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Dry ground and unmet promises: Platte County wetlands project is dead in the water
This story was originally published by the Kansas City Beacon. A wide expanse of plastic netting sits partially buried by dirt and vegetation in Parkville’s Platte Landing Park. Intended as the base of an ongoing wetlands restoration project, the netting has instead become an expensive — and dangerous — nuisance. The City of Parkville in […]
Kansas City declared a climate emergency. Now what?
This story was originally published by The Kansas City Beacon. It’s been 13 years since Kansas City passed its first climate protection plan. At the top of the list: drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Now the city is preparing a new plan, and emission reductions remains a focus. In 2008, the city set a goal […]
A DOJ partnership is hoping to change how Kansas City handles violence prevention
This story was originally published by the Kansas City Beacon. Several years after the embattled violence-reduction program known as KC No Violence Alliance faded from public view, Mayor Quinton Lucas’ administration is working with federal authorities and community partners to revive and broaden the strategies that for a time seemed to be making a difference in Kansas […]
Dangerous properties owned by Kansas City land bank draw frustration
This story was originally published by the Kansas City Beacon. The house on 2415 Kensington Ave. has been wasting away for years. Inspection records show that the building has been subjected to repeated illegal dumping and, most recently, an intense fire that damaged it beyond repair. It was scheduled to be demolished in 2020, after […]
‘A project like this is generational’: New KCI terminal prioritizes accessibility
This story was first published by the Kansas City Beacon. When flights get rescheduled or moved to another gate, the announcement usually comes through the airport’s audio system. Passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing don’t get the memo, forcing them to rely on others to relay the new information. Sometimes, it turns into […]
Burned out: Kansas City paramedics piled on overtime through pandemic
This story was originally published by the Kansas City Beacon. Thirty minutes. That’s how long it takes Kansas City Fire Department paramedics to sterilize an ambulance after responding to a COVID-19 emergency. As cases skyrocketed in Kansas City last year, those minutes started to add up. From March 2020 to March 2021, KCFD saw a 22% […]
Funding safe havens: Increase sought in tax credit for domestic violence shelter donations
A group of donors walked through the halls of Rainbow House, an emergency children’s shelter in Columbia. Artwork from kids who’d spent time at the shelter adorned the walls, ranging from self-portraits to colorful scribbles. Suddenly, one donor stopped at a piece and stared. There, years later, was the same drawing they’d made when they […]