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 only be felt years down the road?

Charlotte O'Hara is running in the Republican primary for Kansas governor on Aug. 4. Her platform is focused on eliminating property taxes, dramatically reforming education, and ending the use of large tax incentives for major corporations and sports teams like the Chiefs.

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

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

It's become something of a tradition for the band to play at Hillsiders on the Fourth of July. A decade in, they've embraced their international fans and close community at home.

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.

Since 1990, Warm has led the Mid-America Regional Council through developments in the city's transportation and emergency services. Warm said his role was to "help the town find a way forward and to be effective in the goals that it sets for itself."

The popular food kiosk at Varsity Club in the River Market will expand to a second location. The new restaurant will include a takeout window and dine-in section with an expanded menu.

Missouri Rep. Mark Alford is running for reelection in the newly redrawn 4th congressional district. 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.

New analysis from Ballotpedia suggests that Republicans in Missouri and Kansas could see the 2026 midterm elections break their state legislative supermajorities.

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.

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.

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.

Developer 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.

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.

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

After Congress passed the "21st Century ROAD to Housing Act" this week, President Donald Trump said he wouldn't sign it into law unless lawmakers also passed an unrelated bill focused on voting restrictions. Johnson County Rep. Sharice Davids joined KCUR's Up To Date to share her reactions 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.

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.

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.

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.

First-term Kansas state Sen. Patrick Schmidt said the issues facing residents are greater than what can be addressed at the state level. Calling himself the “door-knockingest candidate in the race,” Schmidt is competing in the crowded Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

Eleven candidates are running as Democrats in the August 4 primary for U.S. Senate in Kansas. Christy Davis, a candidate from Cottonwood Falls, said that number shows Sen. Roger Marshall's failure to represent Kansans. Davis is touting her experience as the only candidate who served in a federal leadership role.

A new report from Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick says Missouri is facing a budget cliff. Gov. Mike Kehoe says he thinks the state's budget needs to shrink as a result, and suggests some nonprofits or local municipalities could fund some programs instead.

A new report from Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick paints a troubling picture of Missouri's financial future. He joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss the budget cliff the state faces and how he wants his fellow elected officials to respond.

The Kansas City Star's Pete Grathoff waited more than an hour in traffic to witness the first World Cup match in Kansas City, where Argentina's Lionel Messi scored three goals against Algeria. Grathoff joined KCUR's Up To Date to share his recap.

Youth soccer programs seem almost ubiquitous in modern America. But not that long ago, there weren't many options for young athletes who wanted to play the sport. Bill Finn, who co-founded Brookside Soccer Club with two other local dads in 1977, joined KCUR's Up To Date on Tuesday to talk about how it all got started.

NPR CEO Katherine Maher joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss recent buyouts and layoffs, and the opportunity for public media to evolve into a broader community resource in the coming years.

The Crossroads Arts District is the metro's biggest hub for creativity, and its restaurant scene is just the same, with innovative dishes available on seemingly every corner. Here's where to find the best eats this neighborhood has to offer.

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.