Anti-smoking measures advance to KC council

A Kansas City Council committee on Wednesday approved three anti-smoking measures that critics said wrongly include electronic cigarettes and premium cigars. Taken together, the three ordinances raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco products and e-cigarettes from 18 to 21 and add e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, to the city’s ban on indoor smoking, including…

Spotlight on the Spoken Word | Gustavo Adolfo Aybar

We’re taking a moment to recognize Kansas City’s wordsmiths. Taken from KCPT’s “Arts Upload,” which has amassed an impressive collection of local poets reading their own works, “Spotlight” gives Flatland a chance to catch up with the artists. We find out what they’re up to and get their take on what to watch in the local and national art scene. This week:…

Children o the floor listening to announcement.

Take 5 For Your Health

Children’s Mercy South Gets New Name To Reflect Its Statewide Reach Children’s Mercy Hospital, which opened its first clinic in Kansas nearly 30 years ago and now has eight spread across the state, has changed the name of its facility in Overland Park from Children’s Mercy South to Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas. Dr. Randall L….

Five Things We Learned About Thomas Hart Benton

“American Epics: Thomas Hart Benton and Hollywood” is a landmark event. The show, which runs until January 3, 2016 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum, is the first major retrospective of Benton’s work in more than 25 years. It’s also the first exhibit ever to really put Benton’s work in proper context. Featuring nearly 100 works, including more than 50…

WyCo’s ‘Day of the Dead’ Brings Tradition to Life

It sounds ominous: “The Day of the Dead.” But this November in Wyandotte County, as in many other locations around the country, the Mexican holiday El Día de los Muertos is all about keeping traditions very much alive. The day is celebrated on the first two days of November to honor those who have died….

Views of the News: An Historic Week For the University of Missouri

It’s been a historic week at the University of Missouri. On Monday, Tim Wolfe resigned as president of the UM System. Hours later, Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin announced he is stepping down from that office at the end of the year. NPR-affiliate KBIA brings us this video, “Views of the News,” from the Missouri School…

“Spotlight on the Spoken Word” Coming as Digital Series

We’re taking a moment to recognize Kansas City’s wordsmiths in a new weekly digital series, “Spotlight on the Spoken Word.” Taken from KCPT’s “Arts Upload,” which has amassed an impressive collection of local poets reading their own works, “Spotlight” gives us a chance to catch up with the artists. We find out what they’re up to and get their…

Sounding Smarter

The Pentagon is confident that “Jihadi John” a British member of the Islamic State militant group, has been killed today in an air-strike. If nothing else, the strike demonstrates that it’s always a bad idea to use a nickname that starts with “Jihadi.” France’s RTL Radio reports that a formal dinner with French President Francois Hollande and…

Kansas City and the Space Shuttle

Kansas City and the Space-less Shuttle

In 1972, only 3 years removed from man’s first stroll on the moon, NASA set a new direction in space exploration. A reusable Low Earth Orbit Vehicle to be known as the Space Shuttle. A vehicle that could be launched like a rocket but land like an airplane. The “Orbiter Vehicle #101” was originally to be called…

Christian Colon does the heavy lifting as we dream of a world where the Kansas City Royals are sandwiches. (Photo and photo illustration: Cole Blaise | Flatland)

The best lineup since sliced bread

You know you’ve made it in a town when a restaurant names a dish after you. Sports radio host Mike Zarrick has the Z-man at Joe’s Kansas City, and sportswriter Joe Posnanski has chicken spiedini at Governor Stumpy’s. Murray’s Ice Cream & Cookies paid homage a few years ago to the late Walt Bodine with…

A call for help, from the helpers

Holding her daughter Ravaira close to her, Lajua Manning smiles as she looks out the window. A full-time student training to be a registered nurse, Manning, also a full-time mom, has worked full-time as a certified nursing assistant for five years. She says the juggle may be the hardest thing she has ever done. But there’s…

Group of Attucks supporters

Parents, staff pan KC school district plan for Attucks Elementary

School supporters press the district on why it chose not to close two other nearby elementary schools.

Funnyman Chris Hardwick, who won an interactive media award for “@midnight with Chris Hardwick" at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards in September, will geek out at the Midland on Friday. (Photo: Phil McCarten | Invision for the Television Academy | AP Images)

The Weekender

This might be the last normal weekend of 2015. Soon, the holidays will be upon us. That means heavily-scheduled merriment and occasionally forced gaiety. While your schedule is still your own, and mercifully absent of Yuletide cheer, why not explore all the non-holiday stuff around town? CLEANING First, though, clean up. The holidays mean all…

About 200 people were in attendance Thursday morning, including family members of the deceased and first responders, for the dedication of the Hyatt Memorial. (Photo: Daniel Boothe | Flatland)

Skywalk Memorial Installation

Today’s Skywalk Memorial dedication sought to bring some closure to one of Kansas City’s greatest tragedies, when, on July 17, 1981, two skywalks at the Hyatt Regency hotel collapsed, killing 114 and injuring around 200 people. At the center of the memorial space is a stainless steel sculpture by Kansas City artist Rita Blitt. She spoke with…

Brandon Yangmi, from left, Addie Sartino, Pierce Turcotte, and Austin Fraser, members of The Greeting Committee, are the fresh faces on Kansas City's music scene. (Credit: The Greeting Committee)

Sympathetic Vibrations | Nice To Meet You

What were you doing when you were 16 years old? If you were like me, you were insecure, acne-ridden, and mostly consumed with keeping teachers and parents off your back long enough to make it to the weekend. You had no idea what you wanted to do with your life and you planned on kicking…