Follow the money, they say. Ever since the Watergate scandal, when then-President Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign funded a 1972 break-in and wiretap at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C., the phrase “follow the money” has been shorthand to describe the often fraught relationship between campaign donations and political influence. […]
Follow the money: Here’s how to research Kansas campaign finance reports
Posted inElections
Need to change your name and gender marker on your ID? Here’s how
With Election Day around the corner, Kansas residents are getting their documents in order as they prepare to vote. Kansas has required specific forms of voter ID since 2012. For transgender voters, photo ID laws can raise concerns about their safety at poll sites and the ability to have their votes counted — particularly if their […]
Posted inElections, Local Government
Changing your gender marker on a state ID can get complicated
With Election Day around the corner, Kansas City area residents are getting their documents in order as they prepare to vote. In Missouri, a new voter ID law will require government-approved photo identification starting in the 2022 general election. Kansas has required specific forms of voter ID since 2012. For transgender voters, photo ID laws […]
Posted inEconomics, Labor
The fight for a living wage in Kansas City no longer stops at $15 an hour
For years, Kansas City workers and organizers have fought to increase the city’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. The demand was front and center recently when workers at the Taco Bell fast-food restaurant on Wornall Road in Kansas City’s Waldo neighborhood held a walkout over claims of poor working conditions and low wages. “We […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, Elections, Local Government, State Government
How to research federal, state and local candidates on the Johnson County ballot in November
For voters interested in researching candidates, here are the competitive federal, state and local races that will appear on ballots in Johnson County on Nov. 8, with links to each candidate’s campaign website (if one exists) and Ballotpedia page.
Posted inLocal Government
Kansas City needs to become more walkable. Here’s how that can happen
Ira Boydston speaks frankly about the prospects of walking with his children to their elementary school in Kansas City’s Red Bridge neighborhood. “It’s across Red Bridge Road, which can suck to try to get across it,” Boydston said. (Boydston is a Beacon community engagement representative. View a program description here.) “It could be very challenging, especially […]
Posted inDIY Democracy, Education
How to get involved with a charter school board
Like traditional school districts, charter schools have different policies and procedures regarding transparency and the ease with which the public can access information.
Posted inElections, Kansas State Government, Local Government
How to research federal, state and local candidates on the November ballot in Wichita
For voters interested in researching candidates, here are the competitive races that will appear on ballots in Sedgwick County on Nov. 8, with links to each candidate’s campaign website (if one exists) and Ballotpedia page.
Posted inElections, State Government
“It’s a free speech issue”: A new Missouri law has voter registration groups on edge
In a typical election year, groups in Missouri like the League of Women Voters would have volunteers out and about right now, registering new voters and dispensing advice such as how to request absentee ballots. But civic engagement groups are rolling back their activity as the Nov. 8 general election approaches, thanks to a new […]
Posted inHealth
Community is key after experiencing a loss to suicide, Wichita mental health leaders say
This story on mental health contains data analysis by Gretchen Lenth, The Wichita Beacon’s Dow Jones data intern from this summer. Content warning: This story discusses suicide, suicide attempts and mental health in general. If you or someone you love is struggling with their mental health, check out The Beacon’s local mental health resource list. […]