Kansas City

As the 16-year-old recovers at home and the alleged shooter, Andrew D. Lester, awaits trial after pleading not guilty to two felony charges, a diverse group of residents showed up this week to protests. The case has reignited anger about race, guns and policing.

Andrew D. Lester appeared for a three-minute hearing at the Clay County Courthouse for a formal reading of his two felony charges, first degree assault and armed criminal action. Meanwhile, Lee Merritt, a lawyer representing the teen’s family, said the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the shooting as a federal hate crime.

There are no statistics to show how often the accused have invoked Stand Your Ground as a defense. One veteran Kansas City defense attorney says, in the shooting of Ralph Yarl, the facts don’t meet the case.

Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson announced the charges against Andrew D. Lester late Monday afternoon after days of national outcry.

Protesters demanded the shooter's arrest and said Kansas City police don't do enough to protect Black children. Police Chief Stacey Graves said they need a statement from the victim before they can proceed with any possible charges.

A decade after St. Louis officially reclaimed local control of its police, a Missouri Senate bill would put the department back under state control — a policy originally born out pro-slavery leaders’ attempt to maintain power 150 years ago.

Kansas City has the only police department in Missouri that's under state control. Although voters statewide raised how much of the city's budget must be spent on the KCPD, activists say local opposition to Amendment 4 created an opportunity to put policing decisions back in the city's hands.

John Wood, former federal prosecutor and senior investigative counsel to the January 6 Committee, said the divisive politics shaping up in Missouri's U.S. Senate primaries prompted him to run as a mainstream independent candidate.

Passengers were aboard the Southwest Chief, which left Kansas City around 11 a.m. The train left the tracks near Mendon, Missouri, after hitting a dump truck at a public crossing. Four people are confirmed dead.

Water utilities have never been required to thoroughly inventory lead pipes except in a crisis. Health experts warn problems with these “underground poisonous straws” can arise out of the blue.