Vicky Diaz-Camacho

An estimated 1,798 people are houseless in Kansas City, according to the Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness. They are mothers and fathers, students and poets, and like many in the metro, face barriers to securing stable housing.

A skateboard can cost $150 — on the low end. Members of the Lawrence Skaters Association and other organizations collected gently used materials to build skateboards for kids who wouldn't be able to afford them.

While Republican lawmakers in both Kansas and Missouri passed anti-trans legislation, Kansas City declared itself a “safe haven” for gender-affirming health care. The move affirmed what many in the trans and non-binary community had already decided: to stand their ground.

On Jan. 21, Washington Chapel C.M.E. Church was broken into and a piece of a memorial stained glass window removed. The church was built in 1907 by formerly enslaved families in Parkville, Missouri.

A new Missouri law banning “explicit sexual material” on school property went into effect Aug. 24, prompting books to be removed from classrooms and libraries. The Missouri Association of School Librarians pointed to a potential exemption "if considered artistic or informational in nature.”

Over 76% of stores in Kansas City are now out of stock of formula. To keep babies fed, friends and family members are sending cans of formula to others with babies, posting on community boards what they see at the grocery store, and donating excess breast milk.

Missouri students reported feeling more sadness and hopelessness compared to prior years. But the state is near the bottom of the country in terms of having the recommended ratio of students to school psychologists.

What better way to observe a day that celebrates freedom and democracy than by supporting local events, people and places? Here’s your Kansas City guide to exploring the true meaning behind La Batalla de Puebla in a new way.

Nearly two years since the pandemic first hit and Kansas City leaders shared action plans, unhoused residents say their needs are still unmet — and the approaching cold weather means there's a lot at stake.

This holiday season, NPR is collecting staff members' family recipes. Arts Desk intern Vicky Diaz-Camacho shares two of her favorite Puerto Rican dishes with NPR's Scott Simon.