Up To Date

Kansas City hosted six matches during the monthlong tournament, which cost nearly $200 million in public funds for this region’s part alone. Did local businesses actually benefit in the end? Or will the event’s impact be felt years down the road?

All but one of the six candidates running in the primary to unseat U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II live outside the newly-redrawn 5th District. Members of Congress only have to live in the state they represent, but residing outside their district can be a political liability.

The work of the Midwest Innocence Project has resulted in 18 people freed or exonerated from prison, including several in Missouri and Kansas. But the nonprofit that provides pro bono legal work is in jeopardy due to a loss in federal grants and other financial strains.

If approved on Aug. 4, Amendment 2 would change the Missouri Constitution to require that Jackson County elect its assessor. County residents already overwhelmingly voted to make the role an elected position, rather than one appointed by the county executive, after years of outrage over property tax valuations.

The popular food kiosk at Varsity Club in the River Market will expand to a second location. Owners Darren Carter and Matt Chapman say the concept will include a takeout window and a dine-in section, where the menu offerings will expand.

French fries are quintessentially American, and nearly ubiquitous at Kansas City restaurants. Here’s where you can find the best straight-cut, waffle, and curly fries, plus tater tots, poutine and more. 

Rep. Mark Alford is running for reelection in the newly redrawn 4th congressional district of Missouri. He joined KCUR’s Up To Date to discuss the war in Iran, the bipartisan housing bill that President Trump has refused to sign, the Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship ruling and more.

The Society of St. Pius X — a faction of conservative, traditionalist Catholics who reject major reforms adopted in the 1960s — boasts The Immaculata in St. Mary’s, Kansas, as one of its largest churches worldwide. The SSPX caused a schism in the Catholic Church earlier this month when it ordained new bishops against the orders of Pope Leo.

Darryl Burton was exonerated, but found even more hurdles outside of prison trying to find housing and a job. Burton is the co-founder of Miracle of Innocence, a Missouri nonprofit that provides legal aid and reentry services, which is holding its ninth annual fundraiser in September.

On “Burn Again,” his second solo record as Warren Burns, Kansas City folk artist Danny Fischer works through difficult life experiences and comes out better on the other side. 

While some Kansas City businesses have reported sales slowed significantly during the tournament, others — like barbecue restaurants and local merch shops — have seen extreme demand from visitors. World Cup traffic has been highly dependent on what businesses sell and where they’re located.

Author Craig Fehrman will be at the Kansas City Public Library later this month for a conversation about his new book "This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis & Clark."

One thing Sandy Spidel Neumann learned during her 40-year career in financial services is that you can’t throw money at a problem. The Kansas Democrat said she’ll use her business background to make data-informed decisions. Spidel Neumann is one of 11 candidates on the Aug. 4 primary ballot for the U.S. Senate.

Erik Murray, a U.S. Senate candidate from Kansas City, Kansas, hasn’t run for office before but touted his experience with federal policies around affordable housing tax credits and opportunity zones. He criticized Sen. Roger Marshall for simply “smiling and nodding” as President Trump grows the deficit.

New analysis from Ballotpedia suggests that Republicans in Missouri and Kansas are at risk of losing their supermajorities. KCUR's Up To Date spoke with political scientists on both sides of the state line about what it would ultimately mean and whether or not it is actually likely.

Nearly four and a half decades after the infamous "Disgrace of Gijón" effectively eliminated Algeria from the 1982 World Cup, the Algerians and Austrians are set to meet again on the final day of the group stage in Kansas City. 

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas joined KCUR's Up To Date to look back on the city's performance as a FIFA World Cup host, and to discuss what went right and what went wrong during the tournament.

Released this month, “J’Day” is Kansas City-based musician Jamogi Bridges’s first full-length album. Inspired by early-2000s pop and R&B, Bridges says he wants his songs to bring joy to listeners.

After Congress passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act this week, President Trump said he wouldn't sign it into law unless an unrelated bill focused on voting restrictions was also passed. Congresswoman Sharice Davids joined Up To Date to share her reaction to the situation and to discuss what could come next.

Doug Frost is one of only three people in the world to hold both the titles of master sommelier and master of wine. He joined KCUR’s Up to Date to share a selection of wines with connections to teams staying or playing in Kansas City during the World Cup.

Charlotte O’Hara is running for governor of Kansas in the Republican primary. Her platform is focused on eliminating property taxes, dramatically reforming education, and ending the use of large tax incentives for sports teams and major corporations.

If they heed the warnings, people in Kansas City have taken shelter more than usual this season — the 1,438 severe weather warnings issued so far is the most on record. But staffing cuts to the National Weather Service have resulted in less warning time for some storm systems.

With the World Cup underway in Kansas City, Oliver Wright — who makes videos on TikTok as @SideQuestDad — has become a local celebrity talking about soccer and living in the Midwest as a Brit. In particular, he’s been teaching visitors how to beat the oppressive summer heat.

De Soto Mayor Rick Walker says revenue from a planned $3 billion data center campus is an opportunity to grow the city. But one resident is concerned that leaders are moving too fast and not weighing the negative impacts on the community and environment.

John Dale, the longtime public address announcer for Sporting Kansas City, the Kansas City Mavericks and countless local sporting events, is now bringing his voice to World Cup matches at the stadium in Monterrey, Mexico.