Noah Taborda
Health and Wellness ReporterStaying mentally and physically healthy can be a lot of work — exercising, eating right, and navigating our complicated medical system. As KCUR’s health and wellness reporter, I want to connect Kansas Citians with new and existing resources to improve their well-being and tell stories that inspire them to enjoy healthier lives.
I started my journalism career in public radio at KBIA in Columbia, Missouri, covering local government while earning a bachelor’s degree in radio broadcasting at the University of Missouri School of Journalism. I then worked as an intern at KCUR on the Central Standard show and in the newsroom before covering the state government for the Kansas Reflector. I am also a 2020 Air New Voices Scholar.
Reach me at noahtaborda@kcur.org.
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A memo from President Trump earlier this year revealed plans to remove transgender service members from the military — a plan the Supreme Court has allowed to be enforced while the legal battle plays out. Thousands of transgender service members now face the possible end of their careers. -
Kansas City, Missouri, has not recorded a measles case since 2019 but that could soon change, as southwest Kansas is experiencing a measles outbreak this year. Officials say religious exemptions to vaccines are becoming more common, and giving deadly diseases a foothold. -
Casi uno de cada cinco padres que viven en la zona dijo a Children's Mercy Kansas City que la salud mental de su hijo era "regular" o "mala", y el 11% informó que su hijo se sentía "triste" o "sin esperanza". Los hospitales y centros de salud locales ahora intentan preparar a los padres para ayudar con el manejo de problemas de salud mental entre los jóvenes. -
Nearly one in five parents in the area told Children's Mercy Kansas City their child’s mental health was "fair" or "poor," and 11% reported their child feeling "sad" or "hopeless." Local hospitals and health centers are now trying to prepare parents to help manage rising rates of mental health issues among youths.
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For nearly two decades, Missouri experienced a downward trend in the number of fetal and infant deaths, but in the past few years, the number of deaths ticked up again. Nurture KC works in neighborhoods with high rates of infant mortality, reporting on causes and solutions. -
After 10 months of providing behavioral health support, Maria Loconsolo was ready to commit 20 years at her federal job with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Those plans went out the window last weekend. -
The sport of fencing is surging in popularity across the United States, especially among young people. Kansas City’s fencing scene boasts elite coaches and top-tier athletes dating back to the arrival of a world-renowned coach in the '90s. -
Clay County Public Health Center’s environmental health program has been recognized among the nation's best for food safety. The Food and Drug Administration certification assesses work to ensure inspections, emergency response and food storage are all up to code. -
Missouri voters passed Amendment 3 in November 2024, enshrining the right to an abortion. The procedure still isn't available in the state, as a judge considers Planned Parenthood's lawsuit to strike down several abortion restrictions in state law. -
Johnson County recorded 93 suicide deaths in 2023, down from 122 the previous year. Mental health experts say it’s hard to know if the encouraging numbers are a sign of things to come, but it could indicate that mental health services are working in the short term.
