The 41 Files

In the final episode of Now Boarding, KSHB 41's Taylor Hemness talks with Susie McKenzie, a 35-year flight attendant with American Airlines. Back in 2017, she voted against building the new terminal at KCI, because she was concerned that it would mean losing the convenience that she valued so much at the old terminals. Today, she's a big fan of the terminal. During this conversation, Taylor talks with her about passenger conduct, what a terminal really means to a flight attendant, and the state of airline travel today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's kind of like moving into a new house. That's how Mike Ward described the process of moving from the old terminals at KCI, to the new terminal in 2023. Ward is the Assistant Manager of Operations at KCI for Southwest Airlines. In this episode, he describes working conditions at the old terminals, what it was like to practice his team's jobs before the new terminal opened, that crazy all-nighter employees pulled when the terminal switch happened, and the "trashy" lessons he's learned in the first year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Were you lucky enough to fly out of Kansas City during the extreme cold weather we experienced in mid-January? Hopefully, that flight took you to someplace much warmer! But there were multiple days in January that had travelers very concerned about whether or not their flight would go on as scheduled. January presented the first real test for the new terminal at KCI in terms of severe winter weather. This month, KC Aviation Director Melissa Cooper chats with KSHB 41 anchor Taylor Hemness about exactly how an airport deals with round after round of ice and snow. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kansas City got very familiar with a company called Edgemoor during the construction of the new terminal at KCI. People from all over the KC area attended meetings the company hosted about the terminal's design, and now those people are getting to see which suggestions actually made the cut. KSHB 41 anchor Taylor Hemness chats with Edgemoor Senior Managing Director Geoff Stricker about how the billion-dollar project compares to others he's done, and what it's like trying to make hundreds of thousands of travelers happy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know the original "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss was written in 1957? Today, the book, the animated films, even the live action film are big parts of the Christmas season for people all over the world. This year, the official sequel to the book, titled "How the Grinch Lost Christmas," is on store shelves just in time for Christmas. The author writing for Dr. Seuss is a man named Alastair Heim, and he's lived here in Kansas City for more than 20 years. Here, you get a special chance to hear his conversation with KSHB 41 anchor Taylor Hemness. They talk about the book, how he got it, his history with Dr. Seuss, and what it's like to write in that trademark style. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new terminal at KCI cost more than a billion dollars to build. That's hard for any traveler to put into perspective. But for the companies chosen to be involved in its construction, that represents man hours, and of course, potentially career-changing money. In this episode, I spoke to Mary McNamara, the President of Cornell Roofing in Independence. We talked about a job that she calls "transformational" for her company, and all the challenges that come along with it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How long does it take you to get to KCI? My guest this week, Kim Kluge, lives about 12 minutes away. It's a big advantage when you travel a lot for work, like she does. So what does the new terminal mean for the neighborhoods around KCI, not just right now, but in the future? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kansas City International Airport is located within District 1 of the city's council districts, represented by Kevin O'Neill and Nathan Willett. In this episode, KSHB 41 news anchor Taylor Hemness wanted to get the perspective of what it's like to represent a district that has always included the airport, but now has such a massive potential impact with the construction of the terminal. Councilman Kevin O'Neill talks history, the chances for future development, and what it's like to have his name on a plaque inside the city's very expensive "front door." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kansas City residents know that the years-long process to build a new terminal at KCI had more than its fair share of controversies. Beyond the question of whether or not the city needed a new single terminal were the opinions on what it should look like, how it would showcase/represent KC, and if it would maintain the convenience of the city's older terminals. In this episode, KSHB 41 anchor Taylor Hemness chats with architects from SOM, the firm tasked with answering those questions in the design of the new terminal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How often do you fly, for work or personal reasons? For many Kansas Citians, air travel is a huge part of their regular lives. So the new single terminal at KCI is almost like your office being moved to a whole new building. In Episode 4 of Now Boarding, KSHB 41 anchor Taylor Hemness chats with Kevin White, who flies about three weeks out of every month, about what he's seen in the new terminal, See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travelers are still marveling at the shiny new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport. But is there a difference from the standpoint of the men and women flying the planes in and out of there? In this episode, KSHB 41 anchor Taylor Hemness chats with Delta Airlines pilot Sam White about what HE sees in the new terminal. After listening to this, you're almost certain to notice things you've never noticed, the next time you take a flight. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long before the new terminal at KCI was complete, the NFL Draft was identified as the first big test of its efficiency. Now that the NFL Draft is over, KSHB 41 anchor Taylor Hemness speaks with Kathy Nelson, head of both Visit KC, and the Kansas City Sports Commission, about not only how the terminal performed, but also its overall role in attracting visitors to KC. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five KSHB 41 news staffers undertook a deep dive into the BBQ Capital of America’s world-renowned barbecue scene. In the spirit of the NFL Draft coming to Kansas City, here's their 2023 KC BBQ Draft. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode 1 KSHB 41 anchor Taylor Hemness is joined by Kansas City Aviation Department Director Pat Klein. Klein, who's been in the role for seven years, is set to retire in 2023. He describes the first month of KCI's new single terminal, some of the work it took to get the terminal built, and what the future may hold. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For this month's Faith in KC, KSHB 41 anchor Taylor Hemness speaks with pastors from both congregations about the arrangement, its challenges and how long it may go on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Faith in KC returns this month with a guest whose lifelong walk with faith is very different from many people's. Brother Thomas Sullivan has been a monk at Conception Abbey for decades. During this episode, he discusses his decision to become a monk, and what that journey has been like. He also describes his relationship with prayer, and why it's not easy for him just because of the life he's chosen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month, KSHB 41 anchor Taylor Hemness examined the future of houses of worship post-COVID in a special 360 report. In conjunction with that report, he reached out to the University of Kansas Religious Studies Department, to talk about its Religion in Kansas Project. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Faith in KC has featured conversations examining the tenants and belief systems of multiple faith backgrounds represented across Kansas City. In this month’s Faith in KC, KSHB 41 News anchor Taylor Hemness spoke with Jordan McKinney, president of the Kansas City Atheist Coalition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, and many members of that community in Kansas City practice Hinduism. In the latest edition of Faith in KC, KSHB 41's Taylor Hemness sat down to speak with Dr. Deb Bhaduri on behalf of the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Kansas City. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Black History Month comes to a close, KSHB 41 News wanted to highlight some of the systemic issues affecting Black Kansas Citians. In the third part of a three-part podcast mini-series, digital producers Katharine Finnerty and Casey Murray will explore the challenges Black entrepreneurs face and what Kansas City can do to better support them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.