Up to Date

11:00 am - Noon  Monday - Friday Up to Date is KCUR's award-winning one-hour daily public affairs / talk show featuring newsmakers of the Kansas City community.  Host  Steve Kraske, a political correspondent for The Kansas City Star brings pressing issues, both local and national, to the table including politics, economics, planning and design, history, and entertainment - topics that have an impact on the lives of the Greater Kansas City region. Up to Date is produced by Stephen Steigman with help from Danie Alexander and Kara Caldwell. Please Note: if you want to contribute to the program during the 11 a.m. to Noon hour, please read the "Become a Part of the Conversation" section below.  Email sent to the above address during the show will not be read.) NEW! Download the FREE Up to Date theme ringtone here. Click on a day to see the full program description, guests, and more. Monday: Kansas City summer festival update/a conversation with Steve Forbes editor-in-chief of Forbes Media Tuesday: Fireworks-mania in time for Independence Day Wednesday: An examination of a medical mission to Africa that resulted in an extreme life-saving facial surgery Thursday: A look at the battle victims face after recovering from traumatic brain injuries Friday: Tears in the Darkness explores the history of the Bataan Death March Did you Miss a Broadcast?    Up to Date is Podcasting.  You can also find older shows in our audio archive. Looking for programs from last week - or even two, three, or four weeks ago?  You can find information about guests, their writings, and links to additional resources mentioned during the broadcast on the the Previously on Up to Date section of our website. Become a Part of the Conversation: You can become part of the conversation during the show by calling in at 816 235 2888 , emailing us during the program at uptodate@kcur.org or on ocassion by joining the online conversation.  Interested in knowing what constitutes a "good call"?  Check out former NPR Ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin's column on "How to Get on Talk of the Nation" - we use similar guidelines for Up to Date.  You can also check out our Tips for Callers. Up to Date and KCUR are looking for new interns.  Click here for more information.

This Week on Up to Date

Monday June 29, 2009 Download Listen Send To A Friend  Podcast To download this audio file, right click and select "Save Target As..." As we get more into the summer holiday many people are solidifying their summer plans.  With a stagnant economy many people are opting for local entertainment while others are opting out completely- and area festivals are feeling the strain. Today Steve Kraske looks at the state Kansas City area festivals.  We'll discuss which festivals have relocated, which ones have been canceled entirely, and which ones are still going strong.  Find out what major changes are facing the festival scene this year. Additional Information: Keli O'Neill Wenzel is owner of O'Neill Event Management.  The O'Neill family and its businesses have a long and colorful history in Kansas City and the Midwest, dating back to 1962.  O'Neill Wenzel is executive director of the Kansas City Irish Fest.  She is also co-founder and executive director of the new Jiggle Jam Family Music Fest.  O'Neill Wenzel also serves as the executive director of the Kansas City Local Organizing Committee, servicing all Big 12 and NCAA events hosted in Kansas City. Michael Burke was born in Kansas City, Missouri and has been a lifelong resident in the city. He attended Rockhurst High School and graduated with honors in 1967. He received an undergraduate degree in History from Georgetown University in 1970 and received his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1973 where he was Research Editor for Law and Policy in International Business. Since 1973, Michael Burke has been a practicing attorney and is a Director with the firm of King Hershey in Kansas City. He currently serves on the Local Government Law and Real Estate Law Committees of the Kansas City and Missouri Bar Associations.   Michael Burke has been very active in Kansas City civic affairs and has held a wide variety of positions on civil boards and commissions. ____________________________________ In the second half of today's program Steve Kraske talks with the former presidential candidate and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media Steve Forbes.   We'll discuss his new book, the Obama Administration's economic policy, and the issue of flat tax. Steve Forbes will be at the Rainy Day Books luncheon at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow, June 30th, at the Muehlebach Hotel. More information can be found here. Tuesday June 30, 2009 Download Listen Send To A Friend  Podcast To download this audio file, right click and select "Save Target As..." If you're making plans to watch fireworks this Independence Day you might want to first make sure your city hasn't canceled its show.  With the economy making city officials second guess budgets and spending, many area fireworks displays have been dropped this year. Today Steve Kraske looks at all things fireworks.  From how much a display costs to permits and insurance to how the displays are planned, we'll discuss everything you need to know about the explosive light show, as well as where to watch them this year with all of the recent cancellations in the area. Find more information about fireworks safety here. Additional Information: Daryl Marmon is a display manager for Wald-All American Fireworks, the oldest fireworks company in Kansas City.  Marmon is a lifelong Kansas City resident and after graduating high school in 1970 he joined the KCK Police Department, until retiring in 2001.  He became involved in shooting professional public displays in 1997, which includes not only outdoors public displays but also includes indoor pyrotechnics.  In 2002 he became display manager.  Since 2004 he has been the safety production chairman for the Pyrotechnics Guild International. Marmon is also a committee member on the Pyrotechnics and Special Effects, and the National Fire Protection Association which establishes minimum safety standards for use in the fireworks industry that are adopted by states and local jurisdictions. Wednesday July 1, 2009 Download Listen Send To A Friend  Podcast To download this audio file, right click and select "Save Target As..." Medical missions to third world countries have uncovered some of the most unique cases in medicine.  For volunteer Abigail Hayo and surgeon Tammy Neblock-Beirne their work brougt them the discovery of a 7-year-old boy in Mali, Africa. Boi Doumbia's face was taken over with a giant tumor that kept him from breathing properly, caused his jaw to dislocate, and nearly killed him. Today Steve Kraske talks with Hayo meeting Boi, and his trip to the U.S. for facial reconstruction that potentially saved his life.  We'll discuss unusual medical cases in underdeveloped countries, and how medicine has advanced to help save lives like Boi's. Additional Information: Abigail Hayo takes volunteerism to an unprecedented level.  Her volunteer work with Medical Missions includes missions to Cuba, Vietnam, Guatemala, Pakistan, The Philippines and Mali, Africa.  Additionally she has served as the President of the Foundation's Board of Trustees and has served as the Romania Mission Coordinator for eight years.  In addition to Medical Missions Foundation, her community involvement has included board memberships with the Junior League of Kansas City, Union Station Volunteer Council and Children's Mercy Cancer Center.  Currently she is a Board member of the Joint Council on International Children's Services.  She is a great mom and has been blessed with two adopted children, Edward, from Brazil and Michael from Romania. _______________________________________ In the last portion of today's show Steve Kraske talks with former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole.  When he's not hosting World War II veterans around the nation's capitol, Dole is neck deep in the health care debate.  We'll discuss health care reform, his support for Sam Brownback's campaign for Governor, and his take on the Obama administration so far. Listen to the interview Thursday July 2, 2009 Download Listen Send To A Friend  Podcast To download this audio file, right click and select "Save Target As..." Out of the 2 million people who experience a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in a year, there are 500,000 that live the rest of their lives with a permanent disability.  Today Steve Kraske talks with one TBI survivor about the battle that patients endure after recovering from what kills or permanently disables most people. They'll discuss front line treatment when the injury first presents, what improvements have been made over the years, and how crucial the time factor is in early treatment. Additional Information: Rebekah Vandergriff was 22 at time of her car accident and had been on the path to becoming a model.  She was in a deep sleep coma for about 6 weeks at St. Luke's, where she also did her outpatient rehabilitation.  Vandergriff enrolled at Penn Valley one and a half years after being released from the hospital to study speech pathology but transferred to social work.  Vandgergriff is Licensed Master of Social Work.  She married her college math tutor and has 3 children. Betsy Johnson serves as Executive Director of the Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City, located in Overland Park.  In this role, Johnson is responsible for overseeing a number of programs including resource referrals, education for prevention of traumatic brain injury,  and organizing courses for professional development. Johnson received her undergraduate and graduate degree in Communication Disorders from Missouri State University (formally Southwest Missouri State University) in Springfield, Missouri.  She holds the Certificate of Clinical Competency in Speech Language Pathology, specializing in higher level cognitive retraining.  For the past 16 years, she has worked primarily with survivors of brain injury.  John A. Grant is the Chairman and Program Director of the University of Kansas Department of Neurological Surgery. Grant graduated Medical School of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1985.  He interned at Richmond Hospital (now Beaumont Hospital) in 1986 and John Hopkins Hospital in 1987.  Grant completed his Residency at the Neurological Institute of New York at Columbia University in 1992 Grant is a member of the European Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery, the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, and the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Friday July 3, 2009 Download Listen Send To A Friend  Podcast To download this audio file, right click and select "Save Target As..." In 1942, over 75,000 American and Filipino troops ceded the Battle of Bataan, the greatest-ever surrender of US forces. These men spent the next few months on the trail of the Bataan Death march. Today Steve Kraske talks with journalists Michael and Elizabeth Norman who spent a decade researching this gruesome exercise. In their new book they explore the impact of the march on a nation, an army, and one man. Additional Information: Michael Norman joined the United States Marine Corps in 1967 at age twenty, and six months later found himself on a battlefield in Vietnam with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, taking part in twenty-eight combat operations. In 1969, honorably discharged, he enrolled at Rutgers University as an English major. Across a forty-year writing career, he has worked for three daily newspapers: the Home News in New Brunswick, N.J, the Trenton Times, and the New York Times. Elizabeth Norman began her professional career as a registered nurse before studying of history and writing. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University (where she and Michael met and were married). She earned her graduate and doctoral degrees from New York University, then joined the tenured faculty there in 1998. She currently is a professor in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Development and Education where she teaches history, writing and research design in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences.   Michael and Elizabeth Norman spent ten years researching and interviewing for "Tears In The Darkness." They made four trips to Asia and crossed America several times for the book. They have two grown sons, Joshua and Benjamin, and a daughter-in-law, Rachel Cahn Norman. For most of their married life, the Normans have lived in Montclair, New Jersey. ______________________________________ The Theater League's jazz, blues and comedy hour, 12 O'CLOCK JUMP, makes its own jump to live broadcast. KCUR starts carrying the program from midnight to 1AM on Saturday nights.  The weekly broadcasts of the show, LIVE! from the Mutual Musicians Foundation in Kansas City's 18th and Vine Historic District, begin on Saturday, July 4. ______________________________________ Up to Date's Weekend To-Do List Looking for something fun and unique to do this weekend?  In the last portion of today's show Brian McTavish and Steve Kraske discuss five events, concerts, or festivals happening in the Kansas City area this weekend.  Kid Rock & Lynyrd Skynyrd- 7 p.m. Saturday, July 4 Southern rock, blues, country, hip hop Rin Tin Tin appearance and movies- 11 a.m. Saturday, July 4 Meet a direct descendant of the famous Hollywood canine KC Wizards Fourth of July Spectacular- 8 p.m. Saturday, July 4 "Largest Fireworks Display" plus family activities Beatles Revisited- 10 a.m. Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4; 1 p.m. Sunday, July 5 Display by local collectors of Fab Four memorabilia Legally Blonde- 8:30 p.m. today through Sunday, July 5 Broadway touring musical Additional Information: Brian McTavish follows popular culture in the belief that the search for significance can lead anywhere.  Brian explains, "I've written articles and reviews..., reviewed hundreds of concerts, films and plays. And the thing is, these high arts all sprang from the pop culture of their day.  Don't forget, Shakespeare was once Spielberg." Brian is a contributor to the online magazine KC Confidential. Looking for older programs?  Check the Previously on Up to Date section of our website.

Up to Date's Art, Independent & Foreign Film List

Films Reviewed on June 12, 2009 with critics Bob Butler and Cynthia Haines Films Showing on Area Screens DVDs / Pay-Per-View  * - Cynthia and Steve say "See It!" Opening Friday: Every Little Step Enlighten Up The Merry Gentleman Already Open: My Life in Ruins Rudo y Cursi The Brothers Bloom Anvil Area Film Festivals: Gay and Lesbian Film Festival Tivoli Summer Movie Series: The Great Musicals of the 1950s Central Library Film Series: Giving Them the Buisness Downtown Lawrence The Wrestler Alexandra JCVD Wendy and Lucy The Order of Myths What Doesn't Kill You Nothing But the Truth The Escapist Area Art/Indpendent/Foreign Film Video Outlets: SRO Video (Gregory & Oak, KCMO) Hollywood at Home Magazines & Movies (9063 Metcalf, OPKS) Liberty Hall (Mass. Downtown Lawrence) Video Mania (208 Westport Road, KCMO) ...and Area Libraries. Online Video Retailers: Kino.com Criterionco.com facets.org Area Art/Independent/Foreign Cinema Theaters: Glenwood Fine Arts, Rio Theatre in Overland Park, KS Tivoli Cinemas in Manor Square in Westport Screenland Crossroads Theatre in Kansas City's Crossroads District Liberty Hall (Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence, KS)

Up to Date's Video Guys

Video guru Jason Heck and film professor and screenwriter Mitch Brian choose their favorite on screen duos last month.  Today we'll find out who their actor/director duos are. Jason's picks: Sleepy Hollow - Depp/Burton Best in Show  - Guest/his ensemble Three Days of the Condor -  Pollack/Redford Mitch's picks: A Passage to India - Lean/Guinness Adam's Rib - Cuckor/Hepburn Man from Laramee - Mann/Stewart Kraske's picks: The Godfather- Pacino/Coppola A Fistful of Dollars- Eastwood/Leone Pictured above: Jimmy Stewart, John Ford, and John Wayne- The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance