Archives: September 2026

Screenshot 2026 09 30 At 120516pm
Politics

Eric Schmitt bungles accusation against former special counsel Jack Smith in heated hearing

This is what Eric Schmitt spends his time on.
Ashley Murray,

Screenshot from presentation of a real ‘gotcha’ moment. WASHINGTON — Former special counsel Jack Smith on Tuesday defended before a U.S. Senate panel his past investigations of President Donald Trump’s possession of classified documents and alleged role in attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Judiciary Committee Republicans repeatedly dissected Smith’s work and accused him of weaponizing the Department of…
Food & Drink

Dish & Drink KC: Mocktails at Mean Mule and a deviously delicious “lunch” at Clementine’s Ice Cream

Samantha Russell,

Illustration By Teddy Rosen Mean Mule hosts a mean craft cocktail—with delicious mocktails to boot. One of their summer 2026 mocktails stole my sugary little heart and prodded me to get my donkey in gear to obtain another one, ever since parting with my last sip.  I am pleasantly surprised to be thinking about my next mocktail as eagerly as…

Screenshot 2026 09 29 At 10909pm
Music

Photos: Pitbull and Lil Jon at Morton

Ethan Sympson,

Pitbull. // photo by Ethan Sympson Pitbull with Lil Jon Morton Amphitheater Friday, September 25 Rapper Pitbull brought his “I’m Back!” tour to Morton Amphitheater Friday night, with fellow party starter Lil Jon along for the ride. Our photographer Ethan Sympson was there to capture it all. Pitbull Lil Jon Categories: Music Tags: Lil Jon, Morton Amphitheater, photo gallery, Pitbull

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Music

This is Buzz made a masterclass of all the screens and surfaces at Atlas9

Abby Olcese,

The vibe at Atlas9 is always immersive, but on Sept. 24 it was a different brand. Visitors to the space experienced slightly different displays than the playful, colorful interactive art space usually contains. Instead of posters for imagined movies that only exist in the world of Atlas9, the lobby’s poster frames and marquee promoted Mark Pellington’s documentary This is Buzz,…
Food & Drink

Eat This Now: The Glutton at Grinders

Alexander Omorodion,

The Glutton at Grinders // Photo by Alexander Omorodion You pull open the wooden door and slither into the nearest booth. You stare at the menu, and the menu stares back. Though you feign a state of pensiveness, you both know what monstrous dish awaits.  A wry smile creeps across the face of the waitress as you utter the cursed…
Food & Drink

What they do in the dark: Transforming Fountain City Winery into Coffin Club, a vampire murder mystery bar

“We have an incredible team of artists who love creating ephemeral art pieces for people,” Schmalz said.
Nancy Le,

Coffin Bar // Photo by Edward Schmalz If you’re looking for a typical bar experience this Halloween season, a few creepy and sugary cocktails among dim lights, Coffin Club may not be the place for you. Tucked inside Fountain City Winery, the temporary pop-up turns the space into a vampire bar complete with werewolves, witches, cocktails, live characters, and, of…

Screenshot 2026 09 23 At 52745pm
Culture

Catch Me or I Go Houdini: Elaborate escapes kept prestidigitation pro bound to KC

River Louraine,

Completed Houdini trick. // Photo by River Louraine If you ask someone, anyone from any generation, to name a magician off the top of their head, an incredibly likely and popular answer will be the world-renowned magician, escape artist, and “self-liberator” Harry Houdini. After reaching success in Vaudeville in the late 1800s, Houdini’s career spiraled into death-defying escape attempts. Despite…

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Politics

Nobody knows if Adam Hamilton will win in Kansas. But he’s already defined a populism of decency

Max McCoy,

William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska delivers a campaign speech in 1908. Bryan, who died in 1925, ran unsuccessfully for president three times but is largely forgotten today. (Photo by Library of Congress) At 7:30 on a September night in 1897, two trains collided on the Santa Fe railway about three miles northeast of Emporia. An eastbound mail train smashed into…

Missouri Supreme Court Orders Hoskins To Appear For Contempt Hearing Over Voting Maps
Politics

Missouri voters file second class action lawsuit against Denny Hoskins in less than a week

The proposed class action is the second filed against Hoskins in less than a week and the third lawsuit against him overall during that span.
Jason Hancock,

Secretary of State of Missouri Denny Hoskins leaves the courtroom after his contempt hearing at the Missouri Supreme Court in Jefferson City on Sept. 10. The Missouri Supreme Court ordered Hoskins to appear for a contempt hearing over use of new congressional maps. (Pool photo by Liz Rymarev/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins was sued again…

Screenshot 2026 09 27 At 42642pm
Music

Modest Mouse takes the crowd to church at their Sept. 23 Grinders gig

Side note: Robber Robber, I love you and I'll sing your praises indefinitely
Olivia Steele,

Modest Mouse at Grinders KC on September 23. // Photo by Olivia Steele Modest Mouse with Robber Robber Grinders KC Wednesday, September 23 Truth be told, I have never really kept up with Modest Mouse. I’m a fan of the music and leaped at the opportunity to confirm a seat (or a 1×1 square of mulch to rest my platform…

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Music

Photos: Foster the People pump up Starlight

Daniel Fuchs,

Foster the People. // photo by Daniel Fuchs Foster the People with Goth Babe Starlight Theatre Thursday, September 24 As part of their Good Mourning Sunshine tour, indie-pop act Foster the People took to the Starlight stage on Thursday, September 24. Solo indie rocker Goth Babe (aka Griff Washburn) opened, and out photographer Daniel Fuchs was there to capture it…

Scotus Sunsetariana Figueroa States Newsroom E1790252643839
Politics

US Supreme Court again blocks Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map

The ruling ends weeks of conflicting court orders over which districts voters will use and leaves the state’s 2022 congressional map in place.
Rudi Keller,

The U.S. Supreme Court building (Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom) The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday drove a stake through the heart of Missouri’s undead congressional map, ordering it be buried for the year and for voters to cast ballots in the districts they’ve used the past two election cycles. In a unanimous decision, the court said that state law rules in…

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Music

Photos: Teddy Swims brings The UGLY Tour to T-Mobile

Tarik Sykes,

Teddy Swims. // photo by Tarik Sykes Teddy Swims T-Mobile Center Tuesday, September 22 Neo-soul/R&B singer Teddy Swims brough The UGLY Tour to the T-Mobile Center Tuesday night, and our photographer Tarik Sykes was there to capture it all. Teddy Swims setlist The Door Hammer to the Heart Are You Even Real Funeral What More Can I Say 911 Mr….
Food & Drink

KC Sipps: New Provis Coffee, plus foodie events this Saturday for drinking, dancing, and serving the community

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

KC Sipps logo by Teddy 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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Theater

Worlds of Fun returns with drag-inspired performances for Halloween Haunt

Maisie VanSlander,

Haunted Homecoming performance // Photo by Maisie VanSlander Halloween is the time for Kansas City’s performers and creatives to take over with costumes, haunted houses, and festivities. In a place I thought was built for kids, one of the most terrifying Halloween activities will have even the most depraved haunted house attendees watching their backs. Worlds of Fun has opened…

Screenshot 2026 09 23 At 104037am
Music

Surgical Precision: UMKC alum Gavin Brivik brings home an Emmy from The Pitt

Abby Olcese,

If you’ve seen HBO Max’s medical drama The Pitt (and given that the show averages 12 million viewers per episode, those chances are pretty good), you may have noticed a song featuring Andrew Bird playing over the credits of the show’s sixth episode, which aired February 12. You may also have noticed the song recently won a Creative Arts Emmy…

Screenshot 2026 09 22 At 90416pm
Culture

Fox television competition The Floor contestants hustle for hometown hero status

Abby Olcese,

Courtesy Fox TV Eric Melin was walking back from dinner in Bray, Ireland, just outside Dublin, when someone behind him said, “I thought you might be here.” The speaker was fellow Kansas Citian Meredith Host. While Melin didn’t know Host (at least not yet), she was familiar with Melin—Ultimate Fakebook musician, former Pitch film critic and competitive air guitar world…

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Music

Why you should cut a path to Chattanooga for the World of Bluegrass festival next month

Tennessee's rising music hub is worth the trip.
Nick Spacek,

The Tuesday bluegrass jam at Barrelhouse Ballroom. // photo by Nick Spacek Much like Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Birmingham, Alabama, the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee is experiencing something of a cultural revival. While most folks know that bluegrass came from Kentucky, hence the name, but Tennessee has always been a home for roots music. While much of that attention has…

Screenshot 2026 09 22 At 93836pm
Music

Listen up right meow! LFK’s CAT F!GHT bares its claws in debut EP

Olivia Steele,

Photo by Erin Rockers CAT F!GHT plays Friday, September 25, at the Replay Lounge in Lawrence. Details on that show here. They open for Sweeping Promises on Tuesday, September 29, at White Schoolhouse. Details on that show here. The Lawrence-based fem-punk band CAT F!GHT, a Bratmobile-meets-B-52s-meets-Mommy Long Legs riot, was formed in appropriately spooky fashion on Halloween 2022 by four…

Mark Pellington
Music

Mark Pellington’s This Is Buzz explores a lost era of MTV

Nick Spacek,

Mark Pellington. // image courtesy the artist This Is Buzz screens on Thursday, September 24, at Atlas9, and a Q&A with Mark Pellington follows. Details on that screening here. Watching director Mark Pellington’s new documentary, This Is Buzz, feels like being reminded of something you’d totally wiped from your memory. Discovering that Pellington’s 1990 MTV News program, Buzz, was, in…

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Food & Drink

Bourbon in the Park celebrates Missouri-made spirits this weekend

River Louraine,

Courtesy Vanessa Rao Autumn has officially begun. Described as “adult carnival-like,” Bourbon in the Park is the perfect excuse to get out of the house and luxuriate in the cooler weather by the Missouri River with a glass of high-quality bourbon in hand. This event, put on by Rose Productions and presented by Holladay Distillery, returns to English Landing Park…