Jean Peters Baker

Johnson, a Democrat, beat Tracey Chappell, a Republican, in the heavily Democratic county. The race was heated in its last days as the two candidates debated how to handle a spike in property crimes.

Judge Margene Burnett convicted Brian Favela, 23, and Joel Olivas, 24, of several felony charges, but dismissed other weapons counts due to Missouri’s self-defense laws. Prosecutors said the two men were gang members.

As the Kansas City Irish Fest begins today, the Irish community is in mourning after the killing of chef and festival organizer Shaun Brady during a possible car burglary. Outgoing Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker says she's seeing a trend of rising property crimes that end in tragedy.

Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker says her office charges about 80% of the cases it receives from the Kansas City Police Department, including property crimes. But she told KCUR's Up To Date it will take more than prosecution to solve the greater issue of crime in Kansas City.

Brady & Fox chef Shaun Brady was a key organizer in Kansas City's Irish Fest, which is scheduled to go on this weekend. His killing comes amidst community outcry about the rising number of property crimes in Kansas City, many of which are being committed by juveniles with guns.

Whether Johnson wins or loses in the general, Jackson County will elect its first Black female prosecutor in November — she faces Republican Tracey Chappel in November. The winner will take over for prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, who did not run for reelection.

The United Way of Greater Kansas City gave $1.2 million to victims and $832,000 to 14 community groups Thursday, hoping to reach individual gunshot victims from the Kansas City Chiefs’ parade shootings and the larger community working to prevent gun violence.

Terry J. Young was identified near Union Station at the rally by his “unique green teddy bear backpack,” according to Kansas City Police. In all, three adult men and three juveniles are charged in the fatal shooting; three others are charged with weapons violations.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said her office will work closely with the juvenile court, which has charged two minors in connection with the mass shooting at the Chiefs Super Bowl rally last week. The prosecutor discussed legal challenges she anticipates with the case and ways she'd like to see gun policy change in the state.

The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office charged Dominic Miller and Lyndell Mays with second-degree murder, after a verbal argument about "staring at each other" escalated into gunfire near Union Station.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker has launched an effort to charge more cases of retail theft and illegal firearms on the Plaza.

A week after his conviction was upheld, the family of Eric DeValkenaere informally filed a clemency request with Gov. Mike Parson. DeValkenaere was convicted of killing 26-year-old Cameron Lamb in 2019.