Audio Feature

Linda Lighton’s ceramic sculptures speak to some of the thorniest social issues of our time, like sex, feminism and gun control. A new retrospective at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art in Overland Park explores her work.

Lawrence violist Mary Tuven and composer and bassist Charles Kelso Hoag often brought their daughter, Andrea Hoag, to their wintertime performances when she was just a small child. Now all grown up, Hoag brings those decades-old memories to life in her short story “The Christmas Musicians.”

New York Times bestselling author Erin Jeanne McDowell has been baking tasty treats for holiday tables since she was a teenager in her grandmother’s Kansas kitchen. Now, she teaches thousands of amateur cooks how to master the art of baking.

From 2013-2023, overall enrollment at the University of Missouri fell about 10%, while Black student enrollment declined almost 34%. That's in stark contrast to other state universities around the country — and Black students at Mizzou have much to say about why.

Leila's Hair Museum, the most unusual attraction in Independence, Missouri, closed in September. Thanks to the founder’s granddaughter, the massive collection of wreaths made out of human hair is finding new homes at museums across the country.

In January, all access to hormone treatments and other gender-affirming care for transgender youth will end in Kansas. Some families have already moved to avoid the ban.

For nearly a century, the city’s drinking water purification process has taken place with few major hiccups at a lone Briarcliff facility. But KC Water leaders say maintenance costs are climbing and aging concrete is a concern. They’re urging support for a new treatment plant in Kansas City.

This year saw the formation of the Kansas City area's first Women’s Pinball League. The Strawberry Hill bar is a place where beginners and pros of all ages and “walks of life” gather each Thursday for slap-saves, snacks, and sisterhood.

Cases of alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy caused by tick bites, in Missouri means more people are looking for a mammal-free way to eat out. Some restaurants in the southern part of the state are adapting their menus for patrons.

Applying the Kansas Consumer Protection Act to residential rentals could help balance power between landlords and tenants. A lawmaker hopes it may force landlords to improve their properties so tenants don’t live in squalor.

A survey from the National Academy of Sciences suggests most Americans now believe in at least one conspiracy theory. A Missouri researcher says the key to bringing those believers back into mainstream society is leading with empathy.

Deep Fission says it plans to install a nuclear reactor underground at an industrial park in southeast Kansas. State and local government leaders are on board. It’s part of a national push for new nuclear energy generation.