Up To Date

Two Kansas state senators and Overland Park's mayor are facing off in the Aug. 4 primary election for Kansas governor. They joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss how they'd address issues affecting Kansans.

The Rev. Adam Hamilton thinks that faith can play a role in turning the political tide towards Democrats during the midterm elections. The Leawood pastor spoke with KCUR's Up To Date about the issues important to him in his run for a Kansas U.S. Senate seat, and about bridging the divide in Washington.

For more than 35 years, Cliff Middleton has been fighting to free his father from a Missouri prison for a crime they say he didn't commit. In 1991, Ken Middleton was convicted of murdering his wife in their Blue Springs home, but the Georgetown University Law Center program “Making an Exoneree” reinvestigated and noted glaring discrepancies with his case.

The Overland Park Farmers Market reopened this past weekend after a major $34 million renovation. Overland Park parks and recreation director Bryan Toben joined KCUR's Up To Date to explain what went into the project and what the visitors can expect.

The streetcar's 3.5-mile Main Street extension opened in October 2025, and another extension to CPKC Stadium opened last month. A team is now studying extending the north-south line farther, to North Kansas City. The Kansas City Streetcar Authority will host two open houses this month for residents to learn more.

For Kelly Hunt, writing music starts with a visual process. She's part of the 780 Songwriters Circle, a quarterly event in Lawrence that brings together artists to explore the creative process. The next event is June 10 at the Lawrence Public Library.

Looking for a chaotic murder mystery or a meditative summer beach read with LGBTQ+ characters? Three Kansas City book experts share a range of selections in honor of Pride Month.

An ordinance proposed by Mayor Quinton Lucas and 6th District City Council member Johnathan Duncan would restrict practitioners from receiving payment for practices that increase the risk of suicide and depression. It's intended to avoid challenges stemming from a U.S. Supreme Court ruling and a lawsuit from the Missouri Attorney General.

Kansas' Ogallala Aquifer has been losing water for decades. And while dedicating funding to a strategic water plan was a priority of Kelly's during the 2026 legislative session, no measure passed. But she's optimistic the state will continue to make progress after she leaves office in January.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids says she's hearing from Kansas residents who are struggling to make ends meet. In an interview with KCUR's Up To Date, Davids said President Trump went to war in Iran "without a clear strategy," and it's adding to the high cost of living.

Parkville and North Kansas City are among the fastest-growing communities in the Kansas City metro, with populations increasing by more than 20% since the last Census. KCUR's Up To Date spoke with their mayors about what's fueling this surge and how it's impacting their cities.

The deadline to file as a candidate for governor of Kansas was Monday, June 1. A last-minute filing shook up the Democratic field, while there's a clear frontrunner among the seven Republicans in the running.

Henner, best known for her role in the 1970s sitcom “Taxi”, has a highly superior autobiographical memory, which allows her to remember vast portions of her life in vivid detail. She's in Kansas City to star in “Cactus Flower” at the New Theatre & Restaurant, and will perform her “Memory Girl” cabaret June 8.

The critically acclaimed new album “Little Wide Open” is the work of Overland Park musician Kevin Morby. He's on tour, traveling across the country and overseas, but stopped to join KCUR's Up To Date for another episode of our KC Soundcheck series ahead of his performance at the Uptown Theater.

Jason-Flor Sisante has always been enamored by outer space. Now, as a member of the United States Navy's aerospace medicine program, he hopes to take his talents as a medical professional into the cosmos.

Voters will see two controversial questions on Missouri's statewide ballot in August, when turnout is expected to be lower. Amendment 4 would make it much harder for citizens to change the constitution, while Amendment 5 seeks to expand sales taxes.

Research from the University of Kansas found that cynicism toward news outlets can make people more likely to believe misinformation. In contrast, a healthy level of skepticism toward media institutions can help people determine when information is trustworthy.

The pandemic changed how many Americans think about work. Now, a new 30-year entrepreneurship study from the Kansas City-based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation suggests those shifts may still be reshaping the economy.

Kansas City's Blue River Biosolids Facility is using an innovative wastewater treatment process to convert sewage into energy and fertilizer while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Kansas City recently lost a beloved face in local news. Cynthia Newsome, a long-serving anchor and reporter for KSHB 41, passed away on Tuesday following a yearslong battle with cancer. One journalist she mentored, KSHB reporter Rae Daniel, spoke with KCUR's Up To Date about Newsome's impact on our city.

Digital fraud is costing Americans billions. After Patrick Coughlin's mother was the target of an urgent and emotional fake kidnapping scam, the cybersecurity expert with his brother built a free website to help others identify the red flags of fraud.

People are being fleeced out of millions of dollars through cryptocurrency scams. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has filed a suit against one crypto ATM company that she says is knowingly enabling scams on their kiosks.

Crispin Rea, Kansas City's 4th District at-large council member, recently announced he will be running for mayor in 2027. He joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss his priorities, including improving public safety, increasing economic opportunities and "getting the basics right."

Nate Bukaty, who calls games for Major League Soccer on Apple TV and previously served as a television announcer for Sporting KC, is out with a new book titled "Perfect Pitch: How Kansas City Became the Heart of American Soccer and Landed the World Cup." He'll speak at a Rainy Day Books event with co-author Rustin Dodd on May 28.

Nearly 10% of Kansas City bus riders will lose access to key routes starting Sept. 6, as KCATA cuts seven weekday lines and two weekend routes. Officials say funding challenges have pushed the system into a “death spiral” of declining service.

As soccer fever comes to Kansas City, KCUR is hosting an event called "KC for the W" at CPKC Stadium on May 18 to celebrate the women who lead the way in telling sports stories in our region and beyond. Kansas City native Becky Sullivan, a sports reporter for NPR, will feature on a speaking panel.

Television writer and director Michael Schur and sportswriter Joe Posnanski will be in Kansas City on May 21 for a Rainy Day Books event promoting their new book, "Big Fan: Two Friends, 81,589 miles, and the Wild, Wonderful Sports We Love."

The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 to let states decide how to manage abortion access. But Yvette Lindgren, a professor of law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, says state bans aren't resulting in fewer abortions.

Historian H.W. Brands has written more than 30 books about American history, highlighting prominent figures ranging from the era of the Revolutionary War to the presidency of Ronald Reagan. He'll be in Kansas City for an event on Thursday to discuss his new book on George Washington.

Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell regrets not interviewing and documenting her mother's life. The former Kansas City Star journalist is helping others not make the same mistake. She talked with KCUR's Up To Date about preserving family histories and legacies.

After 30 years of growth, Foundation for Regeneration is restoring the symbolic Heart Forest near Kansas City International Airport, adding an outline, trails and areas for guests to sit and reflect.

Alberto Racanati grew up in Italy but moved to Kansas City more than 10 years ago to study trumpet at the UMKC Conservatory. Now, he makes genre-blending music solo as Alber and with his band I Maledetti. They'll perform at Manor Fest this May.

Cattle don't roam the West Bottoms anymore, but Kansas City is still full of both old-school and modern restaurants serving up hearty steaks. Here's where to find the best filet, wagyu, Kansas City strip and more.

Gloria Jackson-Leathers launched the Kansas City Civic Engagement Initiative, which provided after-school programs and funded many museums, helped created the Maker Faire at Union Station and led the development of the KC STEM Alliance.

Lawrence will serve as the base camp for Team Algeria during next month's World Cup. With the Trump administration restricting travel for Algerians, and reports that Kansas City hotel bookings lag far behind tourism projections, organizers are planning for a variety of outcomes.

Kansas City Manager Mario Vasquez will celebrate one year in office this week as city hall makes its final preparations for the 2026 World Cup. He joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss next month's tournament and tourism concerns, along with his perspective on the Royals' plans to build a Crown Center ballpark.

The hollow heart-shaped design for this year's Parade of Hearts was the perfect template for an art piece doubling as a community space. Artist Abby Gust Hutter created the sculpture “Read it Forward,” which she turned into a little free library outside of Rainy Day Books in Fairway.

The Mission Gateway site at the intersection of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Johnson Drive has sat largely vacant for two decades. While it's unclear how long it might take for the private property get redeveloped, Mission Mayor Sollie Flora says the city's government is "making it a focus."

There are more than 20,000 foster care cases in Missouri and Kansas, but many were removed from homes due to a lack of resources rather than neglect or abuse. Cornerstones of Care CEO Merideth Rose said that separating children from their families should be the last resort — and shouldn't be the state's default.

Along with his son, 82-year-old Olathe resident Dave McClung became the oldest man to hike to Mount Everest's base camp, trekking 42 miles over the course of eight days. “I always wanted to be famous, but I didn't know I'd be famous for being old," McClung told KCUR's Up To Date.

"Taller," the fifth studio album from the Platte City, Missouri, native, is loaded with songs celebrating motherhood and belonging, and features guest appearances from across Kansas City's music scene. “There's a lot of meaning on this album to me,” she said.

Residents of Gardner, Kansas, are confronting a new data center proposal from Beale Infrastructure just weeks after a similar proposal was withdrawn. Members of the community are concerned about the impact on their environment, utilities, and noise levels.