Kansas City Today

Searching for a Kansas City composer's stolen music Dec 20, 2024

Kansas City’s Nora Holt was an accomplished pianist, composer, singer, music critic, and even a club-hopping socialite. She composed more than 200 musical works in her lifetime, but you've probably never heard any of them — because they were stolen.

Mackenzie Martin from the KCUR Studios podcast A People’s History of Kansas City has the story.

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 Kansas City tradition at Christmas Ranch Tree Farm Dec 19, 2024

Christmas Ranch Tree Farm in Excelsior Springs has been a destination for generations of families in the Kansas City area every holiday season — but it takes a lot of work. Plus: It's now a lot easier to find out what your Kansas City neighborhood looked like in 1940, thanks to the public library.

Every year, starting the day after Thanksgiving, families traipse around the Christmas Ranch Tree Farm in Excelsior Springs looking for the perfect tree. KCUR’s Savannah Hawley-Bates takes us on a stroll through the spruce, pine and fir.

In the wake of the Tom Pendergast political machine of the 1920s and '30s, Jackson County embarked on a monumental tax assessment. It sent teams of federal workers out into Kansas City block by block, taking photos of residences, schools, factories and government buildings. Today, the photos provide a candid glimpse of daily life in 1940. The Kansas City Public Library’s Laura Spencer spoke about the images with digital history collections librarian Katie Eschbacher, who helped create a new website where you can view them.

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.

How can Kansas create more affordable housing? Dec 18, 2024

Kansas lawmakers are considering ways to incentivize more affordable housing in the state, in response to a severe shortage that is driving up the price of homes. Plus: If you're still searching for a holiday gift that can bring the whole family together, one Kansas board game shop has some suggestions.

A housing shortage in Kansas has sent prices skyrocketing and made it harder to purchase a home. State lawmakers are considering ways to create more affordable housing. Kansas News Service reporters Dylan Lysen and Zane Irwin discuss how the shortage happened and some ideas to address the problem.

Setting up and playing a board game can take hours. But many modern board games and card games don’t require that kind of time commitment. Suzanne Perez of the Kansas News Service talked with the owner of a Wichita toy store to see what’s new this year in the world of games.

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.

How Kansas students cover the news of 'Indian Country' Dec 17, 2024

"Good Morning Indian Country" is a weekly news show made by students from Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas. It recently received major grants to continue training the next generation of Indigenous journalists.

On KCUR's Up To Date, host Steve Kraske spoke with two of the show's anchors, Allison Levering and Shia Blackcloud, and their faculty advisor Melissa Greene-Blye.

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

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson looks back on his record Dec 16, 2024

After six and a half years, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is set to leave office in January. In an interview with KCUR, Parson reflected on his tenure — including accomplishments like expanding I-70, if he plans to pardon former KCPD officer Eric DeValkenaere, and his hopes for the future of Missouri.

Parson spoke with Steve Kraske on KCUR's 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 Brian Ellison. 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.

Scrooge vs. Scrooge vs. Scrooge Dec 13, 2024

This year, Kansas City theatergoers have several ways to enjoy "A Christmas Carol," Charles Dickens' holiday story of redemption. Three different actors talk about their interpretations of Ebenezer Scrooge on stages around Kansas City.

Up to Date host Steve Kraske spoke with Gary Neal Johnson, Ron Megee and Cathy Barnett about getting into character and the lessons they take from the tale.

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 can't access this critical medical exam Dec 12, 2024

Immigrants need a medical exam to become citizens, but it can be hard to find affordable options in Kansas City. That's in part because the physicians need to be specifically qualified by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

About 100,000 immigrants living in the Kansas City region are naturalized residents and each one requires a medical examination before getting citizenship. However, these exams can be very expensive. KCUR's Steve Kraske sits down with Noah Taborda to learn more about this issue, and how one local Kansas City clinic is offering these exams at lower prices.

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 City community kitchens struggle to keep up Dec 11, 2024

As Kansas Citians begin a holiday season of feasting, a rising number of people don’t know where or when their next meal will be. Plus: The Ogallala aquifer is a critical source of water in western Kansas, and it’s running dry.

Kansas City community kitchens are seeing higher demand as food prices remain high and COVID-19 assistance disappears. KCUR’s Brandon Azim reports on how some local nonprofits are responding to the growing need.

The Ogallala aquifer plays a major role in the daily lives of Kansans. But a recent survey revealed half of Kansans say they have never heard of it. Calen Moore of the Kansas News Service reports on how the aquifer affects everyone in the state, even those who don’t live on top of it.

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.

After Missouri's abortion vote, Kansas clinics recalibrate Dec 10, 2024

In August, Planned Parenthood opened a clinic in Pittsburgh, Kansas — just five miles from the Missouri border. But workers don't expect demand at the clinic to decline after Missouri voted to lift it's current abortion ban. Plus: Midwest builders are using wood in a new, climate-friendly way to construct high rises.

Missouri’s two-and-a-half-year long abortion ban has lifted due to a voter-approved amendment to the state’s constitution, the latest in a series of changes to reproductive rights in the region. As Rose Conlon of the Kansas News Service reports, that’s playing out at small clinics, including one near the Kansas-Missouri border.

A traditional building material is getting new life in the Midwest. It locks away carbon and is strong enough to stretch stories into the sky. Harvest Public Media’s Kate Grumke reports on a new way builders are using wood.

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.

Who foots the bill for Mayor Quinton Lucas' Super Bowl trips? Dec 09, 2024

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and a top staffer used a nonprofit that doesn’t have to disclose its donors to pay for thousands of dollars in entertainment and travel. Now, he's accused of trying to get around the city's ban on political gifts.

It cost nearly $24,000 for Quinton Lucas, his top aide and his security detail to attend the Super Bowl last year. New reporting from the Missouri Independent reveals that trip was paid for by a nonprofit designed to promote Kansas City. The nonprofit was used by Mayor Quinton Lucas’ predecessor primarily to bring speakers to Kansas City to talk about economic development. Lucas and his former chief of staff use it for Chiefs tickets, hotel stays, flights and dinners.

KCUR's Steve Kraske spoke with Allison Kite of the Missouri Independent about whether Lucas's actions are an attempt to skirt the city’s ban on accepting gifts.

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.

The end of the road for 'Somebody Somewhere' Dec 06, 2024

Mary Catherine Garrison, one of the stars of hit HBO series "Somebody Somewhere" shares the experience of introducing a global audience to Manhattan, Kansas, as the show comes to an end.

Mary Catherine Garrison has played many roles, from Broadway to the HBO hit "Veep." But none of those projects have left the same impression on her as the role of Tricia in HBO's "Somebody Somewhere." As the show set in Manhattan, Kansas, prepares to end its run on Sunday, Garrison speaks with KCUR's Steve Kraske about the impact it's had on her.

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 Chiefs player who killed his wife could get into the Hall of Fame Dec 05, 2024

Jim Tyrer, a former Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle who murdered his wife then killed himself in 1980, now appears on the verge of being voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Why?

Tyrer played for the Chiefs in the 1960s and 1970s, and had an outstanding career as an offensive lineman. In 1980, years after his retirement, he murdered his wife and then took his own life. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head injuries, is now viewed as a likely cause of some of his behaviors.

But this year, Tyrer is up for consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. KCUR's Steve Kraske sits down with Vahe Gregorian of the Kansas City Star to learn more.

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 power struggle could cost Jackson County millions Dec 04, 2024

Two factions within the Jackson County legislature risk losing $70 million in federal relief funds because they can't agree on how to spend them. It’s the latest point of contention in a consistently difficult relationship between legislators and the county executive.

Jackson County can spend $70 million in federal COVID relief funding on projects and programs across the county, but the legislature can’t agree on how to use it. If they don’t come to terms by the end of the month, it will go back to the federal government. Nomin Ujiyediin speaks with KCUR's Savannah Hawley-Bates to learn more about why consensus has been so hard to reach, and what impact the disagreement could 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 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.

Roger Golubski is dead Dec 03, 2024

Disgraced former Kansas City, Kansas, police detective Roger Golubski was found dead by apparent suicide in his home Monday morning, on the day his long-awaited trial was meant to begin. Soon after, the federal case against him was dismissed. Who will be held accountable now — if anyone?

From the KCUR Studios podcast: "Overlooked: Golubski on Trial," KCUR's Peggy Lowe and Madeline Fox break down the news of Golubski's death, its impact on his victims, and what it means in the national conversation about police accountability.

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 City is putting its biggest roads on diets Dec 02, 2024

Many of Kansas City's four-lane roads are too fast and too empty. The city plans to slim down many of its most dangerous stretches, like Troost Avenue, 39th Street and Independence Avenue, to curb vehicle and pedestrian accidents.

Josh Merchant, local government reporter for The Beacon, talks to Nomin Ujiyediin about Kansas City's plans to build slower, safer roads.

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.

Roger Golubski is finally going on trial Nov 29, 2024

More than two years after his arrest, and after decades of allegedly terrorizing the Black men and women of Kansas City, Kansas, disgraced former detective Roger Golubski is headed to face trial on federal charges this Monday.

On Dec. 2, 2024, the former Kansas City, Kansas, detective will face federal prosecutors, his alleged victims and a jury over charges that he kidnapped and raped vulnerable Black women using the power of his badge.

Today, we're bringing you a special episode from another KCUR Studios podcast: “Overlooked: Golubski On Trial.” In a new season of the award-winning investigative series from KCUR Studios and The Midwest Newsroom, we’ll be exploring the evidence against Golubski and reporting from inside the courtroom to find out what happens.

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.

Hallmark and the Chiefs: A love story Nov 27, 2024

No, it’s not Taylor and Travis… but another Kansas City Chiefs love story will premiere on the Hallmark Channel this weekend. Plus: A new Kansas celebrity was made this month when Wichita's Chock Chapple appeared on ABC's "The Golden Bachelorette" and won the hand of Joan Vassos.

The new Hallmark film “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” was filmed right here in Kansas City, including at Arrowhead Stadium and in Independence Square. A Hallmark superfan joined KCUR's Steve Kraske on Up To Date to discuss the film, and what it was like to be an extra, ahead of its release this weekend.

Wichita insurance executive Chock Chapple rose to reality TV fame this fall when he starred in ABC’s “The Golden Bachelorette,” a dating show for people later in life. In the season finale, he got engaged to the show’s lead, Joan Vassos. The one sticky part? Joan lives in Maryland, and the couple is currently apartment hunting in New York City.

Chapple spoke with KMUW's Rose Conlon about the couple’s Kansas date, where they’re planning to live, and what it was like being on national TV.

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 Missouri researcher is eavesdropping on bugs Nov 26, 2024

A University of Missouri professor spent years listening to insects — hear how his work is influencing other researchers. Plus, a 117-year-old African American church in Parkville is getting much-needed restoration work thanks to the National Heritage fund.

Insects play a crucial role in ecosystems all around the world, and scientists say we still have much more to discover. That includes how the tiny creatures talk to each other. More scientists are exploring insect vibrations as communication. And as Harvest Public Media’s Héctor Alejandro Arzate reports, one Missouri professor’s research has been foundational to that study.

A historically-Black church in Missouri is getting help from a federal grant to restore important aging structures in African American communities. KCUR’s Julie Denesha reports the congregation plans to revive a Thanksgiving tradition for the first time in years.

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 Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.

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

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on her final two years in office Nov 25, 2024

Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly shares what she'll focus on accomplishing over her last two years in office as she faces an even stronger GOP legislative supermajority. Plus political headlines from across the metro.

In a conversation with Steve Kraske on KCUR's Up To Date, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said she would not give up on trying to expand Medicaid in the state and that she would not run for another office (except, perhaps, "school board somewhere").

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.

Five years of teaching Kansas City kids to code Nov 22, 2024

For half a decade, the Kansas City nonprofit WeCode/KC has offered hands-on computer and coding classes primarily to Black students, to make a difference in the tech industry. Plus: A Kansas business processes film for photographers, cinematographers and even pop stars like Megan Thee Stallion.

Black and Latino people are underrepresented in Kansas City’s growing technology industry. KCUR's Brandon Azim has the story of one local organization that’s providing hands-on training for minority kids to provide a path to some of these high paying jobs.

Many photographers and cinematographers worried that film was destined to fade away after digital cameras grew in popularity in the early 2000s. But film is making a big comeback, including in Hollywood. Celia Hack spoke with a Wichita business taking part in the resurgence, even as many of its clients are more than a thousand miles away.

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 different model for health care in Kansas Nov 21, 2024

A Kansas doctor wants to make everyday health care more affordable through a model called direct primary care, where patients pay a monthly fee for services instead of using insurance. Plus: The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a new leader this school year.

A health care model called direct primary care, where patients pay a flat-rate monthly fee instead of using insurance, is growing in popularity. Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga of the Kansas News Service profiles one Wichita physician and his direct primary care practice.

This school year, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is under new leadership. Karla Eslinger has more than 30 years of experience in education, including as a teacher, principal and superintendent. Most recently, though, the Ozark Republican served a combined six years in the Missouri Legislature. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg sat down with Eslinger to talk about her goals for the department, and why she decided to make the switch.

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.

Who wants some Missouri elderberries? Nov 20, 2024

Some Missouri farmers are growing perennial crops like elderberries that are good for the soil and require less labor. But getting those berries into the hands of consumers can take a lot of work. Plus: Farmers are increasingly working jobs away from the farm in order to stay afloat.

Perennial crops, which don’t have to be replanted each year, are proven to be good for the soil and, by extension, the environment. But markets for these crops can be hard to find. KBIA’s Jana Rose Schleis explores how Missouri growers and researchers made the elderberry a success.

You might have an image of a farmer in their tractor or with a bucket feeding livestock. In reality, farmers often work in office cubicles, at the wheel of school buses or in shops stocking shelves. Today, about 85% of farm families rely on off-farm income. As Harvest Public Media contributor Teresa Homsi reports, that’s because farmers often need another part-time, or even a full-time, job to stay in business.

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.

Finding help for Kansas City kids with eating disorders Nov 19, 2024

Doctors who treat eating disorders in Kansas City are seeing more cases among younger people. But resources for "accepting" treatments are not meeting the demand. Plus: Wildlife in the Midwest and Great Plains are suffering from persistent drought.

If you’re a teenager on social media, you are probably bombarded by explicit and subliminal messages that make you question your appearance and think twice about what you put in your body. But as KCUR's Noah Taborda reports, there are fewer places around Kansas City where teens can find help with eating disorders.

Much of the Midwest and Great Plains has been dealing with extremely dry conditions for the past four years. It’s killed crops, lowered river levels and fueled wildfires. But the extreme weather also affects wildlife. Harvest Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert reports drought conditions can change animal behavior and even push species out of some regions.

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.

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.