debt

The burden of medical debt came into focus after a New York Times report on Kansas U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall's billing practices as an OB-GYN. The nonpartisan civic engagement group Somos Votantes stepped in and bought up $42 million of Kansans' medical debt.

NKC Health, the North Kansas City hospital that sued, said it has a responsibility to protect its bottom line in an increasingly difficult healthcare landscape. The patient ended up taking out a bank loan to pay off the debt.

A Kansas bakery's Facebook post about an unpaid bill from 2020 went viral — because the delinquent customer was Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall. After the $678 bill ended up making national news, the Marshall campaign settled its debt, with interest.

The Midwest Newsroom interviewed people who are increasingly relying on credit cards while struggling to pay down student debt. There are more Missourians who are late making payments for both.

Sixth grader Lizzy Chobad is selling T-shirts as a fundraiser to combat school meal debt in the Valley Center school district. So far, she has raised about $900, with a goal of raising nearly $4,000.

As job creation slowed through most of 2025, Midwestern college graduates — and those approaching graduation — describe a competitive, unusual job market that makes them question their self-worth.

A lawsuit from Republican states, led by the Missouri attorney general, put SAVE borrowers in limbo for months, a time during which they were not required to make payments on their loans. That would change if the proposed settlement is approved.

The Missouri Attorney General leads a lawsuit from several Republican states to stop a nationwide plan that would provide loan relief to millions of students. The case was moved this week from Georgia to Missouri.

When a low-income driver in Kansas fails to pay their traffic tickets on time, it could turn the fine into thousands of dollars of debt. Plus: Some Kansas districts are scaling back on screen time for students.

Critics argue adding additional fees and interest on unpaid traffic fines is unfair to low-income drivers. And it may not even be legal under Kansas law.

This year's new version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid was delayed and glitchy, so many students struggled to complete it. College classes start soon, so education professionals are still helping students fill it out to get financial aid.

The rulings from Kansas and Missouri federal judges put on hold the federal government helping many of the intended borrowers ease their loan repayment burdens starting July 1. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach had led lawsuits from several GOP states.