Government

Faulty Property Assessments In Jackson County?

Beth Lipoff and Steve Kraske — Fri, 24 May 2013 15:31:33 +0000

Jackson County officials are acknowledging that new valuations on 18,000 residential properties may not be accurate and need additional review.

Council Extends Red Light Cameras, Delays Ethics Code Vote

Steve Bell — Fri, 24 May 2013 07:43:04 +0000

The full Kansas City city council followed through on plans to extend the red-light camera program for another five years Thursday, but a vote on a new city ethics code will wait till next week.

Why Missouri's Lobbying System Isn't As Open As You'd Think

Chris McDaniel — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:29:48 +0000

Nice restaurants in Jefferson City should be sad to see the Missouri Legislative session end. They’ve received tens of thousands of dollars worth of business from lobbyists courting Missouri’s legislators over dinners and drinks.

Who were the legislators taken out for expensive meals? Well, in many cases, we don’t really know.

Top Of The Morning News: May 23, 2013

Maria Carter — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:02:02 +0000

Missouri’s lobbying system is not as open as you think. The Kansas City council will vote on extending red light cameras. An artist explore the city in a new exhibition. Tom Watson sets his sights on another championship.

Council Poised To Keep Red Light Cams 5 More Years

Steve Bell — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:14:57 +0000

The Kansas City city council is set to vote on extending the red-light camera program for another 5 years. And though public opinion on the cameras is divided, a council committee had no doubts.

The Rise Of Anti-Sharia Legislation

Brian Ellison, Suzanne Hogan and Matthew Long-Middleton — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:34:36 +0000

Most religions have rules, guidance, law of some kind. Christians look to the teachings of Jesus, or the commandments. Jewish people turn to Torah. And Muslims look to Shariah—the code of Islamic law that guides everything from what to eat and how to dress to bigger questions—like resolving marital disputes, or punishing violent crimes.

Lee's Summit Lawmaker Who Threatened Resignation Changes His Mind

Marshall Griffin — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:29:19 +0000

A Missouri lawmaker who threatened to resign unless one or both of his key bills survived the last day of the 2013 legislative session is staying put, even though both bills failed to make it out by Friday's deadline.

Top Of The Morning News: May 21, 2013

Maria Carter — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:37:19 +0000

Gas prices jumped last week throughout the Kansas City area. The Director of Missouri’s Department of Social Services resigns abruptly. A bill would expand the role of the physician assistants in Missouri.

Gas Price Leap An Anomaly

Top Of The Morning News: May 20, 2013

Maria Carter — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:54:13 +0000

Utility crews worked through the night and into the morning to restore electricity to some 77,000 customers in the Kansas City area. Most Missourians with Hepatitis C don’t know they have the disease, but health officials and groups are working to change that. After cantaloupe were determined to be responsible for a listeria outbreak, melon growers are making changes to prevent future outbreaks.

Legislative Wrap-up: Missouri General Assembly

Beth Lipoff and Steve Kraske — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:25:31 +0000

The Missouri General Assembly wraps up today. Will your income taxes be cut? Will sales taxes jump to pay for highways?

Kansas Lawmakers May Return to Topeka Next Week

Stephen Koranda — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:17:59 +0000

It's looking more like Kansas lawmakers may not work through the weekend to finish the legislative session and could instead leave and return next week. It's getting to the point where lawmakers may not be able to finish by the end of the weekend, even if agreements on taxes and the budget are reached soon.

After a budget compromise is formed, there's a delay to prepare the bill before the chambers can vote on it. Senate President Susan Wagle, a Republican from Wichita, says it would be a stretch to wrap up the session this weekend.

Missouri Legislative Session Wraps Up Today

Marshall Griffin — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:14:34 +0000

The last day of this year's Missouri legislative session has arrived. Lawmakers will be pushing to get several more pieces of legislation across the finish line.

The House passed a package of tax credits on Thursday that's still awaiting action in the Senate. The two chambers still differ on where to cap the state's most widely used incentives - for historic preservation and low-income Housing. Ron Richard, the Senate's Republican Floor Leader, says he hopes to get some sort of economic development bill passed.

Missouri Legislators Send Workers’ Comp Bill To Governor’s Desk

Marshall Griffin — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:12:58 +0000

Legislation that would revive Missouri's ailing Second Injury Fund and seek to reduce the number of occupational disease lawsuits was passed Thursday by the Missouri House. It had already passed the Missouri Senate during pre-dawn hours on Wednesday.

Fresh Petition Attempt To Save Current KCI

Dan Verbeck — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:51:00 +0000

An ad hoc group trying to preserve the current building layout at KCI Airport is trying another tack to halt major changes at the complex.

Kansas Conference Committee Continues Tax Talks

Stephen Koranda — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:30:33 +0000

After making little progress for weeks, public negotiations on taxes have continued in the Kansas Statehouse. Legislative leaders and the governor had been meeting behind closed doors, but this week it appeared those talks had stalled. House and Senate negotiators held a public meeting Wednesday, and House members offered a new compromise.