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…
Shawnee Mission Superintendent Pans Legislative Efforts
The superintendent of the Shawnee Mission School District is taking umbrage at some of the financial inquiries coming from Kansas lawmakers and from an outside audit firm hired by the Legislature to study the efficiency of state government. Jim Hinson was particularly insulted that the Legislature’s Special Committee on K-12 Student Success, which is looking…
For Fit Food Fast Just Say Chop Chop
Graham Ripple puts out the menus and napkins on the metal counter in front of the window of Chop Chop FitStop, his new food truck dedicated to pre-prepared, Paleo-inspired meals. The food truck, which Ripple runs with co-owner David Lueck, is stocked with Simple Science Juices, protein balls, and chicken enchiladas with cauliflower rice. The…
Sympathetic Vibrations | Celebrating This Guy
In a week and a half, millions of cosplaying moviegoers will file into theaters in Kansas City and across the country, eagerly awaiting the sound of two iconic horn stabs that will accompany the words “Star Wars” on screen as they fade into a backdrop of space. This music will herald the beginning of “The…
‘I Can’t Let It Go’ | Part II
EDITOR’S NOTE: This first-person account of one journalist’s attempts to shed light on potential problems in the U.S. justice system is part of a larger effort by KCPT and The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) to explore the meaning of justice in the context of the 1988 explosion in south Kansas City that killed six…
Spotlight On The Spoken Word | Jeanette Powers
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
North-Central Kansas County Copes With Soaring Alzheimer’s Rate Almost every day, Jay Mellies leaves his home in Clay Center and drives about 20 miles north to visit his wife at a nursing home in neighboring Washington County. Some days when he comes in she tells staff, “I don’t know that guy.” Then she smiles. It’s a…