Sandblasting material used to strip paint was trucked 500 miles or more to a remote warehouse near the Missouri River.
How 13 million pounds of hazardous powder wound up in an abandoned Missouri warehouse
Posted inRural
As the number of homeless people rises in Missouri, cities confront cross-border “drop-offs”
Joplin officials recently passed an ordinance banning the practice after noticing out-of-state vehicles dropping off homeless people. Columbia, meanwhile, has adopted a voluntary ride home program.
Posted inEducation
New Stanley school to remain open under modified plan
The decision came after pushback from New Stanley families who didn’t want the school to close.
Posted inHealth
A KU researcher on the brink of a breakthrough is stuck waiting for federal funds
A change in how the federal government funds research means fewer projects are moving forward. Scientists said the result will be fewer medical advances.
Posted inState Government
Trump administration wants sensitive voter data from Kansas and Missouri
The Department of Justice is asking for information on voters, like the last four digits of a Social Security number and drivers license information.
Posted inMeeting Notes
BPU board approves 2026 budget, reviews future of Nearman coal plant
The new budget keeps rates flat as the Board of Public Utilities board explores clean energy options and launches a community solar initiative.
Posted inLocal Government
Massive tax break for Country Club Plaza would divert $188M in revenue from KC schools over 30 years
A Texas developer wants to revive the Plaza. But the plan could come at a massive cost for Kansas City schools and other government services.
Posted inMeeting Notes
City Plan Commission extends plaza rezoning debate, approves expanded dispensary hours
Dec. 3, 2025, City Plan Commission: Notes by Kansas City Documenter Bunny Pederson.
Posted inHealth
Months after hackers broke into Cerner’s network, some patients don’t know their health data was stolen
Patients of NKC Health in North Kansas City finally learned in late November — 11 months after the attack — that their data was compromised in ‘one of the most massive breaches in the health care industry.’
Posted inState Government
‘We were begging’: Missouri system lags in serving children with mental health troubles
Kelcie Breece cared for her niece when the child entered foster care. The child had intense needs, and the Missouri foster care system didn’t help them. They had to navigate the system on their own.