that we’re getting relief to our citizens,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, a Wichita-area Republican who backed the stadium-financing plan.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly called the special session to have lawmakers consider reducing taxes after she vetoed three tax-cutting plans before legislators adjourned their regular annual session May 1. The plan lawmakers approved was a compromise between her and Republican leaders.

Legislators made no changes in the plan before passing it, 34-4 in the Senate and 121-2 in the House. Kelly pledged to sign the measure into law.

Once legislators convened the special session, Kelly couldn’t control what they considered, and that created an opening to consider the stadium-financing plan. That measure would use revenues from sports betting, the state lottery and new taxes raised from the area around each new stadium to pay off the state’s bonds over 30 years.

The first version of the stadium-financing plan emerged in late April, but lawmakers didn’t vote on it before adjourning. It would have allowed state bonds to finance all stadium construction costs, but the version to be considered by lawmakers Tuesday would cap the amount at 70% and require legislative leaders and the governor to sign off on any bonding plan.

House Commerce Committee Chair Sean Tarwater, a Kansas City-area Republican, said the Chiefs are likely to spend between $500 million and $700 million in private funds on a new stadium.

“There are no blank checks,” Tarwater told GOP colleagues during a briefing on the plan before the House began debating it.

A new nonprofit group, Scoop and Score, formed last month to push for bringing the Chiefs to Kansas, and that group and the Royals together hired more than 30 lobbyists for the special session. But the national free-market, small-government group Americans for Prosperity and the Kansas Policy Institute, a free-market think tank, oppose the measure, and both have been influential with conservative Republicans.

Free-market conservatives have long opposed state and local subsidies for specific businesses or projects. And economists who’ve studied pro sports teams have concluded in dozens of studies over decades that subsidizing their stadiums isn’t worth the cost.

“Most of the money that gets spent on the Chiefs is money that would otherwise be spent on other entertainment projects,” said Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor at Smith College in central Massachusetts who has written multiple books about sports.

Kansas legislators consider the Chiefs and Royals in play because in April, voters on the Missouri side of the metro area refused to continue a local sales tax for the upkeep of the complex with their side-by-side stadiums. Missouri officials have said they’ll do whatever it takes to keep the teams but haven’t outlined any proposals.

The two teams’ lease on their stadium complex runs through January 2031, but Korb Maxwell, an attorney for the Chiefs who lives on the Kansas side, said renovations on the team’s Arrowhead Stadium should be planned seven or eight years in advance.

“There is an urgency to this,” added David Frantz, the Royals’ general counsel.

Supporters of the stadium plan argued that economists’ past research doesn’t apply to the Chiefs and Royals. They said the bonds will be paid off with tax revenues that aren’t being generated now and would never be without the stadiums or the development around them. Masterson said it’s wrong to call the bonds a subsidy.

And Maxwell said: “For a town to be major league, they need major league teams.”

But economists who’ve studied pro sports said similar arguments have been a staple of past debates over paying for new stadiums. Development around a new stadium lessens development elsewhere, where the tax dollars generated would go to fund services or schools, they said.

“It could still help Kansas and maybe hurt Missouri by the same amount,” Zimbalist said. “It’s a zero-sum game.”

—

Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: NEWS & TRENDS Tagged With: Chiefs, Kansas City

Missouri’s Top 15 Places to See This Summer

June 29, 2024 by Editor

 

When trying to decide on things to see or do in Missouri, try taking the road less traveled and discover some unique places that you may not see anywhere else. Whether it be historical, exciting, or extremely weird, here are a few attractions that are must-sees to check off your summer bucket list!

1. The City Museum

The City Museum located in St. Louis is an incredible building that is difficult to describe if you haven’t been to experience it yourself. Contradictory to the name, it is not much like a museum at all but more like a 600,000 square foot fun-house attraction. Built in a former International Shoe Company, The City Museum is a giant children’s playground, funhouse, and architectural masterpiece all-in-one. Whether you’re five or thirty-two, I guarantee there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.

2. Anheuser-Busch Brewery

This Anheuser-Busch Brewery is the largest and oldest brewery site located in St. Louis alongside the Mississippi River. While taking the complementary tour, you get to observe the seven-step brewery process and visit the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales located in the historical stables. The complementary tour is offered year-round and is a refreshing way to escape the summer heat while also learning about the rich brewing heritage.

3. Crown Center

For those who enjoy a day full of shopping, dining, and entertainment, Crown Center is the place for you. The three-leveled Crown Center shops feature more than 50 shops and restaurants. Theatergoers can enjoy a community oriented show at the Coterie or a musical at the Musical Theater Heritage. Alongside the many shops and restaurants, the center also hosts many children’s exhibits, puppet shows, and multiple other free activities year-round.

4. Silver Dollar City

This 1880’s theme park located in Branson is a thrilling mixture between history and adventure. Home to the world’s most daring wooden roller coaster, this theme park encompasses around 2 acres of family rides for all ages to enjoy. Ride their new roller coaster, Time Traveler and enjoy riding the Mystic River you will get wet on this fun water ride. The World’s Fastest, Steepest & Tallest Spinning Roller Coaster. Alongside the rides and attractions, Silver Dollar City also provides culinary classes, craftsmen demonstrations, dining options, and multiple shows that change throughout the year. With many different entertainment choices, this park is full of fun for the whole family. Get your tickets here.

5. Gateway Arch

One can’t talk about exciting attractions located in Missouri without bringing up the world-famous Gateway Arch. This 630-foot monument in St. Louis is made from stainless steel and is the tallest man-made monument in the Western Hemisphere. Near the top of the arch, passengers load onto a tram and ride up to the observation area. The observation area is over 65 feet long and can hold up to around 160 people at a time. The breathtaking view and the enticing ride to the top makes this attraction a definite must do this summer.

6. Lemp Mansion

This historical house in St. Louis was plagued by a series of suicides committed by family members involved in a successful brewing company back in the late 1800’s. The only remaining child of the family, Edwin Lemp, never moved back into the mansion after the series of events which allowed the Lemp Mansion to be made into a restaurant and inn by the Pointer family. The mansion now offers tours, both historical and haunted, murder mystery dinner theatre shows, and yearly Halloween parties.

7. Branson Live Music and Nightlife

Branson, Missouri is commonly known for their huge music scene, but not all of it revolves around Broadway-style stage productions. Once the sun goes down, several of Branson’s nightclubs offer great music and ways to unwind with your favorite drinks or cocktails. Whether you’re looking to unwind after a long day in the sun, or dance until dawn, Branson has a wide variety of pubs, nightclubs, and comedy bars to cater to a wide variety of people.

8. Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum

The home of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, is located on 206-208 Hill Street in Hannibal, Missouri and is the inspiration for many of his stories, including the renowned white picket fence. While wandering through some of his famous novels, children of all ages can ride a raft with Huck and Jim or explore a cave with Tom and Becky. Many of Twain’s memorabilia and personal artifacts are also displayed on site. Enjoy a Mark Twain performance or Music Under the Stars every Thursday night throughout the Summer.

9. Taum Sauk Mountain State Park

This breathtaking state park is in the Saint Francois area in the Ozarks and encompasses Taum Sauk Mountain, the highest point in all of Missouri. This park provides a beautiful, wooded area for hikers and a series of trails that lead through the Ozarks and up the mountain. The park also has a 12-site campground and multiple picnic areas to relax in and enjoy the scenery surrounding the area. While visiting the top of the mountain, make sure to visit the Mina Sauk Falls, the highest waterfall in Missouri descending Taum Sauk Mountain.

10. Wax Museum of St. Louis

Laclede’s Landing Wax Museum is an oddities sight that you won’t want to miss out on this summer. This wax museum fills three floors, a basement, and a sub-basement of a building that is hundreds of years old. This building involves winding hallways, multiple staircases, and is more like a fun house than an actual museum. The museum’s three floors are devoted to celebrities and historical figures, while the basement and sub-basement is reserved for the Chamber of Horrors. This under-ground collection is gruesome without actors coming in and trying to grab you. If you’re looking for a unique oddity that can’t be found everywhere you go, then definitely check out this roadside collection.

11. Big Surf Waterpark

The Biggest, Fastest, Funnest, Safest, Cleanest, Number One-en-est Family Fun at the Lake of the Ozarks, MO! Voted Missouri’s Best waterpark four years in a row. Catch a wave in their wave pool, go down several fun slides or take a plunge in the Space Bowl. The Space Bowl drops you from a swift slide into a 30-ft wide bowl that spins you ‘round and ‘round until you drop into an 8 foot deep catch pool. It’s a whirling, twirling, thrilling ride. Big Surf Waterpark is fun place to enjoy the water, sun and make memories with your family. Get your season passes or tickets. here.

12. Ozarks Amphitheater

Ozarks Amphitheater, named the “Best Live Music Venue in Missouri”, is located  in the heart of the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks.  The amphitheater has recently hosted such well-known headline acts as Alabama, Dwight Yoakam and Jamey Johnson, Lee Brice with more great coming attractions. A concert under the stars at Ozarks Amphitheater is  a great addition to a long summer weekend at the lake. They have the BEST Summer concerts lined up this year. For more information and tickets visit their website here.

13. Aquarium at the Boardwalk

Aquarium at the Boardwalk is one of the newest things to do in Branson, Missouri, and is unlike any other aquarium you’ve visited. First hint – the massive octopus sculpture that greets guests at the front door. It’s modeled after Aquarius, a Giant Pacific Octopus and one of the Aquarium’s exclusive characters. Inside, stroll down the boardwalk and explore ten zones of fish & fun. Get your tickets here.

14. Branson’s Promised Land ZOO

Branson’s Top Rated Animal Attraction is home to some of the coolest animals around! Family owned and operated park. Branson’s Promised Land Zoo gets you CLOSER than ever before with over 75 acres to see sloths, lemurs, and other creatures! For more information and to get tickets visit their website here.

15. Showboat Branson Belle

Showboat Branson Belle is a showboat dinner cruise—on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri. Cruise the pristine waters of Table Rock Lake, dine on a scrumptious 3-course meal and be entertained by a lively show! For more information and to grab your tickets visit their website here.

Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: missouri magazine, NEWS & TRENDS Tagged With: Missouri

Chiefs, Royals release terms of CBA with Jackson County ahead sales-tax vote

April 8, 2024 by Editor

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs and Royals released the terms for a community benefits agreement with Jackson County ahead of April 2, when county voters will decide whether to sign off on a sales-tax question to help fund the teams stadiums.

Terms from the Chiefs total $126 million, while the Royals’ total $140 million, according to a news release from YesOn1JacksonCounty, the committee formed by the teams to convince voters to sign off on the sales-tax.

A copy of the CBA wasn’t immediately included in the release.

The teams are asking voters to repeal a current 3/8-cent sales-tax that’s been in effect since 2006 and replace it with a new sales-tax of the same rate.

If approved, the tax would last for 40 years until 2064.

The Chiefs are hoping to use the sales-tax to renovate GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, while the Royals intend to use it fund a new ballpark in the Crossroads District in downtown KCMO.

Funding will be governed by boards appointed by the Jackson County Legislature and the teams under the proposed terms.

The boards would be in charge of overseeing distribution, governance, accountability and audit process.

Both teams say the CBA will cover a number of initiatives ranging from employment benefits, healthcare, children and families, education, workforce assistance, among others.

The Chiefs said they hope to have 43% of minority and women-owned business involved in construction phase for renovations at GEHA Field.

The Royals said they also will commit the same percentage for its new ballpark should the sales-tax pass.

“We entered this process with the goal of creating a better deal for all of Jackson County,” Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a press release. “These CBAs demonstrate exactly that. Passing Question 1 will result in real, measurable impact across our entire community. We are grateful for the tireless work of everyone who was involved to ensure these agreements will benefit our region to the greatest extent possible.”

Royals owner John Sherman also weighed in saying, “As I have said from the very beginning, we are committed to Jackson County, and these historic agreements represent how both teams will help lift up our fellow neighbors – from providing workforce benefits and assistance, diversity benefits, affordable housing, educational programs, and expanded mass transit.”

The teams touted the proposed CBA as the largest of any in Kansas City’s history.

But Jackson County Executive Frank White, who has opposed the sales-tax, expressed his doubts on the validity of the terms.

“These letters, while mentioning possible community benefits, do not represent a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) in any formal capacity,” White said. “The decision by the teams to exclude Jackson County from participating in or contributing to the drafting of these documents is a significant concern, amplified by their timing — released less than two weeks before a pivotal election. Such timing raises legitimate questions about the motivation behind and the potential effectiveness of the benefits proposed.”

White also said there’s no way of holding the teams accountable in following through with the promises made in the terms.

“These documents offer no mechanism for enforcement by either Jackson County or our residents,” White said in part. “Consequently, the “commitments” made in these letters are yet another instance where the teams ask voters for their trust without providing a concrete basis for it. Basically, these letters represent non-binding expressions of intent, not the genuine, enforceable Community Benefits Agreements they intend to be.”

—

Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: NEWS & TRENDS Tagged With: Kansas City

Spring is in the air and adventure is calling!

April 8, 2024 by Editor

As we shake off the winter chill, it’s the perfect time to explore the natural beauty Missouri has to offer. We’ve rounded up a few our favorite state parks that are a must-visit this season. Whether you’re a hiker, a photographer, or just someone who loves to picnic under the canopy of fresh blooms, there’s a spot on this list just for you.

From scenic views to exciting outdoor activities, there’s something for everyone. Discover hidden gems and make lasting memories with your loved ones. Don’t miss out on the fun!

Bennett Spring State Park – Dallas, Laclede

The valley that cradles Bennett Spring has created a place of peace and recreation that has welcomed generations of enthusiastic anglers. Bennett Spring State Park is one of Missouri’s earliest state parks and continues today to attract fishermen and nature lovers seeking to make new memories.

More than 100 million gallons of clear, cool water gush from Bennett Spring each day and form a spring branch stocked daily with rainbow trout waiting for lucky fishermen. Fishing may be the main draw, but the park also offers many other amenities such as a dining lodge, campgrounds, cabins and hiking trails. Whether you are a traditional fishing enthusiast or someone seeking a place to relax and refresh, Bennett Spring State Park has what you need to make every trip one to remember.

More Information: Bennett Spring State Park

Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park – MIssouri Ozarks, Reynolds

Looking for a unique destination? Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park offers ancient beauty!

The wilderness qualities and geology of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and the surrounding St. Francois Mountains make this park a special place to visit. Its rugged character provides the perfect backdrop for camping, hiking, picnicking, splashing in the shut-ins, exploring nature or just relaxing.

More Information: Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park

Roaring River State Park – Barry

Roaring River State Park is unique on so many levels!

With a deep, narrow valley surrounded by a striking and rugged landscape, Roaring River State Park is one of Missouri’s most popular state parks. Located in the southwest Ozark hills, Roaring River State Park is one of three state parks stocked with rainbow trout. Eager anglers flock to the park year-round to try and catch their lunker trout.

Hike one their many trails through rugged terrain and find yourself in view of colossal hills above a deep blue spring. More Information: Roaring River State Park

Looking for a place to get a watersports fix? Long Branch State Park’s three boat ramps provide access to sprawling and picturesque Long Branch Lake. For more fun on the water, fishing is popular, and the marina store, swimming beach and day-use area next to the beach are a favorite for families. In addition, the park’s modern campground is a perfect place for overnight stays. The park preserves some of the last savanna and prairie remnants in the Chariton River Hills. Trails through Chariton River Hills Natural Area provide a good way for hikers to see colorful prairie wildflowers and a variety of birds, including red-headed woodpeckers, brown thrashers and indigo buntings. 

More Information: Long Branch State Park

Big Oak Tree State Park

A visit to Big Oak Tree State Park is a visit to Missouri as the first explorers saw it. Towering hickory trees and oaks form a canopy that averages more than 120 feet in height and the soaring trees and marshy terrain transports visitors back to when southeast Missouri was dubbed “Swampeast Missouri.” The trees and wetlands make the park a prime place for wildlife. Visitors can enjoy the picnic sites and shelters that are shaded by trees that have seen centuries of history. A self-guided boardwalk trail tells the story of this rich landscape.

Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: missouri magazine, NEWS & TRENDS Tagged With: Missouri

FROM ACROBATS TO ILLUSIONISTS TO LEGENDS,DAZZLING NEW PRODUCTIONS COME TO LIFE ON BRANSON’S STAGES THIS SPRING

April 8, 2024 by Editor

Magic, Music and Tributes Galore will Thrill New and Returning Visitors
to America’s Top Live Music Show Destination

BRANSON, Mo. – Like flowers bursting into bloom, new shows blossom each spring on several Branson stages. This season, theaters will be popping with musical extravaganzas, dazzling acrobats and masterful feats of magic, created by some of the most exciting stars of the entertainment world.

First-time visitors and returning fans alike will love this spring’s attractions, which offer entertainment for all ages. March brings the debuts of Jay Osmond Live, of the famed family band, the Osmonds, and his son, Eric; Aaron Wayne’s Sweet Dreams comedy hypnosis show; and Dustin Tavella, Now I See, featuring the America’s Got Talent-winning magician, musician and storyteller. All three can be seen at the Reza Live Theatre, 645 Missouri Highway 165.

In April, audiences will thrill(er) to Michael Knight’s MJ the Illusion: Re-living the King of Pop, billed not as a tribute show, but as “a Michael Jackson concert experience.” It also takes place at the Reza Live Theatre. Southern Gospel Sundays, featuring Michael and Jen Frost and their daughter, Jael, with pianist Clayton Watson, will begin at the end of April at the Americana Theatre, 2905 W. 76 Country Blvd.

May brings gravity-defying, electrifying feats of body-bending acrobatics by the cast of CIRQUE-Electric Dreams, from Cirque Dreams, a Cirque du Soleil subsidiary, debuting at King’s Castle Theatre, 2701 W. 76 Country Blvd., while the Pepsi Legends Theater, formerly the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater (at 1600 W. 76 Country Blvd.), debuts The Man in Black, A Tribute to Johnny Cash, with Shawn Parker as the iconic country star.

Another event sure to excite audiences is the return of El Mago Pop, the onstage persona created by world-renowned illusionist Antonio Díaz. Díaz took Branson by storm last year when he acquired the former Mel Tillis Theater, now the Branson Magic Theater (at 2527 East State Highway 248), and debuted his amazing feats of illusion, wrapped in an immersive experience of special effects, comedy and music. Netflix subscribers may be familiar with Díaz’s two popular shows, Magic for Humans and La Gran Ilusión.

Of course, fabulous longtime favorites will be back for more music, more laughs and more ways to rock audiences’ worlds. For a full rundown of Branson’s live entertainment offerings, go to explorebranson.com.

For more information about Jay Osmond Live, playing through Sept. 30, or to purchase tickets, click here. For more about Aaron Wayne’s family-friendly Sweet Dreams production, playing through Dec. 31, click here. For more about Dustin Tavella, Now I See, playing through Dec. 30, click here.

Information about MJ the Illusion: Re-living the King of Pop, airing through Dec. 18, can be found here. Find info about and tickets for Southern Gospel Sundays, playing through Dec. 8, here. Information/tickets for CIRQUE-Electric Dreams, soaring through Sept. 1, is available here. For more about El Mago Pop, onstage through June 29, click here. For information and tickets to The Man in Black, A Tribute to Johnny Cash, playing select dates through Aug. 29, click here.

About Branson

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Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: missouri magazine, NEWS & TRENDS Tagged With: Missouri

Wyandotte County residents concerned about property appraisal increases

April 8, 2024 by Editor

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Wyandotte County Appraiser’s Office mailed out appraisal valuations on March 1.

On its website, the office admitted that “most property owners should expect to see an increase in their valuation.

The appraiser’s office said they attribute increases to a shortage of housing supply, increased housing demand and revitalization in various areas of the county.

“The main driving factor behind it is there’s a housing shortage,” said Matthew Willard, the Wyandotte County Appraiser. “There’s not enough houses for folks to buy.”

In the historic Parkwood Colony neighborhood, a lot of homeowners aren’t interesting in selling.

“These are people that are retired, that have been on a fixed income for ages,” said John Grahovac, the president of the neighborhood association. “Their taxes can’t afford to go up.”

Willard wants to clarify the appraiser’s office does not drive taxes.

Instead, those are based on budgets determined by jurisdictions like cities, counties and school districts, including Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools.

One Parkwood resident is not happy about about a school bond vote.

“The $420 million school bond, we need to vote No on that,” said Lisa Walker Yeager, Parkwood Colony vice president.

She works with the Wyco Commonwealth Advocacy Coalition, a group of county residents who have been working to inform residents about measures they believe affect their communities.

The coalition held multiple sessions in February about the $420 million bond issue KCKPS is proposing for capital improvements.

“Some of our kids can’t really read and write,” Walker Yeager said. “Let’s address some of these major issues and see where we stand with that.”

She says proposed tax increases worry her because her neighborhood is dealing with challenges.

“There’s no grocery stores in the neighborhood, as you see, we don’t have curbs,” Yeager said. “How can you raise an appraisal where there’s no curb appeal?”

She says when she looks around, the so-called value isn’t apparent in her neighborhood.

“We have no sidewalks in some of the areas,” Yeager said. “It’s not a thriving economy as what Quindaro has always been. Financially, it’s not livable.”

She would know.

Walker Yeager was born and raised in Parkwood and moved back after living in Kansas City, Missouri.

She says she’s vocal now because she wants to advocate for the elderly and single-parent residents in her neighborhood.

It’s something the county appraiser’s office has thought about as well. In addition to recommending state services like Homestead for low-income seniors, Willard says there are ways in place to make the appeals process accessible.

“Phone hearings, and we’ve always done them, are a good opportunity for folks to have that appeal hearing without even having to get out,” he said.

Willard wants people to know his office encourages people to appeal if they feel the appraised value is more than they feel they could reasonably get if the property was sold or if they feel the classification is incorrect.

“I think there’s the idea that if you come in, it’s going to be, I don’t know what exactly, but not friendly, and that couldn’t be further from the truth,” he said. “The way that we’ve got this set up, it really is just a conversation.”

Kansas statute says the county must inspect houses in person at least once every six years. Willard says staffing issues and safety are primary reasons why the inspections aren’t more frequent.

He said he also understands residents are likely to have a better understanding of these in-person conditions and it’s why he welcomes appeals.

“The appeal process is an opportunity to get a good, detailed look at the property with the owner,” Willard said. “If there are adjustments to be made, we’re going to make them every time.”

It’s a promise Willard says he’s devoted to keeping if that means values at a fair market rates, which state statute also requires.

He saw what Jackson County went through during its property assessment saga, and said he believes the system his office has in place should help avoid confusion.

“We keep it all in house where I’m responsible for it at the end of the day,” Willard said. “I’m signing and certifying, it’s all my folks. Then just making sure that we follow the statutory guidelines and the rules and regulations put out by the Department of Revenue.”

Walker Yeager says appealing sounds good in theory, but that awareness is also key.

“If you’re not knowledgeable on appeals, I don’t think people are going to appeal,” she said.

Willard admits awareness has been a problem in the past, which is why he said his office is working to combat that this time around. The Wyandotte County appraiser’s office is hosting five more appraised values information sessions before the March 30 deadline to appeal.

The dates are as follows:

  • Wednesday, March 6 at 6PM at the George Meyn Center, 126 State Avenue, Bonner Springs, KS
  • Monday, March 11 at 6PM at the Joe Amayo Community Center Gym, 2810 Metropolitan Avenue, Kansas City, KS
  • Wednesday, March 13 at 6PM at the Turner Recreation Center, 831 S 55th Street, Kansas City, KS
  • Wednesday, March 20 at 6PM at the Piper USD 203 High School Auditorium, 4400 N 107 St, Kansas City, KS
  • Monday, March 25 at 5PM at the Municipal Building Lobby, 701 N 7th Street Tfwy, Kansas City, KS

Walker Yeager’s done her fair share of meetings, but the upcoming sessions could be an option.
Willard says he’s completely open to meeting with neighborhood associations and Walker Yeager says she’ll do whatever it takes to keep her resident’s homes.

“We would like to keep our homeowners in our homes,” she said.

Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: NEWS & TRENDS Tagged With: Kansas City

Reconnecting Kansas City project to help ‘make up for some mistakes of the past’

March 5, 2024 by Editor

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Imagine a Kansas City united by infrastructure rather than divided — Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said Wednesday such long-deferred dreams will soon be put into action.

In a press conference, the mayor announced the kickoff of the city’s request for proposals (RFP) for Reconnecting Kansas City, which will assist in the rehabilitation of U.S. Highway 71 from 85th Street north to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, specifically regarding “transformational safety and connectivity improvements,” per the city.

“While it is very hard to give people houses back, people like those in my family who lost them ages ago, while it is hard to rebuild neighborhoods and communities that were strong, that were vibrant and that have been vital to our community, we see this as a next important step,” Lucas said.

Rather than delivering the “economic development activity that was promised generations ago,” the construction of Highway 71 has led to traffic accidents, injuries and deaths. Pollution from idling and no resolution to the harm created have also negatively affected “Black families in southeast Kansas City and in east Kansas City,” according to Lucas.

With the $5 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) federal grant KC was awarded last August, Lucas said the city can now “make up for some mistakes of the past.”

Following Lucas’ opening remarks, there were four additional speakers — Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw, 5th District At-Large Councilmember Darrell Curls, 3rd District At-Large Councilmember Melissa Patterson Hazley and KCMO Transportation Director Jason Waldron.

Parks-Shaw spoke to the strife her district, the 5th District, has endured from noise pollution to food deserts and closed businesses.

But “with strong neighborhoods, Kansas City will thrive,” Parks-Shaw shared confidently.

Councilmember Curls said he believes Reconnecting Kansas City is “going to connect more neighborhoods — this is going to reinvigorate businesses up and down the Prospect Corridor.”

He also said he believes this initiative will allow neighborhoods to finally be heard after years of neglect.

Another issue created by Highway 71 was an unsafe environment.

Without the foresight “infrastructure decisions have long-standing consequences,” Councilmember Patterson Haley said Kansas City created its own health crisis.

“Kansas City has the highest rate of adolescent asthma in the country, among the highest rate in an urban core, due to how we’ve built our infrastructure,” she said. “Children are inhaling these fumes, they are not very protected by the green infrastructure around it and it’s left our families very vulnerable.”

With an opportunity to correct the past and re-imagine the future, Waldron shared excitement about the project and appreciation for the financial aid KC received from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

“Like they (colleagues) said, this is going to be community-driven conversation, and we’re going to use transportation just to be the start of a more holistic conversation about economic development, about affordable housing and transit — you name it,” Waldron said.

With much work ahead, Lucas cited current work on theI-670 South Loop project and the intention to re-evaluate I-35 and I-70. While the Crossroads Arts District has seen “hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in recent years,” Lucas said the same cannot be said for the west side.

“Although we cannot right all past wrongs, we know that we can do better,” he said.

Continued preservation and protective work for communities along I-35 and I-70 will be supported by the Missouri Department of Transportation as the organization continues to expand and straighten the interstates, per Lucas.

Ultimately, the mayor’s vision for KC and the city’s urban core is to “no longer just be a place that people cut through, not just a place to bypass, but a place that we’re invested in, a place we want to be and a place where we are truly supporting development.”

The Highway 71 project RFP will close at 2 p.m. Oct. 27.

With the proposals in motion, Lucas said more conversation in council meetings, as well as discussions with community members, are ahead.

—

Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: NEWS & TRENDS Tagged With: Kansas City

Wyandotte County, regional economy dependent on auto manufacturers, suppliers

March 5, 2024 by Editor

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The first round of UAW strikes are happening in Michigan, Toledo, Ohio and Wentzville, Missouri.

Workers at the Ford Plant in Claycomo, Missouri, and the General Motors Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas, are not apart of the first round of strikes, however that could change.

Local workers are working under an expired contract, so while a majority of the contract stays in effect, members cannot be disciplined or fired without justification, workers are also encouraged to attend local union meetings, refuse voluntary overtime and to not refuse to do any of their job duties.

Greg Kindle is the president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council. He says the impact of any strike, especially General Motors in Wyandotte County, is going to have a ripple effect.

“As a region, we’re the second largest automotive hub in the United States behind Detroit,” Kindle said. “So between GM, Ford and the many suppliers that serve them, automotive is a very big piece of the Kansas City metro economy.”

Kindle says it not only impacts the urban core, but rural communities as well.

“The ripple effect of how we transport vehicles and the people employed with that. The Union Pacific and BNSF, there’s very few communities frankly in the metropolitan area, the region, that don’t probably have some supplier or somebody who’s working with them,” Kindle said. “It’s an extensive network of large and small suppliers that feeds General Motors.”

For the Wyandotte County economy, strikes would quickly impact its electrical provider, Board of Public Utilities, or BPU.

“General Motors is the largest electrical user. Those electrical users also provide tax dollars, sales taxes on electrical use to franchise fees,” Kindle said. “If they’re not using power, they’re not paying franchise fees. That becomes an impact not only to how BPU operates in terms of the amount of power that it’s generating and how it’s resources are utilized, but that’s a trickle effect as well to the Unified Government.”

“The Unified Government also receives tax dollars through the franchise fees, but if you’re not using electricity, you’re not paying franchise fees,” Kindle continued. “If you’ve been following the Unified Government’s budget discussion, you’d know that every dollar makes an impact.”

Kindle highlighted the financial hardships that may come for union members, depending on how long the strike would last.

“When we think about the direct impact to the employees that are at General Motors…so staying on this thing of electricity, if you’re used to getting a good paycheck, and if you drop down to $500 a week, you’re going to be having to make hard choices and that might mean that you can’t pay your electrical bill,” Kindle said. “The Kansas City market is very diversified both in terms of its tax base, its employment sector and its people, but if there’s one sector out of all of them that can truly impact all of them, it’s the automotive sector because there’s so many interconnected components to it.”

Back in 2019 UAW members with GM went on strike. Kindle believes this one could have a bigger impact.

“The cost of everything between 2019 and even today has been significant, and that’s part of the issue that the unions and the automakers are having,” Kindle said. “What amount of money is appropriate in the light of inflation that we have seen since the last contract, to share back with the employees versus what stays with the company to reinvest? And we know there are two sides to every story.”

Kindle says there’s no easy answer as to what the future looks like.

“I think they’re going to get to that point but this middle point is going to be painful if it lasts very long at all,” Kindle said. “We’re very hopeful that the two sides can come together and find a way to create balance where our employees are living in our communities, are paid well and continue to buy new houses, buy new cars and do all the things that they do in our community.”

He highlighted the council is already having discussions with partners on what happens if local strikes happen, and the ripple effect that could take place.

“The automotive sector is critically important to the Kansas City market and the spider effects on the economy is unbelievable,” Kindle said. “Whether you’re a small business owner, a childcare provider or in the school district, in the faith community, in the social services community, the impact in the automotive sector in the Kansas City market for both to go on strike at the same time is going to have a huge ripple effect on all of us,” Kindle said. “I think that we haven’t seen anything quite like this, where both Ford and GM could be on strike at the same time for an unknown amount of time.”

Kindle says that’s the other piece, is just the uncertainty of how long this will last.

“If you knew it was just a couple of days or you knew it was just a week, you could probably make that work, but the unknown part is where I think it has a lot of us concerned,” he said.

Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: NEWS & TRENDS Tagged With: Kansas City

ACLU sues to block Missouri rule on transgender health care

March 5, 2024 by Editor

 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri ACLU on Monday sued to block new state restrictions on both adults and children seeking gender-affirming health care, which are set to kick in Thursday.

ACLU, Lambda Legal and Bryan Cave Leighton LLP attorneys representing transgender Missourians and health care providers asked a St. Louis County judge to stop the first-of-its-kind rule from taking effect.

They argue that Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey has no authority to use a state consumer-protection law to regulate gender-affirming care through emergency rule-making.

The rule is “a baseless and discriminatory attempt to limit the healthcare options for transgender individuals, who already face several barriers accessing necessary and life-saving medical care,” said Dr. Samuel Tochtrop of plaintiff Southampton Community Healthcare, in a statement.

Before gender-affirming medical treatments can be provided by physicians, the regulation requires people to have experienced an “intense pattern” of documented gender dysphoria for three years and to have received at least 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over at least 18 months. Patients also would first have to be screened for autism and “social media addiction,” and any psychiatric symptoms from mental health issues would have to be treated and resolved.

Some individuals will be allowed to maintain their prescriptions while they promptly receive the required assessments.

“Our regulation enacts basic safeguards for interventions that an international medical consensus has determined to be experimental,” Bailey said in a Monday statement. “Rather than ensure that patients are protected by common sense safeguards, these organizations are racing to court in an effort to continue their ideologically-based procedures masquerading as medicine.”

Bailey marketed the restrictions as a way to protect minors from what he describes as experimental treatments when he announced plans to create the rule in March. He applied limits to adults as well in the final rule.

“We have serious concerns about how children are being treated throughout the state. But we believe everyone is entitled to evidence-based medicine and adequate mental health care,” Bailey spokeswoman Madeline Sieren said after the rule was filed April 13.

The rule is an unusual step by Missouri’s attorney general, who has limited jurisdiction under state law. The office is responsible for defending state laws, handling felony criminal appeals, and prosecuting financial crimes and consumer fraud.

The lawsuit alleges the rule “is an improper, extra-legislative overreach by an un-elected political appointee” seeking to use the state’s consumer-protection law, which plaintiffs describe as “an act purposed on making sure that cars are sold with titles and that hardware stores abide by a warranty on a vacuum.”

If the rule takes effect, doctors who provide gender-affirming health care must first provide a lengthy list of potential negative side effects and information warning against those treatments.

Health care providers will need to ensure “any psychiatric symptoms from existing mental health comorbidities of the patient have been treated and resolved” before providing gender-affirming treatments under the new rule. Physicians also must screen patients for social media addiction, autism and signs of “social contagion with respect to the patient’s gender identity.”

The FDA approved puberty blockers 30 years ago to treat children with precocious puberty — a condition that causes sexual development to begin much earlier than usual. Sex hormones — synthetic forms of estrogen and testosterone — were approved decades ago to treat hormone disorders or as birth control pills.

The FDA has not approved the medications specifically to treat gender-questioning youth. But they have been used for many years for that purpose “off label,” a common and accepted practice for many medical conditions. Doctors who treat transgender patients say those decades of use are proof the treatments are not experimental.

Critics have raised concerns about children changing their minds. Yet the evidence suggests detransitioning is not as common as opponents of transgender medical treatment for youth contend, though few studies exist and they have their weaknesses.

—

Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: NEWS & TRENDS Tagged With: Kansas City

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