Elizabeth Ruiz
Producer, Up To DateWhen you listen to Up To Date, I want you to understand decisions being made in the city, feel inspired by community members, and empathize with people who've had different experiences. As an Up To Date producer, I connect you to the news through conversations with community members and elected officials. Contact me at elizabeth@kcur.org or on Twitter at @er_bentley_ruiz.
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Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe’s desire to eliminate the state income tax is an ambitious goal given the projected $1 billion shortfall in general revenue next fiscal year. He joined KCUR’s Up To Date to discuss how the plan could take shape. -
Mexican Americans were disproportionately killed and injured during the Vietnam War. Historian Dr. Gene Chávez has said the contributions and stories of those service members are often overlooked, but his recent project with the Library of Congress will help preserve those stories. -
KCUR asked to hear from Missouri and Kansas residents who voted for President Trump about how his second term is going for them. Voters said they support Trump's approach to law enforcement and immigration, but aren't convinced about his use of tariffs. -
Tens of thousands of Kansas City residents are faced with the consequences of the longest government shutdown in American history. People who rely on food benefits remain without the funding that helps put food on the table, while the area’s many federal workers are furloughed or continue to work without pay. -
Even as electric vehicle sales decrease, the mayor of De Soto, Kansas, says the investment already made in the Panasonic battery plant has already benefited local residents and is helping the town as a whole grow. The plant opened earlier this year and is employing about 1,500 people. -
After Kansas City saw a rise in homicides connected to domestic violence, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson is collaborating with local municipalities to be proactive in charging before a situation escalates. Johnson also spoke with KCUR's Up To Date with her initiatives to reduce violent crime and efforts on property crimes. -
KCUR’s Up To Date wants to hear from people around Missouri and Kansas who voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. How do you feel about the president’s policies and agenda over the first months of his second term? What issues would you like to see him address? -
Fairway’s independent bookstore Rainy Day Books has been going strong for 50 years, thanks to the large community it’s built. To celebrate, Rainy Day’s founder will share highlights and stories of the big name authors who have helped propel the small Kansas shop to the national stage. -
Illegal car sideshows have frustrated Kansas City residents and the police for years. Even some stunt drivers say the events have grown unsafe due to a rise in drama and gun violence at the events. Now they have an alternative that doesn’t require blocking local roadways. -
As frustration grows around the weekslong government shutdown, Kansas City-area U.S. Reps. Mark Alford and Emanuel Cleaver II can’t see eye-to-eye on a solution that will benefit their constituents. The two Congress members joined KCUR’s Up To Date to debate what's causing the gridlock in Washington.
