A grant and local contributions funded the restoration of Washington Chapel (C.M.E.) Church in Parkville. The chapel opened in 1907. (Bill Tammeus | Flatland) Restoration of Black church in Parkville inspires rainbow coalition
By Bill Tammeus | June 24, 2026 | History, News & Issues
The community has rallied around the restoration of Parkville, Missouri’s, Washington Chapel. Built in 1907, the chapel has been a haven for a Black population that has not always been welcome in town.
Keep Up With Kansas City
When you sign up for Flatland’s newsletter, you get Kansas City stories dropped in your inbox every Thursday.
Explore Topics
Flatland produces multimedia stories that examine local news, highlight rural affairs and explore Kansas City history.
Crime & Safety
The old Metcalf South shopping mall in Overland Park, Kansas, was once a Black Friday mecca and retail hotspot. (Courtesy | Wikipedia)
A Black Friday Romp Through the Metro’s Shoplifting History
By Brian Burnes | November 29, 2024
Not long ago a woman walked into an Oak Park Mall bath and body store carrying two shopping bags. She lingered for two hours, examining the scented candles. Then the phone of Detective Byron Pierce of the Overland Park Police Department buzzed. The caller was an employee of the store. “Everything okay?” Pierce asked. No….
Economy
CPKC Stadium opened in 2024. An expansion would raise the seating capacity from 11,500 to 18,000. (KCUR 89.3 | Courtesy Kansas City Current)
Nick’s Picks | Soccer, Elections, Entertainment and More …
By Nick Haines | June 22, 2026
It’s a soccer extravaganza in Kansas City, with the city reaching its halfway point as a host city and the City Council set to consider a bond package to expand the Kansas City Current stadium.
Education
Candidates for the Kansas City Public Schools board will be on the ballot April 8. Top row from left: Brittany Foley, Tricia McGhee, Kelly Thompson and Rita Cortes. Bottom row from left: Bruce Beatty, Tanesha Ford and Joseph Nelson. (Provided photos)
Meet the Kansas City Public Schools board candidates for the April 2025 election
By Maria Benevento, The Beacon | March 10, 2025
This story was originally published by The Beacon, an online news outlet focused on local, in-depth journalism in the public interest. Meet the Kansas City Public Schools board candidates for the April 2025 election All seven candidates running for the Kansas City Public Schools board support the $474 million bond issue that’s also on the…
Food Chain
Officials at food banks like Kansas City-based Harvesters worry about administrative barriers facing families applying for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (Austin Wood | Flatland)
Missouri Food Assistance Applicants Hit ‘Bottleneck’
By Austin Wood | October 8, 2025
Imagine you have just been evicted, and that any documentation you had regarding income, health care expenses, utility costs, or other relevant paperwork got lost in the shuffle. That is a problem in and of itself. But the lack of information is a bigger barrier when it stands between you and gaining eligibility for the…
Healthcare
By 2030, it's predicted that adults over the age of 60 will outnumber those under 18 for the first time in U.S. history. Flatland looks at two organizations providing services intended to support people staying in their homes as long as possible:
Caregivers in KC: A Community of Care
By John G. McGrath | June 25, 2025
By 2030, it’s predicted that adults over the age of 60 will outnumber those under 18 for the first time in U.S. history. How are older residents and their caregivers equipped to meet the challenges inherent in aging in our area? Flatland looks at two organizations providing services intended to support people staying in…
History
A grant and local contributions funded the restoration of Washington Chapel (C.M.E.) Church in Parkville. The chapel opened in 1907. (Bill Tammeus | Flatland)
Restoration of Black church in Parkville inspires rainbow coalition
By Bill Tammeus | June 24, 2026
The community has rallied around the restoration of Parkville, Missouri’s, Washington Chapel. Built in 1907, the chapel has been a haven for a Black population that has not always been welcome in town.
Housing
The entrance to the Community Resource Center at the Kansas City Public Library Central Branch in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. (Chase Castor | Flatland.)
Specialized Staff Serving Influx of Homeless Library Patrons
By Toni Cardarella | March 21, 2025
People experiencing homelessness in Kansas City often find refuge in public libraries when shelter options are limited during the day. However, metro-area library systems also provide assistance that goes beyond temporary protection from the weather. In fact, the Kansas City Public Library has built an entire department around helping the city’s unhoused, providing a range…
Sustainability
Illegally dumped tires are one of the most persistent problems along Kansas City's Blue River. (Abigail Landwehr | Flatland)
Blue River Cleanup Targets Trash, Invasive Species
By Abigail Landwehr | October 7, 2025
A restoration project is underway along the Blue River watershed, a collaborative effort by four nonprofit partners: The Heartland Conservation Alliance, Bridging The Gap, Deep Roots, and Mid-America Regional Council. The groups signed the contracts officially in May. “The day that we got our signed contract sent to us from the city kind of felt…
From Our Friends At
Funding for Flatland Provided By:
