Mary Sanchez
Reporter, The BeaconMary Sanchez is a nationally syndicated columnist with Tribune Content Agency. She has also been a metro columnist for The Kansas City Star and member of the Star’s editorial board, in addition to her years spent reporting on race, class, criminal justice and educational issues. Sanchez is part of The Beacon's 2024 pop-up election bureau an a native of Kansas City.
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A Missouri legislative committee has been holding hearings across the state about immigration and crime. It got an earful, with many witnesses trying to explain immigration law and citing data that refutes the starkly anti-immigrant messaging. -
Kansas City experienced its deadliest year on record in 2023, although homicides are down so far in 2024. With longtime Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker stepping down, multiple Democrats and a Republican are proposing ways to refocus the office. -
Kansas City protesters call on Council to support Gaza ceasefire, as states block college divestmentAfter marching through the Country Club Plaza over the weekend, protesters will gather Thursday in the Kansas City Council chambers. They’re pressing for official recognition of the Palestinian American Medical Association and urging Mayor Quinton Lucas and the council to support a ceasefire. -
In the 1970s and '80s, students at the universities of Kansas and Missouri protested on-campus to demand their institutions divest from a racist government in South Africa. Now, they’re asking schools to withdraw funds that support Israel's war in the Gaza Strip. -
The Kansas City Royals say there are nearly 19,000 parking spaces within a 10-minute walk of their proposed stadium in the Crossroads Arts District, while other fans can get to games via public transit like buses or the streetcar. But local businesses say parking is already a problem. -
The 14 lighted outdoor courts, owned by the city and located on the eastern edge of the Country Club Plaza, have long been the subject of speculation because it's viewed as prime real estate by developers. The tennis center is now under new management after a default by fitness giant Genesis Health Clubs. -
Federal recognition entails the United States acknowledging a tribe as a separate government entity — denoting their right to self-governance. Currently, the U.S. recognizes 574 tribal nations. For the Wyandot Nation of Kansas to join them, they'll need the support of non-natives like members of Congress. -
Federal grants are helping researchers at the University of Missouri-Kansas City study whether keeping city buses free is sustainable. In collaboration with University Health, they'll also study the health impact on riders. -
Businesses and shoppers express worries about personal safety and rising crime on the Plaza, but the numbers show that the largest issues revolve around cars. However, shopping district's enduring legacy of racism tends to heavily influence the discussion. -
A new campaign is pressing Kansas City-area health systems to find cancer care solutions for people who can't get insurance because of their immigration status. "We have the same right to fight for our lives as anyone," says one cancer patient.
