Andrew Hubbard, faced with barrier after barrier when trying to restart his life, said he started to question why he even bothered. A three-time felon, Hubbard struggled to climb his way to sobriety with so many obstacles — lacking a valid driver’s license, finding housing with 11 evictions on his record and struggling to pay […]
‘Knocked down over and over again’: How a Kansas bill loosening SNAP restrictions failed
Posted inLocal Government
The secret sauce behind Wichita’s success in distributing emergency housing vouchers
At the grocery store, pick up barbecue sauce, a jar of spaghetti sauce, elbow noodles and a chicken breast — without the bone. When you get home, boil water for noodles and add some barbecue sauce to the pot, for flavor. Fry your chicken. Pour the noodles into a bowl. Add chicken. Add spaghetti sauce. […]
Posted inEducation
Five questions with Independence school board candidates for the April 5 election
Ahead of the April 5 election, The Kansas City Beacon sent five questions to each candidate about the district and school board’s strengths and weaknesses, and why they’re the right person to help them improve.
Posted inHealth
For Jackson County, getting COVID relief money came with early problems
Political infighting, a disbanded funding committee and even a Hail Mary request to the White House all happened during Jackson County’s early efforts to spend the $122.7 million.
Posted inState Government
KC lawmakers are facing an uphill battle in Missouri legislative session
While legislators from Kansas City say they are frustrated by the acrimony in the General Asseme, that is only one of their concerns.
Posted inEconomics, Housing, Local Government
Formerly incarcerated Missourians struggle for decades to find stable housing
After serving time in prison, Christine McDonald found herself living on the streets of Kansas City and in a pay-by-the-week motel. Robert Richardson, who also has a felony record, settled for a bug-infested apartment with an open hole in the front. They are far from alone in the struggle to find adequate, affordable housing as […]
Posted inLea en Español, Local Government
¿Son las carreteras sin pavimentar de Wichita un problema de equidad? The Wichita Beacon analiza las carreteras sin pavimentar por código postal
Durante años, los residentes de Wichita han luchado contra el polvo y los baches que vienen con las 84 millas de calles sin pavimentar de la ciudad en vecindarios establecidos. Eso se debe en gran parte a que Wichita históricamente utilizó una política de páguelo usted mismo: para pavimentar una calle en un vecindario ya […]
Posted inWichitans You Should Know
Marquetta Atkins is opening the doors of entrepreneurship for Wichita youth
When Wichita native Marquetta Atkins merges her activism and entrepreneurship, the result creates pathways for youth from underserved communities to thrive. Atkins is the executive director of Destination Innovation, a hub for three programs that focus on youth — Progeny, Camp Destination Innovation and Root the Power. In 2015, she founded Camp Destination Innovation, a […]
Posted inLocal Government
Are Wichita’s unpaved roads an equity issue? The Wichita Beacon analyzes unpaved roads by ZIP code
For years, Wichita residents have battled the dust and bumpiness that come with the city’s 84 miles of unpaved roads in established neighborhoods. That’s largely because Wichita historically used a pay-it-yourself policy — to pave a road in an already-built neighborhood, at least 51% of property owners on a street have to petition the city and […]
Posted inEducation
Kansas City charter schools see a shift in who holds them accountable
The Missouri Charter Public School Commission, Kansas City Public Schools and Saint Louis University are each stepping in to sponsor multiple schools that were formerly sponsored by the University of Central Missouri.