Halle Jackson

As fall arrives and the days get cooler, nothing satisfies quite like a cheesy dish that warms the belly and comforts the soul. From gooey grilled cheese sandwiches to tangy, whipped goat cheese dips — even famous barbecue sides — there's a cheesy dish for every taste in Kansas City.

With Kansas and Missouri elections just three weeks away, KCUR's series “What's the deal, KC?” is answering common questions from voters about the candidates and issues on their ballot.

Christal Watson, mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, is asking voters to pass two key sales tax items on the November ballot. One is a quarter-cent tax for healthcare services and addressing homelessness, and the other is a three-eights-cent tax to fund parks, community centers and trails.

BY STEVEN KRASKE AND HALLE JACKSON ksnewsservice.org In Kansas, “every” U.S. citizen age 18 or older is eligible to cast a ballot.

Election Day in Kansas and Missouri is on Nov. 3, and early voting has already begun. If you're trying to figure out how to start the process of understanding your ballot, one Kansas political scientist says “Google's your friend." (And so is KCUR!)

Jackson County voters will decide whether to renew the county's quarter-cent anti-crime sales tax, known as COMBAT. The tax generates between $25 and $30 million per year to support the court system, county prosecutor's office and law enforcement agencies. Dozens of nonprofits also receive grants.

Outgoing Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson and Rep. Keri Ingle are running in a competitive race to represent Lee's Summit, Blue Springs and other cities in eastern Jackson County. Democrats are targeting the seat in hopes of breaking the state senate's Republican supermajority.

Kansas and Missouri elections are less than two weeks away, and KCUR's series “What's the Deal, KC?” is answering common questions from voters about the candidates on their ballots. Text your questions to 816-601-4777.

Keri Ingle, who has represented in the Missouri House since 2019, is running against outgoing Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson to represent Lee's Summit, Blue Springs and other cities in eastern Jackson County in the state Senate. Democrats are targeting the seat in hopes of breaking the chamber's Republican supermajority.

A body-horror novel about parasitic vampires, a beautifully designed scientific book about eerie plants and an exploration of family history narrated by the ghosts of ancestors are among Kansas City librarians' and booksellers' picks this Halloween season.