Category: Kansas City Missouri

McClatchy files for bankruptcy

McClatchy, the parent company of The Kansas City Star, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The filing was made Feb. 13 in federal bankruptcy court in New York, according to documents online at https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1056087/000105608720000005/mni-20200212x8k.htm.

McClatchy, which operates 30 media companies nationwide, plans to reorganize and has secured $50 million in debtor-in-possession financing, according to the bankruptcy filing.

Besides the Star, it publishes newspapers including the Miami Herald, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Charlotte Observer, Sacramento Bee, and the (Raleigh) News and Observer. The newsrooms are operating as usual, according to the company. The company reported in its filings that it has increased its digital-only subscriptions. Print subscriptions continue to decline.

The company reported in filings with the SEC that it has been in negotiations to restructure its debt. The company also reported in SEC filings it would ask the court to terminate its qualified pension plan and appoint the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. (PBGC) as the plan’s trustee. No adverse effects to pension recipients were expected, according to the filing.

According to a filing with the SEC, the company did not yet have figures for the fourth quarter of 2019 but expected total revenues to be $183.9 million, down 14 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2018. Revenues for all of 2019 were expected to be down 12 percent from 2018.

McClatchey has reported more than $600 million in debt, and some insights into the company’s situation can be found in a blog by Jim Fitzpatrick, a former Kansas City Star employee, at https://jimmycsays.com/.

Chiefs rally scene made into poster to benefit World War I Memorial

A photo of the Chiefs rally at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday is being made into a poster that will benefit the World War I Museum and Memorial. The photo is by Dave von Fintel.
Another photo being made into a poster depicted today’s crowd celebrating the Chiefs victory at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Sales of the poster will benefit the museum. The photo is by Dan Videtich.

A poster of today’s rally honoring the Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl winners, in Kansas City, Missouri, is now a fan collector item that benefits the National World War I Museum and Memorial.

Two poster prints will be available, one of the World War I Museum and Memorial, which is 14 inches by 22 inches, and the other of the Union Station, 14 by 26.

Thousands of Chiefs fans are in the pictures.

Each print is $20 and can be purchased at: https://shop.theworldwar.org/collections/chiefs-2020.

The images were captured by award-winning photographers Dan Videtich and Dave von Fintel. Proceeds from sales of each poster benefit the National WWI Museum and Memorial, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that receives no federal funding.

Chiefs’ victory parade route announced

Preparations include a shuttle bus from 47th and State Avenue

The Kansas City Chiefs’ parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 6th and Grand Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri.

The parade will head south on Grand, west on Pershing Road, north on Main, and end at Union Station.

According to organizers, the parade is expected to last about 1.5 hours.

The rally will begin at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in front of Union Station, and is expected to last about an hour.

There will be road closures in the parade area, with some starting at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Fb. 4.Union Station will be closed tonight, and will reopen Thursday morning.

Motorists were advised to avoid the areas along and around the parade route, including Grand Boulevard, Pershing Road and Main Street. Drivers were asked to use alternate routes. Significant travel delays are expected on Wednesday.

Parking restrictions went into effect at noon Tuesday along the parade route, and will continue until late Wednesday. Cars parked in temporary no parking zones or along the interstate will be relocated, according to officials.

The Kansas City Streetcar will suspend operations on Wednesday, and will reopen when conditions allow. Ride KC bus operations on Wednesday will be free with very limited service.

KCATA Park and Ride locations include one at 47th and State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. Shuttles will run from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and then from the end of the rally until the crowd disperses.

The shuttle bus from 47th and State will drop people off at 31st and Gillham. After the event is over, people who want to travel to 47th and State should catch the shuttle at 31st and Gillham.

Parade organizers have warned that cell phone reception could be extremely limited on Wednesday.

Drones and aerial vehicles will not be allowed. Also not allowed on the buses are alcoholic beverages, chairs, coolers, weapons and fireworks.

The parade will be broadcast on KSHB-TV and at kshb.com. The parade also will be shown on the KC Live! Block screen.

For more specific information about what roads will be closed, shuttle bus locations in other counties, and other details, visit https://www.sportkc.org/chiefsparade.

Bus information is available at https://ridekc.org/bulletins/chiefs-shuttle.