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Segment 1: The Independent candidate discusses his race for Kansas governor. The fierce gubernatorial race between Republican Kris Kobach, Democrat Laura Kelly and Independent Greg Orman is heating up. Orman joined us in-studio to talk about his proposals for education, the economy and gun control. He also explained why he decided to run as an Independent in a two-party system, and if low polling numbers will lead him to drop out. Greg Orman , entrepreneur and Independent Party candidate for

Segment 1: Kansas refusal to expand Medicaid has delayed access to medical care and left many poor residents uninsured . All but 17 states have expanded their Medicaid coverage under a provision in the Affordable Care Act. As one of the abstaining states, Kansas is now feeling the impact of that choice, as shown in a study supported by the REACH Healthcare Foundation . We heard how medical care in the Sunflower State compares to other states that expanded Medicaid. Brenda Sharpe , president and

Segment 1: Parkville candidates for Missouri House look to replace term-limited state Rep. Nick Marshall. Lauren Arthur's big Senate win in Clay County has many Missouri Democrats hoping the same could happen in the neighboring state House race for District 13. We sat down with the two major-party candidates to discuss their proposed policies on a gas tax increase, marijuana legalization, violent crime and more. Vic Allred , restaurateur and Republican candidate for Missouri House District 13

Segment 1: Why public money is needed to get a proposed underwater attraction off the ground. With more than $60 million already raised for a 700,000-gallon aquarium proposal, the future of an artificial seascape at the Kansas City Zoo depends largely on the willingness of Kansas City, Missouri, leaders to kick in about $7 million of taxpayer money. Today, a zoo leader described his vision for a new salt-water exhibit that Midwesterners could enjoy any time of year, and explained why private

Segment 1: As crashes involving large trucks continue to increase, resistance to crash avoidance and mitigation technology remains . When a tractor-trailer truck runs into the back end of a passenger vehicle at highway speed, there's a good chance that people will die. Today, jumping off an recent Kansas City Star investigation , we talked about truck-passenger vehicle collisions and the number of resulting deaths and potential preventive measures. Mike Hendricks , reporter for The Kansas City

Segment 1: Rep. Kevin Yoder, "My goal is to fight for the people of my community and solve problems." Kansas' Third Congressional District has been reliably Republican for years, but some observers in Washington think Sharice Davids could be the first Democrat to respresent the area since Dennis Moore, and the first Native American woman to join Congress ever. Today, the incumbent lawmaker told us why a more liberal legislator isn't right for northeast Kansas, and discussed the big issues that

Segment 1: American Public Square panelists agree on securing firearms in the home and little else during conversation on ways to prevent children dying from gun violence. According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence , every day in this country seven children die from gun violence: four are murdered, three die from suicide and one is killed unintentionally. In a search for common ground when it comes to protecting our kids from gun violence, KCUR and American Public Square teamed up

Segment 1: Methamphetamine epidemic of the 90s hasn't gone away in Missouri, it's gotten worse. There was at time when the number of mom-and-pop meth labs in this part of the country caused Independence, Missouri, to be dubbed "the methamphetamine capital of America." Vigorous laws restricting access to ingredients drastically reduced the number of home-cookers but not demand. Today, agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration told us how purer meth now makes it way to Missouri to be cut and

Segment 1: Confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh as newest U.S. Supreme Court justice could launch fresh challenges to women's reproductive rights on the state-level. For years, Kansas and Missouri legislatures have been chipping away at a person's ability to terminate a pregnancy. Today, KCUR reporters from both sides of the state line reviewed previous attempts by lawmakers to reduce abortion access and postulated on what a conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court might mean for this issue

Segment 1: Is a demanding, wide-ranging criminal registry system making the state of Kansas any safer? A Kansas News Service investigation has found that no other state has a public offender registry as expansive as the one in Kansas. Today, we talked with the Kansas News Service journalist and a law professor about the report's findings and its legal implications. Wayne Logan , Florida State University College of Law professor and author of "Knowledge As Power: Criminal Registration and