Politics

City Hall and the Jackson County Courthouse at the center of the downtown Kansas City skyline.

What’s at Stake in Kansas City Elections? How the City Prioritizes Housing and Development

The upcoming Kansas City election will add several new members to the Kansas City Council and affect the direction of the city and Mayor Quinton Lucas’ agenda. 

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Kansas state Rep. Kristey Williams, a Republican from Augusta.

Kansas Lawmakers Unveil Bill to Incentivize Private Education with Public Funds

A new Kansas education bill would funnel money into unregulated, unaccredited private schools, with lawmakers saying the legislation would protect parental authority.

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Nick Haines on stage at the Kansas City Public Library's Country Club Plaza branch moderating a public conversation with former Kansas City mayors Kay Barnes, Sly James, Mark Funkhouser and Emanuel Cleaver.

4 KC Mayors Walk Into a Library … It’s No Joke

Four former Kansas City mayors gathered recently to discuss their time in office. Their conversation airs Friday on Kansas City PBS.

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Lawmakers in the Missouri House chamber on Jan. 18, 2022.

Missouri House Gives Initial Approval to Raising Bar for Voters to Amend the Constitution

Legislation to make it harder for voters to amend the state constitution through the initiative petition process won initial approval in the Missouri House on Wednesday. 

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Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly enters to deliver the State of the State.

Gov. Laura Kelly Argues Kansans Deserve Progress on Tax, Health Care, K-12 Policy

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday encouraged the Republican-dominated Legislature to embrace a bipartisan approach to vexing political issues of taxation, health care and education.

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Missouri Gov. Mike Parson delivers a speech.

Missouri Lawmakers Vow to Expand Child Care Access. Governor’s Speech May Lay Out the Plan

On Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Mike Parson is expected to lay out his vision for addressing what some legislators have framed as a child care crisis in Missouri. 

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The Missouri House chamber during the 2022 legislative session.

Missouri Lawmakers Reconvene Focused on Sports Betting, Teacher Pay, Initiative Petitions

For a vocal slice of Missouri’s population, sports wagering is the most important item on the agenda as lawmakers begin their annual session.

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Missouri Capitol

As Missouri Abortion Rights Supporters Look to Initiative Petitions, Legislators Try to Limit Power

Numerous bills regarding initiative petitions have been filed for 2023, as Republican lawmakers look to reshape how the process is used for policymaking in Missouri.

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A "Payday Loans" sign

Kansas Coalition Pushing Payday Loan Reform

A coalition in Kansas has come together to push reform of the payday loan industry.

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From left: Tanisha Patterson, Ryan Quinones and Chris LeGrand celebrate the passage of Amendment 3 on Tuesday during a watch party at the Crown Room in downtown St. Louis.

Missouri Voters Approve Amendment 3, Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

Missouri voters have approved the legal use of recreational marijuana by adults.

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