Latest news with #Kansas
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
Inside America's budget-friendly, BBQ-obsessed World Cup city
My first time seeing Kansas City 's streetcar roll by was a little like watching Doc Brown's DeLorean from Back to the Future suddenly appearing in 1955. The American Midwest, with its wide, valley-like streets and cartoonishly huge cars, feels like no home for such a jarringly European sight. But Kansas City isn't like most Midwest cities. Not only has this sleek tram been trundling through downtown KC (as locals call it) for almost 10 years, its 2.2-mile track is in the process of being extended (almost doubling in length) and – best of all – riding is completely free of charge. Sure, it's not the New York subway, but this is also no white elephant. And while it won't put Kansas City on the map in the same way Taylor Swift's appearances at Kansas City Chiefs NFL games have, it's a sign of a surprisingly progressive city on the rise and one that will be hosting six matches at the 2026 Fifa World Cup. Straddling the state line between Missouri and Kansas, the city was a vital trading post and frontier crossroads on the mighty Missouri River when it was founded in the 1830s. A century later, the city developed an anarchic reputation under mob boss Tom Pendergast as prohibition gripped the US and its smoke-filled jazz clubs and brooding speakeasies attracted celebrities, politicians, misfits and deviants. Today, KC is a sprawling metropolis of 500,000, with its stocky skyline a hodgepodge of featureless glass towers and gorgeous Art Deco skyscrapers under a dome of great Midwest sky. Bright blue mornings at my riverside hotel are often pierced by the distant horn of incoming freight trains. It's a nostalgic sound, like the howl of a lost America as it thunders past languid cornfields and lonely telephone lines. The grandiose Union Station, completed in 1914, welcomed its last passenger train in the late 1980s and has since been converted into an airy gathering space with a science museum, cinema, restaurant and other attractions. But this repurposed station is just one of many reasons for visitors to attend games in budget-friendly Kansas City, away from the eyewatering prices found in other notoriously expensive host cities like New York, Miami and Los Angeles. My own personal fascination with this city starts with the flame, however. 'BBQ may not be the road to world peace, but it's a start,' once said the iconic food and travel raconteur Anthony Bourdain. And in this city, it's over hearty slabs of beef brisket, tender burnt ends and glistening pork ribs where people bond. The Kansas City metro area has over 100 BBQ joints, so if there's one place to be a little looser with the wallet, it's at one of these distinctly American restaurants. Opened back in 1908, the OG is Arthur Bryant's in the historic 18th and Vine neighbourhood. Like all good BBQ joints, I can smell the smoke-charred aromas as I cross the street, and inside there's a reassuringly long line to the counter. The same succulent ribs I eventually savour a little later on had also been enjoyed in the past by the likes of presidents Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter, such is the fame of Arthur Bryant's. But as legendary as this place is, it's independent modern spots like Chef J BBQ, Q39 and Slaps BBQ that have truly mastered the craft. And since life is short, make sure to order the most gut-busting, indulgent platter on the menu for a true taste of KC. In fact, so intensely does this city worship at the altar of the flame that in April 2025 it opened the world's first Museum of BBQ (entry $10). Located in the sprawling Crown Center near the National WWI Museum and Memorial (entry $19.50), it's a playful meander through BBQ's regions, wood, sauces, people and every other flavour component imaginable. Later that evening in downtown KC, I head over to another local culinary institution. Town Topic Hamburgers' no-nonsense, wallet-friendly burgers are the antithesis of the messy, sky-high sandwiches often found at trendy food trucks in the UK for upwards of £12. A standard hamburger here will set you back just $5.35, but I choose the $9.25 double cheeseburger. It's a greasy but tightly packed nirvana of beef patties, melted cheese, onions and mushrooms which, crucially, can be held in just one hand (something of a lost art these days). Back at 18th and Vine, this neighbourhood was once Kansas City's jazz mecca, where the art form flourished in the 1930s and 40s and where local virtuosos like Charlie Parker got their break. Once a Beale or Bourbon St of the Midwest, the area fell into dilapidation but still holds onto its distinct character and is home to the colourful American Jazz Museum (entry $10). Next door is the Blue Room jazz club, with quality acts at the weekend and free jam sessions on Monday nights. A five-minute stroll south on Vine St, you'll find Vine St Brewing Co, which is truly breathing new life into the area – as Missouri's first Black-owned brewery, their distinct blend of craft beer, bold art and hip hop is a joy to experience. There's talk of a streetcar line to 18th and Vine one day, but for now the focus is on extension from KC's burgeoning riverfront district all the way down to the University of Missouri-Kansas City at the southern end of downtown, where the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art form a free-of-entry double act. Along with the Kansas City Art Institute, they'll make up the 'Arterie', an art-themed walk between all of the galleries starting at the Art Museum's streetcar stop. At the Missouri riverfront, the streetcar extension is already paying dividends in a once-neglected area, with my slick new Origin Hotel and the waterside beer garden of Two Birds One Stone making for a breezy atmosphere as the milky orange sun dips beneath the river every evening. A stone's throw away is CPKC Stadium, home of the Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League and the first stadium purpose-built exclusively for a professional women's soccer team. And in downtown, the soon-to-open The Dub will be the city's first bar devoted entirely to women's sports. Soccer isn't the only sport in town here. When the World Cup is on at Arrowhead Stadium, tickets for neighbouring Kansas City Royals baseball games can often be found for as little as $20. And even if you're not enthralled by the action on the field, the cavernous stadium is also home to an outpost of arguably the most celebrated of all KC's BBQ restaurants - Joe's Kansas City BBQ. The flame can't be avoided in this city, so order in Joe's famous Z-Man Sandwich, embrace it, devour it and thank me later. Getting there There are no direct flights between the UK and Kansas City. Instead, connect to Kansas City International Airport (MCI) via Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Flight time from both of these is under two hours and numerous flights operate on American Airlines. Opened in 2024, the smart 118-room Origin Hotel faces the Missouri River and its on-site restaurant Show Pony dishes up farm-to-table American fare. With the streetcar station opening soon, the hotel's great waterfront location is enhanced further by the hotel offering free bikes for cycling along the Riverfront Heritage Trail.
Globe and Mail
4 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
AgEagle Aerial Systems Advances Global Expansion as Drone and Sensor Technologies Propel Growth in Brazil's Sugarcane Industry
Deployment with leading biofuel producer Atvos demonstrates AgEagle's scalable impact on agricultural efficiency, sustainability, and international market growth WICHITA, Kan., July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (NYSE: UAVS), a leading provider of advanced drone and aerial imaging solutions, announces the sale and deployment of five advanced eBee X drones integrated with S.O.D.A. 3D mapping cameras to Atvos Agroindustrial S.A., one of Brazil's largest producers of sugarcane-based ethanol, sugar, and renewable energy. AgEagle CEO Bill Irby commented, 'Atvos is a strong example of how our proprietary drone technologies are enabling industrial-scale agriculture to become more efficient, data-driven, and sustainable. This partnership illustrates how AgEagle platforms can deliver meaningful value to international producers while creating new opportunities to drive long-term shareholder growth. From defense and security to agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and environmental monitoring, our drones are supporting a diverse and expanding range of global applications. As we continue entering high-impact markets, we remain committed to delivering intelligent aerial solutions that generate measurable value across our operational and customer ecosystems.' Atvos is focused on enhancing productivity, improving environmental stewardship, and reducing operational costs, through the deployment of AgEagle's UAS systems across its 1.2 million acres of sugarcane. Atvos is using AgEagle's technologies to advance two core initiatives: Crop failure analysis – Using high-resolution drone imagery and proprietary algorithms, Atvos identifies gaps in planting greater than 50 cm. This data generates failure index reports, improving the quality and efficiency of mechanized operations. Targeted weed control – Pre-harvest drone mapping enables Atvos to locate weed concentrations in dense cane fields. The data directs herbicide application by drone, significantly cutting chemical usage, lowering costs, and reducing environmental impact. Drone flights take place 60 to 90 days after planting and produce precision maps with 3 cm spatial resolution. These maps integrate with the autopilot systems of agricultural machinery, improving travel accuracy to within 15 cm, thereby minimizing crop damage and soil compaction. Initial results point to an estimated 5% increase in sugarcane yields. This deployment aligns with Atvos' recent R$11 billion (USD $1.89 billion) investment in its New Business division to diversify and scale its biofuel portfolio. The adoption of AgEagle's drone and sensor systems reflects the Atvos' commitment to innovation and sustainable growth. About AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. Through its three Centers of Excellence, AgEagle is actively engaged in designing and delivering best-in-class flight hardware, sensors and software that solve important problems for its customers. Founded in 2010, AgEagle was originally formed to pioneer proprietary, professional-grade, fixed-winged drones and aerial imagery-based data collection and analytics solutions for the agriculture industry. Today, AgEagle is a leading provider of full stack UAS, sensors and software solutions for customers worldwide in the energy, construction, agriculture, and government verticals. For additional information, please visit our website at Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this press release may constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'contemplate,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'seek,' 'may,' 'might,' 'plan,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'suggest,' 'target,' 'aim,' 'should,' 'will,' 'would,' or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on AgEagle's current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict, including risks related to the timing and fulfilment of current and future purchase orders relating to AgEagle's products, the success of new programs and software updates, the ability to implement a new strategic plan and the success of a new strategic plan. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. For a further discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of AgEagle in general, see the risk disclosures in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of AgEagle for the year ended December 31, 2024, and in subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K and other filings made with the SEC by AgEagle. All such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and AgEagle undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Media Contact Andy Woodward +1 (469) 451-2344 LinkedIn Facebook X YouTube
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voter registration closes July 15; Early/advance voting starts Wednesday
The clock is ticking away, moving ever closer to the Aug. 5 Primary Election that will narrow the field of candidates who will vie for three open positions on the Abilene City Commission. Ten Abilene residents filed for the city commission race. The primary will eliminate four of the candidates, allowing the top six vote-getters to move on to the Nov. 4 General Election. With 10 candidates, the Abilene commission race is the only one in Dickinson County that requires a primary election. Today Tuesday, July 15, is the last day to register to vote or update voter registration information. Registration can be done in person at the Dickinson County Clerk/Election Office or online through the Kansas Secretary of State's website. This deadline applies to registering online, by mail, or in person. You can register online through the Kansas Secretary of State's website. You can also register by mail, with the application needing to be postmarked on or before the deadline. Registration can also be done in person at your county election office. Early/Advance voting starts on Wednesday, July 16 in the Dickinson County Clerk/Election office at the courthouse, 109 E. First, Abilene.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Barack and Michelle Obama finally address divorce speculation in astonishing joint sit-down
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have finally addressed the state of their marriage - after months of speculation that the couple's relationship is on the rocks. The former President of the United States, 63, was a guest on his wife's podcast IMO, which she co-hosts with her brother Craig Robinson, with the pair wasting no time in addressing the rumors of their separation. 'What, you guys like each other?' Robinson joked, before Michelle replied: 'Oh yeah, the rumor mill.' 'She took me back!' Obama light-heartedly chimed in, adding: 'It was touch and go for awhile.' The former first lady added that it is nice to be in the same room as her husband, sassily telling her brother: 'When we aren't, folks think we're divorced.' Michelle then made a heartfelt admission about her relationship with her husband of almost 33 years. 'There hasn't been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man,' she said passionately. She continued: 'And we've had some really hard times. So we had a lot of fun times, a lot of adventures, and I have become a better person because of the man I'm married to.' Robinson admitted he had been asked about his sister's marriage, recalling an interaction with a fan who asked for a photo in Wichita, Kansas. 'This woman came up to me and she was so nice, she's like, can I have a picture?' he recalled. 'You know how you get the side hug, and she's like "what did he do?"' he told the couple, with Robinson jokingly replying: 'What make you think he messed up?' Obama admitted he misses a lot of the speculation, and he was largely unaware of what people were saying. 'These are the kinds of things that I just miss, right? So I don't even know this stuff's going on. And then somebody will mention it to me and I'm all like, "what are you talking about?"' he said incredulously. The Obamas have been married for almost 33 years but have faced ongoing rumors about their marriage status over the last few months. The rumor mill swirled after her decision to skip both Jimmy Carter's funeral and President Donald Trump's inauguration - with Michelle insisting they were decisions she made for herself. Her absence at the high-profile political events stoked divorce rumors, as did President Obama's admission in April that he was in a 'deep deficit' with his wife. They share daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 24. Last week, Obama made a frank admission about life at home with husband after spending months dodging divorce rumors. The mom-of-two shared the insight about being an empty nester with a husband who is no longer serving as the President of the United States on Wednesday's episode of her podcast, IMO, which she hosts with older brother Craig Robinson. 'I mean at this stage in life for me, personally, is the first time I've been completely free,' the mother-of-two told guest Julia Louis-Dreyfus. 'There's been a release where every choice I make is not about my husband, not about his career, not about my family, not about what my kids need or where they're going, it's totally about me,' she admitted, quipping: 'This is when we start living ladies.'
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Register to vote in the 2025 Kansas primary election
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The 2025 primary election is around the corner, and Tuesday is the last day you can register to vote. To register to vote online, you must do the following: Verify your voting eligibility. Verify that you have a valid driver's license or non-driver's identification card. Enter your personal information. Review and submit your information. If you do not have a valid Kansas driver's license or non-driver's identification card, you may register to vote using the paper form. Kansas revenue seizes assets of Mexican restaurant chain Primary Election Day is Tuesday, August 5. Advance voting begins by mail on Wednesday, July 16. Voters in Wichita will narrow down candidates for the Wichita City Council seat for District 1 and USD 259 Board of Education District 1 and District 5. Maize residents will decide whether to support a 1% sales tax. will stream a Wichita City Council District 1 candidate forum at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Candidates for the seat are Aujanae Bennett, Darryl Carrington, LaWanda DeShazer, Chris Pumpelly, and Joseph Shepard. Some other Kansas towns will be having primaries for city council or commissioner positions. Other counties that KSN News has reached out to will not be holding primaries due to the presence of only a few candidates. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
