All Stories

Royals draft KC fashion designer: ‘You’ve got one chance; let’s knock it out of the park’

By Tommy Felts / March 29, 2024

Whitney Manney has been called up to the big leagues, the Kansas City fashion designer shared, and she’s swinging for the fences with a hometown team collaboration. On Thursday’s opening day at Kauffman Stadium, the owner of the KC-based WHITNEYMANNEY label debuted a three-look streetwear collection in partnership with the Kansas City Royals. The cut…

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‘Startup Weekend changed my life’: 3-day competition returns with potential $150K investment prize

By Tommy Felts / March 29, 2024

COLUMBIA, Missouri — Organizers of Missouri Startup Weekend — a team-based competition that takes a glimmer of a startup idea to a fleshed-out business in three days — are upping the ante in an attempt to give Show-Me State entrepreneurs a platform to spark success. “Aspiring founders can find people who can help them build…

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It’s easy for small biz to get lost in the shuffle; How ECJC offers a lifeline to Main Street, startup entrepreneurs

By Tommy Felts / March 29, 2024

The Enterprise Center in Johnson County is on a mission to prove the Kansas City metro remains a place where small businesses can grow and thrive, shared CEO Jeff Shackelford. ECJC — which is home to the Women’s Business Center, the Mid-America Angels and the Women’s Capital Connection angel investment networks, as well as the…

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Advocate knocks mayor for Troost renaming delay; calls slave owner tie KC’s ‘dirty laundry, reeking from the basement’

By Tommy Felts / March 28, 2024

Kansas City can no longer whitewash its history to pretend Benoist Troost — an early KC doctor, slave owner and the namesake for Troost Avenue — was anything other than a monster, said Chris Goode, pointing blame at Mayor Quinton Lucas for a stalled effort to change the east side corridor’s controversial name.  “There’s no…

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C3KC 2022 at Union Station

C3KC organizers: Want to bring real social change to Kansas City? Let’s talk about it

By Tommy Felts / March 28, 2024

The sold-out C3KC — a one-day conference that returns Tuesday, April 2 to Union Station — reflects the Junior League of Kansas City’s mission to bring together leaders for collaborative change in action, shared Ericka Duker. The Junior League — which aims to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and…

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Passing the keys, passion: How a new wave of small biz owners plan to preserve beloved local brands

By Tommy Felts / March 28, 2024

Some have been customers; some employees. Now they’re the new owners of popular local restaurants and retail shops. As founders step aside, fresh sets of entrepreneurs step up in hopes of carrying on the goodwill and loyal following these brands have built up, some for decades. John McClelland and his brother-in-law, Johnathan Griffiths, work together…

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Topping expectations: These brothers helped expand Pizza Tascio to 8 locations; now they’re taking over

By Tommy Felts / March 28, 2024

Erik Borger hired all three Lombardino brothers in their teens, starting them out as dishwashers at his restaurants in St. Joseph, Missouri.  They quickly took on other positions — front of house, staff scheduling, food and beverage orders and deliveries, and hiring and firing workers. If an employee didn’t show up for a shift, they…

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Nell Hill’s founder returns to retail with ‘this little secret’ — a micro shop with an old-fashioned, in-store experience

By Tommy Felts / March 28, 2024

Mary Carol Garrity’s last home furnishings store was 18,000 square feet. Her new one? A “petit bazaar” at just 400. Garrity is teaming up with longtime friend, Rebecca Wood, on diebolt’s in Midtown’s Gillham House Antiques & Furnishings. The shop, which is scheduled for an April 19 soft opening, is expected to offer a “fun…

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Urban designer behind Royals’ Crossroads ballpark pioneered the modern MLB stadium (and he has the bats to prove it)

By Tommy Felts / March 27, 2024

It’s difficult to find a Major League Baseball stadium that Earl Santee hasn’t influenced with his philosophy of community-oriented design. Called the “Godfather of ballparks,” Santee — the recently named CEO of Populous and literal architect of the proposed Kansas City Royals ballpark district in the East Crossroads — either designed or renovated two dozen…

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Royals change stadium plan to keep Oak Street open to traffic, but fate of businesses is uncertain

By Tommy Felts / March 27, 2024

Editor’s note: The following story was published by KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. The Royals’ original plan was to place the team’s corporate offices and entertainment venues on Oak Street, which would close the…

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