Up To Date

Segment 1: We hear from the man responsible for getting stuff done in Kansas City.

From the future of a downtown ballpark to "pothole management" to streetcar expansion, we talked with the city manager about several big issues on the minds of Kansas Citians. Schulte also addressed caller questions, and says of rising water costs in Kansas City, "we're hopeful we can get a new environmental agreement done for the next 17 years of the plan, and the days of double-digit rate increases are over."

Segment 1: Organizer fears that, "If we wait five years to make a bold intervention . . . we won't have people of color, workers and poor folks able to live in our city anymore."

A new tenant-power organization looks to help the more than twenty-thousand renters in the Kansas City area deal with issues related to poorly managed rental properties. Tara Raghuveer is behind the effort and she spoke about informing tenants of their rights and providing relief in the ongoing affordable housing crisis.

Segment 1: Local leader of Fight for $15 told his personal story at a U.S. House hearing to support an increase of the federal minimum wage. 

It's been a decade since Congress authorized a federal minimum wage increase. Currently, two bills passing through the U.S. House of Representatives look to nationally hike the least amount paid to workers to fifteen dollars by 2024. We talked about the possible positive and negative effects of higher wages and what the opportunity to speak directly to federal lawmakers meant for one Kansas City advocate. 

Seg. 1: To continue improving Kansas City, Councilman Scott Taylor wants to build on the momentum from the last eight years.

Segment 1: Prison consolidation, small pay bumps and more transparency are key to success in Missouri corrections department.

Since taking over Missouri's Department of Corrections nearly two years ago, Anne Precythe has been busy. She's charged with turning around a state agency that's struggled to retain staff and to keep inmates and prison employees safe from assault. Today, Precythe filled us in on the steps she's taken to ameliorate the issues her department is facing.

Segment 1: Kansas City photographers William Fambrough and Matthew Washington captured the African-American experience in Kansas City. 

For a long time African Americans did not have the same documented written sources as others in this country. Historian Delia Cook Gillis says this is one reason why visual images are important. They document lost narratives with an artistic story. Gillis talked about the importance of remembering African American history, and about two photographers who helped to do just that in Kansas City.  

Segment 1: Kansas City Chiefs tax documents shed light on revenue streams for NFL teams.

Seg. 1: The councilwoman is a front runner in the Kansas City mayoral race, in spite of having withdrawn and renentered the race.

With the experience and reputation she brings from her time as a state senator, Jolie Justus believes she has the skills that are "incredibly neccessary to keep our city moving forward." Today, Justus told us why finding common ground is crucial to crafting solutions on several issues Kansas City now faces. "We need a mayor, who can be a collaborator, who can get things done and work with people," she said.

There certainly wasn’t much action in last Sunday’s Super Bowl. But that wasn’t the case at casinos in several states, where gambling on sports is legal for the first time thanks to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that you might have missed. Tax collectors and investors stand to make millions, but is it good for the fans? Commentator Victor Wishna weighs the odds in this month’s edition of 'A Fan’s Notes.'

Did you bet on the Super Bowl? I bet you did.

Segment 1: Kansas City mayoral candidates face future voters in student-hosted debate. 

Last December students at Kansas City East High School asked mayoral hopefuls about issues concerning violence, policing, and economic development in their communities. Now that the race is in full swing, we revisited our conversation with three of the student organizers of that debate to hear how they spent a semester organizing the event and their impressions of the candidates.

Segment 1: Municipal lawmakers from both sides of the state line discuss the hurdles facing their cities.

Segment 1: Test scores are in and public school supporters are ecstatic with the results.

Segment 1: Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is asking for more than 300 new intake workers to address a backlog of applications to the state's Medicaid program.

Segment 1: Commercial real estate projects are surging throughout the metro.

Major developments popping up in the Plaza, Crossroads, and downtown may not be changing the skyline (yet), but they are making Kansas City "taller." Today, the city's foremost reporter on downtown development shared details on new and in-the-works office buildings, apartments, and hotels, and discussed how "downtown is becoming a more dense and vibrant place."

Segment 1: This is the bank manager's third time running for Kansas City mayor. 

Could this time be the charm for Henry Klein? Though he has never served in public office, Klein says his current job allows him to help people everyday. Today, he discussed how he would continue to lend that helping hand as mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, including his ideas to improve public schools and eliminate earning taxes on small business.

Segment 1: An early look at Kansas City's mayoral race, and the performance of new governors in Kansas and Missouri.

There’s so much going on in the world of politics that we couldn’t resist any longer. Today, our political panel discussed the mayor's race in Kansas City, Missouri, which is beginning to heat up, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's plans for infrastructure and workforce development, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly's struggle with Republicans on tax cuts and school funding, and the soon-to-be-open U.S. Senate seat in Kansas. 

Segment 1: Kevin Yoder reflects on his time serving in a divided government.

We sat down with Kansas' former 3rd District U.S. Congressman to discuss the eight years he spent serving in Washington, including why things in Congress have ground seemingly to a halt, how he would like to see today's political environment change, and whether or not another political position might be in his future.

Segment 1: Missouri Governor Mike Parson wants $22 million to help "skill up" current workforce for better paying jobs. 

Last week Governor Mike Parson used his State of the State address to announce his approach for workforce development and state infrastructure.  Today, the governor explained his proposal to borrow $350 million to repair bridges and another $50 million for a cost-sharing program to assist cities and counties with their projects. He emphasized a priority for making sure that the people who need help are getting it. 

Segment 1: Cerner co-founder steps away after forty years with the healthcare records company.

One of Kansas City's most succesfull businessmen, Cliff Illig helped lead a company whose total local workforce today numbers nearly 13,000 Kansas Citians and more than 26,000 employees companywide. Illig explained his decision to retire and how outside interests like ownership of Sporting KC will keep him occupied.

Segment 1: After winning election to the Kansas City Council in 2011, Jermaine Reed now has his sights set on the mayor's office.

After two terms on the city council, Jermaine Reed tells how, if elected, he plans to take what he's learned as councilman and apply it to the city's highest office. Reed says "as mayor, I want to ensure we're investing in all area's of the community . . . making sure that we're dicussing greater economic development opportunites."

Segment 1: After unprecedented ballot initiative success in November, GOP lawmakers look to change the process.

Gov. Mike Parson and Republican lawmakers in the Missouri General Assembly have made ballot initiative reform a priority for this legislative session, saying the current system is too easy for out-of-state interests and funding sources to exploit. Critics of that position say the reform proposals are an affront to voter's ability to directly influence state policy. Today, we heard from both sides of the issue.

Segment 1: Some CBD advocates claim medicinal benefits, but research is still nominal. 

The market for CBD is growing, and a large number of shops have sprouted up around Kansas City. Users claim it helps with anxiety, Alzheimer's, and plenty other pains, but medical testing and research is still catching up to newly loosened law concerning the hemp-derived product. We discussed safety concerns and expectations for the future of this new emerging industry.