Government

A court challenge to phase one of the Kansas City's streetcar plan didn't slow the train yesterday as the city council approved a contract for a study of phase two.  

The study compare seven different possible routes.  Transit chair Russ Johnson says the nearly $1,900,000 price tag is a bargain for such a thorough study.  Johnson joked, "It's not the 'Happy Meal'.  It's 4 or 5 'Quarter Pounders'," which prompted chuckles from his colleagues.

If you want to get people talking, just say three words: new airport terminal.

It seems that everyone's an expert on airport design and plans. After all, many of us fly through Kansas City International Airport.

As Kansas lawmakers continue to search for common ground on a budget, an advocacy group says the long-term future of early childhood programs is at stake.

So far, the competing versions of a state budget for 2014 have all included Governor Sam Brownback’s plan to transfer $9.5 million dollars from the Children’s Initiative Fund to the State General Fund. 

A few weeks after the end of the 2013 legislative session, Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones offered a report card to Springfield residents. It was one of 17 planned stops this week throughout southern Missouri.

The Republican from Eureka used two large poster boards displaying various legislative accomplishments as talking points. Among them were the approval of bills for paycheck protection, prevailing wage, and reform of the financially troubled Second Injury Fund, of which the Speaker says he’s most proud.

In the 1980’s, some of the public housing units in Kansas City were infested with rats, mice and cockroaches. Plumbing and electrical problems put the health and safety of residents at risk. Complaints to the housing authority were ignored and it seemed to be an organization more about serving political needs of a select few than a place organized to provide people clean, safe, affordable housing. Under such circumstances crime became problematic.

So imagine you’ve got a budget for home improvements. You’ve pared it down to the bare bones. You know exactly how much you can afford and you won’t spend any more than that. Now cut that budget in half. What things do you leave behind? And what are your top priorities?

This exact situation is happening to the Missouri Department of Transportation. With their budget being slashed to just about half, MoDOT is preparing to enter maintenance mode.