As Heard on KC Currents

Controversy Continues over Power and Light Dress Code

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:19:22 GMT

On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered at the Power and Light district - not to party, but to protest . . .

Local Agencies Strategize to Combat Homelessness

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:52:02 GMT

Despite the economic climate, homelessness in the Kansas City area is only up slightly this year, according to new data. But 50% of those surveyed, report being homeless for the first time.

Beyond Enchiladas: Mexican Restaurant Owners Meet in KC

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:55:08 GMT

Last week, chefs and owners of Mexican restaurants from around the continent met in Kansas City. It was the first annual conference of a new national organization, which aims to provide culinary advice and business tips to encourage the development of more authentic Mexican restaurants. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross stopped by the Guadalupe Center, on Kansas City's Westside, to get a taste of what was going on.

New Study Tracks Migration of Kansans

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:43:18 GMT

Kansas has been gradually losing population for over a century. But a new study suggests that regionalization, the movement of people from rural to urban areas within Kansas, is actually more significant and pronounced trend.

The Science Behind Kansas City's Brilliant Autumn

cranesj@umkc.edu — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:49:37 GMT

In case you haven't noticed, the leaves around Kansas City seem to be especially vibrant this year. Trees are ablaze in brilliant red, gold and orange. But are the trees especially colorful this year?

COMBAT Anti-Drug Tax Up for Renewal Tuesday

cranesj@umkc.edu — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:05:55 GMT

It's been 20 years since Jackson County residents first passed the Combat tax to fund drug enforcement, treatment and prevention. The sales tax was an unusual response to the crack epidemic and high homicide rate of the late 1980s. Since that time, drug use and violent crime have decreased and come back up again, leaving some voters wondering if Combat has made a difference.

KS Insurance Regulator on Health Care: Federal Overhaul Possible, States Have Crucial Role

cranesj@umkc.edu — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:56:27 GMT

An overhaul of the nation's health care system could have major impacts at the state level. KCUR's Elana Gordon recently sat down with Kansas Insurance Commissioner and former Republican State Senator, Sandy Praeger, to talk about the potential effects of federal changes on the Sunflower state.

Hospitalized Veterans Writing Project

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:57:52 GMT

When the Hospitalized Veterans Writing Project began in Chicago in 1946, the idea of writing as a means for dealing with trauma was still a new idea.

Former Record Store Owner, Anne Winter, Dies at 45

cranesj@umkc.edu — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:53:36 GMT

Local activist and former music store owner, Anne Winter, 45, died Thursday in her home. For over two decades, Winter's name has been linked to the music and cultural scene in Kansas City.

The Orphan Trains: Placing Out in America

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:22:16 GMT

They now call them orphan trains, though not all of the children onboard were actually orphans. At the turn of the 19th century, some 200,000 children were shipped from the East Coast to points west.

Local Voices on Being Latino

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:56:14 GMT

Voices from past stories speak to the idea of being Latino in America.

New Director of the Heart of America Indian Center

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:46:22 GMT

The new director of the Heart of America Indian Center hopes to expand the organization's reach into the region's native community.

Young Offenders Try Art Lessons

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:36:43 GMT

Each year, about 800 young people in the court system take regular arts classes, intended to help them learn discipline, values, and to express their feelings. Jackson County's Sentenced to the Arts program operates in juvenile detention centers, alternatives schools and community agencies.

Kansas Woman Sells Security Systems to Saudi Arabia

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:20:00 GMT

Laura Owen is the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Lenexa-based company ICOP Digital, which makes digital surveillance equipment. She's also the first woman to seal a major business deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Stimulus Funds Raise Ethics Questions in Wyandotte County

cranesj@umkc.edu — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:14:56 GMT

Wyandotte County is slated to receive more than $3 million in federal stimulus funding to support the redevelopment of abandoned or foreclosed homes. The Argentine Neighborhood Development Association hopes to use $800,000 to improve housing in its area. But the head of that organization is also a Unified Government Commissioner. As KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports, some other commissioners are concerned that it might be a conflict of interest.

Foreclosures Impact Latino Immigrant Communities

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:48:41 GMT

The foreclosure crisis has brought a particular set of issues to Latino immigrants in the Kansas City area. Because of language barriers and the lack of a credit history, many immigrants are vulnerable to predatory lenders. They haven't faced more foreclosures than other groups. But when they do have housing problems, there are a few places where they can turn for help.

Texas Woman Shares Story of Wrongful Incarceration

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:36:34 GMT

Joyce Ann Brown spent nine years in prison, until a non-profit organization called Centurion Ministries heard her story and began working to free her. When her case gained national attention, Joyce Ann Brown was proven innocent.

Local Safety-net Hospital Leader on Health Care: Expand Coverage, Access; Maintain Subsidies

cranesj@umkc.edu — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:19:24 GMT

Safety net hospital leaders from across the country are in Washington D.C. this week, meeting with members of Congress about overhauling the nation's health care system. KCUR's Elana Gordon recently sat down with John Bluford, CEO of Truman Medical Center, to talk about how the health care legislation being developed in Congress could affect safety net hospitals like Truman.

Thomas Frank: 'How Conservatives Rule' in a Changing Political Climate

cranesj@umkc.edu — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:20:17 GMT

Kansas native Thomas Frank's latest book, The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule, focuses on the ideology and methods of conservatives in his current home of Washington, DC.

He Never Forgot Those Latrines

cranesj@umkc.edu — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:31:18 GMT

Don Sifers was an unhappy Boy Scout over 50 years ago; he hated the toilets. Now, he's invented a "latrine deodorizer." He's waiting on a patent, and already got the U.S. Forest Service to take a look. The Army Corps of Engineers and the Boy Scouts have both expressed interest. It turns out many before him have addressed the problem of latrines.