Free bus fare for Kansas City residents weighs access vs. affordability
At the root of the public transportation conversation happening within Kansas City local government is a simple question of priorities. Should affordability be maintained as a barrier to access to public transportation or does access preclude consideration of affordability? Mayor Quinton Lucas and CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation…
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New Study finds 1 in 6 kids in Missouri are food-insecure
A recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that 1 in 6 kids in Missouri are food insecure. That’s roughly 12 percent, just above the national average of 11.7 percent. These numbers may seem alarming to you. Most people think that the ShowMe state should be less sensitive…
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Off-year elections deliver big wins for Democrats
November 2019 saw a number of states hold elections for local government. While Kentucky, Louisiana, Virginia, Mississippi and New Jersey all held elections for state offices, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi also held statewide elections – most prominently gubernatorial races. Though the off-year state-focused elections have come to be seen as…
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The Paseo name change controversy continues
The efforts surrounding a historic Kansas City street’s name change has stirred up a considerable amount of controversy, especially among Kansas City’s black community. After a rejection of the City Council’s January decision to rename a street in honor of the late Civil Rights Movement leader, Dr. Martin Luther King…
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The problem of sexual misconduct in primary and secondary education
For years, increasing attention has been fixated on sexual misconduct in U.S. colleges and universities. Significantly less attention, however, has been paid to sexual misconduct in K-12 public schools. This does not mean that sexual misconduct does not occur at those levels. CDC data shows that 20 percent of high…
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The future of weed in Kansas City
The possession of marijuana and the penalties for being caught with it are hot topics in Kansas City. The City Council decided to hold a hearing in September to decide whether or not the city’s laws should be changed regarding the possession of marijuana. Many people attended the hearing in…
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Is murder on the rise in Missouri?
Missouri is known for the Ozarks, the St. Louis Arch and murder? SafeWise scoured FBI data to discover that over a five-year average from 2013-2017, Missouri is ranked third in states with the highest murder rates. Louisiana ranked first with 11.1 murders per 100,000 people, Mississippi ranked second at 8.0…
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Education in Missouri: More than half of our kids at below basic skill levels
How well do you think your high school prepared you for college? If you are from Missouri and you’re thinking to yourself “not very well,” you may not be alone. Every year the National Department of Education requires states to publish a report explaining how students are doing in key…
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