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Kansans Are Among Hundreds Of Missing Native Americans

By Steve Kraske,

Published January 26, 2021 at 9:14 PM CST

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Rep. Ponka-We Victors is the Kansas State Representative for the 103rd district in Wichita.

As of January 2021, nearly 700 American Indian and Alaskan Native people are missing — including three Kansans. Can legislation make a difference?

After having friends and family disappear, Kansas State Rep. Ponka-We Victors is sponsoring a bill for the second consecutive year. It would authorize the Kansas attorney general to coordinate law enforcement training to "help address the high rates of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls across America."

Ponka-We Victors (D), Kansas state representative for the 103rd district

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Steve Kraske

When 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.

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Mackenzie Martin

Mackenzie Martin is a senior podcast producer at KCUR Studios and host of the podcast, A People's History of Kansas City. Contact her at mackenzie@kcur.org.

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Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

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