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The Kansas City Beacon
Hickman Mills school board has struggled to work together. Will April’s election help or hurt?
This year, Superintendent Yaw Obeng said, Hickman Mills school board members are finally working together. The post Hickman Mills school board has struggled to work together. Will April’s election help or hurt? appeared first on The Beacon.
Kansas may ban gender-affirming care for minors. Doctors cite physical and mental costs of waiting
Takeaways: Iridescent Riffel wishes she could have started gender-affirming treatment when she was younger. Riffel, a transgender Kansan, said she wasn’t in a welcoming home, so she delayed her transition until she felt more safe. She went through an unwanted puberty while she waited. “I didn’t really want to grow facial hair,” she said. “A […] The post Kansas may ban gender-affirming care for minors. Doctors cite physical and mental costs of waiting appeared first on The Beacon.
Supreme Court abortion pill case could make abortion access even more difficult for Missourians
A case before the U.S. Supreme Court could drastically restrict access to medication abortions, now the most common form of abortion in the United States. That could further limit abortion options for Missouians, who must cross the state line to get a legal abortion. It could also increase the number of patients coming to Kansas, […] The post Supreme Court abortion pill case could make abortion access even more difficult for Missourians appeared first on The Beacon.
Missouri lawmakers break new ground to stop constitutional amendments — and abortion
Editor’s note (March 25, 2023): This story has been corrected to reflect that the proposal would require a majority support from voters statewide, plus a majority vote in five of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. While state lawmakers across the country stumbled when trying to make it harder for voters to amend state constitutions, Missouri lawmakers […] The post Missouri lawmakers break new ground to stop constitutional amendments — and abortion appeared first on The Beacon.
April 2 election could change the Independence school board’s relationship with its superintendent
the differing ways candidates talk about the four-day week showcases a struggle for the future of a board that has reliably backed Superintendent Dale Herl’s recommendations, prided itself on its unity and put limits on public participation. The post April 2 election could change the Independence school board’s relationship with its superintendent appeared first on The Beacon.
Royals say new stadium won’t hurt KCPS revenue, but silent on libraries, mental health services
Takeaways: The Royals, vying for support weeks before voters will decide whether to promise them decades of tax money, are finalizing terms to give Kansas City Public Schools money to offset the loss of property taxes. The team’s plans for a stadium and entertainment district in the East Crossroads would swallow up six blocks of […] The post Royals say new stadium won’t hurt KCPS revenue, but silent on libraries, mental health services appeared first on The Beacon.
Missouri considers banning county jails from shackling some pregnant inmates
Takeaways: The Missouri House stands poised to pass a bill largely prohibiting city and county jails from shackling women in their third trimester of a pregnancy. In state prisons in Missouri and 39 other states, the practice is already banned. The legislation would extend that rule to city and county jails. The bill, sponsored by […] The post Missouri considers banning county jails from shackling some pregnant inmates appeared first on The Beacon.
Kansas City nurses kick off contract talks saying they’re prepared to strike
Takeaways: When nurses rallied outside Research Medical Center this week to kick off contract negotiations, the refrain rang familiar. “Hey HCA,” the nurses’ signs read. “Put patients over profits.” In an increasingly unionized health care industry, still recovering from the pandemic, nurses across the country demand that hospitals beef up staffing and improve working conditions. […] The post Kansas City nurses kick off contract talks saying they’re prepared to strike appeared first on The Beacon.
Kansas lawmakers could again debate medical weed. Here’s why it has failed before
Takeaways: Yet another spring in Topeka and more seemingly serious talk about legalizing medical marijuana in Kansas. Lawmakers and supporters of pulling Kansas cannabis regulations in line with a national trend and the laws of neighboring states say things look different this year — perhaps. But this process is wearing on advocates who say the […] The post Kansas lawmakers could again debate medical weed. Here’s why it has failed before appeared first on The Beacon.
More than doctor visits, a $30 million Kansas City, Kansas, clinic plan comes with a hopefully better neighborhood
Takeaways: For a year, Vibrant Health has drafted plans for a $30 million building in Kansas City, Kansas, to bring in health care and kickstart a poor neighborhood. The project reflects an evolving health care ecosystem where clinics cash in on the idea that some people get healthier or live longer not because of the […] The post More than doctor visits, a $30 million Kansas City, Kansas, clinic plan comes with a hopefully better neighborhood appeared first on The Beacon.
Construction unions back the Royals stadium, while low-wage workers are still demanding more
Takeaways: Kansas City construction worker unions find many things to like about extending the 3/8-cent sales tax to build a new Royals stadium and maintain Arrowhead Stadium — such as new jobs. But service workers who would fill the jobs in and around a new ballpark in the Crossroads Arts District say they’re being left […] The post Construction unions back the Royals stadium, while low-wage workers are still demanding more appeared first on The Beacon.
New lawsuit challenges state control of Kansas City police in federal court
Three residents filed suit against the state of Missouri this week to end state control of the Kansas City Police Department. Under the current system of state control, a governor-appointed police board has complete authority to make decisions about KCPD policy, the hiring of the police chief and how the budget is spent. Spencer Webster, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, argues in the lawsuit filed Monday that the system violates both the U.S. Constitution and the Civil Rights Act because it was intended to discriminate against Black Missourians and preserve the institution of slavery. The post New lawsuit challenges state control of Kansas City police in federal court appeared first on The Beacon.
Lee’s Summit school board election: Two of these candidates will shape the direction of the district
The school board previously struggled to agree on how to best proceed with diversity training and an equity plan to close achievement gaps for students of color. The post Lee’s Summit school board election: Two of these candidates will shape the direction of the district appeared first on The Beacon.
Seven candidates compete for three spots on the Independence school board
Seven candidates are competing for three seats on the Independence school board. Board members serve six-year terms, twice as long as those in many area districts. The post Seven candidates compete for three spots on the Independence school board appeared first on The Beacon.
Kansas has considered ending taxes on period products since 2022. Why has nothing passed?
Takeaways The 2022 gubernatorial election in Kansas was close. Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican challenger Derek Schmidt rarely found common ground. But they agreed on at least one thing: ditching the sales tax on diapers and period products — like tampons and menstrual cups. They both liked the idea because it helped young women, families […] The post Kansas has considered ending taxes on period products since 2022. Why has nothing passed? appeared first on The Beacon.
Your voter guide to the 2024 Park Hill school board election
Candidates Harrison Todd, Sadie Peterson and incumbent Brandy Maltbia Woodley are competing for two open seats. They’ll appear on the April 2 ballot. The post Your voter guide to the 2024 Park Hill school board election appeared first on The Beacon.
South KC landfill opponents prepare for a potential Senate battle, after a win in the Missouri House
Takeaways: When Rick Meyers started knocking on neighbors’ doors to talk about a proposed landfill about a mile from his home, he didn’t appreciate the scale his campaign would take on. The door-knocking turned into an email list. That begat a Facebook group with nearly 5,000 members. Then a political action committee came online to […] The post South KC landfill opponents prepare for a potential Senate battle, after a win in the Missouri House appeared first on The Beacon.
Hickman Mills school board candidates explain their background, priorities
Candidates running for a spot on the Hickman Mills Board of Education are vying to join a school board whose members have struggled to work together. The post Hickman Mills school board candidates explain their background, priorities appeared first on The Beacon.
Tax dollars don’t make a stadium possible, just more lavish
Say you’re at a restaurant and you begin to salivate over the menu’s lobster thermidor or a flute of champagne. You might balk at the price — unless someone else is paying the bill. Owners of teams worth billions think the same way. Economists say that “gold plating effect” makes stadiums more expensive when taxpayers pitch in. The post Tax dollars don’t make a stadium possible, just more lavish appeared first on The Beacon.
National conservative groups are working to limit transgender rights. They’re finding success in Missouri
Missouri may offer a prime example of a red state primed for plug-and-play laws restricting transgender rights. A robust network of conservative advocacy groups stretching across the country has eagerly seized the chance to show the Show Me State just how to do that. Last year, lawmakers passed a ban on access to gender-affirming care […] The post National conservative groups are working to limit transgender rights. They’re finding success in Missouri appeared first on The Beacon.
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