Paul Thompson
Northeast News

A decade covering news in Kansas City will leave a wealth of memories.

Many of you who know me well probably already know, but some of you might not: I’ve accepted a new job in Austin, Texas and have officially departed the Northeast News, effective October 5.

While immensely excited about the new opportunity, along with the adventure that awaits, there’s so much that I’ll miss about Kansas City, and so many people that I need to thank for having faith in me during my two and a half years serving as the managing editor of the Northeast News. I’ll be as broad as possible here, so as to cover as much ground as possible and to avoid retribution down the line.

Thank you to Northeast News publisher Michael Bushnell, not only for hiring me, but also for allowing me to pursue all the stories I found fit to print. I can’t recall a single time that Michael restricted my coverage, even when he may not have agreed with my tact, and for that I am grateful.

Thank you to the Historic Northeast community, who have been open and honest and patient with me as I learned the ropes in this job and did my best to dive deep into the stories that mattered most to you.

Thank you to the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, which has always been gracious with their time, answering tough questions when it was required and allowing unparalleled access. From homeless camps to social workers to sting operations and extended sit-down interviews, the willingness of the department to embrace transparency has been impressive throughout.

Thank you to all of the workers at City Hall, who answered my calls even when they didn’t want to, and who acted with professionalism throughout my time at the Northeast News. Thank you to the City Council members who did the same, and who continue to serve Kansas City with its best interests at heart.

It’s been an awesome two and a half years serving the Historic Northeast, and it’s not lost upon me how much I owe to the residents who pour their hearts and souls into the betterment of their community on a daily basis.

My hope is that the relationships I’ve made during my time at the Northeast News will last a lifetime. In that vein, I’d encourage anybody who I’ve missed on my way out of town to reach out via email, at

p.thompson21@gmail.com.

The future is bright for this area, and I’ll certainly be watching from afar.