Kansas City Today

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 his Republican Rick Brattin.Both candidates shared their views on the court drama over redistricting, and what it means for the midterms, with Steve Kraske on KCUR's Up To Date.Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate

TUESDAY 09/15/2026: What it's really like to be a transgender student in Kansas

Midwest lawmakers have tried and failed to ban paraquat, a toxic weedkiller that’s been tied to Parkinson’s disease. One state senator plans to keep fighting. Plus: The federal government has released new rules controlling how farmers can use the controversial herbicide dicamba.

The August primary elections were big for Johnson County Democrats, with primary wins for U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton and Kansas governor candidate Cindy Holscher. What should voters expect in November, and what does it say about the future of the party and the state?History would suggest it will be a tough election for Democrats in Kansas this November. On the surface, at least, Republicans stand to do very well in the top statewide races, given the state’s ruby-red leanings.But Democrats are riding a wave of hope after this month’s primaries, emanating mainly from Johnson County. After a late entry to the race Leawood pastor Adam Hamilton overwhelmed a crowded field to seek a U.S. Senate seat. He’ll take on incumbent Republican Roger Marshall in November.And in the race for governor, Overland Park state senator Cindy Holscher beat two otherJohnson County rivals to face state Senate president Ty Masterson, who's endorsed by President Trump.KCUR’s Nomin Ujiyediin sat down with Johnson County Post editor Kyle Palmer to dig into those races and what they tell us about the county’s evolving political profile.Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Purple martins are back in Kansas. Thousands of the birds are gathering near the Wichita airport each evening as they prepare for their annual migration. Plus: A small town in south-central Kansas proudly bears the nickname “Midway USA,” positioning itself firmly between California and New York.Tens of thousands of purple martins are meeting up in Wichita in preparation for their annual migration. As Suzanne Perez of the Kansas News Service reports, the nightly spectacle has also become a gathering for bird watchers.For more than 80 years, a sign near U.S. Highway 50 has served as the midway marker for cross-country travelers making their way through Kansas. KMUW's Beccy Tanner takes us to Kinsley, where the historic sign points the way in two directions.Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Emily Younker and Luke X. Martin.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Missouri's candidates are set for the November general election under a redrawn congressional map. But with Kansas City's three districts carved to specifically benefit Republicans, even longtime Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II faces a tough race.

Childcare costs in Missouri and Kansas can now rival a mortgage for working families, but two Midwestern lawmakers are fighting to change that. Plus: After the Affordable Care Act tax credits lapsed, healthcare premiums spiked for millions of farmers and ranchers.

State Sen. Rick Brattin was selected by voters during last week's primary election as the Republican candidate for Missouri's 5th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II. The 5th District is expected to lean more Republican under newly drawn congressional maps.

Two winners of last week's primaries are aiming for their first terms representing Missouri in Congress next year. We'll hear how Republican Chris Stigall and Democrat Jordan Herrera plan to unite their respective parties and secure seats in Washington.Senior News Analyst Brian Ellison spoke with both Stigall and Herrera on the KCUR's daily talk show Up To Date. Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Drive-in theaters have shown movies under the stars for generations, and many Kansas filmgoers still see value for these nostalgic experiences in a changing movie landscape. Plus: There’s a chance the wheat in your spaghetti could be grown in western Kansas in the next few years.In the 1950’s, drive-in screens towered over the Kansas prairie. But challenges like shifting viewing habits have caused their numbers to dwindle. The theaters face an uncertain future, but owners aren't ready to roll the credits on drive-ins just yet. Roger Nomer of the Kansas News Service reports.Kansas is known for its wheat used to make bread, tortillas or cereal. But that wheat is not making farmers much money these days. Now, there’s a new type of wheat with a potential new market: making pasta. Calen Moore of the Kansas News Service and editor Stephen Koranda discuss a new wheat innovation that could be coming to the pasta in your grocery store.Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a citizen referendum that would have given voters the chance to overturn the new Republican-drawn congressional map. Hoskins said the measure was unconstitutional, but the group People Not Politicians said he's being "obstructionist."

Missouri residents overwhelmingly voted against proposals to eliminate the income tax and change how citizens can change the Missouri constitution. Meanwhile, Kansans elected Reverend Adam Hamilton as the Democratic opponent to U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall and Democrat Cindy Holscher and Republican Ty Masterson will face each other in the race for Kansas governor.KCUR's Brian Ellison breaks it all down with news director Madeline Fox.Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Luke X. Martin.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Today, Missourians will decide the fate of a proposed constitutional amendment that gives lawmakers the ability to expand sales and use taxes in order to eliminate the state income tax.

Missouri Republicans want to make it harder to amend the state’s constitution, but even backers of Amendment 4 acknowledge it’s getting a rough reception. Plus: Missouri’s 6th Congressional District has an open race for the first time since 2000.Missourians will decide Tuesday whether to make it harder for some constitutional amendments to be enacted. Backers say that the current process drowns out rural voices — but opponents counter that it gives too much power to the state legislature. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum reports.Like the 4th and 5th Congressional Districts, the boundaries of Missouri's 6th District are different for this week’s primary. Now, it includes more of the Northland. KCUR news director Madeline Fox sat down with elections reporter Grace Hills to talk about the 6th District primary.Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Missouri’s Republican supermajority redrew the state’s congressional boundaries last year to make the Kansas City-based 4th and 5th districts a tougher battle for Democrats. We'll talk through the races before Tuesday's primary — the first election under the newly gerrymandered map.Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, and the Kansas City-based 5th Congressional District, have been front and center in Missouri’s battle over redistricting. Republicans opened up old segregation wounds in their new maps, by dividing Kansas City along Troost Avenue to make Cleaver’s district harder for Democrats to win. KCUR news director Madeline Fox sat down with race and culture reporter Celisa Calacal to talk about the Aug. 4 primary.Redistricting also put Republican Rep. Mark Alford, who’s held the 4th Congressional District since 2023, in the hot seat. KCUR news director Madeline Fox sat down with Missouri government reporter Savannah Hawley-Bates to talk about the race.Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Laura Ziegler. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

People living in homeless encampments say Missouri and Kansas cities have been more aggressive about enforcement since a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision. Plus: Latino communities in Wichita are on edge after immigration agents asked a bus full of people to present proof of citizenship.

As Gov. Laura Kelly finishes out her last term in office, seven Republicans and three Democrats are making their case to replace her. Find out about the candidates before the Aug. 4 primary. Plus: The cyclospora outbreak has some people scrutinizing where their produce comes from.

The World Cup has come and gone in Kansas City. What could the city's success as a host city mean for future events?

In the Aug. 4 election, Kansas Citians will decide whether to extend a sales tax aimed at re-developing neighborhoods east of Troost, and vote on $1.7 billion in bonds for water and sewers. What's at stake in the votes?Kansas City Star Dylan Lysen gives Steve Kraske a breakdown of the measures on KCUR's daily talk show, Up To Date. Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Maud Wagner, one of the country’s first known female commercial tattoo artists, was born in Emporia, Kansas. She joined a sideshow act with her sister until a fateful meeting pushed her to pursue carnival stardom, inked from head to toe.Memorabilia from Wagner's career makes up a large body of this country’s early tattoo artifacts. From A People's History of Kansas City, KCUR’s Julie Denesha reports.Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Experts say affordable housing and a lower cost of living are driving people back into the Midwest. Plus: Many farmers are worried whether they'll see a profit this year thanks to high supply costs.

Kansas City opened its doors to thousands of international visitors during the World Cup. What kind of impressions did we make?

Five Republicans are running to replace U.S. Rep. Sam Graves in Missouri’s 6th District. Conservative talk show radio host Chris Stigall talks policy ahead of the August primary.

Several Republicans are running to replace U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, who isn’t running for reelection, in Missouri’s 6th district. Kansas City Councilmember Nathan Willett shares what his priorities would be if he is elected and why he thinks he’s the right fit for the job.St. Louis Public Radio Politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum spoke with Willett, who claimed he was "proud" to not have Graves' endorsement in the race.Tomorrow, we'll hear from candidate Chris Stigall.Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

The biggest natural disaster ever to hit Kansas City struck 75 years ago. The Black Friday Flood of 1951 is remembered as bigger, nastier and worse than you can probably imagine. Kansas City’s biggest catastrophe hit 75 years ago, when the Black Friday Flood poured millions of gallons of toxic stew through neighborhoods and into the heart of the region’s industrial area. As KCUR’s Frank Morris reports, parts of Kansas City never fully recovered from the flood, and the landscape hasn’t been the same since.Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Immigrants without legal status can find themselves facing deportation to a country where they have no ties. Independence resident Alisa Ramdial Shahib is the latest.

Advocacy groups say immigration enforcement in Kansas City resulted in the detention of at least 30 people during the World Cup. The increased ICE presence across the Kansas City metro has kept residents on edge, and led to a backlog in the court system.

A sales tax that funds Missouri’s parks and soil and water conservation is back on the ballot this August. It's sharing the spotlight with eight other amendments, leaving advocates wondering if they can cut through the noise.

After a 40 year career in financial services, Kansas U.S. Senate candidate Sandy Spidel Neumann is focused on optimization. She spoke on KCUR's Up to Date about how her business background has prepared her for Congress.

Bright pedicabs are zipping across Kansas City during the World Cup and they're here to stay. Plus: Organizers of a new music venue in Kansas City say it’s a place where the listening comes first. 515 Music Hub was a result of the city's Open Doors program for the World Cup, but wants to keep going after.

Missouri saw 2,690 deaths from Alzheimer's in 2024 — a 145% increase since 2000. One southeast Missouri couple is trying to convince lawmakers their support is critical. Plus: A substance abuse counselor in Kansas City has developed secular recovery programs focused on inclusivity.

Kansas U.S. Senate candidate Erik Murray wants "solutions not chaos" on healthcare and the economy. He spoke on KCUR's Up to Date about the problems in Kansas that most need addressing.

It's a crowded primary race for Democrats hoping to take on incumbent Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall. Democrat Christy Davis spoke on KCUR's Up to Date about why she's running and how her experience working for the USDA sets her apart.

Rural hospitals in Kansas will use federal money to help them transform and expand access to healthcare. Some are creating new services like mobile maternal health clinics, but looming Medicaid cuts still mean many hospitals are at risk of closing.

Kansas City’s transit authority could become among the first in the nation to use AI-powered cameras on city buses to help strengthen security and more quickly detect banned passengers. But critics worry about privacy — and scaring away riders.KCUR reporter Savannah Hawley-Bates spoke with Up To Date producer Zach Wilson about the KCATA's potential launch of the cameras, and why some local advocates and national experts are concerned.Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Only about 2% of aircraft pilots and flight engineers are Black. A group of men, inspired by the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, is trying to change that by highlighting careers in aviation. A KCUR reporter visited Red Tail Academy to learn about why that number is so low.The founders of the Red Tail Academy are trying to grow the relatively small number of Black people in the aviation industry. KCUR's Brandon Azim visits the flight school to find out how.Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Across the country, data centers have attracted controversy for everything from overuse of utilities to tax breaks. Now, some Missourians are trying to track down those details through public records requests, appearances at public meetings and other grassroots efforts.Companies such as Amazon and Google are looking for land to build new data centers in Missouri. As KBIA’s Finnegan Belleau reports, it’s not always easy for the public to figure out when and how new developments are being planned in their communities.Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

The Algerian men’s national team adopted Lawrence as its home base for the World Cup. In return, the Kansas college town embraced the team in a big way — and flooded the streets Monday when Algeria won its first match of the tournament.Locals are hosting watch parties, creating art, and even altering KU's classic chant into "Rock Chalk Algeria" to show their allegiance. KCUR’s Suzanne Hogan spoke to Emma Noble and Emma Sui Pang, two student journalists at the University of Kansas, who’ve been covering the team’s time in Lawrence.Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Many fans going to the first World Cup match in Kansas City last week were delayed by hours-long traffic jams. Local organizers made some changes to the transit system ahead of Saturday's Ecuador-Curaçao game — but were they enough?

A recently released audit of Missouri’s finances shows the state is on the brink of a budget crisis. Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick discusses what his office found and how he wants elected officials to respond.State officials say Missouri is on the brink of a budget crisis. State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick tells KCUR's Brian Ellison the state has a spending problem and how he thinks it can be fixed. Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Hundreds flocked to a Kansas greenhouse to witness the colorful and pungent bloom of a rare, very smelly plant. Plus: An important bridge in Wichita was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which supporters say will aid its future preservation.A small greenhouse at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, was the place to be earlier this week if you wanted to catch the fleeting smell of the aptly named corpse flower. Meg Britton-Mehlisch was there and brings us this report.The Minisa Bridge near North High School in Wichita boasts one-of-a-kind architecture featuring Native American busts and 3D buffalo. Supporters of the designation believe the bridge is finally getting the recognition it deserves. KMUW's Jennifer Anima has more.Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Kansas voters will soon decide if they want to elect justices to the state’s highest court, instead of the current merit-based nomination system. Some former Kansas Supreme Court members worry direct elections could interfere with important decision-making processes.The amendment change would have justices elected by voters instead of appointed by the state. Former Kansas Supreme Court justice Carol Beier warns the advent of political donations could impact how members rule on major issues such as abortion and education funding. Zach Boblitt with the Kansas News Service reportsContact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Seth Jahraus, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Soccer first came to Kansas City through youth leagues in the 1970s, and a co-founder of the Brookside Soccer Club tells us how it changed the city. Plus: We'll take you to last night's World Cup match between Argentina and Algeria, the first of six games in Kansas City.Youth soccer programs might seem ubiquitous in modern America, but not that long ago, there weren’t many options at all for young athletes. KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke with Bill Finn, who co-founded the Brookside Soccer Club in 1977, about that history.Contact the show at [email protected]. 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 Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

A federal program under fire from the Trump Administration has bought and shipped American grain to the world’s hungry for seven decades. Hear why the fight to save “Food for Peace” raises a fundamental question about the focus of U.S. international food aid.U.S. international food aid programs have been through the wringer in the second Trump Administration. One of those programs, Food for Peace, lost funding and then was revived under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The latest version of the Farm Bill would permanently place Food for Peace at the USDA. But as Harvest Public Media’s Frank Morris reports, some don’t think the agency is the right place for an international humanitarian aid program.Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Seth Jahraus, Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Leawood pastor Rev. Adam Hamilton thinks he can bridge the divide in Washington and bring costs down for the people of Kansas. He spoke to KCUR's Up To Date about why he decided to run for Sen. Roger Marshall's U.S. Senate seat.Hamilton oversees the largest United Methodist church in the country, and he's one of 11 candidates running for the Democratic nomination. Kansas hasn't elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1932, so it'll be an uphill battle. Hamilton spoke with Up To Date's Steve Kraske about his campaign — and look out in the future for more interviews with candidates.Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Seth Jahraus and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

An Olathe police officer violated department policy by calling an ICE hotline during a traffic stop, a call that ultimately led to a man's deportation. Learn the details behind the traffic stop and an update on the man's family.  The officer remains employed at Olathe's police department months after the incident occurred in February. Johnson County Post reporter Kate Mays discusses the story with Up To Date's Steve Kraske.Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love, Seth Jahraus and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

A year ago, a group of concerned people in Missouri got together to help immigrants detained by ICE, and they've since expanded to seven affiliates in three states. Plus: Even though ICE raids are less visible than this winter, fear among immigrants remains high.One year ago, a man detained by ICE in the Phelps County Jail died by suicide. That led a group of concerned residents in Rolla, Missouri to form Abide in Love, an organization dedicated to helping immigrants and their families. The movement has since spread to other states and cities, including a chapter in Kansas City. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jonathan Ahl was there as members of the group celebrated the one-year commitment to their efforts.Raids by federal agents may be out of the headlines, but they’re not out of mind for many immigrants. ICE arrests are up sharply in most states in the Midwest and Great Plains since President Donald Trump took office again. According to the Deportation Data Project, arrests are up 34% in Missouri and 38% in Kansas. Harvest Public Media contributor Sheila Brummer reports on people who are stepping up to help immigrants facing uncertainty.Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Jodi Fortino. It is produced by Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Going to a World Cup game, for many, requires hours of sitting in online queues, months of planning and thousands of dollars. Still, for KCUR Health Reporter Noah Taborda, the opportunity is too important to pass up. Plus: Amateur soccer players in Kansas City are hoping to host their own local pickup games with players from other countries.KCUR Health Reporter Noah Taborda spent the last year preparing to travel from Kansas City to Mexico to watch the Colombian national team at the World Cup with his dad and younger brother. It’s taken hours of waiting and researching, and cost thousands of dollars… and they still don’t have tickets. Noah details why, despite all that, family history, national pride and future memories make it all worth it.With the World Cup starting this Thursday, Kansas City is expecting cultural exchange in small businesses, coffee shops, and restaurants. But non-professional soccer players expect to facilitate their own connections with visitors through local pickup games. KCUR's Brandon Azim reports.Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Noah Taborda. It is produced by Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Data centers are on the fast track in communities across the Midwest and Great Plains, but rising concerns over water, energy and noise leave lawmakers rushing to catch up. Plus: Supporters and opponents are debating a proposed data center in southwest Kansas.Development of large-scale data centers is booming across the Midwest and South. Local and state governments are rushing to regulate this growing industry as concerns over water and energy usage are rallying some communities in opposition. Harvest Public Media’s Abigail Bottar reports.It’s no secret data centers use a lot of water to keep cool. That’s why locals sounded the alarm when one was proposed in southwest Kansas over the Ogallala Aquifer, a water source that has little left in the tank. But some argue that large-scale farm irrigation on the proposed site already uses more water than the data center plan. Calen Moore of the Kansas News Service reports.Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Frank Morris. It is produced by Byron Love, Seth Jahraus and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

The Kansas City Council is bringing back its efforts to ban conversion therapy after it repealed a 2019 ordinance last month. Council member Jonathan Duncan discusses how the new proposal restricting "dangerous therapies" is intended to comply with a recent Supreme Court ruling.Conversion therapy is a scientifically discredited practice that aims to change an individual's gender or sexual identity or expression. Duncan discusses the effort to ban it with Steve Kraske on KCUR's Up to Date.Contact the show at [email protected]. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love, and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.