Missouri voters must weigh in again on a constitutional amendment requiring Kansas City to increase its minimum funding of the police department, after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled last week that the language on the original measure was so inaccurate it misled voters. In November 2022, Missouri voters passed a constitutional amendment requiring Kansas City to increase the share of its general revenue it allocates to the KCPD every year from 20% to 25%. Last Tuesday, in response to a lawsuit filed by Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas, the Missouri Supreme Court found that the language on the ..read more

For seven decades, Kansas City’s Latino men’s basketball tournament has connected the region’s Hispanic diaspora. Meet coaches and players who use sport to keep kids out of trouble, create community and broaden horizons. Also, Schwan’s, often associated with yellow trucks, ice cream treats and customer service, recently changed its name and stopped deliveries in many states. How the changes affect the company’s place in the food industry. Latino men's basketball has been a Westside tradition since the 1950s. KCUR’s Lawrence Brooks IV reports on a Cinco De Mayo tournament in the Kansas Ci ..read more

Missouri Republicans could play a key role in legalizing abortion later this year. Even though many GOP voters don't agree with their party on abortion rights, they may still support other candidates on the ballot. Plus: Adopted from an orphanage in Russia, Anna McCune is pouring her heart into making sure Kansas City's kids don’t experience what she did growing up. Missourians could vote in November to end the state’s ban on abortions if backers of an abortion rights initiative turn in enough signatures by May 5. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports that efforts to overturn the r ..read more

In vitro fertilization remains legal across the U.S. despite an Alabama court ruling that temporarily halted treatment in the state. But for many IVF patients in Kansas, the disruption has cast doubt on their own access to fertility care. Rose Conlon of the Kansas News Service brings us one family’s story. Clarisa Evans is a midwife and new gardener who supports families through at-home births using a holistic approach. Evans uses herbal remedies and encourages familial involvement to help families feel safe during one of the most transformational moments of their lives. Lauren Winston of NPR ..read more

For young Kansas City actors with autism, a new play creates space to "connect with others." Vanessa Severo’s “Rubik" tells the story of neurodivergent teens on the cusp of a new phase of life. When Vanessa Severo first set out to write a play for performers with autism, she reached out to friends and family who were neurodivergent. KCUR's Julie Denesha reports on a new play about a group of teens with an array of developmental challenges, and how Spinning Tree Theatre aims to create new opportunities for young artists with disabilities. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Insta ..read more

Kansas City Council unanimously approved $71 million to fund the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, which ensures bus and paratransit rides will remain free until the contract expires next April. In the meantime, City Manager Brian Platt has been instructed to examine the costs and benefits of "zero-fare" compared to "functional free fare." Details are scarce. Up To Date's Steve Kraske spoke with Sunrise Movement KC organizer Mahreen Ansari, 6th District Council member Johnathan Duncan, and KCATA's Chief Mobility and Strategy Officer Tyler Means about the costs and benefits of continu ..read more

A pair of noisy upstarts are out-hustling the establishment to create a space for themselves in Kansas City's jazz scene. Plus: A Platte City man with Down syndrome has built a life with a job he loves and a place of his own to call home. Kansas City’s historic jazz scene hasn’t always made room for the most “out-there” of improvisors. Now, a pair of noisy upstarts are out-hustling the establishment to create a space for themselves. Bill Brownlee reports on the founders of the Extemporaneous Music and Arts Society. When Dustin Sheridan was born in 1975, there weren’t many resources for people ..read more

After a sudden family tragedy, English Language Arts teacher Alana Washington started a mentorship program at the Kauffman School that gives students a space to express themselves and their spirituality. Rita Hanch of NPR’s Next Generation Radio reports. And for more than six decades, one Kansas City community orchestra has given amateur musicians who work in health care a place to perform. KCUR’s Julie Denesha reports that many doctors, nurses and medical students find the music therapeutic. Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news. Kansas ..read more

Mark Salas and Theresa Sahhar share a dream of retiring to a simple farm life, but each has very different worries about what the world will look like when they get there. Both are alumni of KCUR’s 2022 election initiative, called Your Voice, which invited people with differing political views to share their thoughts on politics. As we approach the 2024 elections, KCUR invited Salas and Sahhar back. They sat down with KCUR’s Community Engagement Producer Zach Perez to discuss how their life experiences lead them to opposing viewpoints, their concerns with political polarization in the U.S., a ..read more

Cassette tapes have made a comeback in recent years, and one company in Missouri is at the center of this growing trend. Audio cassettes are experiencing a revival. And one family-owned company in Springfield, Missouri, has become the unlikely capital of this resurgence. From the Podcast A People’s History of Kansas City — Suzanne Hogan tells how this old analog format is getting new love. 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 produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Made ..read more