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Kansas City News Today Kansas City Front Page is a weekly news publication, with daily updates, spotlighting attractions, events, business and hospitality in Kansas City. |
KANSAS CITY NEWS TODAY - Sunday, December 16, 2007
KANSAS CITY, (SLFP.com), December 16, 2007 - A bird's-eye view of the Kauffman Center shows considerable progress that isn't readily noticeable from ground level. But it won't be long before walls begin to emerge from the nearly completed foundations and passers-by on the street will begin to take note. According to Kyle McQuiston, project executive with JE Dunn Construction, "We began pouring concrete in April of 2007 and as of December 1st we have placed 10,000 cubic yards of concrete and two million pounds of rebar." As a result, the foundation work is nearing completion. Underground work has begun in the central plant, enabling foundations and finished floors to be installed. Elevated decks have been placed that will allow early mechanical and electrical work in equipment pits to take place. "If the Kauffman Center and Bartle Hall were on the same ground elevation," explains President and CEO Jane Chu, "the top of the Proscenium Theater would be just about as tall as Bartle's artwork." McQuiston says that the construction team talks about it as the equivalent of a 10-story building. The first elevation of walls has already been placed for fly tower of the Proscenium Theater. This is the tall, backstage area where equipment like sets, scrims, lighting, and riggings can be suspended and 'flown' (i.e. raised) when not needed. The stage floor has already been put in place. McQuiston says that work has been moving forward at a steady pace. About 100 people are at work on the site now, including steel, concrete, mechanical, electrical and excavation workers. The construction of the anchor wall that supports the atrium glass structure is underway. This wall will eventually contain 27 large steel embeds that are attached to cables holding up the concrete shells and holding down the glass of the lobbies. Each embed weighs about 3,000 pounds, is approximately four-foot square and is made of three-foot plate steel. Quite a bit of vital utility work has also begun. At 16th Street you can to see the KCPL vaults that have been placed for main electrical gear and workers have begun bringing in city water and communications utilities from Broadway and 16th. Designed by world-renowned architect, Moshe Safdie, this iconic, $326 million Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts will host performances of the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera and a number of other art organizations. The facility will contain a 1,800-seat ballet/opera hall that will be home to the Kansas City Ballet, Lyric Opera and other events; and a 1,600-seat symphonic concert hall for the Kansas City Symphony and other mid-size musical organizations. A multipurpose facility called Celebration Hall as well as two parking garages are also part of the project. The facility is scheduled to open in 2009. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino At The Kansas Speedway Proposed KANSAS CITY, (SLFP.com), December 16, 2007 - The Cordish Company and Kansas Speedway Development Corporation have announced that they have secured an agreement to brand the proposed Kansas Speedway casino entertainment project in Wyandotte County, Kansas as a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Hard Rock is one of the most recognized brands worldwide and will serve to additionally enhance the tourism and visitation drawing power of the Speedway casino entertainment project. The Cordish Company has created two of the three Hard Rock Hotel & Casino properties in the United States, the award-winning Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casinos in Hollywood and Tampa, Florida. The two Hard Rock gaming facilities developed by Cordish are among the most successful and profitable casino entertainment properties in the country. The Hard Rock brand will be sublicensed from Hard Rock Hotel Holdings, a partnership between DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, a private-equity investment affiliate of Credit Suisse, and Morgans Hotel Group Co. Hard Rock Hotel Holdings also owns the highly successful Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. "After a thorough review of the competing proposals in the RFP process in Wyandotte County, Kansas, we determined that that The Cordish Company and Kansas Speedway are the ideal entities to create a successful gaming and entertainment destination in Kansas," stated Randy Kwasniewski, President of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. "The combination of the Hard Rock brand, The Cordish Company's gaming and development experience and one of the most popular sports in America, NASCAR racing, will provide one of the most powerful and unique gaming, sports and entertainment destinations in the country." The companies expect to cross-market the Kansas and Las Vegas properties which will increase visibility and exposure for the Kansas Hard Rock Hotel & Casino nationally and internationally. "This is an exciting announcement not only for this project but for Wyandotte County," said Kansas Speedway president Jeff Boerger. "Hard Rock properties are a world-wide destination and our relationship with Hard Rock enhances the tourism draw of our project." "We are excited about continuing our relationship with the Hard Rock brand. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is an extremely well-managed, hip property that is world renowned and we will both benefit from this affiliation. The County and State have both expressed a vision for a destination casino in Wyandotte County and there is no stronger draw than NASCAR, Hard Rock and The Cordish Company's expertise in gaming and entertainment," stated Joe Weinberg, President of Gaming & Resorts for The Cordish Company. State Insurance Regulators Encourage Consumers to Take Necessary Precautions KANSAS CITY, (SLFP.com), December 16, 2007 - It might be the season of giving, but a new survey shows a majority of Americans are actually worried about what might be taken from them. According to new research by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 57 percent of U.S. adults say they are concerned about being a victim of identity theft during the holiday season and 66 percent believe they are more at risk when making purchases online. According to the Federal Trade Commission, 8.3 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2005. Every year, victims of identity theft struggle to recoup financial losses and repair damages to their credit standing. To alleviate the burdens -- which include out-of-pocket costs, lost wages and other expenses associated with reestablishing lost credit and/or identity -- several companies offer identity theft insurance. There are also simple precautions everyone should take to avoid becoming a victim. "Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States, affecting consumers of all ages," said NAIC President and Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger. "It's critical for consumers to know how to protect themselves and reduce the risk of becoming a victim." The NAIC's national survey, which polled a nationally representative sample of 500 adults, age 18 and older, from Nov. 16-22, 2007, also shows: -- If seeking insurance coverage for identity theft, 38 percent of respondents said they would look to insurance companies, 34 percent said they would look to credit card companies and 27 percent said they would look to banks. -- 32 percent said they were victims or knew someone who had been a victim of identity theft in the past five years. Of those consumers: -- 46 percent said their identity theft exceeded $1,000. -- 42 percent said it took three months or longer to resolve the problem. "Repairing the damages caused by identity theft can be a lengthy, financially straining process," said NAIC Executive Vice President and CEO Catherine J. Weatherford. "Taking precautions can save time, money and stress during the busy holiday shopping season and year-round." Understanding the Basics of Identity Theft Identity theft, sometimes referred to as identity fraud, is a crime that involves someone using your personal information -- such as your name, Social Security number, credit card number or other financial account information -- without your permission to commit fraud and/or other crimes. Identity theft occurs in many forms, such as someone using your stolen personal information to apply for loans or purchase items using your credit card number, along with many other fraudulent activities.   The Kansas City Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Kansas City area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 2007 Moore Design Group. |
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