Josh Merchant
Josh Merchant is The Kansas City Beacon's local government reporter. After graduating from Seattle University, Josh attended Columbia Journalism School, earning a master’s degree in investigative journalism. Originally from Colorado, Josh has contributed reporting to The Seattle Spectator, The South Seattle Emerald and THE CITY in New York. They're a former Beacon intern.
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Brian Platt joined six other former city managers who have been ousted by KansasCity Council. In fact, city managers are nearly as likely to be fired — or pressured to resign — as they are to leave on their own terms. -
Nearly 2,500 jobs are being eliminated at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal agency responsible for collecting weather data used by meteorologists. That could spell danger for millions of people who rely on accurate forecasts. -
Kansas City’s new streetcar has spurred the construction of more than 1,400 new apartment units along Main Street since 2017. These are some of the highlights, including historic renovations and new buildings. -
Missouri is one of just 10 states that do not require any driver to take driver’s education classes before getting behind the wheel. A proposed bill would make it a mandatory part of high school health classes. -
More than 1,000 bills have been introduced in the Missouri General Assembly this session, but only a few will get passed and signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe. Housing, taxes and right-to-work proposals are all on the table. -
When a blizzard blanketed snow across the metro, Kansas City Hall and the Missouri Department of Transportation worked around the clock to salt and plow icy roads — with varying success. They may have to do it again soon. -
Your landlord is required by law to provide heat and utilities like hot water in cold weather. Here’s how to make sure that happens. -
Valentine residents complain that the insurance company has been hollowing out the neighborhood for decades and leaving them in the dark. Kansas City Life said its plans for a future mixed-use development are not ready to be made public. -
Kansas City residents can ask the city to install street modifications to help with dangerous intersections or speeding cars. Traffic engineers have wide discretion to approve or reject requests, but City Council has the final say. -
Most of Kansas City’s four-lane roads are too fast and too empty. The Kansas City Council decided to slim down a batch of 28 roads the next time they’re repaved to make them safer.
