Kansas City Police Department

Kansas City voters will decide on April 8 whether to renew the public safety sales tax for 20 more years. Officials plan to use the bulk of the money to build a new municipal detention center. Despite concerns about property crime and gun violence, some residents don’t want a new jail built.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will no longer be under the control of the mayor’s office and instead will be overseen by a governor-appointed board. It's similar to the Confederate-era system that manages Kansas City Police.

The Kansas City Council passed a $2.5 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, its largest ever. The police department will get even more money than before, while council members will discuss a proposal next week to fully fund the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority in the short term.

Placing the St. Louis Police Department under a state-appointed board has been a priority for Gov. Mike Kehoe. The Republican governor said that removing local control will improve safety, despite the evidence in Kansas City, whose police is already under a similar system.

James Lemons, 40, filed a lawsuit this week saying the Kansas City Sports Commission was negligent for failing to provide proper security for the Super Bowl rally on February 14, 2024. A commission spokesman said it disagrees with Lemons' “assertions.”

Lester pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in the shooting of Ralph Yarl last Friday. The teen mistakenly rang Lester's doorbell in April 2023 when he was picking up his brothers.

The legislation would take away control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department from the mayor’s office to a board mainly appointed by the governor. It's a structure similar to the Civil War-era system that manages the Kansas City Police Department.

Andrew Lester was originally charged with two felonies for shooting then-16-year-old Ralph Yarl when the teen mistakenly rang the doorbell at Lester’s home late one night in April 2023. Yarl's mother called for Lester to face consequences that reflect "the seriousness of his crime."

Kansas City officials unveiled a $2.5 billion budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year that reveals its spending priorities. Under the new system, the city will evaluate each program based on its importance to the community, not just carry it over from the previous budget.

If you notice someone struggling with mental illness or substance abuse and posing a danger to themselves or others, Kansas City has resources beyond 911 to provide appropriate support.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas joined KCUR's Up To Date to give his reaction to election results at the national and state levels — including recent comments from Missouri governor-elect Mike Kehoe. Lucas also discussed the latest on city jail plans, the Royals stadium, and the possibility of a WNBA team coming to Kansas City.

The city council approved a plan in September to build a holding facility on the 8th floor of KCPD headquarters downtown. In a recent letter to city officials, Graves says officials should consider a different location.