Allison Kite
NPR
Kansas City, MO, United States
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Past articles by Allison:
'Time bomb' lead pipes will be removed. But first water utilities have to find them
Health experts warn problems with these "underground poisonous straws" can strike suddenly, and states are getting cash to replace them. But no one knows how many lines exist or where they are. → Read More
Known to be toxic for a century, lead still poisons thousands of Midwestern kids
Four U.S. states are still struggling with high rates of lead poisoning from soil, pipes and paint. It impacts thousands of people each year, especially low-income communities and families of color. → Read More
For-profit federal prison an understaffed 'hell hole' of violence, death and drugs
Guards, public defenders and a federal judge describe CoreCivic's Leavenworth Detention Center, a pre-trial prison in Kansas, as dangerous. → Read More
Endangered fish, leaching ash ponds: Environmental groups oppose Missouri coal plant permit
Environmentalists want regulators to withdraw a proposed permit for the Labadie coal plant, which they believe threatens the Missouri River. → Read More
Missouri eases rules for building CAFOs despite outcry about potential pollution
Missouri's Clean Water Commission won't force concentrated animal feeding operations, CAFOs, to consider perched water in construction plans. → Read More
The challenge for Lucas: melding ‘twelve mandates’ into a majority for his agenda
Kansas City mayors have a bully pulpit but little in the way of executive power. When Lucas takes office on Aug. 1, he’ll need buy-in from the City Council to move what he hopes is a transformative agenda. → Read More
‘A great step’: Kansas City Council adopts affordable housing plan, searches for $75m
Kansas City Council members on Thursday voted unanimously in favor of a resolution setting out a five-year plan to create and preserve affordable housing. The city is still looking for $75 million for a housing trust fund. → Read More
Will it be Jolie Justus or Quinton Lucas? KCMO heads to polls to elect new mayor
Kansas City voters will head to the polls Tuesday in one of the most consequential mayoral elections in recent years. Quinton Lucas and Jolie Justus are on the ballot for mayor alongside City Council races and Question One, which would cap tax incentives. → Read More
Justus and Lucas: Final questions and answers as the KC mayor’s race comes to a close
Kansas City voters go to the polls on Tuesday to elect a new mayor. To help sort out their positions on key issues, candidates Jolie Justus and Quinton Lucas answer a final round of questions. → Read More
Kansas, Missouri teamed up to lure USDA jobs to KC. Now, the competition begins
The USDA picked Kansas City as the new home for two of its federal research agencies. Now, Kansas and Missouri, which partnered to lure the jobs from Washington, will be competing with incentives to land them. → Read More
After host of negative ads against Lucas, mailers attack Justus in mayor’s race
After numerous ads attacking his credibility, Quinton Lucas is disavowing a mailer sent by an outside political action committee on his behalf attacking Jolie Justus. He said he’s not connected to the group. → Read More
City Council candidate condemns ‘race-baiting’ mailer put out to ‘scare’ white voters
Brandon Ellington, who is running for the City Council, condemned a mailer put out in his race against Wallace Hartsfield II. The mailer shows Ellington holding a rifle in front of an edited skyline of the Country Club Plaza. → Read More
Kelly plans action to end Kansas-Missouri border war, after Parson signed truce bill
Gov. Laura Kelly wants to bring the Kansas City-area economic fight between Kansas and Missouri to a close. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson this week signed a measure aimed at ending the battle. → Read More
Hundreds of USDA jobs headed to KC after ‘united effort’ by Kansas and Missouri
The USDA has selected Kansas City as the new home for two of its research agencies as part of a plan by President Donald Trump’s administration to move more federal jobs out of Washington. Officials from both Kansas and Missouri partnered on the bid. → Read More
Alissia Canady, a strong finisher in April primary, backs Lucas in KC mayor’s race
Councilwoman Alissia Canady endorsed Councilman Quinton Lucas in the race for Kansas City mayor. Here’s a look at the support Lucas and his opponent, Councilwoman Jolie Justus, have gotten from colleagues. → Read More
In last days of KC mayor’s race, Quinton Lucas has cash advantage over Jolie Justus
Councilman Quinton Lucas entered the final days of the race for Kansas City mayor with a cash advantage over his opponent, Councilwoman Jolie Justus. The two are both supported by outside political action committee, or PAC, spending. → Read More
Curbing rampant tax handouts or killing KC’s progress? Voters to decide incentive cap
Kansas City voters will decide next week whether to further reduce development tax incentives, like tax-increment financing, or TIF. The question was placed on the ballot by initiative petition. → Read More
‘Somebody who cares about basic services’: How Quinton Lucas would govern as KC mayor
Quinton Lucas, who faces Jolie Justus in the race for Kansas City mayor, has worked on affordable housing and tax incentive policy. He sees himself as someone who will work on big ideas and collaborate with colleagues. → Read More
Mayoral debate: Justus, Lucas talk violent crime, inclusion, MLK Blvd. or Paseo
Jolie Justus and Quinton Lucas squared off in a mayoral debate. The two discussed their leadership styles and issues of crime, equity and whether to change Dr. Martin Luther King Bouelvard back to The Paseo. → Read More
Voters will decide fate of MLK Blvd. in November after petition to restore Paseo name
Kansas City voters will get a chance to vote in November whether to change Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. back to The Paseo after a committee of petitioners filed to overturn the council’s decision. → Read More