Cyber Security

The Citizens Association political organization is almost 100 years old. At one time, its endorsement was a requirement if you wanted to be elected in Kansas City. Now, a new group of political players is trying to remake the group to be more inclusive. Plus: Cyber attacks on hospitals can put patients’ lives at risk — and leave hospitals on the hook for millions of dollars.

U.S. hospitals have seen a record number of cyberattacks in recent years. Such attacks can upend hospital operations, costing millions of dollars and putting patients' lives at risk.

American farming increasingly relies on software to keep the U.S. the world’s top food producer. But all that reliance on code-driven machinery has drawn ransomware attacks that could prove particularly devastating during harvest.

Women around the country often use period-tracking phone apps to chart their menstrual cycles.

Over the course of five years, a group of Russian spies targeted the Wolf Creek nuclear power plant in Burlington, Kansas. The Justice Department alleges they were on a sophisticated cyber reconnaissance mission to learn about the inner workings of the plant and prepare for a precision electronic assault.

A Cole County Prosecutor says the state law was "so vague that it basically describes someone using a computer to look up someone’s information."

St. Louis Post-Dispatch journalist Josh Renaud says Gov. Mike Parson’s accusation took a toll on him and his family. He says it’s a relief to not face charges, but that doesn’t undo the harm.

Gov. Mike Parson has spent months falsely labeling St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Josh Renaud a “hacker” for discovering a website security flaw and notifying the state about it. Renaud called the ordeal "political persecution of a journalist."

The federal government is offering grant money to help address the problem, but small towns fear they lack the tech knowhow and resources to defend their systems and are daunted by grant applications.

The social security numbers of approximately 620,000 teachers were potentially exposed by a flaw in a state website. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has vowed prosecution of the reporter who informed the state of the issue, drawing criticism from lawmakers and cybersecurity experts.

University of Missouri-St. Louis professor Shaji Khan, who helped the St. Louis Post-Dispatch report about a data breach in a state system, is calling for a public apology and payment.

Gov. Mike Parson continues to push to prosecute a reporter who discovered the state's website risked exposing teacher social security numbers. Meanwhile, his estimate that the incident would cost the state $50 million continues to be called into question.