Why this moment matters for our newsroom
Chris Lester joins The Beacon as interim editor-in-chief
Posted inState Government
Will Kansas Republicans’ push to ban candy and soda purchases with SNAP actually help people eat healthier?
Republicans say the change means more money will be spent on nutritious food. Not everyone agrees.
Posted inBehind the Beacon
The Beacon reporting cited in class action lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Corrections
Meg Cunningham’s reporting on extreme heat in prisons was cited in a lawsuit centered around conditions at Algoa Correctional Center.
Posted inImmigration
As Trump administration’s deportation policies sow fear, Hispanic businesses suffer
Businesses along Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, are taking a hit as customers stay home and cut back on spending.
Posted inLocal Government
How can Kansas City help its transgender residents? Here’s what a survey revealed
The Kansas City Council declared the city a “safe haven” for trans people two years ago. But one community leader says the city hasn’t followed through on that promise.
Posted inHealth
Kansas City food pantries brace for federal cuts to SNAP benefits as free food lines grow
Cuts to federal food aid have already reduced the food available at area food pantries and meal sites. If SNAP gets hit too, nonprofits worry they won’t be able to keep up with demand.
Posted inState Government
‘There’s still work to be done’: Missouri lawmakers return for special session to debate stadium funding and more
After a tense end to the regular session, lawmakers are coming back to Jefferson City for a special session to vote on stadium funding, disaster relief and construction projects.
Posted inKansas
Experts warn Kansas STAR bonds can’t pay off new stadium plans ‘to cover one of the facilities, let alone two’
Missouri is trying again to pass a stadium financing plan. Kansas already has one, but there’s no consensus on whether it’ll work.
Posted inHealth
Missouri knows from experience: Medicaid cuts will be felt throughout the economy
Health providers and hospitals are watching to see how proposed federal cuts to Medicaid play out. When Missouri cut the health program 20 years ago, the result was a rise in charity care and bad debt.
Posted inHealth
Opioid overdose deaths drop in Missouri, but rural areas fight stigmas, barriers to care
Investment in medicines like Narcan, an overdose-reversing drug, has allowed many Missourians to respond to opioid overdoses quickly. But more work is needed to address barriers to care and other stigmas, especially in rural areas.