Missouri voters appear to have approved a statewide ballot initiative to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour and require private employers to provide paid sick leave. Proposition A held approximately 58% of the vote, as of 12:30 a.m., according to a preliminary vote count by the Associated Press. Proponents of the measure […]
Missouri minimum wage election results: Proposition A passes to impose higher pay and more sick leave
Posted inElections
Jackson County voters approve property tax for senior services
Jackson County voters approved a new tax that is expected to bring in about $8 million annually for programs like free meals and transportation for the county’s seniors. Question 1, which will charge owners an additional 5 cents for every $100 of assessed property value, passed by a margin of 53.1% in favor to 46.9% […]
Posted inElections
Missouri voters restore abortion rights, but access is still on a long legal path
This story was updated at 1 p.m. on Nov. 8. Missouri voters bucked Republicans who control the state on Tuesday when they voted to add the right to abortion and other reproductive health care protections in the state constitution by passing Amendment 3. The measure was approved 51.6% to 48.4%, making Missouri the first state […]
Posted inKansas City
Democrat Melesa Johnson elected Jackson County prosecutor
Melesa Johnson, who promised to combat Kansas City’s high violence rate with aggressive prosecution and crime prevention, easily won the Jackson County Prosecutor’s race on Tuesday to become the first Black woman in the job. Johnson, 35, who emphasized her roots in the city’s urban core, will replace prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, who has held […]
Posted inElections
Derek Schmidt headed to Congress, Sharice Davids reelected to U.S. House
Republican Derek Schmidt is back in public office after beating Democrat Nancy Boyda in the Kansas 2nd Congressional District race. His win means three Republicans will represent Kansas in the U.S. House — with U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids the only Democrat in the Kansas delegation. Derek Schmidt beats Nancy Boyda in 2nd District Schmidt, the […]
Posted inElections
Missouri Amendment 7 results: Voters approve ban on ranked choice voting
Missourians have approved a constitutional amendment that prohibits ranked-choice or approval voting — becoming the 11th state to do so. The amendment was approved by roughly a two-to-one margin. Ranked-choice and approval voting have been adopted in places such as Maine and Alaska. Proponents argue that these reforms make elections less polarized and hyperpartisan. In […]
Posted inElections
Josh Hawley defeats Lucas Kunce in Missouri U.S. Senate race
OZARK — U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley won a second term on Tuesday, cruising to victory over a well-financed rival in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to statewide office since 2018. Hawley led Marine veteran Lucas Kunce 52% to 45% when the Associated Press called the race at 9:30 p.m A former U.S. Supreme […]
Posted inElections
Republican Mike Kehoe wins Missouri governor’s race over Democrat Crystal Quade
Missouri’s next governor will be Mike Kehoe, a Republican who cruised to victory Tuesday night over Democrat Crystal Quade. The Associated Press called the race at 8:30 p.m. with 22% of precincts reporting and Kehoe leading Quade 52% to 46% Kehoe has served six years as lieutenant governor after being appointed to the job by […]
Posted inElections
Kansas City, Kansas, voters OK $180 million public school bond
Story updated at 9:10 a.m., Nov. 6. A $180 million bond that will fund construction in the Kansas City, Kansas, school district won voter approval by a margin of 68% to 32%. The vote was the district’s second attempt to pass a bond this year, after a $420 million bond that would have covered more […]
Posted inBehind the Beacon
Your Bet, Your Voice! A nonpartisan community discussion
The Beacon’s Community Lab held a listening session about Missouri’s Amendment 2 that would legalize sports betting. There’s been a lot of chatter within our community wondering what the pros and cons are and whether funding would actually go toward gambling addiction and education. With Election Day around the corner, I thought it was valuable […]