Kansas City elected officials are bracing for a challenging 2026 legislative session. Here’s what they hope to pass and the obstacles they are anticipating.
What Kansas City wants from the Missouri General Assembly in 2026
Posted inKansas City
In Kansas City’s health care sector, 2025 was a nightmare. It may be worse in 2026
Nonprofits turned to private donations to make ends meet after federal funding cuts left major budget gaps. But those dollars won’t be enough.
Posted inRural
More services at central Missouri hospital fall victim to economic pressures
Fitzgibbon Hospital cites staffing costs, inflation and reimbursement gaps from the federal government as reasons for the closures.
Posted inHealth
As Missouri stares down Medicaid cuts, it seeks federal rural health funding
The Trump administration’s budget bill included about $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid. As part of an effort to offset those costs, Congress created the Rural Health Transformation Fund, a $50 billion bucket of money that goes to states.
Posted inHealth
Two Kansas hospitals spent $61.4 million on temporary staff. It was just $6 million in 2019
These state hospitals can’t find full-time staff. Contract nurses are needed to serve patients, but expenses keep going up.
Posted inHealth
KC’s largest safety-net clinics push back as city takes hard look at health levy
The city is studying which safety-net providers will get funding from the health levy. Longtime recipients argue they can’t afford to lose their shares.
Posted inEconomics
Port KC punts Country Club Plaza tax break vote to 2026 after fierce pushback
The Port Authority of Kansas City backed off Monday from a vote on a sweeping tax incentive package for developers of the Country Club Plaza. Port KC’s special virtual meeting was attended by about 160 participants but was delayed for more than 17 minutes by a remote hack. The hack set a tone for a […]
Posted inState Government
Kansas City Chiefs are moving to Kansas after lawmakers approve $1.8 billion in stadium funding
Chiefs propose a multibillion-dollar plan to build a domed stadium, training facilities and nearby mixed-use projects.
Posted inMeeting Notes
KCATA Board decides not to renew CEO contract behind closed doors
After a nearly three-hour executive session where commissioners declined to renew Frank White III’s contract, the board reconvened in public to preview a 2026 budget that includes major funding changes.
Posted inEconomics
Canary in the corner booth: What restaurant closures reveal about the KC economy
Some legacy restaurants close ahead of World Cup opportunity while others report strong sales. Who can afford a night out reveals a split economy.