Archives: May 2023

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Games

SLAYERS X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer gives Hypnospace Outlaw the boomer shooter it deserves

If none of the words in the headline made sense to you, that's fine.
Brock Wilbur,

Nostalgia is a helluva drug, and the folks behind Hypnospace Outlaw are the Walter White of cooking up hits of pure crystal clear 1995 for me to rail. Their aforementioned title was a hilarious world-building comedy built to spoof the aesthetic and heroes of Geocities-era online performative identity and communities. While a direct sequel to that much beloved indie title…
Politics

Judge rules Missouri AG had no authority to order end of school mask mandates

Former Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s public attacks on school districts led to ‘even greater confusion than the pandemic had already caused.
Jason Hancock,

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt speaks to a gathering of Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers in April 2021 (photo courtesy of the Attorney General’s office) Former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt lacked any legal authority to order school districts to end COVID-19 mitigation measures, a Jackson County judge ruled Friday. In his 18-page decision, Judge Marco Roldan concluded that the…

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Music

Foo Fighters return to form with gut punching, emotional juggernaut But Here We Are

Good grief and great guitars on this wall of turmoil and transformation in a mere 10 tracks.
Michael Cripe,

Handwritten lyrics for The Teacher. // Courtesy Nasty Little Man But Here We Are is Foo Fighters’ 11th studio album, but it’s also the first LP without drummer Taylor Hawkins the group has produced in 24 years. The lightning bolt of a percussionist unexpectedly passed in March of last year, leaving the six-piece rock outfit without the crash in their…

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Art

Artist Mitch Clem on revisting his tumultuous twenties in My Stupid Life

His long-running Nothing Nice to Say webcomic skewered the punk scene and was a secret handshake for those in the know.
Nick Spacek,

My Stupid Life. // Courtesy Mitch Clem and Silver Sprocket If you were an Extremely Online™ punk fan during the early to mid-’00s, you are no doubt familiar with comic artist Mitch Clem. His long-running Nothing Nice to Say webcomic skewered the punk scene in very direct and hilarious ways and was a secret handshake for those in the know….

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Culture

The Defiance Project brings community together through acts of resistance during wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation

Taylor Rivera premieres #mydefiance campaign video ahead of PRIDE 2023.
Belle Yennie,

Defiance cast members stand in unity for The Defiance Project’s campaign launch. // Courtesy Taylor Rivera Artist and director Taylor Rivera created The Defiance Project as a way to uplift the LGBTQ+ community in a time of human rights regression. Today is the project’s official launch, and a minimalist yet riveting campaign video shared below shows how the movement envisions small…

What If Puppets
Culture

Diversity is Key: Meghann Henry’s tool for leading What If Puppets

Sophie Oswald,

Meghann Henry. // Photo by Travis Young Meghann Henry stepped into a man’s legacy and made it her own when she joined What If Puppets just a few years ago. What started as a team of three has grown to 11 members led by Henry.  These days the group leans heavily into knocking down barriers. No longer male-dominated, they’re creating…
Politics

‘Everyone’s scared’: Transgender Kansans brace for sweeping new law to take effect

Kansas SB 180 will bring a host of changes, including limiting trans residents’ access to bathrooms. Much is still unknown about how it'll be enforced.
Rose Conlon,

Transgender residents say new laws targeting their rights could make them bigger targets for harassment and violence. // Photo by Carlos Moreno/KCUR WICHITA, Kansas — Thea Howard worried that coming out as a transgender woman would cost her the job she’s held for six-plus years. “That was my fear — that I would be fired when I came out,” she said….
Politics

Sierra Club calls on EPA to strengthen rules on coal plants, affecting two Kansas facilities

Allison Kite,

EvOne of Evergy’s coal-fired power plants could require upgrades if the Environmental Protection Agency restricts lead, chromium and nickel emissions. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) Two Kansas utilities could be required to upgrade coal-fired power plants to limit emissions of lead and other hazardous metals under a policy regulators are considering, according to environmental activists. The Sierra Club on Thursday released a…

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Beer & Spirits

Ted Lasso pop-up bar starts this Saturday at Crane Brewing Co.

Crane Brewing Co. presents "A.F.C. Raytown" with a week's worth of Ted Lasso themed experiences
Belle Yennie,

Jason Sudeikis in Ted Lasso. // Courtesy Apple TV+ Crane Brewing Company is hosting a Ted Lasso-inspired pop-up bar starting this Saturday until June 2. Named “A.F.C. Raytown,” the pop-up bar provides cocktails and experiences based on the hit Apple + TV show.  Cocktails are inspired by Ted Lasso characters and show scenes. Photo ops include memorable features like the…

The Little Mermaid
Movies

The Little Mermaid is another lackluster Disney re-tread

Halle Bailey shines like a dinglehopper amid an otherwise dull approach.
Adrian Torres,

(L-R): Scuttle (voiced by Awkwafina), Flounder (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), and Halle Bailey as Ariel in Disney’s live-action THE LITTLE MERMAID. Photo courtesy of Disney. © 2023 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. It’s a weird paradox that while Disney has managed to gobble up every studio that surrounds them, their releases since have mostly focused on the studio’s own…
Culture

Princess’ @1minworld brings a Bo Burnham-esque social media critique to blissed-out life

Belle Yennie,

Princess performs their song “EVOLVING.” // Photo by Belle Yennie Tuesday May 23, art-rock duo Princess graced the 21c Museum Hotel with a glimpse of caustic galaxy-brain performance art that too few were in attendance to experience—luckily their natural enemy, social media, will give you an opportunity to correct that mistake. Alexis Gideon and Michael O’Neill’s Roy Lichenstein-inspired outfits graced…
Politics

Missouri Supreme Court to decide whether school districts can jail parents for absent students

Annelise Hanshaw,

The Supreme Court of Missouri in Jefferson City, as photographed Wednesday morning (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent) The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday over whether two single mothers should have been sentenced to jail time because their children missed more days of school than the local district allowed. The case centers on Missouri’s compulsory school attendance law, which states that a…

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Food & Drink

KC Sips: Festival eats, new Thai spot, and a BBQ app

Sarah Sipple,

Art by Cassondra Jones Looking for delicious plans? Whether you want to impress a date, show your fam the best of KC, or just get out of the house, we’ve got you covered… all while supporting local.  Here is your weekly roundup of the best food and drink offerings around Kansas City. Cheers! Something New Los Monarchs Festival Latino: This…

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Art

Mid-America Art Alliance’s 50th Anniversary Block Party is an opportunity to look to the future for a better KC

Jacqulyn Seyferth,

Courtesy of Mid-America Art Alliance The Mid-America Art Alliance will be hosting its 50th Anniversary Block Party June 2, 2023. The event will include musical performances from past M-AAA grantees, DJ sets, and a photography exhibit in the  M-AAA exhibition space. The Block Party will be held within walking distance from the Crossroads First Fridays festivities, so food and other…
Theater

Disney’s Aladdin is summoned to the Music Hall May 30-June 4

Brynn Winkler,

Cody Hernández performs along with the ensemble in “A Friend Like Me” // Photo by Deen Van Meer for Disney Theatrical Productions The national tour of Disney’s Aladdin is all set to bring magical wish-fulfillment grandeur to the Musical Hall from May 30 to June 4. Viewers can expect ornate costumes, witty comedy, over 80 special effects, and nostalgic romance from…

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Culture

Reveal: Big Slick adds actor David Dastmalchian among four celeb announcements today

Emma Hilboldt,

Dastmalchian in The Suicide Squad. // Courtesy Warner Brothers Media The Big Slick weekend is fast approaching , and the closer we get, the more exciting announcements they’re throwing our way. This morning The Pitch is proud to announce a few additions to the already-established lineup of hosts—Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, David Koechner, Rob Riggle, Eric Stonestreet, and Heidi Gardner. …
Politics

Kansas NRA affiliate skewers local officials aiding anti-violence work of Moms Demand Action

Bull’s-eye of dispute are state laws—not in Kansas—on temporary seizure of guns.
Tim Carpenter,

Kansas State Rifle Association, a state affiliate of the National Rifle Association, criticized Roeland Park and Parsons city officials for collaborating with local chapters of Moms Demand Action on an annual event recognizing victims of firearm violence. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Kansas supporters of Moms Demand Action rejected Tuesday claims by the Kansas State Rifle Association that a series…
Politics

Lawsuit over Missouri AG push to inflate cost of abortion IP heads to trial next month

Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick refused to acquiesce to a demand by Attorney General Andrew Bailey to increase the estimated cost of the proposed amendment.
Jason Hancock,

The Cole County Courthouse in downtown Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent) A Cole County judge set June 7 to hear arguments in a lawsuit demanding the state finalize its work on an abortion-rights initiative petition so proponents can begin collecting signatures. Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem scheduled a bench trial in the case during a hearing last week. The ACLU…
Politics

Kansas State Board of Education establishes four priorities heading into 2024 election cycle

Focus to be on student safety, college prep, teacher training, community ties.
Tim Carpenter,

Betty Arnold, a Wichita member of the Kansas State Board of Education, said work on the goal of increasing the number and quality of educators in public schools should involve examination of impediments to being part of the profession. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Kansas State Board of Education member Betty Arnold endorsed the goal of expanding the number and…
Politics

Keystone pipeline owners knew of defect years before Kansas spill

Allison Kite,

Workers clean up at the site of the oil spill from the Keystone pipeline near Washington, Kansas, in December 2022 (Environmental Protection Agency) Owners of the Keystone pipeline knew a defect had formed years before the strain finally caused the pipeline to burst and flood a Kansas creek with oil last year. The Keystone pipeline, owned by TC Energy, burst…