Central Standard

How a local woman is emerging from tragedy to spread a message of love. A little over a year ago, Sunayana Dumala's husband, Srinivas Kutchibhotla, was shot and killed in an Olathe bar. Back then, she questioned why she should stay in the United States. As it turns out, she has stayed. Meet Sunayana; hear her story. Sunayana Dumala, Forever Welcome

Segment 1: How does weather shape Kansas culture? It's that time of year when tornado sirens ring out their eerie sound and crazy weather hits the plains. Inspired by a photography exhibit of Kansas tornado sirens , we explore how the weather affects our lives and communities. Lily Brooks , photographer, "We Have to Count the Clouds" and "Siren Call" Mary Knapp, climatologist , Kansas State University Stephen Locke , photographer and storm chaser; co-author of Chasing Weather Siren Call ,

Segment 1: National School Walkout Day. This morning, students around the country walked out of their classrooms to protest gun violence and to demand action on mass shootings. We hear about what happened in KC and examine whether schools have a role in fostering student activism. Meira Levinson, Professor of Education, Harvard University Elle Moxley , KCUR's education reporter Segment 2, beginning at 25:23: Determining the monetary value of someone's life. How much is a year of your life worth

Do you devour 'think pieces' online? Or perhaps you read essays the old-fashioned way: in books. Either way, you're participating in the timeless art of making sense of the world through words. Today, the Bibliofiles discuss the latest trends of long-form literary journalism and recommend their favorite works in the genre. Jeffrey Ann Goudie , freelance journalist and book critic: Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay We Were Eight Years In Power: An American Tragedy by Ta-Nehisi Coates "Street Haunting"

Segment 1: Peruvian food in Kansas City. A chef at a Lenexa restaurant shares how she makes lomo saltado, a classic Peruvian dish. Then, a home cook from Lima tells us about Peruvian food. Norma Torres and Susana Puenta, Antojitos Del Peru Pio DeTomas Segment 2, beginning at 15:00: The Food Critics recommend South American dishes. From arepas to pupusas to ceviche — and don't forget the meat-fest that is the Brazilian steakhouse — KCUR's Food Critics search out the best South American food in

Segment 1: Meet the city's expert on illegal dumping. Cleaning up other people's messes can be a thankless task. But KCMO's illegal dumping investigator is passionate about his job. Hear his story. Alan Ashurst, KCMO Illegal Dumping Investigator Segment 2, beginning at 16:03: Should music venues be held accountable for the political positions of the bands they book? Recently, a local music venue booked a Norwegian metal band that's been accused of Nazi sympathies — then canceled the show when a

Segment 1: Meet a dean at Haskell Indian Nations University. What does a dean do? We talk with Julia Good Fox about her work at Haskell — and what she tries to communicate about her school through her "Tweet-alongs." Julia Good Fox, Dean, College of Natural and Social Sciences, Haskell Indian Nations University Segment 2, beginning at 24:50: Looking back on the life of a Cuban artist. Artist Belkis Ayon died young. But in the course of her short life, she made her mark in the art world with her

Segment 1: Local poet writes collection based on his working class roots. For Robert Stewart, poetry isn't ethereal — it's a working class endeavor. He shares how his background as a plumber's apprentice, ditch-digger and truck driver shaped his worldview as a writer. Robert Stewart, author, Working Class Segment 2, beginning at 19:29 : Find out why the designer who made KCMO's official seal only charged the city $1. A blue and fuchsia fountain in the shape of a heart has been the logo of Kansas

Robert Stewart has nurtured a lot of up-and-coming writers over the decades he's spent as an editor at New Letters magazine and as a writing instructor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In December, Stewart released a new book of his own poetry. He called it " Working Class " in recognition of his roots as well as the blue-collar ethos he brings to writing.

Candice Millard is a Leawood resident and bestselling author who has written books about dramatic, vulnerable moments in the lives of historical figures like James Garfield, Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. Find out how she discovered her niche writing about the lesser-known incidents in the lives of monumental individuals. Guest: Candice Millard