Up To Date

Kansas City jazz legend Bobby Watson wants to ensure the city’s jazz history and traditions don’t fade with age. The saxophonists and composer’s latest album, “Continuum” is a testimonial about passing knowledge to younger artists.

Election Day in Kansas and Missouri is on Nov. 3, and early voting has already begun. If you’re trying to figure out how to start the process of understanding your ballot, one Kansas political scientist says “Google’s your friend." (And so is KCUR!)

Ghosts, ghouls and… personal liability lawsuits? Halloween can turn overlooked hazards into serious injuries and complicated legal questions. Trip-and-falls, dangerous decorations, pedestrian crashes, defective costumes and even golf carts can create unforeseen disasters.

One of the best sports teams in the country is flying under the radar in Kansas City. The Roos men’s soccer team at the University of Missouri-Kansas City has achieved its best national ranking in program history, and the season is far from over.

Christal Watson, mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, is asking voters to pass two key sales tax items on the November ballot. One is a quarter-cent tax for healthcare services and addressing homelessness, and the other is a three-eights-cent tax to fund parks, community centers and trails.

With Kansas and Missouri elections just three weeks away, KCUR’s series “What’s the deal, KC?” is answering common questions from voters about the candidates and issues on their ballot. We’ll explain how to find your Congressional district, where to learn about judges up for retention, and what an abortion ban amendment has to do with transgender healthcare. Text your questions to 816-601-4777.

Some kids with mobility challenges are missing out on playing with peers and siblings. Thanks to a partnership between Variety KC and The Barstow School’s robotics team, seven Kansas City toddlers received modified ride-on cars to give them more independence and a new chance to play with others.

As fall arrives and the days get cooler, nothing satisfies quite like a cheesy dish that warms the belly and comforts the soul. From gooey grilled cheese sandwiches to tangy, whipped goat cheese dips — even famous barbecue sides — there’s a cheesy dish for every taste in Kansas City.

Englewood Theater in Independence, Missouri, sat vacant for nearly 20 years before a nonprofit purchased the building in 2025. The group is in the initial stages of a large-scale revitalization project, slated to start in early 2027, that they hope will make the theater operational once again.

Sheila Bair, a Kansas native who served as the chair of the FDIC from 2006-2011, is in Kansas City this week to accept the Truman Medal for Economic Policy from the Truman Library Institute. Bair said she is worried about the weakening of banking reforms, and sees a lot of risky lending happening right now.

The Kansas City Business Journal’s Thomas Friestad joined KCUR's Up To Date for a roundup on all things development around the metro.

The play, which starred Sadie Sink of “Stranger Things” during its Broadway run, centers on a group of high schoolers as they navigate notions of gender and power during the #MeToo movement. As they study Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” in English class, the students consider how the play resonates in their own lives. The KC Rep’s production runs through Oct. 25.

Now out on streaming, “Your Attention Please” shows footage of Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley confronting Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about how social media is hurting teenagers. The film explores how tech companies keep users addicted, and how young people are seeking to redefine human connection.

Pressure to perform and social media are contributing factors to a rise in suicide rates among children between the ages of 8-12 years old. A Kansas City psychologist said that some young kids lack the understanding of the finality of their decision and can be more impulsive, heightening the risk.

If passed on Nov. 3, the amendment would enshrine the “Respect Missouri Voters” initiative into the state constitution. That would require an 80% threshold for lawmakers to overturn citizen-led measures, such as the paid sick leave law approved in 2024. Then voters would be given another say at the ballot box.

Kansas City and the business community are working together to reduce the number of chronically unhoused people by providing vouchers and connecting them with resources. The Housing Gateway Program has proven effective in other cities around the U.S, and advocates say Kansas City is “well positioned” to succeed.

If passed on Nov. 3, Amendment 8 would make county sheriffs a constitutionally-required position, with a few exceptions in the St. Louis area. It would also limit the circumstances under which a sheriff can be removed from office.

A new historic marker pays tribute to the former site of Soakie’s, the Black queer bar that once operated out of the basement of an Italian sandwich shop. The nightclub regularly hosted drag performances, and served as a home to the local LGBTQ+ community.

If passed on Nov. 3, the amendment would establish the “Show-Me Prosperity Fund,” a public endowment similar to a sovereign wealth fund. However, it would not allocate any money into that fund. Supporters hope that the investment could one day be used to replace state taxes entirely, but economists worry that it could put state services at risk.

Higher fuel costs touch every branch of the economy, but food distributors are especially vulnerable to price increases. A farmer and food bank leader discuss how more expensive gas is affecting their operations.

The Kansas City Royals celebrated Denny Matthews’ 8,000th game behind the mic during last week’s matchup against the Cleveland Guardians. An inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Matthews has been "the voice of the Royals" since the team first began 57 years ago.

The Rabbit hOle museum in North Kansas City is hosting The Lucky Rabbit Literature Festival this weekend, bringing together seven of the most prominent authors and artists working in the children’s book industry. Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien join Up To Date to discuss their award-winning children’s book, “Fireworks.”

Journalist Chuck Todd will be in Kansas City this weekend to accept a leadership award from the Poynter Institute, a journalism nonprofit. He joined KCUR’s Up To Date to discuss the midterm elections, including the competitive U.S. Senate race in Kansas and Missouri's congressional redistricting "chaos."

Missouri lawmakers redrew the state’s congressional lines in 2025, in an attempt to oust Kansas City Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II and add a Republican seat to the U.S. House. But after a successful petition campaign, the new map was blocked from taking effect for this election, and voters in November will decide whether to approve or reject it.

What should you do when you find a tick on yourself? Don't freak out — we have you covered. From the KCUR Studios and Harvest Public Media podcast Up From Dust, a team of scientists help answer that question, plus how to avoid it in the first place.