Archives: June 2021

Premiere: Gorgeous: A Visual Poem reminds us that the fight for racial equality is more than just a trend

Jamie Addison. // Screenshot from Gorgeous: A Visual Poem Youtube video Gorgeous: A Visual Poem presented by Njenga Films is something everyone needs to watch to remind themselves of the racial injustices still taking place in America, and how all of the changes promised to made have still gone unanswered. With a backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement that…

Lyric Opera of KC announces resident and apprentice artists for 2021-2022 season

Photo by Dayne Topkin It’s time to get back into the music! Today, Lyric Opera of KC  announced the selection of artists for the 2021-2022 season Resident Artist Program and the Apprentice Artist Program. The resident artists are soprano Danielle Beckvermit, mezzo-soprano Aubrey Odle, tenor Wayd Odle, and bass-baritones Keith Klein and Peter Morgan. During their residencies, the artists will…

Photo gallery: KC National Women’s Soccer League’s unfortunate June 23 loss to Orlando Pride

KC National Women’s Soccer League played against Orlando Pride this weekend. // Photo by Chris Ortiz Kansas City National Women’s Soccer League battled hard yesterday, but ultimately lost to the visiting side of Orlando Pride in their second of three games in a week’s time. KC NWSL came out strong with their young goalkeeper Abby Smith continuing her amazing streak…

Candidates for City Council in Overland Park’s Ward 4 answer questions on government transparency, equity, and improving the city

Scott Mosher, Stacie Gram, and Ty Gardner. We asked the candidates running for City Council in Overland Park’s Ward 4 primary election some hard-hitting questions; we wanted to determine their stances and commitments to improving equality and transparency issues, which have plagued the city’s current leadership. The current candidates are Ty Gardner, Stacie Gram, and Scott Mosher. The following will…

Charlie Hustle named KC small business of the year

Charlie Hustle MS Communi-TEE™ // Courtesy of the MS Society Vintage t-shirt company Charlie Hustle was awarded the “Mr. K Award” by the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce today during its small business celebration awards luncheon. Charlie Hustle was started in the basement of CEO Chase McAnulty’s parent’s basement in 2011 because he loved vintage t-shirts. Since then, the company…

Contraception, Planned Parenthood dominate debate as Missouri Senate returns to Capitol

Lawmakers have until July 1 to extend a tax crucial to Medicaid funding before the governor makes budget cuts

Sen. Bob Onder, a Republican from Lake St. Louis. // Photo courtesy of Missouri Senate Communications If state lawmakers approve the limits on Planned Parenthood’s participation in state medical funding suggested by Gov. Mike Parson, it would not cost the organization any money. Lawmakers are back in session this week because they failed earlier this year to extend provider taxes vital…

Invention Convention brings young inventors attention

Kelly Ann Greene, who just graduated from St. Teresa’s Academy, took second place with her Baby Saver invention, which monitors vital signs of children in car seats and sends alerts to make sure no one is left unattended in a hot car. // Photo by Beth Lipoff Move over, Thomas Edison. A whole crop of young Kansas City inventors is…

Pyrography artist Megan Colwell proves art belongs to every body in The Pitch Questionnaire

One of Megan’s wood burned, then painted, pieces. // Courtesy Megan Colwell Megan Colwell, the creator behind @happicamperkc, is a pyrography artist. “Pyrography,” she says, “is just a fancy word for wood burning.” It took a few years for her to fully understand—and eventually market—her art, which is meant to uplift and empower. As Megan came to terms with mental…

Case dismissed against Black Fayette student arrested in two late-night raids

After reading about Turner in The Independent, a witness came forward who says he wasn’t involved in the assault that landed him in jail

Christopher Turner, a football player at Central Methodist University, faced 15 years in jail for allegedly assaulting a man he swears he never met. And in the months he awaited a trial on the charges, police twice busted down his door in the middle of the night and arrested him at gunpoint. Charges were dropped on June 17. // Photo…

Runner’s High: 40 miles of rocks and roots

“There weren’t any spiderwebs when I ran the course this morning,” the race director said with a grim smile. “But once the sun sets, there’ll be plenty.” And with that brief warning, my first ultramarathon began. I took off with the other runners, allowing the most eager to pass me before the trail narrowed. Packed dirt and crushed gravel soon…

Taps at the Tower runs daily until June 26

Dating back to the Civil War, Taps is the haunting and distinctive melody played at US military funerals and as a call for “lights-out” to soldiers at night.  Taps’ real name is “Extinguish Lights” and it was created by Union General Daniel Butterfield in July of 1862. He felt the call should sound more ‘melodious,’ so he re-worked his standard…

Kansas City Symphony welcomes Ben Folds to Helzberg Hall this October

Ben Folds. // Courtesy Jeff Barker Ben Folds, a widely successful singer-songwriter and accomplished pianist will bring his In Actual Person Live For Real Tour to Helzberg Hall on Oct. 5 and 6. The special concert will be in accompaniment with the Kansas City Symphony. This will be Folds’ first tour since the COVID-19 pandemic paused all live events, and…

Major League Quidditch returns to KC

Photo by Mike Ladevaia Calling all Harry Potter quidditch fans! Major League Quidditch is coming back to KC after nearly two years of being grounded. The Kansas City Stampede is hosting a three-game series against the  League City League this Saturday at Highland View Park at 4 p.m to kick off the  2021 season.  The teams are competing for a…

Dish & Drink KC: A new Thai BBQ spot you have to try, plus two new restaurant openings in Westport and Crown Center

Photo by April Fleming Check it out: Buck Tui BBQ at the Overland Park Farmer’s Market Teddy and Pam Liberda have cemented themselves as big players in KC’s food scene with their restaurant, Waldo Thai (8431 Wornall Road). During the pandemic, they also launched Thai Now, a delivery-only ghost kitchen that serves quick-service Thai classics. Now, the couple is preparing…

KC leaders file response against BOPC lawsuit

Mayor Quinton Lucas. // Courtesy KC Government KC leaders filed their response to the KC Board of Police Commission today against the pending lawsuit in Jackson County Circuit Court today. It argued that the Board’s complaints against the city are legally and factually false. “One month ago, I worked alongside a supermajority of the City Council to craft legislation with…

Creature Feature: Boss will add some spice to your life

We have teamed up with KC Pet Project to host a weekly “creature feature” on a loveable and adoptable animal here in the KC Metro. Last week, Limp Bizkit was adopted. This week’s local Adopt an Animal features Boss a 4-year-old American Bulldog Mix. He resides at the Kansas City Campus for Animal Care at 7077 Elmwood Avenue in Kansas City, MO….

Parade of Hearts seeks artists for spring 2022 initiative

Photo courtesy of Will Gregory Parade of Hearts, an organization of local businesses and not-for-profits, revealed an initiative to unite the region through art next spring. The event will feature 100-200 fiberglass hearts distributed through the greater KC region. They serve as a fundraiser for sectors most impacted by the pandemic. Starting today, local artists are welcome to apply to…

KC Cares: Boys Grow is farming for the future

The individuals at Boys Grow. // Photo by Jeff Evrard Photography John Gordon Jr. was working in the Juvenile Court Systems in Northern California when inspiration hit him. He watched as a teenager, who was placed in the foster care system he was managing, began to make positive changes in his life on the farm where his new foster parents…

Missouri Gov. Parson says he’ll slash budget if lawmakers don’t strike a deal on FRA soon

Parson lashed out at anti-abortion lawmakers who he accused of playing politics with state health care funding

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson during a press conference on Feb. 5, 2021. // photo courtesy of Missouri Governor’s Office Gov. Mike Parson gave lawmakers a deadline of noon Tuesday to strike a deal to renew medical provider taxes vital to funding Medicaid or accept responsibility for more than $700 million in cuts from the state budget that takes effect July 1. At…