FEATURED STORY
Solving KC’s recycling problem, one local business at a time
Marcus Locke, executive chef at American Dining Creations at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, was one of the earliest adopters of KC Can Compost about 2 1/2 years ago. “It felt right in line with what we do here at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, as far as cutting down on our carbon footprint,” he […]
Get our free newsletter every Tuesday and Thursday morning. We share our in-depth reporting and the best local stories to help you understand what’s going on in Kansas City.
What you need to know about Missouri’s first ever black bear hunt
The Missouri Department of Conservation will allow the state’s first-ever black bear hunting season after the population rebounded over the past few decades. Hunters are excited about the new challenge and the chance to help control the bear population.
When it comes to the air we breathe, experts say Kansas City is a ‘good place’
There may have been a slight dip in pollution when shutdowns kept people home, but the more important story is the steady improvement in Kansas City’s overall air quality.
A year later, pandemic ‘victory gardens’ are still blooming in KC
From urban community gardeners to suburban hobbyists, interest in gardening has exploded across Kansas City since the pandemic began.
Bike ridership is exploding in Kansas City
New data from BikeWalkKC, a local nonprofit focused on making Kansas City streets safer and accessible for all people, shows that Kansas City residents are biking more than they had in the years before the pandemic.
Sorry allergy sufferers: Research shows KC’s pollen season is longer
As climate change warms temperatures and lengthens the pollen season, allergy symptoms may last longer or be more intense.
Say cheese: Wildlife takes spotlight with help of Kansas Citians’ smartphones
Starting Friday, April 30, the Kansas City metro area is challenging residents to get out and discover the nature surrounding them in their backyards, neighborhoods and local parks.
Tick season is here. Here’s why you should save all of the critters you find
Scientists are asking Missouri residents to send them live ticks in the mail in an effort to better understand the diseases spread by the tiny arachnid.
Fate of monarch butterfly up in the air
Citing finite resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to work on higher priority species before evaluating whether monarch butterflies should be listed as endangered or threatened.
Fish Fight: Invasive Asian carp threaten Kansas and Missouri waterways
There’s a war being fought amid the vast Mississippi River system. At stake are populations of native fish and a multibillion-dollar fishing and boating industry.
Local scientists seek solutions for Kansas lakes battling harmful blue-green algae
Blue-green algae blooms have always been a natural, and safe, part of Kansas lakes. But within the past decade, algal amounts have increased, causing health and economic woes.
Like COVID-19, the burden of air pollution is not evenly shared in Kansas and Missouri
Early research suggests a correlation between positive cases of COVID-19 and deaths in areas with higher levels of air pollution.
How invasive plants could overrun America’s largest remaining tallgrass prairie
America’s last stand of tallgrass prairie — primarily located in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas and extending to the north and south — is being overgrown by non-native plants.
Support The Beacon
The Beacon listens to diverse perspectives and shines a light on systemic issues and grass-roots solutions through original fact-based reporting.
If you can, we hope you’ll help keep our journalism free for all readers by becoming a monthly member of The Beacon.