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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Four-lane roads in Kansas City are a relic of urban sprawl in the 20th century. But these days they’re emptier than ever, which traffic experts say encourages dangerous driving. Now, City Hall is putting these deadly avenues on "road diets."
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Dangerous car crashes are about seven times less likely to happen at roundabouts than at traffic lights. But some of the city’s deadliest intersections are too busy for a roundabout.
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Almost a decade after Kansas City stopped using red-light cameras, the city is considering bringing them back. The funding from fines could go towards driver's ed classes, speed bumps and crosswalks.
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Nearly 200 people died in Kansas City car crashes in 2022 and 2023. The numbers suggest that high speeds and intersections, particularly on Truman Road, pose the greatest danger.
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Over the past 70 years, Kansas City has tried to fill its empty riverfront with a baseball stadium, an aquarium, an office park and a marina. Now, the Berkley Riverfront is finally getting a makeover, centered around the new Current stadium.
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The Missouri Attorney General and State Tax Commission are suing Jackson County to toss out more than 190,000 property assessments — and force schools to pay back millions of dollars that they’ve already spent.
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Republican statehouses like Missouri’s increasingly limit what rules places like Kansas City can adopt — typically shutting down more progressive policies on issues like minimum wage and housing.
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With bigger trash carts, Kansas City is trying to put a lid on litter and dumping problems. But with more trash than ever going to landfills, the city has a long way to go in educating people about recycling and composting.
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On April 2, Jackson County voters will decide whether to give Royals $1 billion to construct a ballpark in the Crossroads Arts District. But the team has yet to share its full plan for funding the stadium, and experts warn that lack of transparency could lead to extra spending on unnecessary upgrades.
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The Royals are asking Jackson County voters to sign off on a $1 billion sales tax to pay for a new stadium in the Crossroads. But even then, they’ll need another $700 million to make it happen. That’s where the team expects Kansas City and Missouri taxpayers to come in.