Archives: March 2024

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Politics

Missouri lawmakers break new ground to stop constitutional amendments—and abortion

Missouri’s proposal combines two elements states have attempted to use to make it harder for voters to pass constitutional amendments, such as one to loosen the state’s abortion restrictions.
Meg Cunningham,

Missouri is one of 16 states that allows citizens to put constitutional amendments to voters. (Austin Johnson/The Beacon) While state lawmakers across the country stumbled when trying to make it harder for voters to amend state constitutions, Missouri lawmakers took notes. In rhythm with a national trend, Republicans want to make it harder for voters to change the Missouri Constitution….

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Movies

David Dastmalchian on Late Night with the Devil, The Life of Chuck and Good Fiend Films

KC’s own returns to discuss his latest big role in the new horror movie.
Abby Olcese,

Late Night with The Devil. // Courtesy IFC Films & Shudder After a year on the festival circuit, Late Night with the Devil finally hit theaters this weekend, with a streaming release on Shudder scheduled for April 19 (we reviewed the film at last year’s Chicago Film Festival).  Directed by Australian sibling duo Cameron and Colin Cairns, the movie purports…
Politics

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene files resolution to oust Mike Johnson as U.S. House speaker

Jacob Fischler,

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, speaks to reporters March 22, 2024, after filing a motion to vacate against Speaker Mike Johnson (Screenshot from C-SPAN). Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a resolution Friday to remove U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position, using the same parliamentary measure that led to Johnson ascending to the…

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Music

Premiere: LFK post-midwest rockers City Hall drop second single “Radio”

Hayden Kalp,

Lawrence’s hottest new band City Hall has released their second single, “Radio.” The five-piece outfit has taken the local music scene by storm playing to packed venues and playing on college radio stations. “Radio” is a fast-paced, guitar-driven track packed with sarcastic, yet light-hearted lyrics about “the changing landscape of music consumption.”  City Hall features Zack Black on the skins,…

KC Sipps neon sign logo
Food & Drink

KC Sipps: Two downtown restaurant openings + local collabs worth waiting in line for

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! Opening Muni: From the owners of…

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Culture

Creature Feature: Help Jimmy find a comforting place to call home

Scott Poore,

Jimmy // Courtesy of Scott Poore Meet adoptable Jimmy! Jimmy // Courtesy of Scott Poore Many of you probably recognize this handsome face! We were able to rescue Jimmy back in July 2023 when he was just hours away from his euthanasia deadline at Wichita Animal Services. Jimmy is currently in the care of The Pet Connection, where he is…

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Movies

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is an improvement over other recent series entries, but that’s not saying much

Abby Olcese,

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. // Courtesy Sony Pictures Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is a significant step up from 2021’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Granted, the bar was extremely low; Afterlife was a shameless cash-grab that somehow managed to make both absurd choices that didn’t fit the long-established vibes (why were we in Oklahoma?) and cram in reference after reference to the original film like…

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Sports

New professional pickleball team has laid its foundation in Leawood

Gabriel Flynn,

Photo by Alyssa Broadus Over the past several years, pickleball has seen an immense boom in popularity. It went from being relatively unknown, to being installed in, what at times, feels like every city block. But many would be surprised to hear that its roots date back nearly 60 years ago, when the first match was played in Washington state…

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Culture

Mattel Adventure Theme Park announces Bonner Springs location with Barbie, Hot Wheels attractions

Maddie McBratney,

Mattel Adventure Park Kansas City // Photo courtesy of Mattel Inc. Mattel Adventure Park will be coming to Kansas City, Kansas, and hopes to break ground later this year. Through a licensing partnership with Epic Resort Destinations, Mattel Adventure Park has announced Bonner Springs, Kansas as their next theme park location. “We are proud and excited to announce Kansas City,…

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Politics

Kansas abortion ‘coercion’ bill touted by out-of-state think tank that produced retracted research

Legislation that would make abortion “coercion” a crime in Kansas is backed by testimony from an out-of-state think tank whose retracted research is central to legal efforts to ban the abortion pill mifepristone nationwide.
Sherman Smith,

Tessa Longbons Cox, a senior research associate at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, testifies March 12, 2024, before the House Federal and State Affairs Committee in support of legislation that would make it a crime to pressure someone into terminating a pregnancy. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature video.) TOPEKA — Legislation that would make abortion “coercion” a crime in…

Calamari At Khai Noy Photo By Lauren Textor
Food & Drink

Dish & Drink KC: Hủ tiếu at Pho Lan and calamari at Khai-Noy

Lauren Textor,

Tom Cary At Pho Lan. // Photo By Lauren Textor Pho Lan On Saturday, I celebrated my sister’s cat’s first birthday. My sisters and I hit the River Market (sans cat—which seems a little unfair, looking back on it) and then walked to lunch at Pho Lan in Columbus Park.  My middle sister Ana, ordered the Tôm Cary, a spicy shrimp curry…

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Politics

Tax dollars don’t make a stadium possible, just more lavish

Economists suggest that when the public pays for a stadium, that money is used for expensive upgrades. What does that mean for the downtown Kansas City Royals stadium?
Josh Merchant,

The Truman Sports Complex was originally constructed with $950 million from taxpayers, adjusted for inflation. (Photo illustration based on image by Carlos Moreno/KCUR) Say you’re at a restaurant and you begin to salivate over the menu’s lobster thermidor or a flute of champagne. You might balk at the price — unless someone else is paying the bill. Owners of teams…
Food & Drink

Drink This Now: BBQ brews at Vine Street Brewing Co.

Sarah Sipple,

Vine Street Brewing cans // Photo by Sarah Sipple Beer and barbeque go together as smoothly as Kansas City and jazz. To find a place that complements all of the above? Now that’s special.  Vine Street Brewing Co. in the historic 18th and Vine Jazz District was voted Best New Brewery for The Pitch’s Best of KC 2023.  “Situated in…

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Music

Photos: Jackoffs, Menace, and Violet Approach at Replay Lounge

Maura Dayton,

This past Thursday, the Replay Lounge in Lawrence hosted a triple threat of fast-paced, in-your-face punk rock for any college student who decided to stay in LFK for spring break. The lineup consisted of Lawrence’s very own Jackoffs, along with Menace out of Springfield, MO, and Violet Approach out of Kansas City. Violet Approach started off their set with mellow,…
Food & Drink

Eat This Now: Portobello Z-Man at Joe’s KC

Sarah Sipple,

Portobello Z-Man at Joe’s KC // Photo by Sarah Sipple As a former vegetarian, now Food Editor, I couldn’t let a BBQ-themed issue pass without at least one non-meat option.  For a meat alternative that was accessible in multiple areas of KC, and right at home in a carnivore’s heaven, it came down to Char Bar’s smoked jackfruit Jackknife sandwich…

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Politics

Loud Light Kansas Politics Recap: Anti-LGBTQ bills, medicaid expansion update, and flat tax from the dead

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…