Missourians could be among the nation’s first voters to reverse a near-total abortion ban when they weigh in on Amendment 3 in the Nov. 5 election. Missouri was the first state to enact a near-total ban on abortion in June 2022. Missouri officials signed paperwork triggering the ban to take effect just minutes after the […]
Voters could undo Missouri’s abortion ban: Key things to understanding your vote on Amendment 3
Posted inEducation
Wichita schools are adapting to help more English learners succeed
Ana Lopez arrived in Wichita from northern Mexico, knowing only a few English words. Unable to talk with classmates or understand her teachers, she started out at Curtis Middle School feeling shy, nervous and frightened. Then, Wichita Public Schools placed her in an intensive language class with only one other English learner. “My teacher,” Lopez […]
Posted inBehind the Beacon
How community voice shapes The Beacon newsroom
The Beacon relies heavily on what people in our communities tell us they need to know more about. That brings more impact and credibility to our reporting. The Beacon’s approach comes at a time when local news outlets are declining at a rapid rate. The Pew Research Center reports that 85% of U.S. adults believe […]
Posted inBehind the Beacon
A critical moment for election coverage at The Beacon
As we head into a pivotal election, The Beacon is filling a crucial gap in local journalism. We’ve assembled a pop-up election bureau with some of the city’s most respected journalists to ensure our community has access to the comprehensive, reliable election coverage it needs. Chris Lester and Mary Sanchez are joining us for this […]
Posted inBehind the Beacon
Navigating Kansas City’s dangerous roads: Takeaways from The Beacon’s traffic listening session
This summer, The Beacon published a four-part series that shed light on a major issue facing Kansas City: traffic deaths. Kansas City local government reporter Josh Merchant looked into why our city’s streets rank among the most dangerous in the country. That reporting showed the risk comes partly from street designs that allow cars to […]
Posted inElections
What you need to know to vote as a homeless person in Kansas City
Douglas Zaerr has been voting since he turned 18 years old. Now 61, he last cast his vote on the stadium sales tax in April. He was homeless at the time. He found housing recently, but he’d been homeless for much of the past 10 years — and it never stopped him from casting a […]
Posted inElections
Sports betting in Missouri: Everything you need to know about Amendment 2
Missourians could soon legally bet on sports from their own homes — instead of driving to Kansas or Illinois to place bets. Legalizing sports wagering will appear as Amendment 2 on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. Missourians 21 or older would be allowed to bet if it passes. Read the full amendment here. Here’s […]
Posted inEducation
Do some kids learn better online? A new Kansas City virtual academy thinks so
Some families couldn’t wait to get out of online school. Others don’t want to leave.
Posted inBehind the Beacon
Eight steps The Beacon is taking to earn your trust
When I first joined The Beacon, I listened to story after story of moments when people lost faith in news media — moments that were deeply personal and revealing. These conversations highlighted a deep erosion of trust and the critical importance of our roles as journalists in restoring it. At The Beacon, we understand that […]
Posted inHealth
New COVID vaccines are on their way. What you need to know
A summer COVID wave fueled by a highly contagious variant, increased travel and hot days that crowded people indoors may be starting to ebb in the Kansas City area. Health officials said they hope that surge prompts far more people to sign up for the new COVID vaccine, which could reach area pharmacies next week. […]