Kansas City Today: Recent Episodes
KCUR Studios
Kansas City Today is a daily news podcast from KCUR Studios bringing you all things Kansas City, wrapped up in 15 minutes or less. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, it’ll be waiting in your feed every weekday. Hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin.
Some Kansas lawmakers say police are not doing enough to address crime stemming from homelessness — but advocates say making more arrests won't do anything to help. Plus: Rural Midwest school districts don't have enough funding to fulfill their promises to educate homeless students.
Some Republican state lawmakers in Kansas want communities struggling with homelessness to use law enforcement to address the issue. But as Dylan Lysen of the Kansas News Service reports, arresting people experiencing homelessness for minor crimes does not solve the problem. And it may make things worse.
Missouri had nearly 33,000 unhoused students eligible for support under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, while Kansas had nearly 6,700. As Nebraska Public Media’s Jolie Peal reports for the Midwest Newsroom, some rural districts are collaborating with their communities to help outside of the classroom.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Olivia Hewitt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
A Missouri judge will rule this year on a controversial 2023 law that limits gender-affirming care. We’ll hear why more about why families sued over the restrictions, and why the state is defending it.
Missouri's GOP-dominated legislature passed a law barring physicians from providing gender-affirming medical care to minors, such as hormone therapy, puberty blockers or surgeries. Transgender minors and their families challenged its constitutionality, and after a 13-day trial, the decision is in the hands of Judge Craig Carter.
KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with the Missouri Independent’s Annelise Hanshaw about what impacts this law has had on transgender youth, and how Carter’s ruling will shape the future of health care in Missouri.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Olivia Hewitt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Missouri voters last week passed a constitutional amendment to enshrine the right to an abortion. Emily Wales of Planned Parenthood Great Plains explains what abortion access could look like in the state, and what's next for the fight for reproductive rights.
Missouri was one of several states where voters restored access after the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade — but the first state to overturn a total ban.
Wales, who also led the Missourians for Constitutional Freedom coalition that backed Amendment 3, spoke with Brian Ellison about how soon Missourians can expect the full range of reproductive care to be restored.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
After Republicans dominated last week's elections, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas discusses how he hopes to work with Missouri's new leaders — and President-elect Trump. Plus, he talks about the latest news on the city jail and a potential new WNBA team.
Lucas spoke with KCUR's Steve Kraske on Up To Date.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Republicans expanded their already sizable majorities in the Kansas Legislature in this week's elections, paving the way for changes on major issues like taxes and transgender rights. And in non-election news: A store recently opened in Missouri to not just sell and service typewriters, but also foster a community.
Republicans in Kansas had sweeping wins in the Statehouse, dashing hopes of Democrats who expected to gain ground. Kansas News Service reporter Zane Irwin and editor Stephen Koranda discuss what the results will mean for major issues like taxes and transgender rights.
Most typing is done quietly on a computer keyboard or a phone. But as St. Louis Public Radio’s Jonathan Ahl reports, a couple in Rolla have opened a business they hope will build interest in a much older form of putting words on a page.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
How did Republicans end up with such a strong election night? Former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander and former U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder, from Kansas, share their perspectives on the presidential vote and where the country goes from here.
Former President Trump will retake the White House in January, with wider margins at the ballot box than some analysts predicted.
Steve Kraske talks with Democrat Jason Kander, former Missouri Secretary of State, and Republican Kevin Yoder, former U.S. Congressman from Kansas, about what led Republicans to commanding victories in the presidential and U.S. Senate races.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Olivia Hewitt, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Missouri residents have voted to legalize abortion, overturning one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the nation. They also voted to raise the minimum wage and send Josh Hawley back to the U.S. Senate. In Kansas, voters reelected Sharice Davids to the U.S. House of Representatives. Plus, Kansas City and Johnson County voters made big decisions about their top law enforcement officials.
Nomin Ujiyediin breaks it all down with KCUR's Brian Ellison.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin and Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Missouri and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Kansas (although Johnson County opens an hour earlier!). With the U.S. presidential race at the top of the ticket, and a critical abortion rights amendment plus statewide and congressional races below, it's a stacked election. We break down the races on both sides of the state line.
KCUR's Brian Ellison speaks with Zane Irwin, politics reporter for the Kansas News Service, about the U.S. House 3rd District race between incumbent Rep. Sharice Davids and Republican Dr. Prasanth Reddy, plus other important dynamics in Kansas' elections.
Ellison also checked in with Jason Rosenbaum of the Missouri Independent about the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Lucas Kunce and incumbent Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, the race for Missouri governor, and ballot measures on abortion rights.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Racist and nativist rhetoric has made headlines in the 2024 election, and immigrants and refugees around Kansas City have taken notice. Plus: One of Missouri's few openly gay Republican lawmakers says his vote on transgender rights cost him his party's support — and reelection.
Anti-immigrant rhetoric has dominated much of this election cycle, and immigrants and refugees in the area are paying attention. KCUR’s Josh Marvine spoke with immigrants and the nonprofit leaders who help them integrate in Kansas City, to find out how they navigate what many consider a fraught time.
Tomorrow is the general election, but several statehouse races were settled during the primaries in August. One Missouri incumbent already knows he's not returning to Jefferson City in January. KCUR’s Celisa Calacal brings us the story of Republican Chris Sander, who lost his party's support over just one issue.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
This episode of Kansas City Today is hosted today by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Missouri voters will soon decide whether GOP lawmakers went too far by banning most abortion in the state.We'll go inside the high-stakes battle over Amendment 3. Plus: That and other ballot issues have been drawing millions of dollars in campaign funds from outside the state.
Missouri was the first state in the country to ban most abortions after the fall of Roe v. Wade. But next week, voters will decide whether to place abortion rights protections in the state constitution. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports on the sky-high stakes for Missouri’s Amendment 3.
With the general election days away, out of state groups are pouring money into key ballot issues in Missouri, especially on abortion and gambling. The Midwest Newsroom reporter Pia Malbran sat down with editor Kris Husted to talk about the outside interest in Midwestern politics.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Happy Halloween! This fall, volunteers at Kansas City’s historic Union Cemetery have been giving attention to hundreds of long-neglected gravestones. Plus: Republican Mike Kehoe and Democrat Crystal Quade are both campaigning to become Missouri’s next governor. How will the issue of abortion influence the vote?
Volunteers in Kansas City’s historic Union Cemetery are using brushes, buckets, and gloves to help preserve and protect graves and connect with local history. KCUR’s Julie Denesha has the story.
With just one week left before Election Day, Missouri voters will decide who will become their next governor. Polls show the contest is closer than any other statewide office. Beyond the candidates themselves, a major factor in the race could be the presence of an abortion rights amendment on the ballot. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg reports.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Olivia Hewitt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
This election, Missouri voters will see Proposition A on their ballot. The measure would raise the state's minimum wage to $15 and mandate paid sick leave. But what else is at stake?
If passed, Proposition A would increase the minimum wage in Missouri from $12.30 to $13.75 by 2025, and then to $15 by 2026, as well as require employers to provide paid sick leave for all private employees. Nomin Ujeyidiin spoke with Beacon housing and labor reporter Mili Mansaray to learn more about the measure and how it could affect workers' lives in Missouri.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Olivia Hewitt, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
As he runs for re-election this November, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley’s about-face on right to work is seen by some as a welcome shift toward pro-labor policy and by others as election year pandering.
Missouri’s trade unions have been a source of Democratic votes and financial support for decades. But trade union members are increasingly willing to give Republican candidates a chance, especially ones who hold pro-labor positions. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum explores whether this GOP outreach is part of a wider trend.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Jackson County voters will elect a new county prosecutor in just over one week.
Either Republican Tracey Chappell and Democrat Melesa Johnson would become the first Black woman elected to the position. The current county prosecutor, Jean Peters Baker, is not seeking reelection.
But the race is gaining extra attention because of Kansas City's recent rise in property crimes. The two candidates recently met on KCUR's Up To Date for a debate about their approaches to criminal justice and what they'd do differently in the office.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
This episode of Kansas City Today is hosted today by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
The Kansas City record shop 7th Heaven has been a popular destination for vinyl lovers since it opened in 1974, but its upcoming closure has regulars reflecting on the store’s 50-year run. Plus: A KitchenAid specialist from Kansas is making it big on TikTok as “Mister Mixer.”
We’re bringing you another installment of our occasional series The Regulars, about Kansas City’s neighborhood spots and the customers who bring them to life. KCUR’s Kate Mays spent time with music lovers at 7th Heaven, a south Kansas City record store closing this fall after 50 years.
It’s a universal truth, and an aggravating one, that expensive appliances will break down sooner than you expect. That frustration is why one Augusta, Kansas, business owner says it drove him to start his own appliance repair business. From KMUW, reporter Celia Hack spoke with one KitchenAid specialist who's gained a global following on social media.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
A group of Johnson County volunteers wants to boost voter turnout by encouraging their social networks to reach out to their friends and neighbors with election reminders. Plus: One of the closest elections in Missouri this fall is the race for attorney general, where incumbent Republican Andrew Bailey is facing Democrat Elad Gross.
A few days into early voting, Kansas appears to be breaking records just like the last presidential election. But in the United States, that still means around a third of eligible voters don’t cast ballots. KCUR’s Laura Ziegler has the story of some Johnson County moms who use good-natured peer pressure to get friends and neighbors to the polls.
Early voting has begun in Missouri as well, where voters will choose almost all the statewide officeholders this fall. That includes attorney general and lieutenant governor. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jonathan Ahl spoke with statehouse reporter Sarah Kellogg to break down those two races.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Olivia Hewitt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Kansas is one of the worst states in the nation for drug overdose deaths for young adults. But one Olathe mom wants to help families overcome the stigma. Plus: New polling data gives us a look at how Kansans feel about abortion, marijuana legalization and more.
More kids between the ages of 15 and 19 die of drug overdose in Kansas than anywhere else in the country, according to preliminary CDC data. The primary cause is fentanyl. As KCUR’s Noah Taborda reports, that’s why an Olathe mother is trying to change the way high school students think about drugs.
With Kansans in some counties already voting in the presidential election and Statehouse races, new survey data provides a look at how people in Kansas feel about certain key issues. Kansas News Service reporters Daniel Caudill and Zane Irwin discuss the results of the survey and how this election could impact the partisan back-and-forth in Topeka.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Olivia Hewitt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Eight months after Kansas City's Super Bowl victory parade shooting, the survivors say that gun violence feels inescapable. Plus: Critics of a Missouri amendment to legalize sports betting say it won't actually fund education like supporters say it will.
Mass shootings like the one at the Kansas City Chiefs victory parade can shatter a survivor’s sense of safety.Even as their physical wounds heal, theyare left with the memories of the violence, and it changes the way they see the world. In this installment of KCUR's series “The Injured,” Bram Sable-Smith of KFF Health News reports on a young woman’s journey past that parade day.
Proponents of an amendment to legalize sports gambling in Missouri say the resulting tax revenue could funnel tens of millions of dollars into the state’s education department. But KBIA’s Tadeo Ruiz reports that possible loopholes in the proposal could mean the state’s classrooms see little benefit.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Olivia Hewitt, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Democrat Lucas Kunce is challenging Republican incumbent Josh Hawley for U.S. Senate in Missouri. We'll hear from Kunce about his priorities, why he thinks he's the better candidate and why he won't endorse his party's candidate for president.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce says his number one priority as a senator would be to bring federal money back to Missouri. But to do that, he'll have to unseat Republican incumbent Sen. Josh Hawley.
Kunce recently sat down with Up To Date's Steve Kraske to talk about inflation, health care, reproductive rights and more. (KCUR made multiple attempts to reach out to Hawley to join Up To Date).
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
It's been 96 years since a Democrat has won the sheriff's office in Johnson County. But this year's contest is unusually competitive after controversial incumbent Calvin Hayden lost the GOP primary. What are the issues at play, and what are residents hearing from the two candidates?
After defeating the current Johnson County sheriff Calvin Hayden in August's GOP primary, Republican candidate Doug Bedford is now in a competitive race with the Democrat, Byron Roberson, in the November general election. Early voting has already begun in Kansas.
Residents had an opportunity to hear from both candidates at a forum hosted by the Johnson County Post earlier this week. Up To Date's Steve Kraske sat down with Johnson County Post editor Kyle Palmer to discuss the forum, and where the race currently stands.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Madeleine Fox. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Natural birth centers that aren’t affiliated with hospitals are becoming more popular, but patients across the Kansas City area are left with few options after a local center closed. Plus: Kernza is a relatively new grain with a budding future as a sustainable crop, but it's struggling to find a market.
Women in Kansas and Missouri have fewer options on where to give birth, especially if they’re looking to give birth holistically, after a natural birthing center in Overland Park, Kansas, closed. As Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga of the Kansas News Service reports, the closure worsens the existing shortage of birth care.
The grain Kernza is championed by many researchers as climate-friendly. It’s a perennial crop, meaning it stays in the ground year-round, unlike corn or soybeans. But there’s not much of a market for Kernza, at least not yet. As the Ag & Water Desk’s Eric Schmid reports, small breweries are one outlet for Kernza in the Midwest.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Olivia Hewitt, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Democrats have long enjoyed support from organized labor, but many union members don’t feel a party allegiance any more. In Kansas City's Northland, both Republican Rep. Bill Allen and his opponent, UAW member and Democrat Shirley Mata, hope to win over dissatisfied voters. Plus: The Midwest is going through another drought, but farmers might not be eligible for relief.
Missouri House District 17, which covers part of the Northland in Clay County, sits in the shadow of the Claycomo Ford Plant. More than 4,000 union members, many belonging to the UAW, live in the area. Collectively, they have the power to sway the outcome of what is sure to be a very close race. KCUR’s Savannah Hawley-Bates reports.
Flashes of drought hit the Midwest over the last month. Even short periods of drought can raise costs for livestock farmers. There is federal help for them, but as KBIA’s Harshawn Ratanpal reports, if severe drought doesn’t stick around long enough on the official federal drought monitor map, livestock farmers may be left out to dry.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Luke Martin. It is produced by Olivia Hewitt, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Many unhoused students in Missouri and Kansas aren't getting the school support they need — in large part because the districts aren't counting them. Plus: Farmers expect less income this year, which is likely to send ripples through the larger economy.
Last year, the federal government allocated $129 million to help students experiencing homelessness get an education. That aid comes from a federal law that often falls short for rural youth. A Midwest Newsroom investigation found the majority of rural school districts in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska undercounthomeless students. The Midwest Newsroom’s Kavahn Mansouri reports.
Over the last two years, agriculture in the United States has been riding the highs of elevated crop prices and record incomes. But farm income is projected to dip this year. Harvest Public Media contributor Will Bauer reports on what that means for farmers and the larger ag economy.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
In the race to be Missouri's next governor, Democrat Crystal Quade says she'll work across political differences to make Missourians' lives better. She shares her thoughts on issues Missouri voters are concerned with ahead of the November election. Plus: We bring you political headlines from across the metro.
Missouri voters have some big differences on issues like abortion rights, sports gambling, how best to handle crime and more. And one arena for sorting out those differences is in the election of Missouri’s next governor.
Republicans have offered up Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe for governor. Democrats have chosen state Rep. Crystal Quade of Springfield — she is the House Minority Leader, the highest-ranking elected Democrat in the state.
Quade spoke with KCUR’s Steve Kraske on Up to Date about her campaign and her vision for the office.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
This episode of Kansas City Today is hosted today by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
A special Kansas City kickball tournament offers a chance for blind and visually impaired students to play — using beeping balls and bases. Plus: A former Hallmark artist has a new graphic novel that shows how being a "Mexikid" can be universal.
Kids with visual impairments often don’t get picked for sports teams. But what if there was a game that levels the playing field — that gives them a chance to enjoy all the benefits of playing a team sport with their peers? KCUR’s Brandon Azim tells us how a community has come together to sponsor games they’re calling "Beep Kickball."
Retired Hallmark artist Pedro Martín’s graphic memoir “Mexikid” is raking in the honors, including the Newbery Honor Award for children’s books and the Eisner Award for American comic books. He and Anne Kniggendorf, of the Kansas City Public Library, talked about the book’s overwhelmingly positive response and what makes the story feel so universal.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Kansas Democrats are optimistic that next month's general election will result in an end to the GOP's veto-proof supermajority. How likely is such an outcome, and what would it mean for state politics in Kansas?
Since 2010, the Kansas GOP has held a veto-proof supermajority in the state legislature, but some political observers think 2024 could be the cycle that breaks that long run of dominance.
KCUR's Up To Date host Steve Kraske sat down with Zane Irwin, political reporter with the Kansas News Service, to discuss what breaking that majority could mean, and why Democrats are hopeful it may happen.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, is tackling political issues even as polarization burdens congregations across the country. Plus: Residents near the Lake of the Ozarks hope that approving a new casino could help bring in more tax revenue and fund some long-needed infrastructure projects.
Red, blue and purple signs have started popping up around the Kansas City metro area. But these aren’t political ads — it’s a project by a local church that’s finding unique ways to bring faith and politics together without fanning the flames of polarization. Zane Irwin with the Kansas News Service has this story.
When Missouri voters go to the polls in November, they’ll have the opportunity to greenlight a new casino at the Lake of the Ozarks. KBIA’s Alex Cox reports that Amendment 5 could impact both infrastructure and the state budget.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Derron Black is running as a Republican for the first time for a Missouri Senate district in Kansas City's urban core. He says local Democratic leadership has failed to get his community what it needs, and that voters are ready to look elsewhere for help. Plus: What Missouri voters should know about the 2024 races for secretary of state and treasurer.
Black, a former Democrat, claims this is the year that voters in Jackson County could be convinced to vote red. Community leaders, his incumbent opponent and the area’s voting history say otherwise. As KCUR’s Zach Perez reports, he’s battling decades of distrust for the Republican Party.
In just over a month, Missouri voters will select five of the six statewide officeholders. That includes both the secretary of state and treasurer. St. Louis Public Radio editor Jonathan Ahl spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s statehouse and politics reporter Sarah Kellogg to break down those two races.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Platte County voters will decide in November on a sales tax proposal that would help support mental health care for at-risk kids. Why is it needed, and what could it mean for the county if it passes?
The U. S. Health Resources and Services Administration has designated Platte County, Missouri, as a health professional shortage area, with a ratio of 840 patients for every mental health provider. This November, voters there will decide whether to create a 1/4-cent sales tax that would pay for a county children's services fund to help close this gap.
On KCUR's Up To Date, Lisa Rodriguez spoke with former Kansas City Council member Dan Fowler, who's on the steering committee for the Children's Service Fund Coalition, and Corky McCaffrey, Community Engagement Coordinator of Synergy Services, which provides services to children and families experiencing mental health problems, homelessness, domestic violence and more.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted today by Luke X. Martin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
At the popular Northland lunch spot Mudbug Cajun Po'Boys, husband-and-wife owners Chris and Heather Jones offer their twist on Cajun and Creole cuisine. While the restaurant struggled to get through COVID, the couple say they've seen more customers come looking for food that reminds them of "being at home."
Originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, chef Chris Jones worked his way up through Kansas City’s restaurant industry for 20 years before opening Mudbug Cajun Po’Boys in 2016. A few years later, Jackson, Mississippi, native Heather Jones was on a mission to find a shrimp po’boy in Kansas City that tasted like home.
Up To Date guest host Brian Ellison sat down with Heather and Chris Jones to talk about how they met and how their restaurant has developed a loyal following.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Tenants at two apartment complexes in the Kansas City area are now withholding rent payments, in the city’s first rent strike since 1980. Rent strikes are illegal in Missouri, but residents say it's worth the risk, after dealing with deteriorating living conditions and a lack of maintenance.
Poor living conditions at Quality Hill Towers and Independence Towers have pushed those apartment's tenant unions to go on a rent strike. On KCUR's Up To Date, Lisa Rodriguez spoke with KC Tenants director Tara Raghuveer and KCUR Missouri politics & government reporter Celisa Calacal to find out more.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
November’s election will decide half the seats on the Kansas Board of Education, which oversees public schools across the state. Those races could dramatically shift the board's political and ideological balance. Plus: University of Missouri students are worried about the future of diversity programs on campus.
The race for five seats on the Kansas State Board of Education could dramatically shift the board’s political makeup, which could reshape academic standards or the way schools approach social-emotional learning. Kansas News Service education reporter Suzanne Perez spoke with editor Stephen Koranda about the state school board races.
University of Missouri students are worried about the university’s decision to change the name of its "Welcome Black BBQ" to the "Welcome Black and Gold BBQ." The university has been shutting down diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives on campus for the past year. KBIA's Evan Holden reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Kansas and Missouri police departments have paid thousands of dollars for an aggressive and discredited officer training. Plus: How some universities are tackling the issue of food insecurity among their students.
A KCUR and Midwest Newsroom investigation discovered that almost 300 police officers in Jackson, Johnson and Wyandotte Counties attended continuing education classes through a company called Street Cop Training that could have taught unconstitutional and harassing law enforcement tactics. KCUR’s Sam Zeff shares the results of his nine-month investigation.
College is back in session across the country, and some students are worried about more than just the cost of tuition. Research shows that college students are going hungry at a higher rate than the U.S. population as a whole. As Harvest Public Media’s Jess Savage reports, some college campuses are working on creative solutions.
Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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People who are unhoused face unique challenges when it comes to voting. How are people in Kansas City navigating those hurdles, and how are local organizations helping them register and get to the polls?
According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, only 10% of homeless people vote. Without an address to receive registration materials and other vital government documents, as well as the challenge of knowing where to vote and getting to the polls, these residents face heavy barriers to voting on both sides of the state line. But several local organizations are working to change that.
Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with the KC Beacon's Mili Mansaray, who's been covering homeless voter registration efforts in our area.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by CJ Janovy and Lisa Rodriguez
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Kansas City's new downtown parking policy during events is catching some drivers by surprise. Plus: Why did a master bootmaker from Italy choose small-town Kansas to continue his craft?
If you're planning to be in downtown Kansas City during an event, you might want to rethink where you park. A new policy approved by the city council earlier this summer establishes a $30 flat rate to park in an event parking zone downtown and in the River Market. KCUR's Celisa Calacal is covering the story, and she spoke with Up To Date's Steve Kraske about Kansas City's new downtown parking fee and what it means for downtown drivers.
Some people take the whole "road-less traveled" thing to the extreme. For master bootmaker Sam Vasta the global journey began in Italy. Then, as a kid, he moved to Rochester, New York. At college in upstate New York, Vasta met his wife and moved to her native Poland in 2001. Then, to Ireland and back to Italy for an apprenticeship as a shoemaker. In 2009, an earthquake destroyed his home and shop and three years ago, the family landed in Eureka, Kansas — population 2295. Tom Shine from KMUW in Wichita has this portrait of the Italian bootmaker who came to small-town Kansas to continue his craft.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeleine Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Many of the people in Kansas who are homeless do have an income, but housing is simply too expensive to afford a place to live. Plus: Missouri law doesn't clearly IVF, so what's the risk of the procedure being outlawed?
More Kansas residents are experiencing homelessness, despite earning pay through work or fixed incomes like Social Security. As Dylan Lysen of the Kansas News Service reports, advocates argue a lack of affordable housing is driving an increase in homelessness in the state.
Some Missouri advocates for in-vitro fertilization are calling for the state to protect the procedure. They’re concerned after an Alabama court ruled that frozen embryos should be considered "extrauterine children.” St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Fentem spoke with fertility attorney Tim Schlessingerabout whether Missouri’s laws are enough to safeguard the procedure.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Missouri has a tropical fruit of its very own: the pawpaw. Although this Midwest native is getting more popular, you're unlikely to find them in a grocery store yet. Plus: While corn and soybeans dominate the Midwestern landscape today, some farmers are integrating strips of native prairie back into their fields.
The pawpaw grows throughout nearly half of the U.S., but most people have never tried it. Some farmer's markets and festivals are spreading the word, though. Harvest Public Media’s Kate Grumke reports on the push to popularize the elusive pawpaw.
Agriculture replaced nearly all of the original prairie in the Great Plains and Midwest. But a growing number of farmers are incorporating strips of prairie into their row-crop fields. These colorful corridors help with soil and water quality and wildlife. As Harvest Public Media’s Rachel Cramer reports, there are efforts underway to expand the use of prairie strips.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Kansas City pharmacists walked off the job last September to protest working conditions and brought widespread attention to the troubled retail pharmacy business. The industry is battling economic pressures, changed buying habits and labor shortages.
A year ago, 27 pharmacists walked off their jobs in and around Kansas City to protest understaffing, low technician pay and burdensome workloads at some CVS-owned pharmacies. Their action forced about a dozen Kansas City-area pharmacies and 10 others in outlying areas to close anywhere from a few hours to two full days. It inspired walkouts at CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid pharmacies across the country later last fall. And it sparked a nascent labor movement that is undertaking a national store-by-store campaign.
Suzanne King, Health reporter at The Beacon, spoke with KCUR's Steve Kraske about issues still plaguing retail pharmacies around the country.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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It’s back to the drawing board for Johnson County and its plans to build a shelter in Lenexa for the county’s growing homeless population. How did the project — a major priority of Johnson County Commission Chair Mike Kelly, and the product of more than a year of planning and organizing — fall apart?
Johnson County officials had approved a plan to use $6 million of federal funding to purchase a La Quinta Inn hotel in Lenexa and convert it into a homeless services shelter. Except last week, the Lenexa City Council rejected the permit, in spite of overwhelming support from community members.
To find out what happened, Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with Andrew Gaug, who has been covering this story for the Johnson County Post, and Stephanie Boyer, the CEO of reStart, the organization that had been planning to operate this new shelter.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Brian Ellison. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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In the mid-1990s, the Kansas City Public Library was threatening to close its branch on the Westside. Librarian Irene Ruiz went door to door campaigning for the building to stay. Today, that branch of the library is named after her.
In the 1970s and ‘80s, Kansas City librarian Irene Ruiz conducted nearly 60 interviews on a tape recorder. Her project is one of the only existing oral histories of Mexican immigrants who came to Kansas City. Ruiz is also remembered for creating a more welcoming place for the Mexican immigrants and Latinos who lived on the Westside, and for her fight to keep that branch of the Kansas City Public Library open. The Irene H. Ruiz branch on the Westside opened its doors for the first time 23 years ago this month.
From the KCUR podcast, A People’s History of Kansas City, Mackenzie Martin remembers the extraordinary librarian who gave the building its name.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Over a dozen states that do not share a border with Mexico, including Missouri, have joined a Texas operation to crack down on illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. Plus: Two years after he was arrested by the FBI, former Kansas City, Kansas, Police detective Roger Golubski is set to face trial soon.
Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska have deployed National Guard troops and law enforcement agents to the U.S.-Mexico border as part of Operation Lone Star. It’s an operation that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott launched in 2021, saying the Biden administration was not doing enough to keep undocumented immigrants and illegal drugs out of the country. Journalist Kallie Cox has been reporting on this story for the Midwest Newsroom.
Over two years after he was arrested by the FBI, Roger Golubski — the former Kansas City, Kansas police detective accused of sexual assault, kidnapping and other charges — is scheduled for a trial in December. On Up To Date, KCUR's Peggy Lowe tells Steve Kraske how some cases related to Golubski's alleged actions have already played out in court.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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When Tyson closed a chicken processing facility in southeast Missouri, it also ended contracts with nearby chicken farmers. Now, some of those farmers are suing. Plus: Kansas farms are consolidating, pushing people to leave the region and making rural life even lonelier.
Commercial chicken farmers literally bet the farm, spending millions of dollars on land and enormous chicken houses to raise birds they never own, and putting their livelihoods in the hands of a single company that is both their supplier and sole buyer. When Tyson closed a processing plant in southeast Missouri, some farmers facing bankruptcy decided to sue. KCUR's Frank Morris reports for Harvest Public Media.
Kansas farms have consolidated and expanded their operations in recent decades to become bigger than ever. That has economic benefits for the owners, but bigger farms also mean fewer farmers. That has contributed to depopulation in rural parts of the state. Sociologists say it has also taken a toll on farmers' mental health. Calen Moore of the Kansas News Service reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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With over 5,000 reported car thefts in Kansas City this year, frustrated residents are demanding elected officials and law enforcement to find solutions. Plus: A $10 million federal grant will be used to improve safety on Prospect Avenue, one of the city's most dangerous roads.
The death of a beloved Kansas City chef after he tried to intervene in an alleged car theft has brought calls for the city to do something about property crimes to a fever pitch. The city has seen a wave of car thefts and break-ins at local businesses this summer. KCUR's Madeline Fox spoke to local government reporter Celisa Calacal about the problem, and what's being done to solve it.
Prospect Avenue is one of Kansas City's 10 most dangerous roads for fatal car crashes. On Up To Date, KCUR's Savannah Hawley-Bates explains to host Steve Kraske how a new federal grant will aim to fund sidewalks, curb extensions, lighting and other safety measures.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
A new Missouri legislative panel investigates crime committed by undocumented immigrants, and is holding hearings around the state. But it's gotten pushback from residents because reports about the extent of immigrant crimes are mostly exaggerated or completely false.
Veteran reporter Mary Sanchez, part of the The Beacon’s pop-up 2024 election team, has been following the committee’s work. KCUR's Brian Ellison talked to Sanchez about what the committee hopes to accomplish, and how it's been going.
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This episode of Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Kansas City has lots of women’s sports fans and soon, they’ll have a dedicated space to watch matches together. The Dub, the first dedicated bar for women's sports in the state of Missouri, plans to open this year around the corner from the Kansas City Public Library downtown.
It will join several other women’s sports bars that have popped up around the country since the first one, the Sports Bra in Portland, opened in 2022. KCUR’s Madeline Fox spoke to Monica Brady and her wife Rachel Glenn, the co-founders of The Dub.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Missouri quietly restricted its policy for transgender residents to change the gender markers on their state IDs. For some people, it was the last straw. Plus: How Children’s Mercy researchers are working to make genetic testing more accessible in rural Kansas.
Last month, the Missouri Department of Revenue quietly made it more difficult for residents to change the gender markers on their state ID. A new rule requires people to present either a court order or proof of “gender reassignment surgery.” As KBIA’s Anna Spidel reports, those new restrictions could create serious problems for transgender, nonbinary and intersex people in Missouri.
Genetic testing can offer answers for people with rare diseases, but there are still barriers to accessing it, especially in rural areas. Experts at Children’s Mercy Kansas City are working to remove those barriers. Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga of the Kansas News Service has this look at families taking part in the program.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that Amendment 3, the constitutional amendment that could overturn Missouri's abortion ban, will stay on the Nov. 5 ballot. How did such a big decision end up before the state's highest court at the very last minute?
St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Moline and Jason Rosenbaum discuss how we got here, and how the ruling could impact both abortion rights and the upcoming election in Missouri.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Military members and their families are especially vulnerable to food insecurity, but Kansas City groups are providing a safety net. Plus: Missouri hemp producers are stuck in confusion after the delay of Gov. Mike Parson's ban on hemp-derived edibles.
Many Missouri veterans and military families struggle to access enough food to stay healthy. As KCUR’s Noah Taborda reports, some Kansas City organizations want to make sure they don't have to choose between the expenses of day-to-day life and going hungry.
When Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft blocked Gov. Mike Parson’s emergency rules banning the sale of hemp-derived drugs, he may have delayed the effort by at least six months. As Harshawn Ratanpal reports, the looming ban leaves farmers and businesses in Missouri’s hemp industry holding their breath.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Does agreeing to take part in a political debate make you a man? How gender politics and notions of masculinity are playing out in this year’s presidential election — and in the Missouri showdown between Lucas Kunce and Josh Hawley for the U.S. Senate.
The intersection of gender and politics often features in American elections, and has been accentuated by Donald Trump’s presidential contests against Hillary Clinton in 2016 and now Kamala Harris. “Being a man” is also a recurring undertone of the race in Missouri between incumbent U.S. Senator Josh Hawley and his challenger Lucas Kunce.
As a political correspondent for NPR who often focuses on gender politics, Danielle Kurtzleben has been following this trend from a national perspective. KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Kurtzleben about the 2024 campaign.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
A new Missouri poll shows growing support for Amendment 3, this fall's ballot measure enshrining a right to an abortion in the state constitution. It even has backing from some Republicans, who still have strong leads in all the races for statewide office.
A new poll from St. Louis University and YouGov reports that 52% of respondents indicated they'd vote for Amendment 3, protecting the right to an abortion in Missouri. St. Louis Public Radio political correspondent Jason Rosenbaum has been following the story. He spoke with Up To Date's Steve Kraske about this support and its implications.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
For more than a century, bird hatcheries and farmers across the country have used the U.S. Postal Service to ship newborn birds. But recent shipment delays have led to many birds dying in transit. Plus: Climate change could bring more water scarcity to the Midwest and Great Plains and, with it, more legal battles over water.
When someone wants to add chicks to their backyard farm or populate a larger operation, they often order from hatcheries. For the past 100 years, those hatcheries have used the U.S. Postal Service to ship live baby birds around the country. Increasingly, customers and suppliers say slow deliveries are causing birds to arrive dead. The Midwest Newsroom’s Kavahn Mansouri investigates.
The Western U.S. has seen decades of disputes over water. Now, climate change could bring more water scarcity to the Midwest and Great Plains. That’s left states in the middle of the country wondering if the thirst for water could be headed their way. Harvest Public Media’s Kate Grumke reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves is casting blame on a lack of consequences for teens who commit property crimes like car theft, saying it emboldens them and causes the crimes to escalate — like in the recent murder of Shaun Brady.
Two teens were charged Friday in Jackson County family court with second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Brady, a well-known Kansas City chef, last week.
Graves spoke with KCUR's Steve Kraske on Up To Date about concerns with crime in Kansas City, what her department is seeing, and what changes she's asking for from Juvenile Court.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Kansas City is finishing its campaign of installing LED streetlights that they say promote green sustainability. But activists say it's just a band-aid on the city's bigger climate problem. Plus: Why Kansas musician Freedy Johnston returned to his small hometown to paint a mural.
Over the past six years, Kansas City has converted almost all of its street lights to energy-saving LED bulbs. But as KCUR’s Brandon Azim reports, environmental advocates say that until the city moves toward a more renewable energy source, the transition is a token gesture toward its sustainability goals.
Musician Freedy Johnston left his hometown of Kinsley, Kansas, in the 1980s to pursue his musical dreams. He returned this August to work on a mural celebrating the place he once moved away from. Jedd Beaudoin, of KMUW in Wichita, spoke with Johnston about the project, and forging a new connection to home.
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This episode of Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios. It's edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
As the Kansas City Irish Fest begins today, the Irish community is in mourning after the killing of chef and festival organizer Shaun Brady during a possible car burglary. Outgoing Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker says she's seeing a trend of rising property crimes that end in tragedy.
“My heart’s really broken. I vacillate from anger and outrage to all those personal feelings of why, why, why,” Baker said. “Why was this man’s life taken? What could have been done? What can be done still?"
Baker spoke with Up To Date's Steve Kraske about her office's efforts to address property crimes — and what's standing in the way of more prosecutions.
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This episode of Kansas City Today is hosted by Frank Morris. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios. It's edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
An increasingly popular way for political campaigns to connect to voters is through text messaging. And while you may find the barrage of messages annoying — they're probably working. Plus, Kansas Democrats are hoping to flip enough seats in the state Legislature to get rid of the Republican supermajority.
On the day before Missouri’s primary, many potential voters received a flood of text messages from candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, secretary of state and attorney general among other races. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum looks into why many campaigns are using text messages to reach the public.
Kansas lawmakers are strapping in for an election season that could decide the dynamics of power in state politics. Kansas News Service reporter Zane Irwin and editor Stephen Koranda sat down to talk about what’s at stake in the Kansas Statehouse.
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This episode of Kansas City Today is hosted by Peggy Lowe. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios. It's edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Nearly 50 cases of tuberculosis have been confirmed in Wyandotte County — more than the total number of cases in the state of Kansas last year. Still, experts say overall public risk is low.
Health officials have confirmed 49 cases of the respiratory disease tuberculosis in Wyandotte County, more cases than the entire state of Kansas had last year. Tuberculosis is not widespread in the United States, but 40 states and Washington, D.C., reported increases in 2023. KCUR's Steve Kraske spoke with Dr. Dana Hawkinson of the University Kansas Health System about the disease, how to treat it and why public risk remains low amid the latest outbreak.
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This episode of Kansas City Today is hosted by Peggy Lowe. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios. It's edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Marcellus Williams remains on death row in Missouri after 20 years, despite evidence that he is innocent in the 1998 murder of a St. Louis woman. But a plea deal that would have saved him from the death penalty, in exchange for life in prison, was blocked by the Missouri Supreme Court.
An evidentiary hearing for Williams' innocence case is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 28. UMKC law professor Sean O'Brien breaks down the history of the case with KCUR's Steve Kraske on Up To Date.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios. It's edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
In April 2025, Kansas City voters will weigh in on a proposed $474 million bond issue to improve local schools. Kansas City Public Schools hasn't passed a bond in nearly 60 years. How does the district plan to "level the playing field" for its students?
Kansas City Public Schools will ask voters to approve a more than $400 million bond proposal to repair aging infrastructure and update learning environments for students in the district.
The financial move is the next step of Blueprint 2030, the district’s long-term strategic plan to expand student opportunities like foreign language classes, instrumental music, science labs, elective courses, project-based learning and field trips.
KCUR education reporter Jodi Fortino has been covering the story. She spoke with Up To Date's Steve Kraske about the proposal.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Luke Martin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios. It's edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
The Crossroads bar Society has become Kansas City's hub of Latin dancing. For beginners, it's a place to practice your moves. For experienced salseros, it's an "injection of life." Plus: Frog gigging is a dying art that still draws thousands to Missouri marshes.
We’re bringing you an occasional series about Kansas City’s neighborhood joints and the customers who bring them to life. Today, reporter Celia Morton introduces us to the Latin dancers of the Crossroads bar Society.
Each summer, thousands of Missourians spend their nights hunting frogs. They use long poles with three-pronged spears — known as gigs — to catch them. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Lauren Brennecke reports, catching frogs for dinner is a tradition that’s lasted for generations.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Luke Martin. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love and KCUR Studios. It's edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Much of Kansas City experiences some heat island effect. As global temperatures rise, Kansas City planners and environmental experts are trying harder to make these hot spots cooler. Plus: Missouri hasn't just outlawed abortion — it's also funding anti-abortion organizations that are working in neighboring states.
Nearly 75% of Kansas City, Missouri residents live in a heat island, where temperatures can be at least 8 degrees higher on any given day. That presents serious health and energy concerns. KCUR’s Noah Taborda has more about the people most affected and efforts to cool them down.
The Missouri Legislature expanded a tax credit for people who donate to crisis pregnancy centers, right around the same time that the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The resulting prohibition of nearly all abortions in Missouri led those groups that try to steer people away from abortions to bring the fight to other states.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Jonathan Ahl spoke with Jeremey Kohler of ProPublica, who investigated how these taxpayer-subsidized groups operate.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Madeline Fox. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love and KCUR Studios. It's edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
In November, voters in Missouri will have the opportunity to raise the state's minimum wage for a third time. Hear from organizers who support the ballot measure. Plus, we'll bring you headlines from around the metro.
This November, Missouri voters will weigh in on whether to raise the state's minimum wage, which they've approved twice before. It would also let the roughly one in three Missouri workers who earn minimum wage accrue up to seven sick days a year.
KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Kay Mills, campaign strategist at Missourians for Healthy Families & Fair Wages, and Bill Thompson, a former low-wage worker who's been involved in the campaign to raise the minimum wage in Missouri.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Luke X. Martin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Teenagers now average nearly five hours per day on social media — but it’s not always great for their mental health. Plus: We'll hear from a new teacher in Kansas about what she’s hoping from her first year on the job.
Going back to school can be exciting, but data shows it also coincides with a surge in mental health problems in teens. And as rates of depression and anxiety rise, Kansas health care professionals are increasingly focusing on the role social media plays. Rose Conlon of the Kansas News Service reports from Derby.
Another school year is underway in Kansas. And for some teachers, this will be their first time welcoming students and taking charge of a classroom. Suzanne Perez of the Kansas News Service talked with a first-year teacher in Wichita who’s feeling a little bit like the kindergartners in her class.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Advocates for abortion rights in Missouri say they are feeling cautiously optimistic about the statewide vote coming up in November.
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in 2022, Missouri was one of the first states to ban abortion in nearly all circumstances. But last week, Missouri announced that there were sufficient signatures for a citizen initiative to be on this November’s ballot.
KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Emily Wales, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains about the potential for Amendment 3 to enshrine a right to reproductive health care — including abortion — in the Missouri Constitution.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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In the late 1800s, a new dance took the country by storm, and Kansas City was home to one of its biggest stars. Meet Doc Brown, “Prince of the Mincing Step," “King of the Order of Mixed Gaits," and “Cakewalk Champion of Missouri and the World.”
The “cakewalk” might have looked like your typical showy, 19th-century promenade, but the American dance form has deep roots in Black resistance. KCUR’s Mackenzie Martin and Julie Denesha have the story of Kansas City's own famous champion of the dance, Doc Brown.
To hear a longer version of Doc Brown’s story, check out the new episode of A People's History of Kansas City.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Ten of the 24 people injured by bullets at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade shooting were younger than 18. Six months later, those survivors respond differently to loud noises, celebrations and things they used to love to do. Plus, what rising cases of bird flu in dairy cattle mean for people selling and drinking raw milk.
Six months ago, thousands of Kansas City Chiefs fans went to Union Station to celebrate the Super Bowl victory. Twenty-four left with bullet wounds, nearly half of whom were under 18. Countless more children experienced the trauma first-hand. These kids continue to endure fear, anger and sleep problems. KCUR’s Peggy Lowe and KFF Health News's Bram Sable-Smith report.
Raw milk has seen a rise in popularity in recent years. More than 30 states allow its sale for human consumption in some form, including Missouri and Kansas. But food safety officials have long warned of the risks of drinking unpasteurized milk. Now an outbreak of bird flu in dairy cattle has raised new health concerns. Harvest Public Media’s Skyler Rossi reports on what that means for people producing and drinking raw milk.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
When a low-income driver in Kansas fails to pay their traffic tickets on time, it could turn the fine into thousands of dollars of debt. Plus: Some Kansas districts are scaling back on screen time for students.
Unpaid traffic tickets can end up costing low-income Kansans thousands of dollars. Cities can send unpaid fines and fees to collection agencies and add interest on top. As Dylan Lysen of the Kansas News Service reports, critics say the system is unfair to lower income Kansans who already could not afford the initial fine.
Even before COVID-19 ushered in remote learning, Kansas districts were doubling down on technology. But things are starting to change. As Suzanne Perez of the Kansas News Service reports, concerns about too much screen time have some schools rethinking the value of computers in the classroom.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Kansas City Public Schools are preparing for high temperatures when students return to the classroom later this month.
The district released students early during the first week of school last August because many of its high schools didn’t have air conditioning units in all classrooms, and the existing units were struggling to keep schools cool — putting kids at risk for heatstroke and dehydration.
KCUR's Lisa Rodriguez spoke with education reporter Jodi Fortino about how Kansas City schools plan to keep students cool.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg.
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Much of midtown, South Kansas City and Grandview have been without a state senator since April. After winning last week's primary, Democratic Missouri Rep. Patty Lewis shares what's next as she heads toward November's election against Republican Joey LaSalle.
Missouri state Rep. Patty Lewis defeated Pat Contreras in last week's Democratic primary race for Missouri Senate District 7. The key district covers parts of Kansas City in western Jackson County along the state line, from the Missouri River south to Cass County, and includes prominent areas like Union Station, Westport, the Country Club Plaza, Brookside and Waldo. Now, Lewis will face Republican Joey LaSalle in November’s general election.
KCUR's Lisa Rodriguez spoke with Lewis about her legislative priorities.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Luke X. Martin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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The bagpipe dates back thousands of years, with a rich history and tradition especially in Irish and Scottish communities. Today, we'll meet Kansas City bagpiper Griffin Hall, and learn about the gig that will take him and his instrument to Scotland. Plus: Southwest Kansas is now renowned for beef and grain production, but it used to be known as the watermelon capital of the country. The fruit crop spurred a multibillion dollar agriculture industry, but the water that sustained the melon industry ran dry.
Kansas City musician Griffin Hall has family roots in Ireland and Scotland, which both have a long association with the bagpipes. He brings his talents with the instrument to the global stage this month, when he will compete in the World Pipe Band Championships in Scotland. KCUR’s Julie Denesha has his story.
The multibillion dollar agriculture industry in southwest Kansas began with what might seem like a foreign crop in the region today: watermelons. Kansas News Service editor Stephen Koranda and reporter Calen Moore discuss how different crops shape Kansas culture.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Luke X. Martin. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Before she died in March after giving birth to a stillborn daughter, Krystal Anderson touched hundreds, if not thousands of lives. She was a former Chiefs cheerleader, influential in her career in health technology and a loving friend, wife and daughter. But for Black women like her, the risk of dying of pregnancy-related causes is greater than for white women.
Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga of the Kansas News Service brings us her story.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Luke Martin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg.
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Missouri voters passed a constitutional amendment requiring Kansas City to increase its funding to the KCPD, but rejected a measure allowing property tax exemptions for child care centers. And the contenders are set for November's elections for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Missouri governor and other statewide races.
KCUR's Lisa Rodriguez breaks down the election results with Brian Ellison and Savannah Hawley-Bates.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Lisa Rodriguez. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg.
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Today is the primary for Missouri and Kansas, with a lot of critical races on the ballot. At polling places, election officials will be on hand to ensure everything goes smoothly for voters. We'll hear from two of them about what they do and why it's so important.
Poll workers from both sides of the aisle are prepping to ensure voters can cast their ballots today. But recently, political tensions have made some wary of the safety of polling locations. KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Jackson County election judges Kent Bradford and Teresa Corona about their experiences and concerns with safety at the polls.
Want to learn about the races on your ballot? Check out the KC Voter Guide for information about every candidate and ballot question.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg.
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Donald Trump has endorsed three of the Republicans running for Missouri governor in this Tuesday's primary. The candidates have some policy differences, but the race is more about personality. Plus: How Iowa's new abortion ban could affect care in Kansas.
In the race for Missouri governor, three candidates stand out in the nine-person Republican primary: Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, state Sen. Bill Eigel and Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe. As St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Kellogg reports, a tight race is likely to come down to name recognition and money.
An Iowa law that bans abortion as early as six weeks went into effect last week. As Iowa Public Radio’s Natalie Krebs reports for the Midwest Newsroom, this means more Iowans will likely be crossing state borders for care — and potentially bringing even more patients to Kansas.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Brian Ellison It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Attacking Kansas City and St. Louis has become standard practice for Missouri Republicans running for office. But that rhetoric, paired with actions they take in the legislature, has increasingly made it difficult for city leaders to get things done. Plus: Polling places have been decreasing across Kansas City due to safety concerns, but voter turnout hasn't.
Kansas City and St. Louis are easy targets for Missouri Republicans running for office. Candidates paint cities as dangerous and lawless. That kind of rhetoric — and the actions Republicans take at the statehouse — have put city leaders on the defensive. KCUR’s Celisa Calacal explains.
Almost half of polling places around Kansas City have disappeared over the last few years, meaning that voters may have to change their plans to get to the ballot box. KCUR’s Emma Flannery and Savannah Hawley-Bates explain what’s going on, and what voters need to know for this year’s election.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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The race for the Republican nomination for Johnson County sheriff is one of the most competitive on the Kansas side of the metro. We’ll break down everything you should know ahead of the primary.
There is less than a week before primary election day. In Johnson County, Kansas, the Republican primary for sheriff has proven contentious. Controversy surrounds the incumbent, Calvin Hayden, over his years-long investigation into voter fraud, which has not resulted in any charges. The challenger, Doug Bedford, served as Hayden's undersheriff. KCUR's Up To Date guest host Brian Ellison spoke with Kyle Palmer, editor of the Johnson County Post, about the two candidates.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Missouri state Rep. Crystal Quade and Springfield businessman Mike Hamra are both running for governor as Democrats, and although either would be the underdog in November, they could benefit from a proposed amendment to legalize abortion. Plus: Rep. Sam Graves is heavily favored to retain his seat representing Missouri’s 6th District, even as some critics say he’s lost touch with constituents.
Two Springfield Democrats are campaigning to be Missouri’s next governor: House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, and businessman Mike Hamra. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg reports, the Democrats could get a potential boost from a proposed amendment legalizing abortion.
Congressman Sam Graves has represented Missouri’s 6th District for more than two decades. With little competition in the August primary, he’ll likely retain his seat — though some constituents say he’s disconnected. The Midwest Newsroom’s Kavahn Mansouri visited the 6th District to find out if this even matters.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg.
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Missouri voters will see two statewide ballot items in next week's election: Amendment 1, giving tax breaks to child care facilities, and Amendment 4, which would force Kansas City to increase how much funding it gives to the police department. Plus: How Democrats Lucas Kunce and Karla May are planning to take on Republican Josh Hawley for Missouri's U.S. Senate seat.
Two years ago, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas filed a lawsuit challenging a 2022 constitutional amendment vote that forced the city to increase funding for the Kansas City Police Department. After the court threw out the results, the measure is back on the Missouri ballot as Amendment 4. Next week, voters will also see Amendment 1, a measure that would allow a property tax exemption for child care facilities. Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with KCUR Missouri Government and Politics reporter Celisa Calacal about the amendment up for vote again in the coming August primary.
Missouri’s Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate is not as contentious as other races on next Tuesday’s ballot. But the winner of the contest between Independence attorney Lucas Kunce and state Sen. Karla May will head to a closely watched race against incumbent GOP Sen. Josh Hawley. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg.
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Republicans Andrew Bailey and Will Scharf are both running to be Missouri’s next attorney general, but another name is also a consideration: Donald Trump, who has yet to endorse a favorite. Plus: The lieutenant governor's office doesn't normally draw much attention in Missouri, so why has the race gotten so crowded?
Two Republicans are running for Missouri Attorney General, including the current office holder. Andrew Bailey, whom Gov. Mike Parson appointed to the position in 2022, faces Will Scharf in the Aug.6 primary. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg reports, in the middle of a contentious campaign, former president Donald Trump looms large.
Unlike many other states, the lieutenant governor in Missouri doesn't run on a ticket with the governor. Instead, voters elect the state’s second-in-command. As KCUR’s Noah Taborda reports, five Republicans are out to capture the nomination despite the position's limited authority.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Kansas City has long been associated with barbeque, fountains and jazz music — but accordions? Meet the 90-year-old woman who is keeping the city's rich legacy alive. Plus: Kansas City journalist Ebony Reed takes an "immersive" dive into the nation's racial wealth gap in her new book.
Kansas City has a rich accordion history thanks to one nonagenarian icon who is still conducting, teaching and playing. Classical KC’s Christy L’Esperance spoke with JoAnne Cochran Sommers about turning Kansas City into an "accordion town."
Ebony Reed’s new book, “Fifteen Cents on the Dollar,” brings years of research about the racial wealth gap to life. In it, the Kansas City journalist and her co-author, Louise Story, hit the road to chronicle the lives of seven Black Americans. Reed spoke with Kansas City Public Library’s Laura Spencer about the reporting and the important distinction she draws between “wealth” and “income.”
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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The Park Hill School District in Kansas City's Northland is considered a destination for students with disabilities.
But some families’ negative experiences show how hard it is to meet the federal mandate to educate students with disabilities — in even the best-resourced districts. KCUR's Jodi Fortino reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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The hottest congressional race in Kansas this year is for the 2nd District, which is wide open after incumbent Republican Jake LaTurner decided not to run for re-election. Plus: The race for Missouri Secretary of State has a surprisingly large Republican primary field.
Five Republicans and two Democrats are running in Kansas' 2nd Congressional District, for the chance to help shape national policy and represent more than 730,000 citizens. As Zane Irwin of the Kansas News Service reports, the candidates are all trying to stand out.
The Secretary of State is the top election official in Missouri. And the Republican primary in August includes the current House Speaker, several state legislators, and some newcomers to elected office. With about three weeks left until the August Primary, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum spoke with statehouse and politics reporter Sarah Kellogg about the race, including why there are so many candidates.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
20-year-old Ephren Taylor III is running in the Democratic primary for the Kansas Senate's 4th District, challenging longtime incumbent state Sen. David Haley. In a KCUR debate, the two candidates clashed on taxes and whether the state should bring over the Chiefs.
Steve Kraske spoke with the candidates about the issues they say are impacting their district — which includes parts of Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County — and the state of Kansas.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Three Democrats are facing off in the 2024 Democratic primary for Jackson County Prosecutor, after Jean Peters Baker announced she would not run for re-election. We'll hear from two of the candidates about their stances on abortion, the death penalty and more.
Democratic candidates John Gromowsky, the Jackson County assistant prosecutor, and Melesa Johnson, Kansas City's director of public safety, met for a debate on KCUR's Up To Date. Stephanie Burton, a defense attorney, declined to participate due to scheduling conflicts.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Luke Martin It is produced by Byron Love, Celia Morton and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Thousands of people took over the small town of Sedalia, Missouri, on this day in 1974 for the Ozark Music Festival, a party full of nudity, drugs and rock 'n' roll music. Half a century later, people still talk about the lore from that hot wild weekend. Plus: One very fluffy prison resident is changing the men around him in a Missouri correction facility.
The temperature was over 100 degrees on the weekend of July 19 in 1974, when the small town of Sedalia, Missouri, hosted a massive rock ‘n’ roll festival: The Ozark Music Festival. It would never happen again. From the KCUR podcast “A People’s History of Kansas City,” David McKeel has the story.
Prison can be a lonely, violent place. But one program — or more specifically, one dog — at the Algoa Correctional Facility in Jefferson City, Missouri, is changing that. KBIA's Rebecca Smith reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Kansas City is one of the deadliest major cities for pedestrians. And a quarter of the traffic deaths over the last few years happened on just a few streets, which have become wider and faster than necessary over the decades. How did Kansas City get this way, and how is the city now working to make its streets less dangerous?
The Beacon reporter Josh Merchant discusses a series of stories about Kansas City's dangerous streets and what's being done to make them safer for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians — including bringing back red light cameras and changing intersections to roundabouts.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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New rules from the Biden administration will force most Kansas nursing homes to hire more staff, and owners aren’t happy. Plus: The USDA's new program SUN Bucks doles out $40 per month over the summer for each eligible child. However, 13 states turned down the funding.
By 2027, a majority of Kansas nursing homes will need to hire more staff to comply with new federal rules designed to reduce neglect. Nursing home owners say it could put them out of business. But as Rose Conlon of the Kansas News Service reports, advocates say the new rules don’t go far enough.
Summer break can be the hungriest time of the year for children who rely on free and reduced lunch at school. This year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture also rolled out a new program called SUN Bucks to provide eligible families $120 per child for groceries over the summer months. But Harvest Public Media’s Anna Pope reports that 13 states opted out of the program — leaving almost 10 million children without food benefits.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Law students at UMKC's Expungement Clinic helped nearly 60 people clear their criminal records, giving them better opportunities for jobs and housing. But the clinic's funding has run out. Plus: Foster group homes are meant for youth with significant behavioral and mental health issues, but Missouri doesn't have enough beds for girls.
As many as 2 million people in Missouri have some sort of criminal record. That can prevent people from getting jobs or homes after they’ve done their time. KCUR’s Brandon Azim tells us about a UMKC program that helped some Kansas Citians get their lives back on track — until its funding ran out and it had to close.
When a child enters the foster care system, the primary goal is to place them with a family member. But when the foster child has significant behavioral or mental health conditions, they are placed in a residential facility with staff trained in specialized treatment. In Iowa and Missouri, there is ample space for boys in those centers, but not for girls. The Midwest Newsroom’s Kristofor Husted reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Missouri State Senator Greg Razer isn't seeking another term, which leaves his Kansas City seat up for grabs. We’ll meet the two Democrats vying to represent the 7th District.
The August 6 primary election will likely be highly consequential for the heavily Democratic area. Missouri state Rep. Patty Lewis and Pat Contreras will compete to face Republican Joey LaSalle in November. Brian Ellison spoke with both candidates on KCUR's Up To Date.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Celia Morton and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Got an old instrument collecting dust in your basement? One Kansas City fundraiser enlists regional artists to turn them into reclaimed works of art. Plus: Business owners in rural areas are struggling to find younger buyers.
When old instruments no longer make beautiful music, one Kansas City fundraiser is putting the call out to local artists to turn them into works of art. KCUR’s Julie Denesha reports on Art that Blows, an annual auction that raises money to help make music more accessible to kids.
Longtime small business owners from the Baby Boomer generation are reaching retirement age. But many struggle to find someone who’s willing to buy the business and keep it running for another generation. Harvest Public Media contributor Brian Beach reports on how the wave of retirements is hitting rural communities especially hard.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Celia Morton and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Kansas City's Country Club Plaza is under new ownership, more than a year after its previous owners defaulted on loan payments. The new Dallas-based management group has some big and expensive plans to revitalize the struggling shopping district.
In this conversation from KCUR's Up To Date, Brian Ellison spoke with HP Village President Ray Washburn about how the out-of-state group plans to revitalize the struggling shopping district.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Celia Morton and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
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A growing number of young potential voters are increasingly frustrated by the politicians they have to choose from. One Kansas City resident says the age of candidates is a big reason why. Plus: Two years after Kansas lawmakers reshaped the state’s four congressional districts, there’s a scramble for an open seat in the 2nd District.
Polls show President Joe Biden has lost significant support from voters under 30 — but they have not necessarily gone to former President Donald Trump. KCUR’s Zach Perez spoke with one young voter to get his perspective on what might drive voters away from the candidates, and to see if he agrees with what polls and national headlines say about his generation’s politics.
When Kansans elect their U.S. Congress members this fall, it’ll be the first time there’s been an open seat in the 2nd Congressional District since the lines were redrawn in 2022. The district covers much of the eastern third of Kansas and is attracting a lot of attention. Kansas Statehouse reporter Daniel Caudill and political reporter Zane Irwin looked into the race for the 2nd District.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
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A new policy at Kansas City Public Schools has changed the minimum grade from zero to 40%. Hear how it’s intended to help struggling students catch up.
During the last school year, Kansas City Public Schools launched a new grading policy intended to help struggling students catch up if they’ve fallen behind. Now, the lowest possible grade a student can get on an assignment is 40% even if the student got everything wrong or didn’t turn it in at all. KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with education reporter Maria Benevento of the KC Beacon, who looked into the origin of the policy and how students and teachers feel about it.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
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The Kansas Supreme Court on Friday reaffirmed that abortion rights are protected by the state constitution, and that lawmakers seeking to restrict abortion must meet a high “strict scrutiny” test. It was a decision that cemented Kansas' role as a key abortion access point for patients across the broader region.
In two 5-1 opinions, the court built on a 2019 decision that said Kansas' Constitution protects abortion rights — striking down a pair of abortion laws passed by the GOP-dominated Legislature. KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with KMUW's Rose Conlon about the decisions and what they mean for Kansas.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Celia Morton and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Half of Team USA’s shotgun trap shooters are from the Kansas City area. So what is it about Missouri and Kansas that makes for such good Olympic shooters? Plus: A Missouri professor is the first woman to join the American wheelchair rugby team at the Paralympic Games.
Four trap shooters, total, will go to the Paris Summer Olympics for Team USA: two women and two men. Turns out this year, half of those athletes are from the Kansas City region. For KCUR, Greg Echlin reports on two of the world’s best competitive shotgun shooters. (And a warning: This story includes the sounds of gunshots.)
During the school year, Sarah Adam is an assistant professor of occupational therapy at St. Louis University. But this summer, she’s turning her studies toward Paris, and the 2024 Paralympics. St. Louis Public Radio’s Abby Llorico spoke with the first woman to make the wheelchair rugby team about what it means for her and her sport.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Celia Morton and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
A bill in the Kansas Legislature would have provided millions of dollars to build homeless shelters across the state — except lawmakers let it die in committee. Plus: Could manufactured housing like mobile homes help solve the affordability crisis?
For the last two years, Kansas lawmakers have considered ways to address growing homelessness in the state. But so far, little help has come. As Dylan Lysen of the Kansas News Service reports, groups helping unhoused people are frustrated with the lack of support.
The Biden Administration wants the nation’s house hunters to give manufactured homes a try, because they’re more affordable. Meanwhile, officials are close to updating construction codes to make the homes more climate-resilient. But as Holly Edgell of the Midwest Newsroom reports, some housing experts say the new homes still are not safe enough during extreme weather.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Celia Morton and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
In one corner of Wyandotte County, only about 3% of voters participated in the last election — and it's not because they don't care. Plus: We'll hear from a newly-naturalized American citizen in Kansas City who's excited about their first chance to vote this year.
National elections are dominating the news, but the Kansas City area has state and local elections, where turnout is routinely much lower. In the first of a series talking to eligible voters in our area, KCUR’s Laura Ziegler went to one of the lowest turnout precincts in Wyandotte County to ask nonvoters: Why?
Nearly 900,000 immigrants and refugees became U.S. citizens in 2023, and the rapidly growing demographic could impact elections. KCUR’s Lawrence Brooks IV has the story of one newly naturalized citizen in the Kansas City metro, voting for the first time to make her voice heard in American democracy.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
The Kansas Department of Corrections is using opioid settlement funds to pay for a program to reduce opioid overdose deaths. Opioids like fentanyl are a major driver of rapidly rising overdose deaths in Kansas. Also, headlines from across the metro.
One of the many ways the state of Kansas and community organizations are spending funds from national legal settlements against prescription opioid makers is to pay for a program aimed at reducing opioid overdose deaths. The state expects to receive more than $340 million over the next 18 years. Dylan Lysen, of The Kansas News Service, broke down the threat of overdose among people leaving prison, and how the distribution of naloxone, a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose, could save lives.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Clinton’s Soda Fountain in Independence, Missouri, is beloved by regulars and tourists alike for its homestyle ice cream and its connection to former President Harry Truman. Plus: Looking back on when a group of Kansas counties tried to secede and form their own state called West Kansas.
We’re bringing you an occasional series about Kansas City’s neighborhood hangouts and the customers who bring them to life. KCUR’s Savannah Hawley-Bates spent time with ice cream lovers at Clinton’s Soda Fountain on the historic Independence Square. The shop opened in 1988 in the same building where President Harry Truman worked at a former soda fountain when he was a kid.
More than 30 years ago, a group of southwest Kansas counties tried to secede and form their own state called West Kansas. It’s largely forgotten now, but the divide between east and west Kansas remains today. Calen Moore of the Kansas News Service tells us what happened with the plans for the 51st state.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Celia Morton and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Some of the 24 people injured during Kansas City's Super Bowl parade in February have had to resort to credit cards to stay afloat financially, while they wait for promised donations to be delivered. The latest in KCUR’s series “The Injured” looks at the high cost of surviving a mass shooting.
Four months after the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade, the cost of surviving is hitting hard for gunshot victims. Expenses like medical bills, missed work, and out-of-pocket costs are overwhelming the survivors and their families. Many are waiting for a promised payout, but in the meantime they’re racking up debt.
For the KCUR and KFF Health News series “The Injured,” Peggy Lowe and Bram Sable-Smith report it can be expensive to survive a mass shooting.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Luke Martin. It is produced by Byron Love, Celia Morton and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Kansas City’s extreme temperatures have many community members sheltering inside in the air conditioning. But how is the city's unhoused population coping with the heat? Plus: Get the top headlines from around Kansas and Missouri.
The National Weather Service recently recorded highs in the triple digits, with a heat index reaching 110 degrees. While many people are choosing to stay inside to avoid these extreme temperatures, Kansas City’s unhoused population are having difficulty finding relief.
Jonathan Roberts, chief operating officer of non-profit ReStart, shared with Steve Kraske on KCUR's Up To Date about the work their outreach teams are doing this summer.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Luke Martin. It is produced by Byron Love, Celia Morton and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
After 19 seasons, outgoing Kansas City Symphony music director Michael Stern conducted his final concert over the weekend. Plus: One local opera company is bringing the show to residents of local retirement communities.
Michael Stern has stepped down as music director of the Kansas City Symphony after 19 seasons, with Matthias Pintscher taking over at the start of the 2024-25 season. Dan Margolies and Classical KC spoke with the outgoing maestro about the people and places in Kansas City that will remain important to him.
Getting all dressed up and going to the opera is a privilege that many get to enjoy — but not everyone. For KCUR sister station Classical KC, Laura Fotovich reports on the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, a company that lets local retirement community residents enjoy the show at home.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
The primary race for Missouri Secretary of State race is packed, with eight candidates seeking the Republican nomination. We take a look at the crowded contest to become the person in charge of Missouri’s elections.
The role of secretary of state has become increasingly more visible, especially in an era when a former president — and the current Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft — have elevated false claims that the last election was stolen. So what’s going in the race for the GOP nomination? How will you decide who should take charge of the election process in Missouri?
Brian Ellison spoke with politics reporter Jason Rosenbaum, who’s covering the race for St. Louis Public Radio.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Kansas lawmakers took an ambitious step towards luring the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to move across state lines. A bill passed in special session this week would open hundreds of millions of dollars to help build new stadiums for both teams. So what happens now?
On KCUR's Up To Date, reporter Zane Irwin of the Kansas News Service explains to Steve Kraske what the STAR bonds will do and how we got here.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
In Kansas, issues like abortion restrictions and transgender rights might hinge on whether Republicans can keep their powerful majorities in the Statehouse. Democrats have set their sights on breaking the supermajority. Plus: Problems with Boeing are causing anxiety in Wichita, where aviation is a big industry.
For almost a decade, Kansas Republicans have enjoyed a veto-proof majority in the Legislature, meaning that they can override the Democratic governor on topics like abortion restrictions and transgender issues. Zane Irwin of the Kansas News Service reports Democrats say they finally have the energy and the funding to change that this November.
Some air travelers have been nervous about flying since a door plug panel blew out of a Boeing 737 plane in midair earlier this year. In a city with close ties to the aviation industry, there's even more anxiety — of the economic kind. NPR's Joel Rose reports from Wichita.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Alvin Brooks’ life has become the stuff of legend around Kansas City. Now, a new film by Academy Award-winner Kevin Wilmott details it for the big screen.
Brooks is the civil servant of Kansas City. A former police officer, then police commissioner, educator, civil rights leader and the founder of Ad Hoc Group Against Crime, Brooks has dedicated his life to improving the lives of Kansas Citians.
KCUR's Steve Kraske spoke with Academy Award-winning filmmaker and University of Kansas professor Kevin Wilmott about his latest documentary, “The Heroic True-Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks.”
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Madeline Fox. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
It’s National Pollinator Week, and butterfly farmers in Kansas and around the U.S. are raising awareness about how habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change are killing off our pollinators. Plus: The Missouri Department of Conservation's new director reflects on how conservation work has evolved over time.
For the past 25 years, pollinator species have experienced a drop in numbers. Experts say that’s due to habitat loss, chemical use and climate change. Harvest Public Media's Anna Pope reports on how butterfly breeders and farms are helping capture people's attention and serve as a gateway into learning about preserving habitat.
Jason Sumners is the new director of Missouri’s Department of Conservation. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg spoke with Sumners about how conservation work has changed over the years and his goals for the department.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Gabe Rosenberg. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
A Missouri man could be executed this fall for a crime he says he didn’t commit. How flawed is the evidence tying him to this crime, and what have been the efforts to exonerate him?
Earlier this month, the Missouri Supreme Court set a September 24 execution date for Marcellus Williams, a man convicted of killing Saint Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Felicia Gayle in 1998. Williams was sentenced to death. He was almost executed in 2017. But at the last minute, former Governor Eric Greitens stayed the execution because of DNA evidence. He formed a board of inquiry to further investigate the case.
The Midwest Innocence Project took on Williams’ case and is now circulating a petition to stop his execution. Executive Director Tricia Rojo Bushnell joined host Nomin Ujiyediin to talk about the case for Williams’ innocence.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
The Black Ancestors Awareness Campaign of Weston, a small nonprofit dedicated to documenting the untold stories of Weston's Black forebears, held its first Juneteenth Heritage Jubilee in 2021. Since then, the small river town just north of Kansas City has become a destination for regional Black history.
The 4th Annual Juneteenth Heritage Jubilee will be held Saturday, June 15, from 1-4 p.m. at the Weston Red Barn Farm. The event is free.
On KCUR's Up To Date, Steve Kraske spoke with BAAC and event founder Angela Hagenbach, and BAAC Charter members Phyllis Becker and Rebecca Ehrich.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Missouri child welfare advocates and lawmakers are alarmed over the sparse use of a drug rehabilitation program that could help keep kids safe. Plus: How women surgeons at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita are trying to change the status quo.
A recent report showed that child abuse investigators missed warning signs that parents were taking fentanyl before their children died of accidental overdoses. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum explains, the report is prompting sharp questions about why Missouri’s Children’s Division isn’t using a process to steer parents into drug rehabilitation programs.
Women now comprise more than half of medical school graduates, but they’re still underrepresented among surgeons. A club at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita brings together women surgery residents and attending physicians for support and mentorship. Rose Conlon of the Kansas News Service dropped in on a recent meeting.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act has expired, but Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and other Congress members are still fighting to expand it. Plus: Precision agriculture is supposed to help growers be more efficient with what and how they farm, but it's still years away from fulfilling its promise.
An effort to get federal funding for sick Missourians living or working near nuclear waste hit a major roadblock Friday. St. Louis Public Radio’s Abby Llorico spoke with Senior environmental reporter Kate Grumke about the expiration of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.
Precision agriculture has promised to revolutionize farming since the mid-1990s. The idea is to give growers more granular data about their operations and new technology to put that information to use. Some of this has come to pass: farmers have more sophisticated equipment and hard data on how their operations perform. But as Harvest Public Media contributor Eric Schmid reports, some of the loftiest promises of precision ag are still out of reach.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
In the 1990s, a group of queer Kansas City women were fed up with harassment and housing discrimination. So, they transformed 12 city blocks in the Longfellow neighborhood into a radical enclave by and for women called Womontown.
On June 13, the city and the Gay and Lesbian Archive of Mid-America will unveil a historical marker plaque highlighting the significance of the neighborhood and what happened there.
KCUR's Steve Kraske spoke with Sue Moreno, one of the neighborhood members during Womontown's heyday, about its lasting influence.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Fewer medical school graduates are seeking training to become OB-GYNs in Missouri following the state’s abortion ban. How could this impact maternal health care in a state where there’s already a shortage?
Last month, the Association of American Medical Colleges released a report showing states that passed abortion bans saw a decrease in applications for obstetrics and gynecology residencies — training programs that help doctors specialize after they graduate from medical school. Missouri saw a 25 percent drop in OB-GYN residencies since 2022.
Host Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with the Missouri Independent's Anna Spoerre to talk about what else might have caused the decline — and why reproductive health care providers might be reluctant to practice in Missouri.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Indie-pop band The Greeting Committee was formed by four Overland Park high schoolers in 2014. A decade later, the group has toured all over the United States, surpassed 100 million global streams and been lauded for its coming-of-age indie rock.
Steve Kraske, host of KCUR's Up To Date, spoke with lead singer Addie Sartino and bassist Pierce Turcotte about their upcoming album, "Everyone’s Gone and I Know I’m the Cause," out June 21.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Margie Vandeven has spent seven years at the helm of Missouri public schools, but she’ll step down at the end of June. The outgoing commissioner shares her thoughts about key issues facing Missouri schools. Also, headlines from across the metro.
After seven years at the helm of Missouri’s public schools, Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven is stepping down. Vandeven shares a look back at her tenure and how she views the state of education in Missouri on KCUR's Up To Date with Steve Kraske.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Kansas lawmakers will soon return for a special session to try to reach a tax-cutting agreement with Gov. Laura Kelly.Plus: Solar power is the fastest growing source of electricity in the U.S., but some new solar installations are taking land once used to grow food. Researchers are looking for ways to do both.
Kansas lawmakers return to Topeka on June 18 for a special session on tax cuts as the state sits with billions of dollars in the bank. Kelly, a Democrat, is calling the special session after rejecting three different bills passed by the Republican-led Legislature that would have cut state income and property taxes. Daniel Caudill with the Kansas News Service reports that Kelly supports cuts, but says she wants lawmakers to pass a bill that’s less costly for the state.
America needs more renewable energy, and of course it needs food. Those two demands are on a collision course over farmland. Solar power is the fastest growing source of renewable power, but solar farms can take land out of crop production.
For Harvest Public Media, KCUR's Frank Morris reports a growing field of study is searching for ways to get calories and kilowatts off the same land.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Hundreds of foster children in Kansas face aging out of the state’s care at 18 without a family or a safety net, leading to issues like homelessness. A new Kansas law aims to help by letting teen foster children choose a relative or a close friend to serve as their permanent custodian. Dylan Lysen with the Kansas News Service has more.
Thirteen states across the U.S., including much of the Midwest, introduced bills this year that could give some rights usually associated with people to embryos and fetuses. None passed, but people in the fertility world are concerned that lawmakers will try again and what that means for reproductive rights. Iowa Public Radio’s Natalie Krebs reports for the Midwest Newsroom that some Midwesterners worry about how this could affect their reproductive choices.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
College students across the country have been protesting Israel’s war in Gaza for months. Now, students in the University of Missouri System are demanding that its endowment stop investing in Israeli companies and weapons manufacturers.
Host Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with Alex Cox, a rising senior at the University of Missouri School of Journalism and a reporter at the Columbia Missourian, about why people are calling for divestment and how the protest movement at Mizzou is going.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Luke Martin and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
A Kansas City man traveled with his daughters to all 50 states, a journey of bonding and self-discovery. Plus: Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly says if lawmakers can’t come up with a tax-cut plan the state can afford, she’ll keep calling more special sessions.
Chelan David's “Beautiful States of Mind: A Father and Daughters’ Pilgrimage to all 50 States” is both a travel guide and a memoir of David's bonding experiences with his girls. Looming in the pages is David's childhood kidnapping by his own father. Anne Kniggendorf speaks with David about his book.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is calling lawmakers back to Topeka on June 18 for a special session. The governor and lawmakers have been at odds over tax cuts. J. Schafer, reporting for the Kansas News Service, spoke with the governor about how the two sides could come together. They also talked about one of her top remaining priorities: Medicaid expansion.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Luke Martin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Missouri State Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo is leaving office to become the next executive director of the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority. After this spring's failed stadium tax vote, what will this new role have in store for him?
For the past several years, Rizzo has been the top Democrat in a Missouri Senate dominated by Republicans. Now he's about to become the next executive director of the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority that will play a big role in keeping the Royals and the Chiefs in Kansas City for years to come.
Up To Date's Steve Kraske sat down with Rizzo to discuss his time in the Senate, why the stadium vote failed, and what has to happen to retain both professional sports teams in the area.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Luke Martin and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
A $2.8 billion settlement involving the NCAA sent shockwaves through the college sports world last week and paved the way for schools around the country to pay student-athletes directly for the first time. It'll be a big change for the University of Missouri, the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and other local powerhouses.
It's been called historic, precedent setting, and the end of amateur athletics. A recent court settlement involving the NCAA and its five power conferences will pay nearly $2.8 billion in past damages to current and former college athletes, while also paving the way for a brand new system to share revenue with athletes.
Steve Kraske with Up To Date spoke to Kansas City Star sports reporter Blair Kerkhoff about the lasting effects the new system will have.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Two years ago, Kansas voters defeated an effort to end abortion in the state, leaving intact constitutional provisions that the state Supreme Court says guarantee that right. Since then, battles between anti-abortion and abortion-rights advocates in the state have only intensified, playing out each year in the Legislature and in the courts.
KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Rose Conlon, who covers reproductive health care for the Kansas News Service, to review the latest round of legislative battles, as well as the unexpected closure of one of the state’s busiest abortion clinics.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
The Kansas City Current's new riverfront stadium was built with a small, expensive parking lot for a reason: to encourage fans to use other types of transit. But as KCUR’s Savannah Hawley-Bates reports, the city’s public transportation infrastructure hasn’t caught up.
Exciting and eccentric entertainment hits the streets of Lawrence this weekend at the Busker Fest. KPR's Tom Parkinson spoke with producer Richard Renner and the festival's music coordinator, Larry “Tal” Carter.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Madeline Fox. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Three interns in the Missouri Legislature recently helped Missouri school districts gain access to federal funding to help students experiencing homelessness. Why were schools missing out on funding, and how did the interns find it?
This year, three interns at the Missouri Legislature who worked for Representatives Deb Lavender, Peter Merideth and Maggie Nurrenbern received a resolution commending them for a unique project. Santino Bono, Alanna Nguyen and Dylan Powers Cody found out that Missouri school districts had access to about $9 million in federal funding to help students experiencing homelessness. But many districts weren’t using that money.
Host Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with intern Santino Bono and Representative Deb Lavender to discuss how he and his fellow interns reached out to dozens of education officials, legislators and homeless liaisons across the state to connect them to resources before a September deadline — and what comes next.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Western Kansas is projected to see large population declines in the coming years, but immigration may be the key to stemming the losses. The communities that have embraced their diversity have seen their population stabilize and the local culture shift. Plus: To stay open, rural nursing homes across the Midwest are prioritizing nurses.
Immigration has redefined southwest Kansas over the last 40 years. The communities that have embraced their diversity have seen their population stabilize, bucking the trend of rural areas losing population. And this new diversity might end up being what saves these rural communities from deterioration. Calen Moore with the Kansas News Service brings us that story.
In the last few years, more than 100 nursing homes closed in the Midwest. Industry leaders often blame staffing shortages. Others say the quality of care isn’t up to par. Nebraska Public Media’s Aaron Bonderson reports for the Midwest Newsroom that some rural communities are re-envisioning how to make these homes survive.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Black women hoping to conceive using donor sperm often have to choose a donor from a different race or put their fertility journey on hold because of a shortage of Black sperm donors. One woman tells us her story. Plus: Parts of Missouri, Kansas and other Midwest states are still in drought, despite recent rains.
For people trying to conceive using donated sperm, finding a Black sperm donor can be really hard. In some cases, it’s impossible. Researchers at the University of Kansas are trying to identify why the shortage exists. Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga of the Kansas News Service has more.
Planting is well underway across the Midwest. But farmers are still grappling with dry conditions that led to lower than normal corn yields last fall. This is the third year of a near historic drought for parts of the Corn Belt. As Harvest Public Media’s Grant Winterer reports, producers are making adjustments as this growing season begins.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
A gridlocked Missouri Senate was unsuccessful in passing a measure to change how voters can amend the state constitution. But the legislature did pass measures relating to public safety and ranked-choice voting.
After a record-setting 50-hour filibuster by Democrats, a divided Republican majority failed to pass its top priority, an effort to make it harder for voters to pass amendments to the state's constitution. Missouri will likely see an amendment in November that would enshrine abortion rights in the state.
KCUR's Brian Ellison sat down with Missouri Independent reporter Anna Spoerre, who was covering the end of the legislative session in Jefferson City, to discuss what happened this session.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
The 1954 landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education marks its 70th anniversary today. While lead plaintiff Oliver Brown is the most well-known figure in the desegregation case, there were 12 Black women alongside him. Plus: A small Kansas college is trying something unique to recruit Black baseball players.
Lead plaintiff Oliver Brown is the most well-known figure in the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling, which declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. But there were others alongside him in Topeka. For KMUW, Carla Eckels reports on the "Women of Brown" on the landmark case's 70th anniversary.
Not all high school baseball players get the chance to pursue their sport in college. For minority students, the opportunity is even smaller, making it hard for them to stay connected to the game after college, too. But Greg Echlin reports for KCUR on one tiny institution in Overland Park making a deliberate effort to change that with local kids.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 70 years ago that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional in its landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. But the case may have played out differently if it hadn’t been for a tenacious group of women in Johnson County, Kansas, who led their own integration lawsuit five years earlier.
From the KCUR podcast A People’s History of Kansas City, Mackenzie Martin reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Abortion is almost entirely illegal in Missouri, which has been one of the big battleground states for reproductive rights. All four of Missouri's Catholic bishops have given a significant amount of money to keep it illegal. However, a recent study shows many parishioners don’t agree with their church’s leadership on the issue.
NPR's Katia Riddle came to Missouri to talk to some of them about how they reconcile their politics with their faith.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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It's been three months since the mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade that left one person dead. As part of a series called "The Injured," KCUR checked in with some of the gunshot survivors who are still living with bullets inside them.
KCUR’s Peggy Lowe reports that medical guidelines aren’t exactly clear about what to do with the bullets.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
It’s been almost two weeks since the Kansas Legislature adjourned, after a tumultuous session where the GOP-led House and Senate frequently clashed with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly over everything from abortion rights and gender-affirming health care to how the state raises money and spends it.
KCUR's Brian Ellison sat down with the Kansas News Service's Statehouse reporter Daniel Caudill to discuss what the legislative session did, and did not, accomplish.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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For the past three years, a bar in Kansas City’s Crossroads has attracted pool sharks and eager amateurs alike. Meet the cast of regulars at Chartreuse Saloon. Plus: A world-renowned ceramic artist educated in Kansas City has returned to teach the next generation.
We’re bringing you an occasional series about Kansas City’s neighborhood hangouts, and the customers who bring them to life. KCUR’s Isabella Luu introduces us to the pool playing regulars of Chartreuse Saloon in the Crossroads.
World-renowned ceramic artist Richard Notkin gained acclaim making teapots with an anti-war messages. Notkin has returned to Kansas City, where he learned his craft. KCUR’s Julie Denesha reports on the lessons he’s passing down to today’s budding artists.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Prairie Village is considering a 30-day minimum stay rule for short-term rentals, which would essentially ban most Airbnb and Vrbo properties. It's the latest city in Johnson County to take up the issue.
Fairway, Shawnee, and Merriam have all considered the issue in recent months, especially as local governments look towards the potential influx of visitors to the Kansas City metro for the 2026 World Cup.
Up To Date's Steve Kraske discussed short-term rentals with reporter Juliana Garcia, who has been covering the story for the Johnson County Post.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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It’s Environment 101: Trees help save the planet. But not everywhere. New research clarifies that deploying trees against global warming backfires in parts of the U.S. and Canada, including much of the Great Plains.
“Trees are great in the right place,” said Susan Cook-Patton, a senior forest restoration scientist at The Nature Conservancy. “But they’re not uniformly awesome across the globe.” Celia Llopis-Jepson of the Kansas News Service brings us that story.
Learn more about prairie conservation on the KCUR podcast Up From Dust.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Madeline Fox It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Between efforts to get abortion rights enshrined in the constitution, legalize sports gambling, and raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, Missouri has multiple citizen-led ballot measures in the works for this year's elections.
Advocates of each campaign submitted signatures last week to get on either the August or November ballot in Missouri. Up To Date’s Steve Kraske spoke with Jason Rosenbaum from St. Louis Public Radio about what these citizen-led ballot measures are, why they’ve gained traction, and who is the driving force behind them.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Missouri voters must weigh in again on a constitutional amendment requiring Kansas City to increase its minimum funding of the police department, after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled last week that the language on the original measure was so inaccurate it misled voters.
In November 2022, Missouri voters passed a constitutional amendment requiring Kansas City to increase the share of its general revenue it allocates to the KCPD every year from 20% to 25%.
Last Tuesday, in response to a lawsuit filed by Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas, the Missouri Supreme Court found that the language on the original measure was so inaccurate that it cast doubt on the fairness of the election. The court ordered a new statewide vote on the question for Nov. 5, 2024, and issued its own ballot title and fiscal summary.
Host Nomin Ujiyediin sat down with KCUR's Celisa Calacal, who has been covering the story, to discuss the Supreme Court's finding, and how changing the measure's language could impact the outcome after a revote.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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For seven decades, Kansas City’s Latino men’s basketball tournament has connected the region’s Hispanic diaspora.Meet coaches and players who use sport to keep kids out of trouble, create community and broaden horizons.
Also, Schwan’s, often associated with yellow trucks, ice cream treats and customer service, recently changed its name and stopped deliveries in many states. How the changes affect the company’s place in the food industry.
Latino men's basketball has been a Westside tradition since the 1950s. KCUR’s Lawrence Brooks IV reports on a Cinco De Mayo tournament in the Kansas City neighborhood that honors a former youth coach and raises money for local Latino sports.
The company Schwan’s has been delivering frozen food to households since 1952. Its signature yellow trucks and friendly delivery people are especially beloved by their customers in the Midwest. But Schwan’s Home Delivery has since changed its name to “Yelloh” and cut staff and delivery centers. Harvest Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert explores the company’s legacy and future.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Missouri Republicans could play a key role in legalizing abortion later this year. Even though many GOP voters don't agree with their party on abortion rights, they may still support other candidates on the ballot. Plus: Adopted from an orphanage in Russia, Anna McCune is pouring her heart into making sure Kansas City's kids don’t experience what she did growing up.
Missourians could vote in November to end the state’s ban on abortions if backers of an abortion rights initiative turn in enough signatures by May 5. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports that efforts to overturn the restriction might not hurt Republicans’ chances because so far, support for the effort hasn’t been entirely divided by party.
Spending the first five years of her life in a Russian orphanage, Anna McCune learned that having the support of people who care about you is what turns the four walls of a “house” into a “home.” Now she’s pouring her passion into providing a home for Kansas City’s unhoused youth and families. Zoe Shriner of NPR’s Next Generation Radio reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
In vitro fertilization remains legal across the U.S. despite an Alabama court ruling that temporarily halted treatment in the state. But for many IVF patients in Kansas, the disruption has cast doubt on their own access to fertility care. Rose Conlon of the Kansas News Service brings us one family’s story.
Clarisa Evans is a midwife and new gardener who supports families through at-home births using a holistic approach. Evans uses herbal remedies and encourages familial involvement to help families feel safe during one of the most transformational moments of their lives. Lauren Winston of NPR's Next Generation Radio reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
For young Kansas City actors with autism, a new play creates space to "connect with others." Vanessa Severo’s “Rubik" tells the story of neurodivergent teens on the cusp of a new phase of life.
When Vanessa Severo first set out to write a play for performers with autism, she reached out to friends and family who were neurodivergent. KCUR's Julie Denesha reports on a new play about a group of teens with an array of developmental challenges, and how Spinning Tree Theatre aims to create new opportunities for young artists with disabilities.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Kansas City Council unanimously approved $71 million to fund the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, which ensures bus and paratransit rides will remain free until the contract expires next April. In the meantime, City Manager Brian Platt has been instructed to examine the costs and benefits of "zero-fare" compared to "functional free fare." Details are scarce.
Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with Sunrise Movement KC organizer Mahreen Ansari, 6th District Council member Johnathan Duncan, and KCATA's Chief Mobility and Strategy Officer Tyler Means about the costs and benefits of continuing free bus service in Kansas City.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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A pair of noisy upstarts are out-hustling the establishment to create a space for themselves in Kansas City's jazz scene. Plus: A Platte City man with Down syndrome has built a life with a job he loves and a place of his own to call home.
Kansas City’s historic jazz scene hasn’t always made room for the most “out-there” of improvisors. Now, a pair of noisy upstarts are out-hustling the establishment to create a space for themselves. Bill Brownlee reports on the founders of the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society.
When Dustin Sheridan was born in 1975, there weren’t many resources for people with Down syndrome. But as the decades passed, he was able to find the tools and opportunities that helped him live on his own in Platte City, Missouri. Rosie Pasqualini of NPR’s Next Generation Radio reports.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg.
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On Monday, Port KC and the Kansas City Current revealed renderings showing planned development around CPKC Stadium. The three-phase project will take 10 years and cost $800 million.
So what is planned for the new development? Housing, shopping, dining, and more will line the Berkley Riverfront north of downtown.
Up To Date host Steve Kraske sat down with Jon Stephens, CEO and president of Port KC, to discuss the project.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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After a sudden family tragedy, English Language Arts teacher Alana Washington started a mentorship program at the Kauffman School that gives students a space to express themselves and their spirituality. Rita Hanch of NPR’s Next Generation Radio reports.
And for more than six decades, one Kansas City community orchestra has given amateur musicians who work in health care a place to perform. KCUR’s Julie Denesha reports that many doctors, nurses and medical students find the music therapeutic.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Many Midwest ranchers, park workers and homeowners work nonstop to control disruptive plants from faraway places. In an excerpt from the podcast Up From Dust, Celia Llopis-Jepsen of the Kansas News Service reports on policy changes meant to help.
Biochar is a hot topic in sustainable agriculture — it looks like charcoal, but actually sequesters carbon through an ancient farming technique. Kate Grumke from Harvest Public Media has the story on how the old process is finding new life.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Mark Salas and Theresa Sahhar share a dream of retiring to a simple farm life, but each has very different worries about what the world will look like when they get there.
Both are alumni of KCUR’s 2022 election initiative, called Your Voice, which invited people with differing political views to share their thoughts on politics.
As we approach the 2024 elections, KCUR invited Salas and Sahhar back. They sat down with KCUR’s Community Engagement Producer Zach Perez to discuss how their life experiences lead them to opposing viewpoints, their concerns with political polarization in the U.S., and how their views have changed over the past two years.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Cassette tapes have made a comeback in recent years, and one company in Missouri is at the center of this growing trend.
Audio cassettes are experiencing a revival. And one family-owned company in Springfield, Missouri, has become the unlikely capital of this resurgence. From the Podcast A People’s History of Kansas City — Suzanne Hogan tells how this old analog format is getting new love.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Madeline Fox.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
The U.S. lost newspapers at a rate of about 2.5 per week last year, many of them in rural areas. But some newspapers are trying new business models and doubling down on local news. Plus: A southwest Kansas printing press keeps local news alive in small towns across four states.
Over the last two decades, the number of newspapers in the U.S. has dropped by nearly one-third. Today, more than 200 counties are news deserts, with no newspaper at all. Rural areas have been especially impacted. But as Harvest Public Media’s Jim Meadows reports, newspapers are experimenting with different strategies in an effort to keep local news alive.
As papers around the country close and consolidate, rural Kansas towns are fighting to keep theirs in print. As Calen Moore of the Kansas News Service reports, one southwest Kansas printing press has become a lifeline for local media.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Terra Morehead, who retired as a federal prosecutor last August, has agreed to turn over her law license as part of an agreement with a Kansas disciplinary board. As a Wyandotte County prosecutor in the 1990s, Morehead helped frame an innocent man, Lamonte McIntyre, who spent 23 years in prison.
Acting on a case built by disgraced former Kansas City, Kansas, Police detective Roger Golubski, Morehead presented no physical evidence tying McIntyre to the murders. She relied upon the testimony of a witness, Niko Quinn, who later recanted. Morehead was also accused of ethical breaches in a later job as a federal prosecutor.
Kansas City Today host Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with KCUR's Peggy Lowe about why the prosecutor is turning over her law license and is expected to be disbarred. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Just a few days after this school year started, Dave Clark, then athletic director at Wichita West High School, was standing in a hallway when a fight broke out. In his effort to stop the fight, Clark was knocked unconscious. Suzanne Perez with the Kansas News Service has the story on how the injuries he endured would end up costing him his job.
It's tough to make a living in Sylvan Grove, Kansas, and not the most obvious place to buy a restaurant. But that’s exactly what Grant Wagner did three years ago when he took over Fly Boy's Brewery & Eats.
These days, on Fly Boy’s busiest nights, Wagner says they’ll serve 300 people, more than the entire population of Sylvan Grove. KCUR's Frank Morris explores why the small town restaurant is such a hit.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Troost Avenue, which runs north-south through Kansas City, is known as a historical border for redlining and racial segregation. It was named after 19th century doctor and slaveholder Benoit Troost. For the past few years, community members have petitioned to change the name of the street to Truth Avenue. That plan seemed likely to pass earlier this year, until it reached a hurdle in the Kansas City Council.
Host Nomin Ujiyediin sat down with KCUR's Isabella Luu, who has been covering the story, to discuss why the proponents of “Truth Avenue” were unhappy with a change Mayor Quinton Lucas made to the proposal.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Before Oreos, there was the Hydrox, the original sandwich cookie, created by Kansas City’s own Jacob Loose. After disappearing for years, Hydrox are back on the shelf — but only if you know where to look.
Mackenzie Martin, from the KCUR podcast A People's History of Kansas City, sets the record straight.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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VineBrook, which owns thousands of homes in Kansas City and across the Midwest, is selling many of its properties to pay off debts. But after years of unresolved maintenance issues, the tenants are still angry. Plus: A Kansas grandmother was unable to adopt her child from the state’s foster care system, even though she was with that child at birth.
Some property equity firms buy lots of single family homes and rent them out. Ohio based Vinebrook Homes is one of the larger companies. Many of its renters claim VineBrook neglects its properties and renters which the firm denies. Now it faces another problem. The Midwest Newsroom’s Kavahn Mansouri reports.
A Kansas grandmother won’t be able to adopt her grandchild because a judge ruled she didn’t have a bond with the kid. As Blaise Mesa of The Beacon and Daniel Caudill of Kansas Public Radio report, the grandmother said she did everything she was told to.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Greenfield Robotics, a Kansas-based company, developed robots to take on a labor-intensive process: cutting weeds down. Plus: The fur industry has a long history in the state of Missouri, and trappers want to make sure they're conserving the state's resources and traditions.
Three yellow, bug-like creatures crawl in perfectly straight lines across the dead grass of a flat, brown February field in Cheney, Kansas. These are the namesake of GreenField Robotics. Celia Hack with the Kansas News Service explores why GreenField CEO Clint Brauer is attempting to move away from the use of herbicides by way of farming robots.
More than 100 people gathered for a recent auction at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in mid-Missouri. Fur trappers from all corners of the state brought their wares from last year’s trapping season, including the pelts and glands of raccoons, otters, beavers and bobcats. KBIA's Rebecca Smith has the story of how Missourians are keeping the state tradition of fur trapping alive.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Brian Dorsey is set to be executed by the state of Missouri today. Gov. Mike Parson denied his request for clemency despite support from corrections officers and a retired Missouri Supreme Court judge. Dorsey was convicted of killing his cousin and her husband in central Missouri, but his defense team says the original trial lawyers had conflicts of interest.
Gov. Mike Parson, who has has not blocked an execution since he took office in 2018, denied a clemency request from 52-year-old Brian Dorsey. More than 150 people have spoken out in support of Dorsey's clemency, including corrections officers, state representatives, and even jurors from his case.
Before Parson's announcement, Steve Kraske from Up To Date spoke with retired Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Wolff, who upheld Dorsey's death sentence in 2009 but has since called for clemency.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Kansas City will see a partial solar eclipse today, when the moon will cover more than 89 percent of the sun. Meanwhile, southeast Missouri will get to witness the totality — when the sun is completely blotted out. The continental US won’t experience another eclipse until 2044, so this could be your last chance to see this celestial event for a while.
Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke to Jackie Beucher and Alan Lehman, board members of the Astronomical Society of Kansas City, about why the eclipse is so special — and how you can see it without damaging your eyes.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
Muslims celebrate Ramadan every year by by fasting from sunup to sundown, then breaking bread with friends and family at the end of each day. KCUR’s Lawrence Brooks IV takes us to some halal markets around Kansas City that help feed some of those believers.
For almost a decade, Blip Coffee Roasters has been a haven for Kansas City bikers — especially on Sunday mornings. KCUR’s Celisa Calacal spent a morning with the bikers, motorcycle enthusiasts and the customers who bring Blip Coffee Roasters in the West Bottoms to life.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
On Tuesday night, the voters of Jackson County rejected a tax that would have funded renovations to Arrowhead Stadium and the construction of a new Kansas City Royals stadium in the Crossroads.
The Royals have said they don’t want to stay at Kauffman Stadium, and it’s possible they could seek other funding options for building downtown, bring back a vote on the tax in the future or move to another location.
KCUR’s Steve Kraske spoke with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, and later with Tara Raghuveer, founder of the tenants' rights group KC Tenants, which campaigned against the tax.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
Kansas City-area voters delivered some surprises on Election Day, shooting down a controversial stadium sales tax and changing the makeup of some local school boards.
Plus: People incarcerated at a federal prison in Kansas haven’t seen their families in weeks. It’s because of an investigation into a possible gun that was brought into the prison. Kansas News Service reporter Dylan Lysen has been covering this story. He told editor Stephen Koranda how that’s affected incarcerated people and their loved ones.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
Kansas Senate Bill No. 233 proposes a ban on gender affirming care for anyone under the age of 18. Should the law pass, minors in Kansas would no longer have access to things like puberty blockers, gender-affirming surgery, or hormone treatment.
Republicans in the House and Senate are in strong favor of the bill, and say the treatments are dangerous, or minors may regret them later. However, studies found that nearly zero patients who underwent the treatments later reported regret, while delaying that care can cause physical and mental health problems.
Blaise Mesa, Kansas Statehouse reporter at The Beacon, spoke with Up To Date host Steve Kraske about the bill, how it's part of a larger national trend, and the likelihood of it becoming law.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
On April 2, Jackson County will vote on whether to renew a 3/8-cent sales tax that would fund the renovation of Arrowhead Stadium and the construction of a new Royals ballpark in the Crossroads. The proposal has been controversial since its announcement earlier this year, with elected officials, business owners, sports fans, labor unions and community groups all weighing in.
KCUR’s Celisa Calacal and Savannah Hawley-Bates have been covering this story for months. They spoke with host Nomin Ujiyediin about what might, or might not, happen based on the outcome of the vote.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
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Each year, arts groups from across Missouri gather in Jefferson City to lobby lawmakers for arts funding. KCUR’s Julie Denesha tagged along with some Kansas City students learning to speak up for the arts.
Voters will decide April 2 whether the Kansas City Royals can use tax money to help build a new stadium. It means many in the metro are focused on the franchise’s future. But FOX4’s Matt Stewart is putting politics aside with his new book called “The Kansas City Royals: An Illustrated Timeline.” It looks all the way back to the city’s first baseball team in 1884. Kansas City Public Library’s Anne Kniggendorf talked to Stewart about some lesser-known Royals stories.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Muslims around the world have been praying, studying the Quran, and fasting from sunrise to sunset since March 10 in observance of Ramadan. The holy month is usually a joyous time that centers on acts of charity and community for followers of Islam.
But this year is different because the war between Israel and Hamas is nearing its sixth month with no ceasefire in sight.
Up To Date's Steve Kraske sat down with Imam Mohamed Herbert, the resident scholar at Islamic Center of Johnson County, and Sara Jawhari, a Palestinian American journalist from Kansas City, to discuss why Ramadan feels different for some Kansas City Muslims this year.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
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It was Superintendent Yaw Obeng's idea to create the first co-presidency on the Hickman Mills Board of Education. The idea came to him when the vote was evenly split between two candidates and no one was willing to budge.
"It was a bit of a calculated risk for me," said Obeng. "It wasn't the traditional, but I thought, well, you know, we're not doing anything right now, it can't get worse than this."
KCUR's Jodi Fortino spoke with Obeng about his efforts to reform the combative culture of the school board, and focus on putting students first.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
With eight weeks left in the 2024 Missouri legislative session, the House and Senate have passed several bills on their own, but none has passed through both chambers.
Items that still must pass this year include the state budget and the Federal Reimbursement Allowance, which is a tax on hospitals and other health care that creates around $4 billion for the state’s Medicaid program. Sarah Kellogg with St. Louis Public Radio has more.
Kansas lawmakers are set to receive a substantial pay increase in 2025. The nearly 93% raise was recommended by an independent task force comprised mostly of former legislators. Daniel Caudill reports for the Kansas News Service.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Clesslyn Crawford was shot in the head and killed during a hostage standoff in southeast Kansas. She was two years old.
For eight months, KCUR and the Midwest Newsroom have been investigating whether the sniper should have pulled the trigger. Editor Madeline Fox sat down with reporter Sam Zeff to discuss the story.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Musician Katie Crutchfield, better known as Waxahatchee, broke through with her acclaimed 2020 album "Saint Cloud." She then moved to Kansas City with her partner Kevin Morby, and leaned into a calmer lifestyle.
The singer-songwriter spoke with Steve Kraske on KCUR's Up To Date about the release of her new album "Tigers Blood," out March 22, and preparing for a world tour that kicks off in her new hometown next month.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Missouri artist Kahlil Robert Irving reflects on current events through an innovative combination of ceramics and digital collage. His exhibition now on view at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art comes on the heels of the 31-year-old artist’s high-profile exhibitions in New York and Minneapolis. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports.
KC Craft Ramen opened in June 2023 in the parking lot of the Walmart Supercenter near 119th Street and Metcalf Avenue. Despite its suburban facade, this lively spot is unlike any other ramen shop in Kansas City. KCUR's Claudia Brancart has the story from Up To Date.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox.
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On the day of the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory parade, Jason Barton drove 50 miles from Osawatomie, Kansas, to downtown Kansas City, Missouri, with his wife Bridget, her 13-year-old daughter Gabriella and Gabriella’s school friend. When they finally arrived home that night, they cleaned blood from Gabriella’s sneakers and found a bullet in Bridget’s backpack.
Although the Bartons aren’t included in the official victim numbers, they were traumatized, physically and emotionally, and pain permeates their lives. Bram Sable-Smith and Peggy Lowe report for KFF Health News and KCUR.
After years of frustration with mega companies, four Kansas pharmacists are working to change the pharmacy benefit manager trade from the inside out — by creating their own, different kind of pharmacy benefit manager called Oread Rx. KCUR's Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga has this story.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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This time a month ago, Kansas City was still coming to grips with a Super Bowl victory celebration turned upside down in an instant by a mass shooting. Shocking as it was, shootings of the same basic type happen almost twice a day in the United States. KCUR’s Frank Morris reports on how the shooting fits into a pattern of violence.
Cockfighting, the practice of fighting roosters, has been around for centuries. In the U.S. it’s been illegal since 2007, both at the federal and state level. Yet thousands of roosters, known as game fowl, are still raised across the country — including in Missouri.
Now there's one state considering lowering the penalties for cockfighting, and as Harvest Public Media’s Anna Pope reports, people from both game fowl and animal rights groups are watching carefully.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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On March 8, participants in a fundraiser for the Johnson County Republican Party at the Overland Park Convention Center beat up a mannequin that had been adorned with a mask of President Biden.
State party chair Mike Brown and county chair Maria Holiday said the mannequin was part of a display by a vendor in the exhibit area at the event, not something the party supported. They said it showed poor judgment by the vendor, but that they weren’t responsible for that.
And they blamed critics, including former state party chair Mike Kuckelman, for stirring up the controversy.
KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Kuckleman about the controversy, and about where he believes the Kansas GOP should be applying their focus in 2024.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
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Kansas City Royals officials and community organizers are vying for residents' support before the upcoming vote in Jackson County to extend the 3/8th-cent stadium sales tax. Despite a lack of detail about the proposed Crossroads stadium, Royals owner John Sherman says a new ballpark — and the proposed development around it — will keep Kansas City a "major league city."
Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with Sherman about the agreements the team has in the works and addressed some residents' questions.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Gabe Rosenberg. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox.
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Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says he plans to vote to extend a 3/8-cent sales tax when Jackson County residents head to the polls on April 2. The money raised would help fund renovations to Arrowhead Stadium and a new downtown ballpark for the Royals, but Lucas still has questions about the project.
"It would mean a lot for my 'yes' vote — it would make it stronger — if, at the very least, we have pledges to Crossroads businesses, we have an understanding of what the footprint is," Lucas told KCUR. "And, frankly, I think that we just (need to) get some of those answers as soon as possible."
Up To Date's Steve Kraske sat down with Lucas to discuss his concerns about the Royals stadium proposal.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Republicans have recently increased their opposition to financially assisting Ukraine. It’s also become a rallying point for the GOP base.
Still, opposition isn’t universal among Missouri Republicans — or the Democratic candidates who want to run against them. Jason Rosenbaum with Saint Louis Public Radio has that story.
It's not exactly new for teachers to give their students jobs like line leader or door holder, but at Woodman Elementary School in Wichita, students are paired with an adult outside of school who supports them in taking on new responsibilities.
School Psychologist Jamie Johnston said the idea is for students who are acting out to receive attention for positive behaviors rather than negative ones. Suzanne Perez with the the Kansas News Service has more.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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In Johnson County, Kansas, and Jackson County, Missouri, more than half of undocumented immigrants say they were uninsured between 2014 and 2016, according to a report published by the Migration Policy Institute. In Wyandotte County, about three-quarters reported the same.
Even immigrants who do have insurance are more likely to report skipping or delaying needed care. KCUR's Noah Taborda has that story.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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The two Kansas Senate bills appear to be a direct response to last year’s contentious fight over zoning that played out in Prairie Village. One bill would sharply curtail a city’s ability to rezone private property, and the other would strengthen petitioners’ efforts to put a question on a local ballot.
Up To Date's Steve Kraske sat down with Johnson County Post reporter Juliana Garcia to discuss her latest coverage of the Prairie Village zoning conflict.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
For six years, a new museum has been under construction in North Kansas City. The Rabbit Hole, set to open next week, is full of exhibits dedicated to children's books like "Goodnight Moon," "Frog and Toad" and many more. KCUR's Julie Denesha reports on how the museum presents literature in a whole new way.
Kansas native Freedy Johnston moved to New York and made it big in the '90s with his hit "Bad Reputation." Now, Johnston is branching out. KCUR's Bill Brownlee charts Johnston's path and his efforts to court the folk music establishment.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Madeline Fox. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg.
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Kansas teens in foster care could soon have a say in their legal relationships if a bill currently under consideration in the Kansas legislature is passed. The SOUL Family Legal Permanency Option would let teens pick the adults that help support and make decisions for them — without forcing them to give up their legal relationships with their parents.
Up To Date's Steve Kraske sat down with Rachel Marsh, CEO of Children's Alliance of Kansas, and Yusef Presley, former foster youth and advocate for SOUL, to discuss the program.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Backers of the abortion legalization initiative need roughly 171,000 signatures by early May to make it onto the Missouri ballot. But Republicans in the Missouri General Assembly want to make any abortion measure much more difficult to pass. Jason Rosenbaum with St. Louis Public Radio reports on the potential remaining barriers for Missouri advocates.
Older neighborhoods with overhead power lines face more power outages than newer, wealthier neighborhoods that have buried ones. That’s led to frustration from Kansas residents who want more reliable service. They also believe there is an easy solution: bury the overhead power lines. Dylen Lysen with the Kansas News Service reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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When the Milwaukee Bucks built their arena, Fiserv Forum, and the surrounding "Deer District," the team agreed to a slew of conditions that made it a better deal for local workers and the community as a whole.
Low-wage workers in Kansas City and their allies want a similarly strong community benefits agreement from the Kansas City Royals as the team pursues a new downtown stadium.
Laura Dresser is an economist at the University of Wisconsin and associate director of the High Roads Strategy Center. She spoke with Up To Date's Steve Kraske about her report on community benefits agreements and how they impact a city.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
A 2023 regional study found nearly a quarter of single-family homes in the Kansas City region were rentals, and individuals or corporations with 10 or more properties own nearly 20% of those rentals.
Host Nomin Ujiyediin sat down with Mili Mansaray, who covers housing and labor for The Kansas City Beacon, to discuss her reporting on the impact of large investors on the region's housing market.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Pancake Day Races in the southwest Kansas town of Liberal. Racers don aprons, skirts and headscarves to run with a frying pan and a single pancake. The Kansas News Service's Calen Moore explains why the community keeps this international tradition alive.
Kansas City is a pretty "nice" place. But comedy writer and Midwest native Mia Mercado is wary of the adjective. KCUR's Anna Kniggendorf spoke with Mercado about what it means to be "Midwestern nice."
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Polls show around 70% of Kansans support Medicaid expansion, which would result in an estimated 150,000 more low-income Kansans enrolling in the health care program. So why is the state one of only 10 remaining holdouts in the country? Rose Conlon of the Kansas News Service reports.
Veterinary medicine was once a profession dominated by men. In the past 15 years, though, women have become the majority of practicing veterinarians and students. Despite these changes, some areas of the field still lag behind. Harvest Public Media’s Lilley Halloran looks into why rural animal practices are still largely male-dominated.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
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Skaters of all skill levels filled the rink on a recent Friday night at Winnwood Skate Center in Kansas City, the metro’s new mecca for Black skate culture.
They were there because of the work of Knejie Allen and Adontis Atkins, two Black Air Force veterans who last fall opened the region’s only stand-alone roller-skating school, SK8 Shot Studios, at 16th Street and Burlington Road in North Kansas City. KCUR's Lawrence Brooks IV brings us their story.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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One of the requirements for a divorce in Missouri is that no one in the relationship is pregnant. The statute was intended to protect child support payments in case of a divorce, but critics say it doesn’t take abuse from either party into consideration.
Missouri state Rep. Ashley Aune represents the 14th District in Kansas City’s Northlands, and she introduced a bill to allow divorces if a person is pregnant. Up To Date’s Steve Kraske spoke with Aune about the issue and its prospects in the legislature.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Last week, the Royals finalized a proposal to build a new stadium in the Crossroads District. Jackson County residents are set to vote on April 2 on a 3/8th cent sales sales tax extension to help fund the new stadium.
Host Nomin Ujiyediin sat down with KCUR's Savannah Hawley-Bates to discuss the Royal's stadium plan and the response from business owners and labor groups.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by David McKeel and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
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For more than 20 years, Weston, Missouri, has been the sole home of Green Dirt Farm. That's about to change as it's slated to set up shop in the Crossroads next month. KCUR's Savannah Hawley-Bates gets the scoop on the farm's award-winning cheese and what to expect from the new restaurant.
Yes chef! Many school districts in the Kansas City area prep students for careers in fine dinning. The programs go further than how to cook — they teach students how to run a restaurant. KCUR's Jodi Fortino spotlights the high schoolers at the helm of restaurants, cafes and eateries all over town.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
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Big wins in statewide offices and the state legislature have helped create bitter factionalism within the Missouri GOP. But since former President Trump is likely to take the state easily in November, many GOP officials aren’t worried about what’s to come. Jason Rosenbaum of St. Louis Public Radio explains how Republican party dominance in elections also created sizable divisions.
Two companies in Kansas are trying to build the state’s first underground carbon dioxide storage sites. Proponents hope storing carbon emitted by factories or ethanol plants would fight climate change by keeping it out of the atmosphere. Kansas News Service editor Stephen Koranda and reporter Calen Moore review what we’ve learned so far.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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The Kansas Constitution protects the right to an abortion, according to a 2019 decision by the state’s Supreme Court. In 2022, voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed amendment to the constitution that would have overturned that decision.
But Republican lawmakers and groups like Kansans for Life are still pushing for abortion restrictions, as they decry a surge in the number of abortions Kansas has provided — fueled by out-of-state patients — since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
KCUR's Brian Ellison sat down with Rose Conlon of the Kansas News Service to discuss what anti-abortion lawmakers and advocates are pushing this year.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Lisa Lopez-Galvan was the life of the party. If she knew you, you were her family. The 43-year-old mother from Shawnee was a beloved DJ who played all the fiestas in town and was a pillar of Kansas City's Latino community.
Last Wednesday, Lopez-Galvan's life was tragically cut short when she was fatally shot at the Kansas City Chiefs victory parade at Union Station. Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with Beto Lopez, the brother of Lopez-Galvan, about his sister's life and legacy.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
After last week’s mass shooting at Union Station, which followed a record-setting year for gun violence in Kansas City, local leaders are questioning how well existing firearm regulations protect residents — particularly in Missouri, which boasts some of the nation’s least restrictive gun laws.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has long been a critic of those permissive policies; Missouri Governor Mike Parson, a Republican, has long defended them. Both men spoke with Steve Kraske on KCUR’s Up to Date about what can and should be done, and about the prospects for change in Jefferson City.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
Mass shootings and other tragic events often mire witnesses in anxiety and post-traumatic stress — but even people who aren't there can feel the effects. Up to Date's Steve Kraske spoke with Amanda Davis, director of therapy services for Saint Luke's Crittenton Children's Center, about how to talk to children about Wednesday's mass shooting at Union Station.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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As of Wednesday evening, one person is dead and 22 have sustained gunshot injuries. Even more people were injured in the rush to get out of Union Station after the shooting started. Kansas City Police say they’re still collecting information on victims. Children’s Mercy Hospital says a few of the injured are children.
KCUR has the latest updates and information at KCUR.org.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
The Kansas City Royals have announced they want to build a potential new ballpark in the Crossroads arts district downtown. The $2 billion project would stretch from Truman Road south to 17th Street, and Grand Boulevard east to Locust Street. We take a look at the plan and how it could affect businesses.
Every weekend between late January and Valentine's Day, Thad McCullough and Tammy Parsons can be found adding a little pizazz to the streets of Independence. The co-founders of the West iNd Heart 2 Heart Connection Project attach around 300 large, red wooden hearts to light poles each year. On the signs are messages of love from people in the community. KCUR's Julie Denesha has that story.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
As Missouri reaches its first full year of legalized weed, local growers and sellers are seeing an increasing demand for weaker weed, both online and in brick-and-mortar dispensaries. KCUR's Zach Perez explains how weed has gotten stronger, and why there's a growing market for low-strength weed.
More and more pharmacies are closing nationwide, and patients are losing access to pharmaceutical care. These closures hit independently owned pharmacies the hardest, and in places like rural Kansas, they create pharmacy deserts, limiting access to pharmaceutical care. Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga with the Kansas News Service brings us that story.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
The Kansas City Live area in the Power and Light District was packed from early Sunday morning on with face-painted, noisemaker-wielding, “Let’sGoChiefs”-chanting fans. After the victory, celebrations broke out across the city and the sound of fireworks filled the streets.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by C.J. Janovy.
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The Kansas City Chiefs are headed to their fourth Super Bowl in five years. In accordance with public radio tradition, KCUR has made a friendly bet with our friends at San Francisco's KQED.
Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with KQED's morning news anchor Brian Watt about the barbecue and bread on the line, and the feelings in the Bay Area leading up to Sunday's game.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Laura Ziegler. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Sports bettors in Kansas are backing the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl for a second year in a row. And Taylor Swift fans appear to be getting in on the action. But Kansas is likely going to make less money than usual if the Chiefs win. Kansas News Service reporter Dylan Lysen and editor Stephen Koranda discuss how the big game could lead to a small payout for Kansas.
Kansas City groundskeeping legend George Toma made a big splash at last year’s Super Bowl, but the field conditions in Arizona made headlines in all the wrong ways. This year, in Las Vegas, the NFL wants to avoid a repeat of those turf woes. As Greg Echlin reports for KCUR, Toma isn’t on the scene to monitor it — for the first time ever.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been the focus of numerous right-wing conspiracy theories since the beginning of their relationship. Some conservative politicians and news outlets have suggested, without evidence, that Swift is working as an operative for the Pentagon or the Democratic Party.
Jonathan Weisman, a politics writer who has been reporting on this story for the New York Times, spoke about the theories and the politics behind it with Steve Kraske on KCUR's Up To Date.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Gabe Rosenberg. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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In an internationally televised broadcast, FIFA World Cup officials announced on Sunday that Kansas City will not only host one of the quarterfinal matches in 2026, but also four group-stage matches at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The dates of those games are June 16, 20, 25 and 27.
Kansas City is one of 16 sites in North America to win World Cup matches. Up To Date's Steve Kraske talks what it takes to plan an event of this magnitude with Katherine Holland, executive director of KC2026, and Joe Reardon, president of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
It’s been a rough start to the year in the Missouri Senate. The Republican leadership of the body, led by Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, has tangled since day one with a group of senators calling themselves the Freedom Caucus.
That group has said they have one goal: Making it harder to amend the Missouri constitution. They’ve held up the governor’s appointments and filibustered even the daily approval of the Senate journal. What they’ve demanded is priority treatment for legislation that would set a higher bar for ballot efforts — like the ones that are coming on enshrining abortion rights.
KCUR's Brian Ellison asked Rudi Keller of the Missouri Independent about the group and its chances of succeeding.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Danielle Nicole's new album, "The Love You Bleed," sees her shaking off an old blues. The Kansas City artist is realizing her worth and taking back her music. KCUR's Bill Brownlee has the story.
Kansas is in unique company as one of the few states that have yet to legalize marijuana in any form. A new push for legalization may shift the needle. The Kansas News Service's Daniel Caudill and Stephen Koranda spoke about the status of marijuana legalization in Kansas.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Kansas City drivers dread pothole season every spring, but it came early this year after area roads thawed out from a bitter cold streak. KCUR's Jodi Fortino shares details about the city's plan with Steve Kraske on Up To Date.
Ukrainian-Americans in Kansas are worried about whether the U.S. will send Ukraine more military aid. That includes Wichita plastic surgeon Nataliya Biskup, who left Ukraine as a child. She recently returned to operate on soldiers injured in battle, and spoke with Rose Conlon of the Kansas News Service about the trip.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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The Jackson County Legislature went against Executive Frank White last week when it overrode his veto of a ballot measure to help fund stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals.
Jackson County voters will decide in April whether to extend a 3/8th-cent sales tax for the next 40 years. But there are still many unknowns with the stadiums.
Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with two Jackson County Legislators, Megan Marshall and Jeanie Lauer, who voted to sustain White’s veto and say the ballot language doesn’t provide nearly enough information for voters.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Sister Berta Sailer — the public face as well as the emotional DNA of Operation Breakthrough, one of the largest and most comprehensive childcare agencies in the Kansas City region — died last Thursday due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. Sailer devoted her life to helping children and families and personally fostered some 75 kids.
KCUR's Laura Ziegler reports on Sailer's life and long-lasting legacy.
Ralls County School District in rural northeastern Missouri is one of the first in the state to receive electric buses from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program. The federal initiative has sent at least one electric bus to nearly every U.S. state with thousands more on the way.
Kate Grumke reports for Harvest Public Media.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson focused on child care, infrastructure, workforce development and education in his final State of the State address, priorities that even gained him praise from Democrats. Steve Kraske, host of KCUR's Up to Date, spoke with the outgoing governor about his long career in government and politics.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Native grasslands once ruled western Kansas, but were sacrificed for more profitable wheat and corn fields. Ranchers are teaming up with a new program, backed by beef buyers like Burger King, to preserve what's left. The Kansas News Service's Calen Moore has the story.
Missouri Rep. Jason Smithis hoping to inch his colleaguestoward future bipartisan collaboration. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum spoke with Smith about a bill that covers low income housing, business incentives and the Child Tax Credit.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Kansas City-area schools canceled at least one day of in-person classes in the last two weeks because of cold and snow — and many canceled more than one. KCUR's Madeline Fox spoke with education reporter Jodi Fortino about how school cancellations have affected families across the region.
If your family has been affected by the school cancellations, KCUR wants to hear from you. You can text us at 816-601-4777.
Engineers all over the world are working on how to build a sustainable city of the future that solves current and future problems while meeting the needs of a modern society. Last weekend, junior high school students from around Missouri presented their models and ideas to a panel of judges in Rolla. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jonathan Ahl reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Barely a week after Sporting Kansas City announced the controversial hiring of Gavin Wilkinson as the team’s new sporting director, the team announced last week that it mutually parted ways with Wilkinson.
Wilkinson’s hiring announcement was met with immediate backlash from fans and, most prominently, a club-sponsored supporter group called Ladies of SKC.
Up To Date's Steve Kraske sat down with a member of the group, Carrie Davis, along with Chad Smith, associate editor at the KC Soccer Journal. They discuss what lead to Wilkinson's hiring and then swift split with Sporting KC.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
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December was unusually warm this year in Kansas City and across the Midwest, but it was followed by an especially cold and tough January. Researcher Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central, says that both are effects of climate change, and the weather may swing even more wildly in the future.
KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin sat down with Pershing to discuss the changing temperatures and where we go from here.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Last week in Jefferson City, lawmakers debated several bills that would limit gender-affirming health care, or restrict restrooms and locker rooms that transgender and non-binary people can use. The Missouri Independent’s Annelise Hanshaw spoke with KCUR's Brian Ellison about the legislation and the response.
There are several ongoing efforts to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution through a statewide vote. Brian also spoke with the Independent's Anna Spoerre about a big step forward that process took last week.
Correction: This interview incorrectly lists the requirements for collecting signatures for the abortion rights ballot measure. Advocates must collect signatures in six of Missouri's eight congressional districts.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Missouri's Abandoned Housing Act has allowed many neighborhood groups to take possession of abandoned homes and turn them into productive ones. KCUR's Celisa Calacal reports on the worries that outside nonprofits, with no interest in Kansas City communities, are using the law for financial gain.
The upcoming Chiefs game against the Buffalo Bills will pit two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL against each other: Josh Allen of the Bills and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs. KCUR's Greg Echlin highlights the two quarterbacks who are known for more than their throwing arms.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Guns are one of the most divisive political and cultural issues of our time, and homicides are at an all-time high in Kansas City. But two Kansas City gun enthusiasts from different backgrounds are making small strides toward finding solutions. They sat down with KCUR’s Laura Ziegler to share their at-odds perspectives.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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In Kansas City's recent extreme cold, more than a dozen local shelters offered refuge, but Patrick Thompson, who lives under a bridge on Brush Creek says some of them are full.
Thompson, originally from Arkansas, says he prefers sleeping outside anyway. He says shelters he’s experienced are like jail, but more dangerous. So he took his chances under a bridge with a good sleeping bag and lots of clothes.
KCUR's Frank Morris reports why some unhoused Kansas Citians would rather rough it in extreme weather than seek shelters indoors.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Missouri Rep. Emily Weber, a Democrat from Kansas City, made history three years ago when she became the first Asian American woman elected to the Missouri General Assembly. KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Weber about her time in state government, and she looks ahead to the 2024 legislative session.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. motivated a wave of new organizers to pick up the fight for racial equality. From the podcast A People’s History of Kansas City, KCUR's Mackenzie Martin explains how McDonald’s franchises played surprising a role.
A group of Kansas musicians broke barriers when they formed one of the first all-women mariachi bands in the country more than 50 years ago. But a deadly disaster almost ended Mariachi Estrella. KCUR's Suzanne Hogan tells the story of how their descendants are continuing the band's traditions.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Kansas is expected to recieve more than $340 million over the next 18 years from opioid settlements. So far, much of that money has gone to state and local law enforcement agencies. KMUW's Kylie Cameron reports on the criticism law enforcement faces for how it handles drug crimes.
After Kansas City musician Collin Thomas lost both of his parents in the same year, he turned to music to express his grief. KCUR's Julie Denesha reports on Thomas' new four-hour-long music piece that took two years to complete.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Laura Ziegler. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Jackson County voters will decide this April if they want to renew a 3/8th-cent sales tax to help fund a new Kansas City Royals stadium — wherever that may be. However, many fans think The K is doing just fine.
Up To Date Host Steve Kraske spoke with Joe Vaughn, founder of the Facebook group “Save Kauffman (Royals) Stadium at Truman Sports Complex,” and member Becky Nace about their concerns with the proposed relocation.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Frank Morris. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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The children of non-English speaking immigrants are often used by their family members as informal interpreters, known as language brokers. While many gladly help their family, the task often carries many pressures. And as KCUR's Zach Perez reports, some experts worry that burden can have long-term effects.
Democratic Governor Laura Kelly is again urging the Kansas Legislature to expand Medicaid, and she’s hoping the 2024 election will add pressure to get it done. But Republican leaders have their own ideas for the session, like cutting taxes and expanding school choice options. So why is Kelly pushing a plan that will likely fail? Dylan Lysen with the Kansas News Service explains.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Peggy Lowe. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.
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Bad habits from the pandemic are driving up the death toll. Traffic fatalities had been trending down for decades, despite there being more people on the road logging more miles year by year.
Last year, wrecks killed 102 people in the city. During a year when traffic fatalities eased about 3% nationwide, they jumped 13% in Kansas City. KCUR's Frank Morris has the story on how car crashes are affecting our communities.
While it’s no longer a vital skill for most Americans, canning has gained popularity again. Experts say people with extra time and money are returning to the age-old tradition for enjoyment. Lilley Halloran with Harvest Public Media tells us about the new, old-fashioned way home cooks are preserving food.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Gabe Rosenberg. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Madeline Fox.
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Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly continues to fight for Medicaid expansion despite a significant roadblock: the state legislature’s GOP supermajority. Conversations about a flat income tax could be on the docket, a concept that Kelly has previously vetoed.
Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with the Kansas News Service's Dylan Lysen to hear what fights could continue into 2024.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Madeline Fox.
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Over the last year, the biggest attention-drawer to Kansas City has been Taylor Swift. According to an analysis by Google Trends, searches asking, “Where is Kansas City?” more than doubled in the U.S. over the past three months, as Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship became public. And search interest in local restaurants skyrockets each time the couple visits one.
KCUR's Savannah Hawley Bates reports on the past year's "Swiftonomics."
A new book by Lucas Hilderbrand shows the historic strength of Kansas City’s gay bar scene and how it fits in to the national movement. Kansas City Public Library’s Anne Kniggendorf spoke with the University of California-Irvine professor about how the city became a nexus for gay political activity, activism and culture.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Laura Ziegler. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg.
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Last summer, St. Joseph, Missouri, erupted in controversy after one evangelical pastor launched a campaign to keep a gay pastor of a progressive church from being reappointed to the city’s volunteer library board.
KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin reports some residents say the uproar revealed divides and discrimination in the small community.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Madeline Fox. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg.
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The promise of a record budget surplus got 2023 off to a hopeful start in Missouri politics. But before long, lawmakers were mired in some familiar patterns.
KCUR’s Brian Ellison spoke with Jason Hancock of the Missouri Independent about the year in Missouri state government, and the coming legislative session and election season.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Madeline Fox. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg.
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The Kansas City Council first approved creating a right to counsel program two years ago. Since it started providing free attorneys in June 2022, thousands of tenants have avoided eviction.
Stalled negotiations are leading to rumors that the Royals and Chiefs could move to Kansas. Union leaders are urging the Jackson County Legislature to keep the stadiums — and the jobs that come with them — in Missouri.
KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with Celisa Calacal and Savannah Hawley-Bates about those and other stories from the county and the city in 2023.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Hip-hop in Kansas City came up in the predominantly Black neighborhoods east of Troost in the late 1980s. Early events and venues featuring the genre could be found at Swope Park, Lincoln High School and around Prospect Avenue.
KCUR's Lawrence Brooks IV took a deep dive on how hip-hop gave the city some of its most legendary musicians.
For a fuller history of hip-hop in Kansas City, check out the latest episode of "A Peoples' History of Kansas City" at KCUR.org.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
More than two years after returning to in-person instruction, Kansas City schools are still being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, school lunch debt in Kansas climbed to over $23 million and almost one-fourth of Missouri students are considered chronically absentee.
KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin and Jodi Fortino discuss the biggest issues facing schools in the region.
A new law that goes into effect in January allows Kansas students to transfer to schools outside the district where they live, as long as there is space available. But open enrollment won’t be simple, and it doesn’t come with guarantees.
Suzanne Perez with the Kansas News Service shares how Kansas districts are preparing for the shift.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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After the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022, Kansas became a hub for people who can't access the procedure in their home state.
2023 saw a boost in interstate travel for abortions, inundating Kansas' clinics. As more people seek abortion access across state lines, Kansans are finding it increasingly difficult to receive abortion care locally.
KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with the Kansas News Service's Rose Conlon about the top stories on abortion rights in Kansas.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Johnson County and its cities have been growing, and growing more diverse. Leaders have had to address complex issues like affordable housing and teaching of race and history, shaping decisive elections and setting the stage for more big decisions in 2024.
There were also unique issues facing the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, like whether it should continue to exist at all.
KCUR’s Brian Ellison spoke with Kyle Palmer, editor of the Shawnee Mission and Blue Valley Post, and Josh Merchant of the Kansas City Beacon about the year’s top stories on the Kansas side of the metro.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Russell and Clara Stover created their heritage chocolate brand in 1923. A century later, the Kansas City-based company is still making memories. KCUR's Laura Ziegler uncovers the secret to its longevity.
During the Kansas City Streetcar's Holiday Jam, live music fills the Union Station- or River Market-bound cars with holiday cheer. KCUR's Julie Denesha took a ride to talk with the musicians who make the magic happen.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Harpist and vocalist Calvin Arsenia is well known in Kansas City for his powerful musical performances on stages around the metro. Now, he's adding another title to his list of occupations: venue operator.
At the beginning of December, Arsenia took over Greenwood Social Hall in Kansas City's Westside neighborhood. He already has a series of events scheduled for the coming days and weeks. Arsenia spoke with Steve Kraske on KCUR's Up To Date about his plans.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Two months into the Israel-Hamas war, concerns over Islamophobia and free speech have been playing out on college campuses. At UMKC, pro-Palestine activists say they’re contending with an unresponsive administration. KCUR’s George Russell reports.
America’s forests are one of the cheapest climate change solutions out there. Several estimates show that forests capture roughly 13% of the nation’s carbon emissions each year. But a recent Forest Service report says that climate change will lead to forests being net emitters of carbon over the next 50 years. Harvest Public Media contributor Rick Brewer reports some environmentalists say that conclusion will lead to more logging and harm climate security.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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The efforts to remove books from school libraries started with parents in local school districts and ended up in state legislatures. After two years of controversy, one school librarian says her colleagues are leaving the profession because it has become too painful. Kate Grumke of St. Louis Public Radio has more.
As families gather over the holiday break, it’s a perfect time to sit down together with an old-fashioned board game. Suzanne Perez of the Kansas News Service spoke with the owner of a Wichita toy store about what’s new and worth playing in the world of games.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Next month, Ty Masterson, a Republican from Andover, will begin his fourth session as president of the Kansas Senate, where he has often found himself to oppose many of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s priorities. Perhaps more than other Kansan, he’s stood in the way of legalizing marijuana in the state, for medical or any other purposes.
With the bill expected to be back for debate this year, Masterson spoke with Steve Kraske on Up To Date about his priorities for the new legislative session.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Many in Kansas City are hoping that this season sees the Chiefs on top once again, making them the first team since 2004 to win back-to-back championships. KCUR's Greg Echlin highlights the little details they have to correct to make it happen.
Communities in western Kansas are turning to AI to attract economic growth and fight population loss. This includes identifying businesses, services and housing that residents need. KCUR's Calen Moore reports on the technology being used to fight years of downward trends in rural communities.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Sara Siegele, owner of Fountain City Sweets in Olathe, is one of four bakers to compete in an episode of “Christmas Cookie Challenge” on the Food Network on Thursday, Dec. 21.
Siegel spoke with Steve Kraske with KCUR's Up To Date about the baking competition.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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After years of huge increases in thefts, experts say a drop in price for the precious metals, plus legislation to regulate metal dealers are deterring people from stealing the anti-pollution devices. Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with KCUR reporter Sam Zeff to learn more about what has caused the decrease.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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A fiery train crash earlier this year sparked a bipartisan drive to make freight trains safer, particularly for the communities they roll through. That’s a major issue in Kansas City, the country’s second busiest rail hub. But the reform effort tapered off over the course of the year, and as KCUR’s Frank Morris reports, the Railway Safety Act of 2023 may have run off the tracks.
The forward pass became part of college football in 1906. It was an attempt to spread teams out and make the notoriously rough game safer. Wichita State University claims to have thrown the first forward pass in college football history. But as Tom Shine of KMUW in Wichita explains, it’s a bit more complicated than that.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been focused this year on restricting or outlawing gender-affirming care for transgender kids and adults. Hospitals and other providers in the state say they adhere to widely accepted standards and practices for patients who are transitioning from the sex assigned at their birth to their gender identity.
Last week, Washington University’s Transgender Center filed a lawsuit against Bailey’s office. KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with The Missouri Independent’s Annalise Hanshaw about what exactly this lawsuit alleges.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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After consolidating 25 years ago, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, could be reevaluating their relationship. During a press conference in October, Mayor Tyrone Garner warned of major financial trouble facing the government and floated the idea of bankruptcy.
KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with the Kansas City Beacon's Josh Merchant about why the Unified Government's woes are more complicated, and how dissolution could make them worse.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
Alan Kneeland, co-owner of The Combine on Troost Avenue in Kansas City, is the first Black president of the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association.
As the local restaurant industry considers how to thrive in the coming years, Kneeland says he wants to be a part of change moving forward. Kneeland spoke to KCUR's Up To Date about the role.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt, Byron J. Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Genesis School in Kansas City lost its charter earlier this year, with the Missouri Charter Public School Commission citing low test scores. After an appeals process, the school reopened, but as KCUR's Jodi Fortino explores, what a charter school can be and who it serves remains an open question.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm to Food Bank is trying to cut down on waste by connecting local farmers and food pantries. However, its future depends on how much funding is included for the program in the next farm bill. Harvest Public Media's Peter Meslin reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt, Byron J. Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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States were banned from removing people from Medicaid during the COVID-19 public health emergency unless a person moved, died or asked to be taken off. Now that the pandemic has been declared over, Missouri and Kansas have resumed checking eligibility and the process has not been going well.
Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with Samantha Liss of KFF Health News about how rocky the process has been and how patients who have lost coverage have been affected.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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In 2022, the Republican-controlled Missouri General Assembly passed a law making a government-issued photo ID card like a driver's license or passport the only acceptable way to cast a regular ballot on Election Day. Opponents of the policy went to court almost immediately, calling the law unconstitutional and alleging the requirements will discourage people — including some who are registered and legally allowed to vote — from doing so.
KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Rudi Keller, who has been following the matter for the Missouri Independent, about what the law changed and how it might affect the 2024 elections.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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In 1953, Kansas City's Charlie Parker was one of five jazz greats to produce what some call "the greatest jazz concert of all time." A reissue of the 70- year-old performance chronicles the genesis of Parker's plastic saxophone. KCUR's Bill Brownlee reports how the sax found its home in Kansas City.
The uphill battle of talking climate change with audiences skeptical of the science has pushed many climatologists and meteorologists in the Midwest out of the field. Harvest Public Media's Elizabeth Rembert reports on the tough conditions facing climate science communicators.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Richard Berkley served a record three terms as Kansas City's mayor, from 1979 to 1991, and was the first Jewish mayor in city history. He died Wednesday at the age of 92, his family confirmed. Berkley's tenure was defined in large part by his quick response to the Hyatt Regency skywalk collapse, a disaster that killed 114 people and injured hundreds more. KCUR contributor Dan Margolies looks back at Berkley's career.
The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners recently approved spending $200,000 for another year of ShotSpotter, a surveillance technology, despite a new study that says it doesn't achieve the city's public safety goals. Nomin Ujiyediin speaks with KCUR's Peggy Lowe about the issue.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt, Byron J. Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Kansas City Public Schools’ SEIU Local 1 union has filed grievances that claim the district has delayed pay hikes and left other contract promises unfulfilled. Workers expressed frustration at a board meeting in mid-November, emphasizing issues like understaffing and inadequate training.
On KCUR's Up To Date, host Steve Kraske sat down with Maria Benevento, education reporter at the Kansas City Beacon, to hear why workers feel the district isn't supporting them.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Data from the Kansas Maternal Mortality Review Committee shows between 2016 and 2020, severe complications that impact a woman’s health increased by 6.4% annually. Black moms in Kansas and women on Medicaid or from low-income zip codes are disproportionally affected.
Doulas can help with that — a study found moms who use doulas are two times less likely to experience birth complications. Now, UnitedHealthcare has started covering doula services for Kansas moms on Medicaid. Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga of the Kansas News Service reports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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The 2024 elections in Missouri will tell us a lot about the future of politics in the state — especially of the Republican party, where several high-profile GOP primaries in August will pick the overwhelming favorites to win statewide office in November. In Kansas, Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids will be seeking a fourth term in the 3rd Congressional District, which all of Johnson County and part of Wyandotte and Paola.
KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with the Kansas News Service's Dylan Lysen and St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about key races on both side of the state line.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Hundreds of years ago, Kansas’ native Wichita Tribe built their prairie homes with rows of thatched grasses. A new generation of students at Haskell Indian Nations University are learning the skill, and reconnecting with a Great Plains tradition. KCUR’s Julie Denesha reports.
Lifelong martial artist David Muhammad has used a background in karate to launch his kickboxing practice onto the global stage. The two disciplines have fed his thirst for competitive combat and helped him build a diverse community in south Kansas City. KCUR’s race and culture reporter Lawrence Brooks IV has the story.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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School lunch debt is climbing in Kansas, and advocates are pushing to make sure children don't go hungry at school. Many school districts have policies that single out kids when they can't afford to pay for lunch. A new report shows that this can hurt families, even if policies aren't strictly enforced. Suzanne Perez from the Kansas News Service brings us that story
Are you serving pumpkin or sweet potato pie this Thanksgiving? A look at the history and cultural ties that influence why Americans may prefer one or the other. Chad Davis with Harvest Public Media has more on that.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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For years, Kansas City, Missouri, has struggled to answer 911 calls quickly. Police and city officials are actively pursuing a new, automated feature they hope could speed things up. But not everyone in on board quite yet.
KCUR's Sam Zeff spoke with Up To Date host Steve Kraske about why the Kansas City Fire Department worries the proposed system might actually make things more complicated.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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When Fort Scott, Kansas' Mercy Hospital closed in early 2019, the community of 7,550 people in southeast Kansas briefly lost its emergency room. Mayor Matthew Wells remembers the time without an ER clearly.
Now, his town is once again in that position after the community’s stand-alone ER closed, leaving residents to travel at least 20 miles to the nearest emergency center and raising concerns about attracting new residents and businesses.
Steve Kraske spoke with Wells and Kansas News Service reporter Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga on KCUR's Up To Date about the future of health care for the community.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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When the Kansas City Council unanimously voted to eliminate bus fares three years ago, Kansas City became one of the first cities in the country to go fare-free. Feeling the revenue pinch without fares, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority is considering bringing them back.
KCUR's Madeline Fox and Celisa Calacal talk about the monetary future for Kansas City's bus service.
Almost 80% of Missouri and 50% of Kansas lacks primary care doctors. Local universities are hoping to train and retain the next generation of doctors for underserved communities. KCUR's Noah Toborda explains how this came to be and what those starting their careers can do to help.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Subdivisions, restaurants, and retail shops have popped up around Lee’s Summit and Raymore, and single-family homes have spread across what was farmland just a few years ago. But residents along the south edge of Kansas City say a proposed 430-acre landfill could threaten that growth.
Many have organized to block the proposal, claiming a landfill would erode property values and threaten their health. They’re raising money and deploying lobbyists to change a state law, a move that failed in the General Assembly last year.
KCUR's Up To Date host Steve Kraske spoke with Kansas City Beacon statehouse reporter Meg Cunningham to learn more.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Nearly one-third of Kansas election officials have left their position in the last four years amid harassment and criticism fueled by unsubstantiated voting fraud claims. Dylan Lysen of the Kansas News Service reports that the continued scrutiny may cause additional stress in 2024.
An artist and fabricator in Louisburg, Kansas, spent a decade working in the studio of a famous New Orleans artist — Ida Kohlmeyer. The fabricator, G. Paul Lucas, is now the go-to repairman for any of Kohlmeyer's damaged work. KCUR's Julie Denesha has more on the artist.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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It’s been a year since the Royals announced a plan to move their stadium downtown. While we still have a lot of questions, we know taxpayers are likely to foot much of the bill. The Royals say in the long run it will cost more to stay at the current Kauffman Stadium, but is that true? KCUR’s Savannah Hawley-Bates set out to find out.
The Osage tribe lived in Kansas and Missouri before they were forced to move to Oklahoma in the 1800s. After oil was discovered on their new land, many members of the tribe were murdered for their wealth and property.
“Killers of the Flower Moon” was a best-selling non-fiction book that tells that story, and now it’s a blockbuster movie directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio. And the community where many of the murders took place is wrestling with how to open up about this painful past. Harvest Public Media contributor Allison Herrera takes us to Fairfax, Oklahoma.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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What do Tuesday’s election results say about the state of politics in Johnson County, Kansas? One interpretation is that the county is continuing its trend of becoming much more Democratic. Up to Date host Steve Kraske spoke with Kansas State Rep. Stephanie Clayton, who represents several municipalities in Johnson County, and political columnist Steve Rose about the Kansas side of the metro.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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A year after the legalization of recreational marijuana in the Show-Me State, Missouri has seen a boom of cannabis employment and over $1 billion in sales. As recalls take products off the shelves, dispensaries start to unionize and microbusiness licenses are sold to the highest bidder, retailers hope the momentum doesn't slow down.
KCUR's Steve Kraske spoke with the Missouri Independent's Rebecca Rivas about the state of the industry and what the future of legal weed looks like here.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Solar power in Kansas is booming, with hundreds of megawatts expected to come online over the next several years. But many rural communities are skeptical of out-of-state solar developers and are tightening regulations as the energy source grows. KMUW’s Celia Hack reports for the Kansas News Service.
In 1985, a young writer and photographer duo embarked on a project to document life and history in Independence, Missouri. Almost 40 years later, KCUR’s Julie Denesha reports, the two are back at work on new words and photographs documenting people who live in the shadow of a president.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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What happened in last night's elections? Kansas City voters approved a local sales tax to fund public transit, affordable housing opponents dominated races for city council in Prairie Village, and conservative school board candidates lost their races in several Johnson County districts. Reporters from the KCUR newsroom bring you the latest results.
Over the past decade, renewable power on the Kansas prairie typically meant one thing: wind turbines. But solar energy in Kansas is booming, with companies flocking to the state in the hopes of developing utility-scale solar farms. KCUR's Celia Hack reports on the expansion.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Conservative candidates for school board seats across Kansas have repeatedly asserted that scores on the state standardized test show schools are failing. They say the scores are proof that teachers are spending too much time on social-emotional learning and interpersonal skills — and not enough time on reading, writing and math.
KCUR’s Madeline Fox sat down with education reporters Suzanne Perez of the Kansas News Service and Jodi Fortino of KCUR to talk about whether scores really are falling and what the exams can — and can’t — tell us.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Anna Schmidt, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Shawnee, Prairie Village, Lenexa, Leawood, Overland Park, the United Government of Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County are all holding council elections on Tuesday, Nov. 7, along with school board and mayor races.
Some of the contests are pitting candidates with decidedly different priorities for affordable housing, development, and the character of their cities and their leaders. Plus, Kansas City has some important ballot items of its own.
Brian Ellison spoke with Kyle Palmer, editor of the Shawnee Mission Post and Blue Valley Post, and Josh Merchant, a reporter for the Kansas City Beacon, for an overview of what you and your neighbors are making decisions about.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Shawnee, Kansas had stayed a relatively calm suburb of Kansas City, but the last few years have proved otherwise. Lawsuits, staff turnover and a recent sexting scandal have roiled city hall, right before a municipal election. KCUR's Frank Morris asks the question: Who's responsible for all the trouble?
William Jewell College established a Racial Reconciliation Commission in 2021 with the hopes it would investigate and express the truths behind the institution's racial history. One of the products from this effort is the "Canon for Racial Reconciliation."
Classical KC's Brooke Knoll spoke with the piece's composers about their intentions and hopes for the music.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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On Monday, a Kansas judge temporarily blocked several of the state’s abortion restrictions, including a 24-hour waiting period and a new law that required providers to give patients medically unsupported information about reversing the effects of abortion pills.
In his order, Johnson County District Judge K. Christopher Jayaram wrote that the restrictions “[appear] to be a thinly-veiled effort to stigmatize the procedure and instill fear in patients that are contemplating an abortion, based upon disproven and unsupportable claims.”
KCUR's Steve Kraske sat down with Rachel Mipro from the Kansas Reflector to break down the order, which has already renewed the battle over abortion rights in Kansas.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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A research journal called the Middle West Review released the results of what it describes as the “largest-ever study on who considers themselves to be Midwesterners.” Researchers collected about 11,000 responses from 22 states, including the 12 designated as Midwest by the U.S Census bureau, and 10 on the fringes of what might typically be considered the region.
KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with Jon Lauck, Editor-in-Chief of the Middle West Review, about the survey and what it tell us about Midwestern identity.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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This week, thousands of Latino residents in the Kansas City metro will observe Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. As KCUR’s Zach Perez reports, the holiday gives Latino residents a chance to honor lost loved ones and show the world who they were.
The American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, Missouri, goes all the way back to 1899. This year, exhibitors as young as 7 traveled from all over the country to compete, showing more than 4,000 head of cattle, sheep, pigs and goats. Harvest Public Media’s Eva Tesfaye brings us an audio postcard on what it’s like for kids and teenagers to show livestock at one of the largest competitions in the United States.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Missouri House Speaker Plocher is under fire for the second time this month. First, he took heat for behind-the-scenes efforts to hire a private contractor to do something already being done with government software, conduct that longtime legislative staffers called potentially illegal and unethical.
Last week, the Missouri Independent reported that Plocher had sought and received reimbursement from state funds for expenses that his campaign had already paid for. The revelations drew sharp rebukes from fellow Republicans, including calls for his resignation. So what’s going on, and what does it say about the state of Missouri’s Republican party?
Brian Ellison spoke with Jason Hancock, the editor in chief of the Missouri Independent, about the story.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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An independent audit found that the former board of the Overland Park Police Officers Foundation disbursed $27,000 to themselves. The money went to vet bills, scholarships, and gift cards to the Great Wolf Lodge.
KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with the Shawnee Mission Post's Kaylie McLaughlin about the audit, its findings, and what comes next.
The name Thomas Swope is immortalized in Kansas City. You may have driven on Swope Parkway or walked through Swope Park — which he donated the land for. But it was Swope’s sudden death, and the highly publicized murder trial that followed, that made him a household name across the country.
KCUR's Mackenzie Martin tells the story of a mystery that's remained unsolved for more that 110 years.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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In September 2022, former Kansas City, Kansas Police detective Roger Golubski was indicted by the FBI after the overturning of a wrongful conviction shed light on his alleged history of kidnapping and sexual assault.
More than a year later, he still doesn’t have a trial date — and the community wants answers. KCUR’s Madeline Fox spoke to public safety reporter Peggy Lowe about the latest in his case.
Hear more about Lowe's investigation into Golubski on the KCUR Studios podcast Overlooked.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Medical experts say increasing the number of liver transplants from living donors could help more Americans get lifesaving medical care. The University of Kansas Health System plans to join a growing number of hospitals that offer the procedure. Rose Conlon of the Kansas News Service brings us one donor’s story.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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A Kansas City sales tax approved in 2017 to support development east of The Paseo has brought in close to $70 million, but some critics of the program say it isn’t working as effectively as it should.
Nomin Ujiyediin sat down with KCUR’s local government reporter Celisa Calacal and Flatland reporter Mike Sherry to understand what’s going on and what’s at stake.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
Historically Black land-grant universities and colleges have been underfunded by more than $12 billion nationally compared to their non-HBCU counterparts. Missouri's only land-grant HBCU, Lincoln University, has been underfunded by roughly $360 million over the past 30 years compared to the University of Missouri, according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Education.
Brian Ellison spoke with Misty Nunn, executive director of university and alumni relations at Lincoln University, and Missouri State Rep. Kevin Windham Jr. about how the state should right these wrongs.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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This is only the third year in Missouri’s modern history that hunters can get permits to shoot black bears. The species was nearly driven out of the state a century ago, but have rebounded in the last few decades thanks to conservation efforts. The 10-day hunt is capped at 40 bears so it doesn't hurt population growth. KCUR's George Russell tells Nomin Ujiyediin what we should know about bear hunting in Missouri.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Inmate Elizabeth Wince had to crawl back to her cell after hurting herself and being denied medical care. Other prisoners at Topeka Correctional Facility say that prison staff insulted Wince instead of helping her. Blaise Mesa of the Kansas News Service spoke with Nomin Ujiyediin about Wince's case and how it fits in with years of complaints about the treatment inside the prison system.
The annual monarch butterfly migration is well underway. The insects are due to arrive in Mexico just in time for the Day of the Dead in early November. For decades, scientists with the nonprofit group Monarch Watch have relied on thousands of volunteers to try to figure out the mysteries behind this long-distance journey. Harvest Public Media contributor Sheila Brummer has more.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Eric DeValkenaere was found guilty of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action by a Jackson County judge in November 2021 for killing Cameron Lamb, a 26-year-old Black man, in his driveway. In March 2022, DeValkenaere was sentenced to six years in prison.
DeValkenaere is the only Kansas City police officer convicted of killing a Black man while on duty. Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with KCUR reporter Peggy Lowe about why the court made its decision, and what happens next.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
Data shows that from 2018 to 2020, the average assessed value for owner-occupied homes on the Westside increased by 128%. No other neighborhood in Kansas City has seen an increase like that.
KCUR’s Madeline Fox sat down with KCUR local government reporter Celisa Calacal to talk about how a tax break program for these homeowners on the Westside is going one year in.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
A records request from the Kansas News Service found evidence that falsified reports are hurting some inmate's chances at parole in another example of a prison disciplinary system that can be stacked against incarcerated people.
Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with Blaise Mesa of the Kansas News Service about the consequences for one incarcerated man, who has spent years unsuccessfully fighting his write-up.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
Halloween is around the corner and the Kansas City Ballet is getting ready with a spooky debut. The North American premiere of "Jekyll and Hyde" tells the story of the titular characters through dance. KCUR's Julie Denesha spoke with the creatives bringing this gothic classic to life.
Fourteen-year-old Overland park native Eddison Chen is racking up awards all over the world for his piano prowess. Classical KC's Brooke Knoll spoke with Chen and his mother about his introduction to piano, having perfect pitch and much more. (Eddison Chen performance audio courtesy of The Cliburn.)
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Homicide numbers in the Kansas City area are the highest they’ve been in recent years. But officials say there's a glimmer of hope in the Santa Fe neighborhood. An anti-crime organization called KC 360 says it’s been able to reduce homicides in the neighborhood by more than 70%.
Up To Date host Steve Kraske spoke with the organization's leaders, Rev. Darren Faulkner, police Maj. Kari Thompson, Santa Fe Neighborhood Association President Marquita Taylor, and Empowerment Network CEO Willie Barney, to find out how they did it, and what’s next in KC 360’s efforts.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Anna Schmidt, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
Proponents of abortion rights in Missouri are energized to repeal one of the strictest abortion bans in the nation. But they’ve run into two obstacles: Disagreement over what the proposal should actually do and legal efforts that could run out the clock. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports.
Taxpayers across Kansas voiced concerns at public hearings this fall in the wake of another year of large property tax increases. Lawmakers in Topeka are taking notice, which could lead to more changes to tax laws, including a potential constitutional amendment. Kansas News Service reporters Dylan Lysen and Joe Bluebaugh discsus.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Women’s professional soccer is drawing record attendance and spawning expansion teams next year. But despite the growing popularity, no U.S. team plays in a stadium of its own. KCUR’s Frank Morris reports a new stadium going up on the Missouri River in Kansas City will change that, and maybe even launch a new era in woman’s sports.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Since the COVID-19 school closures, student behavior that disrupts classrooms has reportedly grown worse, teachers report. To find out why and how the state plans to help correct it KCUR's Up To Date spoke with Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's school counseling and student wellness coordinator Chrissy Bashore and Jen Foster, who's on the social-emotional learning standards work group at the University of Missouri's eMINTS National Center.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
Prairies around the world are disappearing at a startling pace, including those in Kansas. Local photographer Philip Heying's new photo exhibition seeks to draw attention to these shrinking ecosystems by showcasing their beauty and power.
The Kansas City Public Library's Anne Kniggendorf spoke with Heying ahead of his appearance at this week's Heartland Book Festival.
Pablo Sanhueza and the Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra use rhythms and sounds from Chile to West Africa to connect distant cultures in Kansas City. KCUR’s Lawrence Brooks IV reports on the orchestra as it marks its 20th year of making music.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Madeline Fox.
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Big wildfires have become more common and more intense in Kansas. That trend is likely to continue, but the risk of wildfire depends on where you live. A new online tool shows Kansans the danger in their neighborhood or area. Celia Llopis-Jepsen of the Kansas News Service talks with host Nomin Ujiyediin.
When crop prices or harvests drop enough, the government sends money to qualifying farmers to get them through tight years. It’s a Farm Bill program called Title One. As lawmakers negotiate a new Farm Bill this year, farmers are pushing for more Title One money. Harvest Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert takes us back to how the program began and where it is today.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Madeline Fox.
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Truman State University students can now declare a brand new major: cannabis and natural medicinals. KCUR's Steve Kraske spoke with Truman State dean Timothy Walston on Up To Date to learn why it's needed and to discuss Missouri’s bustling marijuana industry.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Madeline Fox.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley is seeking a second term next year. And a crowded field of Democratic challengers is looking to oust the Missouri Republican. But as St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports, Democrats are torn about whether a competitive primary is a blessing or an unnecessary waste of time and resources.
The Kansas City Royals could set a record for team losses during this final weekend of regular season baseball. But talk in Kansas City has been less about their lack of winning and more about where a new baseball stadium should go. As Greg Echlin reports for KCUR, many fans have united over what will be lost if and when the Royals change zip codes.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Missourians who are arrested, deemed unfit to stand trial and ordered into mental health treatment are now detained in jail for an average of eight months before being transferred to a mental health facility. And that wait time used to be even longer.
KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with Missouri Independent reporter Clara Bates about why wait times are so long for people who haven't been convicted of a crime, and what the state is doing in response.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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For many years, the dominant narrative has said that small towns across the Midwest were drying up and losing their populations to metropolitan areas. During the pandemic, many large cities saw their populations decline as folks fled to the suburbs.
KCUR's Steve Kraske sat down with Flatland's Cami Koons to talk about how some rural communities are revitalizing their downtown districts with hopes of attracting younger, city-dwelling tourists.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
Homicides could set a record again this year, as nonfatal shootings are down from last year — likely because of deadlier guns on Kansas City's streets. But many people who are hit by gunfire survive, only to struggle with physical and mental issues. These kinds of shootings have been increasing, too, leaving more families to pick up the pieces. KCUR’s Peggy Lowe reports.
Community composting operations are popping up in cities across the country, hoping to keep food waste out of landfills and return nutrients to the soil. But not all cities are welcoming them, especially when neighbors complain about bad smells and pests. Harvest Public Media’s Eva Tesfaye reports on how cities in the Midwest are handling these new operations.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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It feels as if workers are going on strike left and right these days, but union membership has hit all time lows in recent years. So what's driving this surge in labor organizing?
On KCUR's Up To Date, Steve Kraske spoke with Dante Wilson, President of UAW local 31, about the local autoworkers union impacted by the strikes against GM and Stellantis.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Five years ago, two of Jackson County’s top officials were sentenced to prison for misusing campaign funds. County executive Mike Sanders got more than two years of prison time. His aide, Calvin Williford, only got six months for the same crime, apparently because he was helping with a federal investigation into other Jackson County politicians. So, what ever happened to that investigation? KCUR's Carlos Moreno sat down with KCUR's Sam Zeff to learn more.
Late last month, Zaiylah Bronson was found dead in the trunk of her boyfriend’s car in Wichita. Prosecutors say he strangled her. She was 16 weeks pregnant. Bronson’s death is focusing attention on persistent domestic violence issues that experts say have worsened during the pandemic, including for pregnant women. Rose Conlon reports for the Kansas News Service.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Utility rates don’t always rank high among hot-button political controversies. But the last few months in Missouri have seen an increasingly contentious dance playing out.
Evergy has seen blowback from customers and elected officials over mandatory time-of-use pricing, which it's expected to implement next month under an order from the Missouri Public Service Commission. That might encourage conservation, and a reduced used of fossil fuels, though that’s led some to say the whole thing is part of a political agenda.
Host Brian Ellison spoke with Allison Kite, data reporter for The Missouri Independent and Kansas Reflector, about these new plans and how they will impact current Evergy customers.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Most retired state employees in Kansas who rely on pension payments haven't seen cost-of-living adjustments in 25 years. A higher rate of inflation has caused the value of their payments to diminish greatly. KCUR's Dylan Lysen reports on the advocates who are calling for a boost in retirement pay.
Climate change is making farming riskier and the act of subsidizing crops more expensive. As the farm bill nears its renewal date, some think that taxpayers' money is being wasted on such a volatile industry. Harvest Public Media's Frank Morris reports on those arguing that crop subsidies are shielding farmers too much.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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This week, the Jackson County Legislature passed a property tax credit for seniors that will go into effect next year. It comes after assessed home values increased by an average of 40% this year. Under the legislation, Jackson County seniors whose homes are valued less than $550,000 can start applying for relief next year. If they are eligible for the program, seniors would see their property tax bill frozen at the 2023 level, something supporters say will benefit people living on a fixed income.
KCUR's Madeline Fox sat down with local government reporter Celisa Calacal and education reporter Jodi Fortino to understand how the tax credits will work — and how it could affect schools.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Frank Donchez became Overland Park’s Police Chief in October 2014. During his tenure, the police department was investigated by the FBI for the 2018 fatal police shooting of John Albers. Donchez came under fire for his handling of the case, leading to public calls for his resignation.
Last week, Donchez suddenly resigned after a tense conversation with Albers' mother. Host Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with Shawnee Mission post reporter Kaylie McLaughlin about why Donchez resigned and how the city of Overland Park plans to go forward.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
An updated COVID-19 vaccine will be rolling out across Kansas City in the next few weeks. The shot combats newer variants more effectively and comes as case numbers creep up across the metro.
Dr. Mary Anne Jackson, dean of UMKC's School of Medicine, discusses the new vaccine and protecting against flu and RSV with KCUR's Steve Kraske on Up To Date.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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Between 2019 and 2022, Kansas police seized an average of $17,000 a day in property and cash. But 79% of those whose property was confiscated were not convicted of a crime.
Civil asset forfeiture is a tool to disrupt criminal activity, but once the property is seized, the onus is then put on citizens to get their property back and prove that there’s no reason to keep it.
Blaise Mesa of the Kansas News Service spoke with Steve Kraske on KCUR's Up To Date about the process and of victims who are still trying to recover property years it was taken by police.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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In the age of silent movies, a pipe organ was integral to setting the scene. An all but forgotten profession in this age of talking pictures, KCUR's Julie Denesha has the story of one Lee's Summit musician who is bringing back the silent film.
The Farm-to-School movement is trying to shake up the everyday school lunch by introducing food grown from local farms. But the journey from field to lunch tray isn't a straight one. Harvest Public Media contributor Rae Solomon reports on the federal money being spent to make it happen.
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate
Americans don’t trust each other, and it is literally killing us. Distrust arguably caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans during the pandemic and, as KCUR’s Frank Morris reports, distrust continues to undermine health care, especially in places like rural Kansas and Missouri.
This year's early fall temperatures make it easy to forget the scorching heat of August and July, but climatologists say Midwesterners need to get ready for more hazardous heat waves in the future. So are our homes ready? Holly Edgell of the Midwest Newsroom reports the answer is mostly “no.”
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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.
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The number of Kansas students who are chronically missing school has nearly doubled in the past two years. Plus: Missouri Gov. Mike Parson vetoed more than a half a billion dollars in spending from the state budget, but lawmakers have a chance to override.
There are more than 10,000 cases of alleged child abuse and neglect in Missouri that remain open, including over 3,600 in the Kansas City region. The NPR Midwest Newsroom found that investigators in the state's Children’s Division are overloaded and dealing with a shortage of case workers.
After Former Kansas City Police officer Eric DeValkanaere was convicted of killing unarmed Black man Cameron Lamb, some have speculated he could be pardoned by Missouri Governor Mike Parson.
Sustainability leaders are trying to make Kansas City the greenest place in the country. With an overall goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the KC Regional Climate Action Plan covers 80% of the region's population.
Arrowhead Stadium will be rocking tonight with a sellout crowd for the Kansas City Chiefs’ season opener against the Detroit Lions. Some fans remember what it was like before the team became perennial Super Bowl favorites. Plus: If you were planning a party a century ago in Columbia, Missouri, Annie Fisher was the caterer you’d do almost anything to book.
Bills to legalize sports betting in Missouri are stalled in the legislature, even a year after Kansas lawmakers signed off on gambling. Plus: Why Mexico’s president is trying to ban the import of genetically modified corn from the U.S.
Eloise Reynolds, a resident of Olivette, Missouri, encountered a perplexing reality in medical billing: Providers can come after patients for more money well after a bill has been paid.
A new Kansas City square-dancing group is putting a gender-neutral spin on an age old American tradition. Plus: A Kansas historian documents the internal fighting between white soldiers and mistreated Black soldiers that threatened America's war efforts in Vietnam.
Refugees coming to Kansas City often need to learn how to drive in order to get a job or go to school. One Congolese man is stepping up to teach his fellow compatriots. Plus: Despite the fact that child care can cost more than a mortgage in Kansas, providers say they can barely afford to stay open.
Jaynie Crosdale’s family remembers her as charismatic and able to talk to anyone. Her death has brought up questions about how police handle cases of missing Black women.
A ban on gender-affirming health care for minors in Missouri took effect yesterday, preventing transgender youth from accessing treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapy. Plus: Farmworkers are particularly vulnerable to the increasing temperatures and record heatwaves that have been plaguing the Midwest.
Installed inside gas stations, liquor stores and smoke shops, cryptocurrency kiosks tend to be placed in Kansas City neighborhoods with larger numbers of Black and Latino residents. Critics say they're a targeted attempt to exploit financially vulnerable people with steep fees for a volatile product.
As Kansas City heads toward a record-setting year for homicides, these Black women say guns are not the problem but a symptom of underlying problems. They're also buying guns and learning how to use them safely. Plus: A fatal illness spreading among cervid populations could cause Kansas to ban deer baiting.
Brush Creek is stinky, dirty and poorly maintained. Can Kansas City turn it into an attraction? Plus: Ranchers across the Midwest and Great Plains are battling black vultures that prey on newborn livestock.
A plan to change zoning laws to allow for more multi-family housing in Prairie Village is dawning sharp opposition from some residents who fear the changes threaten the suburb's "Perfect Village" image.
This school year will look a lot different for students in Independence, who head back to the classroom this week. Independence is by far the largest district in Missouri to make the switch to a four-day school week. Plus: Dealing with household clutter is a part of life, but for some Kansans it spirals into hoarding.
Two separate audits of the Kansas foster care system have found troubling trends in child welfare. After a 2018 lawsuit, which alleged that foster kids moved around so much they were essentially homeless, the state agreed to improve on a handful of metrics. But years later, the situation is just as bad — and in some cases, worse.
For 30 years, a Jackson County tax has funded anti-crime efforts. But as gun deaths continue to climb, tracking the program's success can be challenging. Plus: coverage of homicides in Kansas City often centers victims. But the pain that stays with family and friends left behind is long-lasting and often overlooked.
Journalists at the Marion County Record worked late into the night to publish their first issue since the widely criticized raid of their office by local police. Plus: Senior Kansans who want to live out their golden years in the rural towns where they grew up face the growing issue of how to get around.
Staff at the Marion County Record rushed to complete the latest edition of the paper after police confiscated much of their equipment last week. We'll have the latest on the raid and the fight it's sparked over free speech protections. Plus: Hundreds attended a memorial service for another Kansas football player who died after practicing in the summer heat.
Local police raided the offices of the Marion County Record and the home of its publisher, in an unprecedented and potentially illegal move that is being called a violation of First Amendment rights.
To comply with a rule from Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, public libraries in the state now require kids as old as 17 to have adult permission to get a library card. The rule also prohibits libraries from buying materials that are "obscene," but librarians say that's dangerously vague.
Kansas City's 311 program allows residents to report a host of problems including trash pickup, property violations and lost pets. But in some parts of town, residents wait a lot longer for their issues to be fixed.
A new global study, published in Nature, found microplastics in every lake sampled — no matter how remote. But how do Kansas lakes stack up?
Fresh shrimp historically comes from the coasts. But some Missouri farmers think they can produce tastier shrimp far from the ocean. Plus, former Democratic Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is getting back in the political fray — and not everyone in his party is pleased.
How do courts and the state decide whether someone is mentally competent to be executed? Last week, Johnny Johnson, a Missouri man who abducted and killed a girl two decades ago, was killed by lethal injection after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to issue a stay in his case.
Sports gambling companies are handing out millions of dollars in free bets to get people in the habit of betting, and Kansas taxpayers are subsidizing the habit. Plus: The increased access to mobile betting apps poses a heightened danger of addiction.
With more shoreline than the coast of California, the Lake of the Ozarks in mid-central Missouri is a popular tourist destination for land-locked Midwesterners. But few know the origin of this man-made lake and the communities it displaced. Plus: A Kansas City artist has turned his car into not just a vehicle, but a piece of art.
Health departments were thrust into the spotlight by the COVID-19 pandemic. Three years later, they're still dealing with the coronavirus, and planning for what might happen next. Plus: Experts say a merger between St. Luke's in Kansas City and St. Louis' BJC HealthCare could mean hospital patients pay more.
As he enters his second term, Mayor Quinton Lucas is on a mission to lower gun violence in City — but there's only so much he can do. Plus: River Hawk Boat Shop in Lee's Summit is crafting sleek, state-of-the-art racing boats that are in demand for the MR340, a 340-mile river race that begins at Kaw Point.
This summer, communities across the U.S. are suffering from extreme heat waves, and Kansas City is no exception. We’ll hear why cities are often hotter than other places — and ideas for cooling them down.
Tuesday is a primary election in Kansas. Voters in Johnson and Wyandotte Counties are heading to the polls to narrow the field for area city councils, county commissioners and school boards.
Summer brings new challenges to making sure kids safe, busy, and away from violence — especially with youth homicides on track to set a record this year. One Kansas City club is trying to keep children and teens occupied with drum lines, movies and games. Plus: A collector who's determined to make Kansas City's antique fans cool again.
Kansas City voters in April approved a 3% tax on recreational marijuana revenue — 1% of which will go toward finding solutions for the unhoused population. The city's homelessness prevention coordinator says that funding will go toward street outreach and other initiatives.
The Missouri Supreme Court last week ruled against Attorney General Andrew Bailey in a fight over a proposed abortion rights amendment. Bailey had pushed to falsely inflate the estimated cost of the ballot issue, but the court ruled he did not have that power — and forced him to sign off.
Elderberries are native to Missouri and the Midwest, and became commercial grown only within the last two decades. But now the industry is wondering whether they'll stay a small, niche crop or turn into something bigger. Plus: It's tick season, and not just in rural areas.
Luring Panasonic to Kansas with $830 million worth of incentives was considered a major victory for the state. But those kinds of deals may go away.
The city of Mission has terminated its multi-million dollar deal to bring a new, $270 million mixed-use development to the long-vacant Mission Gateway site. The reason: Its owner failed to pay property taxes. Now it's back to the drawing board.
A Kansas gardener is suing for the right to sell honey and fruit from her Ottawa yard. Plus: In an effort to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Biden administration is offering more tax credits for carbon capture sequestration and utilization, but the cost is high.
In its last legislative session of the term, the Kansas City Council passed pay raises for council members and the mayor, allocated millions of dollars for 2026 World Cup preparations and created a municipal ID program. The next time the body meets in August, it will welcome seven new faces.
Missouri will now extend Medicaid benefits for new mothers from 60 days to a full year postpartum. Supporters of the new law say that without the extension some health problems could go untreated. Plus: There is only one facility in Kansas that deals with runaway foster kids. But critics of the program say it is only making the situation worse.
Missouri state Rep. Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat who serves as the House minority leader, announced her gubernatorial candidacy for Missouri governor last week. She says her primary issues are childcare and health care access, and defending public education.
This weekend, two teams based in Olathe, Kansas will play in the Granny Basketball national championships. Organizers want to foster camaraderie, sportsmanship and a “gentle game” for women over age 50. Plus: the elite violinist whose world-renowned musical family called Kansas City home.
Kansas City is on pace to have more homicides this year than last, and reports of gun deaths are a weekly, if not daily, occurrence. But local leaders like Mayor Quinton Lucas say they’re restricted by state policies that make it impossible to pass local regulations — and they want to change that.
It's gotten even harder to get around downtown Kansas City. After a "track failure" caused by the summer heat, the KC Streetcar has suspended service — and it likely will be down for several weeks. With construction still ongoing for the extension to UMKC, the incident is raising questions about the durability of the streetcar infrastructure.
SleazyWorld Go, who calls Kansas City home, is one of hip-hop’s most exciting new voices. His songs about the city's epidemic of violence earned him a spot in XXL Magazine's Freshman Class of 2023. Plus: Kansas City physicians are preparing medical students for the inevitability of gun trauma.
Jackson County property tax assessments, required every two years by a Missouri state statute, are causing concern and frustration among some residents who saw a significant increase in the valuation of their home. Some owners have seen spikes of more than 200%, and the deadline for filing an appeal is coming up fast.
Taylor Swift fans rejoice: the Eras tour has officially arrived in Kansas City. As the pop-star and her Swifties take over the city, local businesses are hoping to capitalize on the hype with Taylor-themed drinks and specials.
Religious pilgrims have been visiting a monastery north of Kansas City to see the well-preserved remains of an exhumed nun, who is drawing claims of sainthood because of her “incorrupt” body. Plus: Congress made SNAP work requirements stricter, shortly after Kansas made similar changes.
One Kansas hospital was planning to start welcoming 100 nurses from the Philippines this fall. But a lengthy backlog in visa applications has put that on hold, possibly for a year or longer. Plus: A handful of states have not adopted the federal government’s option to extend postpartum care coverage for mothers on Medicaid.
Missouri secluded and restrained more than 1,000 students last school year. Justyn Jefferson, an 11-year-old from Belton, is one of them. But because schools don't always report instances of seclusion and restraint, it's difficult to know if they're using the techniques legally.
Honey bees are critical to pollinating field crops and fruit trees across the region — and they make delicious honey. One Kansas City beekeeper helps when these insects make their homes in inconvenient places. Plus: Big dollars are going towards urban tree canopies across the country.
The month the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, Kansans made $194 million in wagers. Yet the state only got $1,134 in revenue. That's because of how Kansas' new sports betting law is structured, which lets casinos write off significant promotional expenses.
A Kansas City teenager is leading a push to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in city council and school board elections. DJ Yearwood says it would make voting a habit from an earlier age and create a "civic transition into adulthood."
A year after the U.S Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, divisions in the anti-abortion movement are becoming more visible. In Kansas, "abortion abolitionists" have begun organizing for a nationwide abortion ban with no exceptions — and for abortion patients to be charged with murder.
The Missouri Attorney General seems to be picking a lot of legal fights and grabbing a lot of headlines, with some high profile court losses lately. We'll take a look at Andrew Bailey’s first six months on the job, what the role of attorney general is supposed to be, and what it's becoming.
Ozark troubadour Willi Carlisle brings his small-town love and queer themes into the folk music tradition. Based in Arkansas, Carlisle has found an impressive audience in Kansas City and beyond. Plus: How a prehistoric fish in the Missouri river could signal trouble for the Big Muddy.
The Urban Youth Academy helped plant the Kansas City Royals' flag in the Historic 18th and Vine district, but many residents of nearby neighborhoods have only mustered lukewarm acceptance. Will the lack of enthusiasm affect the push for a new downtown ballpark? Plus: Kansas lawmakers want a quicker switch to teaching reading in a way that actually works.
How did Kansas City vote in the 2023 municipal elections? Plus: Many Indigenous languages are at risk of dying out after centuries of forced assimilation. Now Kansas City Public Schools and members of the KC Indian Center are trying to change that by bringing the Cherokee language to East High School.
Kansas City’s tenant union formed a political organizing group last year. The group has been campaigning hard for six candidates as it tries to shift the balance of power in Kansas City with today's election. Plus: Missouri voters could decide whether the state constitution should be harder to change, but it may face a tough reception at the polls.
In the 1900s, the Neck neighborhood was the center of the Black community in Independence, Missouri. But by 1969, the neighborhood had been demolished — thanks to urban renewal policies put into place by President Harry S. Truman, who lived nearby. A special episode from the KCUR Studios podcast A People's History of Kansas City.
Gov. Mike Parson is expected to sign a bill that could expand the eligibility and payout for Missourians who have been wrongfully convicted and exonerated, as long as they waive their right to sue the state. Experts say the bill is an improvement, but still wouldn't help very many people.
Legislators in Jackson County will consider a new resolution calling for statues of President Andrew Jackson to be dismantled and removed from the front of courthouses in Kansas City and Independence. The namesake of Jackson County was a slaveholder and largely responsible for the forced removal of Native Americans, but a previous vote to remove the statue failed in 2020.
A Missouri inmate serving life without parole on a gun crime says young inmates don’t seem to care if they come and go from prison. Plus: A growing legal movement to grant natural entities like rivers and forests legal rights is having a moment in the US. Now environmentalists are setting their sights on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
Mid-Continent Public Library has banned LGBTQ Pride book displays in children’s areas after rules issued by Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft ban libraries from “age-inappropriate” materials under threat of losing state funding. Staff say the new policies are confusing and point to a work environment that is not inclusive of LGBTQ staff.
Josh Hawley is nearing the end of his first term in the U.S. Senate, and Missouri Democrats are already jumping in the race to challenge him — although they'll have a difficult time winning a statewide contest. There's also a highly contested GOP field developing for Missouri governor, with Gov. Mike Parson not up for re-election.
June is synonymous with Pride, as cities and organizations recognize the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ rights through parades and rainbow regalia. Kansas City's own Pride celebration can trace its start back to one activist: Lea Hopkins. Plus: Meet a Kansas City singer who hasn't let her newfound fame take away her hometown roots.
In January, a Parkville family learned their 8-year-old daughter had a rare illness. Though there is no cure, there is a drug that could help slow the disease. The problem? It costs more than $200,000 a year. Plus: Kansas politicians make bold claims about how to stop population declines in rural communities. Their efforts may not be enough to reverse the trend.
It's been almost two months since teenager Ralph Yarl was shot in Kansas City's Northland when he accidentally arrived at the wrong house. The case sparked nationwide outrage and attention. But Yarl's family is frustrated with how a Clay County judge is handling the criminal case against accused shooter Andrew Lester.
Starting today, residents across Kansas City can begin early voting for the June 20 election for mayor and City Council. The new council is confronting an urgent need for more affordable housing, recent spikes in violent crime, economic development and neighborhood livability issues.
Two openly gay lawmakers in Missouri look back on a legislative session that many regard as the most anti-LGBTQ in state history.
Animal ordinance citations have dropped dramatically since KC Pet Project took over animal control from Kansas City. While the nonprofit says the drop in tickets is evidence of success, other animal advocates worry it's leaving dangerous dogs on the streets.
An expansive Kansas law limiting transgender rights takes effect this summer, and trans residents are bracing themselves. Plus: Despite the return of KCPD's Missing Person's Unit, community members are worried about how the department will handle the disappearance of Black women and girls.
Successfully completing drug addiction treatment becomes more complicated when parents need to find child care for their children. That means some Kansans parents never go into treatment. Plus: Despite several GOP lawmakers saying they have no interest in pursuing restrictions on gender-affirming care for adults, transgender Missourians are bracing for more limits on their rights.
Missouri libraries could lose state funding if they don’t follow new rules regarding what materials children can check out. But librarians say the rules are a huge burden — and have encouraged hostile behavior from the public.
The Wizard of Oz has given Kansas something very few other states have: A global brand. But generations after the film’s release, is that brand still a gift? Or has it become a curse that boxes Kansas into an inaccurate, outdated image?
From The Chef Cafe to Varsity Doughnuts, HBO's "Somebody Somewhere" is telling big stories in Kansas' "Little Apple." Having spent much of his career playing bit parts, breakout star Jeff Hiller reflects on his newfound fame playing sentimental Joel living in Manhattan, Kansas.
Service industry workers will no longer need liquor licenses from Kansas City, Missouri, to work at restaurants or bars. The cards, which cost $42 and a trip to the Regulated Industries Division, were largely seen as unnecessary.
Investigators looking into the Keystone pipeline oil spill in Kansas found problems in the manufacturing and installation of a pipe that burst last December. Owner TC Energy also knew that the specific piece of the pipeline had been warped for a decade. Plus: The unique role that Kansas City played in McDonald's becoming a fast food giant.
Some young Kansas Citians say they’re losing trust in the ability of elected officials and law enforcement to keep them safe from groups they believe want to do them harm. So they're turning to gun ownership. Plus: Why an ancient grain could help Midwest farmers survive climate change.
Republican lawmakers in Kansas have been religion to justify anti-LGBTQ bills, anti-abortion laws and funding for private education vouchers in the state. The Kansas Reflector took a deep dive into the influence of religious beliefs on state politics.
Whispers of a new landfill in south Kansas City have sparked a fierce opposition campaign from nearby cities and residents. But the controversy also renewed interest in where this rapidly growing city will store its waste in the years to come. Plus: A Kansas City woodworker is creating chess boards based on his hometown's iconic skyline.
Lowrider culture in Kansas City began as a strictly Mexican American thing, but founders of the scene say the subculture has grown more and more diverse. Plus: What the end of the coronavirus public emergency means for Missouri patients.
The Missouri legislature stumbled its way to the end of this year’s legislative session. Catch up on the biggest things lawmakers did and what was left unaddressed. Plus: Inmates at a state prison in Lansing, Kansas, rioted three years ago but nobody has been charged yet.
At an affordable housing apartment complex near Kansas City's sport stadiums, tenants have lived through uninhabitable conditions for years. Plus: Real estate company VineBrook Homes is snatching up homes around the Midwest and in Kansas City at a rapid pace, but tenants are crying foul.
Kansas City reviews its city charter once a decade — a process that usually takes months. But this time the commission only has five weeks to consider major changes to the democratic process — including raising the bar for ballot initiatives and canceling general elections if one candidate wins a high enough portion of the primary vote.
With bills limiting gender-affirming care and trans sports participation on their way to Gov. Mike Parson, some transgender Missourians are packing up and moving to other states. Plus: How an unlikely feathered friend changed one Kansas City homeless man's life.
When a Missouri Department of Transportation employee and her unborn son were killed in the course of her job, her family sued for wrongful death — but the state argued they're shielded from liability because her fetus counts as an employee. The case has brought renewed attention to Missouri's fetal personhood laws since the end of Roe v. Wade.
Cities in Kansas and Missouri are finding that they often have too many of the same kind of trees, making them extra vulnerable to pests and diseases. Plus: Three companies in the Midwest want to capture carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and store it underground, but that idea worries some landowners.
Mortality rates for Kansas City mothers and infants, especially in Black and brown communities, are well above the national average. So local groups are stepping outside the traditional health care system to bridge the gap. Plus: The leaders of a small southeast Kansas hospital say the only way to keep it from closing is to cut back on services.
This year’s legislative session has ended in Kansas, although some bills are still awaiting Gov. Laura Kelly's signature or veto. And in Missouri, after a chaotic end to the session last year, state legislators vowed this year would be different — but that's yet to be seen.
For some Kansas City small businesses, the NFL Draft turned out to be a "huge disappointment."
Kansas City Mayor Quintin Lucas has appointed 13 members to the city's new commission on reparations, which is tasked with looking into reparations for slavery and discrimination for Black residents. They're focusing on a few specific impact areas, including housing, economic development and criminal justice.
Kansas City officials hired a private investigator to surveil the city's then-Civil Rights director — something she said was retaliation for raising alarms about a massive development project in the Northland. A report from the Civil Rights office says Kansas City officials let Meta, the parent company for Facebook, ignore the city's diversity hiring rules when constructing a Northland data center.
The Kansas City Royals want a new stadium, and area labor groups see it as inevitable. Trade unions want the stadium to be 100% union-built, and labor groups are fighting for an agreement that makes sure it benefits workers and the community. Plus: Despite its monumental impact, the latest farm bill may find itself part of a tug-of-war in Congress.
An out-of-state company's plan to redevelop over 20 acres in the West Bottoms has some saying the area will become Kansas City's next Crossroads Arts District. But the historic neighborhood’s small business community has raised concerns that the rapid change will price them out of the area.
As post-Roe abortion bans swept the United States, legal abortions dropped nationwide — but not in Kansas. Plus: how new rules in Kansas are making it even more difficult for patients to get life-saving liver transplants.
Father and son Ed and Brad Budde both played offensive line for the Kansas City Chiefs, and they were both first-round draft picks — a singular achievement in the NFL that still stands today. Plus: Three companies want to capture carbon dioxide from Midwestern ethanol plants, transport it by pipeline and store it underground — but environmentalists question the benefits.
The Hickman Mills school board finally seated its newly elected members this week — after the last meeting ended abruptly when two board members walked out. Plus: Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s emergency rules on gender-affirming care will restrict options for adults, creating alarm for LGBTQ communities across the U.S.
Kansas City schools have seen student lunch debt soar since a pandemic-era universal free lunch program expired last fall. Now, there’s a push to make cafeterias welcoming for all students. Plus: Kansas teachers say student behavior has gotten much worse since the COVID pandemic.
After the shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl, and with hundreds of thousands of people coming to town for the NFL Draft this week, Kansas City is at the center of attention right now — for better and for worse. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas talks about the specifics of the Yarl case and his concerns with Missouri's "guns everywhere" approach to safety.
It's been more than a week since 16-year-old Ralph Yarl was shot in Kansas City. Now that the dust is settling, how are Black residents feeling and what questions are still left unanswered? Plus: Why some cities still ban a plant that helps endangered monarch butterflies.
The shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl in Kansas City has put more attention on Missouri’s self-defense laws, known as the "castle doctrine" and "Stand Your Ground." But will they help the shooter escape a conviction in this case? Plus: Lawmakers in some states — including Missouri — are considering legislation to require automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, in schools.
Protestors gathered in downtown Kansas City yesterday to show their support for Ralph Yarl, the Black teen shot last week when he accidentally went to the wrong house. The accused shooter, Andrew D. Lester, was arrested but released on bond. Plus: How have Mayor Quinton Lucas’ promises matched up to the reality of his first term?
Sixteen-year-old Ralph Yarl was trying to pick up his twin brothers at a friend's house in Kansas City's Northland when he rang the doorbell at the wrong home. The resident, Andrew D. Lester, is charged with shooting Yarl twice — including once in the head — through a glass door.
The Missouri General Assembly is considering multiple proposals to limit — or eliminate — gender-affirming healthcare in Missouri. Today we take a deeper look at the issue and hear from patients, who say many people have the wrong idea about gender-affirming care.
Boxing's popularity has faltered with younger generations, but a referee and a gym in Independence, Missouri, want to bring it back — and help young athletes leave their personal fights behind. Plus: How White Castle got its start in Kansas and created a playbook for American fast food.
After the end of pandemic-era free school meals, kids in Midwest states are eating fewer lunches and meal debt is rising. Plus: After decades of inaction from Kansas leaders over the Ogallala Aquifer drying up, the state's approach to water conservation might finally be shifting.
Kansas City has seen a decline in recycling over the last few years, in part, due to confusion and frustration about how the process works. So just how much of what you sort out is actually recycled, and how much is just shipped off to a landfill?
Kansas lawmakers have considered sending more state tax dollars to private schools, passed restrictions on transgender athletes and debated pay raises for teachers — and the session isn't done yet.
Education issues that gained steam during the pandemic — how race and LGBTQ topics are handled in schools, and what role parents and the government should have in their child’s education — are now reaching a head in the Missouri legislature.
Spring brings a return of wildlife and a boost in temperature, but it also reminds conservationists of the ongoing war against the Callery Pear tree. Known for its picturesque blossoms and pungent odor, this tree is hard to get rid of. Learn why the Callery Pear is virtually everywhere — and why that's a bad thing.
Kansas City voters decided on Tuesday to impose a new sales tax on recreational marijuana sales as well as new taxes and fees on short term rentals like Airbnbs. And despite low turnout, Mayor Quinton Lucas said the new city council could be the "most progressive" in city history.
Kansas City voters narrowed the field of City Council and mayoral candidates yesterday. Find out who advanced to the general election and how proposed taxes on weed and Airbnbs fared. Plus: Mental health coverage can be hard to find in Kansas, but major changes could make help more available.
It’s Ramadan, and Muslims around the Kansas City metro are marking the holy month with daylong fasts. Residents say there are joys and struggles to fasting in an area where many people don’t share their faith. Plus: Why some counties in the Great Plains and Midwest are losing their grocery stores.
Former Roeland Park Mayor Mike Kelly was elected chair of the Johnson County Board of Commissioners in November. As he prepares for his first "state of the county" address this week, Kelly shares his priorities and hopes for the most populous county in Kansas.
Lee's Summit graduate Bryson Bruce got his start performing in musicals and plays in the Kansas City area. Now he's a touring cast member in one of the most popular musicals of our time.
The Citizens Association political organization is almost 100 years old. At one time, its endorsement was a requirement if you wanted to be elected in Kansas City. Now, a new group of political players is trying to remake the group to be more inclusive. Plus: Cyber attacks on hospitals can put patients’ lives at risk — and leave hospitals on the hook for millions of dollars.
People selected to be screened for housing vouchers from the Housing Authority of Kansas City last weekend say the event turned chaotic when they were forced to wait for hours. Plus: Families say Kansas Medicaid red tape cuts off kids from the medical equipment they need.
Last week, the Missouri State Senate passed legislation to prevent medical professionals from providing gender-affirming care to minors — but what is "gender-affirming care" and how will its absence affect trans youth?
Missouri has a record budget surplus and this week, lawmakers will take up what is potentially its biggest plan for spending state dollars ever. So why isn’t the Republican governor’s plan sailing smoothly through the Republican-controlled legislature?
Lawmakers in Kansas and Missouri are passing bans on transgender kids' participation in sports and restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth. We hear from the parents of a transgender teenager in Kansas City, who describe the immense mental and physical toll these political debates are having on their family.
A potential downtown baseball stadium would be an economic boon, possibly creating 20 thousand jobs, according to Kansas City Royals owner John Sherman. An advocacy group wants to make sure workers’ voices are a part of that conversation.
The Missouri Senate is advancing a pair of bills banning transgender athletes from participating in sports that align with their gender identity, and transgender minors from health care that affirms their gender identity. Plus: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas talks about the possibility of a downtown baseball stadium and a park above I-670.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, abortion rights groups have been resorting to increasingly scrappy tactics in their quest to keep abortion accessible across the country. Thanks to volunteer pilots, some are flying into Kansas by plane. Plus: Midwest farmers have tripled their use of cover crops, and a new farm bill might make them even more popular.
The Kansas House last week narrowly passed a "school choice" bill that would shift public tax dollars to private schools, much to the frustration of public school leaders and Gov. Laura Kelly. The Kansas State Board of Education opposes the bill, saying there's no way to track how students are doing.
Since 1992, Broadway Café in the heart of Westport has remained a central part of Kansas City's coffee scene. Plus: Ice skaters in mid-Missouri have to drive up to two hours in order to find a rink where they can practice their sport, but these two teens aren't letting that stop them.
Young people with intellectual disabilities often get placed in foster care because their challenges are more than their families can handle. Kansas lawmakers and foster agencies hope they can help keep some of those kids in their original homes. Plus: Teachers at Kansas City Public Schools will soon be paid the highest starting salaries in the region.
Kansas City’s state-controlled police board is trying to use the courts to increase police funding. Advocates are worried it could strain the city's resources even further, while failing to improve police services.
There’s a push in Missouri, Kansas and Washington, D.C., to restrict foreign ownership of farmland, and growing tensions between the U.S. and China are a big reason why. Plus: States like Kansas and Missouri put a hard cap on the amounts that juries can award in non-economic damages for medical malpractice cases, but who does that actually help?
Kansas City's municipal elections are coming up on April 4, with three ballot questions and three dozen candidates up for a vote. The election will determine the direction of the city for years to come.
A Republican state representative from St. Charles wants to legalize psilocybin, aka magic mushrooms, for medical treatment in Missouri. Plus: Manor Records closed its brick-and-mortar store in Strawberry Hill and is focusing on its true mission: making money for local musicians.
A federal judge this week struck down a Missouri law that banned state and local police from enforcing federal gun restrictions, but the state attorney general vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary. Plus: Black students in a Missouri school district want diversity programs — and the safe spaces they created — restored at their schools.
Missouri started selling recreational marijuana about a month ago, and experts say the state’s relatively low prices and taxes have already created a “canna-tourism” industry. Plus: One of the best women in college basketball right now is from tiny Green City, Missouri, and she’s determined to push her Central Missouri Jennies deep into the NCAA Division 2 tournament.
Celebrating the life and legacy of Kansas City singer Ida McBeth, who died last week at age 70. Plus: Missouri voters legalized recreational marijuana last November. Will Oklahoma be next, and what can they learn from Missouri's successful ballot measure?
It’s the last week before the midterm break in the Missouri legislative session. What’s winning out – bipartisan agreement about how to spend the state’s record budget surplus? Or the acrimony that's paralyzed the General Assembly around controversial issues in recent years?
The Spencer Museum of Art has a new gallery and curators have been deliberate in their selection of more diverse artwork — and an unexpected literary twist. Plus: The Kansas City jazz community is mourning the sudden loss of Ronald McFadden, legendary tap-dancer and musician and one half of the McFadden Brothers.
Kansas City's lone furniture bank offers formerly homeless residents a free shopping spree to help make their new house into a home. Plus: Kansas is one of the biggest wind energy producers in the country, but the lights from thousands of turbines annoy some rural residents.
After decades of planning and five years of construction, Kansas City has officially made the switch to its new airport terminal. Plus: Why the Missouri Attorney General's effort to remove the St. Louis prosecutor from office could have statewide implications.
Kansas City is home to a growing community of refugees from Afghanistan, including an ethnic minority known as the Hazara who are finding a place here and spreading awareness of what they call a genocide back home.
The Kansas Senate approved a sweeping proposal that would eliminate tax brackets and create one flat income tax rate of 4.75%. But could the plan actually mean a tax increase for lower income Kansans?
With small towns on the decline, some residents in western Kansas are trying to brainstorm ways to keep their rural lifestyles alive. Their answer? Youth rodeos. Plus: One Kansas City orchestra wants to inspire the next generation of jazz artists.
Republican lawmakers in Kansas want to make it easier for parents to send their children to private schools, and they’re once again pushing for more parental control over what’s taught in public school classrooms. Plus: A look into the vision of Kansas City Artists Coalition's new leader, who took the position a few months ago.
Former members of Kansas City addiction treatment groups for teenagers allege the programs isolated them from friends and family and pushed them into unsafe behavior. Plus: a "foster care bill of rights" is moving through the Kansas Legislature.
Enrollment in Medicaid hit a record high in Missouri in part because states weren’t allowed to kick people off during the coronavirus pandemic — but that changes soon, threatening health insurance for hundreds of thousands of residents. Plus: Across the Midwest, statewide weather monitors that provide critical weather data are threatened by a lack of stable funding.
Some Republican lawmakers in Kansas want to give millions of taxpayer dollars to crisis pregnancy centers, controversial clinics that try to discourage women from getting abortions. Critics say they're dangerous and misleading people at their most vulnerable.
Surrounding cities have voiced opposition to a possible landfill in southeast Kansas City, Missouri. But the city continues to claim there are no plans for such a project. Plus: An Overland Park game café has become a home and hangout for "three generations of nerds."
Thousands of Kansas City area students are homeless, but one local district has managed to find many families permanent housing and employment. Plus: Kansas City turned the town red during yesterday's Super Bowl parade.
Kansas City is welcoming back the Chiefs as Super Bowl champions, and Mayor Quinton Lucas talks through what fans can look forward to during Wednesday's victory parade and rally. Plus: His reaction to a recent report on lasting racism and sexism within the Kansas City Fire Department.
Across the country, the number of stolen Kias and Hyundais has skyrocketed, but nowhere more so than in Missouri. Police say social media is partly to blame.
For the second time in four years, the Kansas City Chiefs are Super Bowl champions, pulling out a thrilling last-second defeat of the Philadelphia Eagles. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was crowned MVP once again, as Chiefs fans took over the streets of the city to celebrate. A victory parade is being planned for Wednesday.
Kansas City will be watching as the Chiefs take the field in this weekend's Super Bowl. What is the energy like on the ground in Arizona, and what should fans expect out of the team? Plus: A Kansas organization is spending $20 million on Super Bowl commercials as part of a campaign to "rebrand" Jesus.
George Toma is a local groundskeeper who started with the Kansas City Chiefs their very first year, and he's worked every single Super Bowl game since the first one. Plus: No matter who wins, this weekend's Super Bowl match-up will make history as the first to ever feature two Black starting quarterbacks.
Marijuana dispensaries in Missouri are now able to sell recreational cannabis, and they're seeing more demand than ever before. Plus: Kansas City Chiefs fans in Philadelphia always have a home at Big Charlie's Saloon — except during the 2023 Super Bowl.
Kansas City Chiefs fans are considered among the most loyal in football. But for some, that loyalty comes with big moral questions about the team's imagery and traditions. Plus: Digital archivists are busy scanning hundreds of thousands of photos that capture more than a century of Kansas City history.
Rep. Sam Graves represents the largest Congressional district in Missouri. With a high-profile new position chairing the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Graves has a big platform and plans to use his influence to bring a lot of highway funding home to Missouri.
It’s been almost two months since the Keystone pipeline erupted and crude oil rained down upon several acres of native prairie and cropland, and polluted more than three miles of Mill Creek. Hundreds of workers have been hustling around the clock to recover the oil, but landowners want more information about the cleanup and about why the pipeline broke.
Missouri is set to carry out its second execution of 2023 next week. Despite his 2004 conviction, Leonard Taylor has insisted he is innocent in the quadruple murder. His attorneys are hoping for a stay of execution.
A plant on the southern edge of Kansas City is deeply involved in remaking the warheads that stock the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and it's expanding rapidly. Plus: A U.S. Supreme Court case could end some federal protections for wetlands, threatening both water and wildlife.
The Neck neighborhood was in the center of historic Independence, Missouri, and housed the biggest Black community in the city. When the Harry S. Truman Library was built to honor the president, urban renewal policies he put in place destroyed the neighborhood.
Missouri Republicans have proposed more anti-LGBTQ bills than any other state legislature in the country, from banning drag shows to restricting transgender kids from participating in school sports. The ACLU of Missouri says these bills are an attack on freedom of speech.
A new lawsuit accuses the former leader at one of Kansas City's major economic development agencies of lying about his credentials and wiring himself millions of dollars. Plus, the AFC Championship game is back in Kansas City for the fifth year in a row — and business is booming.
Dozens of tenants in a Kansas City apartment building were left without heat and electricity for days, while freezing temperatures took hold of the city. Even after the utilities were restored, residents blame an absentee landlord for the building's poor living conditions.
Cities like St. Louis and Kansas City are gaining national attention for starting the process of reparations for Black residents, but rural areas in Missouri are taking their own steps toward righting historic wrongs. Plus: What is Kansas doing to fix the problem of runaway foster children?
Missouri's Republican governor said he wants to put some of the state's multi-billion-dollar budget surplus toward expanding highways and broadening access to early childhood programs. He told KCUR that issues like transportation and education shouldn't be hyper-partisan.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s budget proposals are attracting some surprising support — from Missouri Democrats. We’ll find out why and get a Democratic take on the legislative year ahead.
Agape Boarding School, a Stockton-based Christian residential facility that's been under scrutiny for decades, is shutting down Friday. Dozens of former students have gone public with their allegations of physical, mental, and sexual abuse at the boarding school.
Customers are paying more at the grocery store for a number of items, but one item is seeing a bigger spike than anything else: Eggs. Plus: Kansans with long COVID struggle to find remedies in one of the only states without dedicated treatment centers.
Abortion is expected to remain a friction point in the Kansas legislative session, even after last year's vote that protected it as a constitutional right. Plus: How Missouri's economy is taking a toll from tens of thousands of residents still experiencing the symptoms of long COVID.
Kansas City residents will head to the polls in April to elect the mayor and city council, but voters will also decide whether to implement new taxes on recreational marijuana and short-term rentals, like Airbnb.
How is the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. living on in Kansas City? We hear from two Kansas City activists about their experiences living through the Civil Rights Movement and how they think the country and this city are doing in the long struggle for justice.
At only 5-foot-9, Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon is considered undersized for the NFL. But the football veteran has helped propel the team through this year’s grueling, 17-game season. Plus: Meet the "Decaf Boys" who have eaten breakfast together at a Lee's Summit diner every day for more than a decade.
Shayla Curts was pregnant with her third child when she was shot and killed in December. Her family says this might not have happened if Jackson County's child welfare system had worked like it was supposed to. Plus: The plan to conserve water in western Kansas and save the region from drying up altogether.
A former Days Inn hotel has been transformed into a unique sanctuary for Kansas City's unhoused population. Plus: A Missouri town offers a case study for what happens when rural hospitals close and jeopardize access to critical health care.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has identified 188 clergy suspected of committing crimes — including sodomy, rape and child rape — and documented how the church covered up the abuse. Plus: Homeowners in Kansas City's Westside may get some relief for sky-high property tax increases.
Kansas Democrats can't seem to overcome the urban-rural divide that's keeping them out of the state legislature, despite some gains in Johnson County. Plus: A new law is changing how Missouri students are taught to read.
After a century, a collection of Japanese antiques has made its way from Kansas City back to a Christian girl’s school in Yokohama, Japan. Plus: Kansas native and opera star Joyce DiDonato is up for her fourth Grammy Award.
The Missouri General Assembly gaveled in a new session on Wednesday, and the Kansas Legislature is reconvening next week. What's at the top of the agenda?
Kids around the metro are returning to class after the holiday break — but the new semester has some familiar issues kicking around. Staffing issues in schools, fights over curriculums and controversial mascots were some of the top stories in 2022, and those continued debates are setting the tone for the year ahead.
The midterm made 2022 a busy year for Missouri politics. Republicans strengthened their control in Jefferson City and voters voiced their support of recreational marijuana. A look at the biggest Missouri politics stories of the year and what to expect in 2023.
This year saw the arrest and indictment of retired Kansas City, Kansas, police detective Roger Golubski. Gun violence and homicides continued to plague Kansas City, something that the new KCPD chief is ready to tackle. A look at the biggest criminal justice stories of the year.
In 2022, hundreds of refugees made their way to Kansas City with hopes of finding help. This year also saw tenants in housing court receive much-needed assistance with their legal representation. We'll take a look at the biggest housing stories of 2022.
Missouri saw flooding, drought, extreme heat and bitter cold in 2022. Meanwhile, in Kansas, drought-fueled wildfires are exhausting resources and adding importance to the fight to conserve water. We'll take a look at the biggest climate stories of the year.
With another year of the COVID-19 pandemic coming to a close, health and health care access are still on the minds of many people. This year also marked the fall of Roe v. Wade and a rise in respiratory illnesses. Kansas City Today has a collection of all the major health stories from throughout 2022.
An iconic bakery in Kansas City, Kansas, is still selling same sweet bread that the owners' great, great grandmother brought from Croatia at the turn of the last century. Plus: The Easy Inn on Strawberry Hill looks like your average neighborhood dive bar, but to its regular patrons, it's a refuge.
Hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude oil spilled out of the Keystone Pipeline in north-central Kansas, and cleaning it up will be especially difficult. Plus: Kansas nursing homes are facing allegations of neglect, even after receiving rewards for more thoughtful care.
Opioid overdoses spiked during the pandemic and recovering from addiction can take years and involve multiple relapses. One Kansas man explains how access to medical care has played a pivotal role on his path to recovery.
The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners named a longtime department veteran as the new KCPD chief of police: Major Stacey Graves. However, the selection process was criticized by many in the community, including Mayor Quinton Lucas and the Urban League.
With another four years secured, Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is hoping to continue the policy work she began in her first term. But the state legislature's GOP supermajority may have other plans.
It started as a weekly demonstration outside the KCPD headquarters, reciting the names of people killed by Kansas City police. Now KC LEAP is taking another step in advocating for accountability and the victims of police violence. Plus: What will it take for the city to host the World Cup in 2026?
The public comment period is ending for proposed rules from Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, which threaten to take away state funding from libraries unless they restrict "non-age-appropriate materials" from minors. Ashcroft says the rules are meant to empower parents, but library administrators call it a slippery slope.
Johnson County courts are expanding a program that focuses on treating individuals with mental illness or drug issues, instead of punishing them. Plus: Scientists are grappling with how to better define and predict extreme weather events causing havoc across the Midwest.
Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas discusses a bombshell whistleblower complaint from a former KCPD lawyer, who alleges the police department hid criminal case evidence and illegally withheld public records. He also criticizes how the police board is conducting the hiring process for a new chief.
Public comment is closing soon on a proposal from the Missouri Secretary of State, who wants to crack down on which materials children can access in public libraries. But former library administrators are speaking out against what they see as government overreach.
Trombone players were feeling left out of Kansas City's popular "Tuba Christmas" event, so they began their own brassy tradition. Plus: After living in New York for 25 years, Kansas City artist Ky Anderson and her colorful, abstract paintings are coming back home.
Prairie Village is considering updating its zoning laws to help create more affordable options and encourage diversity in a city short on both. But the proposed changes are drawing vocal opposition from some residents.
Johnson County schools have found success in a suicide prevention effort where teenagers help each other through mental health problems. Plus, the families of students in the Independence School District say they're frustrated by a lack of transparency.
Short-term rentals like Airbnbs are popular for investors and convenient for travelers — but many of the city’s rentals aren’t properly licensed. Hear why community members want to take action on illegal short-term rentals.
A bill that would enshrine recognition of same-sex and interracial marriage into law passed the U.S. Senate this week, with support from Republican Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt. That's despite a last minute plea from Missouri's Secretary of State to vote against the legislation.
Model trains run year-round at Union Station, but during the holiday season the exhibit gets even bigger. Meet some of the volunteers who design, build and maintain the fan-favorite display. Plus, Kansas City arcades took a big hit during the pandemic, but now pinball wizards — both new and old — are coming back in force.
Wagers are well underway in Kansas under the state's new sports betting system. But taxable revenues from the industry have nearly disappeared, thanks to questionable deductions and the state's comparably small share of the profits.
In the Midwest and Great Plains, widespread drought has dried up lakes and rivers, ignited wildfires, decimated crop harvests and left cattle with no grass to eat. The ripple effects of this and future droughts will continue to affect our diets, health and economy for generations to come.
Kevin Johnson was sentenced to death in 2007 for the slaying of a Kirkwood, Missouri, police officer. But an extensive investigation found the state’s handling of death-eligible prosecutions was rife with pervasive racial bias.
Missouri's abortion ban contains only one exception, not for rape or incest, but for "medical emergencies." But the law is vague on what that means — and that's a problem for hospitals, since performing an abortion could carry a felony and prison time. It's also a problem for patients in critical need of care.
A sweet smell is filling the air in Old Town Lenexa as Jude’s Rum Cakes begins baking thousands of tasty treats for the holiday season. Plus: You can thank a group of scrappy Kansas City women for the invention of the Crock-Pot as we know it today.
Kansas City has long held a reputation as a center of blues music and culture. But as elder musicians pass away, one Kansas blues festival appears to have reached its conclusion. Plus, Kansas City's first bicycle collective has transformed junk into reliable rides for 15 years.
As climate change threatens the Great Plains, bison may be a key to creating resilient prairies. Plus, a look at the Farm Bill, a $500 billion plan that sets policy on everything from crop insurance to food benefits.
The owner of the Kansas City Royals says the team plans to abandon Kauffman Stadium and build a downtown "ballpark district." But experts say the payoffs aren't so clear, especially if taxpayers have to help foot the bill.
School districts are required by law to help homeless children stay in school. Most Kansas City-area districts take that role seriously, but the Blue Springs School District may be undercounting its unhoused kids — and failing to provide them critical services.
A company hired to clean meatpacking plants in Missouri and other Midwest states is accused of illegally using children for potentially dangerous jobs. Plus: Eric Schmitt is heading to D.C. as Missouri's next U.S. Senator, but he'll be entering a very different legislative environment than the one he's used to at home.
Former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective Roger Golubski was paid to help protect a sex trafficking operation of underage girls run out of an apartment complex, according to an expanded federal indictment. What do we know about the case against Golubski so far?
Missourians voted last week to require Kansas City to spend even more money on its police department, though most Kansas City residents were against it. But the results still left local advocates optimistic about the future. Plus: Kansas nursing homes are struggling to stay staffed and open.
Recreational marijuana will soon be legal for Missourians over the age of 21 after voters passed Amendment 3. But how soon can people expect to buy it, and what's the timeline for expunging criminal records?
Urban farms can take blighted vacant lots and turn them into green space that provides food for neighborhoods, but in Kansas City and the Midwest, they struggle to get that land from private owners and city land banks. Plus: For one local forager, fall weather is the best time for hunting mushrooms.
Two very close races have been called in Kansas: Incumbent Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly won a second term, with about a 1.5% lead over her Republican opponent, state Attorney General Derek Schmidt. And Republican Kris Kobach beat Democrat Chris Mann by about 2 points in his bid for attorney general.
In Missouri, voters have approved the recreational use of marijuana by adults and will send Republican Eric Schmitt to the U.S. Senate. Meanwhile in Kansas, voters gave Democrat Sharice Davids another term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Kansas and Missouri are headed to the polls today! Voters have some big races to decide: governor, U.S. Senate and attorney general in Kansas, and in Missouri, an open U.S. Senate contest plus constitutional amendments to legalize recreational marijuana and increase KCPD funding.
The race for Jackson County Executive nears the finish line as incumbent Frank White faces off against Republican Theresa Galvin.
The Missouri general election battle for U.S. Senate has been somewhat tame compared to the wild primary season, but does that signal a unified rightward trajectory for the state? Plus: Voters in northwest Missouri say they’ve always been conservative but used to be able to call themselves Democrats.
The newly-rearranged Kansas 3rd congressional district is seeing incumbent Democrat Sharice Davids face off against Republican Amanda Adkins, with abortion and inflation stealing the spotlight. Plus: Missourians will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana this election, but Amendment 3 isn't that straight forward.
The Kansas Board of Education will soon vote on a recommendation to do away with Native American mascots statewide. Plus, a Board of Education race in Johnson County is between two candidates who diverge on hot button issues like control of curriculum and how schools discuss mental health.
Once a Democratic stronghold, a swing congressional district in northern Missouri became dominated by Republicans, thanks to a national realignment and the influence of conservative media. Plus: Why a Democratic candidate thinks she has a shot to flip a Kansas House district in Johnson County.
Two political newcomers seek to represent Kansas House District 37 after what many Wyandotte County voters feel was two years of lost time with a scandal-plagued lawmaker. Plus: the abortion debate has gone local with many towns across the Midwest banning procedures inside city limits.
First-time Democratic candidate Sarah Shorter is taking on Missouri Senator Tony Luetkemeyer — but working two other jobs and running against an incumbent in a Republican district is no easy task. Plus: Why pumpkin patches and apple orchards are bringing more people out to visit farms.
Will the Kansas House's 35th District in Kansas City, Kansas, break its 30-year Democratic streak and send a Republican to the statehouse? Plus: Remembering Charles Wheeler, the feisty and forceful former Kansas City, Missouri, mayor, who died on Tuesday.
Who should be the next governor of Kansas? Republican Derek Schmidt is making his bid about President Biden and Democratic policies he says have failed to address rising prices and angered parents over schools. Meanwhile, incumbent Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is touting a balanced budget and a growing Kansas economy.
Former Kansas City, Kansas, mayor Mark Holland sees a path to victory against longtime U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, who's running for re-election this November. Plus, Black babies in Kansas have long had a much higher chance of dying than white babies — and then the pandemic hit, and Black infant mortality surged 58%.
This election, residents of Kansas City, Missouri, will weigh in on several hot-button topics on the statewide ballot, including marijuana legalization and KCPD funding. There's also several ballot issues for local voters that are not as flashy, but could have big impacts on the city's finances for years to come.
The city of Independence allocated millions in federal COVID relief funding to its police department — for things like sniper rifles and officer bonuses — but little to the health department. Plus: Kansas Jayhawks football has stirred up talk with their early-season success under coach Lance Leipold. But how long will it last?
Residents in Springfield, Missouri, had no idea that their drinking water might be contaminated with toxic chemicals, disposed of improperly by a defense contractor, until 2019. In the years since, the community is still looking for answers to how this happened.
Missouri is one of only two states where control of its National Guard does not rest with the governor, but Amendment 5 could change that in November. Plus: Engineers in Kansas are trying a new way to prevent reservoirs from getting filled with mud.
Two candidates with sharply opposing ideologies on rising property taxes, economic development, climate change and more are competing to be the next chair of the Johnson County Commission.
Kansas hasn’t elected a Democrat to U.S. Senate in 90 years, but Mark Holland hopes he's the one to change that — after all, the former mayor of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, has won elections before.
Kansas City Public Schools says it's considering closing 10 schools as part of its long-term plan to expand student opportunities and combat declining enrollment. Plus: Kansas beadwork artist Mona Cliff is one of 19 local artists creating new work for the new KCI airport terminal.
Free speech advocates say Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is attacking academic freedom by filing records requests at schools and universities, targeting issues of journalistic fact-checking and social-emotional learning.
Climate change is forcing communities in the Mississippi River Basin to deal with constant flooding on farmland and the places they call home. Plus: Missouri’s state commission designated to advocate for Hispanic communities disappeared 14 years ago, but Latino residents say there's an even greater need for it now.
A new Planned Parenthood in Kansas City, Kansas, opened in June, just after the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Just a few months in, the demand for abortion services has become more than they can handle. Plus: How Hays, Kansas, became the pioneer for water conservation in the Midwest.
Missouri voters are weeks away from casting their ballot on recreational marijuana. Even for those who support legalizing weed, Amendment 3 has drawn complaints about how licenses are distributed and whether it goes far enough in clearing criminal records.
In the Kansas governor's race, education, LGBTQ rights, and the economy have become major divides between Republican Derek Schmidt and Democrat Laura Kelly. Plus: The Kansas City Current broke ground on a women’s soccer stadium set to open in 2024.
Kansas clinics that provide abortions are struggling to keep up with demand as patients travel from as far as Texas and Louisiana to receive care.
Kansas in 2020 settled a lawsuit over the way the state’s foster care system treated children. Has the state lived up to its promises? Plus: A federal program aimed at helping low-income communities access food pays its own employees so little that some workers qualify for food stamps themselves.
Republican Kris Kobach promises to sue the federal government every chance he gets if he’s elected Kansas attorney general. Plus, how a new program in Kansas City is already helping hundreds of tenants facing eviction.
With the 2022 midterm elections about five weeks away, we're taking a deep dive into what’s on the Missouri ballot — including some significant ballot issues and an open U.S. Senate race.
Roger MacBride, captain of The Kansas City Lady, made his boat into a friendly space for friends, artists and musicians to engage with the Missouri River. Also, a Kansas City artist spent 88 days canoeing the entire Missouri River, painting watercolors and taking photos along his journey.
Pediatricians are worried about kids losing Medicaid coverage when the federal COVID emergency declaration ends. Plus: Why the Biden administration and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly don't agree on proposed new rules for a popular weed killer used by farmers.
The long-stalled Mission Gateway project, a $268 million redevelopment plan whose future has been up in the air for a decade, is back on the table again. Plus: After a medical condition abruptly ended Marcus Walker's pro basketball career, he's turned to teaching the next generation in Kansas City.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas responds to the U.S. Department of Justice's investigation into alleged racial discrimination in the hiring practices of the Kansas City Police Department.
How difficult is it to be "fair and balanced" when one side of the conversation won't return your call? What it means when candidates and elected officials stop talking with journalists about the issues that affect people’s lives.
A school librarian recalls ‘surreal’ police visits at a Missouri high school library. And a revolt is brewing at Emporia State University after 33 staff members were laid off due to budget cuts.
Kansas legislators want voters to give them power to overturn state rules and regulations set by the governor, but critics say the move is meant to shift political power from Democratic governors to Republican lawmakers. Plus, young voters from around the Kansas City metro say even though they feel politicians don't really care about them, they still plan to vote.
Six of the seven Kansas Supreme Court Justices will be on the November ballot to keep their jobs. While retention elections usually fly under the radar, the fight over abortion could raise the stakes on Nov. 8. Plus, Kansas inmates say medical care is so bad, they're suffering for years without relief.
Former KCKPD detective Roger Golubski is out on bond, even after federal prosecutors detailed seven more women who accused the longtime officer of sexual assault. Plus: A first look at KCUR's new investigative podcast, Overlooked, about Golubski and corruption in Kansas City, Kansas.
A proposed solar farm in eastern Kansas could be the largest in the state, but not everyone is excited about 2,000 acres of panels being built in their backyard. Plus: How some Midwestern states are getting creative in their attempts to attract tourists.
Former detective Roger Golubski, who allegedly used his police badge to exploit vulnerable Black women in Kansas City, Kansas, has been arrested by the FBI. He's charged with sexual assault and kidnapping.
Kansas City's streets are often confusing and dangerous for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. Although the city has several efforts underway to make its roads safer, there seem to be too many "cursed" intersections to fix all at once.
A new bivalent booster shot for COVID-19 is being administered at pharmacy chains in the Kansas City area and will soon be available at local health departments. Should you get one if you've already had a booster?
Many Missourians don't support the state's abortion ban, but that doesn't appear to change who they vote for. Plus: The 988 emergency mental health hotline debuted this summer, but some advocates question if Missouri is committed to funding the project long term.
Kansas City traffic fatalities are up 25% from a year earlier, and nationwide, deaths are at a 20-year high, a surge not seen among any other developed countries. Plus: Congress is spending billions to help states stop pollution from abandoned oil and gas wells.
Kiwi Farms, a website known for harassing LGBTQ people, has lost its home on the internet. Now a Kansas City mother is speaking up about how the website conducted an abuse campaign against her transgender child.
The race for Kansas' 3rd congressional district is tighter than it was in 2020, and no one knows that more than incumbent Rep. Sharice Davids. Finding herself in a more conservative district after Republican redistricting, Davids says the two key issues for voters are managing inflation and access to reproductive health care.
After Kansas' 3rd Congressional District was redrawn to make it more competitive for Republicans, U.S. House candidate Amanda Adkins sees 2022 as her year to defeat incumbent U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids. Adkins says the two key issues for voters this November are inflation and immigration.
Missouri's Secretary of State defends a new election law requiring anyone who wants to cast a ballot to have a form of government-issued photo identification. Two lawsuits have already been filed to block the restrictions from taking effect.
Efforts to open silica mines in southeast Missouri are bringing back memories of toxic lead mining that scarred the region centuries ago. Plus, a Midwest "rite of passage" that was predominantly done by teenagers has changed as seed companies shift jobs to migrant workers.
A Kansas City artist invented an instrument that paints and composes at the same time, creating music with a brush stroke. Plus, one Kansas golfer is trying to bring more diversity to the caddie community.
A former teacher is trying to make a difference for the Park Hill School District, but not from the classroom. Plus, how Missouri sex-workers are organizing to help protect their community's access to abortions.
You may love burnt ends, but you probably haven’t heard of Henry Perry, Kansas City's original "barbecue king." Plus: How Hiram Young, a former slave, opened the first school for Black children in Independence and became one of the wealthiest persons in the county.
This week, Kansas is joining the list of states where sports gambling is legal, just in time for the 2022 NFL season. Casinos and sports betting apps are eager to set up shop.
Kansas City is taking steps to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 with a new Climate Protection and Resiliency Plan. It's expected to decommission Evergy’s Hawthorn coal power plant, create more bike lanes, increase tree canopies and much more.
Starting this weekend, Missouri voters will need to present a government-issued photo ID when casting their ballots. But voting rights groups have filed lawsuits claiming the law is unconstitutional.
Jackson County is facing a shortage of social workers, forcing birth parents to miss court-ordered visits with their children. Plus, the Missouri Senate's controversial conservative caucus has disbanded, leaving behind moral victories and calls for unity.
After voters defended the right to abortion at the ballot, Kansas will continue to be an abortion destination for patients coming from other states where the procedure is banned. At the same time, many rural Kansas counties that voted to protect abortion rights are likely to send anti-abortion conservatives back to the Legislature.
A loophole in Kansas state law allows probation to be extended indefinitely for failure to pay court costs, fines or restitution. For those who are too poor to afford those costs, it could mean probation for the rest of their lives — which also means losing the right to vote.
John Wood knows that he faces long odds in his independent candidacy for U.S. Senate in Missouri, but the self-described mainstream conservative still thinks this year is the right time for such a run.
Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart disappeared in 1937 on a doomed voyage around the world. But she’s still a big presence in her hometown of Atchison, Kansas, where a new museum dedicated to her is opening next year. Plus, the Kansas City man who's been designing and altering fur coats for over 40 years.
Environmentalists are praising the news of an electric vehicles battery plant coming to Kansas, but this "green industry" comes with its own issues. Plus: An experimental farm in southern Missouri is trying to prove that grazing animals in forests is better for everyone, including the cows.
A year after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, 760 refugees have made Kansas City their new home. But even after finding jobs and housing, these new residents remain separated from their family and uncertain about their future — including if they'll be allowed to stay.
Monkeypox cases are on the rise, bringing with them a stigma that echoes the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Missouri voters will decide this November whether to legalize recreational marijuana, four years after they first approved the drug for medicinal use. But will advocates be able to get the votes to pass this constitutional amendment?
After playing Austin's South by Southwest festival earlier this year, a Kansas City rapper known as The Pradagy is making a name for himself in the local scene. Plus: An artist is using native flowers to bring new color to Kansas City’s Marlborough neighborhood.
Parade Park was a symbol of pride for Black families in Kansas City who finally got their chance at home ownership — but the neighborhood may not survive redevelopment. Plus, staff shortages are forcing Missouri school districts to consider four-day weeks.
Despite an alarmingly hot summer, all public pools in Kansas City, Missouri, have closed early because of funding and staffing issues. Plus, how western Kansas' prehistoric ocean could help scientists understand the future of life in a changing climate.
Police departments in Kansas are struggling to attract and hire officers — often losing them to other jobs. The shortage is hampering departments across the state.
For the third time this year, the University of Kansas has suspended a fraternity for hazing offenses. The fate of Sigma Chi highlights ongoing problems with Greek life on college campuses nationwide.
Former Kansas City Chiefs Coach Dick Vermeil will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend, 17 years after leaving the city. Plus, a Kansas City comic company is making space for Black and brown characters in manga.
The race for U.S. Senate in Kansas appears to be incumbent Republican Jerry Moran’s to lose. But to some voters, the world looks different this election cycle. Plus: What to look forward to with Missouri's own U.S. Senate showdown.
Kansans went to the polls on Tuesday to decide who will advance to the general election in several key races. They also weighed in on whether the state constitution includes the right to an abortion.
Missouri and Kansas voters are headed to the polls for some important elections today. Plus: The Johnson County Sheriff's Office says they've gotten hundreds of tips relating to election fraud, but after a records request from KCUR, they only produced one.
Republicans have gotten most of the attention in the U.S. Senate primary in Missouri, but August 2 also has a competitive Democratic primary too. Plus, one candidate hopes he will become one of the few elected Hispanic officials in Jackson County.
Abortion has emerged as a big topic on the campaign trail for the seven Republican candidates vying for Missouri's 4th district congressional seat, which is being vacated by Rep. Vicky Hartzler. Plus, antique toys could put children at risk of lead poisoning.
Kansas voters will soon decide whether to strip abortion rights from the state constitution, and possibly open the door to a total ban. Plus, what the "ghost story" of "Doc Annie" Smith could reveal about the last time abortion was illegal in Missouri.
Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine comes from one of the wealthiest families in the country and has never run for office before. She believes her nursing background — and focus on issues like the opioid crisis and reproductive rights — will help her connect with voters in Missouri's U.S. Senate race.
Democrat Lucas Kunce has never run for public office before. Now the Marine veteran and former federal employee has outraised every other candidate in the race. He's confident that a populist message is the key to turning Missouri's Senate seat blue.
There are 21 Republicans seeking to succeed Missouri's Sen. Roy Blunt, but much of the focus in the Republican primary is revolving around former Gov. Eric Greitens. Plus, Kansas will be the first state in the country to vote on whether to protect abortion rights after Roe v. Wade, but the stakes are also high for people living in neighboring Missouri.
The National Baseball Hall of Fame will finally induct Negro Leagues legend Buck O’Neil this weekend, 16 years after his death. O'Neil's impact is still felt by coaches, players and fans all over Kansas City. Plus, a third Kansas City woman shares her abortion story.
Communities of color in Kansas and Missouri face a far higher burden of medical debt than white people in those states and people of color in many other states. Plus, we hear another Kansas City woman share her abortion story.
Kansas City Public Schools has a new interim superintendent, who has big plans for the district and says she knows "exactly what we need to do to move forward." Plus, a Kansas City woman shares her abortion story.
U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler is in a crowded GOP primary field for Missouri's open U.S. Senate seat. After former President Donald Trump declined to endorse her, Hartzler says her experience in Congress sets her apart.
Kansas' Aug. 2 primary is shaping up to be a national event, even beyond the high-profile constitutional amendment on abortion rights. Several Republican primaries will test how much sway former President Trump still has in the Sunflower State.
De Soto, Kansas, will be the home of a new $4 billion Panasonic plant to make batteries for electric cars. Officials promise the plant will create 4,000 new jobs and bring thousands of new residents to the region, but it took a lot of tax incentives to land the deal.
Missouri scientists say that even though fewer people are getting tested for COVID, wastewater shows increasing evidence of new variants. Plus, Kansas City Manager Brian Platt talks about gun violence and how to stop events like the recent mass shooting in Westport.
Religious institutions generally avoid taking a stance during election cycles, but the anti-abortion amendment in Kansas' August primary offers a rare chance for churches to make their positions known. Plus, a drought in Kansas is devastating this year's wheat harvest, even as prices are at a historic high.
The new BA.5 variant is making its way throughout the country — and you aren't necessarily immune, even if you recently recovered from COVID. A health expert talks us through what Kansas Citians should do to stay safe.
A new laws signed by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson will make major changes to the state’s elections laws. Starting this fall, residents are required to show a photo ID when they cast a ballot, a controversial rule that may make it harder for some groups to vote.
One of Kansas City's most traveled streets — Troost Avenue — is named after a slaveholder from the 1800s. A small business owner with a storefront along the street wants to change that.
Kansas is dealing with the most severe teacher shortage it’s ever known, and it's likely to be even worse by the fall. Plus, celebrate Sliced Bread Day in Missouri with the story of how one small town revolutionized our food culture — and then forgot about it.
No longer a respite from the triple-digit summer temperatures, Missouri evenings have been just as hot and muggy as the days —one of the many impacts of climate change. Plus, some Phelps County residents were put at risk of losing their right to vote, all because they have court-ordered guardians.
Kansas City's Parade Park, one of the country's oldest Black housing cooperatives, has been deteriorating for years. Now it's running out of time before it faces foreclosure. Plus: How one broker is trying to increase Black homeownership in Kansas City's urban core.
The U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade was met with mixed reactions by faith leaders in Kansas City. From Jewish synagogues to Baptist churches, many leaders are now talking with their congregations about abortion rights and what the decision means for religious freedom.
Kansas City has seen 44 pedestrian fatalities this year compared to 33 this time last year, raising concerns about street safety throughout the city. What's being done to keep pedestrians safe?
A small town in northern Missouri was thrown into the headlines when an Amtrak train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago hit a dump truck at an unguarded crossing, killing four and injuring dozens more. Plus, the Kansas City-area farmers who are helping put fresh food on school lunch tables.
Kansas' Aug. 2 primary will determine whether the right to an abortion is protected by the state constitution. But the Kansas Abortion Fund, which gives money to people seeking abortions, is determined to keep helping no matter the outcome.
Kansas City residents rally for abortion rights following the fall of Roe v. Wade. Plus, the story of two shuttered Missouri hospitals may well serve as a warning for what happens when private companies acquire rural hospitals.
The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the landmark reproductive rights case Roe v. Wade. Missouri immediately implemented its "trigger ban" outlawing most abortions, while the decision raises the stakes even higher for a Kansas ballot issue in August.
A new campaign ad from U.S. Senate contender Eric Greitens encourages viewers to acquire a "RINO hunting" permit and go after "Republican(s) in name only." But the video has been criticized by Democrats and Republicans, and removed by Facebook, for encouraging violence.
High food prices are affecting many in Kansas City, and there are two crops that play an outsized role: corn and soybeans. Plus, one rancher in Kansas is outfitting his cattle with GPS collars to save money and protect the grasslands.
The Biden administration plans to spend $250 million dollars in Missouri and $164 million dollars in Kansas to remove lead pipes — if they can find them. Plus, what Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has to say about gun laws after a threat of a mass shooting closed 10 local school districts.
Primary elections in Kansas and Missouri are just weeks away. In Missouri, a crowd of candidates — both Democrats and Republicans — are vying for the chance to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Roy Blunt. Who voters select in the primaries could determine the balance of power in Washington.
One African-American chef from Kansas City is creating a new community around food in the 18th and Vine District. Also, we hear about a Kansas City jazz singer who made waves across the nation 75 years ago for her specific type of blues.
Kansas City will be one of 11 U.S. host cities in the 2026 World Cup. Plus, venison donated to food pantries could contain trace amounts of lead — but in Kansas and Missouri, you won't get a warning.
Frustrated by the slow pace of progress in combatting climate change among their parents’ generation, some young Missourians are channeling their climate anxiety into action in their communities.
Russia's war in Ukraine has disrupted global food supplies, driving up demand and prices for wheat. But after months of drought, many western Kansas farmers won’t have a crop to sell.
Missouri's Sunshine Law was written to ensure that the public could have access to all sorts of government records — including emails, meetings, votes and deliberations. But do the use of self-destructing text-messaging apps sidestep the reach of the state's open records law?
Kansas City Public Schools superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell is exiting after six years. He led the struggling district through some major transitions — including regaining full accreditation — and tells KCUR he leaves the district in a "much better situation."
Missouri has spent millions of tax dollars to fight abortion. But a little-known part of a 2019 law also has provided huge tax credits for "crisis pregnancy centers" — a drain on state revenues that legislative oversight officials failed to forecast.
Parents in Kansas City are having to get creative in order to deal with a nationwide shortage of baby formula. Although some manufacturers have resumed production, it could be a little while longer until stock is back to normal.
Redlining made climate change worse in Kansas City, Kansas, but new generations are fighting back. Plus, why Missouri police departments have only used a fraction of the state's $2 million witness protection fund.
Tenants facing eviction in Kansas City, Missouri, now have free access to an attorney, regardless of income. Plus, a familiar name in Kansas will appear in the Republican primary for attorney general this August.
A Kansas organization is looking to follow in Georgia's footsteps and bring a more progressive presence to the state's legislature.
A bill passed by the Missouri General Assembly would ban people from sleeping on state-owned land and allow the state attorney general to sue local governments that don’t enforce the ban. Opponents of the legislation call it "criminalizing a population."
Being a foster parent is hard enough, but being one in rural Kansas presents its own struggles. Plus, the wind energy industry is now facing a new challenge: what to do with old wind turbine blades when it’s time to replace them.
Years before the Stonewall uprising, Drew Shafer started Kansas City's first gay rights organization and published the first LGBTQ magazine in the Midwest. It was that effort, in part, that made Stonewall a turning point in the gay rights movement. Plus, how the lead industry lied to the American public for decades about the dangers of its toxic products.
The Salvation Choir, a Congolese Rumba band based in the historic Northeast, is creating a community for Tanzanian refugees through song and dance. Plus, why bass virtuoso left the East Coast for the West Bottoms.
Rep. Stephanie Byers is the first openly transgender lawmaker in Kansas, and has been championing the rights of LGBTQ residents even as Republican lawmakers focus on bills targeting transgender students and LGBTQ topics in schools. (This episode originally came out May 5, 2022.)
A small college in Kansas City, Kansas, is teaching its students about the role they can play in reversing climate change. Plus, the city manager of Kansas City, Missouri, talks about what's being done to improve road conditions and fight climate change.
Almost all abortions will immediately become illegal in Missouri if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. But some reproductive rights advocates worry that access to contraceptives could be targeted next. Plus, how Missouri and Kansas politicians are reacting to the deadly school shooting in Texas.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is headed out of a contentious legislative session and into a competitive reelection campaign. Although the Republican-dominated Legislature blocked many of her priorities — including Medicaid expansion and medical marijuana — Kelly says she's confident about her record.
Another Starbucks store in the Kansas City area is voting on whether to form a union. But baristas across the metro say the company retaliated against union efforts by threatening their health benefits. Plus, a Kansas patient says the gene therapy research that could help him is going nowhere fast.
After the Kansas Supreme Court upheld the state's GOP-drawn congressional redistricting map, one Wyandotte County lawmaker says the decision will "leave voiceless in Congress a large percentage of Kansans."
Parking at Kansas City's River Market used to be free on the weekends, but city officials are now raising prices with the hopes of cutting down on congestion. Plus, how one Kansas City broadcast pioneer started the nation’s longest-running Black-owned radio station.
The Kansas Supreme Court will allow the Republican-drawn redistricting map to stand, even though its opponents said it was racially and politically gerrymandered. Plus, after generations of protecting their amateur status, college athletes are now cashing in on endorsements.
A growing number of young adults say the future of the planet is on their minds as they decide whether they want to have kids. Plus, we’ll hear how a years-long decline in college enrollment is prompting the Kansas Board of Regents to consider cutting degree programs.
Despite sometimes confusing route changes, long wait times and other minor inconveniences, some Kansas Citians use public transit because they want to. But even more of the city might fall under the category of "aspirational transit users."
The Missouri General Assembly wrapped up the 2022 legislative session on Friday. We'll break down what passed and what didn't. Plus, the Kansas Supreme Court hears a case on whether the state’s congressional map was politically and racially gerrymandered to benefit Republicans.
Kansas City's need for more robust, user-friendly transit has been a major talking point for years. But the city was built for cars, and getting around using anything other than a personal automobile requires a special kind of effort.
One Kansas City school says the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need to support student needs past the academic year and through the summer. Plus, Kansas foster parents say the lawyers assigned to advocate for children rarely meet, and fail to protect, the kids they represent.
Missouri will make virtually all abortions illegal the moment that the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. How did the state get to this point? Plus, the Kaw Nation will reclaim a 20-ton sacred boulder that was stolen by the city of Lawrence a century ago.
Missouri’s Congressional candidates don't actually know what their district or voters will look like, because the General Assembly has failed to adopt a Congressional map. And there's just months left before the August primary. Plus, more than 80% of the western Great Plains is in a drought.
Lawmakers in Missouri are fresh off of passing the biggest budget in state history. Now the General Assembly has just a few days left to make decisions on several big issues, all just a few months before an election.
A Kansas City-area school board is facing backlash after directing staff to remove signs indicating that a classroom is a welcoming space for LGBTQ students.
Rep. Stephanie Byers is the first openly transgender lawmaker in Kansas, and has been championing the rights of LGBTQ residents even as Republican lawmakers focus on bills targeting transgender students and LGBTQ topics in schools.
The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to strike down abortion protections, according to a leaked draft opinion published by POLITICO Monday. But is this opinion likely the court’s final word on Roe v. Wade? Plus, a look at what such a decision would mean in Kansas and Missouri.
Kansas City remembers the life of artist Wilbur Niewald. Niewald taught at the Kansas City Art Institute for more than 40 years and was a fixture at Loose Park, painting outdoors in all kinds of weather.
Kansas lawmakers returned to the capitol last week for a whirlwind veto session, notable not only for what passed but also for what failed to make it across the finish line. Also, why former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens is stoking concern among Republican political insiders.
Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Russians living in Kansas City have been walking a fine line. Many fear backlash from the Kremlin if they speak out against war, but not speaking out could mean harassment here. Plus, 50 years into show business, musician Lonnie McFadden opened his own Kansas City nightclub to call home.
Kansans with substance use problems say they are falling through the cracks of a legal system that’s more concerned with punishing them than getting them sober. And, a transmission line that would deliver wind energy from southwest Kansas to other parts of the country has some Missouri farmers concerned about the use of eminent domain to complete the project.
Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza is turning a century old, a milestone that finds people examining the iconic shopping center’s past and wondering about its future. Plus, Kevin Strickland talks about how the media covers wrongful convictions.
Half of the homicides in Kansas City every year go unsolved by the police department — including the case of KCUR reporter Aviva Okeson-Haberman, who died after a bullet pierced the window of her apartment. For the friends and families of those victims, the lack of charges or even information means a lack of closure.
Kansas lawmakers are back today for a veto override session, after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly rejected multiple bills passed by the GOP-controlled legislature — including a ban on transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports, and a "Parent's Bill of Rights." Overturning those vetoes will be a challenge, but not impossible.
How can Kansas City start fighting climate change? A number of small-town mayors from around the metro have already begun, forming the coalition Climate Action KC and creating infrastructures and mindsets that will hopefully outlast their terms in office.
Missouri ranks dead last in the U.S. for the average starting salaries for teachers — just $32,000. But so far, state budget discussions have ignored a plan from the governor to raise that pay. Plus, how will Ford's plan to electrify its best-selling F-150 pickup play out in the Midwest?
Kansas lawmakers are on the verge of letting students attend public schools outside the districts where they live. That push to open enrollment pits conservative school-choice advocates against school administrators. Plus, America’s entire fleet of long-range stealth bombers are based at Whiteman Air Force Base 60 miles east of Kansas City.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas criticized outgoing police chief Rick Smith last week over his decision to disband the missing persons cold case unit. Lucas talks about the effects of that decision and the search for a new police chief after Smith steps down Friday. Plus, millions of people have fled from Ukraine since Russia invaded in February. We'll hear from a Ukrainian family reunited in Missouri.
Missouri and Kansas already have some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation. If the Supreme Court reverses its landmark Roe v. Wade decision, Missouri law would automatically make abortion illegal in the state. And Kansas might not be far behind.
Bradford pear trees — an invasive species that chokes out native plants — are blooming all across Kansas and Missouri right now, so it’s the perfect time for biologists to track them down and kill them. Plus, why a Missouri prison is training incarcerated men in computer programming.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, shocked many when she decided to sign a GOP-backed bill that bans "sanctuary cities" and targets efforts in Wyandotte County to issue municipal IDs. Who will be impacted by the decision, and how will it affect the governor's reelection chances?
Experts, civil rights groups and citizens argue that Kansas' proposed congressional map constitutes racial and political gerrymandering. But can they prove it to the courts? Plus, a Kansas City musician pays tribute to the city's unique dance style.
Kansas and Missouri have some the nation's highest rates of elevated blood lead levels in children, leaving families to deal with health consequences. Plus, bird flu is sweeping the Midwest.
The Missouri House has passed a budget that leaves almost $2 billion in state revenue unspent, and some lawmakers aren’t too happy about it — especially when it comes to funding for teachers. Now the budget goes to the Missouri Senate, which is expected to make major changes.
Young Jews in Kansas City hoped their generation wouldn’t have to worry about discrimination, but anti-Semitic incidents are only increasing. Plus, getting dangerous chemicals out of drinking water could just about bankrupt small towns in Kansas.
Stephanie Grisham worked as White House press secretary for former president Donald Trump. Now, from the town of Plainville, Kansas, she works to make sure Trump doesn't return to public office. Plus, a proposed law in Missouri would allow women who give birth in prison the chance to stay with their newborns.
Lawsuits in Kansas are challenging the state’s new congressional redistricting plan in court, saying the GOP-drawn map violates the state constitution. Plus, election results from around the Kansas City area.
Fentanyl overdose deaths in the Kansas City area have soared recently. But some health care providers say Missouri is unprepared to deal with this new phase of the opioid crisis. Plus, the University of Kansas men's basketball team are NCAA champions.
The Missouri Senate passed a bill that would prevent a sexual assault survivors' previous sexual history or experiences from being used during a trial. Missouri Sen. Holly Rehder says her proposal is intended to stop the "slut shaming" of survivors in court.
While school board races have historically been quiet affairs, intense debates over COVID-19 protocols and how to teach race in schools have brought heightened interest to these elections. We have a preview of next week's election in Kansas City. Plus, the KU men's basketball team heads to the Final Four for the first time since 2018.
Schools across Kansas City were able to provide meals for thousands of children during the pandemic, but districts fear that federal help will end soon. Plus, how early pandemic layoffs in Missouri’s Department of Social Services impacted the care of abused and neglected children.
A Kansas City Star investigation found that solidarity within the Kansas City Police Department doesn't extend to its Black officers — who say they've experienced racist discrimination, unequal punishment and even bullying from fellow officers and superiors.
After coming to Kansas City to train in journalism, a young reporter is now back in Ukraine — where she is observing from the front lines as her home country becomes a war zone. Plus, a couple in Missouri hopes to create the state’s first Black-owned hemp processing site.
The retirement of Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith comes after years of bitter debates over police conduct and funding. Missouri state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer has defended how a state-appointed board controls the KCPD, and is now calling for Missouri to require even more city funding for police.
After voting against a bill that included $13.6 billion in aid for Ukraine, Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall now says the U.S. needs to send more weapons to help the country fight Russia. Plus, how a lack of employees is holding back domestic oil production.
When Mitchell Williams formed the Major Taylor Cycling Club of Kansas City, his goal was simple: Get more people of color in the saddle and make a positive impact on their health. Plus, community groups in mid-Missouri are helping out Afghan refugees who are new to America and new to motherhood.
The trial of University of Kansas professor Feng "Franklin" Tao started on Monday. Tao was arrested as part of much-criticized Trump-era program designed to catch spies sharing American intellectual property and secrets with China. Plus, some Kansas jails are finally allowing medical care for opioid addiction.
Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens is facing calls to abandon his U.S. Senate campaign after his ex-wife accused him of physical violence against her and their children, and threatening her if she did anything "that might damage his political career."
Both the Kansas and Missouri legislatures are just a few weeks away from the end of their sessions. So why has so little work been finished?
Harold Smith, an artist from Kansas City, Kansas, is having something of a mid-career moment, with his works appearing in museums and on the new TV show "Bel-Air." Plus, how the new Kansas City health director is addressing COVID-19, low morale in health workers, and gun violence.
Kansas City is planning to spend nearly $2 billion on city services this year, from police to housing, but where exactly will that taxpayer money go? Plus, both the KU and Kansas State women's basketball teams are headed into the first round of March Madness.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has renewed the spotlight on a small Kansas City radio station that is still broadcasting Kremlin-backed programming. Plus, Kansas needs more Black foster parents to give kids a more familiar environment after being taken from their biological families.
Nearly 500 people died of drug overdoses in Kansas in 2020. But the state lacks a Good Samaritan law encouraging people to call 911 if a friend is overdosing. These legal safeguards have been shown to save lives. Plus, a new study found that the attitudes of gun owners are not as rigid as many people might think.
A pair of education bills supported by school-choice advocates passed out of the Missouri House last week. One would require Kansas City Public schools to transfer more than $8 million to charter schools. The other would allow students to transfer to schools outside their home district.
Fed up with harassment, a group of queer Kansas City women create a new type of community in the 1990s. Plus, global warming and a dwindling water supply has some Kansas farmers taking a risk on cotton.
Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe revealed that the Olathe East High School shooting involved a “ghost gun,” the second such crime involving this type of weapon in the county in two weeks. What are ghost guns and why do they make the job of law enforcement and prosecutors harder?
Despite making strides in public transportation over the last decade, few Kansas Citians ride the bus. We'll explore why — and how the city could improve the bus system. Plus, lessons from Kansas City’s Black WWI veterans on the durability of democracy.
In an alterations shop in Springfield, Missouri, Russian and Ukrainian immigrants say they lean on common bonds to avoid tension as they watch the military conflict unfold at home. Plus, how warmer winters and extreme weather are impacting Missouri farmers.
Medicaid expansion in Missouri was supposed to give thousands of Kansas City area residents access to critical health care. But the rollout is going so slowly, many are postponing medical care. At the same time, GOP lawmakers in Missouri are actively trying to defund the program — again.
The Winter Paralympics are beginning in Beijing, where Topeka native Dan Cnossen will compete as one of the world's best Paralympian cross-country skiers. Plus, Missouri food stamp applicants are suing over the state over a "dysfunctional" system that's shutting them out of benefits.
A blistering new audit lays out a litany of abuses by former Clay County commissioners. Plus, a study by the Jackson County Health Department found that some students may be missing school because they can't afford period products.
Contracts for deed can be a pathway to homeownership for people without access to common lending options. But sketchy deals can leave low-income buyers with nothing — not even their house. Plus, some Kansas City-area students are frustrated about how Black history is being taught in high schools.
A small Kansas community college has been sued for allegedly trying to reduce the number of its Black student-athletes. The lawsuit comes after disclosures that the president of the school compared a Black football player to Hitler, whom she praised as “a great leader.”
When Missouri Republican Roy Blunt announced that he would retire from the U.S. Senate, it set off a massive battle to claim his seat. Some of the state’s most prominent Republicans are going after the nomination, and one another.
Missouri is reportedly planning an official "end" to the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health crisis, and will transition to treating the virus as endemic, much like it does the seasonal flu. What will that mean for the state?
After years of fits and starts, Kansas City's historic 18th and Vine district is finally seeing private money flowing in, but longtime residents fear that redevelopment might price them out. Plus, a video about "white privilege" is shaking up a school district outside Wichita, Kansas.
For the second time in three years, a football player at a Kansas community college died after a grueling summer practice. But the school denies responsibility for the teen's death. Plus, free money from the federal government turned into more of a headache than some Kansas and Missouri towns could handle.
Tyrone Garner, the new mayor of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, speaks with KCUR about his first two months in office. Plus, warmer winters are forcing farmers to change how they grow their crops.
With congressional redistricting out of the limelight for now, education issues are moving to the forefront in Topeka and Jefferson City.
The Kansas City Downtown Council’s 10-year strategic plan envisions a different look for the city's core. But who gains and who loses in the development plan? Plus, we'll learn about the dangerous trek that many enslaved people in Missouri risked to reach freedom in Kansas.
Kansas City keeps getting hit by winter storms, but meteorologists say it’s become so much harder to predict how bad the snow will be — if it even snows at all. Plus, the latest attempt by conservative activists to fight teachings of race and gender in Kansas schools.
Kinship families in Kansas say the state doesn't do enough to support the people who foster children of relatives or friends. Plus, how more young people around Kansas City are reviving the art of letter writing.
Kansas lawmakers dealt a blow to Gov. Laura Kelly last week, overriding her veto on a redistricting map that carves up minority communities near Kansas City. Now, the ACLU is suing. In an interview, Kelly talks about the map and a big mystery company she wants to bring to Kansas.
Little has gotten done in the Missouri Senate since the start of the session except for a long and heated debate over the state's redistricting plans. Who are the conservative lawmakers fighting against Republican leadership to eliminate a Democratic congressional seat?
Some Missouri lawmakers are trying once again to close a legal loophole and make it illegal for convicted domestic abusers to own or access firearms. Plus, fire departments in rural Kansas can’t recruit enough young people to handle triple the number of service calls.
Kansas City Public Schools has managed to keep its doors open even as COVID-19 causes widespread staffing shortages, but teachers say they need a lot more help. Plus, an obscure property law allowed someone else to claim a woman's home without her knowledge.
Missouri's Republican governor is walking back comments that he would not nominate a state health director “who does not share the same Christian values.” And he's defending the state's legal campaign against mask mandates and its controversial law that bans police in Missouri from enforcing federal gun restrictions.
The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments about whether the GOP-backed "Second Amendment Preservation Act," which restricts police from enforcing federal gun laws, is unconstitutional. Plus, how Medicaid expansion could help keep more Missourians out of prison.
Kansas' congressional districts are up in the air after Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a redistricting plan from GOP lawmakers. Meanwhile, conservative legislators in Missouri shot down Gov. Mike Parson's nomination for health director over his support for vaccinations.
Workers at two Starbucks Coffee shops in the Kansas City area announced plans this week to unionize, citing unsafe working conditions and stagnant wages. Their efforts come after a New York store made history by forming Starbucks' first ever U.S. union at the end of 2021.
Intercourse between same-sex couples is still technically a crime in Kansas, even though that law was ruled unconstitutional almost two decades ago. Advocates are growing increasingly frustrated by lawmakers' lack of action to repeal it.
For the first time, African American leaders will fill several key positions in Wyandotte County’s Unified Government. Can they turn around a long history of coverup and corruption? Plus, Kansas officials are close to a deal for a $4 billion manufacturing plant, but need lawmakers to approve huge tax breaks for a mystery company.
For Kevin Strickland, who was released from prison late last year after serving 43 years for a crime he didn't commit, life on the outside hasn’t been easy. Now, in addition to adjusting to the mundane details of everyday life, he's working to educate others on defects in the criminal justice system.
Kansas Republicans have pushed forward a congressional map that would divide Wyandotte County from Johnson County, threatening the state's sole Democrat in the U.S. House. A Kansas state senator from Wyandotte County says the plan would silence her racially diverse constituents.
UMKC is one of the few public universities in Missouri without a mask mandate. But increasing COVID-19 infections have both staff and students concerned about their well-beings on campus. Plus, a Kansas City sculptor utilizes the honey locust thorn to create dazzling works of art.
How Kansas might redraw its congressional districts and what that could mean for minority communities in the Kansas City area is important for the state's future. And we have headlines from across the metro.
Many people move to Kansas or Missouri for a lower cost of living, but when it comes to health insurance, where you live seems to make little difference. Medical care and prescription drugs are already scarily expensive, and they're taking an even bigger part of people's paychecks.
Nearly 6,000 Missourians were stuck on a state "waitlist" for public defender services in early 2020. In some cases, those defendants waited nearly a year for counsel. After a judge ruled that the waitlist was likely unconstitutional, how has the court system changed?
What's happening in the Missouri General Assembly? State Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo (D-Independence) joins us to break down what lawmakers are up to in 2022 and how it could affect your life.
An alleged Kansas City crime ring leader named Wandale J. Fulton faces charges of identity theft, arson for profit. It took years for local, state and federal investigators to build their case. Plus, how 20-somethings in the city are coping with yet another round of COVID closures.
How bad is COVID-19 in the Kansas City area? The acting Jackson County health director explains why the county is warning the public about "unprecedented" transmission rates.
A federal grand jury investigating a controversial former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective has demanded records about other staff and incidents within the police department. Plus, hunting contests have sprung up in Kansas as the state's coyote population grows.
A new program for Kansas City's unhoused population provides 30-gallon bins for people to safely lock away belongings, but is the city's attempt at a good deed dismissive of people experiencing homelessness?
The Heritage Trail project began with a 2008 master plan for Kansas City, Kansas, that envisioned a green city with neighborhoods whose residents are healthy and fit, infrastructure that ensures clean air and water, and a community that embraces its diverse culture and history.
With the city at its worst point yet in the pandemic, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas speaks with host Nomin Ujiyediin about how the city is handling the omicron surge and the ways that politics affect policy.
Kansas City Public Schools has regained full accreditation after a decades-long struggle. But while the district is celebrating the news, Superintendent Mark Bedell says they "have a lot of work to do." Plus, workers providing care for people with intellectual anddevelopmental disabilities have been quitting in droves during the pandemic.
Missouri Republicans are divided over how to draw new congressional districts that would benefit their own party, leaving House Democrats in a unique position of having leverage over their GOP counterparts this year.
Transgender inmates say they're put in danger by the Kansas prison system. Multiple inmates said they were targets of harassment and discrimination by fellow inmates, medical staff and corrections officers.
The 2022 legislative sessions have begun in Kansas and Missouri, with issues such as abortion, taxes, education and redistricting at the top of the to-do lists. We'll break down what to expect from state lawmakers on both sides of the border.
Last year’s attack on the U.S. Capitol left five people dead and a country more divided. Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver was there on Jan. 6, 2021, and shares his thoughts on the state of democracy today. Plus, hear the latest COVID-19 updates from around the Kansas City metro.
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley was one of several Republicans to dispute President Joe Biden’s victory, despite no evidence of election fraud, and raised his fist in support of insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. One year later, the senator has faced no major political backlash in his home state.
Instances of bullying and harassment have been increasing for students of color in Kansas and Missouri, and many parents are worried about their children's safety. Plus, residents of Joplin, Missouri, reflect one decade after a tornado destroyed a third of their town.
Recently, the CDC recommended halving isolation periods for people who have tested positive for COVID-19. Plus, Kansas City will be one of a handful of cities using new technology to count those experiencing homelessness.
More Africans Americans in Missouri are buying firearms for personal safety. So one gun enthusiast has taken up the mission of educating people about the importance of suicide prevention, to stop a growing crisis in his community.
West African food can be hard to find in Kansas City. For many Nigerians living here, the familiar flavors of home are especially missed around Christmastime. Plus, a college student from Missouri shares the ups and downs of attending school with the added complications of the pandemic.
With just under half of all Missouri residents fully vaccinated and the omicron variant on the rise, many families are weighing the pros and cons of gathering for the holidays. And drummer Ryan Pope reflects on two years of canceled performances and postponed tours with his band, The Get Up Kids.
Tamales are a time-honored and beloved Christmas tradition for Latino families around Kansas City. Plus, we hear from a local counselor about the state of mental health care over two years of a pandemic.
Kansas, a red state with its own litany of abortion regulations, has become an unlikelysanctuary for people across the Midwest and the South with even less access to abortion. Plus, Kansas City Today is talking to people across the city about what they've learned in year two of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supply chain issues have slowed down every industry worldwide, including vinyl records. In Kansas City, one popular rock band has been feeling the pain, but it's more than just the pandemic — or Adele — who's to blame.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt has promised lawsuits against school districts over COVID-19 safety measures like masks and quarantine orders, saying they're unconstitutional. Now, the state treasurer says he won't sign off on money-saving bond deals unless the districts drop their protocols.
Some lawmakers in Missouri want to craft a congressional map that makes the Kansas City area more winnable for Republicans. Plus, Kansas City leaders have a plan for how to keep unhoused people safe from the dangerous cold this winter.
Missouri's two largest counties say "chaos now reigns" in the state after a judge's ruling handcuffed local health departments from issuing COVID orders. Plus, conservatives in the Kansas Legislature want to ban critical race theory in schools, but educators worry those efforts could hamper their ability to teach history honestly.
Kansas City's largest railroad company wants to merge with a larger Canadian company, a move that insiders predict may help reshape the transportation industry. Plus, a local organization is helping veterans trying to heal from "moral injury" by writing and sharing poems and stories about their experiences.
One of America's richest companies will pay nearly $30 million to the state of Kansas for allegedly overcharging Medicaid for pharmaceuticals. Also, some towns in the Midwest are offering free land or $15,000 no-strings-attached checks to attract new residents.
A privately-run prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, has been plagued with reports of stabbings, understaffing and poor security. When the prison's contract with the U.S. Marshals Service ends this month, what happens next? Plus, after a year off due to COVID, the Kansas City Ballet brings The Nutcracker back to the stage.
President Joe Biden was in Kansas City on Wednesday to promote the $1 trillion infrastructure plan that he signed last month. Plus, Kansas City Public Schools is rethinking its approach to addressing students coping with trauma and violence.
Kansas City charter schools have surpassed public schools in K-12 enrollment for the first time ever. Why are more parents sending their students to charter schools, and how do they work? Also, Kansas utility companies give away millions in charitable donations every year, but residents are paying for most of it.
Former Kansas Senator Bob Dole, a one-time Republican presidential nominee, died Sunday after being diagnosed with lung cancer earlier this year. He was 98. We explore Dole’s legacy. Plus, Ricky Kidd and Kevin Strickland both served decades for murders they didn’t commit. Kidd provides a look into what life is currently like for Strickland.
Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith continues to be surrounded by controversy — between conflicting reports about his retirement and increased calls for him to be fired immediately after audio of him calling the victim of a police shooting "the bad guy" surfaced. Plus, what we know about the omicron COVID-19 variant following its discovery in Missouri.
School libraries in Kansas City are facing increasing complaints about books on race and LGBTQ issues. Many of those challenges are connected to a rise in conservative activism from parents. Plus, if you're in the market for a live Christmas tree this year, you better make plans soon.
It's down to the wire for Kansas City and other cities vying to serve as hosts for 2026 World Cup soccer matches. Plus, the fired Kansas health secretary says politics hindered the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kevin Strickland was finally freed after 43 years wrongfully imprisoned, but Missouri’s compensation law only allows for payments to prisoners who prove their innocence through a specific DNA testing statute. What does freedom hold for Strickland and other exonerees like him?
High housing prices aren't just for the cities: Rural Midwest towns are now dealing with a surge of new residents and higher real estate costs as a result. Plus, how Kansas City playgrounds are making the city more inclusive for kids with disabilities.
In a pair of predominantly Hispanic southwest Kansas communities, two women try to become the first Latinas voted into local office. Also, a strange white orb in the middle of Overland Park may look like a spaceship has landed in the suburbs. Hear what is really inside this residential dome home.
After 43 years in prison, Kevin Strickland’s conviction was overturned but despite his wrongful incarceration, he won't receive any compensation from the state.
After 43 years in prison, Kevin Strickland has finally been freed as a Missouri judge overturned his conviction. Strickland's case was among the longest wrongful imprisonments in the country. Plus, some Missouri homeowners are get rid of racial covenants that banned nonwhite people from buying houses.
Kansas City remains one of the only U.S. cities without authority over its own police department, but civil rights groups are demanding that to be changed. Plus, tens of thousands of properties in St. Louis still have racially restrictive covenants, even though they’ve been outlawed for decades.
For the first time ever, a Kansas City officer was convicted in the fatal shooting of a Black man. A Jackson County judge on Friday found detective Eric DeValkenaere guilty of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the 2019 death of Cameron Lamb. Plus, hear what's going on in Kansas City's important redistricting process.
Nearly 800 Missourians died of opioid overdoses in the first half of 2021, and there's one major cause: the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Plus, emails show how quickly the state of Kansas bent to a company’s wishes to keep information out of public view, reflecting a disturbing national trend.
After spending 43 years in prison for a crime that prosecutors say he didn't commit, Kevin Strickland now has a shot at exoneration — based partly on the hairstyle in his booking photo. Plus, two Missouri lawmakers want to make sure that incarcerated mothers can still care for their newborns behind bars.
A racist incident at a Kansas City high school appears to have played out far differently than was originally reported. Now a prominent civil rights attorney is representing four students in a federal lawsuit against the school district.
The Missouri and Kansas attorneys general have a lot in common. Both are Republicans, both have filed high-profile lawsuits against mask mandates and vaccine requirements, and it seems both are interested in using their platforms to run for higher office.
Forty years ago, a Kansas city and a Colorado city fought it out over the world's largest meatpacking plant — transforming one into a beef industry epicenter, and the other a boomtown-that-could-have-been. It hasn't been an easy path for either city.
A trial continues for a Kansas City police detective charged in the fatal shooting of a Black man. Plus, the fate of Kevin Strickland, a Kansas City man who has spent 43 years in prison for a crime prosecutors say he didn’t commit, is now in the hands of a judge.
Long hours, dangerous conditions and low pay are causing staffing shortages at Kansas prisons, which have led to inmates being locked in their cells for long stretches. Plus, Mayor Quinton Lucas discusses Kansas City's plan to keep the unhoused population safe over the winter.
Even though the COVID-19 vaccine is available, and safe, for children ages 5-11, many parents might be hesitant to get their kids vaccinated. A Kansas City statistician explains why. Plus, get updates on two big court cases taking place in Kansas City this week.
For decades, the FBI has been looking into police misconduct in the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department. Even though the department routinely violated the civil rights of residents they were sworn to protect, there have been been few attempts at reforms.
For the first time ever, a Kansas City police officer is standing trial in a fatal shooting. A grand jury indicted Eric J. DeValkenaere in the killing of a Black man in his own backyard last year. Plus, after months of courtroom delays, a judge will hear evidence in the innocence petition of Kevin Strickland.
Kansas City children can start getting COVID-19 shots as soon as this weekend — and many kids already have big plans for once they're vaccinated. Plus, public schools are serving a lot more meals, but virtually everything in the school cafeteria is in short supply.
Federal agents in Kansas are trying to seize $166,000 in cash that came from legal medical marijuana sales in Kansas City — a confusing legal gray area. Plus, friends and colleagues remember former U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, who died this week, as a politician worth emulating.
Kansans went to the polls on Tuesday to decide a number of critical races, including the next mayors of Overland Park and Kansas City, Kansas. Hear about the results of those elections, plus a number of school board races that became battlegrounds for controversial national issues.
It's Election Day in Kansas, and the most contentious races may actually be for your local school board — which have become battlegrounds for issues like face masks and "critical race theory." Also, experts say Missouri's lack of mental health coverage may be causing physicians to over-prescribe anti-anxiety meds.
Calvin Arsenia, a Kansas City-based singer, harpist and composer, has a new book about coming to terms with his evangelical Christian upbringing and being queer. Plus, Willa Robinson went from selling books on the street to operating Kansas City’s largest collection of vintage African American books.
Eight members of a Kansas City, Kansas-based cult have been indicted on charges of forced labor and alleged abuses of minors. Plus, the A-Flat Youth Orchestra is building a musical community in Kansas City, Missouri, with $7 lessons and scores of second-hand instruments.
Missouri is taking up the daunting task of state legislative redistricting, but many people doubt the commissions will succeed. Plus, students at Missouri’s HBCUs got a big surprise when the schools forgave their loan debt using federal pandemic relief funds.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt took several local governments and school districts to court over mask mandates during the summer. Now, taxpayers are footing the bill to defend them. Plus, could chestnuts be a way for small farmers in Missouri to turn a profit?
What's going on at the Kansas City Land Bank? The program's goal is to create more homes and community spaces by selling vacant, tax-delinquent properties. But a recent investigation revealed the Land Bank has potential conflicts of interest and fails to hold buyers accountable.
Early voting began this weekend across Kansas. In the Kansas City area, two cities are voting on high-stakes mayoral elections: Overland Park and Kansas City, Kansas.
When a Kansas City renter was taken to court by her landlord under false claims, she filed a countersuit and won more than $17,000. What does this mean for the future legal relationships between property owners and renters?
Kansas City is quickly losing its small apartment buildings, which could make the city more expensive and less inclusive. Plus, many arts and music venues are bouncing back after receiving federal aid, but some must close their doors for good.
Homelessness in urban areas is often visible on city sidewalks or public encampments. In rural Kansas and Missouri, unhoused people often go unseen — and unhelped. Plus, Missourians voted to expand Medicaid in 2020, making government-provided health insurance available to tens of thousands of low-income residents. But the change could also mean more layers of bureaucracy for hospitals.
Are city code citations putting home-ownership out of reach for low-income residents? We continue our week-long series exploring housing issues in Kansas City. Plus, the chief executive at the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City was fired recently for allegedly misusing funds — including to pay her husband and give herself a loan.
You're not crazy: Rents have increased astonishingly fast in Kansas City. But some neighborhoods are feeling the pain more than others, and that has major consequences for both renters and the city as a whole.
Federal prosecutors have convened a grand jury investigation into former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective Roger Golubski. Golubski is accused of terrorizing Black women over the course of decades.
For Zamzama Safi, the Wilkens farm just south of Corder, Missouri, is a long way from Afghanistan — and it's exactly where she wants to be. After the Taliban takeover of the country, some 120,000 Americans and refugees faced a harrowing journey to get out.
The Jackson County prosecutor shares her thoughts on the latest developments in the Kevin Strickland case. Plus, the killing of Alonzo Brooks has gone unsolved for 17 years. Federal investigators are now taking a fresh look at the circumstances surrounding his death.
Kansas taxpayers and state employees could be paying too much for prescription drugs, but a state-commissioned report doesn't actually say if customers got a bargain or got gouged. Kansas even tried to black out large swaths of the audit, but it botched many of the redactions.
More young people say they're struggling with anxiety and depression related to climate change. In Kansas City, one mother is pushing the environmental movement to prioritize mental health and prevent activists from burning out.
To survive the pandemic, indie booksellers in Kansas and Missouri have found success by directly competing with Amazon for online orders. Plus, a new show at the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art features the work of nine Kansas City women.
The state of Missouri this week executed Ernest Johnson, 61, who was convicted of murdering three people in 1994. His attorneys argued he was ineligible for the death penalty because multiple IQ tests had shown he had the mental capacity of a child.
Large wind farms have been cranking out electricity in Kansas for 20 years. In this episode we follow Brian Grimmett of the Kansas News Service as he looks at how the state’s wind industry has changed and where it could be heading.
Over the summer, the remains of hundreds of Indigenous children were discovered at a Canadian boarding school. Since then, officials in Fairway, Kansas, said they would work with the Shawnee Tribe to look into the history of the Shawnee Indian Mission.
Years after preliminary guidance from the Kansas Department for Children and Families, the state has made no progress in requiring that LGBTQ foster children are placed "in homes that respect their identities."
Kansas City is searching for solutions to keep hundreds of people without homes warm during the approaching winter months. Plus, an iconic artifact that witnessed some of the city's wildest music moments makes a comeback at the newly-renovated Kansas City Museum.
A Kansas City nurse is helping patients navigate the world of medical marijuana. Also, local home gardeners fight on behalf of native plants, which are bringing bees, butterflies and some unwanted code enforcers to their front yards.
A Missouri judge threw a wrench into Attorney General Eric Schmitt's plans to end school mask mandates all at once. At a hearing Tuesday, Judge Brouck Jacobs denied Schmitt's attempt to apply reverse-class-action status for his lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools.
Suicide rates increased by nearly 45% in Kansas over the past two decades, but those rates rose even more in sparsely populated rural communities. Plus, OBGYNs in Missouri say COVID-19 is causing severe complications and stillbirths in pregnant people.
In the first months of the pandemic, health care workers were applauded as heroes against COVID-19. A year and a half later, they find themselves coping with burnout and hostility from the public as vaccines and masks become politicized.
A political action committee focused on supporting police wants to recall Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and several city council members. And following a year-long hiatus, the Plaza Art Fair makes a comeback.
Pushback from LGBTQ advocates got Chick-fil-A removed as a possible food option at the new KCI airport terminal. And with Kansas City expecting as many as 1,200 refugees from Afghanistan this fall, a new public school is developing programs to help ease their transition.
Old World bluestem grass is crowding out native plants and remaking Kansas grasslands and pastures. Unless landowners and researchers stop it, the invasive species could change the Kansas prairie forever. Also, FBI data reveals hate crimes are on the rise in Kansas and Missouri.
Missouri’s chief disciplinary counsel is asking the state Supreme Court to suspend the law licenses of a St. Louis couple that pleaded guilty to waving guns at unarmed Black Lives Matter protesters. Also, why Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft wants local elections to become partisan.
Nebraska Furniture Mart, one of the busiest retailers in the region, stands to get a nearly $1.5 million property tax refund on its Kansas City, Kansas, location after winning an appeal to a state tax board. What could this mean for other big box retailers?
Two Kansas City BBQ legends will be inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame Saturday at the 2021 American Royal World Series of Barbecue. We look at their decades long legacies and contributions to one of Kansas City's most iconic entrees.
Missouri highways are lined with signs warning against drinking and driving, but these are not exactly what they seem. The signs are part of a penalty the state pays for allowing passengers to drink. Also, how the St. Louis World's Fair of 1904 offered the best and worst of America.
A Kansas City man's plea for native flower justice has united gardeners around the world. Plus, the latest news from Kevin Strickland's innocence case.
School staffing agencies say if more workers take time off over the flu and holiday season, schools could reach a breaking point. Kindergarten enrollment fell 9% and preschool enrollment dropped 21%. The lack of early education could affect how students perform for years to come.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker has filed a motion saying that Kevin Strickland, who has been in prison for four decades for murder, is innocent. But Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt opposes the case.
Welcome to Kansas City Today, a brand-new daily news podcast from KCUR Studios. Hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin, this podcast will be your daily rundown on all things Kansas City. The first episode drops Sept. 13. Subscribe now.