Harvests for Kansas and Missouri's major crops are starting just as the fuel farmers need to reap is shooting up in price. Plus, older Americans on fixed incomes are hit especially hard when food costs spike.

Diesel prices have spiked just in time for corn and soybean harvests. Farmers need the fuel to bring in the crops, and many were already hurting, but KCUR's Frank Morris reports there are factors offsetting this latest setback.

And inflation in food prices can hit even harder for people in their 60s and older as they also juggle fixed incomes, health problems and changes in federal law. Harvest Public Media Nicole Grundmeier reports that the age group is a “forgotten population” when it comes to food insecurity.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Frank Morris. It is produced by Suzanne Hogan 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.

A New York Times report found that Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, of Kansas, sued hundreds of his patients over medical debt when he was practicing medicine in the western part of the state.

Before serving in politics, Roger Marshall spent decades as a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist in western Kansas. During that time, he sued more than 700 of his patients for medical debt, a new report from The New York Times found. More than 80 were arrested, and some had their wages garnished.

Sarah Kliff, investigative healthcare reporter for The New York Times, broke the story and spoke to Up To Date's Steve Kraske about what she found.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Noah Taborda. It is produced by Suzanne Hogan 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.

Data centers that power AI are exploding across the Midwest — and so is opposition to them. Now, people across the political spectrum want to see stricter regulation and more transparency.

Big tech companies are facing formidable opposition from a coalition of people across the political spectrum. Meanwhile, local elected officials find themselves scrambling to draft regulations and defend themselves against accusations of secrecy. The Midwest Newsroom's Holly Edgell reports about how towns in Missouri and Kansas are uniting together against lawmakers and big tech.

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 Suzanne Hogan 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.

Harry Houdini was a master of escape. He was also a self-promoter who once performed a stunt in downtown Kansas City to draw an audience to his shows. We'll learn about the Houdini escape that originated right here in Kansas City.

Harry Houdini first visited Kansas City at age 12, and he maintained a connection here throughout his career. On Friday, Sept. 11, the Society of American Magicians and the International Brotherhood of Magicians will unveil a historic marker to commemorate a famous Houdini escape at 10th and Main streets. To learn why Houdini’s name still resonates, Kansas City Public Library’s Laura Spencer spoke with John Cox, writer of the blog “Wild About Harry” and several books about Houdini.

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 Byron Love 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.

The U.S. Department of Justice has followed through on its threat to sue Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools based on a dispute over the district’s transgender policies.

On Up To Date, KCUR's education reporter Jodi Fortino told Steve Kraske the district says it is in full compliance with federal law and will defend itself in court.

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 Byron Love 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.

Tenants of the North Lawn apartments in Kansas City's Historic Northeast were forced to move out by the city due to the complex's hazardous conditions — capping off years of troubles with a landlord who failed to make proper fixes. But a deal with the city and the new owner should allow tenants to move back to a repaired building.

For years, KCUR has followed the story of a dilapidated apartment complex in Kansas City’s Historic Northeast neighborhood. Many of the residents are immigrants or refugees. And they complained for years of a lack of heat, mold infestations and other unsafe conditions – with little attention from their landlord. Advocacy group KC Tenants organized the building’s residents and got the attention of city government. And now, tenants say they’ve won the long battle by securing guarantees for repairs and lower rent. KCUR’s Celisa Calacal has been covering the story. She brought KCUR’s Nomin Ujiyediin up to speed.

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.

Kansas City is dishing out a lot of money for new development plans, specifically toward the Country Club Plaza and Royals downtown ballpark. How do the two projects stack up against each other — and why does Kansas City feel like it needs to give those owners public funding?

Port KC approved $1.5 billion in bonds and tax benefits for the owners of the Country Club Plaza, after the Kansas City Council approved $600 million in funds for the new Royals stadium. On Up To Date, David Hundall of the Kansas City Star compares the two deals with KCUR's Steve Kraske.

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.

Over the summer, an internationally renowned expert on authoritarianism visited Kansas to investigate the state's new polices on transgender rights. Hear why New York Times columnist M. Gessen sees similarities between Kansas and Nazi Germany.

In July, Senate Bill 244 took effect in Kansas, invalidating the birth certificates and drivers licenses of people who have changed the gender markers on their IDs also bans people from using bathrooms or lockers in public buildings that don’t match their gender assigned at birth. Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author/writer M. Gessen recently published a piece exploring the consequences of this new law in the New York Times. They joined KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin to talk about what drew them to Kansas, and what they found when they visited.

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 Byron Love 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.

Saying goodbye to a pet can be really hard. But one business in Kansas City is offering a unique way to preserve their memory: preserving and articulating their skeleton. Plus: As more people pick up pickleball to stay fit, emergency room visits related to the sport have nearly quadrupled.

At Oracle Natural Science in Kansas City's Crossroads Arts District, taxidermy and skeleton preservation can help pet owners grieve and remember their beloved animals. KCUR’s Seth Jahraus reports.

Pickleball combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, and is one of the fastest-growing recreational sports in the country. But as more people take up the sport, injuries are also becoming more common. Najifa Farhat reports on what’s behind the rise in injuries and what players can do to stay safe while staying active.

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 Byron Love 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.

There’s a chance your next bowl of cereal or protein shake will include milk that came from Kansas. Dairy production in the state has quadrupled over the last couple decades, and that growth rests on the shoulders of immigrant workers in rural Kansas.

Kansas has one of the fastest growing dairy industries in the country. The state has added on almost 50,000 milk cows to its herd in just the last year. All that growth requires immigrant labor to keep up with demand. Calen Moore of the Kansas News Service takes us inside the growing dairy industry.

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.

Sports economists looking at the $600 million deal between the Royals and the Kansas City Council aren’t very impressed. The quickly-passed measure leaves many unanswered questions about where the public funds will come from, how much risk Kansas City will take on, and if the economic benefits will actually pan out.

Kansas City and Missouri are expected to provide over $1 billion in taxpayer funds to the new Royals stadium at Crown Center, potentially making it one of the largest public subsidies in MLB history. On Up To Date, Kansas City Business Journal reporter Thomas Friestad spoke with KCUR's Steve Kraske about some specifics behind the deal.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Noah Taborda. 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.

Birdwatchers in Kansas might notice tiny, yellow birds in their backyards, a songbird that only recently started breeding in Kansas. Also: Midwest prairies are turning into woodland. Ranchers are trying to stop this change, but it’s an uphill battle.

There’s new research tracking bright yellow warblers — a palm-sized bird that started breeding in southeast Kansas. Researchers are studying the birds’ migratory habits. Rachel Schnelle with the Kansas News Service reports.

On the Great Plains, prairies are turning into woods and shrubs. Some ranchers are testing out totally new approaches to the problem: calling on goats for help. Harvest Public Media’s Celia Llopis-Jepsen 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.

Last week, a Missouri judge declined to put two measures that received hundreds of thousands of petition signatures on the November ballot. Now the state Supreme Court will take a look. We'll take a closer look at the redistricting referendum and Respect Missouri Voters amendment.

Last Wednesday, Cole County Judge Daniel Green sided with Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins in two cases where the secretary declined to allow measures on the November ballot. Rudi Keller, deputy editor of the Missouri Independent covered both cases and joined KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin to talk about what’s next, and what this could mean for the future of state politics.

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 Byron Love 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.

For decades, the names of thousands of local enslaved people lay hidden in deeds, wills, probate records and bills of sale. A recent discovery is shedding new light on Missouri's history of slavery.

A surprising discovery in an old property record is helping uncover the names of enslaved people who lived in Jackson County. KCUR’s Julie Denesha reports on a new database that makes those old records easier to search and understand.

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 Byron Love 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.

International students have traditionally been able to stay in the country for as long as they needed to finish their academic programs. The Trump administration is changing that policy, leaving Missouri and Kansas students and college officials worried about the future.

A coalition of labor unions and higher-education groups is suing the Trump administration over new, stricter rules for international students, who contribute millions of dollars to the Missouri and Kansas economies each year. Many campuses here and around the Midwest are seeing declining numbers of foreign students due to visa restrictions. The Midwest Newsroom’s Steph Conquest-Ware 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.

A new Kansas City Star investigation reveals that the plaintiff in a case brought forward against the city by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has ties to the mafia.

Hanaway is suing Kansas City for a program that she argues unlawfully uses race and sex in awarding public contracts. Kansas City Star journalist Jack Harvel spoke with Steve Kraske on KCUR's Up To Date about plaintiff Charles Cacioppo Jr. and his history with the mob.

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.

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.

The August primary elections were big for Johnson County Democrats, with primary wins for U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hamilton and Kansas governor candidate Cindy Holscher. What should voters expect in November, and what does it say about the future of the party and the state?

History would suggest it will be a tough election for Democrats in Kansas this November. On the surface, at least, Republicans stand to do very well in the top statewide races, given the state’s ruby-red leanings.

But Democrats are riding a wave of hope after this month’s primaries, emanating mainly from Johnson County. After a late entry to the race Leawood pastor Adam Hamilton overwhelmed a crowded field to seek a U.S. Senate seat. He’ll take on incumbent Republican Roger Marshall in November.

And in the race for governor, Overland Park state senator Cindy Holscher beat two other Johnson County rivals to face state Senate president Ty Masterson, who has been endorsed by President Trump.

KCUR’s Nomin Ujiyediin sat down with Johnson County Post editor Kyle Palmer to dig into those races and what they tell us about the county’s evolving political profile.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Emily Younker.

You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Purple martins are back in Kansas. Thousands of the birds are gathering near the Wichita airport each evening as they prepare for their annual migration. Plus: A small town in southcentral Kansas proudly bears the nickname “Midway USA,” positioning itself firmly between California and New York.

Tens of thousands of purple martins are meeting up in Wichita to prepare for their annual migration. Suzanne Perez of the Kansas News Service reports the nightly spectacle has also become a gathering for bird watchers.

For more than 80 years, a sign near U.S. Highway 50 has served as the midway marker for cross-country travelers making their way through Kansas. KMUW's Beccy Tanner takes us to Kinsley, where the historic sign points the way in two directions.

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 Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Emily Younker.

You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Missouri's candidates are set for the November general election under a redrawn congressional map. But with Kansas City's three districts carved to specifically benefit Republicans, even longtime U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II faces a tough race.

Host Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with Missouri politics insider Jack Harvel of The Kansas City Star about the Democratic and GOP candidates from the 4th, 5th and 6th Districts and how redistricting efforts may affect each race.

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.

Childcare costs in Missouri and Kansas can now rival a mortgage for working families, but two Midwestern lawmakers are fighting to change that. Plus: After the Affordable Care Act tax credits lapsed, healthcare premiums spiked for millions of farmers and ranchers.

In Kansas and Missouri, families are spending anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000 a year on childcare. However, a fix is in the works to update how childcare subsidies are granted. The Midwest Newsroom’s Daniel Wheaton reports.

Healthcare premiums have spiked for millions of self-employed Americans and part-time workers. Farmers and ranchers are facing the increase while already dealing with a tough agricultural economy. Harvest Public Media’s Macy Byars tells us how healthcare costs are influencing decisions on the farm.

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.

 State Sen. Rick Brattin was selected by voters during last week's primary election as the Republican candidate for Missouri's 5th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II.

The 5th District is expected to lean more Republican under newly drawn congressional maps. Brattin talked about policy, the new maps and Cleaver on KCUR's Up To Date with Steve Kraske.

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 Madeline Fox and Emily Younker.

You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Two winners of last week's primaries are aiming for their first terms representing Missouri in Congress next year. We'll hear how Republican Chris Stigall and Democrat Jordan Herrera plan to unite their respective parties and secure seats in Washington.

Senior News Analyst Brian Ellison spoke with both Stigall and Herrera on the KCUR's daily talk show Up To Date.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox.

You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Drive-in theaters have shown movies under the stars for generations, and many Kansas filmgoers still see value for these nostalgic experiences in a changing movie landscape. Plus: There’s a chance the wheat in your spaghetti could be grown in western Kansas in the next few years.

In the 1950s, drive-in screens towered over the Kansas prairie. But challenges like shifting viewing habits have caused their numbers to dwindle. The theaters face an uncertain future, but owners aren't ready to roll the credits on drive-ins just yet. Roger Nomer of the Kansas News Service reports.

Kansas is known for its wheat used to make bread, tortillas or cereal. But that wheat is not making farmers much money these days. Now, there’s a new type of wheat with a potential new market: making pasta. Calen Moore of the Kansas News Service and editor Stephen Koranda discuss a new wheat innovation that could be coming to the pasta in your grocery store.

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 Byron Love 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.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a citizen referendum that would have given voters the chance to overturn the new Republican-drawn congressional map. Hoskins said the measure was unconstitutional, but the group People Not Politicians said he's being "obstructionist."

A petition championed by the group People Not Politicians appears to have gathered more than enough signatures to put the map up to a statewide vote. But Hoskins says the referendum itself is unconstitutional, so the signature count is moot. Brian Ellison spoke to both People Not Politicians Executive Director Richard von Glahn and Hoskins on KCUR's Up to Date.

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.

Missouri residents overwhelmingly voted against proposals to eliminate the income tax and change how citizens can change the Missouri constitution. Meanwhile, Kansans elected Reverend Adam Hamilton as the Democratic opponent to U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall and Democrat Cindy Holscher and Republican Ty Masterson will face each other in the race for Kansas governor.

KCUR's Brian Ellison breaks it all down with news director Madeline Fox.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love, Seth Jahraus and KCUR Studios, and edited by Madeline Fox and Luke X. Martin.

You can support Kansas City Today by becoming a KCUR member: kcur.org/donate.

Today, Missourians will decide the fate of a proposed constitutional amendment that gives lawmakers the ability to expand sales and use taxes in order to eliminate the state income tax.

While proponents of the measure believe it would create growth for Missouri, opponents say it will increase the cost of living in the state. Sarah Kellogg reports for St. Louis Public Radio.

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.

Missouri Republicans want to make it harder to amend the state’s constitution, but even backers of Amendment 4 acknowledge it’s getting a rough reception. Plus: Missouri’s 6th Congressional District has an open race for the first time since 2000.

Missourians will decide Tuesday whether to make it harder for some constitutional amendments to be enacted. Backers say that the current process drowns out rural voices — but opponents counter that it gives too much power to the state legislature. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum reports.

Like the 4th and 5th Congressional Districts, the boundaries of Missouri's 6th District are different for this week’s primary. Now, it includes more of the Northland. KCUR news director Madeline Fox sat down with elections reporter Grace Hills to talk about the 6th District primary.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Brian Ellison. It is produced by Byron Love 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.

Missouri’s Republican supermajority redrew the state’s congressional boundaries last year to make the 4th and 5th districts a tougher battle for Democrats. We'll talk through the races before Tuesday's primary, the first election under the newly gerrymandered map.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, and Kansas City's 5th Congressional District, have been front and center in the battle over Missouri redistricting. Republicans opened up old segregation wounds in their new maps by dividing Kansas City along Troost Avenue to make Cleaver’s district harder for Democrats to win. KCUR news director Madeline Fox sat down with race and culture reporter Celisa Calacal to talk about the Aug. 4 primary.

Redistricting also put Republican Rep. Mark Alford, who’s held the 4th Congressional District since 2023, in the hot seat. KCUR news director Madeline Fox sat down with Missouri government reporter Savannah Hawley-Bates to talk about the race.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Laura Ziegler. It is produced by Byron Love 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.

People living in homeless encampments say Missouri and Kansas cities have been more aggressive about enforcement since a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision. Plus: Latino communities in Wichita are on edge after immigration agents asked a bus full of people to present proof of citizenship.

Two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court decided cities, counties and states could pass camping bans, forbidding unhoused people from sleeping outdoors in public spaces. Several cities in the Midwest have done so. The Midwest Newsroom’s Nicole Grundmeier has more.

A bus carrying people to Mexico made a stop in north Wichita. For the first time, ICE agents asked the drivers and passengers to show citizenship documents or work permits. KMUW’s Meg Britton-Mehlisch and Jennifer Anima report.

Contact the show at news@kcur.org. Follow KCUR on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news.

Kansas City Today is hosted by Noah Taborda. 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.