PODCAST · news
Up To Date
by KCUR Studios
What Kansas City cares about. Up To Date brings people together for daily conversations about what’s happening in our region and how it affects our lives. Featuring interviews with artists, lawmakers, experts and everyday residents, plus original reporting from the KCUR newsroom, Up To Date keeps our city connected.
Episodes
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Casting an informed vote in Kansas or Missouri can be tricky. Here’s some tips
Election Day in Kansas and Missouri is on Nov. 3, and early voting has already begun. If you’re trying to figure out how to start the process of understanding your ballot, “Google’s your friend,” one Kansas political scientist says. (And so is KCUR!)
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KC Soundcheck: Kansas City musician Bobby Watson mentors a new generation of jazz artists
Kansas City jazz legend Bobby Watson wants to ensure the city’s jazz history and traditions don’t fade with age. The saxophonists and composer’s latest album, “Continuum” is a testimonial about passing knowledge to younger artists.
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‘Keep your kids close.’ How Kansas City families can stay safe this Halloween
Ghosts, ghouls and… personal liability lawsuits? Halloween can turn overlooked hazards into serious injuries and complicated legal questions. Trip-and-falls, dangerous decorations, pedestrian crashes, defective costumes and even golf carts can create unforeseen disasters.
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UMKC men’s soccer team, ranked among top in country, is Kansas City’s ‘best kept secret’
One of the best sports teams in the country is flying under the radar in Kansas City. The Roos men’s soccer team at the University of Missouri-Kansas City has achieved its best national ranking in program history, and the season is far from over.
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Christal Watson
Christal Watson
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Kansas City high school robotics teams modified battery cars for toddlers with disabilities
Some kids with mobility challenges are missing out on playing with peers and siblings. Thanks to a partnership between Variety KC and The Barstow School’s robotics team, seven Kansas City toddlers received modified ride-on cars to give them more independence and a new chance to play with others.
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UTD_10-12-2026 wtdkc roundup
UTD_10-12-2026 wtdkc roundup
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Food recs: Kansas City's best cheesy foods
As fall arrives and the days get cooler, nothing satisfies quite like a cheesy dish that warms the belly and comforts the soul. From gooey grilled cheese sandwiches to tangy, whipped goat cheese dips — even famous barbecue sides — there’s a cheesy dish for every taste in Kansas City.
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Former FDIC chair: U.S. is ‘slipping backwards’ on financial regulation
Sheila Bair, who served as the chair of the FDIC from 2006 to 2011, will be in town this week to accept the Truman Medal for Economic Policy from the Truman Library Institute. The Kansas native joined KCUR’s Up To Date to discuss the state of our economy.
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Iconic Englewood Theater slated to begin phase one of revitalization project in early 2027
Englewood Theater sat vacant for nearly twenty years before non-profit Friends of Englewood Theater purchased the building in 2023. The group is in the initial stages of a large-scale renovation project that they hope will make the theater operational once again.
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Kansas City metro development roundup: Stadiums, skyscrapers and entertainment districts
Kansas City metro development roundup: Stadiums, skyscrapers and entertainment districts
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‘John Proctor is the Villain’ was a hit play on Broadway. Now you can see it in Kansas City
The play, which starred Sadie Sink of “Stranger Things” during its Broadway run, centers on a group of high schoolers as they navigate notions of gender and power during the #MeToo movement. As they study Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” in English class, the students consider how the play…
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Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley featured in new documentary about harms of social media
Now out on streaming, “Your Attention Please” shows footage of Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley confronting Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about how social media is hurting teenagers. The film explores how tech companies keep users addicted, and how young people are seeking to redefine human connection.
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More kids are dying by suicide. A Kansas City psychologist warns to ‘take it seriously’
Pressure to perform and social media are contributing factors to a rise in suicide rates among children between the ages of 8-12 years old. A Kansas City psychologist said that some young kids lack the understanding of the finality of their decision and can be more impulsive, heightening the risk.
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Missouri Amendment 8 would make sheriff a constitutionally elected office. What to know
If passed on Nov. 3, Amendment 8 would make county sheriffs a constitutionally-required position, with a few exceptions. It would also limit the circumstances under which a sheriff can be removed from office.
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Kansas City turns to the private sector to help house people living on the streets
Kansas City and the business community are working together to reduce the number of chronically unhoused people by providing vouchers and connecting them with resources. The Housing Gateway Program has proven effective in other cities around the U.S, and advocates say Kansas City is “well...
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Missouri Amendment 6 could make it harder for lawmakers to overturn voter-led ballot issues
If passed on Nov. 3, the amendment would enshrine the so-called “Respect Missouri Voters” initiative into the state constitution. That would require an 80% threshold for lawmakers to overturn citizen-led measures, such as the paid sick leave law approved in 2024. Then voters would be given…
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Kansas City's pioneering Black queer nightclub Soakie’s honored with a historic marker downtown
A new historic marker pays tribute to the former site of Soakie’s, the Black queer bar that once operated out of the basement of an Italian sandwich shop. The nightclub regularly hosted drag performances, and served as a home to the local LGBTQ+ community.
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Record-high gas prices are raising the cost of feeding Kansas City, from farms to food banks
Higher fuel costs touch every branch of the economy, but food distributors are especially vulnerable to price increases. A farmer and food bank leader joined KCUR’s Up to Date to discuss how more expensive gas is affecting their operations.
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Missouri Amendment 7 proposes a state investment fund with aim of ending taxes in a century
If passed on Nov. 3, the amendment would establish the “Show-Me Prosperity Fund,” a public endowment similar to a sovereign wealth fund. However, it would not allocate any money into that fund. Supporters hope that the investment could one day be used to replace state taxes entirely, but…
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Hall of Fame Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews celebrates calling his 8,000th game
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.
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Lucky Rabbit Literature Festival brings award-winning children's book team to Kansas City
The Rabbit hOle museum in North Kansas City is hosting The Lucky Rabbit Literature Festival this weekend, bringing together seven of the most prominent authors and artists working in the children’s book industry. Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien join Up To Date to discuss their award-winning...
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Missouri Proposition A will let voters decide fate of congressional map. What to know
Missouri lawmakers redrew the state’s congressional lines in 2025, in an attempt to oust Kansas City Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II and add a Republican seat to the U.S. House. But after a successful petition campaign, the new map was blocked from taking effect for this election, and voters in November...
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Journalist Chuck Todd says Kansas could become the next big 'battleground' state
Journalist Chuck Todd will be in Kansas City to accept the Make a Mark Leadership Award from the Poynter Institute this weekend. He joined KCUR’s Up To Date to discuss the midterm elections, including the competitive U.S. Senate race in Kansas and Missouri's congressional redistricting "chaos."
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Your personal tick survival guide, from KCUR's Up From Dust
What should you do when you find a tick on yourself? Don't freak out — we have you covered. From the KCUR Studios and Harvest Public Media podcast Up From Dust, a team of scientists help answer that question, plus how to avoid it in the first place.
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Food recs: Kansas City’s best African food
Kansas City is home to immigrants from over 30 countries in Africa. As the world’s second-largest continent, there’s no one type of “African” food, but you can find dishes from across the continent in the metro.
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Missouri could vote to ban abortion again in the midterms. What to know about Amendment 3
If passed, Amendment 3 would repeal the abortion rights amendment enshrined in the Missouri Constitution in 2024. It would also add constitutional bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youth in the state.
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One woman shares how she fled domestic violence with the help of a Missouri nonprofit
Cases of domestic violence are rising in Missouri. Legal Aid of Western Missouri worked on more than 3,000 cases of domestic violence last year. One woman tells KCUR how she found a way out of a 17-year relationship that grew abusive.
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NPR host Jeremy Hobson is looking for common ground in a divided America
Jeremy Hobson, the host of the public radio program "The Middle" is in Kansas City this week to moderate an American Public Square panel called "Turning Down the Heat: Rebuilding Trust in an Age of Outrage."
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The Moth celebrates two years of StorySLAMs in Kansas City
The Moth first brought its monthly storytelling open-mic nights known as StorySLAMs to Kansas City in 2024. Two years later, the crowds don't seem to be slowing down.
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Former Jackson County prosecutor said the type of work ‘really does start to hurt your psyche’
Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd died last week. His family has said the job, which he held for nearly 24 years, brought him joy and also “considerable pain.” Up To Date spoke with two former prosecutors about the toll the job had on their mental health.
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Who is looking at Kansas City Flock camera data?
A recent KCUR analysis reveals that data gathered by Kansas City-area Flock cameras has been searched hundreds of thousands of times by out-of-state police departments. Across the city, residents are concerned by how that data is being used.
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Kansas constitutional amendment would 'clarify' voting requirements. What to know
A proposed amendment would change the Kansas Constitution to say only U.S. citizens can vote, rather than “every” U.S. citizen. Proponents say the rephrase is necessary to clarify the rules, while opponents say the change could make voting more confusing.
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Students at Kansas City's East High School get a unique education in urban agriculture
At East High School in Kansas City, students help care for row farms, flowering plants and herds of goats, chickens, turkeys and more. It’s the only program of its kind in a Missouri public school, with one in five students participating.
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An update on KCUR after moving into our new building on the Country Club Plaza
An update on KCUR after moving into our new building on the Country Club Plaza
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Kansas City is full of art fairs right now. For local artists, this is ‘the best time of year’
Events like Lawrence Art in the Park, which will take place this weekend, Art Westport and the Plaza Art Fair are central to the business for many Kansas artists. It’s an opportunity to make a lot of sales, and to talk with the public about their work.
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The best movies and TV of 2026 so far, according to Kansas City critics
With so much TV, and so many films in theaters and on streaming platforms, it can be hard to know what’s most worth watching. Up To Date’s film experts shared their top titles so far this year.
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Kansas' first U.S. Senate and governor debates got pretty raucous
The Kansas State Fair offered the first chance to see U.S. Senate candidates Roger Marshall and Adam Hamilton and gubernatorial candidates Ty Masterson and Cindy Holscher square off. The raucous crowd at times shouted down candidates as they spoke.
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Missouri’s redistricting legal battle has been chaotic. Here’s what 5th district candidates think
The legal back and forth over Missouri's congressional maps this election cycle is unprecedented in American politics. 5th District Congressman Emanuel Cleaver and his Republican general election opponent state Sen. Rick Brattin joined KCUR's Up To Date to share their thoughts on what has...
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America’s social contract is fraying. A Kansas professor says civic debate could help repair it
University of Kansas professor Chris Koliba argues that the American social contract is fraying. He joined KCUR’s Up To Date to discuss how we got to this point and what the country can do about it.
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Overland Park runner will attempt to run seven marathons on seven continents in just one week
Early next year, Jeff Maher of Overland Park will run seven marathons on seven continents in seven days. He joined KCUR’s Up To Date to discuss how he is preparing for the races and why he decided to take on this challenge.
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A mental health crisis in a Kansas jail shouldn’t have ended Charles Adair’s life
Charles Adair was in the midst of a mental health emergency when he turned himself into law enforcement for old traffic warrants. If sheriff’s deputies at the Wyandotte County, Kansas, jail had followed protocol for a mental health crisis, it might have prevented Adair’s death – which was ruled a...
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Kansas City Renaissance Festival marks 50th season recreating 1500s England
The Kansas City Renaissance Festival began as a fundraiser for the Kansas City Art Institute in 1977, and this year is its 50th season. The festival opened September 5 and will run every weekend through October 12, rain or shine.
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Haiti's crises and uncertain future will be discussed at Kansas City Haiti Symposium
The Caribbean country of Haiti is in the midst of a severe political and humanitarian crisis as it struggles to address widespread gang violence. Ahead of the 14th annual KC Haiti Symposium on Saturday, KCUR's Up To Date spoke with two Haitian journalists and a Kansas City doctor who runs a...
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Kansas City psychiatrist explores the science behind high emotional sensitivity
Dr. Sasha Hamdani's new book, "Too Sensitive," aims to provide a science-backed, empathetic framework for understanding why some people experience high emotional sensitivity. The Kansas City psychiatrist joined KCUR's Up To Date on Tuesday.
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NYT: Kansas' Roger Marshall sued more than 700 of his patients before becoming a U.S. senator
More than 700 patients were sued by a doctor in western Kansas for medical debt. The doctor is now Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, who for decades was a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist.
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After Missouri congressional map ruling, Republicans will ask U.S. Supreme Court to intervene
In a stunning unanimous ruling, the Missouri Supreme Court blocked the state’s newly redrawn congressional maps from going into effect for the 2026 midterm elections, and ordered a referendum on the gerrymandered map to be placed on the November ballot. But Republican leaders are appealing the...
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Kansas City Underground Film Festival champions the cinema underdogs
The festival returns for its sixth year of free movie programming, which will include films across a range of genres from experimental to animation.
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Lawrence post-punk band Sweeping Promises embrace 'romanticizing' on new album
Sweeping Promises will embark on an American tour on Sep. 9 to share their third album, “You Say I Romanticize.” The Kansas-based duo has been gaining national attention, while also producing other local bands at their "artistic commune."
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Country Club Plaza’s redevelopment could start with empty Nordstrom lot, a ‘detriment’ to the area
Gillon Property Group, which owns the Plaza, says the empty lot is a “physical and psychological” problem and will be one of the first major redevelopment targets now that Port KC approved a major incentive package. The space was meant to host a Nordstrom, but the project was scrapped in 2022…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
What Kansas City cares about. Up To Date brings people together for daily conversations about what’s happening in our region and how it affects our lives. Featuring interviews with artists, lawmakers, experts and everyday residents, plus original reporting from the KCUR newsroom, Up To Date keeps our city connected.
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KCUR Studios
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How many episodes does Up To Date have?
Up To Date currently has 1000 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Up To Date about?
What Kansas City cares about. Up To Date brings people together for daily conversations about what’s happening in our region and how it affects our lives. Featuring interviews with artists, lawmakers, experts and everyday residents, plus original reporting from the KCUR newsroom, Up To Date keeps...
How often does Up To Date release new episodes?
Up To Date releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 1000 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
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You can listen to Up To Date on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Up To Date?
Up To Date is created and hosted by KCUR Studios.
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