May 8, 2024

Today’s Forecast

77º | 19% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:11 a.m. | Sunset 8:18 p.m.

🎂 Happy birthday, Harry

From left: Senator Harry S. Truman meets with Tom Pendergast and others at the Democratic National Convention in 1936. | Photo via Harry S. Truman Library

Cut the cake. It’s President Harry S. Truman’s 140th birthday and we’re ready to celebrate the KC local with a very special lesson... on crime, corruption, and the former president’s personal friend, “Boss” Tom Pendergast.

The origins of Tom’s Town

In 1910, following the death of his brother, Thomas Joseph Pendergast took over the family’s West Bottoms tavern and discovered that politics kept the money flowing better than liquor did.

Pendergast never held office, preferring to utilize his large network to swing elections in his favor. The businessman, who went on to found both a liquor + a concrete company, would award city contracts to allies. And thus, Missouri’s most powerful political machine was born.

KCtoday_Tom Pendergast — KC’s Prohibition-era boss | Photo via Kansas City Public Library

“Senator from Pendergast”

Originally from Independence, young Harry Truman worked all sorts of odd jobs in the big city, eventually running a men’s clothing store... that quickly failed.

By 1922, Truman’s old Army buddy Mike Pendergast approached him with a proposition: “Run for western judge of the Jackson County Administrative Court, and my uncle will support you.”

Truman’s reputation for hard work and honesty preceded him + offered Pendergast’s operation an air of legitimacy. With their political relationship cemented, Truman found himself on the right side of a US Senate vote in 1934. You can imagine the rest.

Mob ties + prison time

Events

Wednesday, May 8

KC Monarchs FanFest | Wednesday, May 8 | 6-8 p.m. | The Lawn, 1865 Village West Pkwy., KCK | Free | Celebrate the season opener with prize giveaways, player meet + greets, and a screening of “The Sandlot.”

Thursday, May 9

Opening Celebration for the Gillham Park Book Walk | Thursday, May 9 | 4-6 p.m. | Gillham Park, 3915 Gillham Rd., KCMO | Free | Sit in for free ice cream and trailside storytime with local author + illustrator Charlie Mylie.
Petals + Pastries | Thursday, May 9 | 6-8 p.m. | Strang Reserve, 8020 Marty St., Overland Park, KS | $130 | Bring home a beautiful Mother’s Day bouquet and snag 15% off a meal at Strang Hall.
Brush Creek Film Festival | Thursday, May 9 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Theis Park Amphitheatre, 4701 Oak St. , KCMO | Free | Local short films + animations are on display at this fest celebrating community.

Saturday, May 11

Midwest Design & Furniture Fair | Saturday, May 11 | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St., Ste. 100, KCMO | This interior design trade show offers masterclasses, industry speakers, and on-site purchasing for one product-packed weekend.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Biz

Global EV manufacturer Fisker is spinning up its first Kansas City dealership. The company has dedicated dealerships in California and New York, but this new location — the first in Missouri or Kansas — will run out of a partnering Mitsubishi dealership at 6220 E. 87th St., KCMO. (Kansas City Business Journal)

Opening

Italian Delight by Avelluto Bros. will reopen in Mission as Avelluto’s (6846 Johnson Dr.). The Italian restaurant opened in 1977 and closed in 2021 — and with finishing touches underway, it plans to be back in action by the end of the month. (Johnson County Post)

Community

At a meeting on Monday, the Prairie Village City Council discussed a 30-day minimum stay rule on short-term rentals. Councilmembers agreed to explore this and other options in order to limit disruptions caused by major events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Johnson County Post)

Civic

The Overland Park City Council unanimously adopted Framework OP, its first new long-term strategic plan in 40 years. The plan distinguishes between 10 “character types” — like “Commercial Hubs” and “Public Parks and Open Space” — and details how each type should be used. (Johnson County Post)

History

Two immersive exhibits are now open at the National WWI Museum and Memorial following extensive updates. “Epilogue: A World Transformed” projects a floor-to-ceiling film showing the aftermath of the war, while “Into the Trenches” uses new displays to simulate life in five different trenches. (FOX4)

Cause

Help for the community is signed, sealed, and delivered. The National Association of Letter Carriers is hosting its annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive this Saturday, May 11. You can leave a donation of nonperishable food items in a sturdy bag next to your mailbox for your carrier to pick up.

Environment

Need to get rid of that old TV, paint, or Styrofoam™? We’ll let you in on a secret: RecycleSpot is your one-stop spot on how to recycle just about anything. See how this fast, reliable, trusted source can help you make eco-friendly choices for things you no longer want or need.*

Active

ICYMI, it’s Teacher Appreciation Week. HOTWORX is celebrating educators with exclusive offers, giveaways, and more. Find a location near you to score these deals now through Friday, May 10.*

Wellness

Purple Carrot delivers plant-based meals right to your door. This month’s chef-prepared meal kits are spring-themed + filled with seasonal ingredients (think: Super Greens Fried Rice with Peanut Drizzle).*

Travel

🚗 Don’t get lost in this iconic road trip pitstop

The outside of a Buc-ee's convenience store in Austin, Texas.

Think of Buc-ee’s as the Costco of fudge and jerky. | Photo via Buc-ee’s

A convenience store with a massive paw print plans to open its first metro location in KCK.

Texas-based Buc-ee’s is known for a lot of things: an extensive lineup of snacks, from brisket egg tacos to cinnamon roll popcorn to walls of beef jerky; its cavernous bathrooms, which house as many as 50 full-door toilet stalls; its merch, featuring the chain’s iconic beaver mascot; and its size — the Springfield location is over 50,000 sqft with 100+ gas pumps.

Maybe most of all, the store is known for having the most dedicated fan club a convenience store chain could ask for. Researchers in Austin even named a fossil after it.

Buc-ee’s chooses its locations based on car traffic: each location serves an area of about 100 miles, targeting popular road trip routes. The proposed location at 110th Street + I-70 sits near the Kansas Speedway and Legends Outlets, plus the planned Margaritaville Resort and Destination KCK.

We’re already dreaming of the Beaver Nuggets...

The Buy

Sunglasses under $100, because we’re heading into the brightest months of the year (yay). We like these tortoiseshell Ray-Bans or this cat-eye Jimmy Choo pair.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Madison

From the editor

Last week, I thought I’d test how deep the Border War goes with a trivia question about KU’s + Mizzou’s football record. It’s been over a decade since the teams’ last match... and 60% of you still answered correctly. Was it just that easy — or are you all diehard fans?

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