youtube-video-thumbnail

Art House Extra: ‘October Sky’ Can Lift Your Spirits During the Age of Coronavirus

Art House Extra

April 10, 2020  |  John G. McGrath  |  1 min read

If you’ve just about had it with COVID-19, Flatland is here to help.

“Art House” host John McGrath strongly recommends watching the 1999 film “October Sky” for folks looking for a little escape and inspiration during the stay-at-home order.

The movie stars a young Jake Gyllenhaal and future Oscar winners Laura Dern and Kansas City’s own Chris Cooper. It may not have been a box office smash, but the movie packs an emotional wallop captured in the following moment: “Coal mines are your life. It’s not mine. I want to go into space.”

No, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to love “October Sky.” Learn more about McGrath’s “favorite sappy movie” in the attached video.

Reading these stories is free, but telling them is not. Start your monthly gift now to support Flatland’s community-focused reporting.

Kansas City Helping Renters Avoid Eviction

October 1, 2026

On any given Thursday, a small hallway in the Jackson County Courthouse crowds with tenants, landlords, and attorneys arriving for their scheduled hearings and trials. The scene unfolds on Floor 7M, which is half the height of the building’s other levels, and is where Associate Circuit Judge Mary Weir recently worked through 55 eviction cases…

Related Stories

Could the Kansas City streetcar extend into North Kansas City? Local and state officials are exploring the idea. An east-west route is also getting a look. (Carlos Moreno | KCUR 89.3)

Nick’s Picks | Fan Fest, Streetcar, Liquor and More …

World Cup Begins The wait is finally over. The first ball of the 2026 World Cup will be kicked Thursday, ushering in 5 ½ weeks of competition across the United States, Canada and Mexico. It’s also opening day for Kansas City’s FIFA Fan Fest at the National World War I Museum and Memorial—our first real…

Read More >
A basketball arena filled with fans.

Nick’s Picks | March Madness, Jail Opens, St. Paddy’s & More

The Madness Begins ‘Tis the season for buzzer beaters, broken brackets and according to HR experts, plummeting productivity. Welcome to March Madness! The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships tip off this week. KU and Mizzou play their first games late Friday night in the men’s tournament. Missouri State is the only local team to…

Read More >
The small lakes and ponds in the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area are popular spots for beginners to learn how to fish.

Here’s a Summer ‘Staycation’ Guide for Families on a Budget

Summer is officially here, and the kids are already getting bored. Here to help is handy local outdoor "staycation" guide for people on a budget.

Read More >