Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How AI scammers are targeting Kansas City holiday shoppers right now

Also check out Zoltan Kaszas on the Kansas City Patch calendar

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Wednesday December 17th Patch AM
Wednesday December 17th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

What's up Kansas City! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How AI scammers are targeting Kansas City holiday shoppers right now
  • How KCFD’s new robot tackled a massive Kansas City lumber fire
  • What witnesses saw at a critical crash in northeast Kansas City

Also on today's calendar: A Very Sinatra Christmas Special at The Gem and 3 more events.

Find out what's happening in Kansas Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Kansas City? Post it to Kansas City photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Kansas Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Mainly cloudy, with a high of 53 and low of 43 degrees.
  • Thursday: Mostly sunny and windy, temps: high: 53, low: 19. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Friday: Partly sunny, with a high of 43 and low of 38 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. FBI warns Kansas City shoppers: Holiday scams surge with AI technology (kctv5.com) — Kansas City shoppers are being warned by the FBI that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to power holiday-season frauds, from fake profiles to deepfake videos. With billions already lost nationwide, agents urge residents to slow down, verify deals and communications, and report any suspected scams, even if no money is lost, to help protect others.
   

2. KCFD deploys robot to help battle fire at lumber yard (fox4kc.com) — Kansas City firefighters used a $350,000 remote-controlled robot to safely knock down a massive lumber-yard fire near E. 14th Terrace and Norton Avenue, saving crews from dangerous, muddy conditions. The robot can flow up to about 1,200 gallons of water per minute in real-world use, helping control the blaze within hours and keeping firefighters available for other city emergencies.
   

3. Pedestrian critically injured when hit by SUV Tuesday afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri (kshb.com) — A pedestrian is in critical condition after being hit and run over by a Buick SUV Tuesday afternoon at Northeast Pleasant Valley Road and North Brighton Avenue in Kansas City. Police say the driver stopped, and investigators are asking anyone with information to share anonymous tips through Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers.
   

4. Whooping cough case confirmed at Blue Springs High School (fox4kc.com) — A confirmed case of whooping cough at Blue Springs High School in the Kansas City area has prompted school leaders to warn families about symptoms and prevention. Parents are urged to keep sick students home, follow doctor guidance, and reinforce masking, cough etiquette, and handwashing as health officials monitor for additional cases.
   

5. City of Independence lifts boil advisory, no problems found during testing 16 samples (kshb.com) — Independence water customers in the Kansas City metro no longer need to boil their water after tests at 16 sites showed no problems in the system. City officials say pressure has been restored, water is again coming from the Courtney Bend plant, and nearby municipalities are receiving normal service.
   

📸 Around Kansas City

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Kansas City

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Friday December 19
  • Zoltan Kaszas
    The Comedy Club of Kansas City, 1130 103rd St, Kansas City
    7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Kansas City Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

    Wednesday December 17
  • Theme Day - Elf
    Cler-Mont Elem. Independence, MO 64058
    7:00 am
  • 3rd/4th Musical
    Blue Hills Elem. Independence, MO 64058
    6:30 pm
    • Thursday December 18
  • Theme Day - PJ Day
    Cler-Mont Elem. Independence, MO 64058
    7:00 am
  • PTO - Winter Party
    Cler-Mont Elem. Independence, MO 64058
    8:00 am
  • Winter Parties
    Buckner Elem. Independence, MO 64058
    8:15 am
  • Boys Basketball BAC OT @ New Mark
    Osage Trail Middle Independence, MO 64058
    4:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hi everyone!
    This is Nugget. He is a larger boy with long gray hair and orange eyes. He has been missing for about a week now. He’s a sweet boy so I’m hoping… (Nextdoor Hillcrest Road)
  • When my kids were mere youngsters, my older son loved school, but his younger brother absolutely hated it.
    One weekend, he cried and fretted and tried every excuse not to go back to school on Monday. Sunday morning on the way home from church, the whining,… (Nextdoor Woodneath Farms)
  • Morgan Hunter Companies posted a job opening for Accounting Assistant in Kansas City. Apply here.
  • The Guitar Center posted a job opening for Power Equipment Operator (Day Shift) in Kansas City. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Kansas City here.

Ok Kansas City! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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