Kacen J. Bayless
@kacen.bsky.social
📤 885
📥 237
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Democracy Insider at The Kansas City Star.
[email protected]
New: Kansas City Chiefs give $25K to Missouri Senate Republicans as stadium fight drags on. The check, revealed in campaign finance records, marks the team’s second major contribution to Missouri Republicans this year.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Chiefs give $25K to Missouri Republicans as stadium fight drags on
The donation marks the team’s second major contribution to Missouri Republicans this year.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313587451.html
1 day ago
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A campaign to strike down Missouri’s congressional map submitted 300K petition signatures, a critical step toward forcing a statewide referendum vote.
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
#moleg
#mogov
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Missouri campaign turns in 300K signatures to strike down gerrymandered map
The signature dropoff marked a critical moment for the referendum campaign, but its fate is still unclear.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313546523.html#moleg
3 days ago
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New: Months after costly verdict, Kansas City faces another whistleblower lawsuit
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
#moleg
#mogov
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Months after costly verdict, Kansas City faces another whistleblower lawsuit
The employee alleges she raised concerns about the city’s auditing process and was stripped of her duties.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313430273.html
4 days ago
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New: Missouri judges struck down -- and rewrote -- SOS Denny Hoskins’ language for an upcoming ballot measure that would ban nearly all abortions in the state.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri judges rewrite abortion ban ballot question. What voters will see
The ruling marks a win for abortion rights advocates, who argued the language was intended to mislead voters into approving a new abortion ban.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313400293.html
8 days ago
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Could Kansas City split from Jackson County? Inside a new plan dubbed ‘Jackxit’
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Could Kansas City split from Jackson County? Inside new plan dubbed ‘Jackxit’
The extraordinary plan has raised eyebrows from local and state leaders in the Kansas City area.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313361504.html
8 days ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
The Kansas City Star
10 days ago
The move marked the adult industry’s first major response to Missouri’s new age-verification rule.
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Pornhub shuts down access in Missouri as new age-verification rule takes effect
The move marked the adult industry’s first major response to Missouri’s new age-verification rule.
https://bit.ly/3XrSHV5
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Here’s Brett Hull showing me his bet:
add a skeleton here at some point
10 days ago
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The most powerful lawmaker in the Missouri House and a pair of local sports icons were in St. Louis today to gamble. The event marked the rollout of the state's legal sports betting industry, which won slim approval last year.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Sports betting is legal in Missouri. These icons, lawmaker were among the first
The three bets signified the rollout of the legal sports gambling industry in Missouri, which won narrow approval from voters.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313282140.html
10 days ago
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New: Mass ‘Black Friday’ text from the RNC urges Missouri residents not to sign onto anti-gerrymander campaign.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Mass ‘Black Friday’ text urges KC residents not to sign anti-gerrymander campaign
The text message, which was also sent to multiple reporters at The Star, said it was paid for by the Republican National Committee.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313138605.html
16 days ago
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New: Missouri is illegally keeping people with mental health issues in jail, lawsuit says
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri is illegally keeping people with mental health issues in jail, lawsuit says
The suit’s allegations echo a 2023 investigation by The Star that found hundreds of individuals with mental health issues were stuck in jail.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313100604.html
18 days ago
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Federal lawsuit alleges coordinated push to stop anti-gerrymandering campaign in Missouri
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Lawsuit alleges coordinated push to stop anti-gerrymandering campaign in Missouri
The allegations come just days after The Star revealed a mysterious $5,000 contract aimed at the campaign’s signature-gathering efforts.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312986230.html
18 days ago
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Missouri wants to seize assets owned by China to collect a historic $24B judgment, an extraordinary move aimed at holding the country accountable for COVID-19. But legal experts have cast doubt on Missouri’s ability to collect anything.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri wants to seize China’s assets. But will it actually collect $24B judgment?
The judgment has been widely touted as historic. But some legal experts cast doubt on Missouri’s ability to collect.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313000452.html
21 days ago
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Missouri's governor floated a plan to eliminate the income tax, a move that would drastically change how the state funds operations & services. While short on details, the stark acknowledgment has drawn parallels to a budget fiasco in Kansas
#moleg
#ksleg
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri governor wants to eliminate income taxes. Some fear KS-like budget crisis
The stark acknowledgment has drawn parallels to neighboring Kansas, which experienced a budget disaster roughly a decade ago.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312951120.html
24 days ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
25 days ago
Local hemp shops in Kansas City have experienced significant growth, but they are now facing challenges due to a new federal ban. Here's the story via
@kacen.bsky.social
Read more at:
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Local hemp shops have boomed in KC. Now they’re grappling with new federal ban
The new federal legislation marks another salvo in a protracted fight over the unregulated hemp industry.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312904369.html#storylink=cpy
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New: Trial over fate of 90K signatures to strike down redistricted Missouri map delayed — again The delay, won by an opposition group backed by national Republicans, comes as the campaign races to collect signatures to force a statewide vote
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Trial over 90K signatures to strike down redistricted Missouri map delayed — again
“They are absolutely terrified of, you know, the people of the state having a chance to weigh in,” the campaign’s director told The Star.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312757164.html
28 days ago
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Together, the two agreements reveal a financial arrangement totaling half a million dollars that City Hall never previously disclosed after Platt’s highly-publicized firing in March. City officials have repeatedly refused to answer questions about the agreements.
add a skeleton here at some point
29 days ago
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NEW: Kansas City quietly agreed to pay former City Manager Brian Platt $500K in two confidential agreements signed in the wake of his exit as the city’s top executive. The documents, obtained by The Star, mark the first public disclosure of the full payout
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Kansas City quietly agreed to pay $500K to fired city manager Brian Platt
Two documents mark the first public disclosure of the payouts as city officials have refused to answer questions about the settlement.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312877940.html
29 days ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
29 days ago
Kansas City has quietly agreed to pay $500,000 to Brian Platt, the city manager who was recently fired. Here's the breaking news story via
@kacen.bsky.social
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Kansas City quietly agreed to pay $500K to fired city manager Brian Platt
Two documents mark the first public disclosure of the payouts as city officials have refused to answer questions about the settlement.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312877940.html
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ICYMI: “Redistricting is now a bare-knuckles fight all over the country and people are trying things that have never been done before,” said
@chuckhatfield.bsky.social
. “We are down in the alley with broken bottles and chains right now — that’s what’s going on."
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Inside mysterious push to block signature-gathering against Missouri redistricting
The source of the contract remains a mystery. But its existence has raised alarm as Missouri gears up for a potential statewide vote.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312808885.html
about 1 month ago
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NEW: Inside mysterious push to block signature-gathering against Missouri redistricting The source of the contract, obtained by The Star, remains a mystery. But its existence has raised alarm as Missouri gears up for a potential statewide vote.
#moleg
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Inside mysterious push to block signature-gathering against Missouri redistricting
The source of the contract remains a mystery. But its existence has raised alarm as Missouri gears up for a potential statewide vote.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312808885.html
about 1 month ago
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NEW: The former Ray County sheriff, whose tenure was dogged by a maelstrom of misconduct allegations that led to his resignation, now faces criminal charges. Another extraordinary revelation for the mostly rural county near KC. w/
@cronkb.bsky.social
www.kansascity.com/news/local/c...
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Ex-Ray County sheriff indicted for using excessive force, falsifying reports: ‘Troubling’
Former Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers is accused of violating the civil rights of several people. Here’s what a federal grand jury has accused him of.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article312795248.html
about 1 month ago
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NEW: Jackson County residents will be tasked with choosing their assessor after a landslide vote that required the post to be elected instead of appointed. The runaway election was fueled in part by yearslong fury over an increase in property assessments.
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Jackson County’s assessor will be elected after landslide vote fueled by tax fury
But Tuesday’s runaway election won’t immediately change who’s in charge of assessments.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312696575.html
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
about 1 month ago
Missouri under fire after Gov. Kehoe touted SNAP aid that wasn’t new: ‘Shameful’ A story by
@kacen.bsky.social
and Laura Bauer.
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri under fire after Gov. Kehoe touted SNAP aid that wasn’t new: ‘Shameful’
“It was, quite frankly, shameful,” said one Kansas City lawmaker.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312725667.html#storylink=cpy
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
The Kansas City Star
about 1 month ago
“It was, quite frankly, shameful,” said one Kansas City lawmaker.
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Missouri under fire after Gov. Kehoe touted SNAP aid that wasn’t new: ‘Shameful’
“It was, quite frankly, shameful,” said one Kansas City lawmaker.
https://bit.ly/4qHCdFK
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New: Missouri’s new congressional map carves 70K minority residents out of Kansas City district. An internal review, obtained by @KCStar, offers the most detailed demographic data & shows the district will have the largest drop in minority voters.
#moleg
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri’s new map carves 70,000 minority residents out of Kansas City district
An internal review of the map shows that the 5th District will see an 8.5% increase in white residents and a 9.1% decrease in minority residents.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312675537.html
about 1 month ago
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New: Jackson County will not pursue charges against people who signed a petition to repeal Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map twice, pointing to confusing messaging from GOP state officials.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Why Jackson County won’t charge people who signed anti-gerrymander petition twice
The announcement came roughly a week after Missouri GOP officials deployed maneuvers to stifle a campaign that seeks to strike down the state’s congressional map.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312617242.html
about 2 months ago
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New: Inside Missouri governor’s closed-door talks as Kansas City Royals eye stadium move
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Inside Missouri governor’s closed-door talks as Royals eye stadium move
The meetings, revealed in records obtained by The Star, illustrate the significant role the governor is playing in the fight over both teams.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312591043.html
about 2 months ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
about 2 months ago
Inside Missouri governor’s closed-door talks as Royals eye stadium move. A story via
@kacen.bsky.social
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Inside Missouri governor’s closed-door talks as Royals eye stadium move
The meetings, revealed in records obtained by The Star, illustrate the significant role the governor is playing in the fight over both teams.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312591043.html
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Jonathan Shorman
about 2 months ago
As the Supreme Court prepares to weigh in on Trump’s National Guard deployments, the president’s decision to order guard members to cross state borders into non-consenting states underscores fears about encroachments on state sovereignty My dive for
@stateline.org
stateline.org/2025/10/22/t...
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Trump’s National Guard deployments raise worries about state sovereignty • Stateline
As President Donald Trump prepares to send out-of-state National Guard members to Chicago and in Portland, Oregon, other cities are bracing for the arrival of troops in anticipation that the deploymen...
https://stateline.org/2025/10/22/trumps-national-guard-deployments-raise-worries-about-state-sovereignty/
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New: More than half a million Missouri residents who rely on SNAP will be unable to access their payment next month due to the federal government shutdown.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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More than 650K Missourians will lose food assistance next month amid shutdown
States across the country are likely to be impacted, but neighboring Kansas had not yet made a similar announcement.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312577747.html
about 2 months ago
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Missouri lawyer wants to repeal Chiefs, Royals stadium funding — to give money to Medicaid
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri lawyer wants to repeal stadium funding — to give money to Medicaid
Two proposals take direct aim at Missouri’s stadium funding package intended to keep the Chiefs and Royals inside state lines.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312545386.html
about 2 months ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
about 2 months ago
The connections of Young Republicans to Kansas politicians are under scrutiny following a scandal involving a racist text. Here's the latest via
@bymatthewkelly.bsky.social
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Young Republicans’ ties to Kansas politicians scrutinized after racist text scandal
GOP officials are facing tough questions about their connections to staffers associated with hateful messages revealed this week.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312543138.html
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“The whole thing’s outrageous,” said Chuck Hatfield, the campaign's attorney. “We have state officials in a full-blown tantrum about the right of the people to overrule these congressional districts.”
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri says 100K signatures to repeal voting map aren’t valid. That’s not all
The legal actions illustrate a remarkable attempt to thwart Missourians from striking down the map that splits Kansas City.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312530987.html
about 2 months ago
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New: After thousands of Missourians signed onto a campaign to repeal the state’s gerrymandered map, statewide officials have deployed a barrage of maneuvers to crush the effort. Inside the GOP push to halt the referendum campaign.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri says 100K signatures to repeal voting map aren’t valid. That’s not all
The legal actions illustrate a remarkable attempt to thwart Missourians from striking down the map that splits Kansas City.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312530987.html
about 2 months ago
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New: Kansas City International Airport has joined a growing list of airports refusing to air a video of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that blames Democrats for the federal government shutdown.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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KCI refuses to air Kristi Noem’s TSA video blaming shutdown on Democrats
Kansas City International Airport’s denial comes as major airports across the country have also refused to play the video at security lines
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312498258.html
about 2 months ago
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UPDATE: After this story published, a Missouri judge approved SOS Denny Hoskins’ version of the abortion ban's ballot language, finding his second of three potential tries “fair and sufficient” for the ballot. The ACLU says it will appeal the ruling.
#moleg
#mogov
add a skeleton here at some point
2 months ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
2 months ago
Missouri’s ‘Let Politicians Lie Act’ takes center stage in fight over abortion - A story by
@kacen.bsky.social
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri’s ‘Let Politicians Lie Act’ takes center stage in fight over abortion
The ongoing legal fight is largely by design, marking the latest salvo in Republican officials’ yearslong effort to halt abortion access.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312402226.html
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New: Missouri’s ‘Let Politicians Lie Act’ takes center stage in fight over abortion
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri’s ‘Let Politicians Lie Act’ takes center stage in fight over abortion
The ongoing legal fight is largely by design, marking the latest salvo in Republican officials’ yearslong effort to halt abortion access.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312402226.html
2 months ago
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New: As President Donald Trump threatens sending troops to U.S. cities to crack down on crime, U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt took direct aim at Kansas City this week. Local leaders are pushing back.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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MO Republican praises DC takeover as model for KC. What do local leaders say?
The senator’s comments have intensified concerns that Kansas City could be swept up in the Trump administration’s sweeping anti-crime crackdown.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312338448.html
2 months ago
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Students across the sprawling campus of Missouri’s flagship institution are grappling with the aftermath of a fatal shooting near a popular bar strip. We spoke with students about gun violence, downtown safety and Mizzou's response
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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After shooting near Mizzou, she got a phone alert. ‘It’s kind of scary.’
Students across the sprawling University of Missouri campus are grappling with the aftermath of a fatal shooting near a popular bar strip.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312324806.html
2 months ago
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Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has authorized the state’s National Guard to help ICE agents, plunging Missouri into national mass deportation efforts led by the Trump administration.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri National Guard to help ICE with statewide deportations, governor says
The announcement comes as the first-year governor has tried to align himself more closely with the Trump administration in recent months.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312323003.html
2 months ago
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After a fatal shooting homecoming morning, the University of Missouri’s top leader declared a "crime crisis" in Columbia. But the president's letter and a follow-up press briefing sidestepped one issue that has long plagued officials in Missouri: gun control.
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Mizzou leader declares ‘crime crisis’ after shooting. Will guns be discussed?
The shooting just hours before the popular homecoming parade has renewed a protracted dispute over violent crime and gun violence.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312307553.html
2 months ago
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New: Trump threatens to move World Cup games from ‘dangerous’ cities. What about Kansas City?
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/sports/fifa-...
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Trump threatens to move World Cup games from ‘dangerous’ cities. What about KC?
Trump’s threat has sparked questions about whether Kansas City could be a target.
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/fifa-world-cup/article312271768.html
3 months ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
3 months ago
Despite strong opposition, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is set to sign a new congressional map. My colleague
@kacen.bsky.social
writes that Kehoe will sign the bill during a closed-door ceremony on Sunday.
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Facing fierce opposition, Missouri governor will sign new congressional map
The governor’s signature will come roughly two weeks after a special legislative session aimed at representative and direct democracy in Missouri.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312260215.html
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New: Facing a trio of lawsuits and an opposition campaign, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe’s office said the Republican governor will sign the state’s new congressional map into law.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Facing fierce opposition, Missouri governor will sign new congressional map
The governor’s signature will come roughly two weeks after a special legislative session aimed at representative and direct democracy in Missouri.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312260215.html
3 months ago
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New: As Kansas City’s mayor weighs a run for Congress, The Star takes a look at whether Missouri's gerrymandered congressional map could clear a path for Democrats.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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As Kansas City’s mayor eyes Congress, would he — and Democrats — have a shot?
Could Missouri’s congressional map open a path for Kansas City Democrats to pick up additional seats in Congress?
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312241724.html
3 months ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
3 months ago
As Kansas City’s mayor eyes Congress, would he — and Democrats — have a shot? The latest via
@kacen.bsky.social
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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As Kansas City’s mayor eyes Congress, would he — and Democrats — have a shot?
Could Missouri’s congressional map open a path for Kansas City Democrats to pick up additional seats in Congress?
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312241724.html
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READER CALLOUT: Kansas City voters were thrust into a national redistricting fight when Missouri Republicans approved a new congressional map. There’s a lot to unpack and The Star wants to answer your questions. Ask us here:
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri just gerrymandered Kansas City. Let us know what questions you have
Help us out by filling out this form with your most pressing concerns and questions.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312232447.html
3 months ago
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New: When Missouri's governor called a special session, he deployed lawmakers into a partisan battle over two of the most polarizing issues in state politics. In the wake of the session one major question looms. Will they survive the courtroom & the ballot?
#moleg
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Will Missouri’s congressional map, direct democracy overhaul survive challenges?
In the wake of a volatile session, one major question looms. Will the measures survive the courtroom and the ballot box?
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312216902.html
3 months ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
3 months ago
Will Missouri’s congressional map, direct democracy overhaul survive challenges? The latest via
@kacen.bsky.social
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
loading . . .
Will Missouri’s congressional map, direct democracy overhaul survive challenges?
In the wake of a volatile session, one major question looms. Will the measures survive the courtroom and the ballot box?
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312216902.html
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