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Up To Date

Seg. 1: Living 'Unafraid.' Seg. 2: Kansas City Council Perspectives On Issues East Of Troost.

Luke X. Martin
/
KCUR 89.3
"There are folks who are working extremely hard trying to get the entire community involved in what is one of the staples of our city," 5th District Councilman Lee Barnes says of concerns about the viability of 18th & Vine as an entertainment district.

Segment 1: In the face of uncertainty, fear is not your friend.

The leader of the largest United Methodist congregation in the country says Americans live in fear. Fear of crime and terrorism. Fear of losing our jobs or having enough money to retire. Fear of missing out on all the fun stuff everybody else seems to be doing on Facebook. We spoke to the minister about when fear reaches unhealthy proportions, and what to do about it.

Segment 2, starting at 18:04: As developments east of Troost Avenue surge, high crime, a struggling entertainment district and gentrification remain a concern.

For a strip of land barely two miles wide, Kansas City from Troost to State Line Road gets a lot of attention. For this conversation we shifted the focus east to talk about the trends, developments and policies on the other side of Troost that are top-of-mind for city council members. The list includes encouraging property developments, troubling crime stats and everyday complaints like trash pickup.

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.
As culture editor, I help you embrace what makes Kansas City fun and vibrant, whether it’s a championship sports franchise or a little-known wonder. I work with reporters to ensure KCUR stories on art, culture, and race fully reflect our diverse home so readers and listeners can take full advantage of what the metro has to offer. Email me at luke@kcur.org.