News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Crossroads Academy Wants to Open Permanent High School in Historic Attucks School in 18th & Vine Jazz District
By Kevin Collison The Crossroads Academy hopefully has found a new permanent home for its downtown high school, the long-vacant, historic Attucks School in the 18th & Vine Jazz District. The charter school has submitted a bid to the city to buy the old building at 1815 Woodland Ave. If accepted, it could ultimately house…
This Once-Obscure Fruit Is On Its Way To Becoming PawPaw-Pawpular
In the Deep Run Pawpaw Orchard outside of Westminster, Md., Donna Davis is showing me how the pros eat a pawpaw. She jams her thumbs into the fruit’s soft green skin and splits it open, innards oozing. “Just suck out the flesh,” she instructs, slurping up the yellow meat. “They can [taste like] a cross…
Church of Scientology Expected to Begin Renovation of Historic Downtown Building for New Home in October
By Kevin Collison Ten years after purchasing the historic City Bank Building at 1801 Grand Blvd., the Church of Scientology is expected to begin renovation work on what will become its new metropolitan offices and worship center in early October. Church officials could not be reached for comment, but a source familiar with the project…
KC Soda Co. Brings Old-Time Flavor to River Market
By Kevin Collison Lucas Thompson enjoys the old-time flavor of both soda pop and serving customers in his new KC Soda Co. operation at the River Market. “I enjoy the nostalgia of soda, it’s been around a long time,” the 31-year-old entrepreneur said. “It’s non-alcoholic so it means all markets, kids love it, grandparents love…
Former St. Louis Mayor Tells Downtown Council New Coalition Forming to Defend Historic Tax Credit Program
By Kevin Collison Threats to the Missouri Historic Tax Credit program are prompting preservationists to forge a coalition between cities and towns to lobby legislators about its benefits, a former St. Louis mayor told the Downtown Council last week. Vincent Schoemehl, who served as mayor in St. Louis from 1981-1993, said proposed cuts to the…
Former KC Chiefs Cheerleaders Opening Crossroads Dance and Fitness Boutique for Adults Next Month
By Kevin Collison Two former Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders are opening a dance and fitness studio in the Crossroads Arts District next month designed to appeal to an adult clientele. “For a long period of time, Lauren and I have been in the health care technology industry,” said Kerri Pomerenke, co-founder with Lauren Boyd of…
Where Does Our Recycling Go?
Ted Baker has been recycling ever since Overland Park started its curbside program in 1990. But every Wednesday, as he dutifully treks to the end of his driveway, he ponders the question that he ultimately submitted to curiousKC: What happens to the stuff we pay to have recycled? “I’ve heard reports that they stick the…
Art in the Loop Caps Season Today with Downtown Kansas City Art Crawl
Art in the Loop, a diverse assortment of public artworks in downtown Kansas City, is winding down the season with a special Downtown KC Art Crawl today. Actually, it’s more a streetcar art crawl because the works will be toured and discussed along the streetcar route. It begins at the Kansas City Artists Coalition office at…
Artconomy | Preview
In Kansas City, we’re told the economic impact of the arts totals a quarter of a billion dollars. Follow across four short films as Artconomy evaluates how we, the public, contribute to that arts engine both as willing participants and taxpayers. Through interviews with art community leaders and artists themselves, we look at the numbers…
Second Phase of Corrigan Station Development in Crossroads Expected to Break Ground Late This Year
By Kevin Collison The developers of Corrigan Station plan to break ground by December on an $11 million office building at 19th and Main streets along the streetcar route. Jon Copaken of Copaken Brooks, co-developer of Corrigan Station, said final plans for the 25,000 square-foot, three-story building have been submitted to the city. It would…