Abbey Higginbotham

Kansas City

Reporter at Axios

@Axios Kansas City Reporter | Seminole | Cat enthusiast | insta: abbey.jooo

Articles

Missouri-based bombers led historic U.S. strike on Iran

3 days ago | axios.com | Abbey Higginbotham

An Air Force B-2 Spirit in flight. Photo: Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesA base just outside Kansas City is the only one in the world that houses the stealth bombers that carried out the unprecedented U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites last weekend. Why it matters: Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Missouri, about 70 miles southeast of KC, is the home base for the B-2 Spirit, built specifically for such long-range, secretive missions.
Water Fountain: "Tornado house" on display

5 days ago | axios.com | Abbey Higginbotham |Travis Meier

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/AxiosB-2 bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Missouri, were part of an offensive operation in Iran on Saturday, FOX4 reported. The strike, which damaged three nuclear facilities, marked the most direct and consequential U.S. military action against Iran since 1979, Axios reported. 🌪️ Dorothy's house — or rather, the model that they used to film the twister scene in "The Wizard of Oz" — is on display at the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas.
KS and MO see moderate use of 988 mental health line

5 days ago | axios.com | Abbey Higginbotham |Alex Fitzpatrick

Data: Purtle J, Mauri AI, Bandara S, Stuart EA.; Map: Alex Fitzpatrick/AxiosUse of the 988 mental health crisis line varies widely across the country, with Kansas and Missouri landing near the middle of the pack, a new analysis finds. Why it matters: The national suicide prevention and mental health hotline was launched nearly three years ago to help address America's mental health crisis — but gaps persist.
People's Pride KC highlights queer joy, not corporate logos

1 week ago | axios.com | Abbey Higginbotham

People's Pride KC in West Bottoms in 2024. Photo: Courtesy of People's Pride KCAs many Americans grow skeptical of corporate participation in Pride, a Kansas City group is building a celebration rooted in community, not marketing. Why it matters: Some companies are pulling support for Pride and related events as they roll back diversity and inclusion initiatives amid pressure from the Trump administration and broader skepticism of corporate Pride.
Water Fountain: Short-term rentals taxed big

1 week ago | axios.com | Travis Meier |Abbey Higginbotham

Photo illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios. Photo: William Gottlieb/Getty Images. 🏠 Some Kansas City Airbnb hosts just got slapped with huge tax bills after Jackson County reclassified short-term rentals as commercial properties. Now local lawmakers are scrambling to hit pause on the tax hikes. (KMBC)☕️ Tim Hortons is finally coming to the KC metro. The first location opens in Blue Springs on Saturday with coffee and Timbits deals — and more are on the way, including one at Crown Center.
Celebrate Juneteenth 2025 with KC events, music and history

1 week ago | axios.com | Abbey Higginbotham

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/AxiosWhether you're dancing at 18th & Vine or learning about local history at the library, Kansas City is full of ways to celebrate Juneteenth and the legacy of Black freedom. The big picture: Juneteenth commemorates the day when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free 2ยฝ years after the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, it's a celebration of Black freedom, culture and community.
Travis Kelce's mom joins "The Traitors" cast

1 week ago | axios.com | Abbey Higginbotham |Travis Meier

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios💪 64-year-old Kansas City native Greg Justice makes his "American Ninja Warrior" debut tonight. (Kansas City Pitch)🍦 Local frozen yogurt company Fifth & Emery opened a new Lenexa location on 87th Street on Friday, with a grand opening celebration planned for this Saturday. The company, named after the owner's son and daughter, has 16 flavors and 60 topping choices.
Kansas City "No Kings" protest draws 2,000 to Plaza

1 week ago | axios.com | Abbey Higginbotham |Travis Meier

The view from Mill Creek Park on Saturday. Video: Courtesy of Weston Owen"No Kings" protests took place peacefully across the metro on Saturday, according to police. More than 2,000 demonstrators showed up at Mill Creek Park near the Country Club Plaza, organizers told KMBC. What they're saying: "It's always energizing to be reminded of the real people beyond the phone screen who are rational and are just as outraged," Gabby Stanley, a protester, tells Axios. "However ...
Exclusive: Afterword Tavern adds coffee and morning hours

1 week ago | axios.com | Abbey Higginbotham

Coffee and cocktails on now on the menu. Video: Abbey Higginbotham/AxiosAfterword Tavern & Shelves is waking up earlier and getting caffeinated. Why it matters: The East Crossroads bar, where you can order a Negroni and Nabokov in the same breath, will start opening in the mornings tomorrow with coffee service available all day. New hours mean you don't have to wait until 4pm to linger in a tucked-away booth with a good book. The full cocktail menu will still be available, too.
Whiskers Cat Café blends coffee and cat adoptions

1 week ago | axios.com | Abbey Higginbotham

Just a little guy hanging out at Whiskers Cat Café. Photo: Whiskers Cat Café. Whiskers Cat Café and Coffeehouse, Kansas City's original feline-friendly hangout, blends Messenger's espresso with a lounge full of adoptable cats all under one cozy roof. The big picture: Since opening in 2018 in Midtown, Whiskers has helped hundreds of rescue cats find homes — including Hemingway, who now lives with this reporter. The café — part adoption hub, part community space — is full of charm.