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 […]
Behind the Beacon
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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 […]
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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.
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Partnership with Kansas City Media Collective and The Kansas City Star results in groundbreaking voter guide
The Beacon’s small staff puts a particular effort in providing coverage — valuable to voters, if not always splashy — in helping you figure out how to vote and how to enter that polling place with a clear understanding of the choices. This election season — both Kansas and Missouri have primaries on Aug. 6 […]
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Beacon reporting cited in lawsuit challenging KCPD constitutionality
Beacon reporter Josh Merchant published an in-depth story in December 2022 explaining why Kansas City is the only major city in the United States without control over its own police department — and the role pro-slavery forces played in its oversight. The reporting showed how state control of policing in major Missouri cities was established […]
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How The Beacon helped bring attention to Wichita USD 259’s school district voting process
Beacon reporter Trace Salzbrenner published a series of articles in the summer and fall of 2022 that explored how Wichita elected school board members — and the ways that tended to stifle the votes of minority neighborhoods. His reporting showed that a citywide voting system essentially diminished the political influence of Wichita’s Black residents.. “I […]
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Marcus Clem joins The Beacon as the new Wichita education reporter
The Beacon welcomed Marcus Clem as its new Wichita education reporter last week. Clem has worked as a multimedia journalist with a concentration in education for News-Press & Gazette Company and as copy editor for The Topeka Capital-Journal and The Augusta Chronicle through Morris Communications. He’s been a member of the Education Writers Association for […]
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Mili Mansaray announced as Chips Quinn Program for Diversity in Journalism reporter
The Beacon’s Kansas City housing and labor reporter Mili Mansaray was just announced as a part of the 2024-2025 reporting class for the Chips Quinn Program for Diversity in Journalism. Mansaray is one of 11 early-career reporters who will be paired with a Chips Quinn alum or veteran journalist to complete a yearlong mentorship and […]
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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.
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Beacon reporting uncovers deaths of homeless individuals in Wichita are not counted
Government officials responded to The Beacon’s story by promising to implement a tracking system so better data is kept to help unhoused Wichitans.