Kansas City Today
by KCUR Studios
Kansas City Today is a daily news podcast from KCUR Studios bringing you all things Kansas City, wrapped up in 15 minutes or less. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, it’ll be waiting in your feed every weekday. Hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin.
Episodes
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FRIDAY 11/13/2026: Watching movies and waging battle at the cemetery
Watching movies at night in a cemetery full of gravestones and mausoleums isn’t for everyone, but these film lovers in Kansas City say "it's a good creepy." Plus: A new book reveals the long history behind a Native American tribe’s fight to save a sacred burial ground in Kansas City, Kansas. One...
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THURSDAY 11/12/2026: Happy retirement to a very good boy
After eight years comforting patients and families at MU Children's Hospital in Columbia, a golden retriever named Link is retiring. The therapy dog has brought joy to countless children during some of their most difficult moments. Link has spent most of his life making hospital visits a little...
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WEDNESDAY 11/11/2026: KU won't say how much it's paying student-athletes
The University of Kansas is refusing to answer questions over how much it pays student-athletes and where that $20.5 million comes from, even though salaries are public for every other university employee. That's raising concerns over transparency and financial priorities. A federal settlement…
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TUESDAY 11/10/2026: Football is becoming a hot weather sport — and that's dangerous
College football games are getting hotter as summer-like temperatures stretch into fall. With the season starting even earlier in 2027, Kansas and Missouri players, fans and marching bands could face greater risks of heat-related illness. Dangerous temperatures have already disrupted football…
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MONDAY 11/09/2026: Supermajorities smashed
There was a lot of talk last week about the "Blue Wave" that swept through Congress and governors' mansions across the country, but it also made its way to the ruby red legislative chambers of Topeka and Jefferson City. We'll hear about how Republican supermajorities in both states are now a…
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FRIDAY 11/06/2026: Waiting for Medicaid waivers
Across the Midwest, thousands of children and adults with disabilities are waiting for Medicaid waivers to help pay for their care at home. Also, U.S. farmers are looking for more drought-resistant crops. Sorghum could be the answer. Thousands of people with disabilities in Kansas are waiting for...
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THURSDAY 11/5/2026: 3 months post-World Cup, does Kansas City look different?
The World Cup brought new investments, infrastructure improvements and business opportunities to Kansas City. Months after the tournament ended, some of those changes are here to stay, while others have already disappeared. With colorful murals and expanded public spaces, Kansas City's summer of...
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WEDNESDAY 11/04/2026: Hamilton flips Kansas U.S. Senate seat, Missouri rejects abortion ban
Rev. Adam Hamilton has become the first Democrat in nearly a century to win a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas. Meanwhile, Missouri voters rejected proposals to ban abortions and cement a gerrymandered congressional map. We'll run down all the biggest election results from both states. KCUR's Nomin...
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TUESDAY 11/3/2026: It's Election Day! These are the races you don't want to miss
Voters in Missouri and Kansas are deciding some critical races and ballot measures today: constitutional amendments on abortion access, a tight U.S. Senate contest, a governor's race and more. But lower on the ballot is something just as important: Judge retention elections. We'll break down how...
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MONDAY 11/02/36: This election is all about the high cost of living
Affordability is looming over the coming midterm elections, with new research revealing that almost a quarter of Midwestern households report having trouble paying their bills, mortgage, or rent. Plus: Missourians said “no” in August to a proposed amendment that would have made it harder to…
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FRIDAY 10/30/2036: The Missouri psychiatric museum inside a former asylum
The Glore Psychiatric Museum in St. Joseph documents the country’s torrid history of mental health treatment, but it has an eerie reputation itself. Take a visit inside one of Missouri’s most peculiar museums — located in the former State Insane Asylum No. 2. Inside the Glore are stories of...
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THURSDAY 10/29/2026: How Amendment 7 could change Missouri's finances
Missouri voters will decide whether to create a state-owned investment fund that supporters say could eventually replace state taxes. Supporters say Amendment 7 would provide long-term financial stability, while critics worry it could jeopardize funding for essential services. The proposed…
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WEDNESDAY 10/28/2026: Hamilton faces attacks on faith in Kansas U.S. Senate race
Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall is blaming his Democratic opponent, Adam Hamilton, for a "split" in the United Methodist Church. But the reality is much more complex. Plus: Missouri voters will once again decide whether to restrict abortion access in the state. How is it different from the...
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TUESDAY 10/27/2026: This Missouri Senate race is a key target for Democrats
Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson and Democratic state Rep. Keri Ingle are competing for a closely watched state Senate seat representing Lee's Summit and Blue Springs. The race could determine whether Republicans maintain their supermajority in the Missouri Senate. Missouri's 8th state Senate...
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MONDAY 10/26/2026: An examination of the Missouri ballot as Nov. 3 election nears
Midterm elections are just over a week away, and a lot is at stake for both Republicans and Democrats in Missouri. Several key measures and races appearing on the ballot could have big impacts on the future of the state's political ecosystem.
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FRIDAY 10/23/2026: Missouri Amendment 8 would put sheriff elections in the state constitution
Every four years, most Missouri counties elect a sheriff to lead law enforcement efforts. That process is outlined in state statute, but if voters approve Amendment 8 at the polls on Nov. 3, the election of sheriffs will also be required in the state constitution. Plus, 30 years ago, roadrunners...
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THURSDAY 10/22/2026: Breaking down the Kansas governor election this November
With less than two weeks until Election Day, Republican Ty Masterson leads Democrat Cindy Holscher in the race for Kansas governor. Plus: How the deportation of a parent can affect children's mental and physical health. Kansas Democratic state Sen. Cindy Holscher is working to boost her name...
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WEDNESDAY 10/21/2026: Dorothy gets ruby pointe shoes for the Kansas City Ballet
In the Kansas City Ballet’s production of “The Wizard of Oz,” running through Oct. 25, Dorothy Gale’s ruby-red pointe shoes sparkle with hundreds of tiny rhinestones. Plus: Horse racing is back in Kansas for the first time in 16 years, with gambling revenue helping attract competitors from...
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TUESDAY 10/20/2026: What's behind the Jackson County anti-crime sales tax vote
Jackson County voters on Nov. 3 will decide whether to renew the county’s 1/4-cent anti-crime sales tax, known as COMBAT. The tax generates between $25-30 million per year to support the county's crime and drug prevention efforts. If passed, the tax will be renewed for 10 years to fund courts…
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MONDAY 10/19/2026: Where Marshall and Hamilton stand on Kansas issues
The Kansas U.S. Senate race has been attracting national attention. But where do Republican incumbent Roger Marshall and Democratic nominee Adam Hamilton really stand on affordability, healthcare, the war in Iran, and other issues that matter to Kansan? Plus: Missouri produces the third-most beef...
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FRIDAY 10/16/2026: Kansas City used flawed math for its Royals stadium financing
The Kansas City Council passed a financing packing that moved the Royals’ stadium development forward in a big way. The deal will tap 30 years of tax growth to repay the costs of construction, to the tune of $1.4 billion. Economists say it's deeply flawed. KCUR reporter Celisa Calacal outlined…
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THURSDAY 10/15/2026: Are Kansas City's roads any safer for kids?
One year ago, a young girl was struck and killed by a car while riding her bike to school in Kansas City. Since then, city leaders, local organizations and families have been trying to improve traffic infrastructure and car culture to make streets safer. Since Hazen Workman-Duffy's death last...
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WEDNESDAY 10/14/2026: Breaking down the Jackson County elections this November
The makeup of the Jackson County Legislature will change dramatically after the November election, with seven of nine seats getting new representatives. There are also no returning faces in the race for Jackson County executive, after years of scandal and controversy over property taxes. Jackson...
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TUESDAY 10/13/2026: Cookiegate: Roger Marshall's campaign pays off bakery bill
A Kansas bakery's Facebook post about an unpaid bill from 2020 went viral — because the delinquent customer was Kansas Republican Sen. Roger Marshall. After the $678 bill ended up making national news, the Marshall campaign settled its debt, with interest. The owner of a south-central Kansas…
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MONDAY 10/12/2026: Kansas, the battleground state
Early voting begins in much of Kansas this week — where a critical U.S. Senate seat and most state offices are on the ballot. The big races for governor, secretary of state and attorney general are all closer than expected. KCUR’s Brian Ellison spoke with Grace Hills and Zach Boblitt, who are on...
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FRIDAY 10/09/2026: Most Kansas City medical bill lawsuits come from 2 hospitals
Two Kansas City area hospitals have been suing patients over unpaid medical bills. We’ll hear why medical debt is becoming a bigger part of many people’s lives. Nomin Ujiyideen spoke with healthcare reporter Suzanne King, of the nonprofit news outlet The Beacon. King recently publish two stories...
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THURSDAY 10/08/2026: Why Midwest electricity bills are rising
THURSDAY 10/08/2026: Why Midwest electricity bills are rising
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WEDNESDAY 10/07/2026: Western Kansas left to recover after ICE raids hit beef industry
A few weeks ago, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents began descending on western Kansas. More than 100 people were detained, leaving communities and the massive local beef industry to deal with the aftermath. Southwest Kansas has a large immigrant population. After residents in several…
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TUESDAY 10/06/2026: How Amendment 6 could change direct democracy in Missouri
A proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution this November would make it harder for state lawmakers to change or overturn laws passed by voters through the initiative petition process. Missourians will vote on Nov. 3 on Amendment 6, which would strengthen protections for the state’s…
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MONDAY 10/05/2026: Behind the Kansas constitutional amendment vote this November
A proposed amendment to the Kansas constitution would specify that only U.S. citizens may vote in elections. But the problem, according to opponents, is that non-citizens are already prohibited from voting. Kansans will vote on Nov. 3 whether to rephrase the constitution’s requirements for...
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FRIDAY 10/02/2026: 8,000 games for Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews
The Kansas City Royals celebrated Denny Matthews’ 8,000th game behind the mic during last week’s matchup against the Cleveland Guardians. An inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Matthews has been "the voice of the Royals" since the team first began 57 years ago. Nearly 20 years and...
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THURSDAY 10/01/2026: What Soakie's meant to Kansas City's Black queer community
For years, Soakie's in downtown Kansas City was one of the only Black gay bars in the United States. The bar closed in 2004, as development began on the Power & Light District, but a new historical marker remembers its impact. Soakie's started out as an Italian sandwich shop, but became home to...
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WEDNESDAY 09/30/2026: A Missouri resident sues over Medicaid work requirements
A Kansas City Medicaid enrollee is among several plaintiffs suing over policy changes that would require medically frail people to prove their condition significantly impairs their ability to work. Plus: Massive restrictions on federal food benefits are being felt especially hard in rural areas,...
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TUESDAY 09/28/2026: 'Free births' on the rise in Missouri and Kansas
Home births have been increasing in Missouri and Kansas. And "free birth," when a person gives birth without the help of a medical professional, has been popularized in recent years by influencers. Hear why experts are concerned, but women who have done it say the practice is misunderstood.…
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MONDAY 09/28/2026: Missourians will vote again on abortion in November
If approved by voters on Nov. 3, Missouri Amendment 3 would repeal abortion rights guaranteed in the state Constitution. It also would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth — something that's already prohibited by state law. KCUR's Steve Kraske spoke with Anna Spoerre, reproductive…
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FRIDAY 09/25/2026: What the Flock?
Flock Safety cameras have sparked bipartisan uproar with many worried that the cameras, which scan license plates, infringe on privacy. Misuse of the cameras and their data has been documented across Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. Also, more farmers are fixing up their decades-old equipment...
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THURSDAY 09/24/2026: How one Kansas City woman escaped an abusive relationship
Violent crime is going down in Kansas City, but cases of domestic violence are rising. Domestic violence often happens behind closed doors, and in some cases abuse begins subtly and progressively gets more intense. We'll hear from a survivor about what it took for her to leave the relationship…
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WEDNESDAY 09/23/2026: The latest in the legal back-and-forth over Missouri redistricting
A federal appeals court has again sided with Missouri Republicans, ruling the state must use the GOP-leaning congressional map passed by lawmakers last year. Plus: how new limits on federal student loans are impacting future physicians in Kansas. KCUR's Steve Kraske spoke with senior news analyst...
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TUESDAY 09/22/2026: For one rural Kansas town, pros of data center investment might outweigh cons
Communities are killing data center proposals faster than ever. But in a struggling small town, the idea of investment measured in billions of dollars can dwarf anything city leaders had ever hoped to attract previously. Hear the appeal data centers may have to places the information age has so…
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MONDAY 09/21/2026: Kansas City school districts have tough budget choices to make
Public school funding continues to fall across the U.S., with Missouri facing its own tight budget. Schools are facing tough decisions like collecting more in taxes, reducing staff members and programs, closing buildings — or all of the above. Lower tax revenue, rising inflation and the end of...
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FRIDAY 09/18/2026: Layoffs at the Kansas City Star will hurt local communities
McClatchy, one of the biggest newspaper companies in the country, laid off dozens of journalists last week, including several in Kansas City. These decisions not only affect the news you see, but also the way that local government functions. Joy Jenkins, a professor at the University of Missouri...
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THURSDAY 09/17/26: Kansans turn to 'loan closets' for expensive medical equipment
As medical costs rise, Kansans are turning to organizations called Medical Loan Closets that lend out donated items like wheelchairs and walkers for little or no cost. These medical loan closets are helping people maintain their independence, especially for aging residents. Some Kansans are…
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WEDNESDAY 09/16/26:Missouri's 5th District race is vastly different now
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the state must use its 2022 congressional map for the upcoming November elections — rather than the redrawn map used during the primary. That means a much different race for candidates in the 5th Congressional District, Democrat Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II and…
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TUESDAY 09/15/2026: What it's really like to be a transgender student in Kansas
TUESDAY 09/15/2026: What it's really like to be a transgender student in Kansas
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MONDAY 09/14/2026: The race for Kansas' top law enforcement job
Republican Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach wants voters to judge him by his record but Democratic challenger Chris Mann is making that record a target. We’ll have a look at the race for Kansas attorney general. Plus: a recap of last week's rollercoaster over congressional maps in Missouri....
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FRIDAY 09/11/2026: The Monarch highway loses speed
A decade ago, a federal task force laid out a plan to help monarch butterflies along their journey by returning roadsides to native habitat, particularly Interstate-35 in Missouri and Kansas. Plus: some Midwest farms are growing something you might find in your own backyard. Hear about the push…
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THURSDAY 09/10/2026: High prices are squeezing farmers and people on fixed incomes
Corn and soybean harvests are starting just as the fuel farmers need to reap is shooting up in price. Plus, older Americans on fixed incomes are hit especially hard when food costs spike. Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City…
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WEDNESDAY 09/09/2026: Inside the New York Times investigation of Roger Marshall
A New York Times report found that Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, of Kansas, sued hundreds of his patients over medical debt when he was practicing medicine in the western part of the state. Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news. Kansas...
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TUESDAY 09/08/2026: Data center backlash unites Missouri and Kansas towns
Data centers that power AI are exploding across the Midwest — and so is opposition to them. Now, people across the political spectrum want to see stricter regulation and more transparency. Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news. Kansas City...
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FRIDAY 09/04/2026: Harry Houdini's great Kansas City escape
Harry Houdini was a master of escape. He was also a self-promoter who once performed a stunt in downtown Kansas City to draw an audience to his shows. We'll learn about the Houdini escape that originated right here in Kansas City. Harry Houdini first visited Kansas City as a 12 year old, and he...
About this show
Kansas City Today is a daily news podcast from KCUR Studios bringing you all things Kansas City, wrapped up in 15 minutes or less. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, it’ll be waiting in your feed every weekday. Hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin.
Hosted by
KCUR Studios