Up To Date

Some immigrants in Kansas City are changing their work hours and shifting other parts of their daily routine to avoid encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The 2025 surge of immigration enforcement resulted in nearly 8,000 jobs lost in Kansas City. 

The ninth studio album of the Lawrence, Kansas band The Roseline, was a piecemeal project a year in the making. But the band’s founder, Colin Haliburton, hopes people will relate to the lyrics in the 10-track album that touch on personal experiences. 

Some Medicaid recipients will soon be subject to new eligibility criteria. The changes were signed into law in the president’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Some experts fear the new requirements could result in millions of people losing coverage and higher costs to healthcare providers. 

Multidisciplinary artist Kasim Hardaway reflects on the first year of “Take What You Need,” an interactive public art installation that pops up around Kansas City and invites people to pause and reflect on their lives.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins refused to certify a ballot initiative aimed at undoing the new congressional maps drawn by Republican legislators. Those maps carved up Kansas City in an effort to oust Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, and this rejection sets up another legal battle ahead of November’s high-stakes midterms.

While voters in Missouri and Kansas overwhelmingly shot down ballot measures championed by Republicans, they also largely chose conservative, Trump-backed candidates to run against Democrats in November’s general election.

Capitalizing on the World Cup, the Kansas City Indian Center put out even more billboards this year calling on the Kansas City Chiefs to change their name and stop stereotypical practices like the “tomahawk chop.” Activists argue that the move to a new stadium is the perfect opportunity to address the longstanding complaints.

Chris Harris is building houses for rent near Harris Park, where he owns a nonprofit that teaches kids how to play golf and other outdoor sports. The developments will target families making between $34,000 to $70,000 a year.

Political scientists in Kansas and Missouri say Tuesday’s primary elections — particularly the constitutional amendments on the ballot — will gauge public opinion about whose voices should be heard in government and how much trust citizens have in their elected officials.

If approved by Kansas voters in the Aug. 4 election, the constitutional amendment would abolish the current merit-based nominating process for Supreme Court justices that has been in place since 1958. While supporters argue the change would rid the system of elitism, opponents say it will allow money to influence court decisions.

The city passed legislation that limits speeds for electronic mobility devices and creates an age limit for some higher speed vehicles. Advocates helped create the ordinance, but worry about some changes the city council made to the rules.

If approved by Missouri voters on Aug. 4, 2026, Amendment 5 would require the Missouri General Assembly to phase-out the income tax based on revenue growth. The amendment also authorizes lawmakers to expand sales and use taxes to replace the lost income tax revenue.

Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota said the vote to replace Manny Abarca IV as legislative chair was not related to allegations he made about bribery. On KCUR’s Up To Date, LeVota discussed how Jackson County residents will be reimbursed for inflated property tax payments.

The Linda Hall Science Library and Arboretum was established in 1946 on the estate of Herbert and Linda Hall, who bequeathed $6 million to establish a free public library for Kansas City. As the library celebrates its 80th anniversary, it’s aiming to re-establish itself as a place for all Kansas Citians – researchers or not – to engage with science.

A University of Kansas of Medical Center doctor said interest in GLP-1 medication, like Ozempic, has grown since Medicare expanded covered treatments. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program will allow doctors to prescribe the drugs for weight management. The popularity of the medication is helping manage America’s obesity epidemic.

Robert Warrior, a citizen of the Osage Nation, said serving as a consultant on the new series helped improve how Native Americans are portrayed as compared to the original "Little House on the Prairie" books.

Kansas City hosted six matches over the course of the tournament, which was largely considered a success. Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026, says Kansas City grew its reputation during the tournament.

ReStart Inc., a nonprofit homelessness services provider, converted a vacant midtown hotel into short-term furnished apartments for families experiencing homelessness. The Family Lodge is a 45-unit complex with on-site social services to support families in their transition to permanent housing.     

With a soaring voice that evokes folk legends Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez and more, Kansas City singer-songwriter Kirstie Lynn has a new EP that reflects on “blazing up, blazing out (and) blazing through” as a DIY musician. “Blazing Prairie Star” is out July 24.

The Sondern-Adler house was Wright’s first design for Kansas City. Since it was built in 1940, it has had six owners, including prominent arts philanthropist Richard J. Stern.

Preparing for retirement doesn’t have to be challenging. The co-authors of the book “The Simple Road Toward Financial Freedom: A Guide To Helping Young Adults Build Wealth,” joined KCUR’s Up To Date ahead of their TEDxKC talk that discusses how to create a savings system early in life. 

The middle of the country is seeing a higher volume of cyberattacks than other parts of the U.S. Artificial intelligence is contributing to an increase in attacks, leading to some organizations fending off more than 1,500 cyberattacks per week. A cyber security expert shares why the Midwest is a prime target for attacks and how people should protect sensitive information.

The National Science Foundation awarded the Critical Materials Crossroads up to $160 million in funding to rebuild the country's critical materials supply chain. The university says the initiative could create around 10,000 jobs by 2036.

If approved by Missouri voters on Aug. 4, 2026, Amendment 4 would raise the threshold to change the state constitution through the citizen-led initiative petition process. However, amendments sent to the ballot by the Missouri General Assembly would only require a simple majority to pass.

Violence is a means of communication men learn at an early age, according to University of Kansas associate professor Meggie Mapes. Mapes studied how male prison inmates with a history of partner violence were taught to communicate. She’ll speak at this year's TedxKC.