By Steve Bell

Kansas City, MO –

Pilobolus Dance Theater was founded in the early 1970s by non-dancers who met in a Dartmouth dance class. Their first gig: the opening act for a Frank Zappa concert.

By Laura Spencer

Topeka, Kan. – If it's true that infant mortality is a good indicator of a population's health, Kansas isn't doing so well. A blue ribbon panel has been trying to figure out what's to blame and what to do about it, as Kansas Public Radio's Bryan Thompson reports.

After contributing six decades of musical direction and genius, Randy Weston remains one of the world's foremost pianists and composers of today, a true innovator and visionary.

By Up to Date, Feb 5, 2010

Born in Brooklyn N.Y., Randy Weston didn't have to travel far to hear early influential jazz giants like Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Art Tatum, and of course, Duke Ellington. But his greatest influence, by far, was Thelonious Monk.

An upcoming play at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre studies the art of being broke and staying alive.

By Walt Bodine Show, Feb 4, 2010

By Maria Carter

Kansas City, MO – A plan for Kansas City to annex 316 acres near Platte City squeaked through a council committee on a 3-2 vote yesterday.

The Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday endorsed a nonbinding resolution designed to send a message to the federal government that Kansans have had enough of federal mandates.

The Senate Judiciary Committee also approved a resolution condemning the use of state tax dollars for lawsuits that target the state.

Kansas City, Mo. – Disgruntled people are finding a lot to be mad about within workings at Kansas City, Missouri City Hall. It's turned into a barometer for metro-wide feelings about the region. This appears in a newly released poll for the Greater Kansas City Area Chamber of Commerce. The governors of both states saw it freshly revealed to the public.

The governors opened to light banter of cross state rivalries before pollster Neil Newhouse tore open realities of his survey. The economy was top concern among those questioned.

Kansas City, Mo. – Kansas City, Missouri moved one notch closer to annexing 316 Northland acres near Platte City into its boundaries Wednesday when an annexation proposal was approved by a city council committee.

There definitely is opposition to the annexation requested by Tomahawke Ridge developer Tim Dougherty. He wants to build 657 single-family homes in the area around Highway 92 and North Winan Road over the next 20 years.

By Steve Bell

Kansas City, MO –

By Maria Carter

Kansas City, MO – A federal grand jury in Kansas City is investigating whether there is a "pay to play" system in the Missouri legislature.

The Kansas City, Kansas school board is looking at outsourcing janitors and other support staff.

A Kansas program that helps pay for special education could explode in cost this year.

The nation's economy is in worse condition than financial figures make it appear.