Archives: January 2026

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Politics

Missouri’s Hawley & Schmitt abandon principles (again) to side with Trump’s imperialistic ambitions in Venezuela

President Trump also posted that, “Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young should never be elected to office again.” Days later, Sens. Hawley and Young flipped in Trump’s favor.
Michael McGrady Jr.,

Art by Lee Leslie @leeleslie.bsky.social Missouri’s Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, the pair of far-right Republicans who have the duty of representing the Show Me State in Washington, D.C., voted last week against a war powers resolution that would prevent President Donald J. Trump from pressing on with his imperialist, oil-driven ambitions in Venezuela. This was an error. Civilians…

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Sports

“Now’s the time to start preparing”—KC2026’s biz planning push comes four months out from World Cup

KC Game Plan’s full cultural insight and hospitality guides, along with its visitor demand forecasts, are still on the way.
Kylie Volavongsa,

Photo from a 2023 launch event for World Cup preparations, featuring Mayor Quinton Lucas and then-governor of Missouri, Mike Parson. // Photo by Belle Yennie As of last month, the eight countries guaranteed to play in Kansas City’s World Cup group stages are set, while speculations arise of which teams will stay at nearby base camps for the duration of…

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Politics

Abortion safety takes center stage as Missouri trial enters second week

In the past decade, more than 50,000 Missouri women sought abortions in Illinois and Kansas. The rare complications suffered are at the heart of arguments over its safety.
Anna Spoerre, Kevin Hardy,

Jennifer Smith, an OBGYN, speaks about medical challenges without legal abortions in Missouri in 2024 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent) KANSAS CITY — Roughly 1% of the more than 53,000 Missourians who received abortions over the last 10 years in Illinois and Kansas experienced complications, ranging from infection to incomplete abortions to hemorrhaging. Lawyers for Planned Parenthood and the Missouri Attorney General’s…

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Food & Drink

Eat This Now: Broasted Chicken at Manila Bay Express

Alexander Omorodion,

Manilla Bay Express // Photo by Alexander Omorodion Growing up in the Kansas City metro, I’ve enjoyed my fair share of dining experiences in and around the city. I can point to favorites in Raytown, Lee’s Summit, Independence, North KC, and beyond; however, Grandview remained a blind spot. Then I stumbled on Manila Bay Express. Manila Bay Express bolsters the…

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Politics

Missouri’s Billy Long, Trump nominee for ambassador for Iceland, apologizes after Greenland takeover jokes

Jason Hancock,

Then-U.S. Rep. Billy Long speaks during a press conference on Feb. 22, 2022, in Jefferson City, Missouri (Madeline Carter/Missouri Independent) Billy Long’s prospects of becoming ambassador to Iceland hit a stumbling block this week, as the former Missouri congressman had to apologize Thursday after facing backlash for his comments suggesting the country should become a U.S. state, with him serving…

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Theater

Nan Turner’s musical comedy Sequins Before Noon turns 90’s figure skating on its head

Cory Swieczkowski,

Nancy Kerrigan (Nan Turner), Tonya Harding (Rita Hanch), MG (Annie Lemmon), and LaVona Golden (Danielle Anderson) // courtesy of Sequins Before Noon and Nan Turner I have no prior experience with an independent theater in Kansas City. Do they all involve Oksana Baiul’s dead mother getting her daughter addicted to uppers? Well, certainly they have Stanley Tucci scoring a bump…
Food & Drink

KC Sipps: Two restaurant weeks, 20 years of salads, and bars leaning into Dry January

This week's Kansas City restaurant news.
Sarah Sipple,

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:…

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Politics

What is “Jackxit?” Jackson County could be the first Missouri county to be split in 150 years

A proposal to remove Kansas City from Jackson County is expected to get a committee hearing. But elected leaders are skeptical that it will gain traction.
Josh Merchant,

Jackson County has two courthouses — one in downtown Kansas City, and one in Independence. Most major county operations are based in the downtown courthouse, but some services still operate in Independence. (Josh Merchant/The Beacon) In Jackson County, 2025 was a year for the books. Last January kicked off a budget crisis that lasted for the first four months of…

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Movies

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple brings catharsis, pain, and brains

Abby Olcese,

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. // Courtesy Sony Pictures In a way, the reboot of the 28 Days Later films couldn’t have happened at a more timely moment. The first film dropped in 2002 squarely between the 9/11 terror attacks and the start of the Iraq war a year later. 28 Years Later released just last year amid tensions…

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Movies

No Other Choice is a resonant, darkly comic thriller from Park Chan-wook

Cory Swieczkowski,

Courtesy NEON Park Chan-wook’s newest movie, No Other Choice, is a late-stage capitalist thriller that weaves middle-class panic with absurdist satire. I promise that’s not as pretentious as it sounds. Park’s film about a laid-off middle manager obsessing over his job search to the point of homicide proves to be a laugh-out-loud absurdity that hits close to home. No Other…

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Politics

Missouri Supreme Court upholds state’s gender-affirming care restrictions

The state’s highest court rejected arguments that a ban on gender-affirming care is discriminatory in nature.
Annelise Hanshaw,

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously to uphold a state law barring minors from accessing gender-affirming care for the purpose of gender transition. Pictured, Judges Kelly Broniec, left, and Robin Ransom listen to oral arguments Feb. 1, 2024, in a case over state Senate redistricting (Pool photo by David Lieb/Associated Press) The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously upheld a…

Christian Dixon
Music

Premiere: Christian Dixon’s ‘Lost in the Blue’ is about giving grace to those who need it

Nick Spacek,

Christian Dixon. // image courtesy the artist Singer-songwriter Christian Dixon’s new song, “Lost in the Blue,” could easily have been something different, says the musician one afternoon over Zoom. The quiet and introspective song speaks to those impacted by bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder, whether the listener themselves deals with the disorder or has a loved one with it….

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Sports

Photos: Kansas City Mavericks take 9th straight win in Tulsa Oilers game

Eli Ralls,

Photo by Eli Ralls The Kansas City Mavericks earned a 5-1 victory over the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday night at Cable Dahmer Arena. With the win, Kansas City extends its winning streak to nine games, remains No. 1 in the ECHL standings, and goaltender Jack LaFontaine records his fifth consecutive win. Kansas City opened the scoring on the power play…

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Politics

Video of arrested volunteers brings viral attention to the decade-plus generosity of KC’s Food Not Bombs

"The KCPD website currently lists FNBKC as a community resource—including the location at which the two were arrested."
Kylie Volavongsa,

Food service continues for FNBKC. // Photo by Kylie Volavongsa On Jan. 4, handcuffed in the back of a KCPD vehicle, Wolfgang was thinking only about baby formula. He was concerned, in the moment, about a mother from the neighborhood who’d become one of many familiar faces. She was one of many individuals who made all of this time, effort,…

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Politics

Denny Hoskins admits writing flawed ballot summary for Missouri gerrymandering referendum

The secretary of state’s attorney told a judge Friday that the original ballot summary is “inherently argumentative” and should be revised.
Rudi Keller,

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins walks into a Missouri Right to Life rally in March 2025 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Secretary of State Denny Hoskins admitted Friday that he wrote a ballot summary “likely to create prejudice” against a possible referendum on Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional district map. Hoskins’ lawyer, Kathleen Hunker of the attorney general’s office, made the admission during…

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Politics

ICE protests continue in Minneapolis day after woman is fatally shot by ICE agent

Alyssa Chen,

Over a thousand people march along Lake Street Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026 to protest the ICE killing of Renee Good, 37, in south Minneapolis the previous day. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer) At a protest Thursday in the neighborhood where an immigration officer killed Renee Nicole Good Wednesday, Omar Dasea-Torres said he joined the demonstration even though he fears for…

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Culture

KC Cares: Mental Health America of the Heartland pays hard-earned knowledge forward

Beth Lipoff,

Courtesy Mental Health America of the Heartland When you’re having issues with your mental health, sometimes it helps to talk with someone who’s been in your shoes. That’s one service that Mental Health America of the Heartland provides for free. Their Warmline offers operators who have all dealt with mental health issues. “We want folks with lived experience of recovery…
Food & Drink

Dish & Drink KC: Revisiting Café Corazón and Blue Bird Bistro

Tiffany Watts,

Dish & Drink KC logo by Theodore Rosen After the holidays, there’s nothing quite like being out of the house and back in the city, especially when you remember you’ve got gift cards burning a hole in your wallet. Since everyone knows food is my love language, café and restaurant gift cards are always the perfect gift. My first gift…