Kansas City Today

After spending six years as mayor of Roeland Park, Kansas, Mike Kelly was elected in November chairman of the Johnson County Commission — the top official in the most populated county in Kansas. Ahead of his first "state of the county" address on Tuesday, Kelly speaks with KCUR's Brian Ellison about how his first three months have gone and what he hopes for the years ahead, including economic development and climate solutions.

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.

Understudies wear a lot of hats, but that's especially true for someone like Bryson Bruce. For the last five years, the graduate of Lee's Summit West High School and the University of Missouri has been an understudy for many major roles in the touring company of "Hamilton."

Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with Bruce about his love for acting, and what it's like touring in one of the most popular musicals ever.

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

It used to be impossible to win an election in Kansas City without the endorsement of a powerful political group called the Citizens Association. It was basically an ‘old boys’ network’ whose influence has all but disappeared in recent years. But as KCUR’s Laura Ziegler reports, a new group of political players is trying to revive it as a relevant civic organization.

U.S. hospitals have seen a record number of cyberattacks during the pandemic, including two Missouri hospitals that were hacked in 2021. That can cost a hospital millions of dollars — and put patients’ lives at risk. Side Effects Public Media’s Farah Yousry takes us inside one Midwest hospital that’s still reeling after an attack in 2021.

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

People who showed up to the Clymer Community Center Saturday expected a three- or four-hour wait for a promised voucher from the Kansas City Housing Authority. Instead, some waited upwards of six hours and still walked away empty-handed. Host Nomin Ujiyediin sat down with KCUR reporter Carlos Moreno to try to understand what went wrong and what the future will look like for families searching for an affordable place to live.

Even when doctors prescribe Kansas Medicaid patients things like wheelchairs, walkers or bath chairs, families can face denials or long waits for medical equipment. The Kansas News Service’s Samantha Horton reports on how an insurance bureaucracy hurts families.

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 Thursday, March 23, the Missouri State Senate passed legislation to prevent medical professionals from providing gender-affirming care to minors — with an exception for children who had already begun treatment.

The restrictive legislation is touted as a measure to protect kids. However, gender-affirming care is endorsed by several major medical associations including the American Academy of Pediatrics. KCUR's Steve Kraske sat down with Dr. Brandon Barthel on Up To Date to learn what gender-affirming care includes and why it's sparked so much controversy nationwide.

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.

Missouri’s budget this year is poised to be its biggest ever, with a record budget surplus on hand, and some massive spending proposals from Republican Governor Mike Parson. But last week, the Republicans on the House Budget Committee revealed they have some different ideas for how to spend that money.

As we await the full House taking up the budget, KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with KCUR’s Savannah Hawley-Bates, who covered debates last week.

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.

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

Debi Jackson was a communications and marketing professional before she and her husband, Tom, had a child who began a non-medical transition to become a girl at the age of four. Since Avery was young, Debi has used her communications skills to educate herself and her family as well as people in her community about transgender kids. But she and her husband Tom say today's political climate has created challenges they’ve not faced in all their years of advocacy.

KCUR's Laura Ziegler sat down for a conversation with Debi and Tom to learn more about the toll debates in Jefferson City have had on Avery and how the climate and attitude surrounding trans people has changed over recent years.

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

Kansas City Today is hosted by Laura Ziegler. 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

The development of a new downtown ballpark for the Kansas City Royals has a lot of people excited — Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says he expects it could come become reality sooner rather than later. But while the project could create thousands of jobs, some workers worry they could end up being underpaid and overworked.

Stand Up KC is a coalition of fast food, retail and low-wage workers who want the stadium to bring good wages, job security and affordable housing. KCUR’s Reginald David spoke to two members of the group, Bill Thompson and Terrance Wise. They told him what they hope to see from a downtown baseball stadium.

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

Yesterday, the Missouri Senate advanced a pair of bills targeting transgender youth. One would prohibit transgender athletes from participating in school sports that align with their gender identity. The other would prevent transgender minors from receiving gender-affirming health care. St. Louis Public Radio reporters Sarah Kellogg, Sarah Fentem and Jonathan Ahl break down the measures and discuss how advocates and healthcare providers are responding.

A new downtown home for the Kansas City Royals has been rumored for years now, but those rumors could come become reality sooner rather than later, according to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. He joined KCUR's Steve Kraske to talk about downtown baseball and a proposed park above Interstate 670 that would connect downtown to the Crossroads.

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

Increasingly restrictive abortion laws in many states have sent women traveling in search of procedures and pills they can no longer legally get at home. Many head to Kansas, where abortion remains legal although restricted, by car and by bus — and now, thanks to a new volunteer pilot organization based in Illinois, by small plane. Kansas News Service's Rose Conlon speaks to the volunteer pilots making these trips a little easier.

A new study shows that the use of cover crops by Midwest farmers has tripled in the last 10 years. Despite this good news, cover crops still account for just a small fraction of farmland acreage. Harvest Public Media's Jonathan Ahl spoke with farmers who hope that number will get even bigger.

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