Republicans are looking for more property tax relief. Democrats proposed their own plans, which may not get GOP support.
Kansas lawmakers looking at property tax relief, renter rebates in 2026
Posted inState Government
Bill would stop transgender Kansans from changing sex on driver’s licenses, birth certificates
A previous law faced legal troubles, and the courts sided with Democrats to allow gender marker changes.
Posted inEducation
Despite higher state scores, Hickman Mills schools fall short of full accreditation this year
The state board also voted to receive more reporting on lower-performing districts such as Center and Grandview in the Kansas City area.
Posted inEducation
Missouri higher education bills to watch in 2026
Other proposals include adding support for homeless and foster youth, giving student journalists freedom of the press and addressing how immigration status and higher education intersect.
Posted inMeeting Notes
Kansas City moves forward on $3.83 million temporary modular jail facility
The Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee approved funding and waived LEED Gold energy efficiency requirements for the project to be built in time for World Cup, while also sending two major measures to the April ballot.
Posted inState Government
‘This place is killing me’: Prison medical care in Kansas still struggles to help inmates
A 2022 investigation found serious flaws in the prison medical system. Those same problems persist years later, and the prison medical contractor is making more mistakes.
Posted inMeeting Notes
Wyandotte County considers loosening short-term rental rules ahead of the World Cup
Proposed changes could make it easier for homeowners to host World Cup visitors, though details around enforcement, the one-per-block limit and duration are still under discussion.
Posted inRural
Another Missouri Planned Parenthood clinic closes its doors, citing funding challenges and a shift to telehealth
The Rolla clinic is keeping its staff and shifting most of its care to telehealth appointments. Patients who need in-person care are now being referred to other providers in the area or Planned Parenthood clinics in Springfield and St. Louis.
Posted inBehind the Beacon
The Beacon’s illuminating experience in AJP’s Product and AI Studio
A year of testing large language models with American Journalism Project’s Product and AI Studio has come to a close. Here’s what we learned.
Posted inHealth
Why 30 hospitals in Kansas and 12 in Missouri are at risk of closure
A new study of rural hospitals finds that Kansas has more on the brink of shutting down than any other state. Revenue isn’t keeping up with costs.