Steve Bell

Kansas City, MO – The light rail starter route before the Kansas City council had its debut on the committee floor Thursday and met mixed reaction.

The ordinance proposed by Councilman Russ Johnson features 12 miles of track from Vivion Road through downtown to Cleaver Boulevard and East to Prospect. Johnson told the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee the public will vote for it and i eager for the chance to do so.

Kansas City Missouri voters will decide on a light-rail starter route and the 3/8-cent sales tax to support in on November 4th if the process started today continues to fruition.

Councilman Russ Johnson introduced an ordinance that calls for a November vote on the sales tax and a resolution to use the tax for a light-rail starter route if voters approve it.

Michelle Obama hosted a roundtable discussion at the University of Missouri, Kansas City today about the economic challenges of working women.

The aspiring first lady told a crowd 300 people that the struggles of balancing work and family are especially difficult for women today but her husband, Barack Obama, understands the plight of women and is best suited to take on those issues as President.

By Steve Bell

Kansas City, MO – Kansas City voters will likely face two competing smoking ban proposals, and one to renew a tax that supports city buses. But as KCUR's Steve Bell reports, the final ballot isn't set in stone.

The city council agreed yesterday to fine-tune a 3/8 cent sales tax for the ATA so the proceeds could only go for bus service and planned to finalize putting it on the ballot next week. But City Attorney Galen Beauford Clay said Chastain's light rail lawsuit could invalidate that.

By Steve Bell

Olathe, KS –
For the fourth time in the past six years, Olathe Northwest speech drama and forensics teacher Joshua Anderson is one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year.

By Steve Bell

Kansas City, MO – A new report called the Kansas Energy Plan reminds Kansans that the oil and gas wells that dot the landscape are reminders of a disappearing era. At the same time it offers the hope on energizing at least one area of the lagging Kansas economy. The panel sees hope for more exports of wind, ethanol and coal-bed methane based energy.

Americans this weekend observed the anniversary the attack on Pearl Harbor.

KCUR's Steve Bell visited the creators of a web site that recalls that day of infamy.

You can visit the web site here.

So many people go to the Municipal Corrections Institution because they couldn't post bond that some call it the "debtors' prison."

Young traffic offenders are incarcerated alongside convicted felons. Following staff cuts MCI became so overcrowded that 16 convicted violent offenders had to be released in August.

The City Auditor says a city shouldn't be in the prison business at all.

KCUR's Steve Bell visited the jail and talked with various city officials who have a stake in what will become of the facility.

Lee's Summit – Longview Farm was built for Kansas City lumber baron R.A. Long before World War I. Developer David Gale would preserve some of the old buildings as part of his planned commercial-residential community development. Preservationists say it's probably now or never. But will the development look wonderful now, but cause a traffic problem later?

Kansas City – The state of Kansas has won an award for KCJIS, its computer communications system for courts, prosecutors and law enforcement agencies.

Find links to some of the state agencies' sites below.