Kansas City Today

Across the country, data centers have attracted controversy for everything from overuse of utilities to tax breaks. Now, some Missourians are trying to track down those details through public records requests, appearances at public meetings and other grassroots efforts.

Companies such as Amazon and Google are looking for land to build new data centers in Missouri. As KBIA’s Finnegan Belleau reports, it’s not always easy for the public to figure out when and how new developments are being planned in their communities.

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 Algerian men’s national team adopted Lawrence as its home base for the World Cup. In return, the Kansas college town embraced the team in a big way — and flooded the streets Monday when Algeria won its first match of the tournament.

Locals are hosting watch parties, creating art, and even altering KU's classic chant into "Rock Chalk Algeria" to show their allegiance. KCUR’s Suzanne Hogan spoke to Emma Noble and Emma Sui Pang, two student journalists at the University of Kansas, who’ve been covering the team’s time in Lawrence.

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.

Many fans going to the first World Cup match in Kansas City last week were delayed by hours-long traffic jams. Local organizers made some changes to the transit system ahead of Saturday's Ecuador-Curaçao game — but were they enough?

Before the Argentina-Algeria match last Tuesday, FIFA restricted entrance to Arrowhead Stadium to just two gates, leading to long security lines. Meanwhile confusion around shuttles and rideshares entering the parking lot caused major bottlenecks.

Attendees heading to the second World Cup game over the weekend saw some, but not all, of those problems addressed. KCUR's Gabe Rosenberg and Savannah Hawley-Bates spoke about the issues with Madeline Fox on 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 Brian Ellison. It is produced by Seth Jahraus 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 recently released audit of Missouri’s finances shows the state is on the brink of a budget crisis. Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick discusses what his office found and how he wants elected officials to respond.

State officials say Missouri is on the brink of a budget crisis. State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick tells KCUR's Brian Ellison the state has a spending problem and how he thinks it can be fixed.

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, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

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

Hundreds flocked to a Kansas greenhouse to witness the colorful and pungent bloom of a rare, very smelly plant. Plus: An important bridge in Wichita was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which supporters say will aid its future preservation.

A small greenhouse at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, was the place to be earlier this week if you wanted to catch the fleeting smell of the aptly named corpse flower. Meg Britton-Mehlisch was there and brings us this report.

The Minisa Bridge near North High School in Wichita boasts one-of-a-kind architecture featuring Native American busts and 3D buffalo. Supporters of the designation believe the bridge is finally getting the recognition it deserves. KMUW's Jennifer Anima has more.

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.

Kansas voters will soon decide if they want to elect justices to the state’s highest court, instead of the current, merit-based nomination system. Some former justices worry direct elections could interfere with important decision-making.

The constitutional amendment would have justices elected by voters instead of appointed by a nine-person panel. Former Kansas Supreme Court Justice Carol Beier warns the advent of political donations could impact how members rule on major issues like abortion and education funding. Zach Boblitt with 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 Seth Jahraus, 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.

Soccer first came to Kansas City through youth leagues in the 1970s, and a co-founder of the Brookside Soccer Club tells us how it changed the city. Plus: We'll take you to last night's World Cup match between Argentina and Algeria, the first of six games in Kansas City.

Youth soccer programs might seem ubiquitous in modern America, but not that long ago, there weren’t many options at all for young athletes. KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Bill Finn, who co-founded the Brookside Soccer Club in 1977, about that 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 Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

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

A federal program under fire from the Trump Administration has bought and shipped American grain to the world’s hungry for seven decades. Hear why the fight to save Food for Peace raises a fundamental question about the focus of U.S. international food aid.

U.S. international food aid programs have been through the wringer in the second Trump Administration. One of those programs, Food for Peace, lost funding and then was revived under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The latest version of the Farm Bill would permanently place Food for Peace at the USDA. But as Harvest Public Media’s Frank Morris reports, some don’t think the agency is the right place for an international humanitarian aid 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 Seth Jahraus, 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.

Leawood pastor Rev. Adam Hamilton thinks he can bridge the divide in Washington and bring costs down for the people of Kansas. He spoke to KCUR's Up To Date about why he decided to run for Sen. Roger Marshall's U.S. Senate seat.

Hamilton oversees the largest United Methodist church in the country, and he's one of 11 candidates running for the Democratic nomination. Kansas hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932, so it'll be an uphill battle. Hamilton spoke with Up To Date's Steve Kraske about his campaign. Look out for more interviews with candidates as the election approaches.

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, Seth Jahraus 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.

An Olathe police officer violated department policy by calling an ICE hotline during a traffic stop, a call that ultimately led to a man's deportation. Learn the details behind the traffic stop and an update on the man's family.

 The officer remains employed at Olathe's police department months after the incident occurred in February. Johnson County Post reporter Kate Mays discusses the story with Up To Date's Steve Kraske.

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, Seth Jahraus 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.