education

School districts across the Kansas City metro are navigating financial challenges as they cope with fewer students and state funding shortfalls. Plus: Researchers believe that Gen Z may be reaching for a cigarette more often than members of older generations.

Other legislation that could be considered in the last week of the 2026 session includes a wide-reaching education bill and measures to limit vehicle inspections and raise the rural highway speed limit.

An online portal used by school districts and universities throughout the country was breached in a cyberattack Thursday. Cybersecurity experts say that while access has been restored, many questions remain.

Federal prosecutors said the teenager was driven in handcuffs from California to a Christian reform school in southwest Missouri. Agape Boarding School later closed amid an abuse scandal.

Newly appointed University of Missouri-Kansas City Police Chief Daniel Graves faces opposition from the university's student body. In 2021, Graves wrote a letter advocating for former Kansas City Police Detective Eric DeValkenaere, who was convicted of killing 26-year-old Cameron Lamb.

A Kansas City nonprofit has spent the past decade using donated flowers from special events to brighten up the rooms of seniors living in health care facilities. And now, there’s a new initiative: scholarships. Hear more about how this nonprofit is supporting the next generation of local florists.

The Trump administration says Olathe, Shawnee Mission, Kansas City, Kansas, and Topeka school districts violated Title IX and risk losing federal funding. At issue are their policies around transgender students’ bathroom use and sports participation, and notifying parents about students using different pronouns or names in class.

A nonprofit program in Kansas City believes songwriting can help teens through mental health challenges. We'll stop by Rebel Song Academy to hear how students are finding their calm through music.

The Trump administration is trying to ease a farm worker shortage in part by cutting mandatory wages for foreign guest workers. But both immigration hardliners and labor advocates are pushing back. Plus: More urban schools in Missouri are finding value in teaching their students about the farming process.

A week after an initial vote failed, dozens of Missouri representatives reversed their votes on legislation to expand a state program that allows adults to obtain their high school diplomas virtually.

Kansas lawmakers wrapped up most of their annual work at the end of March, including passing a number of bills related to schools. Legislators return to the capital this week to vote on an override of the governor's vetoes.

Kansas City’s 1% earning tax has won renewal once again, garnering overwhelming support from voters in Tuesday’s municipal elections. Meanwhile, data center supporters lost big in Independence, Missouri. KCUR reporters join Up To Date to discuss the tax and other key issues on ballots across the metro.