“There were no safety nets, and people fell through the cracks." Former International House of Prayer-Kansas City teens allege sexual misconduct by volunteer youth group leader. kansascity.com/news/local/art…

Very happy to welcome Matt aboard The Kansas City Star politics team. Y'all should give him a follow x.com/Matt_Kelly2222… #ksleg

NEW: Why did the Kansas Department of Commerce hire Jonathan Clayton, the now-deceased former official who had felony convictions in Pennsylvania? The agency didn’t conduct a national background check — and couldn’t, the state says w/ Chance Swaim kansascity.com/news/politics-…

The Dept of Justice launched an investigation into the hiring & employment practices at the Kansas City Police Dept two years ago. But 5 employees who publicly raised concerns haven't heard from the DOJ. “It just seems like smoke and mirrors," one said. kansascity.com/news/local/art…

Over the years, both faculty and students in Park Hill schools have faced criticism for using racial slurs. The district says it's working to improve—but has it? Read my latest in The Kansas City Star: kansascity.com/news/local/art…

NEW - Sen. Roger Marshall calls western Kansas ranch cabin his home as he keeps $1.2m Florida house From Daniel Desrochers and me #ksleg kansascity.com/news/politics-…

Sen. Roger Marshall owns a Florida vacation home valued at $1.2 million, more than eight times the appraised value of the Kansas cabin and surrounding land near St. John in Stafford County that he calls home. With Jonathan Shorman kansascity.com/news/politics-…

Roger Marshall calls Kansas cabin home. Official trips took him near $1.2M Florida house. A Reality Check via ⁦Jonathan Shorman⁩ and ⁦Daniel Desrochers⁩ kansascity.com/news/politics-…

Tomorrow, community members will gather at Parkville Living Center for a town hall on ballot education in Platte County. For background on the discussion, check out my latest story about the child tax fund that will be on the ballot in November: kansascity.com/news/politics-…

An autopsy revealed a Kansas City area high school football player died from complications of a heat stroke after collapsing during summer conditioning. The heat index that evening was at least 112 degrees. kansascity.com/news/local/art…

Future Kansas City firefighters will not be able to file the kind of discrimination lawsuits that have cost the city millions in settlements & verdicts in recent years. Local 42, the union of most KCFD employees, agreed to the change in its latest city contract. 1/5

KCPD was brought in to investigate two fatal shootings by Kansas City, KS, police. I filed records requests for the case files via Missouri's Sunshine law. Now, KCK is suing KCPD in an effort to stop them from turning over the files. Story w/Bill Lukitsch kansascity.com/news/local/art…

NEW: KC-area pastor Joe Nicola, who has for years blended religion and politics, is a GOP nominee for Missouri Senate. Critics and a religion expert say his sermons and online writings raise questions about how he would govern if elected. #moleg #mogov kansascity.com/news/politics-…

Are people watching you vote? What partisan poll watchers can & can’t do in KS, MO Story with Kacen J. Bayless kansascity.com/news/politics-…

At just 7-months-old, with severe injuries to his body, Giovanni Carr died in a Kansas City hospital in June. More than four months later, no one has been arrested, and police still don't call his death a homicide. Relatives want to know why. kansascity.com/news/local/art…

On this Election Day, Missouri voters will decide several key races including U.S. Senate, governor and a potentially historic measure to overturn the state's near-total abortion ban. Follow along with The Kansas City Star reporters throughout the day: kansascity.com/news/politics-… #moleg #mogov

Good afternoon from Kansas City. I'll be following results on Amendment 3 tonight - that's the ballot measure to overturn Missouri's abortion ban. In recent days, supporters have voiced confidence that public opinion is on their side kansascity.com/news/politics-…

Missouri Republicans flipped a prominent KC-area Senate district previously held by the chamber's most powerful Democrat. The Kansas City Star takes a look at why it's a "seismic shift" in leadership for the Jackson County district. #moleg #mogov kansascity.com/news/politics-…

The family of a baby killed in Independence police shooting questions why Missouri’s child welfare agency didn’t do more to protect her. kansascity.com/news/local/art…

In the event the Chiefs three-peat — certainly an "if" — Kansas City plans to host another parade. But after last year's shooting, KC leaders are considering potential changes, including dropping the Union Station rally. News from Mike Hendricks ↙️ and me:kansascity.com/news/local/art…