Meet The Star’s new city reporter focusing on government accountability
Hello there. I’m Dylan Lysen, The Star’s new Kansas City Civic Watchdog reporter.
I joined the newspaper in April after spending the past four years with Kansas City’s public radio station, KCUR. I’ve worked in the Kansas City area for several years, but focusing on the Kansas side of the border.
I’m a lifelong Kansan who grew up in the Wichita area. I attended the University of Kansas where I earned my bachelor’s degree in journalism. Ironically, this Jayhawk is also currently attending the University of Missouri, where I am pursuing a master’s degree in journalism.
Prior to The Star, I reported for KCUR’s Kansas News Service, a statewide newsroom focusing on Kansas government. I first focused on state politics and later reported on social services and criminal justice. I also spent some time as an interim editor, helping younger reporters with their stories.
Before that, I worked for smaller Kansas newspapers in Ottawa, Manhattan and Lawrence.
Covering state issues
During my time at the Kansas News Service, I covered some big state issues, like the 2022 vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would have opened the door to ban abortion in the state that voters overwhelmingly rejected.
I also reported on different aspects related to homelessness and the shortage of affordable housing in the state.
My last story, which I am particularly proud of, explained how the state’s foster care regulations unintentionally tore families apart.
For that story, I focused on the experience of Jonathan and Katie Stahl, Olathe parents who were forced to choose between their adopted foster children when one of them entered adulthood.
Kansas lawmakers changed the law this spring after hearing Jonathan’s story.
Helping residents understand how government decisions affect them
Much like my new position at The Star, government accountability has been a running theme throughout my career. My goal as a reporter is to ensure the voices of everyday people are heard so our readers know how government decisions are affecting their neighbors’ lives.
I’ve done that so far with my reporting on the plans for a new Royals stadium in Crown Center when I asked neighbors how they felt about the prospect of a Major League Baseball stadium next door.
I also spoke to some East Side residents when they learned about the newest proposal to update U.S. 71 Highway, which also aims to reconnect predominantly Black neighborhoods that were torn apart by the highway’s construction decades ago.
I want the residents of Kansas City to feel like they can share their stories with me and know that I will do my best to write about their lives and experiences with empathy and accuracy.
If you have a tip or a story you want to share, feel free to reach out to me at dylan.lysen@kcstar.com, and we can set up a time to talk.
