Downtown Kansas City Office Vacancy Drop Leads Nation Thanks to Conversions and New Tenants
By Kevin Collison Downtown Kansas City leads the nation these days reducing its office vacancy rate, but not because it’s returning to its heyday as the region’s business center. The drop is primarily due to the conversion of many older, obsolete office buildings into apartments and hotels as downtown has transitioned to a mixed-use, ‘live,…
Weighing The Choice Of Charters
Charter schools have traditionally filled a hole left by underperforming districts in Missouri. But what if that structure was radically changed? What if charter schools were allowed by states at the earliest sign of trouble – one lagging school – instead of waiting for an entire school district to slip? Would it help or hurt…
‘Tar Baby’: A Folk Tale About Food Rights, Rooted In The Inequalities Of Slavery
The tar baby story in which Bre’r Rabbit outwits Bre’r Fox is a classic trickster folk tale. But like all fables, it is a double-barreled affair, with entertainment firing in tandem with a serious message. The question the story addresses is a fundamental one: Who controls access to food and water? Or, more crucially, who…
Big Data Is Transforming How Scientists Create Better Seeds
This summer, in cornfields in Iowa and Nebraska, about a thousand small point-and-shoot digital cameras will be enclosed in waterproof cases, mounted on poles and attached to solar-powered battery chargers. They will take pictures every ten minutes as plants grow; all part of a plan to create better seeds. “We watch plants go through their…
Farmer/Veteran Pop-Up & Other Weekend Possibilities
Farmer/Veteran explores the idea of what happens you come home and try to make a life on the farm. The latest Indie Lens Pop-Up from KCPT features the documentary about Alex Sutton, a veteran in North Carolina trying to make it as a farmer. The screening, along with a discussion with the film’s director Jeremy Lange and representatives…
However You Say It, Kansas City is Home
Whether they speak Nepali. Spanish, French, Bermese or another language, these Gladstone Elementary students call Kansas City home. The Kansas City Public School District is home to more than 55 languages, and some children speak more than two. Hear them introduce themselves in their native langauge, followed by a phrase in English. — Follow “Take…
Hello Atelier | A Sculptor With a Vision as Big as Her Art
This week we welcome Alanna Derocchi to the show. Alanna has become known for her large-scale sculptural pieces of animals; walrus, hippos, even tapirs. But, an artist is always in evolution, and in this episode Derocchi talks with us about finding her artistic voice and transitioning her vision – even if it means alienating some…
The Weekend Starts Today
If you are lucky enough to have your mom around, make sure you see her this weekend. Flowers and a phone call aren’t enough. Take her out. We’ve got suggestions for cool stuff to do. Hey, remember how terrible the Royals were in April? They don’t look much better in May. Mom won’t care, though….
‘Man With A Pipe’ | Where They Won’t Be Lonely Anymore
In art terms, In Situ means “in its original place,” a designation for artwork that lives in its place of origin. Think of a mosaic floor among ruins, a fountain sculpture in a park, an installation crafted for a specific venue. This summer, In Situ will mean the story of how a lifetime of art collection…
West Meets East At Olathe High School
Sebhnem Heller, who is originally from Turkey, came to the Asian Cultural Festival in Olathe all the way from Omaha. “I got this rare opportunity to know other countries’ culture,” said Heller, who brought her parents with her. “I came here last year and enjoyed the ambiance of the diversity of people and culture here.”…
KC Preservationists Pursue Campaign to Document Westport Architecture as Development Pressure Mounts
By Kevin Collison New projects in the works for historic Westport are prompting a grassroots effort to survey the district’s buildings to provide a solid planning base for future development decisions. Plans for two apartment projects and a hotel are being reviewed at City Hall for a district that’s been popular destination since before Kansas…
One-Third Of New Drugs Had Safety Problems After FDA Approval
More than 70 drugs approved by the FDA from 2001 to 2010 ran into safety concerns that prompted in withdrawals from the market, “black box” warnings or other actions.
Tap List | Free State Plans to Boogie Down
Free State Brewing Company is hoping to convince Kansas to boogie down. The Lawrence brewery collaborated with Wichita’s Central Standard Brewing Company on a new brew slated for release later this week. Tentatively called Boogiedown Pale, the beer will be unveiled at this year’s Sunflower Boogiedown, a free event at Central Standard Brewing (156 S. Greenwood…
More Salt In School Lunch, Less Nutrition Info On Menus: Trump Rolls Back Food Rules
The Trump administration has said it wants to remove burdensome regulation, and on Monday it served up a taste of what that looks like when it comes to two aspects of food policy: school lunch and calorie labels on menus. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced a plan to delay a mandate that would require schools…
New Farm Will Cultivate a Future for Veterans and American Agriculture
Off a narrow dirt road in the middle of Kansas, retired Army Col. Gary LaGrange, his daughter Shari LaGrange-Aulich and a group of veterans are cultivating a future for service members and American agriculture. Three hundred and twenty acres nestled between Manhattan, Kansas and Fort Riley will be the future site of S.A.V.E. Farm, which stands…