Art by Keegan Hudspeth As the state and the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Division of Cannabis Regulation (DCR) continue to try to sort out the mess that is the microbusiness license program in Missouri, license holders have remained in the dark. Business partners and lifelong friends Kelyn Conner and Dillon Mapes won in the second lottery of…
Photo Courtesy of John Russo When Planet Comicon kicks off next weekend in KC, there will be plenty of marquee stars on the roster—everyone from the iconic Ann-Margaret to boy band heartthrob A.J. McLean. And then there’s actress/director Helen Hunt. In terms of stratospheric career achievements, her accolades have accolades. When it was announced—at the 11th hour, no less—that the Oscar,…
This Thursday, The Kansas City Public Library presents “MF DOOM, Rap’s Masked Iconoclast” with author and journalist S.H. “SKIZ” Fernando Jr. in conversation with KCUR’s Paul Nyakatura about his new biography of masked villain and rapper MF Doom entitled The Chronicles of DOOM: Unraveling Rap’s Masked Iconoclast. Ahead of the event, we hopped on Zoom with Fernando to discuss how…
Paleteria La Monarca // Photo By Tiffany Watts My daughter is one of my best friends, so even the most mundane weekend errands feel like quality time when we’re together. We swap stories, catch up on the little things we forgot to mention during the week, and just enjoy each other’s company. But when hunger hits, all productivity stops and…
Keb’ Mo’ // Photo Courtesy of Jeremy Cowart Musician Keb’ Mo’ is a lauded bluesman with five Grammys and a list of collaborators longer than your arm. He’s played with the likes of Vince Gill, Bonnie Raitt, and Taj Mahal. In fact, Keb’ Mo’ has a second collaboration with Taj Mahal out in May under the TajMo aegis, entitled Room…
Photo by Travis Young In an effort to keep you all abreast of the latest local music that’s not album or music video related, we present the latest installment of our irregular feature, Single Sentence Singles. We take a listen to the latest local singles to hit Soundcloud, Spotify, Bandcamp, et al, and sum them up in one sentence. Are…
Photo by Zach Bauman Picture a bowl of chili. Now forget that—You’re wrong. Instead, imagine a plate with a layer of beans beneath a heaping pile of chili meat. That’s how Dixon’s Famous Chili Parlor in Independence has served its highly-acclaimed mash-up for more than a century. Founded in 1919, Dixon’s Chili was the creation of Vergne Dixon—a no-funny-business type…
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins speaks to reporters at the conclusion of the 2024 legislative session. Hoskins announced Monday that he is withdrawing funding for a digital library catalog provider(Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent) Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is pausing funding to the digital library catalog company Overdrive until it can prove that it has as safeguards barring children from…
Photo Courtesy of Melodic Records Back in March of 2021, we got a tip about a new LFK artist worth digging into. She was a teenager who performed and released music as Flora from Kansas. Her then just-released EP entitled Keep Calling had ‘90s throwback vibes, but mixed with the confessional style of artists like Phoebe Bridgers or Snail Mail….
Tech N9ne at Harrah’s VooDoo Lounge on March 8, 2024. // Photo by Tarik Sykes Tech N9ne Harrah’s VooDoo Lounge Saturday, March 8 Tech N9ne took down the VooDoo Lounge at Harrah’s Kansas City on Saturday, March 8. The beloved local rapper brought all of his flare and fun, performing for his hometown crowd. Other musicians under his label, Strange…
Photo Courtesy of Strawberry Week Having enough pads or tampons each month is something you might take for granted. For those who don’t live this luxury, Strawberry Week is there to help. Since December 2021, the local non-profit has been combatting period poverty by collecting and distributing sanitary supplies to people who need them. Much of Strawberry Week’s inventory comes…
Photo by Amy Spangler The art of business parking lots. That is the art that is worth seeing. The no-tickets necessary, free-to-view, 24-hours-a-day art of our lived experience. The art that is in front of us, behind us, beside us, in our periphery as we drive along the highway, is the art that is most actively undertaking the labor of…
Take Care by Oleo’s classic biscuit makes for a perfect start to the day. // Photo by Sophia Lail Take Care by Oleo stands out on its quiet side street downtown, hard to miss with its extravagant color and eye-catching design. Bringing a rustic Americana-esque vibe (in the coolest way ever), it felt like the perfect setting for me to…
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…
Kansas City Mavericks versus Idaho Steelheads on Wednesday, March 5, 2024. // Photo by Eli Ralls The Kansas City Mavs took a crushing 5-0 loss against the Idaho Steelheads on Wednesday, March 5 at Cable Dahmer Arena. The Steelheads got going early with two goals in the first period. They would go on to secure another three in the second…
House Majority Leader Chris Croft talks to colleagues during a Feb. 25, 2025, session of the House. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Kansas Republicans returned from last year’s Republican National Convention dismayed by the party’s decision to soften its stance on abortion. The RNC platform would only go so far as to oppose late-term abortion. Part of the problem, as…
Courtesy Cineverse The 1987 movie Street Trash is a classic of melt movies — a subgenre of low-budget horror and exploitation movies that plays up icky practical effects and exaggerated gore. It’s a subgenre that’s always interested producer Matt Manjourides, whose production company Not The Funeral Home also produces Shudder’s The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs. Manjourides and his…
State Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Democrat from Columbia, speaks at a news conference March 5 with other members of the Legislative Black Caucus (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications) A Missouri Republican congressman and a Democratic state legislator with overlapping districts are engaged in a social media battle over a staff visit to the state Capitol Building this week. State Rep….
Photo by Sarah Sipple As a former vegetarian, I couldn’t let our March issue go to print without at least one meatless feature. Jerusalem Cafe stands out to me personally for two reasons: First, it’s a spot where I frequently choose meatless options because I know they’ll still be filling and nutritious. Second, the quality is reliable whether I dine…
Photo Courtesy of Lane Goodin Yolanda Villegas’s talents know no bounds. Not only is she a marketing and communications expert, but she’s also who you want in your corner for brand strategy. Over the years, Villegas has paid her dues in global leadership roles at B2B and B2C corporations and advertising agencies. Armed with her master’s degree in marketing, she’s also moved…
Italian Beef and Pasta Salad at Cupini’s. // Photo by Joe Ellett Italian beef has always been a favorite sandwich of mine. But, unless you’re in Chicago, finding a spot that makes it the right way can be challenging. Don’t fear, Westport friends; Cupini’s has you covered. This little hole-in-the-wall right off of Stateline and Westport Rd. on the Missouri…
State Sen. Tracy McCreery, a Democrat from Ollivette, prepares to introduce a bill (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent) Marriage would be banned for anyone under 18 under a law that advanced out of the Missouri Senate Thursday. Under current Missouri law, anyone under 16 is prohibited from getting married. But 16 and 17 year olds can get married with parental consent to…
Art by Cassondra Jones Life in KC is pretty delicious. In fact, there is often so much going on that it can be hard to decide where to go and what to try. That’s where I come in. I’ve curated this weekly list of events, openings, deals, and celebrations to keep you in-the-know. Cheers! Something New News Bites: As of…
Pulitzer Prize finalist and MacArthur Fellow Karen Russell presents her latest novel, The Antidote. // Photo by Annette Hornischer Dust off your calendars! Karen Russell, the bestselling author of Swamplandia! and Vampires in the Lemon Grove, will visit Kansas City on Saturday, March 15. Hosted by Rainy Day Books, Russell will be at Unity Temple on the Plaza to chat…
