civil rights

After a challenge by Republican officials, a federal appeals panel struck down a key way of enforcing the Voting Rights Act's protections against racial discrimination in seven states — including Missouri and Kansas.

A Kansas City resident, Zeskind began studying the white nationalist movement more than 40 years ago and published his findings in his 2009 book, “Blood and Politics.” His work showed uncanny foresight into the rise in anti-immigrant groups in the U.S., well before the election of President Donald Trump.

The future of hundreds of investigations into possible civil rights violations at schools across the Midwest, and thousands more nationwide, are in question after the Trump Administration shuttered seven of 12 Department of Education offices charged with running the investigations.

The first time Danny Cox visited Kansas City, as a nationally touring musician, a clerk at the Muehlebach Hotel told him Black people couldn't stay there. He eventually made a home across the state line in Kansas — and inspired generations of fans.

Muchos inmigrantes en Kansas City viven con miedo debido al nuevo plan de "deportación masiva" de Trump. Aunque aún no se han reportado redadas importantes en la zona metropolitana, esto es lo que debes saber si te encuentras con oficiales del ICE.

Many immigrants in Kansas City are living in fear about Trump’s new “mass deportation” plan. Although no major raids have been reported in the metro yet, here’s what you should know if approached by ICE officers.

A crumbling correctional facility in Hutchinson lacks air conditioning and has small cells. State prison officials say Kansas could be sued in federal court if it doesn’t build a new facility.

A new report estimates that 1.7% of Missourians over 18 can’t vote because they have felony convictions. That rate is more than twice as high for Black Missourians, who are also disproportionately incarcerated.

Kansas and Missouri police departments have paid thousands of dollars for an aggressive and discredited officer training. Plus: How some universities are tackling the issue of food insecurity among their students.

Missouri quietly restricted its policy for transgender residents to change the gender markers on their state IDs. For some people, it was the last straw. Plus: How Children’s Mercy researchers are working to make genetic testing more accessible in rural Kansas.

Edgar Springs in Phelps County has refused to pay $80,000 in damages and court costs to a woman who it banned from city hall for four years. Now, a judge has ordered the town to put a tax increase on the ballot in order to cover those costs.

Chester Owens, a civil rights activist who rubbed elbows with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is remembered for his work to desegregate Kansas City, Kansas, and to preserve Black history. He died last month at 91.