Josh Merchant is The Beacon's local government reporter in Kansas City. After graduating from Seattle University, Josh earned a master’s degree in investigative journalism from Columbia Journalism School with coursework in data journalism. Josh has contributed reporting to The Seattle Spectator, The South Seattle Emerald and THE CITY in New York. They're a former Beacon intern. At The Beacon, they reported on issues of traffic safety, with a focus on roadway design, as well as tax-incentivized development at a variety of Kansas City agencies. They have lived in Kansas City since 2021.
Kansas City, Missouri
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Kansas City sits at the intersection of many rivers — the Missouri River separating downtown from the Northland, the Kansas River in Wyandotte and Johnson counties, and Turkey Creek, the Blue River, Mill Creek and Brush Creek forming a spider web across the bistate area.
And this is no accident, said Heather Schmidt, the stormwater program manager in Johnson County.
Every 10 years, the mayor of Kansas City is required to form a commission to review the city’s charter and recommend changes to be placed on the ballot. The 2023 Charter Review Commission met for the final time on May 16, rejecting calls from some members of the public to extend their timeline.
This month, Kansas City began rolling out its new recycling program by delivering carts with lids and wheels to houses across the city.
But in the fine print, the city’s recycling website says that apartment buildings with seven or more units will not be receiving a recycling cart.
For the past year, transgender people in Missouri and their families have been shuttling back and forth to the capitol in Jefferson City to testify against legislation aimed at banning gender-affirming health care. But for the first time on Wednesday, trans Kansas Citians will flock to City Hall to support a measure that could protect these treatments from statewide bans.
Without much fanfare, Kansas City’s nine-member Charter Review Commission has been discussing changes that could make it harder to recall officials, challenge City Council votes and propose citizen initiatives.
Before May 18, the commission must decide which measures to recommend to the Kansas City Council for a vote. A radical change in the governance of the Department of Parks and Recreation was on the table, but has been pulled by the mayor’s office.
A week after Kansas City residents gathered outside Kansas City Police Department headquarters to protest the department’s response to the April 13 shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager, state politicians in Jefferson City are preparing to confirm a nominee to one of KCPD’s most powerful positions.
In early April, Gov. Mike Parson nominated Thomas Whittaker, the executive vice president and chief legal officer at construction company J.E. Dunn, to become the fifth member of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners.
Staff and volunteers at KC Pet Project understand that every day can bring in new business. On Monday, it was a litter of eight puppies, brought to the shelter by deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department after their owner was evicted from an apartment.
Staffers at the nonprofit, which contracts with the Kansas City government to provide pet shelter and animal control operations, were not surprised. Hundreds of pet owners every year are forced to surrender their animals for housing-related reasons such as evictions, rent increases and landlord-imposed restrictions.
For three weeks, staffers in the Jackson County assessment department have been on a tour. Their venues: packed rooms in public libraries and community centers. Their audience: homeowners with lots of questions about their property taxes.
With notices of property value assessments expected any time, anxiety among residential property owners is rising. For at least a month, the Jackson County website has had a banner warning of hourlong wait times for anyone calling the assessment department.
After three months of maneuvering, three failed votes and four different versions of the same legislation, the Jackson County Legislature on Monday voted unanimously to become the first county government in Missouri to ban anti-LGBT conversion therapy.
The ordinance, effective immediately, prohibits any practice or treatment that seeks to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It specifically exempts “counseling that provides support and assistance to a person undergoing gender transition.”
Early voting has begun for the April 4 Kansas City Council primary election, which will eliminate 11 candidates among seven competitive races. At least half of the current City Council will be replaced with fresh faces after this year’s municipal elections, with only six incumbents running to keep their seats.
Among the seven competitive primary races is the 1st District at-large, a position currently held by Kevin O’Neill. He is running against former Clay County Presiding Commissioner Pam Mason and Ronda Smith, who has experience in real estate and accounting.
