Kansas City Today

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson focused on child care, infrastructure, workforce development and education in his final State of the State address, priorities that even gained him praise from Democrats. Steve Kraske, host of KCUR's Up to Date, spoke with the outgoing governor about his long career in government and politics.

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 and Lisa Rodriguez.

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

Native grasslands once ruled western Kansas, but were sacrificed for more profitable wheat and corn fields. Ranchers are teaming up with a new program, backed by beef buyers like Burger King, to preserve what's left. The Kansas News Service's Calen Moore has the story.

Missouri Rep. Jason Smith is hoping to inch his colleagues toward future bipartisan collaboration. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum spoke with Smith about a bill that covers low income housing, business incentives and the Child Tax Credit.

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 Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

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

Kansas City-area schools canceled at least one day of in-person classes in the last two weeks because of cold and snow — and many canceled more than one. KCUR's Madeline Fox spoke with education reporter Jodi Fortino about how school cancellations have affected families across the region.

If your family has been affected by the school cancellations, KCUR wants to hear from you. You can text us at 816-601-4777.

Engineers all over the world are working on how to build a sustainable city of the future that solves current and future problems while meeting the needs of a modern society. Last weekend, junior high school students from around Missouri presented their models and ideas to a panel of judges in Rolla. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jonathan Ahl 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 and Lisa Rodriguez.

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

Barely a week after Sporting Kansas City announced the controversial hiring of Gavin Wilkinson as the team’s new sporting director, the team announced last week that it mutually parted ways with Wilkinson.

Wilkinson’s hiring announcement was met with immediate backlash from fans and, most prominently, a club-sponsored supporter group called Ladies of SKC.

Up To Date's Steve Kraske sat down with a member of the group, Carrie Davis, along with Chad Smith, associate editor at the KC Soccer Journal. They discuss what lead to Wilkinson's hiring and then swift split with Sporting KC.

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 Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.

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

December was unusually warm this year in Kansas City and across the Midwest, but it was followed by an especially cold and tough January. Researcher Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central, says that both are effects of climate change, and the weather may swing even more wildly in the future.

KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin sat down with Pershing to discuss the changing temperatures and where we go from here.

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 Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.

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

Last week in Jefferson City, lawmakers debated several bills that would limit gender-affirming health care, or restrict restrooms and locker rooms that transgender and non-binary people can use. The Missouri Independent’s Annelise Hanshaw spoke with KCUR's Brian Ellison about the legislation and the response.

There are several ongoing efforts to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution through a statewide vote. Brian also spoke with the Independent's Anna Spoerre about a big step forward that process took last week.

Correction: This interview incorrectly lists the requirements for collecting signatures for the abortion rights ballot measure. Advocates must collect signatures in six of Missouri's eight congressional districts.

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 Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

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

Missouri's Abandoned Housing Act has allowed many neighborhood groups to take possession of abandoned homes and turn them into productive ones. KCUR's Celisa Calacal reports on the worries that outside nonprofits, with no interest in Kansas City communities, are using the law for financial gain.

The upcoming Chiefs game against the Buffalo Bills will pit two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL against each other: Josh Allen of the Bills and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs. KCUR's Greg Echlin highlights the two quarterbacks who are known for more than their throwing arms.

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 Trevor Grandin and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

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

Guns are one of the most divisive political and cultural issues of our time, and homicides are at an all-time high in Kansas City. But two Kansas City gun enthusiasts from different backgrounds are making small strides toward finding solutions. They sat down with KCUR’s Laura Ziegler to share their at-odds perspectives.

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 and Lisa Rodriguez.

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

In Kansas City's recent extreme cold, more than a dozen local shelters offered refuge, but Patrick Thompson, who lives under a bridge on Brush Creek says some of them are full.

Thompson, originally from Arkansas, says he prefers sleeping outside anyway. He says shelters he’s experienced are like jail, but more dangerous. So he took his chances under a bridge with a good sleeping bag and lots of clothes.

KCUR's Frank Morris reports why some unhoused Kansas Citians would rather rough it in extreme weather than seek shelters indoors.

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 Anna Schmidt and KCUR Studios, and edited by Lisa Rodriguez and Gabe Rosenberg.

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

Missouri Rep. Emily Weber, a Democrat from Kansas City, made history three years ago when she became the first Asian American woman elected to the Missouri General Assembly. KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Weber about her time in state government, and she looks ahead to the 2024 legislative session.

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 and Lisa Rodriguez.

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