Kansas City Today

Elderberries are native to the Midwest, but the commercial cultivation of the crop is relatively recent, and saw a big increase during the coronavirus pandemic. As Jonathan Ahl reports for Harvest Public Media, that has the burgeoning industry wondering if its future is as a small, niche crop or something bigger.

It’s tick season — and they're a problem all throughout Missouri, not just in rural areas. And there's a real risk of tick-borne illnesses like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease. KBIA's Rebecca Smith reports on how to keep yourself safe.

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

Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, 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 February 2022, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion bill (APEX) into law. It allows the state to give hefty tax incentives to one for-profit company per year when that company selects Kansas as the site of its billion-plus dollar mega projects.

The law was only good for two years, with tax giveaways going to Panasonic's new $4 billion factory in DeSoto and Integra’s planned $1.8 billion semiconductor plant in the Wichita area. But now lawmakers are leaning against extending APEX.

KCUR's Suzanne Hogan sat down with Dylan Lysen of the Kansas News Service to talk about the law's effect so far, and what its future may hold.

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

Kansas City Today is hosted by Madeline Fox. It is produced by Gabriella Lacey, 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

The Mission City Council voted unanimously to terminate its most recent redevelopment agreement for the Mission Gateway project. The city cited more than $450,000 worth of unpaid property taxes as its reason for ending the deal.

It’s a potentially fatal blow for Aryeh’s plans to bring a mixed-used development centered around an entertainment complex to the site of the former Mission City Mall, which has sat vacant for 17 years.

KCUR's Suzanne Hogan sat down with the Shawnee Mission Post's Juliana Garcia on Up To Date to learn about the project's background and its uncertain future.

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

Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Gabriella Lacey, 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

Ottawa resident Ellen Finnerty dreams of beekeeping and of supplementing the income from her warehouse job by selling products from her garden. As Celia Llopis-Jepsen of the Kansas News Service reports, Finnerty is suing the city of Ottawa to change city code to allow her to be able to sell the honey she gets from the bees at her home.

In an effort to reach zero carbon emissions by 2050, the Biden administration is offering more tax credits for carbon capture sequestration and utilization. As Harvest Public Media's Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco reports, the program once expected to cost $3.2 billion now could exceed $100 billion.

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

Kansas City Today is hosted by Madeline Fox. It is produced by Gabriella Lacey, 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

The Kansas City council passed several important measures in its last legislative meeting of the term. It was the final gathering of the current body, more than half of whom were either termed out or were not reelected. Council members approved a municipal ID program, allocated millions of dollars in city funding for the 2026 World Cup and gave the mayor and council a 15 percent pay raise.

Up to Date's Zach Wilson spoke with Celisa Calacal, KCUR's Missouri government and politics reporter, about the outgoing council's final meeting.

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

Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Gabriella Lacey, 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 Gov. Mike Parson recently signed into law a bill that adds Missouri to a growing list of states extending Medicaid benefits for new moms to a full year postpartum. Both Democrats and Republicans played a part in getting the bill through both chambers. But as St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg reports, each party had different motives.

Kansas foster kids who run away often end up in jail cells. Lawyers for foster kids say they wear prison-type jumpsuits, sleep in cells that lock at night and get little time outside. Kansas News Service reporters Blaise Mesa and Celia Llopis-Jepsen bring us the story.

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

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

Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

Democratic state Rep. Crystal Quade of Springfield — who currently serves as the Missouri House minority leader — has thrown her hat into the ring to be the next governor of the Show-Me State, in hopes of succeeding Republican Mike Parson.

Quade spoke with KCUR's Brian Ellison on Up To Date about her first week on the campaign trail.

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

Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Gabriella Lacey, 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

Granny Basketball is a six-on-six game for women over 50 that's sweeping across the Midwest, empowering women and creating community. KCUR's Greg Echlin reports on the group's roots and the national championships in Decorah, Iowa.

Maria Ioudenitch's parents were both musicians known the world over, and they also happened to call Kansas City home. Now an elite violinist in her own right, Maria is releasing a new album and reflecting on her life in a musical family. Classical KC's Brooke Knoll spoke with Maria Ioudenitch about her music and growing up in Kansas City.

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

Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Trevor Grandin, 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

Homicides in Kansas City this year are already outpacing last year’s number. In the wake of recent high-profile mass shootings, including one at a nightclub in May, many have called for local officials to do more.

But Missouri law restricts local governments from passing their own gun regulations. A new group wants to change that — and so do local mayors like Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who's meeting this week to discuss the issue.

Lucas spoke to KCUR’s Celisa Calacal about the campaign, and about gun violence in the metro.

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

Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, 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

On the Fourth of July, the Kansas City streetcar experienced a track failure on the Main Street bridge above I-670 because of the midsummer heat. Now, the streetcar will be shut down for weeks as crews work on repairs. 

KC Streetcar Authority executive director Tom Gerend joined KCUR's Brian Ellison to talk about the incident and how it affects future plans for streetcar expansion.

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

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

Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.