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Taylor Wilmore

Reporter, Startland News

Taylor Wilmore, hailing from Lee’s Summit, is a dedicated reporter and a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Taylor channels her deep-seated passion for writing and storytelling to create compelling narratives that shed light on the diverse residents of Kansas City.

Prior to her role at Startland News, Taylor made valuable contributions as a reporter for the Columbia Missourian newspaper, where she covered a wide range of community news and higher education stories.

Recent Articles by Taylor Wilmore

Missouri’s weapon in the AI race with China: KC tech companies, says GOP lawmaker

As artificial intelligence reshapes the way Kansas City works, civic and elected leaders want to ensure small businesses and the region’s tech community have seats at the table. Federal regulation could help, said Eric Schmitt. “For me, [it’s about] making sure that the big tech companies don’t block out a lot of the innovators, say…

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How Main Street Summit is putting homegrown small business on stage with Tim Tebow

COLUMBIA, Missouri — Small businesses don’t stay small on purpose, said Colby Kraus, echoing a mantra popular among organizers of the Main Street Summit — an immersive downtown experience rich with enough Americana capital for entrepreneurs and community builders from all walks of life.  Approaching its third year, Main Street Summit is set to return Nov….

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Pour decisions: Craft beverage enthusiasts add Sunday tasting event to KC’s pregame cart

Kansas City’s roster of craft beverages — from rookies to veteran players on the scene — come to the field in a wide range of uniforms, said Jason Burton, noting there’s no better time to checkout the lineup with thirsty friends than as the Chiefs return to Arrowhead Stadium this weekend. The play: showcase Kansas…

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Black Feast Week returns to feed restaurants new diners, combat hunger in Kansas City

Opening Black Feast Week — designed to promote Black-owned restaurants, chefs, and culinary creativity — by feeding 150 single Black mothers for free was an intentional act of community care, said Joshua “JT” Taylor. “We’ve always tried to prioritize helping people who are most marginalized,” said Taylor, senior content producer and chief administrative officer at…

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This Dirt Beast works the soil for $2 an hour; why harvesting joy from his urban farm fills the bag

Rows of peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and other vegetables now grow where more than a dozen Kansas City lots once sat vacant. The essence of Dirt Beast Farm is seeded in this soil, creating the ecosystem through which Jameson Hubbard has spent nearly a decade turning open land into food, flowers, and a space for neighbors…

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Check out the entrepreneur winners of this library pitch competition (and beyond-the-shelf resources)

Overwhelmed and excited to make a bigger impact, Rasheedah Villarreal expressed joy and gratitude Thursday after her name was announced as the top winner among a wide-ranging catalog of entrepreneurs pitching for cash prizes, community support, and serious momentum. Her business, Social Emotional Yoga with Mrs. V, also earned “Crowd Favorite” honors, sending the founder…

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BeVel’s edge on Troost: Scaling culture alongside barbershop’s executive clean up

A young Casie Murff jumped from cutting lawns to shaping lines, but it wasn’t until decades later — after embracing support from groups like The Porter House KC, Kansas City G.I.F.T. and a resurgent Troost business community — that the entrepreneur’s vision truly started buzzing. “Sometimes as entrepreneurs, you need that reassurance,” Murff, founder of…

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GRWM: Founder has more than swag; his platform matches companies with merch Gen Z will actually wear

A lot of branded swag gets buried at the bottom of a drawer after being collected from a special event or trade show — never again to see the light of day, Ivan Hadzhiev said, noting his new startup is helping companies think outside the bag when they design and distribute promotional products. “We’re making…

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She scored music on Netflix and LA’s star-studded stages; now BodaciousThang is getting vulnerable in KC

When Cheyenne Jolene steps on stage in the shoes of her alter ego, the singer-songwriter’s voice carries both raw emotion and unapologetic truth. Performing as BodaciousThang, Jolene blends R&B, hip hop, rock, and soul into what she describes as “genre bending” music. Her songs are steeped in authenticity and storytelling, offering listeners intimate glimpses into…

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