Steve Kraske
Executive Producer and Host, Up to DateWhen I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
I got a call out of the blue one day from then-news director Frank Morris who asked if he would be interested in hosting a show. I didn't think I had the time, but thought it over and decided to give it a shot. Now, more than 20 years later, I'm glad I did.
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World Cup games will be underway here in Kansas City in just over three months. Author Simon Kuper joined Up To Date to discuss the history of the biggest sporting event in the world and how it became the spectacle it is today. -
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Kansas Citians can view some of the nation’s founding documents like Declaration of Independence and Treaty of Paris. Beginning Friday, the Freedom Plane National Tour will put the artifacts on display at the National World War I Museum and Memorial. -
Kansas farmers have faced significant challenges due to the Trump administration’s tariffs, which drove up equipment costs and caused crop prices to fall. The Kansas Farmer’s Union says the tariffs contributed to the closure of hundreds of farms and added stress to an already unpredictable industry. -
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is moving closer to a major expansion, with renovations underway and plans to break ground on a new wing in 2028. Director and CEO Julian Zugazagoitia breaks down the construction timeline and discusses how the museum aims to become more transparent, accessible and community-centered ahead of its 100th anniversary. -
Kansas Citians with ties to Iran say they haven’t been able to hear much from their families since the Trump administration launched a war in the country, as the Internet has been cut off. But they’re hopeful the war could result in democracy for the Iranian people after decades of authoritarian rule. -
Mark Alford, a Republican congressman who represents Missouri's 4th District, believes that President Trump's decision to go to war with Iran was the right one. Meanwhile, many Democrats have argued that the war was unjustifiable and that Trump did not have the authority to take these actions without a declaration of war from Congress. -
Just over three months before the World Cup descends on Kansas City this June, small businesses are preparing to make the most of 650,000 expected visitors. That means updating menus and websites to accommodate international travelers, and getting staff trained for the expected crowds. -
Kansas this week invalidated the IDs of transgender Kansans who changed the gender marker on their driver’s licenses or birth certificates. The ACLU is suing to stop the law, which also restricts bathroom use, saying it violates the constitutional rights of residents. -
Leaders in Lawrence, Kansas, are excited to welcome the Algerian men's national team to the city for the World Cup. The University of Kansas' Rock Chalk Park will serve as base camp for Team Algeria, and estimates suggest it could draw as many as 15,000 people to the area. -
The Kansas City Current are coming off a historic season that included a record-setting offense and a Supporters’ Shield — but an early playoff exit last season left some unfinished business. Here's what fans should watch before the new season begins in March.
