Jury Hits KU Hospital, UMKC Faces Backlash

0:00It's April 29th. I'm Cory with the story, and this is Kansas News today, your AI-powered local news. A Wyandotte County jury just hit the University of Kansas Hospital with a huge payout in a wrongful death case. They awarded $7,650,000 to the family of a Raytown man who died from a deadly infection linked to a tainted, heater-cooler device during heart surgery. Jurors penned most of the blame on the hospital at 88%, with 12% on the device maker, Liva Nova. Meanwhile, the University of Missouri, Kansas City stirred up some heat by naming former Kansas City Police Captain Daniel Graves as their new campus, Police Chief. Critics aren't holding back, especially the young Democratic Socialists of America on campus. That group is fired up over a letter Graves wrote, backing ex-detective Eric DeValkenair, who got convicted for the 2021 fatal shooting of Cameron Lam. They're planning a rally on May 5th to push back hard against the higher.

1:03On a brighter note, Southwest Airlines is adding a new non-stop route from Kansas City International to San Francisco starting early November. It'll run year round, hitting peak travel days like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plus, children's mercy dropped big plans for a $1 billion tower at their Adele Hall campus, sets a wrap in 2031 and boost care, capacity by 30% for kids and newborns, and keeping the good vibes local, Bar Phoebe is opening soon on the rooftop of the Holtman building in the crossroads. This vintage Midwestern spot, named for suffragette Phoebe Janesse, will see over 200 indoors and out by late May or early June. Kansas City's buzzing with these moves forward.