Kansas City Today

McClatchy, one of the biggest newspaper companies in the country, laid off dozens of journalists last week, including several in Kansas City. These decisions not only affect the news you see, but also the way that local government functions.

Joy Jenkins, a professor at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, says that a recent Northwestern University study found that three-quarters of newsroom jobs have disappeared since 2005. Jenkins tells KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin why that doesn’t bode well for the communities that these newsrooms cover.

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, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

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

As medical costs rise, Kansans are turning to organizations called Medical Loan Closets that lend out donated items like wheelchairs and walkers for little or no cost. These medical loan closets are helping people maintain their independence, especially for aging residents.

Some Kansans are finding that even with insurance, medical equipment can be hard to afford. Organizations called Medical Loan Closets can help. Think of a lending library, but instead of books, there are wheelchairs, walkers and much more. Roger Nomer of the Kansas News Service reports.

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, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

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

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the state must use its 2022 congressional map for the upcoming November elections — rather than the redrawn map used during the primary. That means a much different race for candidates in the 5th Congressional District, Democrat Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II and his Republican Rick Brattin.

Both candidates shared their views on the court drama over redistricting, and what it means for the midterms, with Steve Kraske on KCUR's Up To Date.

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, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

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

Federal officials are targeting four Kansas schools for their policies surrounding transgender students. But what is it like to be a transgender student in those districts? We'll hear from one student who spent formative years of her life at Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools.

The federal government targeted four Kansas school districts over their transgender policies, saying the schools violated federal law. Now, it’s escalated with a lawsuit against one district, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. Grace Hills of the Kansas News Service reports on what it was like for a transgender student who attended one of the schools in that district.

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, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

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

Republican Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach wants voters to judge him by his record but Democratic challenger Chris Mann is making that record a target. We’ll have a look at the race for Kansas attorney general. Plus: a recap of last week's rollercoaster over congressional maps in Missouri.

There’s a rematch this year in the race for Kansas attorney general. Sitting Republican Kris Kobach is taking on Democratic challenger Chris Mann in what’s expected to be a tight contest. As Kansas Statehouse Reporter Zach Boblitt explains, the race could hinge on whether Kansans support Kobach’s record as attorney general.

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 Lisa Rodriguez.

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

A decade ago, a federal task force laid out a plan to help monarch butterflies along their journey by returning roadsides to native habitat, particularly Interstate-35 in Missouri and Kansas. Plus: some Midwest farms are growing something you might find in your own backyard. Hear about the push to popularize the serviceberry.

One of the world’s great migrations has begun. The eastern monarch butterfly is flying south, through the central U.S., to overwinter in Mexico. A decade ago, a federal task force laid out a plan to help monarchs along their journey by returning roadsides to native habitat. Harvest Public Media’s Rachel Cramer explores what happened to the “Monarch Highway.”

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 Madeline Fox and Lisa Rodriguez.

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

Harvests for Kansas and Missouri's major crops are starting just as the fuel farmers need to reap is shooting up in price. Plus, older Americans on fixed incomes are hit especially hard when food costs spike.

Diesel prices have spiked just in time for corn and soybean harvests. Farmers need the fuel to bring in the crops, and many were already hurting, but KCUR's Frank Morris reports there are factors offsetting this latest setback.

And inflation in food prices can hit even harder for people in their 60s and older as they also juggle fixed incomes, health problems and changes in federal law. Harvest Public Media Nicole Grundmeier reports that the age group is a “forgotten population” when it comes to food insecurity.

Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Frank Morris. It is produced by Suzanne Hogan and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

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

A New York Times report found that Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, of Kansas, sued hundreds of his patients over medical debt when he was practicing medicine in the western part of the state.

Before serving in politics, Roger Marshall spent decades as a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist in western Kansas. During that time, he sued more than 700 of his patients for medical debt, a new report from The New York Times found. More than 80 were arrested, and some had their wages garnished.

Sarah Kliff, investigative healthcare reporter for The New York Times, broke the story and spoke to Up To Date's Steve Kraske about what she found.

Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Noah Taborda. It is produced by Suzanne Hogan and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

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

Data centers that power AI are exploding across the Midwest — and so is opposition to them. Now, people across the political spectrum want to see stricter regulation and more transparency.

Big tech companies are facing formidable opposition from a coalition of people across the political spectrum. Meanwhile, local elected officials find themselves scrambling to draft regulations and defend themselves against accusations of secrecy. The Midwest Newsroom's Holly Edgell reports about how towns in Missouri and Kansas are uniting together against lawmakers and big tech.

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 Suzanne Hogan and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

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

Harry Houdini was a master of escape. He was also a self-promoter who once performed a stunt in downtown Kansas City to draw an audience to his shows. We'll learn about the Houdini escape that originated right here in Kansas City.

Harry Houdini first visited Kansas City at age 12, and he maintained a connection here throughout his career. On Friday, Sept. 11, the Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians will unveil a historic marker to commemorate a famous Houdini escape at 10th and Main streets. To learn why Houdini’s name still resonates, Kansas City Public Library’s Laura Spencer spoke with John Cox, writer of the blog “Wild About Harry” and several books about Houdini.

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, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

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