Sounding Smarter
According to an extensive story at Foreign Policy, India is building a top secret facility to produce nuclear weapons. Which means, at the very least, India is going to need a new definition of the phrase “top secret”. In other apocalyptic weapons news, the U.S. is “considering a response” to an Iranian ballistic missile test. Apparently, we’re going…
Tracking a Virus
In the spring of 2013, hundreds of baby pigs were dying off and nobody knew what was making them so sick. As a deadly virus hopscotched across farms, researchers went to work as disease detectives, hoping to contain, identify and track the cause. The virus was identified as Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea, never before seen in…
Time to Make the Doughnuts
Doughnuts are no longer just a morning food. Doughnut Lounge – a new doughnut shop with a cocktail and espresso bar – opened Thursday in Westport. Beyond offering doughnuts late into the night, the lounge has a unique take on the fried rounds. Doughnut Lounge will launch with three tiers of doughnuts: classic, signature and noduts….
The Weekender
It’s the last weekend before Christmas. That means you’ll probably spend most of your weekend shopping or at holiday parties. This is also the week (in case you hadn’t heard) that the new Star Wars movie premiers, meaning that pretty much everyone in North America is going to spend at least some precious weekend time…
Watch Your Words
A recent investigation by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) into the watch and timepiece industry’s use of the marketing slogan “Made In USA” focused extensively on local Kansas City watch company Niall Luxury, and Founder and CEO Mike Wilson isn’t thrilled about it. The investigation by the FTC launched after Nicholas Manousos, vice president of…
“Chi-Raq” Makes the Rounds
Jayhawks of the land get a shout out from Spike Lee on PBS’s ‘Charlie Rose.’ For more on the film, written by KU professor Kevin Wilmott and directed by Lee, read Flatland’s “‘Chi-Raq’ Has Local Ties”.
Music | 7 Questions With…
Every Tuesday at 6pm on The Bridge, local music writer and Middle of the Map Fest organizer Chris Haghirian and The Bridge’s Sarah Bradshaw shine a light on the people, music, and events in the 816 area code during “Eight One Sixty“. One regular feature, 7 Questions, gets to the heart of a guest’s passions, past, and… purchase history. This week, 7 Questions goes deep with Bill Brownlee, local…
Spotlight on the Spoken Word | Ezhno Martin
We’re taking a moment to recognize Kansas City’s wordsmiths. Taken from KCPT’s “Arts Upload,” which has amassed an impressive collection of local poets reading their own works, “Spotlight” gives Flatland a chance to catch up with the artists. We find out what they’re up to and get their take on what to watch in the local and national art scene. This week:…
Take 5 for Your Health
Amid Financial Troubles, Company Closes Two Kansas Ethanol Plants Financial problems at one of the world’s leading biofuels companies are causing ripples in the Kansas economy. The Spanish company, Abengoa Bioenergy, opened a state-of-the-art ethanol plant in October 2014 near Hugoton. Gov. Sam Brownback greeted the grand opening as a shot in the arm for the…
Interfaith Group Seeks to Welcome, Not Shun, Syrian Refugees
Responding to calls for a halt to the settlement of Syrian refugees in the United States, an ad hoc group of Kansas City faith groups, organized under the name “People of Faith for Peace,” held a rally Sunday at the Liberty Memorial. About 100 people braved the afternoon’s rainy weather and answered the organizers’ call…
Does a New Apartment Project Mean New Life in Argentine?
Two historic buildings in the Argentine neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas, are getting new life – and community members there are seeing the revitalization project as a symbol of a community comeback. “It’s a really big deal,” Graciela Duarte said, an Argentine resident who was serving as a tour guide recently for the Simmons Villas…
Fuel: It’s What’s For Dinner
There are few places where the connection between energy and food is more obvious than at the Bright Agrotech warehouse in Laramie, Wyo. Most of the building is filled floor to ceiling with giant shelves of cardboard boxes and tubing—equipment Bright Agrotech sells to farmers—but in one corner of the warehouse, there’s a small farm:…
Climate Change: Why Pope Francis Considers It a Crisis
As the United Nations climate change summit wraps up this weekend in Paris, three local groups sponsored a gathering at Queen of the Holy Rosary Church in Overland Park to discuss Pope Francis’s call for action on the environment (Laudato Sí), and to learn what action they can take locally to combat global warming. The Kanza…
Sounding Smarter
At the Climate Summit in Paris, Leonardo DiCaprio delivered a powerful speech about the dangers of global warming. Afterwards, Leo got into a private jet, flew to one of his several mansions and spent some time chilling on a giant yacht. Coca-Cola said on Friday that it may have to close some bottling plants in India if the government…
The Weekender
At this point in the holiday season, you might have done all the more traditional stuff. You’ve seen “The Nutcracker” and “A Christmas Carol”. You’ve looked at the Plaza Lights. You’ve gone to see Santa Dive with the Penguins at the Kansas City Zoo. You know, all the basics. Why not try something a little more…