All Stories

From abandoned artifact to new Negro Leagues’ space: Why renovated Paseo YMCA now bears the name ‘Buck O’Neil’

By Tommy Felts / February 1, 2023

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum’s redevelopment of the old Paseo YMCA is nearly complete, according to NLBM President Bob Kendrick, who said the renovated building will help the museum share the history of the Negro Leagues with generations to come. Set to open in late spring or early summer, the Buck O’Neil Education and Research…

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Royals say tailgating, plenty of parking planned for year-round downtown ballpark district

By Tommy Felts / February 1, 2023

As the Kansas City Royals deepen their efforts to bring baseball to downtown, the club aims to call up features fans love most — along with attributes from other ballparks and entertainment districts they don’t yet know they’ve been missing, executives said Tuesday. “We’re committed to creating a truly transformational, world-class ballpark district, one that…

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Meet the Midwest’s future serial entrepreneurs: Pipeline reveals 2023 fellowship, Pathfinder cohort

By Tommy Felts / February 1, 2023

Nearly 30 of the region’s most promising founders now have access to an industry-agnostic network that focuses solely on serial high-growth entrepreneurs — without taking equity in the startups it serves, said Melissa Vincent. Pipeline Entrepreneurs on Tuesday officially announced its new roster of high-profile fellows, as well as members of its latest Pipeline Pathfinder…

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‘Brain power’ across the street: How this innovation park hopes to keep university talent in Kansas after graduation

By Tommy Felts / January 31, 2023

Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures (EGV), a business unit of NetWork Kansas supporting innovative, high-growth entrepreneurs in the State of Kansas. LAWRENCE — A partnership between…

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Know where your meat comes from? For KC shoppers, it’s in a vending machine outside this popular coffee spot

By Tommy Felts / January 31, 2023

If a farm-to-table beef vending machine is going to successfully plug into a hungry market, Tim Haer has just the place to meet the challenge, he said. “Kansas City — at one point in time — had the largest stockyard in the nation and we were known as Cowtown USA,” noted the startup worker-turned-Green Grass…

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$2M grant expected to fuel workforce training, equity hub led by BioNexus KC, Missouri bioscience partners

By Tommy Felts / January 31, 2023

The Kansas City region must level up to meet the demand of the expanding life sciences industry and support underserved job seekers, said Dennis Ridenour, announcing a $2 million in federal funds aimed at boosting readiness to fill talent shortages. The funding award will establish the “Bioscience Industry Occupational Training and Equity Collaborative Hub for…

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Rep. Davids rejoins small biz committee amid leadership party switch in U.S. House

By Tommy Felts / January 31, 2023

In her return to Congress after re-election in November, Sharice Davids will serve as a voice for Kansas on three major drivers of the state’s economy, particularly in the newly-redrawn Kansas Third district, the congresswoman’s office said Tuesday. Late Monday night, U.S. Rep. Davids, D-Kansas, was granted a waiver to again serve on the House…

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Forged in fire: KC blacksmith hammers red hot career crafting tools after surviving blaze (and blade)

By Tommy Felts / January 27, 2023

A hand-forged knife introduced Brandon Dearing to blacksmithing; one also nearly cost him his life. The Hand and Hammer owner now makes tools — such as tongs and a variety of hammers — for other blacksmiths, using forging techniques he learned as a youth growing up in the country near Archie, Missouri. “TV shows and…

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‘Food is Medicine’ tech platform shows appetite for growth with new $2.1M seed round

By Tommy Felts / January 26, 2023

A patient-driven digital platform that empowers lower income Americans living with chronic health conditions to order the diet-specific foods and support they need announced Thursday it has closed a $2.1 million seed investment. The funding for Free From Market — one of Startland News’ Kansas City Startups to Watch in 2023 — allows the company…

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Head in the grounds: Why Ben Cloud is the first (and last) hand to touch his evolving coffee brand

By Tommy Felts / January 26, 2023

Americans drink coffee like water, youth entrepreneur Benjamin Cloud noted, and he’s doing his part to fuel their habit. The recent Shawnee Mission North graduate — inspired by an intro to business class — started Cloud’s Coffee two years ago when he was 15. “I initially thought about coffee because of the size of the…

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