Kansas City Today

This year's legislative session has been dominated by efforts to limit gender affirming healthcare in Missouri — that is, medical, psychological and social treatments designed to support and assist individuals when their gender identity doesn’t align with the gender they were assigned at birth. Today, we'll hear stories of young people who actually know about gender-affirming care firsthand. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Fentem reports.

Last week, both the Missouri General Assembly and the state Attorney General took steps to restrict access to gender-affirming care. Host Brian Ellison spoke with Annelise Hanshaw, who covers education issues for the Missouri Independent, about the developments in Jefferson City.

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Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. 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

A new generation of fighting champions may be training right here in Kansas City. A gym in Independence, Missouri, is teaching boxing with the hope of creating community. KCUR's Lawrence Brooks IV reports on the "sweet science" that is keeping young people away from the street life.

The White Castle chain began in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas, where its ingenious small burgers kicked off a national craze and inspired imitators of all shapes and sizes. But over a century later, White Castle has entirely vanished from its home state. And the story of how it introduced America to the hamburger has largely been overshadowed by its fast food rivals. From the KCUR podcast A People’s History of Kansas City, Mackenzie Martin has the story.

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

School lunch was free for all public school students during the pandemic but, last fall, students had to begin paying again, and families that qualified had to sign up for free or reduced cafeteria meals. Since then, school districts in the Midwest say fewer kids are eating lunch and meal debt is soaring. Kate Grumke reports for Harvest Public Media on how state and federal officials are responding.

Water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer continue to plummet — farming irrigation swallows more than 2 billion gallons of groundwater a day. David Condos of the Kansas News Service reports that, after decades of little action on the issue, Kansas might be shifting toward a more committed, and perhaps even mandatory, approach to saving the Ogallala.

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Kansas City Today is hosted by Luke X. Martin. 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

Does what you put in your recycling bin ever actually get recycled?

The Kansas City public works department says that lack of confidence is one reason why the use of recycling services has declined in recent years.

KCUR's Steve Kraske sat down with Kansas City Star reporter Natalie Wallington and Matt Riggs with the Mid-America Regional Council Solid Waste Division to dig into just how much of what we sort out gets recycled and how much of it gets shipped off to a landfill.

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.

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

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

Education issues have had an unusually prominent role in this year’s Kansas legislative session. Lawmakers have considered a wide range of measures that could have major impacts on schools for years to come — like "school choice" and the rights of parents, as well as who can play on what sports teams.

KCUR’s Brian Ellison spoke with Suzanne Perez, who covers education for the Kansas News Service, about what the Legislature has done so far, and what remains to be done.

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

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

Education policy is one of state government’s most important responsibilities. And funding, especially for K-12 schools, represents an enormous portion of Missouri’s state budget. This year, education issues from teacher pay to school choice to transgender issues to school libraries have all been on the House and Senate floors … even the sports betting debate is part of the conversation.

To try to make sense of it all, KCUR’s Jodi Fortino and St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke joined KCUR’s Madeline Fox to talk about the latest from Jefferson City.

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 Brian Ellison. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

To the dismay of many a conservationist, the Callery Pear — also known as the Bradford, Chanticleer or Cleveland Pear — has made its home in Missouri and Kansas. Originally planted for its beautiful flowers and hardiness, the tree is wreaking environmental havoc. Their shallow root system puts them in danger of falling over, they're choking out native plants and they provide little for wildlife.

Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with Ryan Armbrust, Rural Forestry Program Coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service, and the Kansas News Service's Celia Llopis-Jepsen about the effects of the Callery Pear — and how residents can help remove them.

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

After this Tuesday's primary election in, Kansas City can now look forward to new taxes on the sale of recreational marijuana as well as on Airbnb rentals. How will the city spend the new revenue?

Plus, Kansas City voters narrowed down a crowded slate of City Council candidates, while indicating an easy path to reelection for Mayor Quinton Lucas. Notably, several candidates endorsed by KC Tenants Power — a newly formed political lobbying arm of the tenant union KC Tenants — advanced to the general election.

Host Nomin Ujiyediin sat down with KCUR's Missouri politics and government reporter Celisa Calacal to learn how the results of Tuesdays election will impact the 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 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

Kansas City voters trickled to the polls yesterday to narrow down the field of candidates for the Kansas City Council. They also passed taxes on marijuana sales and short-term rentals, like Airbnbs. Catch up on all the results from Tuesday's primary election.

Kansas mental health services are stretched to the breaking point. That leaves some families with few options for help. But as Blaise Mesa and Samantha Horton of the Kansas News Service discuss, changes could pump more tax dollars into the system to expand care.

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 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

Muslims are a minority in the Kansas City metro — which can make the month of fasting during Ramadan feel isolating. The Kansas City area’s Muslim population is holding community events to build connections between its members so they can fast and pray together. KCUR’s Zach Perez reports.

Buying healthy food close to home is a challenge for many people in rural areas. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 76 U.S. counties are without a single grocery store, including one in Missouri and seven in Kansas. Aaron Bonderson reports for Harvest Public Media on how some communities are grappling with food access.

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