The Beacon spoke with Kansas City area nonprofits on March 21 about their questions and concerns around potential federal funding cuts.
Naomi ODonnell
Naomi O'Donnell leads The Beacon's audience engagement efforts, including our membership program and social media platforms.
Posted inBehind the Beacon
Beacon reporting cited in national investigation on police control
The Beacon was recently featured in ProPublica’s investigative report on Missouri’s bid to take control of the St. Louis Police Department.
Posted inBehind the Beacon
Experts, advocates, and community members unite at homeless shelter listening session
In a world where the gaps between neighbors and communities grow larger, few issues illustrate these rifts more than homelessness. That’s why Kansas City is working to open its first low-barrier shelter — one that provides immediate access with minimal or no requirements. Kansas City officials approved the conversion of Hope Faith Ministries into a […]
Posted inBehind the Beacon
The Beacon is joining AJP’s Product & AI Studio
At The Beacon, we are dedicated to combining trusted journalistic principles with cutting-edge technology. As newsrooms across the country explore AI tools to enhance their reporters’ capacity, we are excited to announce that The Beacon is entering the field with a running start by joining 27 other news organizations in receiving from AJP’s Product & […]
Posted inBehind the Beacon
How Suzanne King’s reporting highlights local health care gaps
Ever since Suzanne King joined The Beacon as a full-time health care reporter, she’s been diving into critical, underreported issues that affect the wellbeing of millions. King, who stepped into the role last fall, recently published a three-part series investigating the causes and effects of Kansas City-area pharmacies closing. But that’s just her latest. Over […]
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 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 inBehind the Beacon
Our stories are free to republish. Here’s why
Beacon articles have been republished 1,238 times by more than 100 outlets, bolstering local news coverage.
Posted inBehind the Beacon
The Beacon launches new, mobile-first website
Readers can now explore all four newsrooms – Kansas, Missouri, Kansas City and Wichita – under a single domain. Here’s a breakdown of what changes were made, and why.