Much of Kansas City experiences some heat island effect. As global temperatures rise, Kansas City planners and environmental experts are trying harder to make these hot spots cooler. Plus: Missouri hasn't just outlawed abortion — it's also funding anti-abortion organizations that are working in neighboring states.

Nearly 75% of Kansas City, Missouri residents live in a heat island, where temperatures can be at least 8 degrees higher on any given day. That presents serious health and energy concerns. KCUR’s Noah Taborda has more about the people most affected and efforts to cool them down.

The Missouri Legislature expanded a tax credit for people who donate to crisis pregnancy centers, right around the same time that the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The resulting prohibition of nearly all abortions in Missouri led those groups that try to steer people away from abortions to bring the fight to other states.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Jonathan Ahl spoke with Jeremey Kohler of ProPublica, who investigated how these taxpayer-subsidized groups operate.

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Kansas City Today is hosted today by Madeline Fox. It is produced by Celia Morton, Byron Love and KCUR Studios. It's edited by Madeline Fox, Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

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