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8 impactful ways Kansas Citians are solving community challenges

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

Kansas Citians are stepping up with bold solutions to community challenges. Morning Glory Ministries continues feeding and clothing the homeless despite tensions with downtown neighbors. The city uses marijuana tax revenue to run winter shelters and improve public works.

Activists such as Jay Jones are fighting to reconnect neighborhoods divided by Highway 71 through green initiatives. Meanwhile, Kim Riley's Transition Academy empowers students with disabilities to find lasting employment. Each effort shows a deep commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive Kansas City.

Marijuana plants about 7-10 days away from harvesting grow at Greenlight Dispensary’s cultivation plant in Kansas City. Voters in Missouri will decide in November whether to legalize adult recreational marijuana use, paving the way for Missouri to potentially become the 20th state to legalize and tax the drug.

NO. 1: WINTER SHELTER, EV CHARGING STATIONS & MORE: HOW KC IS SPENDING ITS MARIJUANA TAX MONEY

Revenue generated from the sales tax has been spent on some of the city’s most pressing problems, including violent crime and homelessness. | Published October 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Katie Moore

Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas stands in front of Hope Faith Ministries Tuesday afternoon to talk about the upcoming cold weather low barrier shelter plan.

NO. 2: KANSAS CITY MAYOR UNVEILS LATEST EFFORTS TO TACKLE HOMELESSNESS WITH GRANTS, WINTER SHELTERS

Kansas City announced it will again open winter low-barrier shelters, and this year will offer new grants to area nonprofits as part of Zero KC, the city’s campaign which aims to end homelessness. | Published October 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Noelle Alviz-Gransee

A line forms at Morning Glory Ministries, a morning breakfast program to serve the homeless on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 in Kansas City. By Dominick Williams

NO. 3: KC CHURCH FEEDS HOMELESS EVERY MORNING — BUT NEIGHBORS SAY AFTERMATH IS GETTING DANGEROUS

“It’s easy to put the blame on us. We’re not bringing the homeless here. They’re here and we’re feeding them,” said John Kraus, director of Morning Glory Ministries breakfast program. | Published November 25, 2024 | Read Full Story by Eric Adler

NO. 4: FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE KEEPS HARDWORKING, LEGAL KC REFUGEES FROM HEALTH CARE, SCHOOLS | OPINION

The stop-work order threw people who escaped dire circumstances into needless chaos. | Opinion | Published January 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lucy Smith

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After her son was diagnosed with intellectual developmental disabilities, Kim Riley, founder of the Transition Academy, created the organization to give students with disabilities the training and resources they need to find meaningful work.

NO. 5: A SON WITH DISABILITIES LED EX-JOURNALIST TO HELP OTHERS LIKE HIM FIND LASTING JOBS

"I felt as if they only saw his challenges and not his abilities." | Published March 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by J.M. Banks

This aerial photo shows the north and southbound lanes of US 71 Highway at Gregory Boulevard in Kansas City. By Rich Sugg

NO. 6: THIS KANSAS CITY HIGHWAY IS A ‘BARRIER’ TO EAST SIDE, LOCALS SAY. WHAT COULD THE CITY DO?

Neighborhoods around 71 Highway have higher rates of asthma and fewer hours of sleep, according to Kansas City Health Department data. | Published March 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

NO. 7: STAR EDITORIAL BOARD’S ENDORSEMENT ON SELLING KC PARKLAND TO RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE | OPINION

On April 8, Question 2 asks residents to OK selling 3.4 acres to the nonprofit corporation that helps families of sick children. | Opinion | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by The Kansas City Star Editorial Board

Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson shares the successes and shortcomings of one year of the Save KC program at a news conference on April 4, 2025. The program is comprised of the prosecutor’s office, police and community stakeholders identifying at-risk individuals and helping connect them with resources to stay away from criminal activity. By Kendrick Calfee

NO. 8: POLICE, PROSECUTOR OPTIMISTIC AFTER FIRST YEAR OF NEW KC CRIME PREVENTION PLAN

The Save KC program is designed to stop cycles of violent crime. Kansas City leaders discussed its successes, and shortcomings, after one year. | Published April 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kendrick Calfee

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.