Kansas City Today

Most Kansas City medical bill lawsuits come from 2 hospitals

Two Kansas City area hospitals have been suing patients over unpaid medical bills. We’ll hear why medical debt is becoming a bigger part of many people’s lives.

Why Midwest electricity bills are rising

Midwestern ratepayers have seen utility bills rise in recent years, as growing demand puts pressure on an aging electric grid. Also, as large data centers pop up around t

Western Kansas left to recover after ICE raids hit beef industry

A few weeks ago, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents began descending on western Kansas. More than 100 people were detained, leaving communities and the massive lo

How Amendment 6 could change direct democracy in Missouri

A proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution this November would make it harder for state lawmakers to change or overturn laws passed by voters through initiative pe

Behind the Kansas constitutional amendment vote this November

A proposed amendment to the Kansas constitution would specify that only U.S. citizens may vote in elections. But the problem, according to opponents, is that non-citizens

8,000 games for Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews

The Kansas City Royals celebrated Denny Matthews’ 8,000th game behind the mic during last week’s matchup against the Cleveland Guardians. An inductee into the National Ba

What Soakie's meant to Kansas City's Black queer community

For years, Soakie's in downtown Kansas City was one of the only Black gay bars in the United States. The bar closed in 2004, as development began on the Power & Light Dis

A Missouri resident sues over Medicaid work requirements

A Kansas City Medicaid enrollee is among several plaintiffs suing over policy changes that would require medically frail people to prove their condition significantly imp

'Free births' on the rise in Missouri and Kansas

Home births have been increasing in Missouri and Kansas. And "free birth," when a person gives birth without the help of a medical professional, has been popularized in r

Missourians will vote again on abortion in November

If approved by voters on Nov. 3, Missouri Amendment 3 would repeal abortion rights guaranteed in the state Constitution. It also would ban gender-affirming care for trans

What the Flock?

Flock Safety cameras have sparked bipartisan uproar with many worried that the cameras, which scan license plates, infringe on privacy. Misuse of the cameras and their da

How one Kansas City woman escaped an abusive relationship

Violent crime is going down in Kansas City, but cases of domestic violence are rising. Domestic violence often happens behind closed doors, and in some cases abuse begins

The latest in the legal back-and-forth over Missouri redistricting

A federal appeals court has again sided with Missouri Republicans, ruling the state must use the GOP-leaning congressional map passed by lawmakers last year. Plus: how ne

For one rural Kansas town, pros of data center investment might outweigh cons

Communities are killing data center proposals faster than ever. But in a struggling small town, the idea of investment measured in billions of dollars can dwarf anything

Kansas City school districts have tough budget choices to make

Public school funding continues to fall across the U.S., with Missouri facing its own tight budget. Schools are facing tough decisions like collecting more in taxes, redu

Layoffs at the Kansas City Star will hurt local communities

McClatchy, one of the biggest newspaper companies in the country, laid off dozens of journalists last week, including several in Kansas City. These decisions not only aff

Kansans turn to 'loan closets' for expensive medical equipment

As medical costs rise, Kansans are turning to organizations called Medical Loan Closets that lend out donated items like wheelchairs and walkers for little or no cost. Th

Missouri's 5th District race is vastly different now

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the state must use its 2022 congressional map for the upcoming November elections — rather than the redrawn map used during the prim

What it's really like to be a transgender student in Kansas

Federal officials are targeting four Kansas schools for their policies surrounding transgender students. But what is it like to be a transgender student in those district

The race for Kansas' top law enforcement job

Republican Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach wants voters to judge him by his record but Democratic challenger Chris Mann is making that record a target. We’ll have a l