Western Kansas has inserted itself into the corn belt, and even though there's better crop options for the climate, huge industries and government subsidies make it hard for farmers to switch. Plus: The average American eats more than 40 quarts of popcorn a year, but the snack isn't grown on that many farms.

Over the decades, western Kansas has inserted itself into the corn belt, a region of the Midwest from Ohio to Nebraska that has dominated corn production. Kansas News Service reporter Calen Moore explores why the state grows so much corn — and why the industry faces long-term challenges.

The popcorn harvest will start soon across the Midwest, and plenty of towns hold popcorn festivals this time of year. But U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows fewer than 1,000 popcorn farms exist today. Harvest Public Media contributor Sheila Brummer introduces us to a few people and places where popcorn is a key part of life.

Bonus:

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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Jacob Smollen and KCUR Studios, and edited by Emily Younker, Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.

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

Many Kansas students are getting excited about girls’ flag football, which was launched in the state with help and funding from the Kansas City Chiefs. Learn about the sport and its rising popularity.

Girls’ flag football is one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the country, and flag football will even make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028. Now, some high schools in Kansas are premiering the sport this fall — to much excitement from the students who are playing it. Suzanne Perez 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, Jacob Smollen and KCUR Studios, and edited by Emily Younker, Madeline Fox and Gabe Rosenberg.

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

Voters in both Kansas and Missouri have chosen to protect reproductive rights in their state constitutions. So why are abortion rights advocates challenging both states in court? We’ll have the latest on pending legal battles and the state of the abortion debate in the region.

Abortion rights and restrictions have moved into the court systems in both Missouri and Kansas, where judges' rulings could, in part, impact abortion access for residents. KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Anna Kaminski, a reporter for the Kansas Reflector, and Anna Spoerre, who covers reproductive health care for the Missouri Independent, about these issues.

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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.

Museums usually keep art behind glass or tucked in storage, but one Lawrence museum lets people get closer. We'll take a trip to “Open Fridays” at the Spencer Museum.

Every Friday, visitors to the Spencer Museum of Art in Lawrence can request to see tens of thousands of works of art that are not currently on view. KCUR’s Julie Denesha took a trip there to see a few of the hidden treasures on offer.

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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.

Frank White Jr. has been unseated as Jackson County Executive after losing a special recall election on Tuesday. However, he's fighting the election in court, while county legislators move forward with picking his replacement — a process that could include little public input.

Steve Kraske asked Jackson County Legislature Chair DaRon McGee about the unprecedented recall vote and how the county plans to move forward with filling the now vacant position.

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.

Federal dollars will help bring internet connection to rural communities across the U.S. But new guidance from the Trump administration is asking states to consider the lowest-cost options. What's the status of efforts to fund broadband infrastructure?

Lots of rural communities still aren’t connected to the internet, despite decades of efforts to reach underserved areas. States were close to putting millions of dollars for broadband to use earlier this year — but then the Trump administration offered new guidance. Harvest Public Media’s Anna Pope reports on what that means for the latest effort to get more Americans online.

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.

Mountain lions in Kansas? Yep! While wildlife officials say there's no evidence of a "resident population," a number of the big cats have been seen passing through the state, and sightings have been on the rise.

When you think of Kansas, you probably don’t think of mountains — or mountain lions. But in recent years, the number of sightings of mountain lions in the state has skyrocketed. What’s bringing these elusive animals here? Kansas Public Radio’s Matthew Algeo recently went looking for answers and mountain lions with a state wildlife biologist.

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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.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants states to provide personal information about SNAP applicants dating back to 2020. But Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is refusing, despite the threat of losing millions in federal funding and a lawsuit from state Attorney General Kris Kobach.

Matthew Kelly, Kansas Statehouse reporter for the Kansas City Star, speaks with KCUR's Up To Date host Steve Kraske about what's happening.

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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.

Sports betting is expected to start in Missouri on Dec. 1. But some are concerned about the consequences of making gambling so easy to access. Plus: Beef is as expensive as it’s ever been, thanks to the high cost of cattle. When will prices come down?

Missouri voters legalized sports betting by an extremely narrow margin last year, but it won’t be active until Dec. 1 due to licensing and regulation requirements. Some mental health advocates are concerned about the impact it will have on gambling addiction in the state. St. Louis Public Radio’s Olivia Mizelle reports.

If you buy beef, no doubt you’ve noticed that it’s gotten more expensive lately. In fact, beef prices in the U.S. are the highest they’ve ever been — an average of $9.69 per pound, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Will they come down soon? Harvest Public Media’s Michael Marks has the story.

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.

Copper wire thefts are on the rise in Missouri, and Kansas City is getting hit hard. It turns out the skyrocketing value of the metal is due in no small part to the Trump administration's 50% tariff on copper imports.

KCUR's Sam Zeff tells Up To Date host Steve Kraske only Texas and California have had more copper wire thefts than Missouri.

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.