The long, raucous dispute over the future of North Kansas City Hospital appears headed to a conclusion that avoids selling the treasured institution. The newly elected mayor and four North Kansas City Council members, who make up a majority of the council, have sent a letter to Gov. Jay Nixon saying they support a bill now before him that would allow a sale only if both the City Council and the hospital agreed. A sale would then have to be submitted to voters. In an interview Tuesday, Mayor Don Stielow said it was also time to end a lawsuit between the city and the hospital because there are better uses for the money being spent on litigation.
