journalism

For many Missourians, especially in rural or low-income areas, public radio and television are far more than entertainment. They’re essential services — but now, those services are under threat.

Public broadcasting stations could lose significant funding if the Trump administration succeeds at defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting — critically endangering access to local journalism for many Kansas communities.

President Trump signed an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease direct and indirect funding for NPR and its member stations, which include KCUR and Classical KC. Here's what we know right now.

President Trump has directed the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding NPR and PBS, the nation's primary public broadcasters. The move could directly impact KCUR and Classical KC in Kansas City.

In an executive order, President Trump directs the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to stop funding NPR and PBS, the nation's primary public broadcasters. The move could directly impact KCUR and Classical KC in Kansas City.

Some Kansas City Council members want to shift the city's communications focus now that Brian Platt is no longer city manager. It comes after KCUR and other local news organizations sent an open letter urging Mayor Quinton Lucas and council members to improve City Hall's transparency.

President Trump has called on Congress to rescind $1.1 billion in funding from the public broadcasters. KCUR is one of the 1,300 locally and independently managed stations that are funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in addition to NPR and PBS.

For more than 40 years, Mike Mahoney reported on government and politics for KMBC 9 News. Mahoney joined KCUR's Up To Date for the series "5 Questions."

The University Daily Kansan would have had its funding cut by 80% under a budget proposed by the student government. Although the newspaper was saved for now, it now faces an uncertain future — echoing larger trends in media funding.

Steve Inskeep, the voice you hear on your morning commute each day co-hosting NPR's Morning Edition and Up First, came to Kansas City to promote his book "Differ We Must." He joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss his fact-based approach to journalism in the era of Trump.

With the stories Kansas City Today tells throughout the year, we bring you out into the community, from government offices to farms to people’s homes. But today, we're heading behind the scenes into the KCUR newsroom, and asking reporters, producers and editors to talk about the stories that sparked joy or challenged them in 2024.

We wanted to round up joyful moments to share some of that warmth, and remind us all about the good in the world. Kansas City got to experience history-making victories, touching and delightful works of art, and moments where the community all came together.