Two-thirds of Kansas City, Missouri’s 4,233 city employees were vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of July. But the city refuses to release vaccination percentages for individual departments, making it impossible to tell whether some departments are lagging behind.
Which city departments are falling behind in getting vaccinated? Kansas City won’t say.
Posted inEducation
Where the money comes from to teach Kansas students
How do you budget for a classroom when you don’t know how many students will even be in it? That’s a challenge Kansas school districts face as they attempt to estimate how many students will return to their school buildings this fall. The Wichita Public Schools’ budget uses more of a high-range guess at how […]
Posted inLocal Government
What a Department of Justice investigation would mean for the Kansas City Police Department
Correction: A previous version of this story inaccurately stated that no KCPD officers were charged or indicted in the killings of Ryan Stokes, Dantae Franklin, Cameron Lamb and Malcom Johnson. This story has been corrected to say that the officer who shot Lamb was charged in Jackson County court with involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal […]
Posted inEconomics, Local Government
‘Where are we gonna go?’: New jail to displace over 100 Jackson County residents
Jackson County paid $7.05 million to purchase the property at 7000 E. U.S. Highway 40 from Park Holdings Inc., a real estate company based out of Wichita, Kansas. The purchase was approved unanimously by the Jackson County Legislature on July 12.
Posted inDIY Democracy, Watchdog
How to be a Wichita whistleblower: What to do when things go wrong
No one knows a city’s secrets, patterns or stories as intimately as its residents. As a Wichitan, what can you do if your gut tells you something’s wrong? Are you protected from sharing potentially sensitive information? How do you even start checking things out? We’ve crafted a short guide on how you can be a […]
Posted inLocal Government
How do KC-area police departments handle domestic violence among their own?
When it comes to having policies for dealing with domestic violence cases that involve officers, Kansas City-area law enforcement agencies have different approaches.
Posted inEducation
High school at night: Kansas City launches program to help more students attend
Kansas City Public Schools is launching a new Evening Academy program to make it easier for working students — and others who struggle with a typical 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. schedule — to complete their high school education.
Posted inEconomics
Don’t call it a pantry: KCK groups fight hunger with markets, co-op, mobile grocer
From co-ops to mobile grocers, organizations are finding ways to provide free food in Kansas City, Kansas.
Posted inEducation
KCPS prioritizes recruitment as it predicts enrollment declines for younger students
While some families may have switched to other schools — or merely be slow to enroll — KCPS is concerned some children are missing out entirely on education because of the pandemic.
Posted inWatchdog
15 years after Wichita unveiled a plan to end homelessness, progress stagnates
Donnie has a roof over his head. He’s still homeless. His left hand was nearly severed during an accident. Now, when Donnie lifts his hand and rotates his wrist, one can follow the length of a thick, white scar. “I’m limited in working,” said Donnie, who requested to be identified by his first name only. […]