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Kansas City charter schools could see millions more in funding
For years, charter school educators and families in Kansas City and St. Louis have alleged their schools were being shortchanged in funding. Thanks to a new state law, their schools may soon see an increase in the dollars they receive from the state annually for each of their students. In Missouri, charter schools have been…
KCPD funding, World Cup taxes, sports betting: How KC delegation priorities fared in the Missouri legislature
Kansas City was the center of plenty of debate this year inside the Missouri legislature. Among the legislature’s many priorities, lawmakers fielded multiple proposals to raise the minimum amount of money the city must give its police department. They set aside federal dollars to attract new airlines to a newly rebuilt Kansas City International Airport.…
Many Missourians can expect tax rebate up to $500 thanks to state surplus
With the legislature staring at the wrapup of this year’s legislative session Friday at 6 p.m., many households in the state can now expect a one-time tax rebate. Missouri lawmakers have finalized a plan to set aside $500 million of the state’s general revenue to return to taxpayers through a tax credit. The rebate is part…
Recreational cannabis in Missouri via legislature seems unlikely
Those hoping to see adult-use cannabis legalized in Missouri through legislative action may be out of luck this year, according to supporters of HB 2704, a legalization bill currently stalled in the House of Representatives. But two potential ballot initiatives may be able to pick up where the stalled bill left off. A voter-driven initiative…
With Missouri overdose rates on the rise, federal funds for Narcan dry up
Since 2016, the state of Missouri has relied on a federal grant to help purchase and distribute naloxone, often known as Narcan, a life-saving treatment that can reverse potentially fatal overdoses. That grant has expired, leaving treatment providers without a centralized resource to turn to for the medicine. With no long-term replacement for the same…
Picture looks brighter for better starting teacher pay, school transportation as Missouri legislators wrangle over budget
Update (May 4, 2022): The joint committee responsible for finalizing Missouri’s 2023 budget passed both proposals. With just weeks to go until the Missouri legislature must approve the state’s budget, the outcome looks brighter for teachers and school districts. A joint committee of House and Senate members took another step toward finalizing the Fiscal Year…
Redistricting will impact Kansas for the next decade. Here’s how it works.
Update: On April 25, Wyandotte County District Judge Bill Klapper ruled that a map setting new boundaries for the state’s four congressional districts is unconstitutional. The decision is likely to be appealed to the Kansas Supreme Court. How will you be represented in the Kansas Legislature for the next decade? It comes down to maps.…
Hesitant support continues for full cannabis legalization in Missouri, amid concerns about fairness and equity
The advocates who successfully campaigned for a constitutional amendment to legalize medical marijuana in Missouri in 2018 are continuing to push the state toward recreational legalization of cannabis, but sharp disagreements have arisen over fairness in the market. The House Rules Committee on Tuesday afternoon advanced HB2704, called the Cannabis Freedom Act. It awaits full…
‘This isn’t about athletics:’ Bill banning transgender athletes from school teams vetoed by Gov. Kelly
Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a ban on transgender female athletes on Friday, striking down the hot-button issue for the second year and setting up a possible showdown with supporters of the measure when the legislature returns to the Kansas Statehouse next week. This year is the third in a row that a bill proposing restrictions…
Potential budget surplus could mean tax credits for Missourians, but some would rather see programs funded
Update (April 21, 2022): This story has been updated to reflect the House’s passage of the bill. A $46 billion budget package passed out of the Missouri House earlier this month, after federal funds left the state flush with cash. The Republican-led House sent the Senate a budget proposal that leaves nearly $2 billion unspent…
Turnover among child protection workers in Kansas City region far outpacing Missouri’s average, deputy says
Nearly nine in 10 of the Missouri Children’s Division caseworkers who serve in the Kansas City region will have left the job by the end of the year, far outpacing the statewide rate, a state official predicted last week. Caseworkers are critical to the success of the state’s child protection system, but low pay, high…
What passed? What didn’t? A recap of what happened in the Kansas Legislature
A ban on so-called “sanctuary cities” and proposed changes to redistricting could impact Wyandotte County.
As Missouri’s opioid crisis rages, $458 million in settlement money arrives
In February, Missouri was awarded $458 million in a settlement from the nation’s top opioid producers. Now, as lawmakers and state departments prepare to receive and distribute those funds, advocates hope Missouri will use the money wisely to respond to an opioid crisis that has taken thousands of lives. The $26 billion legal settlement –…
Missouri legislature considers bills to change charter school funding and allow student transfers
Lawmakers who call themselves “pro-school choice” think public school money should be spent in ways that allow families to choose the best schools for their children. Opponents say their remedies would harm school districts.
Ahead of 2022 elections, Missouri legislature considers bills on absentee voting and voter ID
Elections have been top of mind for lawmakers since 2000, when races for many seats, including the U.S. presidency, were close and highly polarized, and the pandemic raised concerns about the safety of in-person voting. Since then, some elected officials have been seeking ways to expand access to the ballot box, while others are calling…
KC lawmakers are facing an uphill battle in Missouri legislative session
While legislators from Kansas City say they are frustrated by the acrimony in the General Asseme, that is only one of their concerns.
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