Celisa Calacal
Race and Culture ReporterAs KCUR’s Race and Culture reporter, I use history as a guide and build connections with people to craft stories about joy, resilience and struggle. I spotlight the diverse people and communities who make Kansas City a more welcoming place, whether through food, housing or public service. . Follow me on Twitter @celisa_mia or email me at celisa@kcur.org.
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The Sun Fresh Market at Linwood Shopping Center closed in August due to increasing issues with crime and a lack of customers. The lawsuit alleges Kansas City undermined and neglected the store, which caused it to close. -
B&B Theatres announced this weekend that it has closed its movie theater on Main Street. Its closure means one fewer first-run movie theater in Kansas City's core. -
Richardson founded an association aimed at advancing the media careers of people of color at a time when diverse voices were not prioritized. ‘His life’s work stands as a testament to the power of representation,’ his family wrote. -
Federal officials first toured the building in January, sparking speculation over whether the owners had sold the building to the U.S. government. Media reports suggested the sale was part of a push to use warehouses across the country as immigration detention centers. -
Port KC commissioners voted to terminate and refrain from any negotiations with Platform Ventures. The company owns a south Kansas City warehouse rumored to be part of a federal plan to convert such spaces into immigration detention facilities. -
Kansas City is seeing an influx of short-term rental applications from residents interested in hosting their property during the FIFA World Cup. The city opened up special permitting in December that allows people to host short-term rentals from May 3 to July 31. -
Faith leaders and immigration advocates discussed the current fears around immigration enforcement in Kansas City, and gave attendees advice on how to combat their fear and turn it into action. -
Tenants at Bowen Tower Apartments began withholding rent last October. An agreement with the California-based landlord now includes lower rent and utility rates, and commitments to fix longstanding problems in the building. -
For more than three decades, customers have come to love the Mexican family recipes served up at La Fonda El Taquito. With the restaurant closing for good at the end of January, the Medina sisters who own the spot have been busier than ever. -
On Thursday morning, officials from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement toured a warehouse in south Kansas City with aims to hold detainees there. By the afternoon, city lawmakers put in place a measure to stop such detention centers from being approved.
