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Missouri's Republican governor is walking back comments that he would not nominate a state health director “who does not share the same Christian values.” And he's defending the state's legal campaign against mask mandates and its controversial law that bans police in Missouri from enforcing federal gun restrictions.

For the first time, African American leaders will fill several key positions in Wyandotte County’s Unified Government. Can they turn around a long history of coverup and corruption? Plus, Kansas officials are close to a deal for a $4 billion manufacturing plant, but need lawmakers to approve huge tax breaks for a mystery company.

Kansas Republicans have pushed forward a congressional map that would divide Wyandotte County from Johnson County, threatening the state's sole Democrat in the U.S. House. A Kansas state senator from Wyandotte County says the plan would silence her racially diverse constituents.

UMKC is one of the few public universities in Missouri without a mask mandate. But increasing COVID-19 infections have both staff and students concerned about their well-beings on campus. Plus, a Kansas City sculptor utilizes the honey locust thorn to create dazzling works of art.

The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments about whether the GOP-backed "Second Amendment Preservation Act," which restricts police from enforcing federal gun laws, is unconstitutional. Plus, how Medicaid expansion could help keep more Missourians out of prison.

Kansas' congressional districts are up in the air after Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a redistricting plan from GOP lawmakers. Meanwhile, conservative legislators in Missouri shot down Gov. Mike Parson's nomination for health director over his support for vaccinations.

Workers at two Starbucks Coffee shops in the Kansas City area announced plans this week to unionize, citing unsafe working conditions and stagnant wages. Their efforts come after a New York store made history by forming Starbucks' first ever U.S. union at the end of 2021.

Intercourse between same-sex couples is still technically a crime in Kansas, even though that law was ruled unconstitutional almost two decades ago. Advocates are growing increasingly frustrated by lawmakers' lack of action to repeal it.

An alleged Kansas City crime ring leader named Wandale J. Fulton faces charges of identity theft, arson for profit. It took years for local, state and federal investigators to build their case. Plus, how 20-somethings in the city are coping with yet another round of COVID closures.

How bad is COVID-19 in the Kansas City area? The acting Jackson County health director explains why the county is warning the public about "unprecedented" transmission rates.