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.
-
Where are the transportation bottlenecks around Kansas City? MARC is studying how the World Cup is affecting travel, with thousands of extra cars on highways, passengers on buses and streetcars, bikes on trails and pedestrians wandering downtown. -
A group representing low-wage workers submitted petition signatures to force a vote on the city’s $600 million Royals stadium subsidy. Here’s a guide to the road ahead. -
A state lawmaker said the Unified Government’s ordinance to support the Chiefs deal exerts too much power over Kansas negotiations. County leaders believe he’s mistaken. -
Kansas City wants your permission to borrow $1.7 billion, which would fund improvements to water infrastructure, affordable housing, and repairs at the convention center and City Hall. -
A plan to renovate the Country Club Plaza is being reviewed by the Kansas City Council. Some neighbors and historic preservation advocates have concerns. -
Mayor Quinton Lucas has introduced a trio of ordinances he hopes can help save historic buildings from falling into disrepair, and start to replenish the population in those emptying neighborhoods. -
The Royals have pitched a $1.9 billion stadium. That’s twice as expensive as Atlanta’s Truist Park and quadruple Denver’s Coors Field. But it's not clear what's driving up the cost. -
The Kansas City Royals are officially moving to Crown Center. But it remains unclear how much money Missouri taxpayers will contribute — Gov. Mike Kehoe said it will likely total hundreds of millions of dollars. -
If everything goes right, new taxes generated by a $1.9 billion ballpark will help pay off Kansas City's $600 million loan to help finance the deal. But if it goes wrong, that public money could be drained from city services. -
With the 1% earnings tax secured until at least 2031, Kansas City now looks ahead to negotiations with the Royals, looming bond measures for water and housing, and the possible referendum to eliminate Missouri’s income tax.
