News

Kansas City jazz swings harder: How KU is building on the city’s historic musical legacy

By Tommy Felts / January 21, 2025

Editor’s note: This article was written for a class at the University of Kansas’ William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications and distributed through the Kansas Press Association. Icons like Charlie Parker and Count Basie define Kansas City’s jazz legacy. But today’s contemporary artists — such as Blue Noyes and Nic Weaver —…

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Northeast Pizza shop bakes KC’s most accessible food into a new restaurant for all, owner says

By Tommy Felts / January 17, 2025

Rising from a family of restaurateurs, Noah Quillec is striking out on his own — with the help of some culinary friends — to bring a new pizzeria to Kansas City’s Northeast; it’s a move he hopes will bring unity by the slice. “This neighborhood is very accessible, so diverse and so all over the…

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Best-selling tea towel maker’s business model hangs by this thread: ‘the more I give back, the more I’ll succeed’

By Tommy Felts / January 17, 2025

​​Elene Banks, founder of Kansas City-based Absorb-Lumen, turned her boutique clothing store into a mission-driven business that puts eco-friendly kitchen essentials in the spotlight, all while giving back to the community through a charitable business model. “It was a happy accident,” Banks said, “We started a boutique online and tried to carry tea towels from…

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Developers plan to transform historic UMKC building into boutique hotel, spa

By Tommy Felts / January 17, 2025

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Click here to view the original article. A local group comprised of Sunflower Development Group and hospitality veteran Jen Gulvik has secured permission to proceed with a historic redevelopment project involving one of Kansas City’s most beloved assets: the Epperson House at…

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TikTok ban would mean an ‘astronomical’ change for these Kansas City content creators

By Tommy Felts / January 16, 2025

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. Video creators around Kansas City are concerned about their livelihoods and Congress’ ability to limit free speech if the Supreme Court…

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