politics

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.

The Citizens Association started in the early 1930s and once held enormous influence over city elections. Its power has waned in recent years, but a new, more diverse group is reshaping the organization.

Mayor Quinton Lucas touts Kansas City's ability to attract big events like the NFL Draft and the 2026 World Cup. But he worries that the "hateful rhetoric" and anti-LGBTQ policies coming out of statehouses in Missouri and Kansas could drive some residents and major gatherings away.

Margaret Sullivan, author of "Newsroom Confidential: Lessons (and Worries) from an Ink-Stained Life," discusses American's mistrust in the media and the media's role in preserving democracy.

Missouri Republicans, especially in the Senate, spent much of the past two years fighting with each other but now are hoping to band together to pass major priorities such as making it harder to pass ballot petition initiatives.

After 45 years in television and print journalism, Dave Helling has retired. The former political reporter shares how the city has evolved during his tenure.

The midterm made 2022 a busy year for Missouri politics. Republicans strengthened their control in Jefferson City and voters voiced their support of recreational marijuana. A look at the biggest Missouri politics stories of the year and what to expect in 2023.

Supporters of state control say the system was established to limit political influence on the police department in the 1930s. But the 150-year history of state control dates back to the Civil War.

John C. Carnes is a former member of the Jackson County Legislature and Independence City Council who served two years in prison after being convicted in 1989 of bank fraud and bribing another council member.

Republican Roy Blunt, Missouri's senior senator, will leave office next month after serving in Washington, D.C. since 1997.

Jamie Johnson and Anthony Ealy will be the first Black members of the Missouri House of Representatives from Platte County and Grandview when they get sworn in next month.

With another four years secured, Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is hoping to continue the policy work she began in her first term. But the state legislature's GOP supermajority may have other plans.