Kansas City Today

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.

A vote to support at-risk kids in Platte County Oct 07, 2024

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.

The love story behind a Kansas City po'boy shop Oct 04, 2024

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.

Kansas City apartments go on a rent strike Oct 03, 2024

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.

Could the Kansas Board of Education shift to the right? Oct 02, 2024

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.

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.

Aggressive police training in Missouri and Kansas Oct 01, 2024

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.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

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

How to vote if you don't have a home address Sep 30, 2024

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.

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 CJ Janovy and Lisa Rodriguez

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

Downtown parking's big-ticket fees Sep 27, 2024

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.

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, Madeleine Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.

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

Kansas housing prices are making homelessness worse Sep 26, 2024

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 Schlessinger about whether Missouri’s laws are enough to safeguard the procedure.

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.

Of pawpaws and prairies Sep 25, 2024

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.

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.

Kansas City’s pharmacist walkout, 1 year later Sep 24, 2024

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.

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.

Johnson County's homeless shelter plan is officially dead Sep 23, 2024

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.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

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.

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

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