KC’s data center boom is a windfall for construction trades. But the AI powered by those buildings is already reshaping who has job security — and who doesn’t.
Thomas White
Thomas White covers workforce and economic impact for The Beacon, reporting on policies, programs, and systems that help or hinder everyday people's pursuit of the American Dream. White is an emerging reporter with previous experience at The Community Voice and The Pitch Magazine. The KC-area native spent over a decade in hospitality before earning his journalism degree from the University of Missouri Kansas City as a first-generation college graduate from a working-class family.
Posted inEconomics
‘Blinded by dollar signs’: Independence wrestles with 90% tax abatement for massive AI data center
Independence votes March 2 on a 90% tax abatement for Nebius’ proposed $151 billion data center. Here’s how the deal works and what residents think.
Posted inHousing
Hoping for more affordable housing, Kansas City rolls back energy efficiency codes
Some officials hope less restrictive codes will reduce costs and spur new housing. Others say it will cost residents in the long run.
Posted inLocal Government
Nearly $103M raised through taxes on online sales bypass voter-approved funds in Kansas City budget
Voters have approved seven special revenue sales taxes for things like transit, public safety and infrastructure. But taxes collected on online purchases from out-of-state retailers bypass those uses in the city budget.
Posted inHousing
Working homelessness: When ‘getting a job’ isn’t enough in KC
Increasing numbers of sheltered families have jobs while a growing population is caught in the gap between the wages they earn and the cost of housing. It’s a formula for rising homelessness.
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 inHousing
Boarded buildings, displaced families: KC’s Olive Park Village residents forced out
Olive Park Village residents confront displacement as Kansas City cracks down on federally debarred Millennia Housing Management over deteriorating conditions.
Posted inEconomics
Port KC punts Country Club Plaza tax break vote to 2026 after fierce pushback
The Port Authority of Kansas City backed off Monday from a vote on a sweeping tax incentive package for developers of the Country Club Plaza. Port KC’s special virtual meeting was attended by about 160 participants but was delayed for more than 17 minutes by a remote hack. The hack set a tone for a […]
Posted inEconomics
Canary in the corner booth: What restaurant closures reveal about the KC economy
Some legacy restaurants close ahead of World Cup opportunity while others report strong sales. Who can afford a night out reveals a split economy.
Posted inEconomics
‘We can’t keep food on the shelf’: KC food pantries struggle to keep up ahead of holidays
The November SNAP disruption sent families to Kansas City food pantries in droves. Now, with supply low and demand high, uncertainty looms over hunger relief.