KCUR NewsRoom

Taking Stock: The Animal Health Corridor Is Moving Forward

Kansas City (2009-11-18) Officials broke ground in Olathe last week for the first building to be part of the Animal Health Corridor. The Corridor is the region from Kansas City to Manhattan to Columbia that already creates a third of the sales from the 19 billion dollar animal health industry. The idea for the Corridor is to capitalize on these assets to bring more companies, more research and more jobs to the region.

CDC Director Visits KC

Kansas City, MO (2009-11-17) Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is in Kansas City this week meeting with area health and business leaders. Dr. Frieden was commissioner of the New York City Health Department before going to the CDC this past spring. KCUR's Elana Gordon caught up with him to discuss the current swine flu situation and some of the overall challenges and approaches to disease prevention.

Some Lawmakers Question Closing Facility for Disabled

Topeka, KS (2009-11-13) Some state legislators are skeptical of a plan to close a facility for the developmentally disabled in Topeka. A state commission has recommended downsizing and eventually closing Kansas Neurological Institute, known as KNI, as a way to save the state cash.

H1N1 Vaccine Priority Group Expanded, KCMO to Hold Second Public Clinic Friday

Kansas City, MO (2009-11-12) The region's public health officials have decided to expand H1N1 vaccine eligibility to more high-risk groups. Pregnant women, kids 6 months to 24 years of age, people who are younger than 64 with serious chronic health conditions, caregivers for children under 6 months of age, and health care workers are now able to get the vaccine.

Ground Breaking Today In Olathe For Bioscience And Food Safety Center

Kansas City , Mo. (2009-11-12) Officials with K-State and the Kansas Biosciences Authority will break ground on the first building at the new Olathe Innovation Center later this morning. The new building is being called the National Animal Health and Food Safety Institute.

KCMO to Hold First H1N1 Vaccine Clinic Wednesday

Kansas City, MO (2009-11-11) The Kansas City Missouri Health Department is finally holding its first public H1N1 clinic. But, the vaccine will only be available to certain groups of people.

Kansas Group Pushes for E-Health Records

Topeka, KS (2009-11-11) There's been a lot of talk about electronic health records in Washington as the health care debate continues. A group in Kansas is working to make electronic records a reality right here in the state.

Mental Health Cuts Hit Uninsured

Kansas City, MO (2009-11-10) Missouri recently announced it's cutting $3 million from the Department of Mental Health and will no longer fund services for new patients that don't have Medicaid. Area mental health organizations say the change will make it a lot harder for people who are uninsured to get needed care.

Area Reps Mixed on Passage of Sweeping Health Legislation

Kansas City, MO (2009-11-09) Area representatives have mixed views on the sweeping health care bill that passed the U.S. House this weekend.

Major Health Vote Ahead, Area Reps Already Decided Kansas City, MO (2009-11-06) A major vote on a health care overhaul is scheduled this weekend in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Sam Graves, a Republican from Trenton Missouri, says he thinks the vote will be mighty close.

Parents Seek Answers Amid Vaccine Shortage

Kansas City, MO (2009-11-04) Kansas City, Missouri is getting some 19,000 doses of the new swine flu vaccine. But the initial shipments have been delayed and sporadic. And for parents of children with severe health issues, the quest for a vaccine has been all consuming.

Kansas Lawmakers Propose Amendment to Block Federal Health Overhaul in the State

Topeka, KS (2009-10-28) Some Kansas legislators are working on a plan they hope could block parts of federal health care legislation from taking effect in the state. A half-dozen Republican state legislators unveiled the proposal at the Capitol.

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

Kansas City, MO (2009-10-27) 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.

Commission Recommends Closing Facility for Disabled

Topeka, KS (2009-10-27) A Kansas commission is pushing for closing a state facility for the developmentally disabled. Members of the Facilities Closure and Realignment Commission voted to recommend shuttering the Kansas Neurological Institute in Topeka, known as KNI.

Hospitalized Veterans Writing Project

Topeka, KS (2009-10-26) 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.

Regional Experts Evaluate Nation's Health

Kansas City, MO (2009-10-23) More than a hundred health experts from across the region gathered at KU Medical Center yesterday, to assess the nation's health and develop future goals.

Hundreds Line Up for Swine Flu Vaccine

Kansas City, MO (2009-10-22) Residents were so eager swine flu vaccines the lines to clinics burgeoned with hundreds of people in some locations.

Senate Approves $32 Million for Kansas Bio-defense Lab Kansas City, MO (2009-10-21) The U.S. Senate has approved $32 million for a massive Kansas lab aimed at research on foot-and-mouth and other diseases.

Abortion Opponents' Petitions OK'd

Jefferson City, MO (2009-10-21) Two ballot initiatives sponsored by opponents of abortion and human cloning have been approved for signature circulation in Missouri.

UMKC Dental School Gets $2 Million for Training

Kansas City, MO (2009-10-21) Missouri is using 40 million stimulus dollars to expand health care training programs.