Layoffs at the Kansas City Star will hurt local communities
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What are the latest headlines shaping Kansas City politics today?
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Before we start today, I just want to say thank you for supporting this podcast. Our local reporting is 100% community funded and accessible to all because of listeners like you. You can keep us going with a donation at kcur.org slash support. That's kcur.org slash support. This is Kansas City Today. I'm Nomi Nugia-Dean. Today is Friday, September 18th. Coming up, one of the biggest newspaper companies in the country laid off dozens of journalists last week, including in Kansas City. We'll hear how that could impact not just the news that you see, but also the way that local government functions. But first, some headlines. A federal appeals court heard a last-ditch plea yesterday to reinstate a Missouri congressional map that would effectively eliminate Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver's seat in Kansas City.
Jason Rosenbaum has more.
The GOP plaintiffs in the case want the federal judiciary to require Missouri to use a map passed in 2025 aimed at ousting Cleaver. But at least one of the appeals court judges in the case asked if it was too late to do that. Even if the Eighth Circuit does act, Missouri's county clerks and election authorities say they do not have time to reprint ballots and make key deadlines. They've also said such orders would be an unfunded mandate that's not allowed under the Missouri Constitution. The court didn't indicate when they may decide the case. The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order last week that blocked the use of the 2025 map and instead uses one approved in 2022 with a safe seat for Cleaver.
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins now faces two class action lawsuits over redistricting. KCUR's Julie Dedesche has more.
The proposed class action filed Wednesday in Cole County seeks $500 as well as compensatory damages for each voter who cast a ballot in the August primary in congressional districts different from the ones they will vote in for the November general election. The plaintiffs argue Hoskins deliberately delayed his decision to reject a referendum challenging the 2025 congressional map until right before the primary. The 2022 congressional district map was changed to favor Republicans. The Missouri Supreme Court later validated the referendum, ruling that the new congressional map never took effect. Hoskins' office declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
Costco in Midtown Kansas City is closing at the end of the month. KCOR's Frank Morris reports it will reopen in the spring as a Costco business center.
How many Kansas City Star journalists were laid off and which beats were affected?
Costco is known for large quantities. Want eggs? I hope you need at least two dozen. Well, at a Costco business center, you can buy a pack of 15 dozen eggs, 40 pounds of raw chicken, or a thousand pack of plastic grocery bags. A business center does stock most normal Costco groceries. There's a lot of stuff it won't have, though. No pharmacy, no tires, no glasses, no hearing aids, no clothes, furniture, garden stuff, whiskey, or wine. Oh, and you want your classic $1.50 hot dog drink combo? Drive to the suburbs. No food court in a Costco business center. The new store will still sell gas. It'll make deliveries and keep earlier hours.
We'll be back after this.
KCUR and Interurban Art House are celebrating the Kansas farm girl who went on to become America's first female commercial tattoo artist. And the local tattoo scene today. Join us for People's History of Kansas City live Thursday, September 24th in Overland Park. More info and tickets are at kcur.org slash tattoos. Ever panicked at a snake or a spider in your garden? Try planning in advance what to do in that moment. If I see this critter, I'm going to just stand up and I'm going to take a two-minute break and then I'm going to come back and resume. Tips for easing your critter fears. That's on the podcast Up From Dust.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What are the latest headlines shaping Kansas City politics today?
0:00–2:52
2
How many Kansas City Star journalists were laid off and which beats were affected?
2:52–5:17
3
Why are newsroom jobs disappearing across the United States?
5:17–8:14
4
What impact do newsroom cuts have on civic engagement and news deserts?
8:14–11:03
5
How could the Star layoffs reduce transparency and accountability in local government?
11:03–12:58
6
What funding models could help keep local journalism alive in Kansas City?
12:58–14:42
7
How has social‑media competition changed revenue and audience reach for local news?
14:42–15:20
8
What are the emotional and mental‑health effects of repeated layoffs on journalists?
15:20–15:26