Kansas City Today

Missouri's legislature passed not one but two measures on Friday taking aim at voting rights. In addition to the gerrymandered congressional map, Republicans also pushed through a plan to heavily restrict citizen-led constitutional amendments.

Initiative petitions have been used by voters to make changes that the GOP-dominated state legislature won't — including the recent legalization of abortion rights, sports betting and recreational marijuana. This new proposal would raise the bar for voter-led amendments to get approved statewide, while keeping it easier for amendments written by legislators to pass.

KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke to Jonathan Shorman, a political reporter with Stateline, about what would happen and why voters still get the final say.

Contact the show at [email protected]. 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, Emily Younker and Gabe Rosenberg.

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

Troost Avenue in Kansas City was a historic dividing line during the era of racial segregation. Now, as Missouri Republicans look to pass a gerrymandered new congressional map, this avenue would once again split Kansas City.

On KCUR's Up To Date, Steve Kraske spoke with Kansas City Star reporter Kacen Bayless about Troost's history and how it plays into the proposed redistricting plan.

Contact the show at [email protected]. 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, Emily Younker and Madeline Fox.

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

Indigenous maternal mortality rates have been rising in Kansas for at least two decades. A group of Kansas women is training to bridge modern medicine and cultural practices in birth.

Between 1999 and 2019, the increase in the number of Indigenous pregnant women dying in Kansas was among the worst in the country. That’s why a group of Kansas women is training people to help expecting Indigenous moms through pregnancy and birth. Noah Taborda of the Kansas News Service has more about the new doula program.

Contact the show at [email protected]. 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, Emily Younker and Madeline Fox.

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

Kansas Republicans already redrew Rep. Sharice Davids' district in 2022. But the state's sole Democratic Congress member held onto her seat anyways. So while Missouri Republicans push through their own gerrymander, some Kansas leaders want to try again.

On KCUR's Up To Date, Steve Kraske spoke to Zane Irwin, political reporter for Kansas News service, about the likelihood of Kansas drawing new congressional lines.

Contact the show at [email protected]. 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, Emily Younker and Madeline Fox.

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

Andrew Bailey officially left the Missouri attorney general's office yesterday to take on a new position at the FBI. In just a few years, Bailey defined himself through loyalty to President Trump and his opposition to abortion and racial diversity initiatives. Both his admirers and detractors believe he could make a major national impact.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports that the departing official made a major splash in Missouri politics and considers what the future could hold for Bailey in the Trump administration.

Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Emily Younker and Madeline Fox.

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

Missouri lawmakers are considering a new map of congressional districts and initiative petition reform during a special legislative session. A reporter from St. Louis Public Radio provides an inside look at last week's committee meetings, debate and testimonies.

The proposed map would split Kansas City, currently in U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's 5th District, across three different districts. KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum of St. Louis Public Radio about the proposed map and the conversations surrounding it during last week's "very tense" special legislative session, which continues this week.

Contact the show at [email protected]. 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, Emily Younker and Gabe Rosenberg.

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

Dozens of rare and historic Civil War battle flags stored at the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka are falling apart and in desperate need of restoration. Learn more about the museum’s preservation efforts. Plus: The Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers will face off on the football field this weekend for the first time since 2011.

The Kansas Museum of History is undertaking a massive (and expensive) flag restoration project. As Kansas Public Radio’s Matthew Algeo reports, repairing just a single flag can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

For the first time since 2011, the Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers will face off on the football field. This Saturday, they’ll renew their border rivalry that dates back to the late 1800s. As Greg Echlin reports, some believe the game serves as a teaching tool for understanding history.

Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Emily Younker and Madeline Fox.

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

When consumers get their utility bills every month, it’s not always clear why energy costs as much as it does — and there are usually no other options. Why? The upfront investment and barriers to entry create natural energy industry monopolies. Plus: Learn why local fruits and veggies are often more expensive than produce shipped thousands of miles.

Energy companies in Missouri have been raising their prices to recoup costs of investments and the price of fuel. But unlike other goods and services, customers usually have one choice when it comes to electricity. KBIA's Harshawn Ratanpal and Jana Rose Schleis explain.

Not all local produce costs more. The price gap largely depends on the season and where someone buys groceries. But generally it’s difficult for a produce farmer in the Midwest to compete with prices offered at large grocery chains. As part of Harvest Public Media's “Food Routes” series, Rachel Cramer takes a look at the factors impacting produce prices.

Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Emily Younker and Madeline Fox.

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

More than 30% of formerly incarcerated Missourians return to prison within three years. It can be hard for these individuals to find a path to reentry, but one group seems to have landed on a solution that’s beginning to keep offenders out of prison for good.

For four years, a former prison has been operating as a minimum-security facility that operates as a reentry center. Transition Center of Kansas City is seeing success keeping former inmates from reincarceration. KCUR’s Brandon Azim got a tour from residents and staff to see how they are doing it.

Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Emily Younker and Gabe Rosenberg.

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

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who has represented much of Kansas City since 2005, may be the target of the country's next redistricting effort. If Missouri joins Texas in redrawing congressional lines to benefit Republicans, Cleaver warns that lawmakers will "need to dig three graves."

Cleaver spoke to Up To Date's Steve Kraske about President Trump's redistricting push, and his warnings for the state of American democracy.

Contact the show at [email protected]. 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, Emily Younker and Gabe Rosenberg.

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