Central Standard

Do you need a license to braid hair? Missouri, like other states, believes that you do. We look at the impact of a law that crosses issues of race, gender and economy. Plus: we've all heard of the Kansas-Missouri border war, but what about Missouri's border war with ... Iowa? It all started over honey. Guests: Sharmelle Winsett, Nature's Design Hair & Skin Care Samaima Williams, Samaima and Company Salon Sarah Laskow, author of " One Sloppy Land Surveyor Almost Caused a War Between Missouri

The tragic death of Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura, and the visit of his teammates at his funeral in the Dominican Republic earlier this year, drew attention to the Caribbean nation. How did one small country come to have such an outsized connection to U.S. baseball? Plus, you might believe in the apocalypse, but are you preparing for it? We hear from a few who are -- "preppers" with vastly different world views. Guests: Rob Ruck , history professor, University of Pittsburgh , author, The Tropic

Ten years ago this month, a massive tornado nearly wiped Greensburg, Kansas off the map. KCUR's Frank Morris joins us to share how the town's efforts to rebuild became " a laboratory experiment in re-engineering the classic American small town ." Plus, a conference last month brought thousands to Kansas City to talk about "white privilege." We discuss what our local communities are doing to address and respond to the concept. Guests: Frank Morris , KCUR's national correspondent Shelbie Smith ,

Meet two violinists. One started Kansas City's tango scene before moving to Argentina, and the other is a prominent jazz fiddler. Then, hear the story behind the song, "Under the Sun." Guests: Christine Brebes, violinist and co-founder of Tango Lorca Adam Galblum , violinist, Hot Club KC Gracie Schram , musician

With its short brick buildings and narrow alleyways, Westport is one of the iconic places in town — it's where the city began. But two new proposals have people worried: there's one for a six-story apartment building, and there's also talk of privatizing some Westport streets at night. What is the character of Westport, and to whom do those streets belong? Guests: Franklin Kimbrough, Executive Director, Westport Regional Business League Rick Usher, Assistant City Manager for Small Business and

Almost every town, no matter how big or small, has a mayor. But what it means to be mayor in a small town might be different than it is in a prosperous suburb of 35,000 ... or is it? A conversation with four Kansas mayors. Guests: Artie Stuteville, Mayor, Paola, Kansas Peggy Dunn, Mayor, Leawood, Kansas Mark Holland, Mayor, Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas Paula Schwach, Mayor, Westwood Hills, Kansas

With the aid of a new restorative justice program, Judi Bergquist met the man who killed her son . We hear her story, and meet the woman who brought this program to the Kansas Department of Corrections. Plus, how one Wichita State anthropologist stumbled upon the long-lost city of Etzanoa, an infamous Native American settlement that has remained a mystery for 400 years. Guests: Judy Bergquist , mother of Josh Bergquist, who was killed in 2007 Holly Chavez , restorative justice coordinator,

The clowns are coming to town! That's right, there's a Clown Convention happening in the Northland this week. We check in with a few locals on the art and lifestyle of being a clown. Plus, musician Greg Wickham joins us to talk about his new album " Almost to Springfield ." Guests: Beth Byrd-Lonski , professional Kansas City clown Dennis Porter , clown, Happy Faces Entertainment , organizer, Northland Clown Guild "Clowny Toons" Convention Terry DaVolt , hypnotist performer, DaVolt Productions,

There’s a lot that can go between two slices of bread. Portable and fuss-free — no need for utensils — sandwiches are perfect for work lunches or picnics.

Why did the old-school Jewish deli go away ... and why are people interested in reviving it now? Then, KCUR's Food Critics search out the best sandwiches in and around Kansas City in 2017. Guests: Ted Merwin , author of Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli and Associate Professor, Dickinson College Charles Ferruzza, The Independent and Shawnee Mission Post Jenny Vergara, Feast Magazine Carlton Logan, KCFoodGuys.com and Co-Administrator, Kansas City Eats