Shows
Kansas City TodayWhat led to the Family Dollar store collapse?A Family Dollar store in Kansas City collapsed last weekend, killing a 68-year-old man and critically injuring a 50-year-old woman. Two days before the collapse, a city building inspector was dispatched to the property.Multiple people raised concerns about the structural integrity of the Broadway Boulevard store before it partially collapsed Sunday. "The roof is weakened to such an extent that it could compromise the load bearing capability of the entire roof support system," a Kansas City inspector wrote. The inspector said the entire building was in danger.KCUR's Up To Date host Steve Kraske...2025-07-3114 minKansas City TodayGOP redistricting could target Kansas City's U.S. House seatMissouri is one of many states facing pressure from President Donald Trump to redistrict before the 2026 midterm elections. The 5th Congressional District, which encompasses Kansas City, could be targeted.The state of Missouri is divided into eight congressional districts, six of which are held by Republicans and two by Democrats. Missouri lawmakers are being pressured by Trump to target Democratic Rep. Emanual Cleaver's seat in the 5th Congressional District, which represents Kansas City. It is part of a larger push to redistrict in multiple states to keep Republicans in power, even if the 2026 midterms are strong for...2025-07-3013 minKansas City TodayHow public media funding cuts are hurting rural stationsPublic radio and television stations in rural areas may be hit the hardest after Congress clawed back $1 billion for public broadcasting.High Plains Public Radio, which broadcasts in western Kansas, lost 15% of its operating costs, according to executive director Quentin Hope. And in southern Missouri, general manager Rachel Knight says Ozarks Public Radio has lost 10% of its budget and Ozarks Public Television has lost one-third of its budget.Hope and Knight sat down with Up To Date host Steve Kraske to discuss the impacts of the rescission on their rural stations.Contact the...2025-07-2314 minKansas City TodayWhat the federal funding clawback means for KCURCongress has approved a plan to claw back funding from U.S. foreign aid programs and public broadcasting organizations like NPR and PBS. What does this mean for KCUR? The station's general manager and interim content director discuss how this could impact our work.Steve Kraske was joined on Up To Date by Sarah Morris, KCUR's general manager and a board member for NPR, and Lisa Rodriguez, interim director of content-journalism, to talk about the future of public media and the challenges ahead for KCUR. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on I...2025-07-2115 minKansas City TodayMultibillion-dollar Panasonic plant opens in KansasPanasonic's highly anticipated $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant opened in De Soto, Kansas, this week. But problems with Tesla, tariffs and tax breaks have investors worried. Leaders of the plant believe it's just a bump in the road.The Kansas News Service's Zane Irwin covered the grand opening of the Panasonic plant, which aims to employ 4,000 people and have eight fully operational production lines by the end of 2026. He discussed its potential, future and possible challenges with Up to Date host Steve Kraske.Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Fac...2025-07-1612 minKansas City TodayHow Missouri governors 'quietly dismantled' an ethics watchdogA new report has raised concerns that Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe and his predecessor have failed to fill vacancies at the Missouri Ethics Commission. As a result, the state watchdog has been unable to investigate dozens of complaints of ethical misconduct.KCUR's Up To Date host Steve Kraske spoke with Kansas City Star reporter Kacen Bayless about the conseqeunces of those vacancies — which Kehoe finally filled on Friday.Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is...2025-07-1413 minKansas City TodayWhy Jackson County is having a recall vote on Frank White Jr.Jackson County’s top elected official is facing a recall election. County Executive Frank White Jr. says it’s a political vendetta, while lawmakers say it’s actually about property taxes. But will it actually happen next month?The Jackson County Legislature this week approved a special election to recall White. Lawmakers set the election date for Aug. 26, but the county election board said that date is unlikely to work with such a quick turnaround.Up to Date host Steve Kraske sat down with Jackson County Legislative Chair DaRon McGee to talk about White and the re...2025-07-1012 minKansas City TodayMissouri's governor cut funding to Kansas City institutionsMissouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the state budget into law last week, approving more than $50 billion in spending. But he also stripped more than half a billion dollars out that had been approved by lawmakers, including for dozens of programs and projects in Kansas City.KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Up To Date host Steve Kraske about Kehoe's decision to use his line item vetoes, and what fallout those could have across the state.Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Toda...2025-07-0714 minKansas City TodayKansas City Chiefs and Royals play hard-to-getThe Kansas City Chiefs asked the state of Kansas to extend its offer for a stadium funding incentives package, catching Missouri lawmakers off guard after they passed a funding measure of their own. But neither the Chiefs nor the Royals have made any location commitments yet.Steve Kraske spoke to Kansas City Star government and politics reporter Kacen Bayless about stadium developments on KCUR's Up to Date.Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is p...2025-06-3012 minKansas City TodayA Kansas City nurse's Middle East experienceAs missile attacks intensified between Israel and Iran last week, a Kansas City-area nurse was providing aid in Jordan. She describes her experience in the country situated between two warring nations.The United States has executed airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, intervening in the war over the weekend in support of Israel. Roxanne Jones, a Kansas City-area nurse and vice president of Lenexa-based Global Care Force, was providing aid in Jordan, located between the two nations. She shares her experience with Steve Kraske on KCUR's daily talk show Up To Date.Contact the show...2025-06-2413 minKansas City TodayWhat has Kansas City's reparations commission done?Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas convened a reparations commission in May 2023 with the goal of recommending how the city could repair harms from racism. Two years later, much of that work has yet to begin. Terri Barnes, chair of the Mayor's Commission on Reparations, and Dr. Linwood Tauheed, the economics subcommittee head, spoke with KCUR's Up To Date host Steve Kraske about why the group is optimistic about moving forward, despite facing challenges at the start.Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news....2025-06-1913 min
Week in ReviewKansas City Week in Review - Apr 30, 2021Nick Haines, Cat Reid, Micheal Mahoney, Eric Wesson and Steve Kraske discuss updates to COVID restrictions and mask mandates, recent homicides including a KCUR reporter and a local gym owner, efforts to oust Overland Park Police Chief, the impact of recent Census results on KS and MO, the proposed fetus funerals in MO, auditing COVID relief spending and Laura Kelly wielding the veto pen in Kansas.2021-05-0126 min
Statehouse Blend MissouriGuns, Gambling And The Gas Tax: Previewing The 2020 Missouri Legislative SessionThe 2020 session of the Missouri General Assembly, which convenes Wednesday, promises the usual array of legislative wrangling and partisan bickering — all with an election looming in November. In this episode of Statehouse Blend Missouri, we bring you a preview, which first aired on KCUR's Up to Date on Jan. 6. Host Steve Kraske spoke with Brian Hauswirth, news director of Missourinet, and Jaclyn Driscoll, the statehouse reporter for St. Louis Public Radio.2020-01-0824 min
Statehouse Blend MissouriGuns, Gambling And The Gas Tax: Previewing The 2020 Missouri Legislative SessionThe 2020 session of the Missouri General Assembly, which convenes Wednesday, promises the usual array of legislative wrangling and partisan bickering — all with an election looming in November. In this episode of Statehouse Blend Missouri, we bring you a preview, which first aired on KCUR's Up to Date on Jan. 6. Host Steve Kraske spoke with Brian Hauswirth, news director of Missourinet, and Jaclyn Driscoll, the statehouse reporter for St. Louis Public Radio.2020-01-0824 minStatehouse Blend MissouriHow A Governor’s Scandals May Shift The U.S. SenateMissouri Attorney General Josh Hawley seems headed for the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill this fall. But Hawley's path has been made rougher by his complicated relationship with Gov. Eric Greitens—fellow Republican, fellow first-time-officeholder—and subject of his investigations. In this episode, host Brian Ellison takes an early look at the 2018 race. He talks with KCUR's Erica Hunzinger about Hawley's history and present entanglement with the governor. Then KCUR's Up to Date host Steve Kraske analyzes McCaskill's chances and recalls covering that 2012 race. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Missouri, and stay up to date with the...2018-04-3021 minStatehouse Blend MissouriHow A Governor’s Scandals May Shift The U.S. SenateMissouri Attorney General Josh Hawley seems headed for the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill this fall. But Hawley's path has been made rougher by his complicated relationship with Gov. Eric Greitens—fellow Republican, fellow first-time-officeholder—and subject of his investigations. In this episode, host Brian Ellison takes an early look at the 2018 race. He talks with KCUR's Erica Hunzinger about Hawley's history and present entanglement with the governor. Then KCUR's Up to Date host Steve Kraske analyzes McCaskill's chances and recalls covering that 2012 race. Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Missouri, and stay up to date with the...2018-04-3021 min
Deep BackgroundThe prediction show!Who wins, who loses, and why? Kansas City Star reporters Dave Helling and Scott Canon and Steve Kraske of KCUR's Up to Date take a look at the races in the final hours. Plus: Hunter Woodall on the Kansas judges retention election.
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Deep BackgroundThe issue questions, Yoder-Sidie, Trump-Clinton and moreKansas City Star reporters Dave Helling and Scott Canon and Steve Kraske of the Star and KCUR discuss the issue questions on the November ballot, plus late-breaking analysis of the Yoder-Sidie race in Kansas and more.
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Deep BackgroundSteve Kraske and Dave Helling examine the Trump factorKansas City Star reporters Dave Helling and KCUR's Steve Kraske examine the impact Donald Trump has had on other elections, including the Missouri Senate race and the Third District in Kansas.
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Deep BackgroundThe Great Debate: Trump, Clinton, and the first debate falloutThe Kansas City Star's Dave Helling, Steve Kraske of KCUR, and Scott Canon of the Star dissect the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and discuss the Missouri Senate and governor races, with less than six weeks until election day.
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Deep BackgroundPrimaries, conventions, and Donald TrumpKansas City Star reporters Dave Helling and Scott Canon and Steve Kraske of the Star and KCUR's "Up to Date" discuss election results in Kansas and Missouri, the just-passed political conventions, and the candidacy of Donald Trump.
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Deep BackgroundThe Democrats' convention begins in PhiladelphiaThe Kansas City Star's Dave Helling and Steve Kraske of the Star and KCUR's Up to Date report from Philadelphia, as Democrats gather for their national convention. They wrap up the Republican convention, too.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2016-07-2522 min
Deep BackgroundRepublican National Convention Edition, Day 1The Kansas City Star's Dave Helling and Steve Kraske of KCUR report from Day One of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland — the anti-Trump rebellion, and what's next for the party.
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Deep BackgroundPreviewing the 2016 GOP ConventionPolitical reporters Dave Helling and Scott Canon of the Kansas City Star and Steve Kraske of KCUR's "Up to Date" discuss the unsettled Republican convention, which starts Monday in Cleveland.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2016-07-1217 min
Deep BackgroundLocal issues: Guns, violent crime, mass transmitThe Kansas City Star's Lynn Horsley joins KCUR's Steve Kraske and the Star's Dave Helling to talk about Kansas City Mayor Sly James, guns, violent crime, development on the city's east side, and mass transit. Also: a look at the upcoming special session in Topeka.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2016-06-2225 min
Deep BackgroundHalfway thereKansas City Star reporter Dave Helling and Steve Kraske of KCUR's Up to Date talk about the final decisions in the 2016 presidential primary season: Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump. Plus: the Missouri governor's race, and the Kansas special session on education funding.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2016-06-0823 min
Deep BackgroundPensions, legislative pay, and the Kansas school dilemmaKansas City Star reporters Scott Canon and Dave Helling, and Steve Kraske of KCUR discuss pension payments to state lawmakers, legislative pay, the unusual nature of state races — and the Kansas reaction to the school funding ruling.
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Deep BackgroundThe Democrats' dilemmaDave Helling and Scott Canon of the Star, and Steve Kraske of KCUR and the Star, discuss the damage from the continuing battle for the Democratic presidential nomination between Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The reporters also discuss Gov. Jay Nixon's legacy in Missouri, and the Democrats' problems in the state.
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Deep BackgroundDonald Trump and his almost now-certain nominationKansas City Star reporters Dave Helling and Scott Canon, and Steve Kraske of KCUR's Up to Date and the Star, dissect Donald Trump's improbable but now-certain nomination by the Republican party.
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Deep BackgroundA new airport, Kansas Republicans — and more Donald TrumpDave Helling of the Star and Steve Kraske of KCUR and the Star discuss the politics of a vote on a new Kansas City airport, the contentious battle among Kansas Republicans, and the state of the presidential race as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton move closer to nominations.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2016-04-2821 min
Deep BackgroundNew York weighs in on Trump while the political landscape shifts in Missouri, KansasThe Kansas City Star's Scott Canon and KCUR's Steve Kraske discuss how the New York primary pushed Hillary Clinton closer to the nomination, the challenges still ahead for Donald Trump and how races for governor in Missouri and the U.S. Senate in Kansas could be shifting.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2016-04-2122 min
Deep BackgroundEarnings taxes, Donald Trump, and the SCOTUS fightLynn Horsley and Dave Helling of the Star, and Steve Kraske of KCUR's Up to Date and the Star, talk about the coming earnings tax election in Kansas City, the chances of a contested - and violent - GOP convention in July, Rex Sinquefield, and Sen. Jerry Moran's endorsements of hearings for Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland. Music "Folk Round" by Kevin MacLeod
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2016-03-2923 min
Deep BackgroundPresidential race turns the pageThe Kansas City Star's Dave Helling and KCUR's Steve Kraske discuss the results of the Missouri presidential primary, the chances for a contested Republican convention, and Sen. Claire McCaskill's cancer diagnosis. Music by Kevin MacLeod.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2016-03-2220 min
Deep BackgroundKansas caucus, the politics of race, and Nancy Reagan's impact on the White HouseThe Star's Dave Helling and Steve Kraske of KCUR and the Star discuss Saturday's Kansas caucus, the politics of race, and Nancy Reagan's impact on the White House. Analysts said the March 5 Kansas caucuses were the most competitive presidential contests in the nation.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2016-03-0916 min
Deep BackgroundThe race for president, and the best movie of the yearThe Kansas City Star's Dave Helling and KCUR's Steve Kraske discuss the upcoming Kansas caucuses, Gov. Sam Brownback's approval rating, Missouri politics a year after Tom Schweich - and the best movie of the year.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2016-03-0115 min
Sergio Troncoso's PodcastsKansas City's KCUR Interview, with Steve KraskeKCUR's Steve Kraske interviews writer Sergio Troncoso about visiting Independence, Missouri to teach at the George Caleb Bingham Academy for the Arts during the summer, with student Ashton Harris. They talk about the importance of teachers and mentors, teaching writing to high school students, immigrant values, and creating a writing community. Kraske also asks Troncoso about Our Lost Border: Essays on Life amid the Narco-Violence, Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas.
(2014; mp3 audio format; 32 minutes)2014-07-0732 min
Storytelling and the Writing Craft with Sergio TroncosoKansas City's KCUR InterviewSteve Kraske interviews Sergio Troncoso about teaching at the George Caleb Bingham Academy for the Arts in Independence, Missouri, with student Ashton Harris.2014-06-2432 min
Kansas City Week In Review Podcast - AudioKCWIR: July 29, 2011PLASTIC ONLY: The latest controversy at the Power and Light District.
CHECKING THE QUALIFICATIONS: Who checks whether a candidate is qualified for office? The surprising story of an area elected official who allegedly lied about everything.
KANSAS GOP BROKE: Despite holding almost every powerful position in the state, why is the Kansas Republican Party flat busted broke?
WYANDOTTE COUNTY MOVES WEST: It may sound bizarre but Congressional redistricting efforts are underway in Kansas and one plan would put Wyandotte Kansas in the same congressional seat as Western Kansas.
LITTON TRIBUTE: Remembering...2011-07-3026 minKansas City Week In Review PodcastKCWIR: July 29, 2011PLASTIC ONLY: The latest controversy at the Power and Light District.
CHECKING THE QUALIFICATIONS: Who checks whether a candidate is qualified for office? The surprising story of an area elected official who allegedly lied about everything.
KANSAS GOP BROKE: Despite holding almost every powerful position in the state, why is the Kansas Republican Party flat busted broke?
WYANDOTTE COUNTY MOVES WEST: It may sound bizarre but Congressional redistricting efforts are underway in Kansas and one plan would put Wyandotte Kansas in the same congressional seat as Western Kansas.
LITTON TRIBUTE: Remembering...2011-07-3000 minKansas City Week In Review Podcast - AudioKCWIR: July 15, 2011AMERICAN ROYAL MOVES RODEO TO SPRINT CENTER: For the first time since it was built in 1975, Kemper Arena will not host the American Royal Rodeo. Instead. the annual fall event is heading to Sprint Center. Does this move spell the end for Kemper arena?
ALL-STAR GAME FROM ARIZONA TO KC: Mayor Sly James and Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders are in Phoneix for the All-Star Game. Next year, it will be in KC. It will be the biggest national sporting event in Kansas City in 23 years. We take a closer look.
BIG MANAGEMENT SHAKE-UP: Some...2011-07-1626 minKansas City Week In Review PodcastKCWIR: July 15, 2011AMERICAN ROYAL MOVES RODEO TO SPRINT CENTER: For the first time since it was built in 1975, Kemper Arena will not host the American Royal Rodeo. Instead. the annual fall event is heading to Sprint Center. Does this move spell the end for Kemper arena?
ALL-STAR GAME FROM ARIZONA TO KC: Mayor Sly James and Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders are in Phoneix for the All-Star Game. Next year, it will be in KC. It will be the biggest national sporting event in Kansas City in 23 years. We take a closer look.
BIG MANAGEMENT SHAKE-UP: Some...2011-07-1600 min