Five KC stories you may have missed: Tornado recovery, World Cup security & more
After a tornado tore through Ottawa, Kansas, Monday night, local communities began the hard work of picking up the pieces.
Kansas Citians were also digging into news on restaurant closures and new World Cup security plans.
Here are a few top stories from The Star:
Tornado leaves trail of damage in Ottawa, Kansas
A tornado struck southern Ottawa Monday evening, toppling power lines, snapping trees and causing widespread structural damage in the city about an hour southwest of Kansas City. A family-owned auto shop was left in ruins and the Knights Inn motel was nearly destroyed.
Ottawa Police Chief Adam Weingartner said Tuesday there were no known fatalities or major injuries in the city — “We got pretty lucky, that’s for sure” — while three minor injuries were reported in rural Franklin County.
Hawaiian chain Mo’ Bettahs closes all KC-area locations
Mo’ Bettahs, a Hawaiian fast-casual restaurant based in Utah, closed all five of its remaining Kansas City-area locations on April 10 in what the company called a “strategic decision.” The restaurants in Overland Park, Olathe, Blue Springs, Liberty and Lee’s Summit posted signs thanking the community for its support.
The chain first entered the Kansas City market in 2022 but faced competition from local favorite Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, which got its start in Belton in 2018.
KC Youth Symphony fires executive director over embezzlement
The Youth Symphony of Kansas City fired executive director Keith Stanfield on March 31 after an investigation found he misappropriated 7% of the organization’s funds.
Stanfield was also terminated as executive director of the Friends of the Opus 76 Quartet Foundation over similar allegations of using charitable funds for personal purposes.
The Youth Symphony said all scheduled events for the 2026-2027 academic year will continue as planned.
Airbnb names Kansas cabin near KC among most in-demand homes
.jpg "Kansas - Cozy Cabin Retreat (Tonganoxie, KS).jpg")
Airbnb named the Cozy Cabin Retreat in Tonganoxie as the most wishlisted listing in Kansas this year, located just 40 minutes west of Kansas City. The 15-acre wooded property features hiking trails, ponds, meditation areas and a 4.96 out of 5-star rating, placing it in the top 1% of eligible listings.
Dates are available around the time the 2026 FIFA World Cup group and knockout stage games begin in Kansas City.
Missouri National Guard to deploy for World Cup
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe announced that 110 National Guard troops will be deployed to Kansas City for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with state highway troopers and FBI agents to assist local police.
An executive order estimates the event could bring as many as 650,000 visitors to the metro area from June 11 to July 19. FBI co-director Andrew Bailey said there are “no known threats” to the games, adding that “Kansas City is ready.”
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full stories in the links above were reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
