Up to Date focuses on pressing issues, both local and national, including politics, economics, planning and design, history and entertainment - topics that have an impact on the lives of the Greater Kansas City region.

South Asian cuisine can vary drastically by region — from Bengali curry to Pakistani biryani and everything in between — but you can find options from all over the subcontinent right here in Kansas City. Here's where to find the metro's best butter chicken, tikka masala, samosas and more.

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) chose Kansas City to host this year's conference, covering topics from everyday life with ADHD to how the Trump administration is threatening school accommodations and research funding.

During the record-setting 43-day government shutdown, Missouri Republican Rep. Sam Graves said he got a lot of calls from air traffic controllers — who had to work without pay, despite already being overworked and understaffed. But another shutdown could just be a few months away.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe's desire to eliminate the state income tax is an ambitious goal given the projected $1 billion shortfall in general revenue next fiscal year. He joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss how the plan could take shape.

The U.S. House will vote Wednesday to reopen the government. U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, who represents Kansas City, opposes the plan because it fails to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that would make insurance more affordable for residents.

Mexican Americans were disproportionately killed and injured during the Vietnam War. Historian Dr. Gene Chávez has said the contributions and stories of those service members are often overlooked, but his recent project with the Library of Congress will help preserve those stories.

The goal for MOCSA, or the Metropolitan Organization Countering Sexual Assault, is for everyone in Kansas City to enjoy the World Cup — in the safest way possible. The group offers training sessions on sexual assault prevention and building bystander invention in public places.

Tech companies have been building more data centers around Kansas City, spurred by the increased need for artificial intelligence. But residents are worried about the environmental impact, higher utility bills, and the long-term consequences for communities.

Most air traffic controllers in the Kansas City area were already working 60-hour weeks before the government shutdown. Now, they're working the same hours without pay. They assure travelers that the skies are safe, but it's adding stress to an already intense job.

KCUR, Generation Listen and the Kansas City Public Library recently convened a community forum to explore the complex issue of redistricting in Missouri and Kansas. Up to Date host Steve Kraske moderated a panel and took questions from the audience, as experts and reporters addressed the practicality, constitutionality and legality of the plans.

Tens of thousands of Kansas City residents are faced with the consequences of the longest government shutdown in American history. People who rely on food benefits remain without the funding that helps put food on the table, while the area's many federal workers are furloughed or continue to work without pay.

Voters around the Kansas City area went to the polls Tuesday to vote on issues critical to their local communities. The metro area saw city council upsets, a win for the four-day school week, and a history-making new mayor, among other results.

KCUR and WIRED recently published an investigation about a major breach of the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department, which revealed a list of alleged officer misconduct including dishonesty, sexual harassment, excessive force, and false arrest.

Even as electric vehicle sales decrease, the mayor of De Soto, Kansas, says the investment already made in the Panasonic battery plant has already benefited local residents and is helping the town as a whole grow. The plant opened earlier this year and is employing about 1,500 people.

After Kansas City saw a rise in homicides connected to domestic violence, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson is collaborating with local municipalities to be proactive in charging before a situation escalates. Johnson also spoke with KCUR's Up To Date with her initiatives to reduce violent crime and efforts on property crimes.

The Kansas City community health clinic will throw a ribbon cutting on November 7 to open its new pediatric wing. The space will focus on preventative care for mothers and children, and reflects the priorities of its namesake, Samuel Rodgers.

Monarch butterflies usually flutter into Kansas City in swarms and visit for a couple of days before continuing south to Mexico. But with prolonged summer heat and heavy winds, the monarchs' migration trickled through over weeks.

Christal Watson and Rose Mulvany Henry are the two names on next week's ballot vying to replace Tyrone Garner as the next mayor and CEO of the Unified Government. They joined KCUR's Up To Date to lay out their respective visions for the future of their community.

Fairway's independent bookstore Rainy Day Books has been going strong for 50 years, thanks to the large community it's built. To celebrate, Rainy Day's founder will share highlights and stories of the big name authors who have helped propel the small Kansas shop to the national stage.

Prairie Village will see turnover on the city council after November's election. Four of the six incumbents whose terms are up are not running again. Chi Nguyen, who represents Ward 3, and Greg Shelton, who represents Ward 5, joined KCUR's Up To Date to reflect on their terms and the recent controversies that have shaped the city.

The Plaza's new owner, Gillon Property Group, recently submitted plans to Kansas City outlining its vision for the future of the district. The group wants to make the area more friendly to pedestrians and increase the allowable height of buildings, in a process that will take several years.

Folly Theater staff have spent the week cleaning up after a break in left the 125-year-old venue badly damaged. After canceling last weekend's show, the Folly plans to reopen November 1.

Illegal car sideshows have frustrated Kansas City residents and the police for years. Even some stunt drivers say the events have grown unsafe due to a rise in drama and gun violence at the events. Now they have an alternative that doesn't require blocking local roadways.

The Main Street extension of the Kansas City streetcar line is finally open for riders after years of disruptive construction. The owners of Crows Coffee and Ragazza say they're trying to capitalize on the increased foot traffic.

As frustration grows around the weekslong government shutdown, Kansas City-area U.S. Reps. Mark Alford and Emanuel Cleaver II can't see eye-to-eye on a solution that will benefit their constituents. The two Congress members joined KCUR's Up To Date to debate what's causing the gridlock in Washington.

An ARPA grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources allowed the city to invest $5 million to restore the Blue River. Once a favorite for outdoor recreation in Kansas City, the river has become polluted as a result of urbanization.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss the city's projected $100 million budget deficit in 2027, the streetcar extension on Main Street opening later this week and where things stand on new stadiums for the Royals and Chiefs.

Kansas City Life Insurance Company demolished nearly two dozen buildings at the north end of the Valentine neighborhood last year, and has more planned. In July, the Valentine Neighborhood Association applied for a portion of the neighborhood to be designated a historic district, and the Kansas City Council could vote as early as this week on the proposal.

Diabetes is on the rise worldwide. At the University of Kansas Medical Center, a growing roster of diabetes researchers are working towards a cure for type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that keeps the body from producing insulin.

Psychedelic drugs like psilocybin are getting more attention from doctors and lawmakers, including in Missouri and Kansas, as a potential treatment for mental health conditions. Dr. Christine Ziemer, a professor at Missouri Western State University, discusses the landscape around Kansas City.

It has been over a week since Israel and Hamas came to a ceasefire agreement. How are leaders in the Jewish and Palestinian communities here in Kansas City reacting to this moment?

A gun that finds its way into the wrong hands can have deadly consequences. That's why some people surrender their unwanted guns to Central Presbyterian Church to be repurposed into gardening tools and other art.

LeVota was sworn in as interim Jackson County executive Thursday. He replaces Frank White, Jr., who was recalled by voters in September. LeVota says his first priority is property tax relief, and he's sworn not to run for a full term next year.

Investigative reporter and Kansas City native James Steele has worked in journalism for over six decades. He believes that the state of investigative journalism — led today by local and regional nonprofit outlets — is in better shape than most people might think.

With the ceasefire in Gaza continuing to hold, humanitarian organizations are working to get aid to Palestinians. Kansas City-based Heart to Heart International hopes to provide help as soon as possible, after Israel's blockade prevented them from bringing supplies.

After clinching their spot in the National Women's Soccer League playoffs early, Kansas City Current fans can relax as the team spoils the playoff possibilities of other contenders. The team hasn't lost a match in 17 straight games.

With the cost of child care rising higher than some mortgages, Missouri is providing $2.5 million to Child Care Works, a program aiming to balance the cost between parents, businesses and the state.

Trust in the news and protections for journalists is declining globally. Gustavo Gorriti, an investigative reporter from Peru who has faced death threats and been kidnapped, spoke with KCUR's Up To Date about journalists' role in protecting democracy.

As the government shutdown continues, the lack of any federal funding is having a profound impact on people around the country and here in Kansas City. KCUR's Up To Date examined the government shutdown from three different perspectives.

Larry Lunsford of Kansas City will serve a one year term as president of Rotary International, starting in 2027. He told KCUR's Up To Date that his "heart is full of joy at the opportunity to serve in this meaningful way."

Dr. Imogen Herrick, assistant professor of STEM Education at the University of Kansas, is changing the way climate change is discussed in K-12 classrooms. Her Community Science Data Talks shift the focus from global issues and intangible statistics to local impacts and student emotions.

Popular author and faith leader John Pavlovitz will be in Kansas City next Monday to be the keynote speaker for a Grandparents for Gun Safety forum.