KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – Two brothers running a lemonade stand received an unexpected boost this week when Kansas City Kansas police and firefighters responded to a call about their operation.

Parez and Jakkhi Reese have been selling lemonade, Kool-Aid and snacks at 33rd and Webster for years. But this week, someone called 911 to report the boys selling lemonade on the corner.

When officers and firefighters arrived, they did not shut down the stand. Instead, they became its best customers.

Officers rally support

Officer Morgan Reed was among the first to arrive during the afternoon shift. She immediately began calling colleagues to encourage them to stop by.

“I was calling everybody, yeah. I was just calling everybody — hey, make sure you guys stop by the lemonade stand. And then just whenever they were busy, a couple people were able to swing by,” Reed said.

The calls worked. In about 30 minutes, dozens of officers purchased lemonade and Kool-Aid from the brothers. The sales totaled $280.

More than money

For Parez and Jakkhi, the experience meant more than the revenue.

“It means a lot because they gave us like… a big sticker to use on our shirts. And they was like — now you’re an official police officer,” the brothers said.

Reed returned the next day and spent another $40. She said moments like this represent what community policing should look like.

“I think as a lot of us, we’re kids growing up in this city. And this was the thing that we always looked forward to as kids, is these friendly police interactions,” Reed said.

Goals beyond the stand

Parez said his motivation extends beyond collecting badge stickers.

“I just wanted to like help the homeless and buy me a new e-bike because that has been my dream since I was little,” Parez said.

Jakkhi said he plans to use his share to buy diapers for his nephew and niece.

The brothers said they will continue operating the stand throughout the summer. Reed said she will likely return again.

Both boys were invited to attend a free boys and girls football camp put on by the Kansas City Kansas Police Department. More information is available at this link.

KSHB 41 reporter Grant Stephens covers downtown Kansas City, Missouri. He also focuses on stories of consumer interest. Share your story idea with Grant.

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Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District has a new attraction opening ahead of one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District gets a new media tech museum ahead of the World Cup

The Media Tech Museum opened Monday, bringing more than 1,000 rare and historic media devices – some dating back to the 1860s – to the heart of downtown.

Owner Jon Trozzolo said the timing was no accident.

“To open this museum was strategic, by design. We’ve been planning on this, we’ve been budgeting for it, and working diligently, 10, 12, 14, hours a day for the last six months to be open before the World Cup, but also to be open before summer,” Trozzolo said.

The museum is located just a block from a KC Streetcar stop and surrounded by hotels and the convention center – a location Trozzolo carefully chose for maximum visibility and foot traffic. It opened just days before FIFA World Cup fans arrive in the city.

“This museum is going to benefit tremendously from the World Cup and the huge audience and the huge traffic that it’s going to generate. However, that’s only temporary,” Trozzolo said.

Trozzolo walked through some of the collection, which spans the history of how media technology has shaped everyday life.

“A lot of these devices tell a story. My grandfather used to listen to the Royals game on that radio. My grandma used to use that kind of crank phone when she was in a rural area,” Trozzolo said.

The museum traces the arc of electronic communication across generations.

“How we communicate electronically from the telegraph to the telephone to the phonograph to the radio, the wireless radio, the CB radio … the list goes on and on and on that directly affect our personal life as well as our professional life,” Trozzolo said.

Trozzolo said the museum fills a gap in the city’s cultural landscape.

“I wanted to do this because there’s nothing like this in Kansas City,” Trozzolo said.

He hopes the museum will become more than a temporary stop for World Cup tourists – aiming to make it a year-round destination for students, visitors, and anyone curious about how media technology has transformed the way we connect.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is asking for the public’s help to find a missing 11-year-old girl.

Brietta Edwards was last seen at about 8:50 p.m. Wednesday in the area of East 34th Street and South Benton Avenue. Police said it is believed she left the area on foot.

Brietta is Black, 4 feet, 11 inches tall, and weighs 150 pounds.

She was last seen wearing a red hoodie, red sweatpants and red shoes.

KCPD said Brietta is diagnosed with autism, and her family is worried for her well-being.

Anyone with information about Brietta Edwards should call 911.

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If you have any information about a crime, you may contact your local police department directly. But if you want or need to remain anonymous, you should contact the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com. Depending on your tip, Crime Stoppers could offer you a cash reward.

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