Up To Date

To Be Of Asian Descent And Living In The Midwest

By Steve Kraske,

Published March 19, 2021 at 5:37 PM CDT

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Authorities investigate a fatal shooting at a massage parlor, late Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Woodstock, Ga. Officials say 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, of Woodstock, Georgia, has been captured hours after multiple people were killed in shootings at three Atlanta-area massage parlors. — Authorities investigate a fatal shooting at a massage parlor late Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Woodstock, Ga. Officials say 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, of Woodstock, Georgia, was arrested hours after eight people were killed at three Atlanta-area massage parlors.

The escalating violence and discrimination against Asian Americans is resonating in Kansas and Missouri.

The mass shooting in the Atlanta area on Tuesday cast a spotlight on a problem that has been festering for months amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In Kansas City, some Asian-owned establishments are seeing a drop in business and local Asian officials are calling on leaders in both states to draw attention to the violence and condemn it.

Fanny Fang (D-Manhattan), former candidate for the Riley County Commission
Rui Xu (D), represents District 25 in the Kansas House of Representatives

Correction: Fanny Fang was incorrectly introduced as a "former candidate for the Kansas legislature." The introduction should have said that Ms. Fang was a former candidate for county commissioner in Riley County, Kansas.

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Up To Date Podcast Asian Americans Racism violence Discrimination Kansas Legislature

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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Zach Wilson

As Up To Date’s senior producer, I construct daily conversations that give our listeners context to the issues of our time. I strive to provide a platform that holds those in power accountable, while also spotlighting the voices of Kansas City’s creatives and visionaries that may otherwise go unheard. Email me at zach@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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