Ministering to Children With Disabilities

The special-needs ministry at Johnson County’s Grace Church has been a godsend for parents Holly and Lou Palacio and their son, Michael (far right), who has a rare genetic disorder that causes autism and epilepsy. Also pictured are the Palacio’s son, Daniel, and daughter, Anna. (Photo courtesy of the Palacio family).

When Michael Palacio was born 18 years ago this month, he was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, tuberous sclerosis, which causes epilepsy and autism. And Michael now has both. As his parents began to respond to Michael’s needs — and continue to parent Michael’s two older siblings — one issue that arose quickly was…

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Nick’s Picks | The Pope, Fountains, Trees, and More …

Remembering Pope Francis It’s going to be a week of mourning as Catholics around the world mark today’s passing of Pope Francis. The Argentinian-born pontiff was 88 years old. Francis’s death triggers a series of rituals and procedures. His papal ring will be destroyed, and his rooms will be sealed. He will lie in state…

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Nick’s Picks | Taxes, Highways, Holidays, and More …

Renderings of the South Loop to cap I-670 downtown show expansive green space.

A Taxing Time Dig out your W2s. It’s Tax Day on Tuesday. You have until midnight tomorrow to submit your returns to the IRS. It may be news to many of us. One in four Americans have yet to file. According to a new Turbo Tax survey, more than half of 18-24-year-olds don’t even know…

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Man deported after visiting family grave in Mexico is back in Kansas City

Evenezer Cortez Martinez, a DACA recipient who was detained and deported after returning from Mexico last week, has returned to his home in the Kansas City area. (Mary Sanchez/The Beacon)

This story was originally published by The Beacon, an online news outlet focused on local, in-depth journalism in the public interest. Evenezer Cortez Martinez is back on U.S. soil, landing in Kansas City Tuesday afternoon after being deported. The DACA recipient and Kansas father of three feared that he wouldn’t be able to return from…

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An open letter to the City of Kansas City, Missouri, from its local journalists

City Hall and the Jackson County Courthouse at the center of the downtown Kansas City skyline.

On behalf of the editorial leadership within the Kansas City Media Collective, alongside The Kansas City Star, we are sharing an open letter addressed to Mayor Quinton Lucas and the city council of Kansas City in response to the recent termination of City Manager Brian Platt and the ongoing process of appointing new leadership for this…

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