Kacen J. Bayless
@kacen.bsky.social
đ¤ 912
đĽ 240
đ 263
Democracy Insider at The Kansas City Star.
[email protected]
â KANSAS CITY, Mo.
4 days ago
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Furious over recent ruling, GOP cancels high-profile speech with Missouri Supreme Court One senator compared the seven judges to âlittle kings and queens in their black robesâ who âget to hide behind their little red brick building.â
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Furious over recent ruling, GOP cancels high-profile speech with MO Supreme Court
One senator compared the courtâs seven judges to âlittle kings and queens in their black robesâ who âget to hide behind their little red brick building.â
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article314488012.html
6 days ago
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New: How Kansas & Missouri Republicans are framing gun rights in wake of Alex Pretti shooting The snap reactions appear to contradict decades of Republican messaging in both states, where guns are both ubiquitous and fiercely defended.
#moleg
#ksleg
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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How KS & MO Republicans are framing gun rights in wake of Alex Pretti shooting
The reactions appear to contradict decades of Republican messaging in Kansas and Missouri, where guns are both ubiquitous and fiercely defended.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article314462624.html
8 days ago
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New: The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously struck down a state law deployed by Republicans to fight abortion access, a sweeping ruling that wrestles power away from top statewide officials.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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âLet Politicians Lie Actâ struck down by Missouri Supreme Court. What that means
The law, signed by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe last year, marked a key tool in Republican officialsâ yearslong effort to halt abortions.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article314430660.html
11 days ago
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New: Over the past two years, Kansas City has received $42K from ICE as part of a little-noticed agreement between the city and the federal immigration agency.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Kansas City has a little-known agreement with ICE. What we found out
The agreement, revealed in federal government spending records, allows DHS and ICE access to a multi-agency law enforcement radio network.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article314387588.html
12 days ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
12 days ago
Kansas City has a little-known agreement with ICE. What we found out. Hereâs the story from my colleague
@kacen.bsky.social
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Kansas City has a little-known agreement with ICE. What we found out
The agreement, revealed in federal government spending records, allows DHS and ICE access to a multi-agency law enforcement radio network.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article314387588.html
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New: More than a year after historic vote, the fate of Missouri abortion access will center on Kansas City.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...
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https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article314334021.html
18 days ago
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New: A stark partisan divide has emerged in the wake of last weekâs shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer. Videos of the shooting have sparked strikingly different reactions among Kansas & Missouri lawmakers.
#moleg
#ksleg
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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KC lawmaker called ICE shooting âdeeply disturbing.â GOP leaders had a different take
A stark partisan divide has emerged in the wake of last weekâs shooting death of former Kansas City resident Renee Good by an ICE officer.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article314290151.html
22 days ago
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Personal news: After nearly 4 years working out of The Star's Missouri Capitol bureau, I'm moving into a new politics role at
@kansascity.com
. I'm really excited for this opportunity and to work more closely with my talented colleagues in KC.
#moleg
#ksleg
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Introducing The Starâs new Democracy Insider as KC preps for historic 2026
The Starâs Kacen Bayless introduces his new role as Kansas City prepares for a critical year in politics.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312861618.html
28 days ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
28 days ago
Ticket fees, demo costs: Missouri lawmaker wants to penalize Chiefs for Kansas move. A story by
@kacen.bsky.social
www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/k...
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Ticket fees, demo costs: Missouri lawmaker wants to penalize Chiefs for Kansas move
Three bills mark a retaliatory response from a Missouri legislator after the Chiefsâ announced plans to move to Kansas.
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article314188066.html
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New: After Kansas deadline lapses, Missouri has new âsense of urgencyâ to keep the Kansas City Royals
www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/k...
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After Kansas deadline lapses, Missouri has new âsense of urgencyâ to keep Royals
The Royals still have not committed to a location despite repeatedly saying they do not plan to stay at Kauffman Stadium after the teamâs lease expires in 2030.
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article314123201.html#storylink=cpy
about 1 month ago
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New: Missouri will not renew a landmark economic agreement with Kansas after the Kansas City Chiefs announced plans to cross state lines, top lawmaker confirms to
@kansascity.com
#moleg
#ksleg
www.kansascity.com/news/local/a...
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Will Chiefsâ exit mark the official end of the Missouri-Kansas border war truce?
Comments in Missouri likely signal the official death knell of an agreement that stopped the two states from swiping Kansas City businesses.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article314035453.html
about 1 month ago
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New: Jackson County makes last-minute pitch to Chiefs before high-stakes Kansas meeting. In a pair of letters to Chiefs top brass, Jackson County emphasized Missouriâs financial advantage over Kansas & floated the possibility of a domed Arrowhead.
www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/k...
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Jackson County makes last-minute pitch to Chiefs before high-stakes Kansas meeting
Two letters sent to Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt and President Mark Donovan appear to illustrate a last-minute pitch by Jackson County to the team.
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article313895084.html
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
about 1 month ago
Missouriâs attorney general had bipartisan support. Then redistricting happened. A story via
@kacen.bsky.social
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouriâs attorney general had bipartisan support. Then redistricting happened
âIt turns out our expectations were misplaced,â one attorney told The Star.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313810416.html
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New: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanawayâs sterling credentials and pre-Trump era reputation came with a belief that she would take a more pragmatic approach than her hard-charging predecessors. Then redistricting happened.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouriâs attorney general had bipartisan support. Then redistricting happened
âIt turns out our expectations were misplaced,â one attorney told The Star.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313810416.html
about 1 month ago
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New: As Chiefs talks ramp up in Kansas, Missouri officials rush to respond Inside the chaotic moment in Missouri as officials trade details, share rumors and seek answers about the teamâs intentions.
#moleg
#ksleg
www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/k...
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As Chiefs talks ramp up in Kansas, Missouri officials rush to respond
âKansas is a pipe dream and theyâre playing politics over in Topeka,â Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota told The Star.
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article313838638.html
about 2 months ago
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NEW: Are the Kansas City Chiefs nearing a stadium decision? What upcoming talks in Kansas reveal From me & Sam McDowell after speaking with leaders on both sides of the state line.
#moleg
#ksleg
www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/k...
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Are the Chiefs nearing stadium decision? What upcoming talks in Kansas reveal
A flurry of comments has raised the stakes of an upcoming Kansas meeting, which is expected to center on the stateâs supercharged bonding program.
https://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/article313814231.html
about 2 months ago
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New: Former Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith could be poised for a new federal law enforcement job, a potentially extraordinary appointment after his stormy exit as the cityâs top cop.
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Could embattled ex-KCPD chief be tapped by Trump for federal job in Missouri?
The former chief confirmed to The Star that U.S. Sen. Eric Schmittâs office inquired about his interest in the vacant federal post.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313776370.html
about 2 months ago
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Josh Hawley launches new anti-abortion group as Missouri gears up for 2026 vote
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Josh Hawley launches new anti-abortion group as Missouri gears up for 2026 vote
The launch marks a significant revelation for Missouri as voters prepare for a measure that would ban nearly all abortions
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313746345.html
about 2 months ago
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New: Kansas City Chiefs give $25K to Missouri Senate Republicans as stadium fight drags on. The check, revealed in campaign finance records, marks the teamâs 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 teamâs second major contribution to Missouri Republicans this year.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313587451.html
about 2 months ago
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A campaign to strike down Missouriâs 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
about 2 months 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 cityâs auditing process and was stripped of her duties.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313430273.html
about 2 months ago
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New: Missouri judges struck down -- and rewrote -- SOS Denny Hoskinsâ 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
2 months ago
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Could Kansas City split from Jackson County? Inside a new plan dubbed âJackxitâ
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Could Kansas City split from Jackson County? Inside new plan dubbed âJackxitâ
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
2 months ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
The Kansas City Star
2 months ago
The move marked the adult industryâs first major response to Missouriâs 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 industryâs first major response to Missouriâs new age-verification rule.
https://bit.ly/3XrSHV5
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Hereâs Brett Hull showing me his bet:
add a skeleton here at some point
2 months 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
2 months ago
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New: Mass âBlack Fridayâ 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 âBlack Fridayâ 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
2 months 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 suitâs 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
2 months 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 campaignâs signature-gathering efforts.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312986230.html
2 months 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 Missouriâs ability to collect anything.
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri wants to seize Chinaâs assets. But will it actually collect $24B judgment?
The judgment has been widely touted as historic. But some legal experts cast doubt on Missouriâs ability to collect.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article313000452.html
3 months 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
3 months ago
1
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
3 months 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 theyâre 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 â 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 â again
âThey are absolutely terrified of, you know, the people of the state having a chance to weigh in,â the campaignâs director told The Star.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312757164.html
3 months 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 Plattâs highly-publicized firing in March. City officials have repeatedly refused to answer questions about the agreements.
add a skeleton here at some point
3 months 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 cityâs 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
3 months ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
3 months 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: âRedistricting is now a bare-knuckles fight all over the country and people are trying things that have never been done before,â said
@chuckhatfield.bsky.social
. âWe are down in the alley with broken bottles and chains right now â thatâs whatâs 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
3 months 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
3 months 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: âTroublingâ
Former Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers is accused of violating the civil rights of several people. Hereâs what a federal grand jury has accused him of.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article312795248.html
3 months 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 Countyâs assessor will be elected after landslide vote fueled by tax fury
But Tuesdayâs runaway election wonât immediately change whoâs in charge of assessments.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312696575.html
3 months ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
3 months ago
Missouri under fire after Gov. Kehoe touted SNAP aid that wasnât new: âShamefulâ 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 wasnât new: âShamefulâ
âIt was, quite frankly, shameful,â 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
3 months ago
âIt was, quite frankly, shameful,â said one Kansas City lawmaker.
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Missouri under fire after Gov. Kehoe touted SNAP aid that wasnât new: âShamefulâ
âIt was, quite frankly, shameful,â said one Kansas City lawmaker.
https://bit.ly/4qHCdFK
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New: Missouriâs 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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Missouriâs 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
3 months ago
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New: Jackson County will not pursue charges against people who signed a petition to repeal Missouriâs 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 wonât 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 stateâs congressional map.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312617242.html
3 months ago
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New: Inside Missouri governorâs closed-door talks as Kansas City Royals eye stadium move
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Inside Missouri governorâs 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
3 months ago
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reposted by
Kacen J. Bayless
Glenn E. Rice
3 months ago
Inside Missouri governorâs 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 governorâs 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
3 months ago
As the Supreme Court prepares to weigh in on Trumpâs National Guard deployments, the presidentâs 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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Trumpâs 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
4 months ago
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Missouri lawyer wants to repeal Chiefs, Royals stadium funding â to give money to Medicaid
#moleg
#mogov
www.kansascity.com/news/politic...
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Missouri lawyer wants to repeal stadium funding â to give money to Medicaid
Two proposals take direct aim at Missouriâs stadium funding package intended to keep the Chiefs and Royals inside state lines.
https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article312545386.html
4 months ago
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