The Beacon

Three men working on a house construction site.

Kansas City Home Builders Push Back on Energy Efficiency Rules, Blame Them for Housing Crunch

Homebuilders say Kansas City’s energy efficiency standards hinder housing construction and increase costs. Environmentalists say they combat climate change.

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Founder Myron McCant looks through a window at the children served at KD Academy child care.

Missouri Amendment 1: Child Care on August Primary Ballot

Amendment 1 on the upcoming Missouri primary ballot would help clear the way for child care businesses to be exempt from property taxes.

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Voting guide photo illustration.

FAQ: How to Vote in Kansas

It’s a big election year. Here’s a guide for Kansas residents to getting registered to vote, finding what’s on the ballot, locating a polling place, and more.

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A poll worker peels off an "I Voted" sticker.

FAQ: How to Vote in Missouri

It’s a big election year. Here’s a guide for Missouri residents to getting registered to vote, finding what’s on the ballot, locating a polling place, and more.

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The exterior of Liberty Hospital.

Why Liberty Hospital Could No Longer Go it Alone and Turned to Kansas for Help

The University of Kansas Health System now owns Liberty Hospital in Missouri. The deal, which sparked political opposition, reflects a growing merger trend.

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At CSL Plasma on Broadway Boulevard in midtown Kansas City, willing plasma donors line up on a recent day before the center's 6 a.m. opening.

Plasma You Sell in East Kansas City Could End Up in Medicine an Ocean Away

Kansas City plasma donors help fuel a pharmaceutical industry worth $35 billion. Many donors have lower incomes and sell their plasma to make ends meet.

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A dairy cow in a pen at Be Whole Again Farm in Excelsior Springs.

Bird Flu has Hit Cows in Kansas and Sparked Precautions in Missouri. Here’s What that means for You

Bird flu has hit cows in Kansas and sparked precautions in Missouri. Scientists say the more it spreads, the more chances it has to become a problem for people.

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Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City.

The Missouri Legislature is Cutting Local Governments’ Power to Pass Their Own Laws

Republican statehouses like Missouri’s increasingly limit what rules places like Kansas City can adopt — typically shutting down more progressive policies.

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New Kansas City trash carts on a truck.

KC Residents Will Soon Be Able to Throw Away Twice as Much Trash. How Will it Affect Recycling?

Kansas City is about to replace trash bags with bins. But the convenience of a lidded trash bin may come at a cost for the environment.

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Fake pill bottles with messages about OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma are displayed during a protest outside the courthouse where the bankruptcy of the company was taking place in White Plains, New York.

Kansas City-area Politicians Pick Between War on Drugs or Treatment When Spending Opioid Settlement Cash

Local cities and counties are spending windfalls from legal settlements with opioid companies. While some prioritize law enforcement, others focus on treatment.

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