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Up To Date

Seg. 1: Missouri, Kansas Overdose Deaths | Seg. 2: Five Years After Ferguson

Segment 1: While the rest of the nation has seen a decrease in the number of drug overdose deaths, Missouri and Kansas have seen a rise.

In 2018 death by drug overdose declined 4.2% in the United States, but Missouri saw an increase of 17% while Kansas saw a 5.6% rise. Public health officials from each side of the state line offer their thoughts on what was behind the respective upswings.

Segment 2, beginning at 24:18: Improvements in the St. Louis region have not fully realized the hopes of some residents.  

The 2014 shooting death of Michael Brown at the hands of a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, altered national views on the relationship between law enforcement and the cities they serve.  Two reporters who have continued to cover Ferguson since the shooting share thoughts on how much has changed in the city, county and state where Brown died.

As a host and contributor at KCUR, I seek to create a more informed citizenry and richer community. I want to enlighten and inspire our audience by delivering the information they need with accuracy and urgency, clarifying what’s complicated and teasing out the complexities of what seems simple. I work to craft conversations that reveal realities in our midst and model civil discourse in a divided world. Follow me on Twitter @ptsbrian or email me at brian@kcur.org.
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.