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Kansas City Rabbi Doug Alpert was detained for several hours by Israeli forces this week while helping Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the West Bank. He joined KCUR’s Up To Date to discuss what happened.

Officials are pursuing the change after learning that the city’s public safety sales tax would not cover an all-new jail and other key projects as planned.

People who don’t typically vote in midterm elections were the target audience during the Wednesday night debate between Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall and Democrat Adam Hamilton. The outcome of the race could help flip the balance of power in the Senate.

Every four years, most Missouri counties elect a sheriff to lead law enforcement efforts. That process is outlined in state statute, but if voters approve Amendment 8 at the polls on Nov. 3, the election of sheriffs will also be required in the state constitution. Plus, 30 years ago, roadrunners were spotted in only 28 counties in Kansas, or about a fourth of the state. But a changing climate has pushed the birds north to new territory.

Two state supreme court justices and five appellate court judges are up for a vote in November’s election on whether they should keep their seats. Nearly all were appointed by a Democratic governor.

Kansas and Missouri elections are less than two weeks away, and KCUR’s series “What’s the Deal, KC?” is answering common questions from voters about the candidates on their ballots. Text your questions to 816-601-4777.

The Trump administration is narrowing longstanding interpretations of what it means to harm plants and animals protected under the Endangered Species Act. Conservation experts say the change will pose greater challenges for already-vulnerable populations, and several groups have sued the administration.

In the Nov. 3 election, Missouri voters will decide whether 15 judges, including a supreme court justice and appellate court justice, will keep their seats. Here's what to know about the retention process and the judges up for a vote around Kansas City.

Nationwide, the report found PFAS at 83% of 1,602 testing locations across 40 states and the District of Columbia.

The vice president will come to Kansas to support Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in his tight race with Democrat Adam Hamilton. President Trump rallied for Marshall earlier this week.