Prairie Journal

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly gave her eighth and final State of the State address.  We'll hear the speech in its entirety, with analysis from Bob Beatty of Washburn University, Michael Smith of Emporia State University, Tim Carpenter of the Kansas Reflector, Rebekah Chung of KSNT.

Is a tomato a fruit or vegetable? Award-winning author Lindsay Metcalf explores the legal food fight in her children's book, Tomatoes on Trial .  Also, two penpals learn about two very different ways to grow food in her picture book, Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm .

What's ahead this year at the Dole Institute of Politics? DIOP director Audrey Coleman stops by to preview the spring offerings, including a traveling exhibit celebrating "America 250."

Journalist Bill Kurtis retraces his career from his early days at KANU to his current gig as Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me scorekeeper at this book launch event for his new memoir, Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News.

Celebrate the season with the KPR staff on A Very Merry Prairie Journal! With songs of the season, holiday stories, and Christmas memories, from your favorite announcers as well as folks behind the scenes.

As 2025 comes to a close, Kaye McIntyre and J. Schafer look back at the non-profit groups in KPR's Community Spotlight this year, closing out the year with the O'Connell Children's Shelter in Lawrence.

Michael Smith and Ed Flentje are the editors of "Reform and Reaction: The Arc of Kansas Politics."  It's a look at the push and pull of state politics through the ages, featuring political scientists from across Kansas.

The new Netflix series "Death by Lightning" tells the gripping story of the assassination of President James Garfield and the doctors whose good intentions may have killed him.  Best-selling author Candice Millard talks about the series, which is based on her award-winning book Destiny of the Republic .

Las Madres is the inspiring story of three generations of Mexican-American women in Kansas.  It recently won three medals at the International Latino Book Awards event and was named a Kansas Notable Book.

KPR's Community Spotlight is shining on Good Shepherd Homecare and Hospice in Manhattan.  Director Christina Nolte joins us to describe the wide range of health care services Good Shepherd provides.  

Three years ago, the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka closed its doors for a major renovation.  We get a sneak peek at the Museum in advance of its grand reopening, November 22nd, with Museum Director Sarah Bell.  Also, Marion County, Kansas, has been ordered to pay $3 million dollars to settle a lawsuit following the 2023 raid on the local newspaper.  We hear from Marion County Record editor Er...

In connection with NPR's series "Here to Help," KPR highlights the work of volunteers in our own community.  Our first "Here to Help" features Debbie Zabel with the Douglas County Master Gardeners.

What can the political landscape of 2025 tell us about the 2026 elections? Political journalist and Dole Institute of Politics Visiting Fellow Jerry Seib and Kaye McIntyre preview the 2026 midterms, one year out.

He was once one of the highest paid vaudeville performers in America, but then largely forgotten.  Dr. Daniel E. Atkinson is the author of "The Rediscovery of George 'Nash' Walker: The Price of Black Stardom in Jim Crow America."

A remembrance of KPR's former music director Rachel Hunter, who passed away October 16, 2025, at the age of 80. 

Thousands of Kansans joined in No Kings demonstrations last week, with dozens of protests across the state, thousands across the country.  We'll hear from some of the people at the No Kings protest in Lawrence.

Robert Rebein is the author of "The Last Rancher," named a 2025 Kansas Notable Book and winner of the 2025 J. Donald Coffin Memorial Award in Fiction. It's the story of a family trying to hold onto their ranch in western Kansas in the face of financial struggles, a serious accident, and lots of family drama. 

Journalist Bill Kurtis retraces his career from his early days at KANU to his current gig as Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me scorekeeper at this book launch event for his new memoir, Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News.

Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg battles a rare form of eye cancer and saves a historic farm in her latest book, The Magic Eye: A Story of Saving a Life and a Place in the Age of Anxiety.

How did Alfred Beach manage to build a subway in New York City...in secret?  KPR's own Matthew Algeo tells the story in "New York City's Secret Subway: The Underground Genius of Alfred Beach and the Origins of Mass Transit."

Prairie Paws Animal Shelter serves Ottawa, Emporia, Manhattan, and the surrounding communities.  Vanessa Cowie is CEO of Prairie Paws, in KPR's Community Spotlight for September.  

During National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, we talk to the authors of "Hope and the Winds of Grief: A Story of Healing After Losing a Loved One to Suicide."  This children's book and related materials were created by Stacey Lamb and Scott Emmons.  Also, a conversation with Karen Russell, author of The Antidote, recently long-listed for the National Book Award.

The Kansas Book Festival's Tim Bascom and Kathleen Morgan join us to preview this year's Festival -- a day of writers, readers, music, food and fun --  coming up September 20th in Topeka. 

Bill Kurtis: legendary broadcaster, Kansas native, KANU alumnus, and now...author!  He joins us to talk about his new memoir, "Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News," in advance of his Lawrence book launch, September 18th. We also preview the Kansas Book Festival, coming up September 20th in Topeka.

35 years ago, Senator Bob Dole led a delegation to Kosovo to signal support for the republic's independence movement.  Dole Institute of Politics director Audrey Coleman talks about the significance of that historic visit and this year's fall line-up at the Institute.  We also hear from Fran Borin, author of "The Spirit of Quindaro," recently named a Great Read from Great Places book for young rea...