Up To Date

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.

The Kansas City Police Department has struggled to recruit new officers for years, especially after protests against misconduct and racism. But Chief Stacey Graves says a record number of new recruits graduated into the department in August, and next year's class is similarly robust.

Two Kansas state representatives — Democrat Brandon Woodard and Republican Laura Williams — will be speaking at a panel on bipartisan public policy work at the Dole Institute of Politics on Wednesday.

Ukrainian physician Dr. Lev Prystupiuk and Kansas resident Roxanne Jones are central to efforts by Lenexa-based Global Care Force to fill the health care gaps caused by Russia's war. The nonprofit's volunteers are sometimes the only providers reaching Ukraine's communities.

Every city has tons of good pizza places, and Kansas City is no exception. New spots like Northeast Pizza, in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood, and stalwarts like Minsky's make certain that, wherever you're based in the metro, you're never far from a perfectly greasy, cheesy pizza pie.

Whether you're searching for a Halloween haunt, an Oscar contender or a new series to binge, Kansas City film critics Austin Vashaw, Abby Olcese and Patrick Moore have you covered. They joined KCUR's Up To Date to bring you their latest movie and streaming recommendations.

Judy Henderson spent 35 years in prison for a murder conviction, despite maintaining that she was innocent. Freed by the Missouri governor, Henderson's new autobiography “When the Light Finds Us,” documents the cruelty of the state's prisons and what it took her to keep going.

Musician Kelley Gant is heading to Los Angeles to perform at the Masters of Musical Whistling competition. She stopped by KCUR's Up To Date to whistle a Charlie Parker tune and tell us how she got into the art form.

Frank White Jr. has been recalled. On Thursday, DaRon McGee, chair of the Jackson County Legislature, will appoint a temporary replacement for county executive, who can serve up to 30 days. Then, the full Legislature will select a replacement for the rest of White's term — with little chance for public feedback.

Not everyone has fond memories of the Presidential Fitness Test. It could be a fun gym class challenge for students who were athletic and competitive, but for everyone else it offered a source of anxiety and occasionally embarrassment. The twice-yearly assessment was retired by former President Obama, but in July, President Trump signed an executive order to revive it.

Kansas City is one of just three U.S. cities on Chappell Roan's current tour, and local fans say it's a reminder to everyone that the Midwest has its own vibrant queer communities. Much of the city's LGBTQ+ arts scene has been on display this week ahead of the concerts.

The musician Waxahatchee and comedian Caleb Hearon, who are friends and Kansas City residents, call affordable housing the issue of our time. This week, they're headlining a benefit show for KC Tenants at the Uptown Theater, and they joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss their careers on stage and their activism in the community.

Dr. Tomi Pastinen, director of Genomic Answers for Kids, led the first clinical study of five-base long read sequencing, recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics. This new method shows doctors more of the genome and can diagnose rare diseases with a single test.

Missouri's health department found that the vast majority of maternal deaths were preventable, and resulted from a lack of care in the months after birth. Cardiologist Dr. Anna Grodzinsky navigated her own high-risk pregnancies, and she explains what our medical system is missing.

Republican leaders in the Kansas Legislature want to follow the lead of states like Texas and Missouri by gerrymandering the state's congressional maps to favor Republicans. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, a Democrat who represents the state's 3rd district, says the idea of splitting up Johnson County is "ludicrous."

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. Consul Soileh Padilla Mayer, who leads the Mexican Consulate in Kansas City, is spending this month making sure that Latino residents are being treated fairly around the metro, especially as the Trump administration ramps up deportation efforts.

Jackson County residents will decide Tuesday, Sept. 30, on whether to recall County Executive Frank White Jr. Proponents and opponents shared their perspectives ahead of the vote, and explain what will happen if White gets recalled.