January 26, 1945. Kansas City’s political boss, Tom Pendergast, dies at the age of 72. Pendergast controlled KC and Jackson County from 1925 to 1939. His political machine helped launch the career of ...

What's Your KCQ is a collaboration between The Star and the Kansas City Public Library series that answers your questions about the history, people, places and culture that make Kansas City unique.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When you hear “Kansas City,” what’s the first thing that pops into your mind? Is it the Chiefs? The barbecue? The hundreds of fountains scattered around the city? Maybe it’s all of ...

James Pendergast rose from laborer to alderman in Kansas City politics. A 1913 statue memorialized Pendergast's civic work and lasting local influence. Despite decades of vandalism, the statue was ...