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Neighborhood Fireworks Disaster, Nuns Vs. Vatican, Kansas Happy Hours

Sean Dreilinger
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The show for July 1, 2012. Click "Listen" to hear the entire show; see below for individual stories:

Independence Day Goes Up In Smoke

The Fourth of July is coming up, and we all know Kansas Citians are into their fireworks.  You can watch big displays at Berkley Riverfront Park, Worlds of Fun, Corporate Woods – pretty much any direction on the compass. But a lot of people prefer to do it themselves, and firework enthusiasts compete to see who can put on the best show. But as one local attorney found out, the desire to impress your neighbors can have explosive consequences. 

Uncertainty Surrounds Health Law Implementation In Kansas And Missouri

Last week’s Supreme Court ruling upholding the federal health law has provided more clarity to the future of health care in the US, and in this region. But as key parts of the law now move to states to implement, uncertainty – largely due to politics – surrounds how Missouri and Kansas will enact those measures.

KC Catholics Caught Between Vatican And Nuns

In mid-April, the Vatican issued strong criticism of its largest organization for American Catholic nuns, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. The Vatican announced the organization would need to undergo some major changes, and these would be overseen by the Archbishop of Seattle. The action prompted protests and vigils across the country to support the nuns. Alex Smith looked at how the debate is affecting Catholics in Kansas City.

Happy Hour Is Back In Kansas

It’s a toast to the happy hour, so raise your glasses, Kansans.  As of July 1, Kansans are legally able to partake in the after work and late-night tradition of happy hour drink specials.  Since 1985, it’s been illegal for area bars to offer different drink prices at different times throughout the day.  Hear whether Lawrence residents think that will change the town's bar scene.

Slam Poetry Meets Jazz

We stop by the American Jazz Museum for a taste of the monthly Jazz Poetry Jams. A team of young poets from the museum are headed to the national "Brave New Voices" competition in San Francisco.

Sylvia Maria Gross is storytelling editor at KCUR 89.3. Reach her on Twitter @pubradiosly.
As a health care reporter, I aim to empower my audience to take steps to improve health care and make informed decisions as consumers and voters. I tell human stories augmented with research and data to explain how our health care system works and sometimes fails us. Email me at alexs@kcur.org.
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Susan admits that her “first love” was radio, being an avid listener since childhood. However, she spent much of her career in mental health, healthcare administration, and sports psychology (Susan holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Bloch School of Business at UMKC.) In the meantime, Wilson satisfied her journalistic cravings by doing public speaking, providing “expert” interviews for local television, and being a guest commentator/contributor to KPRS’s morning drive time show and the teen talk show “Generation Rap.”
As managing podcast producer for KCUR Studios and a host of A People’s History of Kansas City, I want to feed your curious mind, offer historical context so you understand why things are the way they are, and introduce you to the people working to make a difference behind the scenes. Reach me at hogansm@kcur.org.
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