The Beacon Kansas City

❄️ As temperatures drop, KC's cold-weather shelters become a critical lifeline for our unhoused neighbors. Mili Mansaray’s latest article dives into the city's efforts to address homelessness this winter. Despite opening 500 beds for extreme-weather shelter, the need far outpaces availability for the estimated 2,215 unhoused people in our region. From the rising costs of shelter programs to the unique challenges faced by women, youth, and older adults, this piece sheds light on the human impact of cold weather and the strategies in place to protect our most vulnerable. 📖 Read the full story:

Today is Giving Tuesday, a global day dedicated to giving. And we’re here to ask you to turn that focus locally, by helping power the stories that matter most to you and your neighbors. The Beacon is an independent, nonprofit newsroom powered by the community we serve - show your support by making a tax-deductible gift and watch it go twice as far thanks to NewsMatch! In return, we'll continue to produce impactful news that's free to read and puts KC first.

Donna Nathan loved two-stepping and The Beatles. The radio was always on at her house. That love of music easily translated to dancing in parades. Nathan and her daughter, Katrina Brees, even worked together at a studio making sculptures for Mardi Gras parades. “She was the type of person that would find some sick animal outside and bring it in and nurse it back to health and find it a home,” Brees said. But Nathan was suicidal. That meant three stays at a psychiatric hospital and working through medications and their various side effects. Nathan’s partner even quit his job to spend more time at home to support her. But one day in 2018, Nathan searched the internet for a gun store near New Orleans. She bought a weapon and a box of ammo and killed herself.

Karen Uhlenhuth always has a few gallons of water in the back of her Prius and an eye toward the side of the road. When she sees one of the 80 or so saplings she recently planted looking thirsty, she’ll pull over and give it a drink. “The real test is the first summer,” she said on a walk through Roanoke Park, where her tree planting work began more than two decades ago. If the tiny native trees she has sunk into public easements across Midtown can make it beyond weeks of scorching temperatures and little rainfall, they’ll probably be around next year. And every new tree, Uhlenhuth said, notches a win for the climate.

For years, Missouri education regulators concluded the Hickman Mills School District fell short in key ways. It was only partially accredited. Now, the latest state performance reports show the small Kansas City district scoring above the threshold for full accreditation. But there’s also bad news. Contrary to its original plan, Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is combining this year’s scores with past years’ to evaluate districts.

The number of Kansas children who didn’t know where their next meal would come from grew by 37,000 from 2021 to 2022. The rise in food insecurity shows up at food banks across the state. Aundrea Walker, the executive director of Just Food, said 30% of the people it serves are under 18 years old. Walker has worked at the Lawrence-based food bank for 10 years. She’s never seen demand so high. “The amount of individuals and households we’re serving is absolutely insane,” she said. Walker said Just Food spends about $40,000 a month on food. That isn’t enough. “We’re constantly running out,” she said.

What streets do you avoid on your drive to work? Would a crosswalk, speed hump or stop sign help? Good news: Kansas City residents can ask the city to install new speed humps, stop signs or crosswalks in their neighborhood. Here's how.

Tomorrow! Join The Beacon for an eye-opening panel discussion on the state of local homeless shelters and the future of our neighborhoods in Kansas City. This is your opportunity to voice your concerns, learn about the city’s new initiatives like the low-barrier shelter at Hope Faith, and hear from residents and community leaders who are directly impacted. ⚡ Date: Weds, Nov 20 ⚡ Time: 5:00 - 7:00 pm ⚡ Location: Independence Boulevard Christian Church Come be part of the conversation. Your input matters for a more connected community. RSVP now to save your spot! #CommunityJournalismLab #KansasCity #HomelessnessSolutions

If you’re driving to work on one of KC’s four-lane roads, you have to be a quick thinker. You might be in the right lane until a car slows to a stop in front of you — so you weave into the fast-moving left lane. Until you hit the brakes, because the car in front of you is waiting to turn left. But switch back to the right lane to escape that bottleneck and you risk pulling in front of other drivers. The Kansas City Council is stepping in. Armour Road in midtown Kansas City was put on a road diet in 2018, resulting in slower speeds and fewer deadly crashes. Now, the city is planning to do the same thing to 28 other roads.

Join us for an engaging event where residents, experts, and local leaders will share experiences and discuss solutions to Kansas City's homelessness crisis that benefits everyone. Our Nov. 20 panel will be moderated by The Beacon's Mili Mansaray & feature: ⚡ Evie Craig | President of Paseo West Neighborhood Association ⚡ Doug Langner | Executive Director at Hope Faith ⚡ Nate Evans | Program Supervisor at Heartland Center for Behavioral Change ⚡ Ken Simard | Advocate for the Kansas City Homeless Union This free, public event is not just about awareness—it’s about making your voice heard and helping everyone understand what steps we can take together to create positive change. Reserve your spot today and contribute to shaping the future of our city. #KansasCity #KansasCityEvent #TheBeacon #TheBeaconNews