02.23.2024

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Today’s Forecast

77º | 2% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:55 a.m. | Sunset 6:07 p.m.

🪲 What’s the buzz

Everything you need to know about the 2024 cicada super brood

Dozens of cicadas sit on the branch of a tree

Cicadas prefer oaks, willows, maples, and ash trees. | Photo via Gene Kritsky

Are you ready for swarms of cicadas to take over a 16-state area?

It’s rare, but occasionally two broods emerge at the same time. Brood XIII (comprising cicadas that emerge every 17 years) and Brood XIX (13-year cicadas) will both reproduce this spring.

Did you know? The last time Broods XIII and XIX emerged simultaneously was 1803.

Enter: the super brood

Does this mean the two broods can reproduce with each other? Will that result in even more cicadas during their next emergences?

We spoke to Dr. Gene Kritsky, a cicada expert at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, to find out. He let us know that since “the broods do not have a wide area of overlap” it is unlikely that they will reproduce with each other. However, he noted, “If there was an overlap, it could satiate the predators more quickly, resulting in generally more offspring from each brood.”

A gif showing the difference between one cicada brood emerging in the south and both emerging in the south and through Illinois and Wisconsin. — Brood XIII (aka Northern Illinois Brood) joins Brood XIX (the Great Southern Brood).
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Map via Gene Kritsky, gif created with Knight Labs

What this means

The good news? While it is possible for overlap to occur near our city, it’s unlikely we’ll see more cicadas due to the super brood.

However, Brood XIX is coming to 13 states across the southeast and midwest, including North and South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Cicadas usually emerge when the soil hits 64 degrees, which begins in April for some places. Currently, our soil is at ~48°.

In other words, we’re close to the event these cicadas have been waiting over a decade for.

The Cicada Safari map shows 72 sightings in Kansas City — It looks like Overland Park is the place for cicadas to be.
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Screenshot via Cicada Safari courtesy of Gene Kritsky

How you can help

Cicada Safari needs you to track cicada spottings. Mapping cicadas helps experts understand when broods may emerge. Per Dr. Kritsky, it also led to a discovery “that some 17-year cicadas can emerge four years early and may form a new brood.”

Download the free app to track cicada spottings and submit your own photos.

Look for cicadas where there are trees, full sun, and low vegetation. Think: Loose Park and Union Cemetery.

Asked

Did you learn something today?

Buzz in your answer by taking our cicada quiz.

Bring it on

Events

Friday, Feb. 23

Kansas City Golf Show 2024 | Friday, Feb. 23-Sunday, Feb. 25 | Times vary | Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS | $14-$15 | Save big on must-have products from 100+ top industry names, including golf club manufacturers, golf courses, private clubs, and destination resorts.
Murder Mystery Dinner | Friday, Feb. 23 | 6-9 p.m. | Homesteader, 100 E. 7th St., KCMO | $62-$74.40 | The Grand Groundhog of the International Society of Groundhogs is hosting the annual Grand Groundhog Grandiosity seasonal party when tragedy strikes — can you figure out who dun it?
Symphonic Genesis and Phil Collins | Friday, Feb. 23-Sunday, Feb. 25 | Times vary | The Kansas City Symphony, 1703 Wyandotte St., Ste 200, KCMO | $63-$103 | Phil Collins’ sensational drum crescendos made an indelible mark on the 70s + 80s, now you get to relive iconic hits like “In the Air Tonight.”

Saturday, Feb. 24

Bingo Brunch | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Chicken N Pickle, 5901 W. 135th St., Overland Park, KS | $10 | Brunch + bingo go hand-in-hand at this prize-filled event benefiting Birth It Forward, a local doula nonprofit.
2024 KC Love Event | Saturday, Feb. 24-Sunday, Feb. 25 | Times vary | Union Station, KCMO | $5 | Union Station will be packed with 100+ local artists, boutiques + makers, with photo ops and free prizes to boot.
International Polar Bear Weekend | Saturday, Feb. 24-Sunday, Feb. 25 | 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, KCMO | Party with polar bear pal Nuniq as he enjoys special enrichment in celebration of International Polar Bear Day, and take home your own fuzzy fun activity.
Archery Workshop | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 1-4 p.m. | Powell Community Center South Gym, Ct. #2, 6200 Martway St., Mission, KS | $12 | Channel your inner Legolas + learn how to pull back, aim, and fire a bow with precision.

Sunday, Feb. 25

The Astrology of Kansas City | Sunday, Feb. 25 | 2-4 p.m. | Kansas City Museum, 3218 Gladstone Blvd., KCMO | $10 | Discover the astrology of Kansas City and the planetary effects on our body, mind + spirit with astrologer and author Elaine Ziner.

Monday, Feb. 26

Hard Candy Kansas City with Plasma | Monday, Feb. 26 | 8-10 p.m. | Hamburger Mary’s, 3700 Broadway Blvd., Ste. 110, KCMO | $22.50 | Come meet the star from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 16 and enjoy a fabulous show shortly after.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Coming Soon

Lawrence look out — Q39 is coming your way this October. The local barbecue biz will take over the former Lawrence Journal-World complex on New Hampshire Street, renaming the development Press Yards. Plans are currently under review by the city. (Lawrence Times)

Sports

Former Royals star Eric Hosmer is trading in his baseball cap for headphones. Earlier this week he announced he will be retiring from baseball and launching a podcast under his new company, MoonBall Media. The podcast will be full of player interviews detailing the ins and outs of the game — both on the field and in the locker room. (Kansas City Star)

History

Speaking of baseball... 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of KC’s first sports championship win: the Monarchs’ triumph at the inaugural Negro League World Series. To celebrate, the Negro League Baseball Museum has revealed a new logo, and will receive $100 every time the Royals score at Kauffman Stadium this season. (Kansas City Star)

Closing

But not for long. Westport’s Ça Va (4149 Pennsylvania Ave.) will celebrate its 10th anniversary the weekend of Friday, March 1, but will close on Saturday, March 9. The champagne bar says it’s closing for updates but will return with an expanded, international menu.

Feel Good

Remember the Independence teen in need of size 23 shoes? Well, not only did the KC metro step up, but so did Shaq. The super-sized basketball star filled Jor’el Bolden’s closet with mountains of shoes + clothes that should fit him for years to come. (KCTV)

Job

The Early Childhood Center at Guadalupe Centers is searching for lead teachers, assistant teaches, and classroom floaters. If you want to keep up with the kiddos, put in your application.

Finance

These four credit cards offer 0% intro APR for up to 18 months — meaning that when life piles up (unexpected tax payments, medical appointments, picking up the bill for the whole table at Noka...) — you could have almost two years to avoid interest charges.*

Development

👗 It’s a nuu day

Subscription clothing company Nuuly opens Raymore facility

kcadc michelle hataway acting director of the missouri department of economic development at ribbon cutting ceremony .jpeg

Michelle Hataway, acting Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, expresses her excitement for Nuuly’s new center. | Photo courtesy of the KCADC

Earlier this week, URBN — the parent company of brands such as Urban Outfitters, Free People, and Anthropology — celebrated the opening of a Nuuly fulfillment center in Raymore, MO.

Over the next five years, URBN plans to invest $60 million to complete the 600,000-sqft facility, creating ~750 jobs along the way.

The center will be able to fulfill women’s clothing subscription boxes for Nuuly, launder returned items, and make alterations, too.

The Buy

The Buy 2.23.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Chips and salsa, because honestly, is there a better snack? Sobremesa’s salsa is well worth the chip dip with flavors including layered, complex Mole Poblano + spicy Smoky Salsa Oaxaqueña.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Charmaine

From the editor

Fun fact: Union Cemetery is the oldest surviving cemetery in KCMO. It even has a historical society to keep it alive (ironically) and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

I learned a lot more about it but I’ll save those spooky specs for October.

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