Cody Boston

Stories by Cody Boston

A wooden door opens into a room with blurred figures, white walls and voter dividers sitting on tables. On the door is a sign that has a black arrow and the word Voting. It also has a sign with a red circle with hash through it around a cell phone that says, "cell phone use is prohibited".

On the Ballot | Missouri Abortion Rights

Introduction Amendment 3 presents Missouri voters with the decision to overturn the state’s abortion ban and enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution. Its inclusion in Missouri’s November ballot is a direct result of a citizen-led campaign that gathered more than 380,000 signatures. If passed, Amendment 3 would overturn Missouri’s abortion ban,…

The words Minimum Wage are written in black ink with red underlines on a piece of graph paper with a red and black marker sits next to them on the page.

On the Ballot | Missouri’s Minimum Wage

Introduction Proposition A will appear on Missouri’s November ballot, asking voters to decide on raising the state’s minimum wage and implementing paid sick leave. If approved, the minimum wage would increase to $13.75 in 2025 and $15 in 2026, with annual adjustments based on inflation. The law would also require businesses to provide paid sick…

Missouri Capitol Building in Jefferson City

On the Ballot: Navigating Missouri’s Ballot Initiative

Introduction This short video takes a deep dive into the process behind Missouri’s ballot initiative petitions, a key tool for citizen-driven democracy. The episode features Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft and grassroots organizer Justice Gatson, who walk viewers through the complex journey from drafting a ballot measure to gathering the necessary signatures and ensuring…

A woman looks at a bundle of drying flowers on a lettuce stalk in a hoop house.

Harvesting Change | Making Local Food Connections in the Heartland  

Meet the people who are making Kansas City’s increasingly interconnected local food system more sustainable on multiple fronts.

John Garland Park in Kansas City, Kansas, overlooks an industrial park.

Environmental Justice: Wyandotte County Seeks Solutions 

Advocates in Wyandotte County are seeking environmental justice for communities paying the health care price for decades of industrial pollution.

Woman in a black shirt.

Healing Hate: How to Build a More Resilient Kansas City

A decade after an antisemitic hate crime at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park, communities are embracing the science behind helping children recover.

A view of the downtown skyline from inside the proposed Kansas City Royals ballpark.

Pondering Costs and Benefits of Royals and Chiefs Stadiums

The Chiefs and Royals want to use a Jackson County sales tax to upgrade Arrowhead Stadium and a build a new ballpark. Voters are weighing costs and benefits.

A view of work on a streetcar extension looking south from about 43rd and Main streets.

Midtown Kansas City Reconnects with Streetcar Roots   

The KC Streetcar extension promises to change Midtown Kansas City. While advocates cheer new housing and businesses, others fret about being priced out.

Students hold up a poster with a star in the middle and notes written all around it.

Help With Navigating a Complex Media Landscape

As the U.S. enters another election year awash with information, how can folks improve their media literacy to help decide what is true and who to follow?

A bird's eye view of the Country Club Plaza on a clear day.

The Future of the Country Club Plaza

The Kansas City PBS documentary “Nichols’ Folly: A Century of the Country Club Plaza” explores the complicated history behind the nation’s first planned suburban shopping center. This month, “Flatland in Focus” examines the future of the Country Club Plaza and what changes are in store as new ownership is poised to begin the next chapter for…