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Sundays at 5pmRebroadcast Mondays at 8pm Host: Susan B. Wilson Producer & Co-Host: Sylvia Maria Gross Assistant Producer: Alex Smith Contact: kccurrents@kcur.org or 816.235.6696Follow our Tweets: www.twitter.com/kccurrents For a weekly reminder of what's coming up on KC Currents, send an email to kccurrents@kcur.orgThe Latest From KC CurrentsPlanting New Grocery Stores In Rural Food Deserts Rural America is losing its grocery stores. Fewer people are living in the countryside, and mom-and-pop markets can't compete with big chains. But as KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports, some small towns are finding creative ways to buck the trend. K-State Program Supports Rural Groceries With grocery stores in rural Kansas closing at record speed, having access to healthy food is a growing issue. Sylvia Maria Gross interviews K-State Professor David Proctor about what options are available for small town groceries.

PREP-KC Coordinates Private Donations to Public Schools

By Sylvia Maria Gross

Kansas City, MO – The Partnership for Regional Education Preparation, or PREP-KC, was founded in September to coordinate donations to public schools from individuals, companies, as well as national foundations like the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation. Two weeks ago, Gates received a 30 billion dollar gift from Omaha investor Warren Buffett. PREP-KC Executive Director Susan Wally says the Gates Foundation wants its money to work in tandem with local financial support. She says 14 or 15 local foundations have stepped up to meet the challenge.

PREP-KC was created by the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City and the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.

Sylvia Maria Gross is storytelling editor at KCUR 89.3. Reach her on Twitter @pubradiosly.
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