Category: Kansas City Kansas

Plans put in place for downtown warming shelter for homeless

Plans are moving forward for a warming shelter around 6th and State Avenue in downtown Kansas City, Kansas.

Alan Howse, Unified Government assistant county administrator, said at the Nov. 22 UG meeting that the shelter has a lease at 550 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, and they are working on getting the shelter operational. Cross-Lines Community Outreach will be the operator for the cold weather shelter, he said.

Utilities, water and electricity will be from the Board of Public Utilities, he said, which is giving a reduced rate to the UG to pay heat costs.

The shelter will be operational from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. with a maximum capacity of 35 people, first-come, first-served, he said.

It will operate only at 25 degrees Fahrenheit or below, he said. It has already been colder than that on certain days earlier this season, and there were already a number of days when the threshold was met, he added.

Howse said he anticipated the shelter would be open by mid-December if not earlier. Some steps are still remaining before it goes into operation, he added. Mid-December through March 31 are the proposed dates of operation. An Emergency Services Grant from the CARES Act will fund part of the operation, according to UG information.

The shelter will decide by 8 a.m. each day whether it will be open, with information on it available at 913-214-1104.

Mayor Tyrone Garner said UG staff has jumped right at the situation and made the shelter happen. Its location and features were not an easy decision, but it was a community collaboration, with involvement from the community, he said.

The UG has a map of other current emergency warming centers, not shelters, that may be open in cold weather at https://unifiedgov.maps.arcgis.com/apps/LocalPerspective/index.html?appid=d9aad8acbe92423caffbc6325f415e12

Holiday lighting show kicks off Friday night at Renaissance Festival grounds

Knights of Light, the third annual holiday lighting event at the Renaissance Festival, will kick off Friday, Nov. 25, at 130th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs.

Christmas lights and decorations will be placed at the festival’s buildings, celebrating with food entertainment, crafts and visits to Santa Claus.

The event will run from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays until Dec. 18, then will be open from Dec. 21 through Christmas Eve, as well as Dec. 30 and 31.

There will be a party at 10 p.m. New Year’s Eve for guests 21 and older.

Tickets are $20 per adult and $12 for children ages 5 to 12, with free admission for children under 5.

Children will receive free hot chocolate and every attendee will get a gift bag and a chance to win a prize.

Dogs also can attend — admission is $5 for dogs.

Tickets and information are available at www.kcrenfest.com.

Today’s high near 57, drizzle possible tonight

Temperatures will be above normal again today, according to the National Weather Service.

Light rain or drizzle will move into Wyandotte County Wednesday night through Thanksgiving Day, the weather service said. Temperatures may reach a high of 52.

Heavier precipitation is likely Saturday across the southern part of the area, according to the weather service.

Today, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 57 and a south wind of 8 to 11 mph, gusting as high as 20 mph, the weather service said.

Tonight, there is a 30 percent chance of drizzle before midnight, then a chance of rain after midnight, according to the weather service. The low will be around 47 with a south wind of 3 to 8 mph. Winds may gust up to 18 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of precipitation is possible.

On Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, there is a 20 percent chance of drizzle before noon, then a slight chance of rain after noon. The high will be near 2 with a light and variable wind becoming north northwest 6 to 11 mph in the afternoon. Winds may gust as high as 20 mph.

Thursday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 32 and a north wind of 9 to 11 mph, gusting as high as 21 mph, according to the weather service.

Friday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 48 and a north wind of 6 to 10 mph, the weather service said.

Friday night, there is a 30 percent slight chance of rain before 9 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow, according to the weather service. The low will be around 32.

Saturday, there is a 60 percent chance of rain, mainly after noon, the weather service said. The high will be near 47.

Saturday night, there is a 40 percent chance of rain before midnight, with a low of 32, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be sunny, with a high near 48, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 31, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be sunny, with a high near 51, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 38, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 58, the weather service said.