Archives: June 2020

Mayor Lucas releases statement on today’s KC officer-involved shooting

Police cordon tape seals off an area of a city at night following a crime. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas today released the following statement following an officer-involved shooting in the 2300 Block of Lister Avenue: “We have learned of an officer-involved shooting that occurred this afternoon near 23rd and Lister. The victim is an adult white male. I called…

Oh hey kids, yet another new episode of Streetwise podcast!

Gail does bread. // Photo by Gail Folsom. Hello, hello, hello! We’ve got a new episode of the Streetwise podcast; the audio companion to The Pitch where I say words and occasionally those words are good and funny. This week we’ve got an update on the city, we’ve got a quick talk about how nice it is to be a Missouri expect, the…

The thin line that The Bite couldn’t chew

Mixing business and politics can leave a sour taste in one’s mouth.

An alleged incident involving a City Market sandwich shop and local law enforcement is sparking an online debate over mixing politics with business. In an email posted to Facebook, three members of law enforcement ordered take-out from The Bite, and alleged they were advised by an employee not to return in uniform. The email continues by stating they were told…

Spike Lee’s sprawling Da 5 Bloods evolves beyond a mere war movie

Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods, out this weekend on Netflix, is a movie with a lot to say, and a massive, 154-minute platform from which to shout it. Whether the movie suffers under the weight of all its competing themes is the question up for debate. Lee’s Vietnam war epic (co-scripted with Lawrence filmmaker and BlacKkKlansman co-writer Kevin Willmott) feels…

City considers dropping charges against many local protestors

Moving into the third week of police brutality protests around the country, the Kansas City Council has introduced an ordinance that would drop charges against those cited for violations in the city. This would not apply to those who had committed violent acts or damaged property. The full ordinance goes to vote next week and would affect around 100 Kansas…

Here’s the Rub: Joys and ethical minefields for pandemic cookouts

Grill to your heart’s content this summer. // Photo by Zach Bauman Grilling is as synonymous with summer as illegal fireworks stands and the coconutty smell of sunscreen, but in the year of Coronavirus, the hobby has taken on new significance and popularity. Some reasons are obvious: it’s warmer outdoors, we’re still largely at home, beyond bored, restaurants are closed….

Tamara Day is remodeling homes on HGTV and helping us redecorate our own homes at her Growing Days Home store

Tamara Day answers The Pitch Questionnaire

Tamara Day at her Growing Days Home store. // Photo by Rustic White Photography Tune into HGTV and chances are you’ll spot Tamara Day’s show Bargain Mansions. The Kansas City designer, mom, and home-remodeling master flips run-down homes across the KC area into modern-day mansions—with her dad working right alongside her. And when Day isn’t knocking down walls or decorating…

We made ‘Last Week Tonight’ for the second week in a row for being embarrassing; cool

Yet again this week, Missouri made “Last Week Tonight” on HBO. In a format that he described as “a little bit different,” John Oliver dedicated his entire June 7 episode of “Last Week Tonight” to America’s current state of policing and the potential ways it can move forward in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. Among Oliver’s arguments in the segment…

Rightfully Sewn Makes PPE Fashionable

Rightfully Sewn’s fashion masks. // Photo by AP Visual Over a decade ago, I met one of my best friends at a modern dance class while attending KU. I remember it was raining the very first day of class, and he arrived late with his soaking wet umbrella, giggling loudly, and apologizing for being tardy. I knew I had to…

Views from the BLM Silent March

Silent protest. // Photo by Chase Castor Yesterday in Kansas City, as part of the ever-evolving wave of police brutality protests, Black Lives Matter supporters held a silent march. Our photographer Chase Castor shares his glimpses for yet another peaceful protest in our metro: Categories: News Tags: black lives matter, KC Protests, Peaceful protests, police brutality, protest

What the Black Lives Matter protests hope to accomplish, explained

Protestors on the Plaza. // Photo by Scott Rohr Protests have now occurred in every state in this country and even in countries across the world. While some people will choose to focus on the “unnecessary” violence that a select few protestors are partaking in, there are legitimate desires and outcomes that protestors hope to achieve by peacefully protesting across…

Getting tear-gassed at a peaceful protest sucks

Protest signs. // Photo by Mike Alexander Getting tear-gassed sucks. That’s what happened to me at the protests last week. You start to gauge where it’s coming from by which way the wind is blowing, and then the next thing you know your face is on fire and you have acid tears pouring from your eyes that you can’t keep…

The good, the bad, and the difficult from recent protests

These are shot from the recent protests that have occurred here in downtown Kansas City over the first week of June. I felt the need to document the good and bad that has transpired from unfortunate events. I hope you and many others can feel the painful narrative told through these photos. Categories: News Tags: black lives matter, KC Protests,…

Rescheduled KC ‘Parade of Homes’ kicks off June 13

As the Kansas City region begins its economic recovery, the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City (KCHBA) is pleased to announce the Spring Parade of Homes has been rescheduled for June 13-28 and will feature 375 homes built by 120 builders across eight counties in the metropolitan area. Originally scheduled for April 26-May 10, homes will range in price…

Kadesh Flow on the benefits of #BandcampFriday

This Friday, June 5, Bandcamp will be doing another fee-free Friday, also known as #BandcampFriday, wherein the streaming service will waive all their fees and revenue shares, allowing artists to reap 100% off the proceeds from the sales of music and merchandise done through the site. When they did the first one on March 20, Bandcamp saw “15x the amount…

How Sterling Witt Makes Hitchcock Into Hitchrock

The band Sterling Witt. // Photo by Jeffrey Mundinger Sterling Witt’s newest album, Something’s Awry, is akin to a 12 song version of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, featuring tales of spooky things like the river-haunting Scottish shape-changer the kelpie, werewolves, ghouls, and haunted houses. Blunt and declamatory in its straightforward delivery, it’s a forceful bit of punk…

New Streetwise podcast out today, featuring Page 7 and Justice Gatson

We’ve got our 10th episode of the Streetwise podcast up online today. Today, we discuss how inequality affects us all, listen to Page 7’s “Window”, and chat with Justice Gatson about organizing protests. Streetwise is hosted by Brock Wilbur, editor in chief of The Pitch. Subscribe on iTunes or Spotify. Subscribe to the Streetwise newsletter, a weekly meditation on Kansas City news and events. Thanks to Jason Beers for…