The top photos that tell the story of Kansas City’s 2025
By Emily Curiel ,
Tammy Ljungblad and
Dominick Williams
Pop singer Chappell Roan performs “Femininomenon” during her Visions of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things tour stop at National WWI Museum and Memorial Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Kansas City.
Emily Curiel
ecuriel@kcstar.com
It’s been a busy 2025 in Kansas City. And Star photographers were along every step of the way to capture it.
Tragedy struck home at the end of January, when a flight from Wichita, Kansas, crashed in midair with an Army helicopter above the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., killing all 67 passengers aboard both aircraft.
The Chiefs flaked out of Super Bowl LIX in February in devastating fashion, losing in a blowout to the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans.
Summer brought a wave of protests against the Trump administration, including the first round of nationwide No Kings rallies, which multiple KC metro cities marched in. The annual Big Slick fundraiser brought hometown celebrities like Jason Sudeikis and Heidi Gardner back to town, and the Kansas City Royals continued their season, which they ultimately finished with an 82-80 record.
Chappell Roan brought tens of thousands to Liberty Memorial — in the first concert held there in years — for two sold-out nights in her home state. A few weeks later, the KC Streetcar opened its new extension along Main Street after months of anticipation and construction.
And, as we’re all too familiar, Chiefs fans endured heartbreak in the worst season during Andy Reid’s tenure with the franchise, with the team not making the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Plus, Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in the first major injury of his career.
Take a look through The Star’s best photos of 2025.
2025 in photos
A person walks near the Roasterie Coffee shop during heavy snowfall on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. Kansas City saw over five inches of snow fall in a matter of hours to the start the year, and travel routes were heavily impacted, with some people opting to travel by foot. Total snowfall was recorded at about a foot across the metro. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks guard Shakeel Moore (0) greets fans after the team defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils, 74-55, at Allen Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, in Lawrence, Kansas. KU’s season ended later in the year with a first-round exit in the NCAA March Madness tournament. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Nick Garcia seen behind flurries of flying snow, navigated a snow blower to clear his father-in-law, Paul Peterson’s, driveway near Loose Park in Kansas City on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. The second wind of snow came days after a foot of snow fell on the metro. Peterson noted that with the accumulation and drifting, snow on his property measured up to 16 inches deep in some spots. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
A Chiefs fan donned tan oversized Super Bowl-type ring in second half of the AFC Divisional Round playoff game on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans 23-14. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Firefighters remained on the scene after an early morning fire destroyed apartments in a complex in the 19000 block of East 37th Terrace, north of the Independence Commons shopping center on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. The huge fire killed a family of four and displaced a swath of residents. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws the ball after making a touchdown in the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills during the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) and Taylor Swift walk off the field after the trophy ceremony following the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The win capped off the Chiefs’ seventh consecutive AFC Championship appearance. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Your’Majesty El Bey aka YM Bey aka “Smoke,” walks his horse, Goldie, at the Copper Boyz Ranch in Kansas City. The Copper Boyz are a nonprofit on a mission to meet the inner city’s community needs with a focus on the area’s wild west history. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Bonnie Lewis, a figure skating coach with the Kansas City Figure Skating Club, spoke at the Kansas City Ice Center on Thursday, Jan. 30, about those in the figure skating community who were killed in a plane crash near Washington D.C. The midair crash between an American Airlines flight from Wichita and a U.S. Army helicopter killed 67 people, including several young figure skaters who were in Wichita for a competition. Nathan Pilling npilling@kcstar.com
The St. Louis Cathedral was lit up by video projectors on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans in honor of Super Bowl LIX. The Kansas City Chiefs made their way down south to take on the Philadelphia Eagles for their third Super Bowl appearance in as many years. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws while in the grasp of Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (98) in the first quarter during Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) sits on the bench after throwing a second interception in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
The Kansas City Chiefs walk off the field after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks forward KJ Adams with a massive slam in the first half of the Jayhawks game vs. the Colorado Buffaloes on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, at Allen Fieldhouse. Adams graduated from the program in May. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi takes a shot on goal in the first half of the Concacaf Champions Cup match of Sporting KC vs. Inter Miami CF on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at Sporting Park. Messi scored the match’s only goal. The mega-soccer star will be back in Kansas City in summer 2026 when Argentina faces Algeria for the FIFA World Cup. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Ollie Clark, adorned in colorful face paint, stands for a portrait during the Krewe de Prank parade on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Kansas City. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Cynthia Clark outside the Richard Bolling Federal Building in Kansas City on Monday, March 10, 2025. Clark is a Navy veteran and former federal worker who was fired as part of the DOGE job cuts. Before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers fired her, the Kansas City resident said she knew she wanted out after receiving guidance about words and concepts no longer allowed on the Corps’ online presence. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Ronald Hale of Liberty, Kansas, eats an ice cream sandwich from his son’s refrigerator as he and his wife, Jackie Hale, looked around the son’s residence at the Nevada Oaks apartment after a tornado hit the complex on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Nevada, Missouri. Hale’s son, Samuel Hale, 18, was uninjured. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
People celebrating the Hindu celebration of Holi in Lenexa on Sunday, April 6, 2025. Holi is a Hindu celebration that marks the beginning of spring. It is celebrated with dancing, food, and the throwing of color. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Illicit Farms’ COO Adam Diltz talks about the different strains of marijuana being grown at the farm and production facility of Illicit Farms on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. This year was the third year that recreational marijuana sales have been legal in Missouri. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Members of the Vietnamese community including Hoa Tran, from left, her daughter, Hue Pham, and Nancy Dinh-Pham, her, her granddaughter, held hands with Tina Lê, right, who wiped a tear from her eye as her daughter, Béty Lê Shackelford, paid tribute to Lê during "Remembering Saigon,” a remembrance event marking of the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at the Don Bosco Community Center in Kansas City. Many of the people in attendance fled South Vietnam, including Lê. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Leticia Rodriguez in her garage at Aspen Place Apartments in Gardner on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Residents were forced to move in 48 hours after the city condemned the entire apartment complex due to several dangerous factors. Rodriguez, a single mother originally from Chicago, said she was heartbroken to have to leave her community. “We’re a family.” Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Savannah Bananas utility player Dakota Albritton poses for a photo with five-year-old Gracyn Marx of South Dakota during VIB fan access before a sold-out Banana Ball game against the Firefighters at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, May 23, 2025, in Kansas City. The Savannah Bananas will come to Kansas City again in 2026. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Heidi Gardner, a host for the Big Slick, runs for home plate during the Big Slick Celebrity Softball game on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. The event announced in the fall that the softball game part of the fundraiser won’t continue in 2026, making this event the last for the forseeable future. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Royals second baseman Nick Loftin slides head first into home plate for the go-ahead run in the Royals game vs. the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, May 31, 2025. The Royals’ season ended with a 80-82 record. The team failed to make the postseason. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce lifts up Paul Rudd on stage at the Big Slick Show on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The annual fundraiser and celeb-fest raised a record over $4 million at this year’s event. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Mike “Moose” Moustakas hugs his family after giving his retirement speech on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Kauffman Stadium. Moustakas officially retired as a Royal after a 12-year career in Major League Baseball. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Debris is seen scattered across the site of a home explosion on Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Gladstone. The blast the day before killed one person and damaged nearby homes. Officials later determined the cause to be from fireworks. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Several hundred people march across Main Street towards the Liberty Memorial during a Shut Down ICE protest on Kansas City’s Westside and downtown areas on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. People held signs and flags and chanted in support of immigrants and against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Protesters Roderick and Wyatt Townley of Johnson County, rallied as part of a nationwide “No Kings” day of defiance on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park in Lenexa, Kansas. The events protested President Donald Trump and immigration policies, among other issues. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Willa Robinson, owner of Willa’s Books and Vinyl in Kansas City on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Willa’s closed over the summer as Robinson went into retirement. It was the oldest Black-owned bookstore in Missouri. But the KC Defender, a local advocacy and media group, has plans for the space. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Devin Sebile wrestles down a young steer during the Black Rodeo USA show, inside the American Royal in Kansas City on Saturday, July 26, 2025. The rodeo held two sold-out shows in its return to town for the first time in years. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Jayhawk fans packed David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, to cheer on their team in a highly anticipated Border War showdown. The matchup against the Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Missouri, marked the first time the two rivals had faced off in 14 years. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) warms up on the sideline during a timeout in the fourth quarter of a game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Columbia. KU lost the rendition of the Border War. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Hayley Conklin, Jenna Patterson and Taylor Hinds participate in a singalong to “Mr. Brightside” during a timeout in a game between the Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Columbia. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Old film reels on a shelf next to modern film reel designs on a wall help to tell the story inside Atlas 9, on Wednesday, Sep. 3, 2025, in Kansas City, Kansas. Designed by Kansas City-based industrial design company, Dimensional Innovations, Atlas 9 is a narrative-driven immersive art experience featuring interactive games, videos, and AI-powered experiences. It opened in September. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Protesters packed the rotunda of the Missouri statehouse to protest the gerrymandering the state’s congressional map on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Jefferson City, Missouri. Despite the protest, the map was passed by lawmakers, effectively redistricting Kansas City’s voting maps. It’s in effect, but opponents turned in hundreds of thousands of signatures in December to try to put it on next year’s ballot. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Olympic swimmer and Panasonic ambassador Katie Ledecky, center, takes a photo with students after touring the Bioscience lab at Cedar Trails Exploration Center (CTEC) CAPS in Lenexa on Sept. 30, 2025, where she met and learned from De Soto School District STEM students. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Pop singer Chappell Roan performs during her Visions of Damsels and Other Dangerous Things tour stop at National WWI Museum and Memorial Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Kansas City. Roan, a Willard, Missouri, native, sold out two highly anticipated shows in KC in her first home-state return after her meteoric rise to fame. Dominick Williams dwilliams@kcstar.com
Demonstrators rally on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Mill Creek Park in Kansas City as part another round of nationwide “No Kings” protests against the Trump administration. Protesters dressed up in costumes and brought signs showing their displeasure. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Shrouded in a light fog, Kansas Jayhawks Darryn Peterson, a freshman guard, has his photo taken during Big 12 Basketball Media Days at the T-Mobile Center on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, in Kansas City. Peterson was ranked as the No. 1 recruit at the beginning of the season, but has so far been plagued by injuries and missed several games. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Fireworks go off over GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium as players take the field before an NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Washington Commanders on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs beat the Commanders 28-7. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
UMKC Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal, left, Tom Gerend, executive director for KC Streetcar Authority, center, and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas step off a streetcar after riding during an inaugural run on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, during the grand opening celebration for the KC Streetcar extension in Kansas City. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Terrae Porter and Kandice Hines perform their routine at “Kansas City Two-Step” at The Big StepOff 2025, on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, in Kansas City. This year’s competition was the 20th anniversary of the two-stepping event, which has long been a cultural touchstone of KC’s Black community. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Christal Watson celebrates with family and friends at John’s Java and Jazz in Kansas City after being elected Mayor/CEO of Wyandotte County’s Unified Government on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Watson is the first Black woman to be elected mayor of the city and county. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
KC Current players celebrate a goal against Gotham by defender Ellie Wheeler (No. 5) during an NWSL quarterfinal playoff match at CPKC Stadium in Kansas City on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. The Current lost the game 2-1, catapulting them out of the playoffs after the most successful regular season in NWSL history. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) kisses his wife, Brittany Mahomes, who holds Golden Raye, as Sterling Skye hugs her dad and Patrick "Bronze" Lavon III, looks on before the kickoff in the game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) puts his hands on his face after being injured in the fourth quarter playing the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Mahomes tore his ACL, the Chiefs announced later that night, and underwent successful surgery the next day. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Topeka that the Kansas City Chiefs will build their new stadium in Kansas City, Kansas. Kelly presented Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt with a football as others looked on during the announcement. The huge deal is one of the biggest in Kansas’ economic history, and means the Chiefs will leave the historic Arrowhead Stadium, where they’ve played for the past half-century, at the end of the 2030 season. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com
This story was originally published December 28, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
