Clarification: Rita Olson-Stawicki is the president of Taking Back KC. She assumed the position after the resignation of former president Jami Bailey in July 2021. A new political action committee in Kansas City, Missouri, is quietly raising its influence and aims to have a say in how City Hall conducts business — and who is […]
Who is Taking KC Back? Behind the PAC hoping to oust multiple council members
Posted inCivic Engagement
Refugee resettlement agencies ask for landlord referrals as they prepare for new arrivals
In the past, resettlement agencies usually had two or three weeks to get a family set up. But with many of the emergency evacuations from Afghanistan over the past month, this process has been shortened to just 48 to 72 hours. “It’s going to be crazy, which is why we need help,” Danilo Aguilar said.
Posted inEconomics
‘I’m praying they tear this down’: Dangerous properties owned by KCMO’s Land Bank draw frustration
Three properties are currently classified as dangerous buildings by the city, and they are not listed in the Land Bank’s inventory as available for sale.
Posted inLocal Government
A Chick-fil-A at the new airport? LGBTQ advocates say that won’t fly
UPDATE: Chick-fil-A has been removed from the list of potential restaurants in the new KCI airport terminal after pushback at a Transportation, Infrastructure and Operations Committee meeting. A plan unveiled last week to include Chick-fil-A alongside a mix of local and national restaurants inside the new Kansas City International (KCI) airport terminal is causing concern […]
Posted inHealth
Coming soon to your local bar: free HIV and hepatitis C tests
KC Care prevention manager Paisley Williams wants to move away from language that stigmatizes STIs and sexual health. She said the stigma only makes this health care more inaccessible — instead of getting tested for STIs or getting a prescription, it causes them to avoid care out of shame or fear of judgement.
Posted inEducation
Kansas offers free community college for students in high-demand fields
Thirty-three higher education institutions in Kansas are included in the program — 19 community colleges, seven technical colleges and seven private, nonprofit postsecondary institutions.
Posted inWatchdog
Over 225 complaints have been filed against Wichita Police so far this year
If you’ve been mistreated by local law enforcement, there are avenues you can take to file a complaint against a police officer. The Professional Standards Bureau of the Wichita Police Department investigates allegations of misconduct against the department and its staff. The department’s website encourages citizens to report allegations of misconduct to an officer’s bureau commander or […]
Posted inEconomics
What you need to know about the second round of rental assistance in KC
In Kansas City, Missouri, social service groups are facing a steep influx of people looking for help and are scrambling to process applications and get money to people in danger of eviction.
Posted inLocal Government
‘Headlights to the future’: Wichita’s youth demand climate action now
Dolly Farha, 19, didn’t plan on returning to Wichita. After a seven-year stint in Massachusetts, she told herself that she wouldn’t ever come back. “To me, one of the biggest issues of Kansas and Wichita is it was created for … generations of the past,” Farha said. “Without that forward-thinking, headlights to the future … […]
Posted inEducation
What parents worried about pandemic learning loss can do
Schools are working to assess students and meet them where they are, focusing on core standards that serve as a foundation for more advanced skills. Parents and guardians can work with them to promote learning.