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The Unexceptional Inspires Kansas Poet Laureate, And Honest Abe's Early Political Life

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Today, Kansas's newest poet laureate discusses how to find extraordinary meaning in the seemingly ordinary events of our lives. Then, we speak with political journalist and long-time confidant to Hillary Clinton, Sidney Blumenthal, whose new writing delves into the complex life of one of America's great presidents, Abraham Lincoln.

Kansas Poet Laureate Kevin Rabas will perform a poetry reading at Aimee's Coffeehouse in Lawrence at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 17. For more information, visit the event page on Facebook.

Sidney Blumenthal will discuss the second volume of his biography of Abraham Lincoln, 'Wrestling with His Angel, 1849-1856,' at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3. For registration and more information, visit KCLibrary.org.

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.