Archives: April 2024

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Politics

When Facebook fails, local media matters even more for our planet’s future

All links to this story shared on Facebook were erased by a "glitch" earlier this week. Read on to find out what made Meta scared enough to suppress it.
Dave Kendall,

A Kansas audience gathers for the screening of “Hot Times in the Heartland” at All Saints Hall at Grace Cathedral in Topeka. (Dave Kendall) The World Meteorological Organization issued a “red alert” as it released its latest report on the “State of the Global Climate” earlier this month, noting that 2023 was the warmest year in recorded human history —…

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Culture

Creature Feature: Leo longs for a forever home

Scott Poore,

This week will mark a year since Leo first began has journey with Rescue K-911. He was originally on a euthanasia list in Wichita for having heartworms. He was a staff favorite at the shelter, and something about those eyes spoke to the employees. He has finished treatment and is ready for his furever home. Like Cane Corsos are known…

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Movies

Dev Patel pours his entire soul into directorial debut Monkey Man

Abby Olcese,

Monkey Man. // Courtesy Universal Pictures It’s hard to believe Dev Patel’s Monkey Man was once destined to go straight to streaming on Netflix. Patel’s bold action extravaganza is vibrant, smart, tragic and pulse-pounding. It demands to be seen and appreciated on a big screen, in a theater where you can hear the whole audience go “Ooh!” every time Patel…

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Politics

Three Missouri state senators sued for defamation over posts about Chiefs parade shooting

Denton Loudermill of Olathe, Kansas, sued state Sens. Rick Brattin, Denny Hoskins and Nick Schroer over social media messages accusing him of being a shooter and an ‘illegal alien.’
Rudi Keller,

Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, and other members of the Freedom Caucus recount their priorities to reporters following the second week of the legislative session Thursday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent) Three Missouri Republicans – including one running for statewide office – are being sued for defamation over social media posts incorrectly identifying a Kansas man as an undocumented immigrant and the shooter…

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Food & Drink

KC Sipps: First Friday eats, Green Dirt Farm expands to Crossroads

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 Drastic Measures: The James…

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Politics

KC voters overwhelmingly reject stadium tax after months of intense electioneering

The Royals’ bid for sales taxes went down handily, while voters remade the school boards in Independence, Park Hill, Center, Hickman Mills, North Kansas City and Lee’s Summit districts.
Maria Benevento, Josh Merchant,

Ballot from Wed. April 2, 2024 on stadium tax. // Photo by Brock Wilbur Voters turned out in large numbers for a spring election on Tuesday, soundly rejecting a proposal to extend a Jackson County sales tax to pay for a downtown Royals stadium and sorting out the makeup of school boards across the metro. Stadium tax Jackson County’s Question…
Food & Drink

Eat this Now: Steamed Mussels at Pot Pie

Raymart Dinglas,

Steamed Mussels at Pot Pie // Photo by Raymart Dinglas Tucked away in Old Westport, Pot Pie stands as a beacon of comfort food, charmingly inviting patrons into its warm embrace. This quaint eatery, renowned for its namesake dish, also offers a culinary twist that veers off the beaten path of traditional pot pies. It’s the steamed mussels that are…

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Culture

The Mile High Club: A Denver comedian speedruns the pros & cons of pot legalization’s cultural adjustments

Adam Cayton-Holland,

Art by Cassondra Jones As part of acclimating to a new legalized pot version of KC, we asked stand-up comedian Adam Cayton-Holland from Denver to tell us what he’s learned from watching his city do this for a decade. Hello, Kansas City! It’s your boy Adam Cayton-Holland here. First and foremost, congrats on your most recent Super Bowl win! As…

Boxed Brunch At Colonial Gardens Comes With Alpaca Themed Coloring Sheets Photo By Lauren Textor
Food & Drink

Dish & Drink KC: Alpaca brunch at Colonial Gardens and jam and bread at the River Market

Lauren Textor,

Boxed Brunch At Colonial Gardens Comes With Alpaca Themed Coloring Sheets. // Photo By Lauren Textor Alpaca Brunch at Colonial Gardens Everything is coming back to life now that it’s spring, and outdoor events are, once again, taking center stage. That means the Colonial Gardens Alpaca Brunch is back open for bookings. What? You didn’t know that there was an alpaca farm so…

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Sports

Photos: KC Current defeat Angel City FC in third straight NWSL victory

Jordan Hirsekorn,

On Saturday, March 30, 2024, The Current won for the third straight match, taking down Angel City FC 4-2 to remain undefeated at the top of the NWSL table. Goals from midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo, forward Alexa Spaanstra, and newcomer forwards Bia Zaneratto and Temwa Chawinga lifted the Current to victory at CPKC Stadium. Following a two-week international break, the Current…

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Music

Author Steven Blush can’t get enough American Hair Metal

Nick Spacek,

Steven Blush. // photo credit Steven Messina Writer Steven Blush’s 2001 book, American Hardcore: A Tribal History, has seen two editions, translations into multiple languages worldwide, and led to a successful documentary of the same name in 2006. It’s one of the foundational texts of punk rock history. So, there was no small amount of surprise when Blush published American Hair Metal…

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Movies

Girls State of the Union: Filmmakers from Boys State couldn’t have known what their sister doc would capture in Missouri

Abby Olcese,

Girls State (2024) documentary. // Courtesy Apple TV Original Films Even before the release of their hit documentary *Boys State* in 2020, about the American Legion-sponsored high school mock-government program, directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss say they knew they wanted to make a companion piece covering its Girls State counterpart. “We always thought of the project as a sibling,…
Food & Drink

Eat This Now: Ramen at Ramen Bowls

Sarah Sipple,

Spicy Chicken Curry Ramen at Ramen Bowls // Photo by Sarah Sipple Ramen Bowls recently moved from one hoppin’ Mass. St. location to another, less than a block away. Now inside Mariott’s TownePlace Suites at 9th and New Hampshire, the restaurant has filled the larger space with bright colors, unique light fixtures, and tropical motifs. The Hawaiian-Japanese fusion menu is…

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Sports

Photos: Royals v Twins March 31, 2024

Stephen Fuller,

The Kansas City Royals kicked off the 2024 MLB Season this past weekend at The K against the Minnesota Twins. After losing the first two games of the three-game series, the Yals brought out the bats on Sunday to take a 12-0 victory over Minnesota. A Salvy blast in the first, followed by four other homeruns throughout the game, catered…

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Politics

Kansas newspaper that was raided by Marion police sues officials for attack on free press

Marion County Record lawsuit says mayor, police chief and sheriff sought revenge for critical news coverage.
Sherman Smith,

Marion County Record publisher and editor Eric Meyer talks to reporters during an Aug. 16, 2023, news conference at the newspaper office. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — The Marion County Record has filed a federal First Amendment lawsuit against local authorities who planned and carried out the raid last year of the newspaper office and publishers’ home, accusing the “co-conspirators”…

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Culture

Letter from the Editor: Reach out and touch grass

Brock Wilbur,

Art by Cassondra Jones Dearest reader, Welcome to the Annual 4/20 Issue here at The Pitch. We’ve taken a much different approach to the usual green-tinged compendium this time around, and we’re pretty stoked about the possibilities around this new editorial direction. Since I started here in 2019, I’ve got to play tagalong to Missouri and Kansas, as they navigate…

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Music

Recs with Merritt flips through the finest new vinyl releases for April 2024 including Phosphorescent, Taylor Swift

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…