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KCTV5's Sharon Chen shares information about a violent extremist network actively recruiting children in the Kansas City area through online games and apps.

Bentonville, Arkansas is the kind of place that surprises you — in the best possible way.

What was once known mainly as the hometown of Walmart has grown into one of the South’s most exciting small-city destinations, blending world-class art, award-winning trails, a lively downtown square with restaurants, local shopping, and a festival scene that keeps the calendar full.

It is polished without feeling pretentious, creative without losing its friendliness, and full of the kind of experiences that make a weekend trip feel bigger than expected.

You can spend the morning walking the trails around Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, bike through some of the best mountain biking terrain in the country, linger over a memorable meal downtown, shop local galleries and boutiques, then end the evening with live music, cocktails, or a seasonal event on the square. 

New records show Kansas City reversed thousands of earnings tax collection cases annually, even as officials dismissed concerns raised by a KCTV5 investigation last month.

KCTV5's Zac Summers visited with anchor Taylor Johnson to share some details behind his reporting.

Salina, Kansas, offers visitors a well-rounded mix of museums, public art, popular dining, shopping districts, and annual events that give the city a lively regional identity.

From downtown culture to family-friendly attractions and major community festivals, Salina has plenty for visitors to explore.

It was Missouri’s first state capital and is often associated with the Lewis and Clark expedition, which launched nearby in 1804.  St. Charles, Missouri is a historic city on the Missouri River just northwest of St. Louis, known for its preserved 1800s architecture and walkable Main Street district.  

St. Charles sits in St. Charles County, one of the fastest-growing areas in the state, with a mix of long-established neighborhoods and newer developments. The riverfront area connects to the Katy Trail and local trail networks, making it popular for biking and hiking along the Missouri River.

Today it blends riverfront parks, festivals, shops and restaurants with a fast-growing suburban community.

From big-time tradition to ragtime roots and the roar of the Missouri State Fair, Sedalia is a town where the history music and community spirit come together in a way that feels uniquely Missouri. 

Tucked away in Garden City, Missouri, YaYa’s Alpaca Farm offers visitors a chance to slow down and connect with one of the gentlest animals in agriculture.

The farm has grown into a popular destination, welcoming thousands of guests each year for tours, seasonal events, and special experiences. 

Visitors can learn about alpacas, feed and photograph them, and even explore how their fleece is turned into fiber products. With offerings that range from family tours to weddings and classes, YaYa’s has created a warm, memorable experience built around curiosity, connection, and the charm of alpacas.

A lease to a nearly 7,000 square foot building for a dollar a year for 50 years sounds like a great deal.

A deal that does exist in Jackson County, Missouri.

At 200 South Main, history sits on hold. Hiding behind the trees, a yellow brick building with white pillars. But look up close, and you can see it: cracked walls and sidewalks, boarded-up windows, and an entryway in disrepair.

Built in 1910, 200 S. Main was Independence’s city hall for decades.

KCTV5's Samantha Boring sits down with Taylor Johnson on her KCTV5 Investigates reporting.

It is home to Fort Hays State University and has strong roots in frontier history and Volga German heritage. The city offers museums, local dining, shopping, seasonal events, and outdoor recreation, making it a popular stop for both visitors and residents.

The “9D” refers to nine distinct layers of engineered audio — including binaural beats, solfeggio frequencies, isochronic tones, multi-directional sound, neuro-linguistic programming, and subliminal messaging — combined with sustained conscious breathing for 45 minutes to an hour.

KCTV5's Lauren Magarino explores the experience known as 9D Breathwork.

It’s known as the “Czech Capital of Kansas” and a mecca of water sports in the state.  Wilson, Kansas, sits just 3 hours west of the Kansas City Metro and it’s this week’s Destination Heartland.

KCTV's Sharon Chen shares more on her story of new research at the Stowers Institute regarding a chromosome variant that may contribute to pregnancy loss.

In this edition of Destination Heartland, we take a virtual visit to Hannibal, Missouri!

A Brazilian asylum seeker shares his personal journey and experience navigating the U.S. immigration system in this extended interview. He says he fled Brazil to escape threats from organized crime and has been in the legal asylum process for nearly two and a half years while residing in the Kansas City area.

Sergio’s life changed in minutes. A routine traffic stop for speeding led to his arrest, and weeks after a new policy eliminated bond hearings, he found himself detained and unable to work. In this extended interview, he describes how that timing—and that policy—affected fighting his removal case.

Trinidad Raj Molina is an organizer and immigration rights advocate with Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation. In this extended interview filmed in November 2025, he discusses the patterns of ICE arrests in the Kansas City area, the tactics being used, recent high-profile raids, and what he sees as systemic failures in the U.S. immigration enforcement system.

Maya King is an immigration attorney working with individuals facing deportation proceedings in Kansas City. In this extended interview filmed August 2025, she discusses a dramatic policy change that eliminated bail eligibility for people who entered without inspection—a shift that has upended cases she’s been handling. She also discusses how ICE is offering detainees financial incentives to “voluntary departure” before they ever see a judge.

Kristi Nelson is a former immigration judge who served in Chicago’s immigration court from September 2023 to April 2025, when she resigned. She’s practiced law for 30 years. In this extended interview, she discusses the systemic challenges facing the U.S. immigration court system, recent mass terminations of judges, and the pressure immigration judges face from changing administrations.

Rekha Sharma-Crawford is an immigration attorney in Kansas City. In this extended interview filmed in August 2025, she discusses how national policies are affecting the local immigration court system and the fundamental problems with the current immigration system that she argues require a complete overhaul, not band-aid fixes.