Midwest lawmakers have tried and failed to ban paraquat, a toxic weedkiller that’s been tied to Parkinson’s disease. One state senator plans to keep fighting. Plus: The federal government has released new rules controlling how farmers can use the controversial herbicide dicamba.
Both Kansas and Missouri have high rates of mortality from Parkinson’s, a disease linked to paraquat. One Missouri lawmaker tried to pass a measure banning the substance. But as the Midwest Newsroom’s Luke Nozicka reports, their efforts stalled in 2026.
The Environmental Protection Agency released new rules regulating the controversial herbicide dicamba earlier this year. While it can be an effective tool for farmers to control weeds, it can also drift in the wind and kill other plants. Harvest Public Media’s Will Bauer reports.
Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.
Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Seth Jahraus and KCUR Studios, and edited by Gabe Rosenberg, Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.
You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.
