Voters from across Missouri and Kansas went to the polls today for the 2026 midterm elections. Statewide, Missourians voted on five ballot questions, U.S. House representatives and state auditor. Big items on the Kansas side of the state line were governor, U.S Senate, U.S House representatives and State Board of Education members. Below you’ll find […]
Missouri
The Beacon reports on the Missouri government to help bring depth, nuance and new ideas to our readers about how their tax money gets spent and about laws passed by their elected officials.
Posted inHealth
Missouri is boosting treatment to stop new moms from dying of substance abuse
For years, Shari Cook came across pregnant patients who struggled with substance use and wanted to get sober before their babies arrived. Finding somewhere they could actually get that treatment was another matter. Some programs would accept women, but not if they were pregnant. Others had availability, but they were hours away and required women […]
Posted inEducation
First test scores from Missouri-backed private school scholarships near national average
One researcher said that’s reason for optimism given that the students in the program had disabilities or were required to meet income guidelines.
Posted inHealth
Children’s Mercy ACA spat shows how patients get caught in crossfire of business deals, federal policies
In January, about 400 Kansas City kids are set to lose access to Children’s Mercy Hospital and its affiliated pediatric practices. Emmalyn Case’s three children, ages 9, 6 and 4, will be among them. “It’s really scary,” she said last week after hearing the news that the hospital would not be in the network of […]
Posted inHealth
To keep rural healthcare workers, Missouri is helping cover their childcare costs
Abe Funk, the owner of John’s Pharmacy in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, wasn’t looking to get into the childcare business. But he was looking to keep his pharmacies staffed. He kept running into the same problem: Workers were struggling to find childcare they could afford, and that stayed open through their shifts. After an employee approached […]
Posted inElections
Missouri Supreme Court and lots of other judges are on the ballot. What it means to ‘retain’ them
Missouri voters will see a list of anywhere from four to nearly a dozen judges on the ballot. How do you know whether they should stay on the bench?
Posted inElections
Should Jackson County renew COMBAT anti-crime sales tax? What to know before you vote
Voters in Jackson County will decide Nov. 3 whether to keep paying a quarter of a cent anti-crime sales tax for the next 10 years. COMBAT — short for community-backed anti-crime tax — appears on the ballot as Jackson County Question 1. A “yes” vote extends the sales tax for 10 years, while a “no” […]
Missouri and Kansas general election guide: November 2026
General elections in Missouri and Kansas are on Nov. 3, and The Beacon is here to help you feel prepared, especially for those local downballot races and questions. Missouri election coverage Missouri voters will decide on five statewide ballot questions — four amendments and one proposition. The Beacon put together a guide on what a […]
Posted inHealth
Needed dental care is within reach for more people around KC, but Medicaid cuts loom
When a dental surgery center in Independence opens next month, it will be the first in the state exclusively for Medicaid patients. The center, which will provide dental care requiring anesthesia to children and adults, wouldn’t have been possible even five years ago, before Missouri began an overhaul of the dental care offered through its […]
Posted inElections
Your guide to Missouri Amendments 3, 6, 7, 8 and Proposition A: What yes and no votes mean
Missouri voters are beginning to head to the polls to weigh in on the 2026 midterm elections. Voters are casting ballots to elect representatives to the U.S. House, state General Assembly and five statewide ballot measures. To help you understand your ballot, The Beacon has compiled a guide to November’s ballot measures and what a […]