Suzanne Hogan

Summer is the season for camping, walks and bike rides in wooded areas, but this also means it's the season of ticks. From April to September is tick season, and this is when the insects are most prevalent looking for a blood host. 

Not only are ticks a pain to try and remove if they get on your skin, but getting bit by one can cause serious illnesses like Lyme disease. Recently, another tick-related disease was discovered by Scott Folk, a doctor at Heartland Adult Infectious Diseases.

Every morning, as coffee pots begin brewing, kettles begin to boil and soda cans are cracked open, people all over the world are trying to get their caffeine fix. Caffeine is the world's most popular psychoactive drug, or simply put, the most popular product that changes how your mind works.

Joplin Optimistic In Recovery, Anxious To Help In Moore, OK

Last week’s massive tornado in Moore, Oklahoma came almost exactly two years after another EF-5 tornado ripped through Joplin, killing 161 people.  Wednesday marked that anniversary, and the city was greeted with near perfect weather.  Thousands came out that day to honor the lives of those lost, and reflect upon the continuing recovery effort.

Sales of home canning supplies have risen 35 percent in the past 3 years. Between 2004 and 2008 home birth rates have increased 20 percent with a 94% increase among white women.  There is a growing number of 20 and 30 something's who are spending their time knitting, canning food, gardening… raising chickens, bees, and their children using labor intensive do it yourself approaches to complete domestic tasks.

Most religions have rules, guidance, law of some kind. Christians look to the teachings of Jesus, or the commandments. Jewish people turn to Torah. And Muslims look to Shariah—the code of Islamic law that guides everything from what to eat and how to dress to bigger questions—like resolving marital disputes, or punishing violent crimes.

It’s graduation season, and across the metro, high school valedictorians and senior speakers are putting the finishing touches on their commencement addresses. At DeLaSalle Education Center, Sandra Perez is excited, and a little nervous, to give the speech she wrote, which was selected out of the graduating class of 52 to be part of the commencement celebration.

“It’s a speech that’s going to be remembered at least by someone. I want it to be a speech that could impact at least one person,” says Sandra.

According to the CDC 1 in 10 adults report being depressed and 11% of Americans over 12 years old take some form of antidepressant medication.  Depression –is a mental disorder that is more severe than just sad feelings.  It can last long periods of time, include feelings of hopelessness and uselessness. Cause chronic pain, headaches, sleeping and eating disorders, and thoughts of suicide.  Depression makes day to day life seem pointless or impossible to handle.

Dr. Bruce Liese, a psychologist at KU Medical Center, explores the various elements of depression from diagnosis to treatment through to recovery.

During any given week, local hip-hop artist Les Izmore may be found free-styling in the Crossroads, fronting an 18 piece afro-beat/funk dance band, or opening for big acts coming through, like Kendrick Lamar and next week, Talib Kweli.

Gamelan music is the orchestral music of Indonesia which is primarily from the islands of Bali and Java. Over a decade ago, Kansas City became home to a hand crafted Gamelan from Indonesia that was fine tuned and given a blessing from a Balinese Hindu high priests. On this Central Standard the director of Kansas City's Gamelan group Gamelan Genta Kasturi, Patrick Alonzo Conway – he plays in the group and even composes pieces for the group, and is an eclectic composer and member of the People’s Liberation Big Band.

Low rider cars aren’t the type of vehicles that drive by unnoticed. The low chrome rims, killer paint jobs, normally accompanied with a bumpin' sound system to go with it, sub woofers and hydraulics all grab attention of those it passes. These cars are often stigmatized as being related to gangsters, but on this Central Standard we learn about research that disputes that common misconception.

After a drawn out winter where we in Kansas City found ourselves hibernating through the snow and ice of March, spring has finally sprung. The trees are blooming and the landscape is finally peppered with color as plants and wildlife emerge from dormancy. On this Central Standard, we explore the nature around us as we transition into Spring. 

It’s been less than 20 years since cell phones became ubiquitous and children of the 90s have never known a world without them.  Now, as those children come to age, we’re witnessing the startling confluence of technology and sexual awakening. The results have been children becoming not just the victims, but also the perpetuators of sexual exploitation--some even becoming convicted sex offenders.  We take a look at the complicated world of children sexting with Haleigh Harrold, Education and outreach specialists for the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault and officer Tom Hayselden, a School Resource Officer for the Shawnee Mission school district.

Legendary broadcaster Walt Bodine died on Sunday, March 24, at the age of 92. Today on Central Standard, we remember Walt with familiar sounds of regular guests, old friends, and of course, Walt Bodine.