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Up To Date

Seg. 1: Why Kansas City Voters Are Turning Out. Seg. 2: Later School Start Time Could Help Learning.

A white piece of paper taped on a brick wall. There is a red arrow on the paper with the word 'Voting' inside.
Keith Ivey
/
Flickr-CC
Some analysts say voter turnout this year could exceed 50 percent, numbers not seen in a midterm since the 1960s.

Segment 1: Listeners tell us what's driving them to the polls this midterm election.

A woman in Missouri says she is voting for checks and balances on the White House. Another says she is voting for her children and the future of our planet. For some, it is their first time voting in a midterm, or voting at all. Today, we heard about the issues and candidates motivating voters to turn out in what could be record numbers.

Segment 2, beginning at 27:55: Why the average school schedule can be problematic for parents and students.

Not only does the average school day start earlier than most parents go to work, but it ends way earlier than they typically return home. That forces parents to figure out child care arrangements for the odd hours. Some researchers say a later school start time would also more closely match high-schoolers' circadian clock, allowing them to be more attentive in class. So are we stuck with a seemingly bad schedule? We explored the history behind the scheduling of school days, and asked what's keeping it from being better synced up.

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As culture editor, I oversee KCUR’s coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. I work with reporters to make sure our stories reflect the fullest view of the place we call home, so listeners and readers feel primed to explore the places, projects and people who make up a vibrant Kansas City. Email me at luke@kcur.org.