Missouri

Oldest Missouri Black Owned Book Store Closes as Owner Retires

Published

6 months ago

July 13, 2025

Oldest Missouri Black Owned Book Store Closes as Owner Retires

KANSAS CITY, Mo — Willa’s Books and Vinyl, the oldest Black-owned bookstore in Missouri, is closing its final chapter as owner Willa Mae Robinson prepares for her retirement. The beloved shop, a cultural cornerstone in the community, has been a beacon for literature and music enthusiasts for years.

In a heartfelt farewell hosted by the KC Defender, the event served as a final love letter to her customers and supporters.

Will Shaw

Willa Mae Robinson, Owner of Willa’s Books and Vinyl

“All of these books, all of this music, all of this art—dedicated to you all,” Robinson said.

Dozens, including Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, gathered to honor Robinson and her contributions.

Robinson’s passion for reading and music traces back to her upbringing in Arkansas, where her father, an avid reader, instilled in her the joys of literature.

“That was our life,” Robinson said. “That’s why I am who I am now.”

Willa Mae Robinson, Owner of Willa’s Books and Vinyl

However, it was the profound loss of her daughter and granddaughter that drove Robinson to fill a void in her life.

“I was trying to fill the fact that my children were gone,” she said. “And I was just collecting books, books, books, books.”

Robinson worked for the post office for 30 years. In the 1990s she retired and transitioned her personal collection into a public treasure, selling the books at festivals before establishing her storefront in 2007.

Willa's Books and Vinyl: Oldest Missouri Black Owned Book Store Closes as Owner Retires — Willa’s Books and Vinyl: Oldest Missouri Black Owned Book Store Closes as Owner Retires

“I didn’t collect all these books for them to be covered up somewhere,” she daid. “I want people to enjoy the books.”

As she prepares to turn a new page, she is passing the torch to the next generation. The store is set to become an archive under the ownership of The KC Defender, led by Founder and Executive Editor Ryan Sorrell.

Ryan Sorrell, Founder and executive editor KC Defender

“So people from the community can come in for free and look at these rare books,” Sorrell said.”Being able to nourish that love of literature is something that is extremely important to Mrs. Willa. So that, I think just the Blackness, the Black joy, the safety that people feel being in this space.”

The store’s legacy will be preserved as a community hub and the headquarters for the KC Defender.

“There’s not enough that can be said about what she represents to our community,” said Sorrell. “She went through trials and tribulations. She overcame extreme financial hardships, gentrification, all of these things. She could barely survive being able to run this bookstore. But because of her love for Black people, her love for Black literature, she invested her entire life into this. I am again deeply grateful, I’m excited.”

While Robinson’s retirement is bittersweet, she looks forward to writing a new story.

“I am going to miss them,” she said. “I just want to thank them. Thank them for taking they time out because they could’ve been doing something else.”

Willa Robinson with her daughter and son

The day also served as a final sale with attendees leaving with their own pieces of history.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for Jan. 10, 2026

Published

1 hour ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

05-19-21-28-64, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

Midday: 5-6-1

Midday Wild: 9

Evening: 1-7-3

Evening Wild: 8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

Midday: 9-3-8-0

Midday Wild: 9

Evening: 0-9-0-1

Evening Wild: 6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

01-09-28-35-54, Cash Ball: 03

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

Early Bird: 04

Morning: 11

Matinee: 06

Prime Time: 03

Night Owl: 07

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

08-18-25-28-30

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

10-19-39-47-67, Powerball: 18

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Missouri

1 dead after rollover crash Friday evening in Kansas City, Missouri

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

1 dead after rollover crash Friday evening in Kansas City, Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One person died in a rollover crash Friday evening in Kansas City, Missouri, on Missouri 152 Highway near North Indiana Avenue.

The victim, whose identity has not been released, was alone in the vehicle, police said.

The crash happened at 5:35 p.m.

No word on what led to the crash.

—

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Missouri

Missouri Secretary of State admits to misleading ballot language for gerrymander referendum

Published

2 days ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Missouri Secretary of State admits to misleading ballot language for gerrymander referendum

Protestors gather in the rotunda to protest a redistricting plan that would split Kansas City into three districts on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at the Missouri State Capitol, in Jefferson City, Mo. (Yong Li Xuan/Missourian via AP)

An attorney representing Missouri’s top election official admitted in court Friday that her client had authored ballot language that could “prejudice” voters about a referendum to block the GOP’s new gerrymandered congressional map.

The state constitution gives Missourians the right to veto new state laws by holding a statewide referendum vote. Since Missouri Republicans passed mid-decade redistricting in September, voters have been fighting to put it to a referendum. But the Republican Party – including Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins – are throwing every possible hurdle in its path.

That apparently includes ballot language.

In November, People Not Politicians, the group leading the referendum effort, filed a lawsuit challenging what it termed the “dishonest” text Hoskins had approved.

The court could take over the task of writing the ballot language if Hoskins fails to provide an acceptable version after three tries. A bench trial is scheduled for Feb. 9.

Missouri law requires the secretary of state’s ballot language to be a “true and impartial statement” that isn’t “intentionally argumentative” or “likely to create prejudice either for or against the proposed measure.”

At a hearing Friday, Hoskins’ attorney admitted the ballot summary was likely to create prejudice against the referendum, according to People Not Politicians. She also said the language would be revised in negotiations with the referendum organizers, the Missouri Independent reported.

Now, the state will get “another bite at the apple” to write new language, Chuck Hatfield, an attorney representing People Not Politicians, told Democracy Docket.

“Rather than losing in court, today the Secretary of State simply admitted that he broke the law and sought to deceive Missouri voters,” Richard von Glahn, executive director of People Not Politicians, said in a statement. “While warranted, this admittance does little to alleviate our concerns that a subsequent summary prepared by him will be any more accurate. Missourians deserve the truth about their rights and the referendum.”

According to court filings, the official certified ballot language reads: “Do the people of the state of Missouri approve the act of the General Assembly entitled ‘House Bill No. 1 (2025 Second Extraordinary Session),’ which repeals Missouri’s existing gerrymandered congressional plan that protects incumbent politicians, and replaces it with new congressional boundaries that keep more cities and counties intact, are more compact, and better reflects statewide voting patterns?”

In addition to the misleading ballot language, Republicans have devised relentless obstacles for referendum supporters, including trying to decline certifying the petition on holding a referendum for being filed too soon, reject signatures for being collected too soon, block the petition from moving forward and intimidate referendum supporters.

Hoskins is also insisting on enacting the new map before voters can hold the referendum, breaking with Missouri precedent.

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