Savannah Hawley-Bates
General Assignment ReporterWhen news breaks, it can be easy to rely on officials and people in power to get information fast. As KCUR’s general assignment and breaking news reporter, I want to bring you the human faces of the day’s biggest stories. Whether it’s a local shop owner or a worker on the picket line, I want to give you the stories of the real people who are driving change in the Kansas City area. Email me at savannahhawley@kcur.org or follow me on Twitter @savannahhawley.
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Kansas City was set to approve using federal dollars to expand Hope Faith into the city's first year-round low barrier homeless shelter. After months of complaints from residents, the city is restarting the application process. -
More than 15 years after the original documentary examined the country’s food industry, “Food, Inc. 2” examines the impact corporations have on our food — including the treatment of workers. Local fast food worker and organizer Fran Marion is featured in the documentary and hopes it brings change. -
The Royals' original plan was to place the team’s corporate offices and entertainment venues on Oak Street, which would close the main thoroughfare and demolish buildings that house about 10 businesses. The Royals intend to continue with that district development but will alter plans to keep Oak Street open. The Royals and the Chiefs also announced new stadium leases on Wednesday. -
The deals from the teams come after months of fraught negotiations with Jackson County and community groups. The teams call the deals historic. Community groups and economists aren’t so sure. -
Following two months of negotiations, and with just weeks left before a critical April sales tax vote, some members of the Jackson County Community Benefits Coalition have dropped out because the Royals watered down key demands for housing protections, childcare and transportation. -
About 500 people joined Al-Hadaf KC, a Palestinian-led group that helped plan the rally, in calls for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and an end to what they call Israeli occupation. The group has spent months rallying support for the Palestinian cause. -
Housing in the Kansas City area, and in Missouri overall, is quickly becoming unaffordable. The city and state are seeing some of the fastest rent increases in the country, and local housing experts and advocates say Kansas City needs to do more to protect residents. -
Reyes trabajó en muchas organizaciones comunitarias de Kansas City y se dedicó a cerrar la brecha entre los residentes hispanohablantes y anglosajones. Sus hijos se dedican a continuar su legado. -
Reyes served in many Kansas City community organizations and was dedicated to bridging the gap between its Spanish- and English-speaking residents. Her children are dedicated to continuing her legacy.
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Green Dirt Farm is opening a new restaurant next month that will bring its sheep’s milk cheeses to the Crossroads — in a spot now under threat from the new Royals stadium. The new restaurant is closer to the farm’s Kansas City clientele, and gives it a chance to expand production.
