Up To Date

Jason-Flor Sisante has always been enamored by outer space. Now, as a member of the United States Navy's aerospace medicine program, he hopes to take his talents as a medical professional into the cosmos.

Voters will see two controversial constitutional amendments on Missouri’s statewide ballot in August. Amendment 4 would make it much harder for citizens to change the constitution through the initiative petition process, while Amendment 5 seeks to expand sales taxes. And while primary elections tend to have lower turnout, these ballot questions could completely reshape the state’s politics.

Cynthia Newsome

Kansas City’s Blue River Biosolids Facility is using an innovative wastewater treatment process to convert sewage into energy and fertilizer while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Research from the University of Kansas found that cynicism toward news outlets can make people more likely to believe misinformation. In contrast, a healthy level of skepticism toward media institutions can help people determine when information is trustworthy.

People are being fleeced out of millions of dollars through cryptocurrency scams. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has filed a suit against one crypto ATM company that she says is knowingly enabling scams on their kiosks.

Digital fraud is costing Americans billions. After Patrick Coughlin’s mother was the target of an urgent and emotional fake kidnapping scam, the cybersecurity expert with his brother built a free website to help others identify the red flags of fraud.

Crispin Rea, Kansas City's 4th district at-large councilmember, recently announced that he is running to become the mayor of his city on the 2027 ballot. He joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss what his priorities would be as mayor, including improving public safety, increasing economic opportunities and "getting the basics right."

Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneurial Study

Nate Bukaty, who calls games for Major League Soccer on Apple TV and previously served as a television announcer for Sporting KC, is out with a new book titled "Perfect Pitch: How Kansas City Became the Heart of American Soccer and Landed the World Cup." He'll speak at a Rainy Day Books event with the book's co-author Rustin Dodd on May 28th.

Nearly 10% of Kansas City bus riders will lose access to key routes starting Sept. 6, as KCATA cuts seven weekday lines and two weekend routes. Officials say funding challenges have pushed the system into a “death spiral” of declining service.

A month before the beginning of the World Cup, an event called "KC for the W" will be held at CPKC Stadium on May 18 to celebrate the women who are leading the way in telling sports stories in our region and beyond. Kansas City native Becky Sullivan, a sports reporter for NPR, will be featured on a speaking panel.

Television writer and director Michael Schur and sportswriter Joe Posnanski will be in Kansas City on May 21st for a Rainy Day Books event promoting their new book "Big Fan: Two Friends, 81,589 miles, and the Wild, Wonderful Sports We Love.

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 to let states decide how to manage abortion access. But Yvette Lindgren, a professor of law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, says state bans aren’t resulting in fewer abortions.

Historian H.W. Brands has written over 30 books about American history, highlighting prominent figures ranging from the era of the Revolutionary War to the presidency of Ronald Reagan. He’ll be in Kansas City for an event on Thursday to discuss his new book on George Washington.

Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell regrets not interviewing and documenting her mother’s life. The former Kansas City Star journalist is helping others not make the same mistake. She talked with KCUR’s Up To Date about preserving a family history and legacy.  

After 30 years of growth, Foundation for Regeneration is restoring the symbolic Heart Forest near Kansas City International Airport, adding an outline, trails and areas for guests to sit and reflect.

Cattle don’t roam the West Bottoms anymore, but Kansas City is still full of both old-school and modern restaurants serving up hearty steaks. Here’s where to find the best filet, wagyu, Kansas City strip and more.

Gloria Jackson-Leathers launched the Kansas City Civic Engagement Initiative, which provided after-school programs and funded many museums, helped created the Maker Faire at Union Station and led the development of the KC STEM Alliance.

Lawrence will serve as the base camp for Team Algeria during next month’s World Cup. With the Trump administration restricting travel for Algerians, and reports that Kansas City hotel bookings lag far behind tourism projections, organizers are planning for a variety of outcomes.

Kansas City Manager Mario Vasquez will celebrate one year in office this week as city hall makes its final preparations for the 2026 World Cup. He joined KCUR’s Up To Date to discuss next month’s tournament festivities along with his perspective on the Royals’ plans to build a downtown ballpark.

The Mission Gateway site at the intersection of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Johnson Drive has sat largely vacant for two decades. While a timeline for the private property to finally be redeveloped is unclear, Mission Mayor Sollie Flora says the city's government is making "making it a focus."

Alberto Racanati grew up in Italy but moved to Kansas City more than 10 years ago to study trumpet at the UMKC Conservatory. Now, he makes genre-blending music solo as Alber and with his band I Maledetti. They'll perform at Manor Fest this May.

There are more than 20,000 foster care cases in Missouri and Kansas, but many were removed from homes due to a lack of resources rather than neglect or abuse. Cornerstones of Care CEO Merideth Rose said that separating children from their families should be the last resort — and shouldn't be the state's default.

Along with his son, 82-year-old Olathe resident Dave McClung became the oldest man to hike to Mount Everest’s base camp, trekking 42 miles over the course of eight days. “I always wanted to be famous, but I didn't know I'd be famous for being old," McClung told KCUR's Up To Date.