All Stories

Arrowhead event: Teams are stronger with women; How the NFL is moving the ball forward

By Tommy Felts / April 29, 2023

While nighttime NFL Draft festivities at Union Station put the focus on male athletes chosen to play professional football, Friday morning at Arrowhead Stadium was all about spotlighting women changing the landscape of the NFL and Kansas City. “As we talk about champions today, this is what we’re talking about: Women and men, moving the…

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End-of-life care platform wins top UMKC prize in young startup’s first-ever pitch competition 

By Tommy Felts / April 29, 2023

Serving as someone’s informal caregiver is a rewarding experience, but the pressure of being fully responsible for taking care of a loved one can take a toll on a person physically and mentally, acknowledged Nicole Staab and Rachel Blankenship. Through their startup, Rings of Care KC, they are providing support and resources for informal caregivers…

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Brewkery closing its North KC kombucha taproom as ‘Lucky Elixir’ production heats up

By Tommy Felts / April 28, 2023

Five years after opening its popular North Kansas City hot spot, the Brewkery — home of Lucky Elixir Kombucha — is moving and closing its taproom, co-founder Amy Goldman shared.  With its lease about to end and rent increasing substantially, Goldman said, the move makes sense for the growing kombucha business. Although it’s bittersweet to…

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Variety entertainer’s magic trick: Knowing whether his audience wants a clown (or Ruby in drag)

By Tommy Felts / April 27, 2023

Dennis Porter’s success as a performer is scripted by the North Kansas City native’s talent at reading a room — adapting his jokes and wide variety of entertainment styles to fit the audience. If he’s doing it right, one of Porter’s characters brings a healthy grin to their happy faces, he said. “I am over-blessed…

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NFL Draft boosts small biz bottom lines: Here’s how to prepare for the tax impact of a sudden revenue bump

By Tommy Felts / April 27, 2023

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Jamil Khan is chief strategy and small business officer for H&R Block, which was founded in Kansas City and boasts its headquarters in downtown KC. H&R Block is a financial supporter of Startland News. As Kansas City welcomes nearly 300,000 people for the…

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Broadband internet is no longer a luxury; meet a group bringing access to KC’s most underserved children, families

By Tommy Felts / April 26, 2023

Editor’s note: The following is the second in a series of stories focused on digital inclusion efforts in Kansas City, and is presented by Google Fiber. Those seeking change and equity in a rapidly evolving world of tech access must go directly to the people in need if they wish to truly eradicate the digital…

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GIFT hopes NFL Draft visitors touch down at Saturday’s Black Business Market; nonprofit passes $1M in grants given 

By Tommy Felts / April 26, 2023

Packed streets for the NFL Draft around Union Station and downtown this week could mean added traffic to Saturday’s Black Business Market on Kansas City’s east side, said Brandon Calloway. “We’re gonna drive as many people over here so they see the vibrancy that can happen on Prospect, as well as exposing a lot of…

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‘Red Zone’ concert puts KC’s brightest hip hop stars on stage as NFL Draft focuses eyes on Kansas City

By Tommy Felts / April 25, 2023

As football fans descend on Kansas City this week for the NFL Draft, a quartet of local musicians hopes to showcase to the world what the Kansas City hip hop scene has to offer. City Market Red Zone will bring together artists, musicians, and vendors for a free, all-ages concert and open-air Art Garden KC…

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No time for risks or red flags: Why this fund backs ‘unbankable’ businesses in WYCO’s investment desert

By Tommy Felts / April 25, 2023

This story is possible thanks to Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures (EGV), a business unit of NetWork Kansas supporting innovative, high-growth entrepreneurs in the State of Kansas. A partnership between NetWork Kansas and the Wyandotte Economic Development Council is providing minority entrepreneurs in Wyandotte County with loans and technical assistance to get their business ideas off the ground.…

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Small businesses tackle NFL Draft opportunities with league coaching from the sidelines

By Tommy Felts / April 24, 2023

Editor’s note: The following story was originally 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 NFL’s business connect program aims to feature diverse, local businesses for major events. Next week’s NFL Draft is expected to…

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