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The Beacon

@thebeacon.bsky.social

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Nonprofit news you can trust in greater Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri. www.thebeaconnews.org

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The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 2d

The warrantless arrests of 11 immigrant restaurant workers in Liberty earlier this year violated a 2022 consent decree, a federal judge ruled. The arrests of the workers at El Potro Mexican Café in February were among the first in the KC area to draw widespread media attention.

Federal judge rules against ICE in the warrantless arrests of 11 Liberty restaurant workers

Case challenged Trump administration’s mass deportation tactics. Workers are now free on bond.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 3d

Mike Burns' insurance plan, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, paid $15,300 to a PBM’s contracted specialty pharmacy. But the medicine would have cost just $2,300 had he been able to fill it at his own AuBurn Pharmacy. What's going on with drug prices?

Some Missouri and Kansas pharmacists join effort to get drug prices under control

As health insurance costs soar, lowering prescription prices could help. But that will require reforms in Jefferson City and Topeka.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 5d

A recent audit of the Kansas foster care system found that only 66% of the children got mental health services. That audit also noted that children are moving around to too many different homes, and some parts of the state are worse than others — like Sedgwick County.

Wichita lags behind state in foster child mental health treatment

A 2025 audit finds the state's foster care system isn't connecting enough children to mental health treatment.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 6d

Six candidates for the school board in De Soto, #Kansas, answered questions about their priorities and their positions on issues facing schools.

Meet the De Soto USD 232 school board candidates for 2025

Six candidates for the school board in De Soto, Kansas, answered questions about their priorities and their positions on issues facing schools.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 9d

Two major grocery closures are creating expanded food deserts affecting thousands of Kansas City area residents.

Current food desert patterns mirror 1930s redlining maps, with formerly redlined areas 107% to 149% more likely to be food deserts today.

Kansas City food deserts expand as grocery stores close along historic redlines

Prospect Sun Fresh and Merc Co-op closures expand Kansas City food deserts along historic redlining patterns, leaving thousands without nearby grocery access.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 9d

Shawn’s relationship ended messy and she filed a protection order to prevent her ex, Christopher L. Koch, from contacting her. But Christopher ignored the court ruling.

“I’m saying to you there will be damage done today,” Christopher said in an email.

Her ex kept threatening to kill her. He wasn't arrested for months.

Christopher Koch threatened Shawn Koch. She went to police, but an arrest took months. Experts say this is common in domestic violence cases.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 10d

#Raytown Quality Schools is seeking public feedback on two draft proposals, one of which would reconfigure the district’s middle schools. The other would affect fewer students.

Raytown considers closing a middle school to address declining enrollment

Raytown Quality Schools is seeking public feedback on two draft proposals, one of which would reconfigure the district’s middle schools. The other would affect fewer students.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 11d

Frank White was voted out of office yesterday by just 16% of Jackson County voters — compared to the 48% that turned out in the 2022 general election where White won reelection.

In Kansas City specifically, turnout for the Frank White recall was even lower at 11%.

Frank White recall results: Will the 85% yes vote hold up in court? - Beacon: Kansas City

The Frank White recall results are in after the Sept. 30 special election. But a legal battle could get the vote thrown out.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 12d

“I was an elementary building-level counselor for probably six years, and we just kept having all these suicides.” a Missouri school counselor said. “I was like, ‘Why is nobody doing anything about this?’ And nobody seemed to know what to do.”

Some Missouri schools use AI, digital tools to prevent suicides. What does that mean for student privacy?

Advocates for the digital monitoring tools say they help save lives. Experts warn that the programs have a higher tendency to flag content from certain groups of students, and that more is needed to…

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 12d

📣 It's here! Special election day: Jackson County voters could make history later this month with the outcome of a rare vote on whether to recall County Executive Frank White Jr.

FAQ: All about the Sept. 30 special election to recall Frank White Jr.

Supporters of the recall say they’re ticked off about how Frank White Jr. handled property assessments. Opponents say the construction lobby is trying to clear the path for “sweetheart stadium deals.”

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 13d

Missouri Gov. Mike #Kehoe signed into law a new congressional map that is widely expected to unseat U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat.

Missouri governor signs new congressional redistricting map into law

Even with the governor’s signature, the map faces several legal challenges amid allegations of gerrymandering.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 17d

Renters of houses were being told what their share of a utility bill would be without proof of the actual charges. Bills weren’t in the renter’s name, but in the name of a landlord who often lived out of town. People didn’t have formal leases. They relied on verbal agreements.

For Latinos, the American Dream hinges on getting a mortgage

Latinos are expected to be 70% of net new homeowners in the U.S. by 2040. Local programs are designed to help increase Latino homeownership.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 17d

🗳️ As voters cast ballots in the special Sept. 30 election to recall Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr., a question that’s rarely been openly discussed lingers: If White is removed from office, who will be selected to replace him?

Some Jackson County officials don’t want you to know who might replace Frank White. We found out anyway

If the Frank White recall passes on Sept. 30, legislators will name his replacement as county executive. Here’s what they’re thinking.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 18d

Gambling addiction can lead to substance use, relationship problems and health issues, said Lisa Chaney, a researcher who worked on the 2025 Kansas Gambling Survey. Problem gambling also comes with a 50-fold increase in suicide attempts.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 18d

“Our fellow Kansans are being drugged out, soaked for every dollar they have. … We have to take that seriously,” said Rep. Francis Awerkamp, a St. Marys Republican. “The data is being used to find ways to keep squeezing money out of these people.” buff.ly/1T0PH0Q

Problem gambling skyrockets in Kansas as betting gets easier

A 2025 survey of more than 1,500 Kansans found that people are betting more often than they used to. Legalized sports betting is one reason for the increase.

thebeaconnews.org

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 19d

Kansas has not turned over data that the federal government requested. Gov. Laura Kelly said the request isn’t legal.

Attorney General Kris Kobach sued Kelly to make her comply with the federal request. A judge last week didn’t force Kansas to turn over the data.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 19d

The federal government is trying to withhold funds from Kansas. But there is a way the state can keep the money. buff.ly/cnOtrxo

Kansas attorney general says state has lost $10.4 million in food assistance. Is that true?

The federal government is asking states for data on its food assistance program. Kansas SNAP data hasn't been turned over.

thebeaconnews.org

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 20d

As Republican lawmakers move to make it harder to amend the Missouri constitution, another coalition is pushing to make it harder for lawmakers to amend or repeal voters’ decisions.

On initiative petitions, Missouri lawmakers, citizens look to curb the other group’s power

As Republican lawmakers move to make it harder to amend the state constitution, another coalition is pushing to make it harder for lawmakers to amend or repeal voters’ decisions.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 22d

“Shaun Brady was more than just a friend to me — he was family,” wrote chef Jasper Mirabile in the recently published Shaun & Seamus Brady Cookbook, produced as part of ongoing community efforts to support the Brady family.

Hidden costs of grief: Chef Shaun Brady’s murder illustrates economic toll of gun violence in KC

The killing of beloved Irish-born chef Shaun Brady triggered at least $1.5 million in measurable costs, revealing the often-ignored economic burden gun violence places on families, neighborhoods,…

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 23d

Meanwhile, KFF Health News, a national nonprofit newsroom, reports that about 28% of people 65 and older live alone, including nearly 6 million men and more than 10 million women. (Those figures don’t include seniors living in institutions, primarily assisted living and nursing homes.)

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 23d

In 2020, people aged 65+ comprised 16.8% of the population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau... compared with 9.2% in 1960.

In raw numbers, the population of seniors had risen during that period from 16.6 million to 55.8 million. buff.ly/WKmITPN

Needs of seniors shape plans for Swope Health’s $126M campus on grounds of shuttered KC nursing home

The number of Americans aged 65 or older has more than tripled since 1960, fueling the ‘gray revolution.’

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 23d

UPDATE: The federal government has asked Kansas for the personal data for people on food assistance. Kansas hasn't turned over the information, and Republicans warned the state would lose $10.4M today. The money hasn't been clawed back & a state judge said didn't force KS to comply w/ the deadline.

Kansas Republicans say the state will lose $10.4 million this week. Will it happen?

The federal government asked for Social Security numbers, addresses and other personal information from food assistance recipients in Kansas. Gov. Laura Kelly won’t hand it over.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 26d

Health insurance premiums are expected to jump in 2026, and many businesses say they’ll be forced to pass some of the increase on to employees.

Kansas City workers can bet on paying more for health insurance next year

Health insurance premiums are expected to jump in 2026, and many businesses say they’ll be forced to pass some of the increase on to employees.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 27d

The federal government asked for Social Security numbers, addresses and other personal information from food assistance recipients in Kansas. Gov. Laura Kelly won’t hand it over.

Kansas Republicans say the state will lose $10.4 million this week. Will it happen?

The federal government asked for Social Security numbers, addresses and other personal information from food assistance recipients in Kansas. Gov. Laura Kelly won’t hand it over.

The Beacon @thebeacon.bsky.social · 27d

“What we’ve seen is, of course, Democrats drew lines that tended to favor Democrats and Republicans drew lines that favored Republicans,” said Peverill Squire, a political science professor at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Missouri’s redistricting effort is legally unprecedented, experts say

The legislature’s effort to draw a new congressional map breaks with tradition and could force the Missouri Supreme Court to decide on the legality of midcycle redistricting.