Kansas City Today

No more weed tax on a weed tax on a weed tax Nov 18, 2024

A Missouri appeals court ruled last week that the constitution’s “plain, unambiguous” language means cities and counties cannot stack marijuana sales taxes.

On KCUR's Up To Date, Steve Kraske spoke with Rudi Keller of the Missouri Independent about why this case came about, and how the ruling could impact customers.

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 Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.

You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Kansas City's wheelchair football team is also undefeated Nov 15, 2024

Much like their NFL counterparts, the Kansas City Chiefs Wheelchair Football Team remain undefeated this season heading into the championships — which are being held next weekend in Kansas City.

It would be their second championship title in four years. On KCUR's Up To Date, Brian Ellison learned more about their team and the sport from quarterback Matt Bollig and offensive lineman John Teegarden.

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, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

How Kansas lawmakers could make homelessness worse Nov 14, 2024

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.

What's at stake in Missouri's transgender health care case Nov 13, 2024

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 restored abortion rights. So what happens next? Nov 12, 2024

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.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas on what's next for the city Nov 11, 2024

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.

Kansas Republicans will have even more control now Nov 08, 2024

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.

A Missouri Democrat and Kansas Republican on election results Nov 07, 2024

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.

Here's who won Kansas and Missouri elections Nov 06, 2024

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.

It's Election Day! Here's what we're watching in Missouri and Kansas Nov 05, 2024

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.

Kansas City immigrants hurt by racist election ads Nov 04, 2024

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 decide the future of abortion rights Nov 01, 2024

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.

Cleaning gravestones at a Kansas City cemetery Oct 31, 2024

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.

Missouri voters could raise the minimum wage Oct 30, 2024

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.

Josh Hawley wants the labor vote Oct 29, 2024

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 Prosecutor candidates face off Oct 28, 2024

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.

Saying goodbye to 7th Heaven Oct 25, 2024

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.

Using peer pressure to get out the vote in Kansas Oct 24, 2024

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.

This Johnson County mom wants to talk about fentanyl Oct 23, 2024

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.

Haunted by gun violence in Kansas City Oct 22, 2024

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, they are 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.

Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce Oct 21, 2024

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.

Johnson County Sheriff's race is hotly contested Oct 18, 2024

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.

Losing an Overland Park natural birth center Oct 17, 2024

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.

Union voting power in the Northland Oct 16, 2024

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.

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 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.

Failing the Midwest's homeless students Oct 15, 2024

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 undercount homeless 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.

Democrat Crystal Quade wants to be Missouri's governor Oct 14, 2024

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.

'Beep kickball' in Kansas City Oct 11, 2024

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.

A Republican supermajority at stake in Kansas Oct 10, 2024

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.

A Kansas City church seeks 'the radical center' of politics Oct 09, 2024

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.

Could Jackson County's urban core vote Republican this year? Oct 07, 2024

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.

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