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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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. -
Amendment 7 prohibits ranked-choice voting, with an exception for St. Louis. It also changes a line in the Missouri Constitution to specify that “only” U.S. citizens have the right to vote, rather than “all” U.S. citizens. -
Nearly all of Missouri’s 174 DMV offices are run by private businesses. Kansas City wants to open its own city-run office to shorten wait times and help residents to keep their registration up to date. -
In November, Missouri voters will get to decide whether two Supreme Court justices will keep their seats. Some progressives want to vote against retaining them because of their opinions on an abortion rights amendment — but it could backfire. -
In November's election, Missourians will be asked whether to ban ranked-choice voting, which allows voters to rank their candidates from favorite to least favorite. But the ballot question also includes language about restricting voting rights to citizens — which is already the law. -
Bluejacket is the third Overland Park pool to close since 2013, leaving the city with four pools to serve nearly 200,000 people. Like many cities, it's shifting from smaller public neighborhood pools to larger aquatic centers — essentially mini water parks. -
Neighborhood planners in the Berkley Riverfront envision a walkable entertainment district around CPKC Stadium. But as soccer fans continue to complain about parking, a new proposal would use tax dollars to build a five-story garage. -
North Kansas City built a fiber network almost two decades ago that it now uses to provide its residents with gigabit internet. Here’s how it happened and why other cities in the country are, or aren’t, trying to do the same. -
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."
