On December 21, 2020, the paper issued an apology for a history of racism in its news coverage. A column by Mike Fannin, president and editor, said "For 140 years, it has been one of the most influential forces in shaping Kansas City and the region. And yet for much of its early history—through sins of both commission and omission—it disenfranchised, ignored and scorned generations of Black Kansas Citians. It reinforced Jim Crow laws and redlining. Decade after early decade it robbed an entire community of opportunity, dignity, justice and recognition." His column launched a six-part series in which the paper promised to deeply examine past coverage by the paper and its former sister paper the "Kansas City Times", in coverage he described as routinely sickening the reporters who worked on the story.