News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Blip Blends Bikers and Coffee in The Bottoms
By Kevin Collison Turns out, a good cup of Joe is just the scent to entice scores of motorcyclists to the West Bottoms on sleepy Sunday mornings. Ian Davis has combined his love of affordable, good coffee and biker culture into a unique coffee and motorcycle gear operation called Blip at 1101 Mulberry St. He…
Stay Safe Kansas City!
Fireworks can be fun — until they aren’t. Unfortunately, along with hotdogs and ice cream, the Fourth of July also brings with it a barrage of fireworks injuries. As a reminder of how dangerous these Independence Day explosives can be, Flatland analyzed data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and talked (below) with Dr….
Star Wars Launches Crown Center Free WeekEnder Series July 12
Free Friday night movies and live music with food trucks at a downtown, outdoor venue easily reached by streetcar, what’s not to like? Crown Center launches its WeekEnder series July 12 with the original 1977 Star Wars classic ‘A New Hope” at about 9 p.m. after a performance by County Road 5, a band described…
De(Coding) Jobs In The Field of Web Development
Would you ever think that someone who dropped out of school in the ninth grade and earned a GED could go into the workforce and earn nearly $60,000 a year? That is not fiction. Nor is it a fairy tale that someone tried community college, but then got certified in Web development, and found a…
Firebrand Collective Offers West Bottoms Work Space for Women
By Kevin Collison The old warehouses of the West Bottoms are home to a variety of unique, entrepreneurial ventures and the growing co-working trend is among them, this one geared toward women. Megan Adams launched Firebrand Collective on the second floor of a historic warehouse at 1101 Mulberry around the corner from Blade & Timber…
Baking it the Ole Fashioned Way: K.C. Bakeries Established Before 1950
Read about the histories of Wolferman’s, M&M, and McLain’s bakeries and delis. Fixtures in Kansas City, Missouri for decades.
Fox and Pearl Opening New Bistro Soon in Old Westside Swedish Hall
By Kevin Collison The Fox and Pearl is about to open its new home in a former Swedish social hall at 2143 Summit and from the looks of it, there’s plenty of new socializing ahead for the old building. Owners Vaughn Good and his wife Kristine have created a new space that offers patrons lots…
Strata Office Tower Financing Plan Endorsed by Council Committee
By Kevin Collison A plan for 25-story downtown office tower that is seeking significant public incentive help, including a $27 million city investment, won unanimous backing from a Kansas City Council Committee Wednesday. The $132 million Strata development is proposed for the southwest corner of 13th and Main in the KC Power & Light District…
Denver Developer Proposing $25 Million River Market Office Project
Updated July 10: More details this week at Port KC committee meeting. Project would have two levels of parking with 86 spaces and developer Craig Slawson told members he’s in discussions with two potential office tenants, one from out-of-state that would employ 60- 100 people. Plans to request a 25-year property tax abatement, exact breakdown…
KC Catholic School Learns, Grows After Swastika Incident
In September 2017, a photo posted on Snapchat showed a group of St. Teresa’s Academy students posing in front of a table with beer pong cups arranged in the shape of a left-facing swastika. Social media exploded. That incident at a private home “really brought us to our knees,” says Nan Bone, who is just…