KCUR NewsRoom

Church Coalition Asks Moore to Back Healthcare Bill

Kansas City, Kansas (2010-01-26) Kansas Congressman Dennis Moore, a Democrat, got a direct appeal to lobby House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others to press the House version of the health care bill.

Economic Education

Kansas City , Mo. (2009-11-09) Should economics be introduced early into school curriculums to produce a population of fiscally savvy adults?

2010 Region Jobs View: Plus 4 Or Minus 12K

Overland Park, KS (2009-10-29) The Kansas City region is expected to shed fewer jobs in 2010 than thus far into the recession. But the message is mixed. KCURs Dan Verbeck reports on the annual forecast delivered to the Metro Area Chamber of Commerce.

Stimulus Funds Raise Ethics Questions in Wyandotte County

Kansas City, MO (2009-10-01) 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

Kansas City, KS (2009-09-28) 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.

Blue Hills Family Awaiting Decision on Loan Modification

Kansas City, MO (2009-08-24) For local families facing foreclosure, the mortgage crisis is personal - destroying the middle class dream of home ownership. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross talked to one such family in the Blue Hills neighborhood.

Investing During an Uncertain Recovery

Kansas City, MO (2009-08-17) The recent recession has many people completely rethinking how they manage their money. KCUR's Susan Wilson recently caught up with certified financial planner David Jackson, of Waddell and Reed, to find out whether changes in the economy should prompt major changes in people's investments.

Freight Industry Still Reeling

Kansas City, MO (2009-08-06) If you've been out on the highway lately you may have noticed a lot of big semis, but there are less of them on the road this summer, and many of the ones out there are running empty. With some interesting exceptions, consumer consumption is way off, and everyone involved in the vast system that moves stuff from farms and factories to stores is feeling it.

Tips for Navigating the Housing Market

Susan B. Wilson (2009-08-03) While many people are still trying to dig out from under bad mortgages, new data shows that foreclosures are actually down in the Kansas City area, compared to the first six months of last year. And some people are finding that it's a pretty good time to buy a house. KCUR's Susan B. Wilson spoke to Certified Financial Planner David Jackson, of Waddell and Reed, for his thoughts on buying, or keeping, a home.

Veterans Search for Work in Difficult Job Market

Kansas City, MO (2009-08-03) As the first major wave of troops return from Iraq, the job market is likely to see a new batch of motivated, young job-seekers. KCUR's Alex Smith recently went to a veteran's job fair and spoke with new veterans. But he found the job market is already flooded with a previous generation of vets with plenty of experience and just as eager to find work.

Homelessness in Lawrence, Kansas Kansas City , Mo. (2009-07-30) The affluent college town of Lawrence, Kansas is possibly not the first place you would think of when discussing homelessness. We look at what is being done to help those who find themselves in this difficult position.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke Visits Kansas City

Kansas City, MO (2009-07-27) Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said last year's taxpayer-financed bailout of big financial companies was necessary to avoid "a second Great Depression." His comments came during a town hall-style meeting on Sunday in Kansas City, Mo. designed to reassure Americans about the economy. Inside the Federal Reserve bank of Kansas City, Bernanke sat down to chat with PBS host Jim Lehrer and some local residents.

My Two Cents: Vlad Rangotchev

Overland Park, KS (2009-06-19) Vlad Rangotchev didn't expect to fall in to his current career path. He was just breaking into the graphic design field, when a car accident and the loss of his job set him on a different course. Now, a few years down the road, Rangotchev says a down economy has brought new challenges to his business...but at the same time, reaffirmed his career change and even inspired some innovation.

JoCo Police Consider Eviction Distasteful Work

Johnson County, KS (2009-06-17) In an office the public rarely sees at Johnson County Courthouse the papers are neatly packaged and waiting for a deputy's hands. These are eviction papers, ordered by a judge, usually after foreclosures. On this day Deputy Sheriffs Steve Neumer and Tracy Ocamb don't have to look at data sheets to know how many there are. The total for 2009 is close to 1,000.

Family Copes With Medical Bills And Eviction

Kansas City, MO (2009-06-17) The Day family has health insurance, but they still face tens of thousands of dollars in hospital bills after one child went to intensive care several times with diabetes. Now that they've been evicted from their Kansas City, Kansas home the family is faced with the dual challenges of trying to find another place to live while digging out from under a pile of medical bills.

Not Just Another Highway Job: VEEP Biden In O.P.

Overland Park, KS (2009-06-11) On a small stage, peering down an embankment to U.S. 69 in Overland Park, Vice President Joseph Biden touted economic recovery via highway renovation. KCURS Dan Verbeck reports.

MO School District Gets Surprise Stimulus Funds

Knob Noster, MO (2009-05-18) Many school administrators are faced with a challenge: a large influx of federal stimulus money and a small window of opportunity to use it.

Job Seekers Band Together in Johnson County

Overland Park, Kansas (2009-05-11) The unemployment trend, of course, makes jobs more competitive. But at the same time it's fostering a spirit of cooperation reflected in a growing number of "job clubs." Laura Ziegler and Brian Ellison spent some time at job clubs in Johnson County and prepared this report.

Economy Hits Architects in Kansas City

Kansas City, MO (2009-05-11) According to Kansas City's chapter of the American Institute of Architects nearly all of its 88 member firms have had layoffs or work reductions - including some of Kansas City's top architecture firms, like BNIM, HNTB, 360 Degree Architecture, and Populous, formerly known as HOK. To find out more, KC Currents' intern Annie Walsh caught up with Ryan Townsend, a friend of hers, at Pecha Kucha, at regular event at Crosstown Station.

Out of Jail: Out of Work?

Kansas City, MO (2009-04-27) As companies continue to tighten their belts and trim their payrolls, about one out of every eleven Kansas Citians is looking for a job, but postings are down by a third or more. What if you were looking for a job and had just gotten out of prison? KCUR's Steve Bell talked with ex-convicts at two re-entry programs in the area and had them tell their stories.