The Star is most notable for its influence on the career of President Harry S. Truman and as the newspaper where a young Ernest Hemingway honed his writing style.

The paper, originally called The Kansas City Evening Star, was founded September 18, 1880, by William Rockhill Nelson and Samuel E.

Competitor Times editor Eugene Field wrote this about the new newspaper: Nelson's business strategy called for cheap advance subscriptions and an intention to be "absolutely independent in politics, aiming to deal by all men and all parties with impartiality and fearlessness.".

"Pete" Wellington with changing a wordy high-schooler's writing style into clear, provocative English.

Kirkwood in turn died of a heart attack in 1927 in Saratoga Springs, New York, where he had gone to sell thoroughbred horses.

The Star enjoyed a pivotal role in American politics beginning in the late 1920s when Iowa-native Herbert Hoover was nominated at the 1928 Republican convention in Kansas City and continuing through 1960 at the conclusion of the presidency of Kansas favorite Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In 1953, the Truman administration in its closing days filed antitrust charges against the Star over its ownership of WDAF-TV.

The Star lost its case and had to sign a consent decree in 1957 that led to the sale of the broadcast stations.

With the influence of the Star in Truman's hometown, the newspaper and Roberts were the subject of an April 12, 1948, cover issue of Time magazine.

In 1954, Topeka correspondent Alvin McCoy won a Pulitzer Prize for a series of articles questioning the business dealings of the Republican national chairman.

[14] In 1990, the Star became a morning newspaper taking the place of what was then the larger Kansas City Times which ceased publication.

[citation needed] Knight Ridder's legacy is a massive $199 million, two-block long, glass-enclosed printing and distribution plant on the northeast side of the Star's landmark red brick headquarters at 1729 Grand Avenue.

It took nearly four years to build and is considered a major part of the effort to revitalize downtown Kansas City.

Other broadsheet newspapers across the country, including the Wall Street Journal, are moving to the smaller standard size.

In February 2020, McClatchy filed for bankruptcy and Chatham Asset Management LLC bought it at auction.

[17] A column by Mike Fannin, president and editor, said "For 140 years, it has been one of the most influential forces in shaping Kansas City and the region.