News

Closing KCK’s Black-owned coffee shop opens opportunity for Kinship to brew bigger, owner says

By Tommy Felts / February 1, 2025

When TJ Roberts posted on social media about closing Kinship Cafe, a Black-owned coffee shop in Kansas City’s Strawberry Hill neighborhood, he was surprised by the outpouring of support — a morale boost that not only gives him the spirit to keep fighting for the business, but expand it, he said. “When we posted about…

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Kansas brothers launch speedy trial for app that eases reentry for the wrongfully incarcerated 

By Tommy Felts / January 31, 2025

Podcast host-turned-innovator Dylan Carnahan is a man built for talking, he said, but there’s a time when words aren’t enough — when action is needed in the face of injustice. For Carnahan and his brother, that moment is now. “While media spreads awareness, software facilitates action,” said Carnahan, teasing the tech he’s developing alongside Alex…

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Restaurant’s nostalgia is only part of it’s recipe: How Paul’s Drive In sizzled a community staple by ‘doing good first’

By Tommy Felts / January 31, 2025

Editor’s note: The following story was written and first published by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Missouri (EDCKC). Click here to read the original story. In the heart of South Kansas City, Paul’s Drive In on Blue Ridge Blvd has been a cherished staple since the 1960s. Through ups and downs — including…

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Meet six coalitions earning grants through Kauffman Foundation’s new ‘Collective Impact’ funding pathway

By Tommy Felts / January 31, 2025

Systemic change happens when communities come together to drive transformation through collaboration, said Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, announcing a half-dozen grants to high-capacity organizations with strategies to close economic mobility gaps in the Kansas City region. The “Collective Impact” planning grants of up to $500,000 are awarded to the winning coalitions are the first piece of…

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‘Mama Mystery’ podcast builds true crime following from serial entrepreneur’s St. Joe home studio

By Tommy Felts / January 31, 2025

ST. JOSEPH, Missouri — Kelly Evans is no stranger to a good mystery. But the real puzzle, the mother of four said, is how she mastered multitasking her true crime podcast, multiple businesses, and a radio show — all while hooking her audience with gripping storytelling and a dash of humor to balance out the…

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