The red-white-and-blue popsicles are the ultimate shorthand Americana — a throwback to the simple days of ice cream trucks, July 4th fireworks and humid summer nights. But after the Bomb Pop came on the market in July 1955, some parents revolted over the symbolism of selling a frozen weapon of war to children.

Only 2% of pilots and aviation engineers are Black, data shows. Red Tail Academy is enrolling Black young adults in an effort to grow that number and to take advantage of the benefits of careers in the aviation industry.

Four Minnesota paddlers set off Tuesday from western Montana, attempting to break the record of 33 days, 18 hours and 45 minutes. The team will remain on the Missouri River nearly nonstop, but will have a 30-person support crew helping.

One local artist said the city is celebrating "the idea that an artist, with his family and his friends, got together and created some art to welcome these beautiful people. That’s the kind of thing we’re missing in the world.”

The SpraySeeMO mural festival is marking the World Cup with seven large-scale painting projects in the West Bottoms, which is undergoing a more than $500 million redevelopment.

With the World Cup in town, Kansas City is showing off all that it has to offer this summer. Here are the can't-miss events, including Juneteenth, Pride and other annual festivities like the Ethnic Enrichment Festival.

Made Mobb released more than a dozen World Cup-inspired jerseys — with a blue-and-white Argentina-style kit sparking special attention from local fans. The jerseys can be purchased online, at their Crossroads store and Union Station popup.

Missouri loosened its liquor laws for the World Cup. Then Kansas City reined them in — restricting 23-hour liquor sales only to businesses in certain neighborhoods that submitted security plans.

The JuneteenthKC Heritage Festival takes place this year across two days in a newly-transformed Historic 18th and Vine district. It's also the first time festival organizers will welcome a World Cup audience.

Kansas City G.I.F.T, a nonprofit focused on growing Black entrepreneurship, will distribute a guide in June that features 30 Black-owned businesses. The hope is that the World Cup, predicted to bring in more prospective shoppers than Kansas City has ever seen at once, jumpstarts long-term growth.

More than 100 businesses, artists, makers, food vendors, and community organizations are taking part in Kansas City's "City of Entrepreneurs" marketplace at Union Station, which runs select days through July 12.

For the 2026 World Cup, the Netherlands will be staying and training in Kansas City — and will playing here on June 25. As the Oranje Army takes over town, get to know the Dutch men's national team and find out how explore the culture around this region.