Julie Denesha

Bruce Winter, who performed for more than five decades as Melinda Ryder, was a pioneering figure widely credited with helping revive the drag scene in Kansas City. Winter died September 8, at age 70, after a six-month battle with cancer.

The National Weather Service has issued an “extreme heat warning” with temperatures expected to reach 99 degrees Tuesday. Some area pools are offering a way to cool off with a doggy paddle.

Grinter Farm's sunflower field in Lawrence, Kansas, draws visitors and photographers from around the world. This season’s flowers are expected to fade more quickly than previous years’ due to the extreme heat this week.

Port KC’s Board of Commissioners approved an economic development package for Dallas-based Gillon Property Group’s plan to revitalize the historic Country Club Plaza. The leader of Kansas City Public Schools says the deal fails to meet their needs.

The 70-foot-tall sign’s bright neon arrow and 11 letters have been restored and its 3,000 light bulbs have been replaced. So when will the metro get to enjoy the latest glow up for Kansas City’s most recognizable building-topper?

The names of nine people who were enslaved in Jackson County surfaced in old property records from the estate of Pony Express tycoon Alexander Majors. Now, an online database is making hundreds of records referencing enslavement easier to search — and shedding new light on slavery's deep roots in Missouri.

After neighbors in the Historic Northeast raised concerns about a deteriorating, three-block-long mural, city crews and hundreds of volunteers joined forces to repaint and restore it. Neighborhood leaders say the work will help renew a sense of pride.

A break-in at a Kansas farmhouse unearthed a trove of artifacts from Maud Wagner, one of the country’s first known female commercial tattoo artists. Wagner was born in Emporia and ran off to join the circus until a fateful meeting pushed her to pursue carnival stardom, inked from head to toe. KCUR’s Julie Denesha and Mackenzie Martin explore Wagner’s journey and the permanent mark she left on the world.

A break-in at a Kansas farmhouse unearthed a trove of artifacts from Maud Wagner, one of the country’s first known female commercial tattoo artists. Wagner was born in Emporia and joined a sideshow act with her sister until a fateful meeting pushed her to pursue carnival stardom, inked from head to toe.

515 Music Hub organizers wanted to create a space that prioritizes listening, "as opposed to people talking over musicians as they eat or drink." The new venture is part of a $1.6 million city initiative to fill empty storefronts and entertain international visitors.