Editor’s note: We updated this story on June 14 to clarify that Jackson County legislators only have zoning authority in unincorporated areas. The midterm elections are coming up in November 2022, and voters will soon be swarmed with campaign ads, voter registration drives and a hyperfocus on high-profile state and national races. More under the […]
This fall election could reshape Jackson County spending
Posted inState Government
Missouri parents can still lose kids over pot. Legal cannabis could change that
When Missouri voters four years ago passed a constitutional amendment to allow for medical marijuana use, family court scenarios and protections for patients didn’t factor much into the debate. But lawyers say that parents involved in custody disputes and other legal issues can face judgment and criticism over their use of cannabis for medical purposes. […]
Posted inEnvironment
Did the weather alert system do enough during Wednesday’s tornado?
Preliminary results from the National Weather Service show that an EF-1 tornado occurred in Johnson and Jackson counties, with 100 mph winds and a 14 mile-long track.
Posted inLocal Government
Five out of five Sedgwick County commissioners agree: Employee pay a top budget priority
It’s budget season for Sedgwick County. This year, that means that the county’s five commissioners must grapple with how to run the local government as nationwide economic challenges, including rising inflation and an increasingly tight labor market, prevail. The Wichita Beacon asked each commissioner to list their top three budget priorities for this year. All five […]
Posted inEducation
For KC school leaders, security isn’t just about safety – it’s about processing trauma
Three school systems – Kansas City Public Schools, North Kansas City Schools and DeLaSalle Education Center – share their security plans when it comes to visitors, school resource officers and more.
Posted inEducation
Are you willing to close schools to fund improvements? KCPS wants to know
As part of its long-term planning initiative, known as Blueprint 2030, the district is asking residents to weigh in on three scenarios, each of which strikes a different balance between closing schools and skipping potential improvements.
Posted inLocal Government, Wichitans You Should Know
‘Don’t treat them different’: One formerly homeless Wichitan on what the city needs
It started with a recipe he concocted on his own — Southern-style barbecue chicken spaghetti. But pretty soon, Joseph “J.W.” Harris was spreading the cooking gospel to his neighbors and friends at The Studios, a permanent-housing apartment complex for people experiencing homelessness. In April, he led his first cooking class at the complex on North Topeka […]
Posted inEconomics, Local Government
Here’s where you can get a free meal for your child this summer
With the arrival of summer, children in Kansas City are rejoicing at the warm weather and long-awaited pool days. But while kids celebrate, many parents quietly worry about the cost of food as the close of the school year means an end to school lunches and low-cost meals for their children. In response, the Missouri […]
Posted inEducation
Kansas rural families, parents of toddlers face a shortage of licensed child care providers, report says
Kansas is facing a severe shortage of licensed child care providers, according to a recent report released by state and nonprofit agencies. Estimates show that less than half of the “potential demand” in the state is being met. The 2021 Supply Demand Report released Thursday covers the challenges child care providers have faced during COVID, the diminishing […]
Posted inEducation
Kansas rural families, parents of toddlers face a shortage of licensed child care providers, report says
In the Kansas City area, spaces in Wyandotte County’s licensed child care centers cover about one-third of the potential demand for spots. Slots in Johnson County cover about two-thirds of potential demand.