Kansas Governor Sam Brownback released his proposed budget Thursday, January 13, 2010 for the next fiscal year. It calls for deep cuts, including phasing out state funding for the arts. If approved, Kansas would be the first state to convert its arts agency into a nonprofit. KCUR's Laura Spencer caught up with Kansas Arts Commission Executive Director Llewellyn Crain.

By Laura Spencer

By Steve Bell

Kansas City, MO –

Joel and Ethan Coen's latest film is an adaptation of the Charles Portis western novel True Grit. The filmmakers and writers discuss the making of the film and the difficulties of working with both child actors and horses.

By Fresh Air/ NPR

January 12, 2011

Sometimes a cup of coffee is simply not enough. Sometimes a cup of coffee needs a biscotti. But not just any biscotti. This baton-shaped Italian cookie should be dense, chunky, dunkable -- and noisy till the end.

Get recipes for Traditional Italian Almond Biscotti, Anise, Orange And Pignoli Biscotti, Cherry, Pistachio And Vanilla Biscotti, Chocolate-Dipped Espresso Biscotti With Kahlua Icing, and Maple Walnut Biscotti With Maple Icing.

By NPR

Kansas City, MO – The image we have of 19th century slavery often comes from the Deep South, places like Georgia and Mississippi, where rich whites owned huge plantations, kept in business by a large, unpaid labor force of enslaved African Americans. But slavery in Missouri, and some of the other border states, looked very different from that.

Lawrence, KS – A prolonged touch, a coquettish smile, a throaty laugh: Flirting is a part of the age-old dating and mating ritual. You might think of it as a playful and seductive form of communication, verbal or non-verbal, aimed at getting the attention of a love interest.

Jefferson City, MO – The Republican-dominated Missouri House has passed a non-binding resolution urging state officials to join a multistate lawsuit challenging the federal health care overhaul and calling on Congress to repeal the law.

The House approved the resolution Tuesday on a vote of 115-46.

The measure calls on Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster to join with other states in suing over the federal health care law passed last year, or to file a separate suit.

By Sara Jane Crane

Kansas City, MO –

Jazz greats, stellar newsmen and punk icons were just a few of the memorable folks that we lost in 2010.

Ruth Rhoden Delivered "Just Jazz"

Daniel Schorr, 'Talk Of The Nation' Founding Father

By Maria Carter

Kansas City, MO – Beginning Friday , MoDOT is offering the chance to comment one last time on a wide-ranging proposal to improve Interstate 70 East from Kansas City.

Kansas has spent about $225 million so far renovating its Statehouse, and the roof still leaks - and it may go on leaking.

By Steve Bell

Kansas City, MO –