Kansas City Today

The Kansas House narrowly passed a "school choice" bill that will allow families of K-12 students to access upwards of $5,000 in state funding for alternatives to public education — including private schools and homeschooling. But the Kansas Board of Education opposes the bill, arguing that the educations savings accounts — which come with an early estimated cost of $152 million to the state — lack accountability.

On KCUR's Up To Date, host Steve Kraske sat down with Kansas education commissioner Randy Watson to learn how this bill could affect public schools, and how Kansas is planning on moving forward.

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

It's already hard enough to be a competitive figure skater, but it's even more difficult when there's only one rink within a two hour drive. KBIA's Kassidy Arena tells the story of two teenage skaters in rural Missouri and the sacrifices they make for the sport they love.

Broadway Café has been a fixture in Kansas City's coffee scene for years, giving customers their much-needed caffeine fix. As part of KCUR's series The Regulars, Celisa Calacal and Allison Harris bring you an audio postcard from Broadway Cafe.

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

Dozens of Kansas kids enter foster care each year not because of abuse or neglect, but because their developmental disabilities and conditions like autism are more than their family can handle. Blaise Mesa of the Kansas News Service reports the issue has persisted for years.

Missouri pays its teachers some of the lowest salaries in the country, making it hard for school districts across the state to attract and retain teachers. Last month, Kansas City Public Schools became the latest in the area to raise salaries when it approved the highest starting pay scale in the metro. KCUR editor Madeline Fox sat down with education reporter Jodi Fortino to learn about new raises in teacher pay across Missouri.

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

Is Kansas City spending enough on its police department? Mayor Quinton Lucas insists the city is doing exactly what a new Missouri constitutional amendment requires it to do, which is spending 25% of the city's general revenue on the department.

However, the board of police commissioners isn't convinced. The board has sued the city stating it isn't accurately counting its revenue, and argues the city could be on the hook for millions more. KCUR's Steve Kraske sat down to talk with Josh Merchant, a writer for the Kansas City Beacon, to learn more about this lawsuit and the implications for the city, should the police board win in court.

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

Tense relations between China and the U.S. are trickling down into agriculture and more scrutiny into who owns farmland. It became a hot topic after the U.S. Air Force determined that a proposed Chinese-owned corn mill in North Dakota would be a significant national security threat. Now there are proposals restricting foreign ownership of farmland making their way through Congress and many state legislatures, including Missouri and Kansas. Harvest Public Media’s Eva Tesfaye reports.

The health care industry has long supported medical malpractice laws that put a hard cap on how much a jury can award for non-economic damages. Most Midwest states like Kansas and Missouri have laws that cap these damages, which are awarded for things like pain and suffering. But as Natalie Krebs reports for the Midwest Newsroom, some worry about the impact on people seeking justice for medical errors.

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

All 12 Kansas City Council seats and the mayor’s office will be up for election in the April 4, 2023, primary, along with several ballot questions on new taxes. Host Brian Ellison sat down to talk with KCUR reporters Celisa Calacal and Lynn Horsley to learn about who residents will be voting for, and what this election will mean for Kansas City.

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

Despite the closing of its bar, coffee shop and record store in Strawberry Hill, Manor Records isn't slowing down. The owner of the nonprofit record label hopes to focus his time and money on funding local artists and putting Kansas City on the music-industry map. KCUR's Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga reports.

Missouri state Rep. Tony Lovasco, R-St. Charles, hopes his new bill will help pave a path towards psilocybin's use as a medical treatment. A psychedelic drug commonly referred to as "magic mushrooms," psilocybin has been gaining popularity in the treatment of PTSD, depression and other ailments, but it's still banned in most states. Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with Lovasco about how legalizing psilocybin could help Missouri residents.

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

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes ruled that the Missouri Second Amendment Perseveration Act (SAPA) was unconstitutional. The law allowed Missourians to sue police officers for enforcing federal gun regulations and also hindered corporation between federal, state, and local law enforcement. KCUR's Steve Kraske spoke with Kavahn Mansouri from NPR's Midwest Newsroom about what happens next.

After a Missouri school district eliminated several diversity programs, Black students say it’s become even more difficult to cope with the racism they experience at a predominantly white high school. St. Louis Public Radio’s Andrea Henderson reports.

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

Missouri’s recent legalization of recreational, adult-use marijuana has opened new opportunities for more people to buy from dispensaries and created a booming "canna-tourism" industry, bringing in customers from neighboring states and even further. Host Nomin Ujiyediin sat down with KCUR’s general assignment reporter Carlos Moreno to discuss how the first month of sales went and what is coming next.

Green City, Missouri, used to be known for its small airport, named after an icon of American cinema who owned a cattle ranch there. Now the town of about 700 is known as the hometown of one of the country’s best women’s college basketball players. Greg Echlin reports for KCUR.

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

Recreational marijuana has been available in Missouri for about a month. That’s after voters approved the expansion last year. Today, Oklahomans will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana in their state. Harvest Public Media’s Xcaret Nuñez reports on how the results in Missouri could inform what will happen in Oklahoma.

Ida McBeth was known for her captivating stage presence and deep, commanding voice. She was a mentor and role model for younger generations of Black women coming up in the Kansas City jazz scene. KCUR's Steve Kraske sat down to talk with director of the Marr Sound Archives Chuck Haddix and renowned Kansas City singer Millie Edwards on Up To Date to remember and celebrate her life and legacy.

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