politics

Two Kansas state senators and Overland Park’s mayor are facing off in the Aug. 4 primary election for Kansas governor. They joined KCUR’s Up To Date to discuss how they’d address issues affecting Kansans.

County officials say the 2026 Advance Voting Plan will provide equitable access to early in-person polling sites countywide. But with early voting locations cut from 18 to 12, some residents question whether the move will reduce access to the ballot box for those who want to cast an early ballot.

Bills to improve literacy and establish a new system for grading Missouri schools passed the House but failed to make their way through the Senate.

Kansas’ Ogallala Aquifer has been losing water for decades. And while dedicating funding to a strategic water plan was a priority of Kelly’s during the 2026 legislative session, no measure passed. But she’s optimistic the state will continue to make progress after she leaves office in January.

The 1,000-bed facility is currently holding 249 detainees. The board is intended to hold the CoreCivic facility to its agreements with the city and ensure inmates and employees are being treated fairly.

The deadline for the Missouri General Assembly to approve its budget is quickly approaching. KCUR's Brian Ellison joined Up To Date to break down the latest on the budget and other last-minute agenda items for the 2026 legislative session.

Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss why he changed his mind about filing to run for a full term in office. He also discusses the task force he assembled to assess the future of the Truman Sports Complex site, and his approach to addressing property tax concerns.

Christal Watson, the mayor and CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, joined Up To Date to discuss the Chiefs moving to her county, concerns from her constituents about property taxes and much more.

For many people, artificial intelligence and chatbots have become a part of daily life. That includes some Kansas lawmakers, who are using chatbots to help keep track of bills or gather information in a fast-paced legislative session — since they have no guidelines for responsible use of AI.

A resolution in the Missouri General Assembly, if approved, would create a process to eliminate the individual income tax as soon as 2032. It would allow for an expansion of some sales taxes to recoup funding lost as a result of lowering or eliminating this tax. Any resolution passed in the statehouse would have to be approved by voters.

People Not Politicians filed open-records requests to review the collected signatures and says the minimum number required for a statewide referendum should be validated by the Missouri secretary of state.

A bill filed in the General Assembly would make Missouri the 24th state to call on Congress to overturn Citizens United. The advocacy group pushing for the bill says similar measures have gotten bipartisan support in other states.