Tax dollars pay for most legal settlements in Kansas City, Missouri

Published

8 months ago

March 24, 2025

Tax dollars pay for most legal settlements in Kansas City, Missouri

KSHB 41 reporter Charlie Keegan covers politics on both sides of the state line. If you have a story idea to share, you can send Charlie an email at charlie.keegan@kshb.com.

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When the city of Kansas City, Missouri, has to pay a judgment after losing a lawsuit or reaching a settlement, the money generally comes from tax dollars.

Tax dollars pay for most legal settlements in Kansas City, Missouri

The city places tax dollars in its legal expense fund every year. This account pays for claims in whistleblower, discrimination and other lawsuits involving employees and the public.

“I mean, the taxpayer already got it hard. Got to pay everything,” said Gregory Spikes, taxpayer.

Charlie Keegan/KSHB

Gregory Spikes speaks with a reporter.

At a meeting earlier this month, the city’s finance director explained the city has insurance policies for properties, cybersecurity and workers comp.

The city does not buy insurance or self-insure for all possibilities. The legal expense fund handles claims outside of its covered areas.

“How are we responsible for the mistakes y’all are making? That’s another thing that’s wrong with the system,” said Christian Fly, who lives and works in Kansas City.

Christian Fly.jpg — Christian Fly questions how Kansas City, Missouri, spends his tax dollars.

The most recent lawsuit Kansas City lost involved former City Communications Director Chris Hernandez. He said the city manager told him to lie to the media.

A jury awarded Hernandez $700,000 for emotional distress, more than $200,000 in back or lost wages, and the city must pay his lawyer fees.

The city council suspended City Manager Brian Platt the next day.

Hernandez’s attorneys said these lawsuits are about changing the culture in city hall.

“I felt a lot of pressure for this case because I felt like we were fighting for truth, for how our city was going to be run in the future,” said Erin Vernon, of Bratcher Gockel Law.

Erin Vernon.jpg — Erin Vernon of Bratcher Gockel Law.

The city has hired a risk manager and revised policies to avoid lawsuits. That way, tax dollars can go where taxpayers want them spent.

“It’s important to have transparency on where those tax dollars are going so that we feel good about the use of our taxpayer money,” said Zane Champie, Kansas Citian.

Zane Champie.jpg — Zane Champie would like more transparency in how Kansas City, Missouri, spends his tax dollars.

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Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen greenlights Osage Nation casino project

Published

5 hours ago

November 12, 2025

Press Room

Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen greenlights Osage Nation casino project

LAKE OZARK — A proposal for a $100 million casino at the Lake of the Ozarks is just steps away from becoming reality.

The Lake Ozark Board of Aldermen met Wednesday for a special meeting to vote on whether to approve agreements with the Osage Nation for the construction for a hotel-casino in the city.

The board unanimously approved the agreements, authorizing the Lake Ozark mayor to send the Missouri Gaming Commission a letter of intent supporting the project.

The deal would align city leaders and the Osage Nation on building the casino on a piece of land the Nation bought in 2021 at Bagnell Dam Boulevard and Business U.S. 54/Osage Beach Parkway. The piece of land covers approximately 27.6 acres of land, and the Osage Nation has clearance to build under the U.S. Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

The agreements outline the benefits that the city would receive from the casino’s construction. According to the document, the Osage Nation will pay the city of Lake Ozark a fee of 2.5% of all adjusted gross receipts from gaming winnings on a quarterly basis. The Osage Nation will also collect a 1% resort fee for paid hotel transactions, which will then be paid to the city, along with a $100,000 annual payment for around-the-clock services from the Lake Ozark Police Department. Lake Ozark city leaders said at a previous board meeting that the city could make an annual revenue of $1.9 million once operations commence.

In turn, Lake Ozark will provide water and sewer services to the casino, which the Osage Nation will pay the city rate for. The agreement also prohibits the Osage Nation from conducting fuel sales or constructing buildings such as a gas station or convenience store at the site.

The Osage Nation announced in a report its preferred plan to build at the site in August. That report revealed the casino would include a 40,000-square-foot gaming floor with a 150-room hotel tower and 435 parking spaces.

The report also revealed that the casino would operate 750 Class II gaming machines, similar to video slot machines or other video-game-style games of chance. This is allowed without making agreements with the state under the IGRA. However, the casino will not operate Class III gaming systems, such as true slots and table gaming, unless the Osage Nation makes a separate agreement with the state of Missouri.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for Nov. 11, 2025

Published

23 hours ago

November 12, 2025

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Nov. 11, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Nov. 11 drawing

10-13-40-42-46, Mega Ball: 01

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Nov. 11 drawing

Midday: 5-7-5

Midday Wild: 4

Evening: 9-8-4

Evening Wild: 7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Nov. 11 drawing

Midday: 0-9-3-1

Midday Wild: 2

Evening: 2-6-1-9

Evening Wild: 3

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Nov. 11 drawing

15-29-31-32-58, Cash Ball: 04

Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Nov. 11 drawing

Early Bird: 13

Morning: 09

Matinee: 01

Prime Time: 04

Night Owl: 04

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from Nov. 11 drawing

09-11-12-15-36

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Missouri

Veterans Day ceremonies planned across Mid-Missouri

Published

2 days ago

November 11, 2025

Press Room

Veterans Day ceremonies planned across Mid-Missouri

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo (KMIZ)

Several Veterans Day ceremonies will take place across Mid-Missouri Tuesday to honor those who served in the armed forces.

The Missouri Office of Administration and the Missouri Veterans Commission will be unveiling the new memorial obelisk at the Missouri Veterans Memorial at 11 a.m. on the north side of the Capitol. The obelisk is dedicated to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

At the unveiling, the Gulf War Memorial will also be rededicated, with the date marking the end of the war engraved in stone.

Osage Beach will also unveil a new memorial and host a Veterans Memorial ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. outside Osage Beach City Hall.

The U.S. Exercise Tiger Foundation will be holding its annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Boone County War Memorial Plaza in Columbia at 11 a.m. The foundation will place wreaths at Memorial Plaza starting at 11 a.m. and Missouri veterans will be ceremonial guards for 24 hours.

According to the USTF, University of Missouri cadets have been the traditional ceremonial guards for the wreaths, but could not participate this year due to the government shutdown.

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