Laura Ziegler
Community EditorI partner with communities to uncover the ignored or misrepresented stories by listening and letting communities help identify and shape a narrative. My work brings new voices, sounds, and an authentic sense of place to our coverage of the Kansas City region. My goal is to tell stories on the radio, online, on social media and through face to face conversations that enhance civic dialogue and provide solutions.
I have been a producer with NPR in Washington D.C. and a national NPR reporter covering the Midwest. Email me at lauraz@kcur.org or reach me on Twitter @laurazig.
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As kids flock to libraries for summer reading programs, one of the most popular programs is Read to a Dog. Children get ten minutes to read a book of their choice to a therapy dog — or sometimes cat — trained to listen and watch calmly and without judgment.
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Tommy Williams shot and killed a man in 1990. He has now served 32 years of three life sentences, with no chance of parole. In a long conversation at the Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron, Missouri, he talked about his life on the streets, what he sees in the young men who come to prison and his regrets.
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As post-Roe abortion bans swept the United States, legal abortions dropped nationwide — but not in Kansas. Plus: how new rules in Kansas are making it even more difficult for patients to get life-saving liver transplants.
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As the 16-year-old recovers at home and the alleged shooter, Andrew D. Lester, awaits trial after pleading not guilty to two felony charges, a diverse group of residents showed up this week to protests. The case has reignited anger about race, guns and policing.
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The Citizens Association started in the early 1930s and once held enormous influence over city elections. Its power has waned in recent years, but a new, more diverse group is reshaping the organization.
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Lawmakers in Kansas and Missouri are passing bans on transgender kids' participation in sports and restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth. We hear from the parents of a transgender teenager in Kansas City, who describe the immense mental and physical toll these political debates are having on their family.
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The parents of a trans, non-binary teen tell their story as lawmakers in Jefferson City work to pass a slew of anti-trans bills.
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The Kansas House last week narrowly passed a "school choice" bill that would shift public tax dollars to private schools, much to the frustration of public school leaders and Gov. Laura Kelly. The Kansas State Board of Education opposes the bill, saying there's no way to track how students are doing.
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Young people with intellectual disabilities often get placed in foster care because their challenges are more than their families can handle. Kansas lawmakers and foster agencies hope they can help keep some of those kids in their original homes. Plus: Teachers at Kansas City Public Schools will soon be paid the highest starting salaries in the region.
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After decades of planning and five years of construction, Kansas City has officially made the switch to its new airport terminal. Plus: Why the Missouri Attorney General's effort to remove the St. Louis prosecutor from office could have statewide implications.