Got a story? — The Stare
Got a story?
If you know something Kansas City should know, we want to hear it. Big or small — a document, a pattern you've noticed, a thing that doesn't add up.
Anonymity
- You don't have to tell us who you are. The email field is optional — leave it blank and the tip arrives with nothing attached to it. We don't log who sends tips: this page carries no measurement of any kind, and the form doesn't record your address.
- If you do identify yourself, protecting you is non-negotiable. We'd rather lose a story than burn a source. Say plainly if you want anonymity.
- Extremely sensitive? Send a first, vague message and we'll work out a safer channel together.
- Attaching files? Files can carry hidden metadata — photos embed location and device info (EXIF), and office documents embed author names. If that matters to you, strip metadata first or photograph a printout. We store the file exactly as you send it and nothing about who sent it.
What makes a tip usable
- Receiving a tip is the easy part — verifying it is the work. Nothing publishes on your word alone, and nothing moves forward until we can confirm it independently to some real extent.
- Give us something checkable: what happened, how you know, documents or records if you have them, and whether anyone else can confirm it. A checkable detail beats a big claim.
- Verification comes before any further step — including meeting you or acting on what you've sent. That protects you, us, and anyone the tip is about. If we can't verify it, it doesn't run; that's the standard, not a brush-off.
The line
- This tip line exists for accountability journalism. It is not a dead drop. Do not send illegal material — anything whose mere possession or transmission is a crime has no place here.
- Anonymity protections are for sources, not for crimes. Everything we promise above is built to protect people who tell the truth about power — using this form to victimize someone forfeits all of it.