The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Graduate Student Council hosted the 2025 Community of Scholars Research Conference. The event on April 17 brought together 60 graduate students, faculty and community members to showcase the essence of interdisciplinary research, community and collaboration. The conference chairs were Dr. Mohan Kumar Gajendran and Kiel Corkran, president of the Graduate […]
The Beacon hears from UMKC graduate students about education, health and local government
Posted inHealth
Long waiting lists and kidneys wasted: The state of organ transplants and how it affects Missouri and Kansas
When Carthesa Hutson’s son, Chris, finally got around to getting his driver’s license he was almost 19. She remembers being at the DMV with him when he paused on the application question about becoming an organ donor and looked to her. She told him to follow his heart. “He said, ‘Well, if I’m not here, […]
Posted inBehind the Beacon
A seat at the table: How primary care shortages are affecting Missouri’s communities
Physician supply lags behind patient demand nationally and across Missouri. On April 17, The Beacon spoke virtually with McKenzie Richards, a health care policy fellow from Cicero Institute and Michael Wacker, Senior Associate Dean and Director of the UMKC School of Medicine Regional Medical Campus in St. Joseph, Missouri, about the data, challenges and possible […]
Posted inEducation
An email warned Missouri Western recruiters away from 23 schools in KC and St. Louis. Why?
Missouri Western said the directive was reversed in 2023, but questions remain about who ordered the email, what inspired it and what it means for students.
Posted inRural
Air quality worsened in Missouri from 2021 to 2023
An annual report from the American Lung Association found that from 2021 to 2023, ozone levels worsened in the 19 counties where they are measured.
Posted inEducation
International students in Missouri sue Trump administration over revoked status
Previous minor run-ins with the law are suspected of drawing the scrutiny of Homeland Security., which could threaten their ability to legally remain in the United States.
Posted inState Government
Teaching Kansas students to read gets tougher after $22.6 million federal funding cut
Kansas used federal money on an evidence-based reading program. It was helping Kansas students improve their reading skills after pandemic learning loss.
Posted inKansas City
Head Start, utility assistance in danger: Missouri agencies scramble as Trump administration looks to slash federal spending
Missouri has 19 community action agencies that work to support the state’s poorest families. Funding for programs like Head Start and utility assistance is at risk the year ahead.
Posted inState Government
Missouri lawmakers look to roll back Proposition A’s paid sick leave protections
A bill that’s passed the Missouri House and is being debated in the Senate would roll back paid sick leave and other provisions months after Proposition A was passed by voters.
Posted inLocal Government
Gridlock in local government: Jackson County has been operating without an approved budget for months
County Executive Frank White vetoed the Jackson County budget in January, then four county legislators sued him. The county is still at odds three months later.