Kansas City Today

Former detainees are speaking out about what they say are poor conditions at an immigration detention center in eastern Kansas. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Emily Younker and Madeline Fox. You can support Kansas City Today b...

The Trump administration's clampdown on student visas means that colleges and universities have gotten a lot fewer students from abroad this year. That could spell trouble for higher education and the U.S. as a whole. Plus: A University of Kansas wrote the literal book on "Swifty-nomics," about the economic impact of women's work — and Taylor Swift herself. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follo...

Election Day is just over a week away in the recall of Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. Hear the backstory and what it means if you vote yes or no. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Emily Younker and Gabe Ros...

Kansas City, Kansas, artist Harold Smith’s new series of paintings puts a personal spin on iconic works from art history — adding in his friends and neighbors. You can see these "Around the Way Folk, Saints in Uncommon Places" on display now at the Mulvane Art Museum in Topeka. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hos...

President Donald Trump says that cashless bail is leading to a rise in crime, and wants to see it ended nationwide. But a study from the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas found the opposite, and argues that cash bail for nonviolent crimes is hurting low-income residents. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hos...

Critical questions remain about how a 50-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, man died in the Wyandotte County Jail more than two months ago. Charles Adair’s death has been ruled a homicide, but new details reveal striking similarities to the death of George Floyd in 2020. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin...

Kansas has lost about 50 newspapers in the past 20 years. And as the owners of many small, family-owned papers get older, it’s uncertain who will keep the presses running when they retire. Plus: Missouri Republicans shattered norms when they pushed through redistricting and amendment changes in a special session — and it could have long-term consequences. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow...

Missouri's legislature passed not one but two measures on Friday taking aim at voting rights. In addition to the gerrymandered congressional map, Republicans also pushed through a plan to heavily restrict citizen-led constitutional amendments. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produce...

Troost Avenue in Kansas City was a historic dividing line during the era of racial segregation. Now, as Missouri Republicans look to pass a gerrymandered new congressional map, this avenue would once again split Kansas City. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love a...

Indigenous maternal mortality rates have been rising in Kansas for at least two decades. A group of Kansas women is training to bridge modern medicine and cultural practices in birth. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosen...

Kansas Republicans already redrew Rep. Sharice Davids' district in 2022. But the state's sole Democratic Congress member held onto her seat anyways. So while Missouri Republicans push through their own gerrymander, some Kansas leaders want to try again. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. I...

Andrew Bailey officially left the Missouri attorney general's office yesterday to take on a new position at the FBI. In just a few years, Bailey defined himself through loyalty to President Trump, and his opposition to abortion and racial diversity. Both his admirers and detractors believe he could make a major national impact. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Fac...

Missouri lawmakers are considering a new map of congressional districts and initiative petition reform during a special legislative session. A reporter from St. Louis Public Radio provides an inside look at last week's committee meetings, debate and testimonies. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ell...

Dozens of rare and historic Civil War battle flags stored at the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka are falling apart and in desperate need of restoration. Learn more about the museum’s preservation efforts. Plus: The Kansas Jayhawks and Missouri Tigers will face off on the football field this weekend for the first time since 2011. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and ...

When consumers get their utility bills every month, it’s not always clear why energy costs as much as it does — and there are usually no other options. Why? The upfront investment and barriers to entry create natural energy industry monopolies. Plus: Learn why local fruits and veggies are often more expensive than produce shipped thousands of miles. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR o...

More than 30% of formerly incarcerated Missourians return to prison within three years. It can be hard for these individuals to find a path to reentry, but one group seems to have landed on a solution that’s beginning to keep offenders out of prison for good. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyed...

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who has represented much of Kansas City since 2005, may be the target of the country's next redistricting effort. If Missouri joins Texas in redrawing congressional lines to benefit Republicans, Cleaver warns that lawmakers will "need to dig three graves." Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hos...

In the early 1900s, three Wyandot Nation sisters barricaded themselves in a tribal burial ground in downtown Kansas City, Kansas to save it from destruction. Learn more about the new art installation that tells the story of the Conley sisters. Also, paid sick leave ended in Missouri, months after it went into effect. A workers' group wants to put the benefit before voters again as a constitutional...

A Black transgender woman sued the Missouri Department of Corrections claiming officers kept her isolated for six years based on a policy that singles out people with HIV. Missouri is now changing its policy as a result of that settlement. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hosted by Madeline Fox. It is produced by...

Frequent Kansas City visitor Taylor Swift is entering her engagement era to Chiefs tight end and fellow podcaster Travis Kelce. Plus: We'll hear about how the four-day school week is working in Missouri and other Midwest states, while some Kansas families are going back to the one-room schoolhouse. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kan...

State fairs offer tradition, blue ribbons and fried classics like funnel cakes. And many fairgoers have traditions of their own. Harvest Public Media takes an audio tour of four state fairs around the Midwest. Also, Kansas is known for its massive wheat production, but it has fallen behind because of a lack of new hybrids. Seed companies and universities are making changes that could impact the fa...

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey surprised many when he announced he would be stepping down from the role to become the co-deputy director of the FBI. It satisfied Bailey's ambition to join the Trump administration, but the role he'll play isn't clear yet. Steve Kraske spoke with Justice reporter Jake Rosen of CBS News about Bailey's appointment on KCUR's Up To Date. Contact the show at new...

Betty Bremser has been running Foo's Fabulous Frozen Custard for nearly 30 years, turning the Brookside locale into a dessert destination and the start of many local teens' careers. But Bremser is hanging up her scoop at the end of the month. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on  Instagram  and  Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced...

Kansas City and the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority finalized a contract last week after months of fraught negotiations, avoiding a possible shutdown of bus service. But the contract brings back fares for most riders. A new contract between the city and the transit agency puts an end to months of conflict since the last contract expired at the end of April. It means bus service will cont...

More than 3,000 refugees in Kansas City have gotten help acclimating to their new homes since 2014 thanks to Della Lamb Community Services. Many of these new arrivals face unique health challenges, so a local crew of medical students from Kansas City University is volunteering their help. KCUR's Noah Taborda reports on how medical students and a refugee resettlement agency are giving refugees clar...