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Uncertainty at the Leavenworth prison

A privately-run prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, has been plagued with reports of stabbings, understaffing and poor security. When the prison's contract with the U.S. Marshals Service ends this month, what happens next? Plus, after a year off due to COVID, the Kansas City Ballet brings The Nutcracker back to the stage.

The Leavenworth Detention Center in Kansas has been the center of a number of controversies ranging from reports of poor conditions to authorities eavesdropping on phone calls between prisoners and their attorneys. But the federal government's contract with operator CoreCivic will expire soon, following an executive order by President Biden to end relationships with private prisons. Steve Vockrodt, investigative editor of NPR’s Midwest Newsroom, looked into the troubled Leavenworth facility and the future of private prisons.

A holiday tradition for many families is back this year at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. After a pandemic year off, Kansas City Ballet’s "The Nutcracker" returns — but with some noticeable changes, as KCUR’s Laura Spencer reports.

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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Byron Love and Trevor Grandin and edited by Gabe Rosenberg & Lisa Rodriguez

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As a newscaster and a host of a daily news podcast, I want to deliver the most important and interesting news of the day in an engaging and easily understandable way. No matter where you live in the metro or what you’re interested in, I want you to learn something from each newscast or podcast – and maybe even give you something to talk about at the dinner table.
As an on-demand producer, I am focused on using my skills and experiences across multiple digital applications, platforms and media fields to create community focused audio, video and on-demand products for KCUR Studios. The media that I produce aims to inform, entertain and connect with the Kansas City metro area as we continue to learn from each other. Email me at byronlove@kcur.org.
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