How Kansas City debates reflect governance challenges

Kansas City and Missouri state government are being tested through several intense public debates. Missouri’s gubernatorial candidates, Mike Kehoe and Crystal Quade, proposed competing plans to address crime, focusing on police resources and gun laws. Stadium development has taken center stage, with Kansas passing a STAR bonds plan after Jackson County voters rejected a sales tax proposal. Calls for better local governance emerged after Kansas City's delayed blizzard cleanup, highlighting issues of inefficient public spending over essential services.

Meanwhile, controversy at the University of Kansas over a professor's joke shines light on growing political imbalance on local campuses.

Here’s a rendering showing the concept of what a new domed stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs might look like at the interchange of Interstates 70 and 435 in Kansas City, Kansas.

NO. 1: WHAT ARE STAR BONDS? HOW KANSAS’ STADIUM FUNDING PLAN DIFFERS FROM MISSOURI TAX VOTE

If the Chiefs or Royals take up Kansas’ offer of hundreds of millions in loans, who would be paying that back? We break the controversial program down. | Published June 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

NO. 2: STAR EDITORIAL BOARD ENDORSES CANDIDATES IN THE AUG. 6 PRIMARY. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW | OPINION

Yvette Walker explains our recommendations and why we make them. | Published July 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Yvette Walker

Candidates for Missouri governor, Democrat Crystal Quade and Republican Mike Kehoe, took part in a political forum hosted by the Missouri Press Association in September. By Nathan Papes/Springfield News-Leader

NO. 3: HOW WILL MISSOURI’S NEXT GOVERNOR CONFRONT CRIME IN KC? WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT OFFICERS, GUNS

Republican Mike Kehoe or Democrat Crystal Quade will be the next governor of Missouri. How they approach crime could affect Kansas City for years. | Published October 1, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kacen Bayless

An instructor at the University of Kansas has been placed on administrative leave over statements he made endorsing violence against men who would not consider voting for a woman to be president.

NO. 4: KU PROF FACES BACKLASH OVER JOKE: THE REAL PROBLEM IS UNBALANCED POLITICS ON CAMPUS. | OPINION

University of Kansas lecturer Phil Lowcock told students that males who won’t vote for women should be shot. KU’s unbalanced political viewpoints are the root cause. | Opinion | Published October 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by David Mastio

A Kansas City Parks and Recreation snowplow clears Armour Boulevard on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Kansas City. By Emily Curiel

NO. 5: KC BLIZZARD, CALIFORNIA FIRES ARE A CALL FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT, NOT JUST MORE OF IT | OPINION

Effective governance requires focusing resources on essential services, not expanding spending indiscriminately. | Opinion | Published January 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Patrick Tuohey

NO. 6: KANSAS CITY OR PHILLY? 12 WRITERS DEBATE WHICH CITY WINS THE SUPER BOWL OF CULTURE | OPINION

A dozen writers from The Kansas City Star and The Philadelphia Inquirer go head-to-head in a Super Bowl showdown of words and ideas. | Published February 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kansas City Star and Philadelphia Inquirer writers

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Kansas City Royals owner John Sherman applauds as Kansas City Royals pitcher Brady Singer closes out the seventh inning during Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, at Kauffman Stadium. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 7: KANSAS CITY ROYALS SET OUT TO BUILD A DOWNTOWN STADIUM. THEY SHOULD STILL DO IT

Even after voters blasted the Royals’ first downtown stadium proposal a year ago, a move into the city is still the best option. Here’s why. | Published April 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Vahe Gregorian

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.