Who's Your Favorite?

Here’s what’s in store today:

🗳️ Nominations open for Best Of KC 2025

✨ An open house at Blue Cedar Landing

🏅 Prestigious recognition for UMKC

😜 Meme Monday

Awards

Nominations for Best of KC 2025 Are Now Open!

Nominations are now open for Kansas City Magazine’s Best of KC 2025 presented by GRID at Compass - Jonas Barrish.

• Best of the Best: The Best of KC recognition is a yearly program that allows community members to nominate and vote for their favorite local services, restaurants, business events, and much more. This year, there are over 300 categories!

• Who’s Your Favorite?: Nominations are open now through March 3rd, and voting will begin on March 10th. Although we definitely categorize KC Daily as a newsletter, we were proud to be named the winner of “Best Local Blog” in 2024!

Sponsored by Cozy in KC

Friday Open House at Blue Cedar Landing ✨

This Friday (2/21) from 4-7 pm, stop by Blue Cedar Landing for an exclusive look at Pleasant Hill’s premier event venue!

• Tour & Treats: Walk through The Stables, a breathtaking event space, while sipping on complimentary drinks, enjoying delicious snacks, and imagining your special day at Blue Cedar Landing. Whether you're planning a wedding, special event, or weekend getaway, this is your chance to explore their stunning spaces, meet top local vendors, and enjoy exclusive savings.

• Giveaways and Connections: Enter for a chance to win 50% off a wedding or a free night at a Cozy in KC vacation rental! Plus, chat with expert vendors who can help bring your dream event to life.

Blue Cedar Landing is located at 19300 E. State Route 58 in Pleasant Hill, MO. RSVP HERE.

Education

UMKC Achieves Prestigious Research Classification

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) has achieved the prestigious Carnegie R1 classification.

• Top of Class: UMKC is Kansas City's first institution to join this elite group of top U.S. research universities. This milestone, reached five years ahead of UMKC's 2030 strategic plan goal, reflects the dedication of its faculty, students, staff, and community partners. Chancellor Mauli Agrawal highlighted the collective effort leading to this accomplishment.

• Local Learning: Local leaders, including Mayor Quinton Lucas and UM System President Mun Choi, praised the designation, noting its potential to attract businesses, create high-paying jobs, and enhance UMKC's capacity to address critical issues.

With this recognition, UMKC joins an exclusive group of 187 R1 institutions among over 2,800 four-year universities in the nation.

Meme Monday

It’s Pothole Season in Kansas City 🕳️

Be on the lookout for fellow Kansas City drivers (and their tires) by reporting potholes! Here are a few places you can file reports across the metro:

1. KCMO

2. MoDOT (Missouri roads only)

3. KDOT (Kansas roads only)

4. Johnson County (KS)

5. Jackson County (MO)

KC Daily Picks

In Other News…

• 💰 Money Talks: nbkc bank will host a free Financial Wellness Happy Hour with local finance personality Money Talk Mal this Thursday (2/20) from 4-6 pm at 8320 Ward Parkway. Learn budgeting hacks and investment strategies while enjoying bites and sips!

• 🧵 Farewell, Fabric: Retail chain Joann will close 500 stores nationwide, including two in the Kansas City area. Three metro locations will remain (KCMO, Overland Park, Shawnee).

• ⚾️ Best in Baseball: Royals SS Bobby Witt Jr. was ranked #3 on MLB Network’s Top 100 Right Now list. Los Angeles Angels DH Shohei Ohtani came in ranked #1, and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees at #2.

• 🦺 Safety First: Safety improvements are coming soon to downtown Parkville as a part of the city’s Redefine Route 9 project.

• 🏎️ Watch for Bananas: Arts on Broadway will host Mario Kart Live! this Friday (2/21) at 7 pm. The friendly event features a Mario Kart tournament alongside live jazz music.

• 🤝 Your Friendly Neighborhood Newsletter: KC Daily will always be free, thanks to members of our Fan Club who generously support our newsletter. Skip the extra Starbucks run this month and support your favorite local newsletter instead. We’ll reward you with awesome Fan-exclusive giveaways.

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