Hickman Mills

Under the legislation, Jackson County seniors whose homes are valued less than $550,000 can start applying for relief next year.

Chief Stacey Graves, just five months into the job, promised more officers on the streets to help curb the high homicide and violence rates. Community members overwhelmingly called for local control of the department.

The Hickman Mills school board finally seated its newly elected members this week — after the last meeting ended abruptly when two board members walked out. Plus: Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s emergency rules on gender-affirming care will restrict options for adults, creating alarm for LGBTQ communities across the U.S.

The Hickman Mills School Board says it's renewing its efforts to work together after contentious meetings amid a decade-long battle to regain accreditation.

Teachers at Kansas City Public Schools will soon be paid the highest starting salaries in the region — but just by a smidge. The school board approved a new union contract in the middle of a widespread teacher shortage that's making districts across the region compete to recruit and retain educators.

Hickman Mills school board candidates discussed accreditation, conflict on the board and their priorities for the district.

Impact KCK in the Kansas City, Kansas school district is a national model for how communities can address student homelessness by bringing different organizations and resources together to connect families to stable housing, jobs and other services.

Hickman Mills has closed schools as it's lost 15 percent of its students in 5 years. Across the metro, North Kansas City is growing by as much as an elementary school worth of students per year and is opening schools and adding services in response.

Missouri ranks near the bottom of the country for its teacher pay. Faced with staffing shortages, school districts and education leaders are doing what they can to raise salaries.

The raises, paid for by a tax levy approved in August, will take the district from the lowest salaries in the metropolitan area to the highest.

This year's school board elections were met with heightened interest after district leaders faced debates over COVID precautions, teaching race in schools and books in school libraries.

School board elections are in the spotlight, with district leaders facing divisive issues over COVID precautions, teaching race in schools and books in school libraries.