Prairie Journal

Legendary newsman, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me scorekeeper, and KANU alum Bill Kurtis looks back on his 60-year career in broadcasting in this year's Dole Lecture at the Dole Institute of Politics . This event was held April 11, 2024, moderated by Dole Institute director Audrey Coleman.

It was once home to Kansas City's Black movers and shakers.  Take a walk through the history of KC's Montgall Avenue with Margie Carr, part of our 2024 Kansas Notable Book Series.

You've heard of John Brown.  Now meet James Montgomery, the most dangerous Kansas abolitionist you probably have never heard of.  Todd Mildfelt and David Schafer are the authors of Abolitionist of the Most Dangerous Kind: James Montgomery and His War on Slavery.

It's a cross-country journey of spooky stories!  The Haunted States of America includes stories by local authors William Mockry and Giselle Anatol in this anthology for middle-school readers.  Also on this week's show, how much difference will split-ticket voters make in the too-close-to-predict 2024 election?  It's "Beyond the Ballot," the second in a series led by Jonathan Shorman of the Kansas...

Part ghost story, part history: "The Spirit of Quindaro" by Kansas author Fran Borin is part of our 2024 Kansas Notable Book series.

October is National LGBTQ History Month.  We look back at the fight for gay rights at the University of Kansas in the 1970s with Dr. Kathy Rose-Mockry, author of "Liberating Lawrence." Also, a conversation with Fran Borin, the author of "The Spirit of Quindaro."  Finally, we visit with Jennifer Shields, executive director of the Cherry Street Youth Center in Chanute, KPR's Community Spotlight.

It's a sneak peek at KPR's upcoming live day! Kansas Public Radio's Cordelia Brown and Destiny Ann Mermagen join Kaye McIntyre to preview what's in store for Friday, October 25th.

We preview the 2024 elections in Kansas, with Kansas City Star lead political reporter Jonathan Shorman, Wichita State University's Dr. Alexandra Middlewood, and Kansas City Star Washington D.C. correspondent Dan DeRochers.  It's Part One of this fall's Beyond the Ballot series at the Dole Institute of Politics. We'll also visit with KPR's Cordelia Brown and Destiny Ann Mermagen about Kansas Publi...

Professor Greg Jackson is the creator and host of the popular podcast, History That Doesn't Suck.  He brings a live stage show version of "History That Doesn't Suck" to Lawrence's Liberty Hall on October 11, 2024.

Week of October 7, 2024: U.S. Poet Laureate is coming to Kansas this month, in connection with the launch of her poem "In Praise of Mystery" into space onboard the Europa Clipper. We'll also hear from Professor Greg Jackson, creator of the popular podcast History That Doesn't Suck, coming to Lawrence this week.  Finally, Jerry Seib of the Wall Street Journal joins us to talk about the 2024 preside...

What do national security experts get wrong about keeping America safe? And what role does Kansas and the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility play in doing so? Thom Shankar is the co-author of Age of Danger: Keeping America Safe in an Era of New Superpowers, New Weapons, and New Threats. We also hear from journalist, filmmaker, and author Elizabeth Farnsworth about her novel, Last Light. 

The KU Department of Theatre and Dance opens its 2024-25 season with a limited run of "Indecent," a play that tells the story of the controversy surrounding the 1906 play "God of Vengeance."  Dr. Henry Bial is the director of "Indecent" and the chair of the KU Department of Theatre and Dance.

How can a children's book help a kid dealing with a suicide loss?  Scott Emmons and Stacey Lamb are the creators of "Hope and the Winds of Grief: A Story of Healing After Losing a Loved One to Suicide."  

Kansas City is hosting the world premiere of the play "Tree of Life" this weekend.  Playwright Victor Wisha and director Jonah Greene join Kaye McIntyre to preview the play, running from September 14-22 at White Theater at the Jewish Community Center of Kansas City.

It's a sneak peek at this year's Kansas Book Festival, coming up September 28th at Washburn University in Topeka.  We'll hear from one of the writers featured at the Festival, Kansas Notable winner Sarah Edgerton, author of Daughter of Chaos.  We'll also visit with playwright Victor Wishna and director Jonah Greene about this week's premiere of their play, Tree of Life.

Two sisters running two competing chicken restaurants in southeast Kansas... it's a premise that will sound familiar to many Kansans.  The Chicken Sisters is a new television series based on the bestselling novel of the same name by KJ Dell'Antonia.

How are fake news and political disinformation changing our elections? Sasha Issenberg is the author of The Lie Detectives: In Search of a Playbook for Winning Elections in the Disinformation Age.

On Swift Horses premieres this week at the Toronto Film Festival.  We'll talk to Shannon Pufahl, the Kansas author of the book behind the film. Also, we preview the fall lineup at the Dole Institute of Politics with director Audrey Coleman.

KPR's Community Spotlight this month is on the Lawrence Community Orchestra, under the leadership of Dr. Rachel Dirks.  

Washburn University's Mulvane Art Museum is celebrating its centennial this year.  We'll hear from Museum Director Connie Gibbons about 100 years of bringing art to Washburn and Topeka.  Also, Jericho Hockett and Dennis Etzel talk about Kansas Speaks Out: Poems in the Age of Me, Too.  Finally, Dr. Rachel Dirks joins us to talk about the Lawrence Community Orchestra, KPR's Community Spotlight organ...

What can the rise of the Kansas City Chiefs tell us about Kansas history? Mark Dent and Rustin Dodd are the authors of Kingdom Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs, and How a Once Swingin' Cow Town Chased the Ultimate Comeback.

Shakespeare's A Comedy of Errors gets a western twist in this all-female production by the Lady Shakes Theatre Company of Topeka.

The National Center for the Book has just named its 2024 Great Reads from Great Places for Kansas.  We'll hear from Susan Jonusas, author of "Hell's Half Acre: The Untold Story of the Benders" and Grant Snider, author of "One Boy Watching."  We'll also revisit a conversation with KJ Dell'Antonio, author of "The Chicken Sisters," coming to the Hallmark+ Channel next month.

In May 1955, the town of Udall, Kansas, was devastated by an F5 tornado, the deadliest in Kansas history. Jim Minick tells the story of that harrowing night and the resilience of the people of Udall in his book, "Without Warning: The Tornado of Udall, Kansas."

What can Mother Earth and indigenous wisdom teach us about climate change? Dan Wildcat's latest book is On Indigenuity: Learning the Lessons of Mother Earth. Dr. Wildcat teaches at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas.