Taylor Swift is pushing Kansas City into its 'golden era'

• Kansas City has seen its own Taylor Swift bump, as the superstar spends more time in the Midwest.
• Swift's presence has helped bolster a new "golden era" in Kansas City, one area leader said.
• In a post-pandemic shift, booming businesses and attractions are key for KC.

Quinton Lucas, the mayor of Kansas City, had a rare experience recently: A fan encounter.

Lucas had just finished giving a speech to new mayors in Boston when one approached him, saying her teenage daughter wanted her to take a picture with him — and wants to go to Kansas City.