Up To Date

For Kelly Hunt, writing music starts with a visual process. For some other artists, just fiddling around with an instrument leads to a chord progression that sets the music writing process in motion. The 780 Songwriters Circle, a quarterly event in Lawrence, brings together artists to share what goes into creating a song and album, and when they know a track isn’t coming together. 

An ordinance proposed by Mayor Quinton Lucas and 6th District City Council member Johnathan Duncan would restrict practitioners from receiving payment for practices that increase the risk of suicide and depression. It’s intended to avoid challenges stemming from a U.S. Supreme Court ruling and a lawsuit from the Missouri Attorney General.

Kansas’ Ogallala Aquifer has been losing water for decades. And while dedicating funding to a strategic water plan was a priority of Kelly’s during the 2026 legislative session, no measure passed. But she’s optimistic the state will continue to make progress after she leaves office in January.

Looking for a chaotic murder mystery or a meditative summer beach read with LGBTQ+ characters? Three Kansas City book experts share a range of selections in honor of Pride Month.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids says she’s hearing from Kansas residents who are struggling to make ends meet. Speaking on KCUR’s Up To Date, Davids said the Trump administration’s war with Iran is contributing to the high cost of living.

Parkville and North Kansas City are among the fastest-growing communities in the metro, with populations increasing by more than 20% since the last census. KCUR’s Up To Date spoke with their mayors about what’s fueling this surge and how it’s impacting their cities.

The deadline to file as a candidate for governor of Kansas was Monday, June 1. A last-minute filing shook up the Democratic field, while there's a clear frontrunner among the seven Republicans in the running.

Henner, best known for her role in the 1970s sitcom “Taxi”, has a highly superior autobiographical memory, which allows her to remember vast portions of her life in vivid detail. She’s in Kansas City to star in “Cactus Flower” at the New Theatre & Restaurant, and will perform her “Memory Girl” cabaret June 8.

The critically acclaimed new album “Little Wide Open,” is the work of Overland Park musician Kevin Morby. He’s on tour, traveling across the country and overseas, but stopped to join KCUR’s Up To Date for another episode of our KC Soundcheck series ahead of his performance at the Uptown Theater.

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.