The 10th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals published an opinion affirming a Kansas judge’s conclusion the Kansas Highway Patrol engaged in unconstitutional traffic stops by targeting out-of-state motorists, but reversing a majority of sanctions imposed on the law enforcement agency for its controversial “Kansas Two-Step” approach to extending traffic stops to justify vehicle searches. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas…
Artist Edra Soto with Bad Bunny and her dog, Fiesta // Photo by Samantha Russell The Kemper calls the museum’s entryway an atrium. Soto sees a chapel. Soto’s commissioned works line the atrium with depth and dimension in this 10th-year installation, highlighting Latin American artists. She interprets the stalagmite-type fixture that adorns the ceiling behind the front desk in a…
KC Sipps logo by Theodore Rosen 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:…
Event photo courtesy of Hella Good Deeds Lunar New Year 2026 begins on February 17, 2026, welcoming the Year of the Horse. The Year of the Horse symbolizes energy, confidence, and forward movement. People born under the Horse sign are often seen as independent, hardworking, and charismatic, with a natural drive to chase new opportunities and embrace change. In Lunar…
CJ Chenier plays his father’s accordion. // photo credit Shadow Scape Records Off and on for the better part of a decade, the Folk Alliance International Conference took place at Kansas City’s Westin Crown Center hotel, packing ballrooms and hotel rooms with people from all over the world to see an equally international array of musical acts, informative panels, and…
Sagebrush // Photo by Alexander Omorodion In Kansas City’s historically rich Rosedale neighborhood, Sagebrush delivers a modern cocktail bar experience. Right next door to Garden House Cafe, the modest exterior is contrasted by an array of vibrant colors and contemporary architecture that defines the interior. The creative design of Sagebrush is an exemplar of thoughtful minimalism. Complementary shapes, colors, and…
Guns Down, Gloves Up Event // Photo by Sherman Judie The Guns Down, Gloves Up program is finding that the best way to prevent violence in Kansas City is by punching someone in the head. With protective headgear on. The program offers a boxing gym for people in the city to manage conflicts, train, and learn, culminating in a monthly…
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…
Courtesy High Road Touring Since her most recent lap around Knuckleheads in Kansas City, where last May she opened for Tommy Prine, folk-bluegrass-country singer-songwriter Angela Autumn has released a handful of singles that reflect personal trials, messy characters, and a captivating metamorphosis from a book-your-own-shows independent into a more formal recording artist. “I have been skewing more experimental, out there,…
Erin’s Law would require yearly lessons on body safety for kids of all ages. (Niko Schmidt/The Beacon Kirk Ashton was convicted of sexually assaulting 21 boys at Northwood Elementary School in Hilton, New York. Ashton assaulted the children when he was the school’s principal from 2004 to 2021. He was convicted in 2022 thanks in part to Erin’s Law, a…
(Courtesy: Sedgwick County) Five Sedgwick County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center officers held a 135-pound, 17-year-old Cedric “C.J.” Lofton face down, pressure on his back, until he died in 2021. Can anyone reasonably believe these five officers considered themselves at great risk of bodily harm, part of the “stand your ground” standard Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett used in…
A recovery room at the Planned Parenthood Great Plains office is pictured on June 21, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent) KANSAS CITY — After 10 days of often emotion-filled testimony, a trial dissecting Missouri’s abortion regulations under the new constitutional right to reproductive health care concluded Monday. In closing arguments, attorneys from both the Missouri Attorney General’s Office…
Courtesy Amazon MGM Studios It’s been a big week for Amazon MGM Studios releases, which have decided to pile up at the end of January for some reason. The Chris Pratt A.I. cop movie Mercy is in theaters, where it is about to joined by the $40 million financial crime Melania, and amid the two, Prime Video drops a direct-to-streaming action…
Photo by Allison Scavo On the 28th anniversary of Umphrey’s McGee’s first show together on stage, Kansas City could heavily feel the historic significance. Before the band began, I could hear murmuring from the awaiting crowd asking if they were going to redo their set from their first show. Once they walked on stage, they immediately began playing “Nothing Too…
People gather near the scene of 26th Street and Nicollet Avenue, where federal agents shot and killed a 37-year-old man Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, the third shooting in as many weeks. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) Federal agents fatally shot a man in Minneapolis on Saturday amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, escalating tensions after another killing earlier in the…
Protesters in Oppenstein Park // Photo by Samantha Russell Rock salt coats the roads and snowplows are on the move as temperatures drop steadily to single digits. Ahead of this weekend’s snowstorm, Kansas Citians turn out to protests across the metro following Renee Good’s death in Minnesota earlier this month. The crowd braves the cold to rally at Oppenstein…
Courtesy Roadside Attractions It’s not every day that you get to praise an animal performance in a film. It’s rarer still that you’re praising a bird. H is for Hawk, Philippa Lowthorpe’s adaptation of the well-loved 2014 Helen MacDonald memoir of the same name, is mostly forgettable, Mabel—the goshawk trained by Claire Foy’s Helen, is incredible. For one, goshawks are…
Rep. Pat Proctor speaks with colleagues on Jan. 12, 2026, at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) When it comes to the Kansas Legislature, sometimes you have to use a wide-angle lens to catch what’s actually going on. Hearings in the House Elections Committee this week began clearing the way for bills meant for one purpose:…
The Marion County Record // image courtesy Seized In August of 2023, a newspaper and two homes were raided in Marion, Kansas. Eric Meyer, the editor-in-chief of the Marion County Record, was the public face of the national news story. The raid ultimately contributed to the death of his mother and the newspaper’s owner, Joanne Meyer, the day after the raid….
KC Sipps logo by Theodore Rosen 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:…
Photo by Eliesa Johnson for James Beard Foundation The James Beard Awards have been around since 1991, recognizing culinary excellence in cuisine with a focus on commitments that foster community, sustainability, and equity. This year, the KC area has an outstanding round-up of six James Beard Award Semifinalists. Finalists for each category will be announced on March 31, and winners…
Ann Morrison, Marcus Phillips and Jim Hogan in the National Tour of KIMBERLY AKIMBO // Photo by Joan Marcus When I’m sitting down to take my serving of Kansas City Broadway, it is best served at the Kauffman Center. Visiting the Paris of the Plains’ own Sydney Opera House knock off is always one of my yearly highlights. This season,…
House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard said he’ll work with Republicans to pass as many of Democrats’ policy goals as possible. (Blaise Mesa/The Beacon) Republicans and Democrats have promised to make Kansas more affordable. Both parties have released their policy agendas for the 2026 legislative session. The session started Jan. 12, and both want to make Kansas a more affordable place…
Jonathan Van Ness is calling in from The Big Apple, which feels correct in a cosmic alignment kind of way. He’s got a lot happening. Meetings. Momentum. Hair that has opinions. But the minute Kansas City enters the conversation, his pace softens, and his obvious affection for Cowtown kicks in. Van Ness returns to the metro on Saturday, February 7,…
