Takeaways Missouri lawmakers passed a bill letting counties freeze property taxes for some seniors. The legislation left county officials confused on how to put the freezes in place. Legislators passed a bill answering some of those questions in the 2024 legislative session, which is awaiting a signature from Gov. Mike Parson. Missouri lawmakers gave counties a dose of much-needed clarity in May when they passed a bill aimed at clarifying a 2023 law that lets counties pass a senior property tax freeze, aimed at those 62 and older.  The law passed last year gave counties the power to f ..read more

Takeaways 35,000 residents in Sedgwick County will have higher internet bills.  Most families received a $30 subsidy each month to help pay for internet service. Private businesses, local libraries and other government programs can help offset the increase. Jamie Nix regularly sees people turning to the internet to help them answer the most critical questions in their lives. “I’ve had people come to the library with a brand new medical diagnosis,” said Nix, Wichita’s director of libraries. “They are just wanting to use the computer to learn more about what it is.” A federal program th ..read more

The Beacon is thrilled to announce our brand new website, thebeaconnews.org, launched on May 28! Our team has been working hard over the last year to create a dynamic digital experience that inspires readers to connect with our public service journalism on a deeper level.  You’ll now be able to navigate The Beacon’s four newsrooms on a consolidated platform, making it easier than ever to find the stories that matter most to you. Among the new features is a “community sourced” story tag, illustrating how ideas and questions from readers directly inform our articles. You’ll also discover a ..read more

Takeaways Kansas lawmakers extended the limitation on which nonprofit medical providers can become CCBHCs until 2027 The extension aims to manage the certification process and address concerns about workforce stability and fiscal impact There is broad agreement on the effectiveness of mental health centers, but advocates argue for expanding resources to meet increasing demand for mental health services Targeted federal tax dollars turbocharged Sedgwick County’s COMCARE mental health clinic by helping it give patients more behavioral health treatment and add sorely needed staff.  COMCARE ..read more

Missouri lawmakers set their sights on new laws to make it easier for families to score tax credits on private school tuition, raise the minimum pay for teachers and launch new tax breaks for the nuclear weapons industry in Kansas City. Lawmakers hoped to pass tax credits for child care providers, a resolution making initiative petitions harder to pass and a package of legislation reforming city and county jails.  But this year’s General Assembly session was defined by fighting among factions in the Republican Party amid campaigns for other offices ahead of the November general election ..read more

Independence School District Superintendent Dale Herl feels targeted by the state for moving to a four-day school week.  Takeaways State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick’s office is auditing the Independence School District.  No one requested the audit. Instead, it’s part of Fitzpatrick’s plan to conduct more routine audits of school districts, even when they aren’t accused of wrongdoing.  The district’s move to a four-day school week is a reason it was selected, along with its size and location.   On Wednesday, Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick announced a plan to audit ..read more

Abortion providers are challenging a new Kansas law that will soon compel women to tell their doctors — and the state health department — their top reason for seeking an abortion. They say the law, set to take effect July 1, is unconstitutional and violates patient privacy. “Conversations that happen in the exam room are private,” Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in an interview. “They’re in no way something that the Legislature should have access to.” The Center for Reproductive Rights and several abortion providers announced the leg ..read more

Takeaways Kansas City has the highest rate of unsheltered people experiencing long-term homelessness in the country, with 96% living on the streets. Last year, the City Council awarded Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus $7.1 million in federal funds for a low-barrier shelter. It rescinded the grant later in response to neighborhood objections.  A low-barrier shelter is seen as key to meeting the Zero KC goal of essentially ending homelessness by 2030. Ken Simard mainly slept under the Blue Parkway bridge near the railroad tracks along the Blue River for the seven years he was homel ..read more

Takeaways Many online services in Wichita are still down. Wichita remains tight-lipped about the attack, not providing many details. Online services in Wichita could be down for a while. Wichita finds itself tossed back in time for a couple of weeks by a cyberattack on City Hall that’s  upended basic ways of doing business online. So now residents need to head to Walmart or Dillons to pay their water bills. Parents who want to enroll their kids in swimming lessons must go to a recreation center to sign them up in person. And because the hack disabled fare boxes — and because efforts t ..read more

The Beacon | Wichita welcomed Maria Carter as its new editor and lead reporter this spring. Before joining The Beacon, Maria acted as managing editor at 90.5 WESA and editor of Harvest Public Media at KCUR, where she researched and shaped important daily stories for regional audiences. She’s received regional and national recognition for her work including awards from Public Media Journalists Association, Missouri Broadcasters Association, Kansas Association of Broadcasters, the Kansas City Press Club and the Edward R. Murrow Awards. Maria brings extensive experience in producing digestible ..read more