Members of Kansas City Heroes, a local nonprofit, serving a free meal to unhoused individuals on Oct. 4. The organization hosts this dinner every Tuesday in Washington Square Park.

Zero KC Wants to End Houselessness in Five Years But Will Require More Commitment from Leaders

Kansas City leaders recently announced a five-year plan to end houselessness that they’re calling Zero KC. It faces many challenges in achieving that goal.

Mending Our Broken Heart: Roots of Revival: Safety, Cleanliness, Nature (Part 1)

“Downtown KC: Mending Our Broken Heart,” was a groundbreaking series originally published by The Kansas City Star 20 years ago this month. It was written by former staffers Jeffrey Spivak, Kevin Collison and Steve Paul, with photographs by Rich Suggs. It was edited by former deputy national editor Keith Chrostowski. CityScene KC thanks The Kansas City…

Dan Marschalek marks a Regal Fritillary butterfly with a felt tip pen at the Friendly Prairie conservation area near Sedalia.

Butterfly Effect: Dan Marschalek is More Than a Collector

Dan Marschalek’s fascination with butterflies began innocently enough. Then he learned the crucial role butterflies play as pollinators in sustaining life as we know it.

woman in gray shirt and glasses points to squash in a wooden farm stand.

Lunch Tray Education and Local Economics

Missouri’s Farm to School program allows producers big and small to partner with local schools. It helps the farmer have a reliable buyer, and it helps schools to provide fresh, local produce to students.

Party to Help Revive Garment District Park

By Kevin Collison The developer of the Carnival building hopes a party it’s helping host this Wednesday (Oct. 12) will spur interest in a downtown pocket park that’s become threadbare after losing its major corporate supporter. The “Garment District Grooves” party is being held at what’s known as the Garment District Park. It is co-sponsored…

The entry of City Barrel.

Tap List | Trio of KC Breweries Medal At Great American Beer Fest

Three Kansas City breweries came home with medals from the Great American Beer Festival. Here are the medalists.

The Hays water conservation program's mascot, WaterSmart Wally, gives out high fives at a recent street fair. Wally is just one sign of how far the town's water-saving culture has come since the 1990s.

This City in Kansas Really Conserves Water, But That Might Not be Enough to Survive

Thanks to decades of conservation efforts, Hays has become a place where thinking about your water use is a way of life. But as climate change brings drier, hotter weather to Kansas, more cities may have to follow a similar path.

Tony Quiroga is a Kansas City veteran and former ice plant worker. His family's story is one of a handful about a small Mexican community nestled between the 42nd Street bridge and main rail line. (Ji Stribling | Flatland)

curiousKC | How Mexican Communities Kept KC Boxcars Cold

This is the story of “La Hielera” aka “The Ice Plant,” the tiny Mexican community nestled behind the 42nd Street Bridge and Santa Fe Railroad main line.

Mending Our Broken Heart: Kansas City Trails Peers in Transit Race

“Downtown KC: Mending Our Broken Heart,” was a groundbreaking series originally published by The Kansas City Star 20 years ago this month. It was written by former staffers Jeffrey Spivak, Kevin Collison and Steve Paul, with photographs by Rich Suggs. It was edited by former deputy national editor Keith Chrostowski. CityScene KC thanks The Kansas City…

A poll worker peels off an "I Voted" sticker.

KC Election Guide: What Voters Need to Know About the 2022 Ballot

In addition to statewide questions over marijuana legalization and police funding — plus elections for local, state and federal office — Kansas City, Missouri, has its own set of local issues.

Mending Our Broken Heart: Minneapolis Strategy Can Teach Downtown a Lot About Transit, Parking

“Downtown KC: Mending Our Broken Heart,” was a groundbreaking series originally published by The Kansas City Star 20 years ago this month. It was written by former staffers Jeffrey Spivak, Kevin Collison and Steve Paul, with photographs by Rich Suggs. It was edited by former deputy national editor Keith Chrostowski. CityScene KC thanks The Kansas City…

A boy in a laundromat stares at the camera in a scene for the movie "Vie."

Art House | KC Filmmaker Vies to Share Black Perspective

More diverse representation in local cinema comes through strongly in two compelling short films by DeVonte Brown, “Vie” and “Now What?”

Golfers with palm trees in the background.

6 Reasons to Rethink Early Retirement

People who have tried early retirement advise others to think about how they will fill their days and not empty their savings.

Section of mural with girl in Believe shirt

We Are Latinos | KC Artist Reconnects With Her Childhood in Mexico

Aquetzali (Kiki) Serna preserves fading memories of her early childhood in Mexico through her art today in Kansas City.

Mending Our Broken Heart: Parking, Transit Woes Drive Folks From a Barren Loop (Part 2)

“Downtown KC: Mending Our Broken Heart,” was a groundbreaking series originally published by The Kansas City Star 20 years ago this month. It was written by former staffers Jeffrey Spivak, Kevin Collison and Steve Paul, with photographs by Rich Suggs. It was edited by former deputy national editor Keith Chrostowski. CityScene KC thanks The Kansas City…