Nick’s Picks | Veterans, Mission Gateway, Big Sonia and More …

The National World War I Museum and Memorial.

Shutdown Deal on the Way Is America’s longest government shutdown about to end? It could be over by the end of the week, after a group of eight Democrats agree to join Senate Republicans in a vote to reopen the government, at least through January. The deal comes without a guaranteed extension of health care…

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Nick’s Picks | Voting, Listening, Remembering and More …

Royals’ mascot, Sluggerrr, rode near the front of the parade to get the crowd riled up following the Kansas City Royals' victory in the 2015 World Series. (Photo: Hilary Becker | Flatland)

Tuesday is Election Day It may not be a pivotal national election year, but on Tuesday, Americans head to the ballot box to decide thousands of local races and issue questions. America’s Longest Government Shutdown? If no deal is struck in Washington by Tuesday night, we’ll be living through the longest government shutdown in American…

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Area crop artist’s latest work celebrates U.S.-Mexico ties

Lawrence, Kansas-based crop artist, Stan Herd, says his portrait of a Mexican indigenous woman is the most relevant work he has created. The portrait in a field in Linwood, Kansas. (Mary Sanchez | Flatland)

Kansas soil, cleared of vegetation to reveal a rich brownish mauve, forms the indigenous woman’s skin. Sand, mulch, woodchips, and compost are layered and sculpted to form the rest of the portrait titled “Young Woman of Mexico.” Stan Herd has sculpted similar images for more than 30 years in places like Brazil, China, and Cuba.…

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Nick’s Picks | Furloughs, Fans, Fright and More …

It's that time of year again. Get ready for lots of kids coming to the door for candy. Halloween is Friday. (Reddit)

Shutdown Gets Serious We’re about to start week five of the federal government shutdown. With no clear end in sight, the impact is about to get even more serious. Stadium Decision? Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has scheduled meetings this week with leaders from the Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs. Is a deal finally at…

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Taking ‘Bold Political Stances’ To Fight Injustices

Although the Greater Kansas City Pastors Association is still being formed, its leaders decided it was important to call a recent press conference and denounce efforts by Missouri state legislators to gerrymander the congressional district that Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II now represents. (Reprinted with permission from The Kansas City Star)

It didn’t take long for the new Greater Kansas City Pastors Association to spring into action. As The Kansas City Star reported in early September, just one “day after thousands of people descended on the Missouri Capitol to demonstrate their outrage over congressional maps aimed at minimizing Kansas City’s voting power,” the new pastors’ group…

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