KC-TODAY-081225-TUE-This Kansas business is keeping marbles alive

There’s a community of collectors, artists and kids keeping the marble culture alive in Bonner Springs, Kansas. Plus: A lucky pig in eastern Kansas managed to cheat death after jumping off a truck transporting it to a feedlot. Kids and adults have played with marbles for generations, and marble-like games date back to ancient civilizations. Although marbles may seem a bit old-fashioned compared to today’s selection of digital and online games, the Moon Marble Co. in Kansas has been cranking out colorful orbs of small sizes since 1997 — and inviting the public to see the process. KMUW's Lu Anne Stephens reports. About 130 million pigs are slaughtered annually in the United States. But each year, a relatively small number of them cheat death by jumping off the trucks transporting them to a feedlot or slaughterhouse. One “jumper” who was later named Gilbert was recently found along a highway in eastern Kansas. Kansas Public Radio's Matthew Algeo reports. Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City Today is hosted by Peggy Lowe. It is produced by Carter Galloway and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox, Emily Younker and Gabe Rosenberg. You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.