The Beacon

Missouri is expanding a program that shares childcare costs among employers, families and the state. But finding care in the first place is still a challenge. buff.ly/S8wfoPP

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? buff.ly/L5cg4QG

Whether you live in Wyandotte or Johnson County, you will see more than a dozen questions about judges on your ballot. Here’s what to know. buff.ly/KpCpoPY

Kansas City's pivot from an all-new $201 million permanent jail to a $120 million retrofit of the so-called World Cup jail was not born from any long-term strategic planning or a change in needs. Rather, it’s because of money. buff.ly/WopSdJP

A national civic engagement group donated money to pay off nearly 27,000 Kansans' medical bills. buff.ly/BTgGDsM

Jackson County voters will decide whether to renew the anti-crime sales tax known as COMBAT for 10 years. Here’s what it costs, what it funds and what a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote means. buff.ly/WcPt89h

Roads in Kansas City, Kansas, are rated at just 48 out of 100. Leaders say a new tax would fund long-overdue repairs. buff.ly/X2TnCBe

When a dental surgery center in Independence opens next month, it will be the first in the state exclusively for Medicaid patients. It is also a reminder of what may be lost if adult dental coverage becomes a casualty of looming federal Medicaid cuts. buff.ly/SQUnmSa

The Kansas Legislature has yet to pass Erin’s Law, mandating child abuse prevention education, and other laws advocates say could strengthen protections for children. buff.ly/S8Z4fLr

Missouri is heading to the polls! Here’s your guide to Amendments 3, 6, 7, 8 and Proposition A. buff.ly/YGdjchP

We're excited to share that The Beacon is growing! Thomas joins us from the Kansas City Business Journal, thanks to a three-year investment in City Hall reporting from Progress Kansas City. buff.ly/YYRx6MS

The Kansas City hospital that sued a patient over a single unpaid medical bill defended its debt collection practices, saying it has a responsibility to protect its bottomline in an increasingly difficult healthcare landscape. buff.ly/3GC0iEI

Kansas City leaders are promising $1.4 billion in economic impact from the new Royals stadium. But that’s not all it needs to generate for the city to break even.https://buff.ly/DWAWX99

The KCK Neighbors Alliance, a grassroots group, says it still needs about $79,000 to pay off the debt of 10 owner-occupied homes facing Wednesday’s auction. buff.ly/4BmX3Fi

Republican Amy Cawvey and Democrat Jennifer Lloyd are competing for the District 1 seat on the Kansas State Board of Education. They disagree on whether parents need more influence. buff.ly/uqU2ZwG

For pregnant women living north of Interstate 70 in central Missouri, there weren’t many places to deliver a baby. Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall was one of them. Now it isn’t. buff.ly/LNN8gNr

Nearly one out of every 10 workers in the Kansas City area works in transportation and material moving jobs. How are high diesel prices impacting them and the consumers that depend on them? buff.ly/9mKRZQv

The Kansas City Council will consider a plan for funding the new Royals stadium using part of the taxes collected in the Crossroads, Westside, Stockyards District and beyond. buff.ly/bAGIUHx

A Jackson County lawsuit alleging a teacher sexually abused students at two different Kansas City schools raises questions about potential gaps in the safeguards meant to protect students. buff.ly/ksDZYd0

Two Kansas City nonprofit hospitals have taken more than 400 patients to court over medical debt so far this year. buff.ly/KCuT3PG

In Missouri and Kansas, more hospitals are taking patients to court over unpaid medical bills, leading to garnished wages and liens against patients' assets. buff.ly/U5npa9t

Mental health conditions, including substance use, contributed to nearly a quarter of Missouri's pregnancy-related deaths between 2019 and 2023. But many mothers aren't screened for these conditions, or they struggle to access treatment. buff.ly/yzK7Hh8

Under a new Kansas law, accessory dwelling units would become broadly legal in Kansas City, Kansas, which may help address a shortage of affordable housing in the area. buff.ly/gaeFdB6

A plumber, an attorney, an incumbent and a health insurance broker: Meet your at-large candidates for the Jackson County Legislature. buff.ly/T7lzNbl

Property taxes, public transportation, audits and small business services: Here are Alan Rohlfing and Stacy Lake’s top priorities if elected to lead Jackson County. buff.ly/QbGAccm

Education leaders were caught off guard when the Missouri State Board of Education approved a budget request that didn’t ask for the full amount required to fund the state's foundation formula. buff.ly/ZWzuoVZ

UMKC workers are pushing for a $19 wage floor for service and maintenance jobs. The university says pay is based on the cost of labor, not the cost of living. buff.ly/duqa36c

A single case has exposed more than 250 people in Jackson County to measles. Area health officials expect the number of people exposed to grow. buff.ly/2FVur1r

In rural Missouri, some patients must travel more than an hour to reach a delivery hospital. Doulas, mobile health programs and telehealth are trying to fill some of the gaps. buff.ly/DxmrVJ4

A permanent emergency shelter for people who are unhoused could finally be in the cards for Wyandotte County if voters approve a proposed health sales tax in November. buff.ly/2RbRE4N

In a packed room, the Park Hill school board heard concerns from local parents affiliated with the group Schools Beyond Screens about how technology is used in learning spaces. buff.ly/gobYLoO

Resettled in Kansas City under asylum laws, an Afghan ally of the U.S. military began the long legal route to bringing his wife and children to the U.S. It took a year and a federal lawsuit to get them out of Afghanistan. buff.ly/70wjHUr

After a flurry of court rulings, Missouri’s congressional redistricting maps are in a paradoxical state, with one order barring the state from using gerrymandered maps and the other saying it has to. buff.ly/s0mkbQB

As federal changes begin to put health insurance out of reach for more people, a growing number of patients are returning to the ranks of the uninsured. buff.ly/17cQKxw

A familiar face has returned to the Kansas City Council to replace outgoing Councilmember Andrea Bough. buff.ly/gUm8vye

On Aug. 18, Mike McDonald, a math teacher, made history when he attended his first meeting as a member of the Missouri State Board of Education. buff.ly/HZyeGWE

The Raytown School District told teachers they need permission for crowdfunding efforts, and that any donations are the property of the district. buff.ly/rrL9jAl

As health insurance costs climb, more Kansas Citians are turning to direct primary care, which gets them quick access for a monthly fee. buff.ly/TWEyz6Q

Kansas City’s Haitian community is generations deep and growing, filled with nurses, dentists and other health professionals. Newer arrivals fear deportation after the loss of a protected immigration status. buff.ly/Q9TP6EH

More than half of Jackson County’s polling places ran out of preprinted ballots during the Aug. 4 primary because of higher-than-expected voter turnout. buff.ly/iuKVxdT

As part of its new ballpark deal, the Kansas City Royals agreed to give at least $55 million in community benefits to Kansas City over 30 years. Here’s what the public gets and how it compares to other deals. buff.ly/TV6gbk3

A closely divided Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools board voted 4-3 to bring in more property tax dollars this year instead of lowering rates enough to cancel out rising property values. buff.ly/3eqhBdQ

A proposal to revamp the Country Club Plaza is one step closer to reality after the Port Authority of Kansas City took the first of three votes for an estimated $149 million property tax incentive over the next 30 years. buff.ly/rBzwSNC

A resolution headed to the Kansas City Council is meant to resolve a nearly yearlong dispute about how more than $30 million collected through the city’s health levy is distributed. buff.ly/janSJRx

KCK will be making changes to comply with a new Kansas law that aims to address statewide housing shortages and increase the number of single-family homes. buff.ly/RKHUCnA

The Kansas City Council voted 11-2 to commit $600 million to the Royals for a new ballpark. Here’s a look at the political and financial math behind the deal. buff.ly/OUiyFhF

Missouri is preparing to rate schools using an A-to-F grading scale. Supporters say the plan gives parents more information, but opponents say it could be a source of confusion and stigma. buff.ly/eyiD4VZ

The Trump administration wants to eliminate more than 1,400 federal rules for Head Start in the hopes of cutting costs and expanding access. In Missouri, providers say the challenge may not be so easily solved. buff.ly/RSb87Yf

Fewer Kansas City-area residents, including children, are getting vaccinated this year. Local officials worry that new federal immunization policies may be responsible. buff.ly/5HybPZw

Missouri has been seen as a reliable Republican stronghold for much of the 21st century. But after Amendments 4 and 5 were resoundingly defeated during the Aug. 4 primaries, some are wondering if Missouri is secretly a blue state, at least for ballot issues. buff.ly/V8sHCiK