Some Missouri lawmakers want to expand charter schools to more areas of the state, make it easier to switch public schools and help families afford private schools. Others want to roll back or regulate those options.
Missouri ‘school choice’ bills to watch in 2026
Posted inBehind the Beacon
The Beacon joins inaugural Local News Day
The Beacon has announced its role as a Founding Newsroom for the first Local News Day, a national day of action scheduled for April 9, 2026.
Posted inEconomics
Proposed Wyandotte data centers require a lot of power: Will that increase your bill?
Data centers could triple Wyandotte County’s power demand. BPU says it can serve data centers without higher utility bills for other ratepayers, but that hasn’t been the case in other markets.
Posted inMeeting Notes
Turner school board reviews attendance progress, elects new leaders
Turner Elementary reports improved chronic absenteeism rates, but the school has not yet met its goal.
Posted inState Government
A course on sexual assault is helping catch predators across the country, but Kansas doesn’t require schools to teach it
Kansas is one of 12 states that haven’t passed Erin’s Law. Advocates want that to change.
Posted inMeeting Notes
City Plan Commission advances World Cup signage rules
The amendment allows temporary building signage for major events, up to 80,000 square feet. The commission also approved plans for a bond project at New Mark Middle School.
Posted inLocal Government
Peeling back layers of the Country Club Plaza redevelopment deal
A bargain-basement price. A property tax break. An infrastructure incentive. And a property assessment appeal. The Plaza’s new owners have pushed several financial levers to craft a potentially lucrative redevelopment plan.
Posted inState Government
‘The numbers are just not credible’: Kansas used flawed math to estimate economic impact of Chiefs relocation, experts say
The Beacon spoke with four economists who say the state relied on inflated numbers to make the stadium deal look better. State officials say football teams bring in real value as millions flock to the stadium projects.
Posted inEducation
How a charter school board reacted when employees asked it to oust the executive director
Current and former employees said they’re frustrated with the level of response from the board after they raised serious concerns about KIPP Kansas City leadership.
Posted inHealth
Changes are coming to health care in Missouri. These are the bills Missouri lawmakers are pushing in 2026
Missouri lawmakers have their sights set on health care reform in 2026, including insurance coverage of certain prescriptions, how health professionals can administer and prescribe medicine, patient privacy and maternal health.