Archives: February 2024

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Politics

Missouri AG sues Planned Parenthood over Project Veritas video involving fictional girl

A former Missouri Supreme Court chief justice said the ‘highly political lawsuit’ presents the courts with a hypothetical question rather than a reality.
Anna Spoerre,

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey speaks Jan. 20 to the Missouri chapter of the Federalist Society on the Missouri House of Representatives chamber. // Photo by Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit Thursday against Planned Parenthood, relying on a staged, edited video from a right-wing group to accuse the organization of illegally transporting minors out…

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Culture

PBS debuts travel show with KC media personalities who Get Lost!

Brock Wilbur,

PBS has a new travel show that dares to break the mold, by traveling semi-locally and also handing off adventure programming to two co-hosts—a choice rarely made in the genre. Featuring local media personalities, Michael Mackie and Lonita Cook are unleashing Get Lost! on the region. In each episode, the duo throws darts at a map of our extended chunk of…
Culture

Letter from the Editor: Smoke gets in your eyes

Brock Wilbur,

A full plate of Chef J BBQ. // Photo by Chase Castor Whenever I’m in a rideshare or taxi, I always ask the driver what his recent rides have chosen as a topic of inquiry or opinion. “What do folks think about the state of the city? What’s on everyone’s mind? What’s the weirdest argument you’ve had this week?” Akin…

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Food & Drink

KC Sipps: Four openings, a truly artistic cocktail, and new ways to fine dine

Your Kansas City dining guide.
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 (mostly) local.  Here is your weekly roundup of the best food and drink offerings around Kansas City. Cheers! Something New Lazia: The Italian-American restaurant…

Vegetarian Plate At Teetasty Foods Photo By Lauren Textor
Food & Drink

Dish & Drink KC: Titular takeaway at KC Mac N’ Co and plantains at Teetasty Foods

Lauren Textor,

Vegetarian Plate At Teetasty Foods. // Photo By Lauren Textor It’s my last February Dish and Drink KC column. This month, I’ve covered eight amazing Black-owned businesses. Before we get into the reviews, I’d like to emphasize how difficult it is for many of these businesses to stay open due to financial barriers, sociocultural obstacles, and a lack of word-of-mouth advertisement.  Research…

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Culture

March 2024 Events Calendar highlights Planet Comicon, Jenny Lewis, Hembree, Golden Girls, and West Bottoms Beer Fest

THE PITCH STAFF,

Photo by Chris Ortiz. // Art by Cassondra Jones Ongoing: March 1-3 13 Years of Vintage Revival, Bella Patina Yachtly Groove with Big Bam Boom Hall & Oates Tribute, Knuckleheads March 1-16 Dolly Pop-Up: The Best Little Tribute Bar in Kansas City, Vignettes March 1 – April 14 Orchid Delirium, Powell Gardens March 2-3 Drake & J.Cole, T-Mobile Center March…

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Politics

Missouri legalized weed last year, yet Kansas saw little increase in drug arrests 

There is no single reason for the drop in arrests, but multiple agencies are showing a drop or plateau in weed charges.
Blaise Mesa,

Missouri legalized cannabis in February 2023. Kansas hasn’t seen a major spike in arrests. // Beacon file photo More than 1 million Kansans live within an hour’s drive of Missouri and its dispensaries selling legal cannabis at seemingly every strip mall. Yet even with that new, easy access to legal weed, fewer people face arrest in Kansas on marijuana charges….

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Politics

One photographer’s inconceivable experience at the Chiefs Super Bowl Parade shooting

Jim Nimmo,

Chief’s victory parade 2024. // Photo by Jim Nimo February 14th, 2024 started as a beautiful, weird day filled with great promise and expectation. Yes, it was Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day but it was also our second annual Kansas City Chief’s Super Bowl Parade. Even the weather was cooperating with sunshine and above-average temperatures, calling for a great party…

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Food & Drink

European-inspired Bisou is Westside’s newest (& prettiest?) cafe

Sarah Sipple,

Bisou // Photo by Sarah Sipple “Wow, it’s so pretty here!” As I sat near the counter at Kansas City’s newest coffee shop, I heard every single customer say this as they placed their order. Truly. Bisou opened this week, bringing a new European-inspired cafe to the Westside. From the front patio with umbrellas and flowers to the warm, neutral…

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Music

Recs with Merritt flips through the finest new vinyl releases for March 2024, including Julian Lage, Norah Jones, Waxahatchee

Marion Merritt,

Records with Merritt is Marion Merritt’s vinyl store in Westport with partner Ann Stewart. As a staple in our community for nearly a decade, we’ve partnered with Merritt for a monthly column, where the tastemaker shares her picks for the best wax releases to look forward to grabbing, divided by release date. Here’s Marion Merritt’s rundown of the most exciting offerings in March…

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Music

Photos: Lavender Bride, discotek mama, and Sleet at The Tollbooth

Maura Dayton,

Sleet. // Photo by Maura Dayton Last Friday, Lawrence locals gathered at the Tollbooth to see local bands Lavender Bride, discotek mama, and Sleet. Sleet kicked off the show, performing their original songs “Turn Around” and “Static” along with a cover of Deftones’ “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away).” Lawrence pop sensation discotek mama took the stage, shredded through their…
Theater

Peter Pan returns as a whimsical dance interpretation at KC Ballet

Gabriel Flynn,

Kansas City Ballet Dancers Taryn Pachciarz and Paul Zusi in Devon Carney’s Peter Pan. // Photography by Brett Pruitt & East Market Studios. Before stepping foot into the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts on February 16, I had never seen a ballet before. Despite my girlfriend’s love for the art, it just never appealed to me and I never made it…
Movies

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two delivers a visually spectacular, thematically brutal sci-fi epic

Adrian Torres,

Dune: Part Two. // Courtesy Legendary Pictures When people in the future imagine what defines “epic storytelling” and what cinema can be, Dune: Part Two will be what many will envision. Thanks in part to the groundwork done in the original, writer-director Denis Villeneuve and co-writer John Spaihts expand upon Frank Herbert’s rich source novel. Saying that may cause raised…

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Music

Photos: Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton at The Truman

Kylee Gregg,

Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton. // photo by Kylee Gregg Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton with Sgt. Splendor The Truman Thursday, February 22 Blues rockers Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton brought their Supadupabad tour in support of their Death Wish Blues album to Fish’s hometown Thursday night. Playing songs off that album, along with originals from both of their careers…

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Music

Folk Alliance International Conference Day 4: Ending the fest on a high note

Nick Spacek,

Representatives from the American Folklife Center. // photo by Nick Spacek After a very lazy lay-in morning and spending the early part of the afternoon drinking coffee, writing, and taking a much-needed shower, I wandered over to the Westin to begin the fourth and final day of the Folk Alliance International conference with what felt like it would be a…
Politics

Loud Light Kansas Politics Recap: Anti-abortion bills, Republican leadership fails, and marijuana decriminalization

Davis Hammet,

The Pitch has partnered with a local political awareness organization called Loud Light. Their goal is to engage and empower individuals from underrepresented populations to build community power. And impact decision-makers. Each week of the year that the Kansas statehouse is in session, they release a short video recapping what the legislature is up to. Knowing the nitty-gritty of what’s happening with your…

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Music

Folk Alliance International Conference Day 3: Docs, rock, and hip-hop

Nick Spacek,

Noel Paul Stookey and Livingston Taylor. // photo by Nick Spacek Rather than rush headlong into Friday, I got my day going at noon with a presentation from the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame on the inaugural class, entitled “Standing on Their Shoulders,” with the Hall’s curator, Deanna McCloud, Noel Paul Stookey, Livingston Taylor, Lead Belly Estate’s Terika Dean,…
Culture

A closer look into Adib Khorram’s new novel The Break-up Lists

Beth Lipoff,

Adib Khorram. // Photo by Afonseh Khorram There’s a lot of Adib Khorram in the main character of his new teen novel The Break-up Lists. The story centers around Jackson, a high school theater techie. When he has problems with people in his life, he deals with it by writing a list of all the reasons why he’d break up…

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Music

Folk Alliance International Conference Day 2: Chats, twang, and soul

Nick Spacek,

Ann Powers and ALynda Segarra. // photo by Nick Spacek I started my day by nearly oversleeping, Still, I made it to the ballroom in time to grab a seat and get comfy to see Ann Powers in conversation with Hurray for the Riff Raff’s Alynda Segarra—fresh off her having received The People’s Voice Award during the International Folk Music…

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Streetside

Missouri Senate passes bill making it harder for voters to amend the constitution

Factional warfare marks passage of Republican priority as Freedom Caucus members denounce leadership for stripping out provisions labeled ‘ballot candy.'
Rudi Keller,

Sen. Doug Beck, D-Affton, speaks Thursday after the Senate approved a measure making it harder to pass a constitutional amendment proposed by an initiative petition. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent) Legislation to add a new barrier to amending the Missouri Constitution by initiative petition passed the state Senate Thursday on a party line vote. With 22 Republicans in favor and nine Democrats…