Nick’s Picks | Messi, Jail, Buses, and More …
World Cup Team(s) Arrive It’s starting to feel real. The first World Cup team has landed in Kansas City. Defending champions Argentina touched down at KCI airport on Sunday and will begin practicing today at Sporting KC’s training facility in Wyandotte County. Much of the attention, of course, is focused on Lionel Messi. The soccer…
World Cup ‘Statement Piece’ Evokes Best Version of Kansas City
Before I moved to Kansas City almost 56 years ago, I had been here only once — for a brief visit to the Kansas City Press Club when I was attending the University of Missouri School of Journalism. But because of that visit and the fact that I grew up in the Midwest (Woodstock, Illinois,…
KU Center Helps Women Gain Foothold After Incarceration
A flier from her probation officer was the turning point for Jodi Whitt, who had spent more than two decades in and out of the criminal justice system. The piece of paper introduced Whitt to the Technology Education Program offered by the University of Kansas’ Center for Digital Inclusion. Since 2019, Whitt has risen through…
Nick’s Picks | Veep, Zoo, Fireworks and More …
Vance Lands in KC U.S. Vice President JD Vance touches down in Kansas City today to tout the Trump administration’s economic policies. According to the White House, Vance will tour Milbank Manufacturing, a nearly 100-year-old electrical parts company in northeast Kansas City, Missouri, before delivering remarks on tariffs, tax cuts and efforts to boost American-made…
Nick’s Picks | Map, Plaza, Liquor and More …
Missouri’s New Congressional Map Faces High Stakes Court Test Missouri’s newly redrawn congressional map lands before the state Supreme Court this week in a trio of cases that could decide who controls key seats in Congress next year. On Tuesday, the seven-member court will hear arguments over whether the Republican-backed map can be used in…
Getting A Shot: FIFA Copyright Restrictions Hamper Marketing Efforts for Historic Northeast Food Businesses
Third story in a three-part series When Joyce Watts of Boujee Bakery began to update her website with promotions to lure soccer fans to her location east of downtown, she ran into an unexpected roadblock. FIFA World Cup 2026 is protected intellectual property, and according to the local Community Activation Playbook, it may only be…
Getting A Shot: Language Skills Might Be World Cup Advantage for Independence Avenue Eateries
Second story in a three-part series Inside the colorful Mexican mercados, carnicerias, taquerias, cafes, panaderias and paleterias accenting Independence Avenue, Spanish is the first language for most shop owners and their customers. The Historic Northeast is home to one of the largest and fastest-growing Hispanic populations in Kansas City, and the ability to communicate with…
Getting A Shot: International Restaurateurs Fear Being Overlooked by World Cup Fans
First story in a three-part series Soccer players love suqaar. Pronounced sooh-car, the chicken version of this traditional Somali dish is the No. 1 best seller at Yasmeen Cafe, located at 1447 Independence Ave. Chef/owner Abdul Hatimi sautés chicken thighs rubbed with a rich mixture freshly ground from whole spices, including cumin, coriander, black pepper,…
Nick’s Picks | Building, Politicking, Grounding and More …
Fan Fest Construction Begins With just 35 days until the World Cup kicks off, Kansas City’s tournament transformation shifts into high gear this week. Construction crews and heavy equipment are moving onto the grounds of the National WWI Museum and Memorial as work begins on FIFA’s expansive Fan Fest site. Workers are closing off the…
Nick’s Picks | Downtown, Spain, Jackson County, and More …
Next Steps on New Royals Ballpark Who’s got the toughest assignment in Kansas City right now? Try City Manager Mario Vasquez who’s been tasked this week with turning a new Royals stadium plan into something resembling an actual deal. Despite all the smiles and celebrations last week, many of the details are fuzzy and some…
Area Christians Join Unification Movement
Much blood — literal and figurative — has flowed since the Protestant Reformation snapped the Catholic Church in two in the early 1500s. It wasn’t the first major break in Catholicism. The “Great Schism” happened in 1054 when what’s now known as Orthodox Christianity split from Roman Catholicism. But the results of those divisions can…
Are Kansas City-Area municipalities doing enough to protect our trees?
How much do Kansas Citians love their trees? So much so that neighbors have been known to mourn the loss of giants like “Frank,” the historic burr oak that had to come down earlier this year in the Historic Northeast. However, some area residents — and elected officials — contend municipalities are not doing enough…
Nick’s Picks | Baseball, Education, Conservation and More …
Stadium: What’s Next The push for a new downtown ballpark heads to Jefferson City this week. Kansas City leaders are looking for a number: How much is the state willing to put toward a new home for the Kansas City Royals at Washington Square Park? Right now, there are more questions than answers around the…
Hospitality Workers Learning to Play Defense During the World Cup
“What college kid doesn’t want access to free pizza?” Jennifer Kabler asked, as she recounted a horrifying evening from two decades ago. She was taking a co-worker home, and he said that his roommate could hook them up with the grub. Even though she felt a little uneasy about the situation, Kabler took the guys to pick…
Nick’s Picks | Sports, Liquor, Bans and More …
New Royals Ballpark Two years after a failed stadium vote, Kansas City leaders are trying to get a new Royals ballpark plan across the finish line this week. The city council’s finance committee takes its first swing Tuesday at the $1.9 billion proposal, with a full council vote expected on Thursday. Mayor Quinton Lucas unveiled…