Welcome to Info Central. Find data about your area and links to helpful Web sites. More databases and links will be added regularly.
WHAT IS YOUR HOME'S VALUE?
How does your home compare with other homes on your block, or homes across the city? Check these databases of home values in five metro counties based on those counties’ most recent appraisals. Click here.
SALARIES OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES
You pay public employees’ salaries. Now you have an easy way to see how your tax money is spent.
A collection of databases presents salary information for Missouri and Kansas state employees, public employees of five Kansas City area counties and more. Click here.
MISSOURI: JACOB AND EMMA, KANSAS: ETHAN, EMMA
Kansas parents liked the names Ethan and Emma for babies last year, while Missouri parents favored Jacob and Emma. Those babies’ names topped the list for most popular in the two states in 2009. The Social Security Administration recently announced the most popular names for both states and for the country. Jacob and Isabella were the most popular names across America last year. Just type your child’s name in the databases to see its popularity or click "rank" to view the 100 most popular names in both states. For Missouri babies, click here. For Kansas babies, click here. To see 2009's most popular names nationwide, go to www.socialsecurity.gov. Type “baby names’’ in the upper-right search field.
HERE, BUDDY! COME, SHADOW, SMOKEY!
More dogs answer to Buddy and more cats to Shadow or Smokey than any other names recorded by owners who licensed pets in Kansas City, according to the city’s most recent information. Check out the most popular pet names for cats here and dogs here. Any names that appear less than 10 times are excluded.
LOCAL COLLEGE COACHING CONTRACTS
Ever wonder how much money your favorite college coach makes? You can review contracts from Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and UMKC. Click here
KC STARS: TOP AREA FIRMS
Check top local businesses from law firms to banquet facilities.
KANSAS CITY AREA RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS
OTHER AREA DATABASES
MAKING THE GRADE: KC AREA SCHOOL SCORES
This database explores how students in area schools and other schools in Missouri and Kansas performed on tests given in spring 2007. www.kansascity.com/makingthegrade/
HELPFUL FEDERAL WEB SITES & DATABASES
OPEN MEETINGS & RECORDS
If you want to know what your city, county or state officials are doing, you have every right to ask. Both Kansas and Missouri have laws to make government accountable. Open meeting & record laws
DOES THE IRS OWE YOU A REFUND?
The Internal Revenue Service is looking for people in Missouri and Kansas who have refunds coming but whom the Postal Service couldn't find. Most of the refunds are for 2006. If you find your name on these lists, go to the IRS Web site, www.irs.gov. Click "Individual," then "Where’s My Refund?" Instructions will guide you.
KANSAS & MISSOURI STATE DATABASES AND WEB SITES
State legislatures: Contact your legislator or track the status of a bill.Long-term care facilities: Find information about picking the right facility, how to file a complaint and more.
Consumer rights/complaints: The attorney general’s office offers tips about protecting your rights and filing consumer complaints.
Unclaimed property: Search to find unclaimed property such as savings accounts, stock dividends, utility deposits or insurance policies.
Insurance: Search insurance agents and companies and find explanations of types of insurance.
Securities: Find out about securities, how to avoid investment scams and sanctions against brokers.
Charities: Determine a charity’s status and find advice about giving.
Physicians: See if state regulators sanctioned doctors.
