People incarcerated in Missouri and advocates for incarcerated people say more can be done to ensure safety, like the enforcement of masking and the early release of those eligible for parole. Officials say it isn’t so easy.
Jamie Hobbs
Jamie Hobbs is a freelance reporter for The Beacon based in Kansas City, Missouri. Follow her on Twitter @jamieahobbs.
Posted inEducation
After a pandemic enrollment drop, Missouri educators are trying to find ‘missing’ students
K-12 enrollment has dropped during the pandemic, and schools and state governments are trying to find out if students transitioned to homeschool, private school or are truly unaccounted for.
Posted inCivic Engagement
In their words: Kansas City voters on the unprecedented 2020 Election
On Nov. 3, thousands of registered voters in Kansas and Missouri turned out to polling places to cast their ballot for crucial races, from the presidency to local races and statewide ballot initiatives. Even COVID-19 could not deter many voters from making sure their voice was heard — in Kansas City, Missouri, COVID-positive voters experienced […]
Posted inCivic Engagement
COVID-positive voters in Kansas City face hours-long wait times on Election Day
Despite relatively short waits at most polling locations across the Kansas City metro, COVID-positive voters in Kansas City, Missouri — who were encouraged to use curbside voting at Union Station — are waiting hours to cast their ballots. Cedric Schofield and his wife originally planned to wake up at 6:30 a.m. this morning to vote […]
Posted inCivic Engagement
Live Coverage: Election Day 2020
After a long and tumultuous election season, shaped by an unprecedented pandemic and mass protests against racism and police violence, Election Day is finally here. Millions have already cast their vote for president and other statewide and local races, and more are expected to turn up at the polls today to vote in person. Today, […]
Posted inCivic Engagement
Disenchanted by the major parties, young Kansas voters are more likely to register as independents
Through an analysis of Kansas voter registration data, The Beacon found that unaffiliated voters in Kansas, also known as independents, make up 38% of voters under the age of 40 — the largest portion of any party within that age range.
Posted inCivic Engagement
Poll worker shortage? Not exactly, local election officials say.
The poll worker shortage in the Kansas City area was more critical in the first elections after governor-issued states of emergency in each state. With fewer poll workers, some local election boards had to close polling sites, leaving voters confused. But in the weeks ahead of the general election, some election boards across the metro are seeing a different situation unfold.