Prairie Journal

Scott Simon is the host of NPR's Weekend Edition AND the author of several books, including the hot-off-the-press Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known.  

Historian Ian Shaw takes us back to Coffeyville in 1892, the double bank robbery that brought the Dalton Gang to an end, and the surprising story of the gang's lone survivor.

Kansas lawmakers wrapped up their 2026 session earlier this month.  KPR's Statehouse Bureau Chief Zach Boblitt and Emporia State University's Michael Smith review what legislators did -- and didn't -- get done.

We head outside and celebrate Kansas nature with a little help from the Kansas 250 Bookshelf.  This month's featured books include Kansas Wildflowers and Weeds, Elevations: A Personal Exploration of the Arkansas River, A Kansas Bestiary, and others.

From false teeth to organ transplants, Mary Roach explores how medicine and science are working together to create new body parts in her latest book, Replaceable You.

We head outside and celebrate Kansas nature with a little help from the Kansas 250 Bookshelf.  This month's featured books include The Last Wild Places of Kansas by George Frazier, Kansas Trail Guide by Jonathan and Kristin Conard, and Ava: A Year of Adventure in the Life of an American Avocet by Mandy Kern.

A partisan standoff, competing legislatures meeting under the same roof, armed guards at the Kansas Capitol -- how a disputed election led to the Populist War of 1893.  "The People's House" is the second episode in Per Aspera, a new Kansas history series from the Kansas 250 Commission, produced by Kara Heitz.

We explore the mysterious rock carvings of the Kansas Smoky Hills with Rex Buchanan, director emeritus of the Kansas Geological Survey. It's part of our continuing Kansas 250 Bookshelf series, this month exploring outdoors and nature in Kansas.  Rex Buchanan is one of three co-authors of "Petroglyphs of the Kansas Smoky Hills," along with Burke Griggs and Joshua Svaty.

In his farewell address, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned against the rising power of the "military-industrial complex," one of the most quoted phrases of his presidency.  We look at Eisenhower's address in the context of the Cold War and how his warning has often been misinterpreted and misunderstood.  

Our Kansas 250 Bookshelf series continues with the second of two programs featuring Kansas poets.  This week we hear from HC Palmer, Al Ortolani, and Catherine Strayhall, all Kansas Notable Book Award winners recognized by the State Library of Kansas.

Our Kansas 250 Bookshelf continues with the first of two programs featuring Kansas poets.  We hear from Kansas Poet Laureate Traci Brimhall, former Kansas Poets Laureate Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg and Huascar Medina, and from children's author Carol Murray.

For many sports fans, this month means basketball, the Big 12 Tournament, and March Madness! Chelan David shares stories of his lifelong love affair with the Jayhawks in "Stories from the Phog: Forty Years of Kansas Basketball."

Based on a true story, Jillian Forsberg takes us back to 18th century Europe and the rhinoceros that delighted nobility and common folks alike in "The Rhino Keeper."  This conversation is part of Prairie Journal's Kansas Notable Books series, highlighting books honored by the State Library of Kansas.

We celebrate Women's History Month with a sports trailblazer: Marian Washington. Washington was the first African-American woman to coach basketball at a predominantly white institution, the first women's track and field coach at the University of Kansas, the first director of women's athletics at KU, and many other firsts. She's the author of "Fierce: My Fight for Nothing Less."

Our Kansas 250 Bookshelf series continues with the second of two episodes on this month's theme: Love Your Community! This episode features conversations with artist Dave Loewenstein about Kansas murals, Prisca Barnes about the sit-in at the 1958 Dockum Drug Store, and Patrick O'Connor about the role of blues music in Wichita's African-American community.  

Our Kansas 250 Bookshelf series continues with the first of two episodes on this month's theme: Love Your Community! This episode features conversations about the Walnut Valley Festival, a family's journey from Mexico to Kansas, and the resilience of two Kansas towns' in the face of declining population. 

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, we learn about "In Pursuit," a new series of essays reflecting on each of the U.S. presidents and first ladies.  Dr. Colleen Shogan is the CEO of In Pursuit and former U.S. archivist.

Werewolves and vampires in Kansas?  Britney Lewis is the award-winning author of Blood Moon, recently named a New York Times bestseller.

It's a visit to Topeka's Free State Capitol, home to the 1855 Topeka Constitutional Convention and the Free State legislature, almost demolished in the 1990s, now renovated and restored to its original glory.

What does it mean to be Kansan?  Tom Averill and Leslie VonHolten gather the writings of 35 Kansas authors in their new anthology, Kansas Matters: 21st Century Writers on the Sunflower State.

In connection with the Kansas 250 Commission, Ray Walling and Valarie Lamoreaux of the State Library of Kansas join us to talk about the "Kansas 250 Bookshelf," celebrating America 250 with a selection of Kansas Notable books. 

KPR's Community Spotlight is on Full Circle Sustainability, a non-profit in Topeka dedicated to making it easier to live a low-waste lifestyle.  Justine Greve and Robert Riley are co-founders of the organization, which runs a minimal-packaging grocery store, recycling and composting services, and much more.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly gave her eighth and final State of the State address.  We'll hear the speech in its entirety, with analysis from Bob Beatty of Washburn University, Michael Smith of Emporia State University, Tim Carpenter of the Kansas Reflector, Rebekah Chung of KSNT.

Is a tomato a fruit or vegetable? Award-winning author Lindsay Metcalf explores the legal food fight in her children's book, Tomatoes on Trial.  Also, two penpals learn about two very different ways to grow food in her picture book, Outdoor Farm, Indoor Farm.

What's ahead this year at the Dole Institute of Politics? DIOP director Audrey Coleman stops by to preview the spring offerings, including a traveling exhibit celebrating "America 250."

Journalist Bill Kurtis retraces his career from his early days at KANU to his current gig as Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me scorekeeper at this book launch event for his new memoir, Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News.

Celebrate the season with the KPR staff on A Very Merry Prairie Journal! With songs of the season, holiday stories, and Christmas memories, from your favorite announcers as well as folks behind the scenes.

As 2025 comes to a close, Kaye McIntyre and J. Schafer look back at the non-profit groups in KPR's Community Spotlight this year, closing out the year with the O'Connell Children's Shelter in Lawrence.

Michael Smith and Ed Flentje are the editors of "Reform and Reaction: The Arc of Kansas Politics."  It's a look at the push and pull of state politics through the ages, featuring political scientists from across Kansas.

The new Netflix series "Death by Lightning" tells the gripping story of the assassination of President James Garfield and the doctors whose good intentions may have killed him.  Best-selling author Candice Millard talks about the series, which is based on her award-winning book Destiny of the Republic.

Las Madres is the inspiring story of three generations of Mexican-American women in Kansas.  It recently won three medals at the International Latino Book Awards event and was named a Kansas Notable Book.

KPR's Community Spotlight is shining on Good Shepherd Homecare and Hospice in Manhattan.  Director Christina Nolte joins us to describe the wide range of health care services Good Shepherd provides.  

Three years ago, the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka closed its doors for a major renovation.  We get a sneak peek at the Museum in advance of its grand reopening, November 22nd, with Museum Director Sarah Bell.  Also, Marion County, Kansas, has been ordered to pay $3 million dollars to settle a lawsuit following the 2023 raid on the local newspaper.  We hear from Marion County Record editor Eric Meyer in this rebroadcast of his William Allen White National Citation remarks.

In connection with NPR's series "Here to Help," KPR highlights the work of volunteers in our own community.  Our first "Here to Help" features Debbie Zabel with the Douglas County Master Gardeners.

What can the political landscape of 2025 tell us about the 2026 elections? Political journalist and Dole Institute of Politics Visiting Fellow Jerry Seib and Kaye McIntyre preview the 2026 midterms, one year out.

He was once one of the highest paid vaudeville performers in America, but then largely forgotten.  Dr. Daniel E. Atkinson is the author of "The Rediscovery of George 'Nash' Walker: The Price of Black Stardom in Jim Crow America."

A remembrance of KPR's former music director Rachel Hunter, who passed away October 16, 2025, at the age of 80. 

Thousands of Kansans joined in No Kings demonstrations last week, with dozens of protests across the state, thousands across the country.  We'll hear from some of the people at the No Kings protest in Lawrence.

Robert Rebein is the author of "The Last Rancher," named a 2025 Kansas Notable Book and winner of the 2025 J. Donald Coffin Memorial Award in Fiction. It's the story of a family trying to hold onto their ranch in western Kansas in the face of financial struggles, a serious accident, and lots of family drama. 

Journalist Bill Kurtis retraces his career from his early days at KANU to his current gig as Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me scorekeeper at this book launch event for his new memoir, Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News.

Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg battles a rare form of eye cancer and saves a historic farm in her latest book, The Magic Eye: A Story of Saving a Life and a Place in the Age of Anxiety.

How did Alfred Beach manage to build a subway in New York City...in secret?  KPR's own Matthew Algeo tells the story in "New York City's Secret Subway: The Underground Genius of Alfred Beach and the Origins of Mass Transit."

Prairie Paws Animal Shelter serves Ottawa, Emporia, Manhattan, and the surrounding communities.  Vanessa Cowie is CEO of Prairie Paws, in KPR's Community Spotlight for September.  

During National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, we talk to the authors of "Hope and the Winds of Grief: A Story of Healing After Losing a Loved One to Suicide."  This children's book and related materials were created by Stacey Lamb and Scott Emmons.  Also, a conversation with Karen Russell, author of The Antidote, recently long-listed for the National Book Award.

The Kansas Book Festival's Tim Bascom and Kathleen Morgan join us to preview this year's Festival -- a day of writers, readers, music, food and fun --  coming up September 20th in Topeka. 

Bill Kurtis: legendary broadcaster, Kansas native, KANU alumnus, and now...author!  He joins us to talk about his new memoir, "Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News," in advance of his Lawrence book launch, September 18th. We also preview the Kansas Book Festival, coming up September 20th in Topeka.

35 years ago, Senator Bob Dole led a delegation to Kosovo to signal support for the republic's independence movement.  Dole Institute of Politics director Audrey Coleman talks about the significance of that historic visit and this year's fall line-up at the Institute.  We also hear from Fran Borin, author of "The Spirit of Quindaro," recently named a Great Read from Great Places book for young readers. 

How do we portray America...and the first Americans? A new traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian makes its first stop in Kansas -- and the nation -- at the Watkins Museum of History in downtown Lawrence.  Also, we preview the Paper Plains Zine Fest, taking place Labor Day weekend in Lawrence.

The Library of Congress has recently released its annual Great Reads from Great Places list.  Representing Kansas this year: "Abolitionist of the Most Dangerous Kind: James Montgomery and His War on Slavery," by Todd Mildfeld and David Schafer.  

The stories of life behind bars, from those people living it.  We'll hear from the creators of the podcast Ear Hustle as they bring their live stage show to Lawrence next week.  Also, local author Brian Daldorph talks about the poetry of former inmate Antonio Sanchez Day.