AltWeeklies Wire
Kansas Lawmakers' Paranoid Rush to Ban Synthetic Marijuananew
One officer says the first thing his department did upon hearing about K2 was search YouTube for clips. Another says he heard about a blog telling of a teen who went into a coma for 12 hours after smoking K2. A woman says she fears for teachers if a student goes into a violent frenzy.
With Nowhere Left to Run, Refugees are Still Waiting to Make This Homenew
When Foibe Nibitanga got a ticket to a new life in the United States, she didn't expect the fear and hunger of the refugee camp to follow her to Kansas City. The Burundi native leans forward, trying to speak over the cries of toddlers who, in the absence of toys, play with couch cushions and a set of keys.
The Pitch |
Carolyn Szczepanski |
01-12-2010 |
Immigration
Tracking Homicides, We Learned a Few Things About Kansas City's Psychenew
Andre D. Jones, 33, was the victim of one of the metro's most disturbing murders of 2009: a quadruple homicide in Raytown whose other victims were his 21-year-old girlfriend, Precious Triplett, and her nephews, 10-year-old Amir Clemons and 7-year-old Gerard Clemons.
The Pitch |
Justin Kendall |
01-05-2010 |
Crime & Justice
Professor Pellom McDaniels Wants to Move Kansas City's Black History Beyond Entertainmentnew
Most black school kids, he says, view entertainment -- being a professional athlete or a performer -- as the only form of success available to them. McDaniels, who happens to be a former NFL player, sees history as the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and opening a wider future.
Kansas City Notifies Wal-Mart That One of its Dead Stores is a Nuisancenew
Wal-Mart has abandoned hundreds of locations in the course of its aggressive expansion. Big-rig operators and others have stashed vehicles near a dead Sam's Club in Kansas City for more than a year, and city officials are finally taking notice.
The Pitch |
David Martin |
07-14-2009 |
Business & Labor
It's a Dirty Job Nabbing Horny Guys in the Park, But Somebody's Gotta Do Itnew
The Kansas City Police Department's vice squad spends a couple of days a month conducting covert stings to ferret out men seeking sex in public parks. When things go right, the job is predictable.
The Pitch |
Nadia Pflaum |
07-14-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Hey, All You People Worried About Journalism: Meet the Future Pressnew
Take one glance at the eight-page tabloid Voice of the Tigers, put out by sixth and seventh graders, and its clear that freedom of the press is alive and well at Kansas City's Franklin School.
Can Kansas City Turn Its Trash Problem into an Opportunity?new
In Kansas City, trash is consistently among the top citizen complaints. Landfill space is shrinking fast. And now the city's trash collection contractor is raising its prices. Kansas City is hoping to elbow its way out of the company's grasp -- and make some money doing it.
The Pitch |
Carolyn Szczepanski |
04-28-2009 |
Environment
Twitter: The Fun of a Public Meeting without Having to Be Therenew
Pitch staff writer Nadia Pflaum had your back last Wednesday, when she spent a couple of hours "tweeting" from a meeting on a proposed dress-code ordinance in Kansas City.
Deutsche Bank Lets Kansas City Rotnew
Deutsche Bank is the largest owner of foreclosed properties in Greater Kansas City. In Jackson County, the bank holds titles to 350 foreclosures. Some of their properties are sickly enough to depress an entire block.
The Pitch |
David Martin |
08-26-2008 |
Housing & Development
New Life Ministries' Pastor Troy Campbell Follows the Example of Jesusnew
Unlike some of the more visible evangelical houses of worship in Kansas City, New Life seems serious about closing the gap between the church described in the New Testament and what's happening in the suburbs today.
Did the Kansas City Fire Department Hide the Positive Drug Test of One of Its Own?new
Anthony Mots was driving the firetruck that killed Aaron Becerra. Afterward, Mots' brothers in the department rallied to defend him.
The Pitch |
Nadia Pflaum |
07-16-2008 |
Crime & Justice
On HIV, Some Black Ministers Are Admitting that Silence Equals Deathnew
The Good Samaritan Project Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS in Kansas City hopes to fight infections in a city where the HIV infection rate rivals Africa's.
In Kansas City, Tax Breaks Don't Cure Blight -- They Create Sprawlnew
TIF is a tool that cities can use to spur development in distressed areas. But in Kansas City, TIF is often used to make sprawl.
The Pitch |
David Martin |
05-21-2008 |
Housing & Development
The War on La Familianew
Familia Loca wanted revenge on a rival Kansas City gang. Instead, they spilled the blood of a 2-year-old girl.
The Pitch |
Carolyn Szczepanski |
05-06-2008 |
Crime & Justice
