News Archives

By Dan Verbeck

KANSAS CITY, MO –
His honor Mark Funkhouser sees the rail proposal going to voters in Jackson, Clay and Platte counties in Missouri and perhaps Wyandotte in Kansas.

"This thing passed in all three counties - it passed north of the and it passed solidly. I think that gives us tremendous platform," Funkhouser said.

The mayor thinks Johnson Countians may step aboard the rail plan, given time.

By Frank Morris

KANSAS CITY, MO – Sen. John McCain says Democrats who offer a quick withdrawal from Iraq aren't being honest about the consequences of defeat there. McCain spoke to a group of veterans at the National World War I Museum in Kansas City today.

By Laura Spencer

KANSAS CITY, MO – Kansas City voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether or not to impose a smoking ban. It's a petition-driven initiative that proposes banning smoking in public places, like restaurants and bars, while excluding casino gaming floors and the concourses of the Truman Sports Complex. But what about people who perform in bars, like musicians? KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.
(5 min)

By Greg Echlin

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – If Brandon Rush, a 6-foot-6-inch junior at the University of Kansas, didn't injure his knee a year ago in a pick-up basketball game, he might be playing in the NBA today. Instead of returning to KU, Rush was planning to turn professonal. But the knee injury delayed those plans. Now he's hoping to help the Kansas Jayhawks win the national championship game on Monday night. KCUR's Greg Echlin reports from San Antonio.
(35 sec)

By Sylvia Maria Gross

KANSAS CITY, MO – Penmanship may play an important role in shaping the next Kansas City, Missouri school board. Not the candidates' handwriting skills - but the voters'.

Although many see the future of the school district as key to the city's development, the only truly contested races are between write-in candidates. And even the winners of unopposed races might be thrown out if the entire system's subdistricts are redrawn. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross explains the situation.

By Elana Gordon

KANSAS CITY, MO – Medical doctors and supporters of a proposed smoking ban called attention to the harms of second-hand smoke at a news conference today. Question Number 3 is a citizen's petition proposal to ban smoking in all enclosed public places and workspaces, including restaurants and bars. The city's current laws allow smoking in bars and restaurants with liquor licenses after 9 p.m.

By Sylvia Maria Gross

Kansas City, MO – KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross spoke to computer programmer and neighborhood activist Airick Leonard West.

West is running unopposed for the at-large seat occupied by Bill Eddy. Eddy dropped out of the race last month, but his name will still be on the ballot.

By Sylvia Maria Gross

KANSAS CITY, MO – In late December, the school board notified the Kansas City Election Board that the subdistrict lines had to be redrawn. Consultants were hired to begin the process. Election Board Director Shelley McThomas says each subdistrict school board member needs to represent roughly the same number of voting residents.

"The districts have to be equal and they are not equal at this point," McThomas says.

By Elana Gordon

KANSAS CITY, MO – The Transportation and Infrastructure committee unanimously approved an amendment to Kansas City's nondiscrimination ordinance today. The measure would add that it's illegal to discriminate based on gender identity.

Donna Ross is a frequent lecturer on transgender issues and testified at the committee meeting. She says those who have transitioned or have non traditional gender appearances are currently denied basic protections under city law.

By Sylvia Maria Gross

KANSAS CITY, MO – Some area civil rights groups are saying the tactics employed by petitioners for the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative are misleading. The petition calls for a constitutional amendment to eliminate race and gender-based affirmative action in state-funded scholarships, hiring and contracting. Urban League president Gwen Grant says that could have unintended consequences.

By Elana Gordon

By Jennifer Galt

Kansas City, MO – AMBI: "Good morning, Mrs. Bush. Good morning, boys and girls."

First Lady Laura Bush stopped by an Olathe school during a brief visit to Johnson County on Tuesday.

Bush told students at Rolling Ridge Elementary School that they should spend as much time reading as watching television.

By Frank Morris and Maria Carter

Kansas City, MO – The Kansas City Council must vote on a final budget package by Thursday. The city's budget came under question when Mayor Mark Funkhouser criticized it as imbalanced and called for slashing tens of millions of dollars.

The current proposal doesn't go that far but does make some major changes, and Funkhouser told reporters Wednesday morning that the budget, though not ideal in his opinion, is headed in the right direction.

By Steve Bell

Kansas City, MO – Action was swift in the Missouri General Assembly during discussions of a $375 million passenger jet assembly plant being considered for Kansas City by Montreal-based Bombardier Aerospace. Part of the deal would be state tax credits on up to 80 percent of payroll for the first three years, tapering off over 22 years.

By Sylvia Maria Gross

Kansas City, MO – A long-discussed concept for a regional jail in Jackson County took a step closer to becoming an official plan Wednesday. Kansas City and Jackson County officials announced their intention to move forward with a merger during last minute negotiations on the city's budget - which is due Thursday.