Elizabeth Ruiz
Producer, Up To DateAs a producer for Up To Date, my goal is to inform our audience by curating interesting and important conversations with reliable sources and individuals directly affected by a topic or issue. I strive for our program to be a place that hosts impactful conversations, providing our audience with greater knowledge, intrigue, compassion and entertainment. Contact me at elizabeth@kcur.org or on Twitter at @er_bentley_ruiz.
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Do you have a valid voter ID for Missouri or Kansas? Or know what you cannot wear inside a polling location? Anne Calvert, president of the local League of Women Voters, shares what you need to know as we near the last days to vote.
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After 20 years, veteran jazz performer Tim Whitmer is out with a new album. Recorded live at the Black Dolphin, the two-disc record captures the sound and energy of Kansas City jazz.
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Johnson County has a number of competitive down-ballot races, including elections for sheriff and district attorney. But the county also has competitive races in the Kansas House and Senate, which could determine if Republicans preserve their total control of the legislature.
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This fall, Jackson County voters will elect the first Black woman to serve as Jackson County Prosecutor. Republican Tracey Chappell and Democrat Melesa Johnson are both running for the office — which is garnering a lot of attention due to the rise in property crimes.
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With Jackson County's senior services already straining for lack of funding, and the senior population expected to get even bigger, advocates are asking Jackson County voters to approve a property tax this November to help older adults age in place.
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Rosilyn Temple founded KC Mothers in Charge — a nonprofit that supports the families of homicide victims — 10 years ago, after the death of her own son. Through her grief, she found purpose by ensuring no family felt the confusion and loneliness she did standing at the crime scene.
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Missouri's Republican Sen. Josh Hawley has repeatedly called out his Democratic opponent Lucas Kunce for not endorsing a presidential candidate. But Kunce says the Senate race is about Missouri, not presidential politics. He spoke with KCUR's Up To Date about his priorities in the 2024 election.
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Youth are being blamed of an increase in property crimes in Kansas City, and the Jackson County Family Court confirmed they've experienced a rise in the number of case referrals. But officials add that putting a person in jail isn't easy, and for youth, it's not always the best solution.
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance discussed the war in the Middle East, the economy and reproductive rights Tuesday during the only vice presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle.
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Few might have guessed the Kansas City Royals would be competing in the MLB playoffs in 2024, after last season's near-last-place finish. Matt LaMar, editor of Royals Review from SB Nation, told KCUR's Up To Date the key moves that led to the historic turnaround season.