KCUR Public NewsRoom Archive

9-1-1 Assistance Program to Expand Throughout Metro Area (2008-09-21)
A joint pilot program between the Kansas City Missouri Fire Department and the Visiting Nurse Association is expanding into several counties throughout the metro region. It recently received a half million dollar matching grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

KC Council Committee Supports Smoking Ordinance Changes (2008-09-19)
A Kansas City council committee has endorsed two changes to the city's smoking ordinance. Voters narrowly approved a ban on smoking in most public places back in April.

New Service for Discount Arts Tickets Launched (2008-09-19)
Nearly a dozen arts organizations have signed on to a new online discounted ticket service that launched this month.

Former Secretary of State Campaigns in KC for Obama (2008-09-19)
On Thursday, Clinton-era Secretary of State Madeline Albright told a Kansas City audience the nation needs to shore-up relations with world powers that include India, Pakistan and Russia.

KCUR Evening Newscast 91908 (2008-09-19)
Missouri's Jobless rate rises to it's highest level since 1991. After weeks of work, an operator is chosen to run the first state-owned casino in Wyandotte County, Kansas.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-28-08 (2008-09-19)
Mark Funkhouser did something no other mayor of Kansas City has done for a long time he vetoed an ordinance. That and more news from KCUR!

KC Mayor Vetoes Measure to Get his Wife out of City Hall (2008-09-18)
Mark Funkhouser did something no other mayor of Kansas City has done for a long time. Funkhouser vetoed an ordinance... a personal one, passed overwhelmingly by the City Council.

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-18-08 (2008-09-18)
-Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser Vetos Ordinance to Stop his Wife from Working at City Hall -Clinton Era Secretary of State Madeline Albright stumps for Obama in Kansas City -Kansas Senator Sam Brownback Echoes McCain on AIG Bailout -MO Bridge Plan Advances with New Funding Mechanism

KCUR Morning Newscast 9-17-08 (2008-09-17)
Edwin Hall of Olathe will spend his life in prison for the 2007 kidnapping, rape and murder of 18-year-old Kelsey Smith. That and more news from KCUR!

Money Moves The Message: Rail Campaign Seeks Funds (2008-09-17)
Campaign takes off for minimized rail transit. Coffers are short nearly one half million.

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-17-08 (2008-09-17)
The head of the Kansas Banker's association says money is safe in Kansas banks.

Bob Rohlf Takes Final Curtain Call at Starlight (2008-09-16)
The City of Kansas City Missouri has officially designated Tuesday, September 16 as Bob Rohlf Day, in honor of his nearly 3 decades of leadership at Starlight Theatre.

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-16-08 (2008-09-16)
A Johnson County judge today sentenced Edwin Hall to life in prison for the abduction-murder of Kelsey Smith.

State Officials Tighten Security at the Polls in November (2008-09-16)
Voter confidence is prime and the Missouri Secretary of State issued orders Tuesday to hike security at the polls in November.

Survey Finds A Majority of Kansans Support Health Coverage for Everyone (2008-09-16)
A majority of likely Kansas voters support the idea that all Americans should have health coverage. That's according to a new report by the Ad Astra Institute of Kansas. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

MO Mayors Cooperate for Jeff City Clout (2008-09-16)
The Mayors of Missouri's seven largest cities met in Jefferson City yesterday to plan out how to gain clout with the legislature. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

Licorice Containing Lead Sold in Several Area Stores (2008-09-16)
The Kansas City Health Department is warning that Lucky Country Aussie Style Soft Gourmet Natural Flavor Black Licorice contains a high level of lead in it.

KCUR Morning Newscast 9-16-08 (2008-09-16)
The former CEO and chief financial officer of American Italian Pasta have pleaded guilty to fraud-conspiracy. That and more news from KCUR!

Groundbreaking for New Arena in Independence (2008-09-16)
The heavy machinery has already been on site, but Tuesday the formal groundbreaking took place on the new arena in eastern Independence.

Call It A Mini Enron: Record Setting Case Snares Pasta Maker (2008-09-15)
Two top execs ponder prison. Investors lost millions . American Italian Pasta agrees to multi million dollar fines.

After the Olympics (2008-09-15)
Anthony Tao, the freelance sports journalist and blogger from Kansas City, is now into the fifth month of his Beijing sojourn - he reflects on China after the Olympics.

Media Panel on News of the Week (2008-09-15)
We hear from a trio weekly newspaper reporters on local news this week.

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-15-08 (2008-09-15)
The biggest white collar crime of it's kind in western Missouri federal court history prompted a news conference at the US Attorney's office this afternoon. Two former executives of the nation's largest pasta maker are charged and plead guilty to bilking investors out of millions of dollars.

Candy Contains Lead: State Recalls Lucky Country Black Licorice (2008-09-15)
The Kansas City Health Department is warning people to avoid eating Lucky Country Black Licorice. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

Council Members to Debate Proposed Amendments to Smoking Ban (2008-09-14)
Proposed amendments to Kansas City's voter-approved smoking ban will be up in committee this week. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-09-13)
Mayor Funkhouser fumed as the City Council adopted volunteer restrictions that will oust his wife from City Hall. Smoke in casino concourses heated up arguments for and against changing the no-smoking ordinance. And John McCain and Sara Palin fired up Republican enthusiasm in Lee's Summit. Steve Bell revisits those stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-12-08 (2008-09-12)
Unstable storm systems, sometimes heavy rain and the possibility of flooding plague the KCUR listening area through the weekend.

Volunteer Ordinance Passes 12:1 Over Funkhouser Objections (2008-09-12)
Despite pleas from the mayor, the Kansas City city council has passed an ordinance that will end the full-time volunteer service of the mayor's wife at City Hall. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

KCUR Morning Newscast 9-11-08 (2008-09-11)
A Kansas City Council committee took testimony yesterday on two proposed changes to no-smoking ordinance. That and more news from KCUR!

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-11-08 (2008-09-11)
The Kansas City city council has passed a volunteers policy ordinance that bans the mayor's wife from City Hall. The only "no" vote was from Mayor Funkhouser.

Council, Casino at Odds Over Smoking Ban Change (2008-09-11)
A proposal to stop customers from smoking in concourses and hallways of casino buildings is drawing opposition from the Ameristar. KCUR's Maria Carter reports.

Council Ponders Homicide Surge (2008-09-11)
Kansas City, Missouri could set another record for homicides this year. There have been 90 to date, 20 more than last year, after a sudden upsurge in August. And a city council committee looked into what can be done about it yesterday. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-10-08 (2008-09-10)
A council committee pondered revisions to Kansas City's smoking-ban ordinance that would end smoking in casino hallways.

Democratic VP Candidate Stops in Missouri (2008-09-09)
Earlier this week, the campaign news in Missouri was McCain-Palin. On Tuesday, it was Joe Biden, but not in Kansas City.

McCain-Palin Ticket Visits Lee's Summit (2008-09-09)
The Kansas City area has had its first "live" look and listen experience of the John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket. Between 5 and 6 thousand people packed into and around a pavilion at John Knox Retirement Village in Lee's Summit yesterday. KCUR's Dan Verbeck was there.

Hospitals Back Efforts for Regional Cancer Institute (2008-09-09)
Leaders of area hospitals are backing KU's efforts to become a National Cancer Institute. They say the designation would bring new research grants and clinical trials to the region. KCUR's Elana Gordon has more.

Economist Says Expect to Spend More on Heating Bills (2008-09-09)
With energy at the top of the political agenda, representatives of state energy offices are in Kansas City hitting all the hot button issues. More from Laura Ziegler.

Fines in Crane Collapse: Violations Termed "Serious" (2008-09-09)
OSHA levies fines in fatal crane collapse. Contractor has time to appeal. Crane toppled at KCP and L jobsite

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-9-08 (2008-09-09)
A construction crane company involved in a deadly collapse near Weston has fifteen working days to protest a $14 thousand fine levied by OSHA.

Local Reactions to Republican National Convention (2008-09-08)
Local pundits, politicians and citizens talk about what they thought of the recent convention.

Overflow Crowd Greets McCain and Palin in Lee's Summit (2008-09-08)
In Lees Summit, the auditorium of John Knox Retirement Village wasn't big enough to hold the crowd intent on seeing GOP Presidential nominee John McCain and his running mate Governor Sarah Palin. It's no accident this state is an early stop on the final run for the White House.

McCain and Palin Deliver Message to Lee's Summit (2008-09-08)
Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin brought the presidential race to Kansas City this morning with a rally in Lee's Summit. And by all appearances the messages delivered were the messages desired. KCUR's Dan Verbeck was there.

Church Leaders House Undocumented Immigrants (2008-09-08)
KC Currents' Sylvia Maria Gross has this story of a Kansas City Kansas family who turned to a group of church pastors when they thought they were about to be turned in.

Childhood Obesity on the Rise: U.S. Surgeon General Visits KC (2008-09-08)
The Acting Surgeon General visited Kansas City this week. That's amid controversy surrounding the U.S. surgeon general's office. REAR Admiral Steven K. Galson has been making stops across the country to talk about childhood obesity. KCUR's Elana Gordon caught up with him.

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-8-08 (2008-09-08)
Republican candidates John McCain and Sara Palin delivered energetic speeches to an overflow crowd in Lee's Summit this morning.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-09-06)
The battle continued over the mayor's wife officing at city hall. Political campaign contribution limits ended in Missouri. And Senator Sam Brownback didn't nominate the GOP's vice presidential candidate as planned after John McCain chose a surprise running mate. Those are some of the stories Steve Bell recaps on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

Few from Women's Group Gather to Watch McCain (2008-09-06)
A handful of members of the Women's Political Caucus gathered to watch McCain's acceptance speech Thursday night at The Screenland Theater.

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-5-08 (2008-09-05)
The Missouri Supreme Court again postpones the resumption of elections in the state.

KC Delegates Cheer McCain's Speech (2008-09-05)
Kansas City delegates say John McCain's acceptance speech set the right tone for his campaign, one of integrity, strength and conservative themes.

KCUR Morning Newscast 9-5-08 (2008-09-05)
Kansas City delegates say John McCain's acceptance speech set the right tone for his campaign, one of integrity, strength and conservative themes. That and more news from KCUR!

Kansas Young Republicans Mobilize (2008-09-05)
Kansas Young Republicans enthusiastic about McCain, Palin.

KCUR evening newscast 9-5-08 (2008-09-05)
Kansas City and Jackson County consolidate some jail services. Councilwoman Kathy Jolly contends savings are $200 thousand. M-U president Foresee explains stance on drinking age analysis.

Sebelius Says Palin Won't Pull Clinton Supporters (2008-09-04)
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius says Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin said nothing Wednesday night to attract women who used to support Hillary Clinton.

Republican Delegates Applaud Palin (2008-09-04)
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin proved she could give as well as she gets - accepting the Republican nomination for Vice President with a feisty speech attacking Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama and the media.

KCUR Morning Newscast 9-4-08 (2008-09-04)
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin proved she could give as well as she gets - accepting the Republican nomination for Vice President with a feisty speech attacking Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama and the media. A report from St. Paul. That and more news from KCUR!

U.S. Surgeon General Visits Kansas City (2008-09-04)
The nation's top doctor is in Kansas City this week. He stopped by Satchel Paige Elementary School yesterday to talk to students about obesity. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

Vote on City Volunteers Ordinance Postponed (2008-09-04)
The Kansas City city council has delayed the vote on an ordinance that would regulate volunteers, and in so doing force Gloria Squitiro to leave her unpaid job in the office of her husband, Mark Funkhouser. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

Former KU Players Asked to Leave NBA Rookie Program (2008-09-04)
The image of KU athletics took a severe hit Wednesday when two of the Jayhawks' best basketball players from last season were asked to leave the NBA's rookie transition program.

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-4-08 (2008-09-04)
The ordinance that would end Gloria Squitiro's volunteer duty in husband Mark Funkhouser's office is on hold for at least a week.

Bond Says High Expectations for Palin's Speech (2008-09-03)
Missouri Senator Kit Bond talked with Up To Date listeners from the Republican national Convention Wednesday and he says those who criticize vice-presidential nominee Sara Palin for lack of experience are mistaken.

Brownback to Introduce McCain Thursday (2008-09-03)
Kansas Senator Sam Brownback will NOT give the nominating speech tonight for the Republican vice presidential nominee. Brownback is now slated to be one of four people speaking Thursday night to introduce presidential nominee John McCain.

Kansas City Delegate Misses Tension of Previous GOP Conventions (2008-09-03)
Thirty-two years after taking a local host role at a GOP convention, Kansas Citian Jim Chappel is a voting delegate at the Republican national nominating process in St. Paul.

Former GOP Chair Looks Back to 1996 Convention (2008-09-03)
It was 1996 when Republicans convened at the convention in San Diego to nominate the favorite son of Kansas, Senator Bob Dole. John "Woody" Cozad led Missouri Republicans at that convention.

Kansas Delegate Says GOP Convention Finding Focus (2008-09-03)
As the GOP National Convention gathers steam in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Republican Consultant David Kensinger of Topeka says the event is beginning to find its focus and an exciting one.

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-3-08 (2008-09-03)
Mayor Mark Funkhouser calls a news conference to decry ordinance that would ban his wife from City Hall.

Hurricane Gustav Delays GOP Convention (2008-09-02)
Hurricane Gustav blew the Republican Convention off course Monday, but Kansas City delegates say it has been an opportunity for John McCain to show leadership under adversity.

KCUR Morning Newscast 9-2-08 (2008-09-02)
Hurricane Gustav blew the Republican Convention off course Monday, but Kansas City delegates say it has been an opportunity for John McCain to show leadership under adversity. That and more news from KCUR!

Nelson-Atkins Closed to the Public on Tuesdays (2008-09-02)
It's fairly typical for a museum to be closed to the public on a Monday. On September 2, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art added another day: Tuesday.

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-2-08 (2008-09-02)
The lid is off Missouri political contributions, and the money is rolling in.

KCUR Morning Newscast 9-1-08 (2008-09-01)
Some Kansas City area relief agencies are in place to help victims of Hurricane Gustav, due to arrive on the Gulf coast this morning. That and more news from KCUR!

GOP Convention Schedule in Flux (2008-09-01)
The schedule has been cut to the basics at the GOP National Convention in Minneapolis-St, Paul, awaiting more word from the gulf on how much destruction a weaker-than-expected Hurricane Gustav delivered.

KCUR Evening Newscast 9-1-08 (2008-09-01)
Homicides are taking no Labor Day weekend vacation as Kansas City looks at a probable record month.

McCain-Palin Rally in O'Fallon, Missouri (2008-08-31)
Senator John McCain's Straight-Talk Expressed rolled into Missouri on Sunday, August 31. Despite the 95-degree heat an overflow crowd of 23,000 packed into T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon.

Multicultural Issues At the Conventions (2008-08-31)
KCUR's Susan Wilson speaks with NPR's Michel Martin about aspects of the recent Democratic National Convention that surprised her.

Community Blood Supply Reaches Critical Low (2008-08-31)
The Kansas City Community Blood Center is reporting that its blood supply is at a critical level. KCUR's Elana Gordon has more.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-08-30)
Gas prices hit the Kansas City Police Department in the pocketbook. Two major downtown players came out against the proposed light rail route. And while Missouri and Kansas Democrats rehearsed speeches for the Democratic national convention, Barack Obama began his campaign in Kansas City. Steve Bell revisits those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

Local Dems Look To November (2008-08-29)
The Democratic National Convention is over. People from the Kansas and Missouri delegations making their way to the airport this morning. Party leaders hope those travelers thinking about the 66 days they have to take their candidate from party endorsement to president.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-29-08 (2008-08-29)
Most people who went out to Denver as part of the Kansas and Missouri delegations to the Democratic National Convention are on their way home this morning, and turning their attention to a challenge suddenly on the horizon. That and more news from KCUR!

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-29-08 (2008-08-29)
Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty in the "Precious Doe" murder case.

Church Leaders Talk to KCK Police about Immigration Issues (2008-08-28)
The Immigrant Justice Advocacy Movement has offered church sanctuary to one undocumented family facing deportation. Church leaders say the family was being harassed by neighbors in Kansas City Kansas. The group helped relocate the family to Johnson County.

Local Delegates Part of History (2008-08-28)
Hard core Democrats from Kansas and Missouri are gearing up this morning for the final night of what many of them view as a historic nominating convention. Frank Morris reports from Denver.

Missouri, Kansas Dems Rally for Obama (2008-08-28)
Kansas and Missouri Democrats are squeezing in next to some 75-thousand other spectators at Invesco Field in Denver to see their freshly minted presidential nominee, Barack Obama. KCUR's Frank Morris is there too, and reports that many here are already looking past the speech to the general election.

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-28-08 (2008-08-28)
Hard core Democrats from Kansas and Missouri are gearing up this morning for the final night of what many of them view as a historic nominating convention. KCUR's Frank Morris reports from Denver. That and more news form KCUR!

MO Democrats Mobilizing (2008-08-28)
Missouri Democrats meeting are mobilizing for the general election. KCUR's Frank Morris reports from Denver.

LGBT Turn Out at Democratic Convention (2008-08-28)
Gays, Lesbians and transgendered people are represented like never before at this year's Democratic National Convention. That includes a strong showing from the Kansas and Missouri delegations.

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-28-08 (2008-08-28)
Federal prosecutors have charged a man in the killing of a bank guard in Kansas City more than two years ago.

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-27-08 (2008-08-27)
Presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke to transport workers facing steep job cuts at Kansas City International airport. That and more news from KCUR!

Senator Clinton's Speech Swings Support to Obama (2008-08-27)
Democrats have officially counting the delegates and nominated the first African American presidential candidate. That's a relief to delegates who have been torn by lingering resentment between Clinton and Obama supporters. KCUR's Frank Morris reports from Denver.

Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Unveils Health Plan (2008-08-27)
Kenny Hulshof, the Republican candidate for Missouri Governor, recently unveiled his plan for health care. He says it would make insurance available to all Missourians. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

Democrats Highlight Powerful Women, including Sebelius (2008-08-27)
Kathleen Sebelius, the governor of Kansas, took on a role for which doubly well suited at the Democratic National Convention last night. KCUR's Frank Morris has more from Denver.

Sebelius Discusses Economy at DNC (2008-08-27)
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius spoke about some of her humble roots and the touchy state of the US economy, before a TV audience of millions last night. KCUR's Frank Morris was at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, and has this report.

Barack Obama Receives Party's Nomination (2008-08-27)
The delegates are counted in Denver, and the Democrats have officially nominated Senator Barack Obama for president.

Kansas Governor Takes Prime Time Spot with Dems (2008-08-27)
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius shared a little of her family history (her great-grandmother was Howard Taft's maid, before he became president) with millions of people on prime time TV. That's because Governor Sebelius is part of an elite club that Democrats would like to see get a little less so, successful red state Democrats.

KCUR Evening Newscast (2008-08-27)
Missouri State Senator Jolie Justus, Democratic Convention delegate says not that credit has been given to Hillary Clinton the convention focus will change to Barack Obama.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-26-08 (2008-08-26)
Missouri got more than its share of attention at the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Denver. That and more news from KCUR!

Kansas Governor in Demand at DNC (2008-08-26)
People watching TV tonight will see something strange, a Kansas governor addressing the Democratic National Convention, in prime time. KCUR's Frank Morris is at the convention in Denver, and reports that Sebelius is in high demand there.

McCaskill to Get Clinton Voter Behind Obama (2008-08-26)
Democrat Barack Obama is winding his way through Midwestern battle ground states on his way to the convention in Denver, but the Illinois Senator may still have some convincing to do when he reaches the huge gathering of party faithful there. Last night he got some help from one of his early allies, US Senator Claire McCaskill. The Missouri Democrat is working to bring Clinton delegates into line behind Obama.

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-26-08 (2008-08-26)
Obama stresses economy at KCI overhaul base, calls McCain "out of touch."

Miles In Millions Mean Meager Payback For Police (2008-08-26)
Payback is too low for K.C. police driving. Request going to city council. Fourteen million miles driven each year in patrol cars.

Obama Addresses KC Transport Workers Facing Cutbacks (2008-08-26)
Presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke to transport workers facing steep job cuts at Kansas City International airport yesterday. The town-hall meeting was part of his tour of tightly-contested states before he speaks at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross was there.

Aim4Peace Aims to Prevent KC Homicides (2008-08-25)
An outreach program seeks to counter homicide trends.

Study Explores Health Care Among Latinos (2008-08-25)
A new study looks at Latino access to health care in the United States.

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-25-08 (2008-08-25)
The Democrats meeting in Denver will highlight a prominent Kansan, Kathleen Sebelius, and a Missouri Senator Clair McCaskill also will be spotlighted. But as the pre-convention activities started yesterday, less well known people from the Kansas City region were heard. Democratic convention coverage and more news from the KCUR Newsroom!

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-25-08 (2008-08-25)
Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill gets the spotlight tonight at the Democratic National Convention.

New Teachers Face First Week of School (2008-08-25)
It's the first week of school for Kansas City Missouri students- and for 50 new teachers from Teach for America.

"Rednecks for Obama" Supporters Go to Denver (2008-08-25)
Demonstrators at the DNC include Missouri "Rednecks for Obama."

Diplomas Related To Prison Relief (2008-08-25)
Top lawmen from Kansas join KC police chief. Link lack of diplomas to prison overcrowding

Top Stories of the Week (2008-08-23)
A conservative group expressed dissatisfaction with Missouri Supreme Court nominees. American Airlines officials met with the mayor on the future of the KCI overhaul base. And the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Diocese agreed to a $10 million sexual abuse settlement. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

Clergy Sex Abuse Is Measured: Arbitrator Calculates (2008-08-22)
Contract is signed to prevent future clerical molestation. Plaintiffs call it a global solution

K.C. Council Passes Domestic Violence Ordinance (2008-08-22)
The Kansas City council passed a domestic violence ordinance Thursday that makes it a municipal crime to violate an order of protection... but not without a dissenting voice. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-22-08 (2008-08-22)
Environmental officials say a closed insulation plant in Cameron, Missouri has elevated but not toxic levels of lead and arsenic. That and more news from KCUR!

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-22-08 (2008-08-22)
The Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese today signed the $10 million settlement of 47 allegations of sexual abuse by clergy.

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-21-08 (2008-08-21)
The Catholic bishop of the Kansas City- St. Joseph Diocese is settling claims of sexual abuse against a dozen priests for 10 million dollars. That and more news from KCUR!

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-21-08 (2008-08-21)
The Kansas City council passed a new domestic violence ordinance today, but not by unanimous vote.

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-20-08 (2008-08-20)
The Kansas City Parks Board is getting involved in the controversy over the dress code at the Power and Light District.

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-20-08 (2008-08-20)
The Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese confirms it has approved a settlement in nearly 50 cases of abuse by clergy, and is issuing a public apology.

Bishop Regrets: Apologizes for Clergy Sex Abuse (2008-08-20)
KC-St Joseph Diocese will pay Ten Million. Bishop will seek abuser-priests lose sacred powers.

$10 Million Settlement in Clergy Sex Abuse Case (2008-08-20)
A tentative settlement has been reached between 47 men and the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic diocese.

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-19-08 (2008-08-19)
Dennis Moore campaigned in Kansas City and prominent Democrats toured for Obama in Missouri, but Governor Blunt said McCain's policies are more palatable to rural Missouri.

Half Way Passage Is No Pass At All: Full Thrust Ahead For Black Heritage Tax (2008-08-19)
Next stop is Missouri Capitol in innovative tax plan from Kansas City. Disadvantaged district is focus.

Area Congregation Discusses Crisis in Zimbabwe (2008-08-18)
Members of a United Methodist congregation discussed the crisis in Zimbabwe at a recent gathering in Fairway, Kansas.

Sportswriter Anthony Tao on Opening Week of Olympics (2008-08-18)
Former KCUR intern and freelance journalist Anthony Tao sends us an update from Beijing

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-18-08 (2008-08-18)
American Airlines will honor its KCI lease, but says it can not yet predict the extent of job cuts at its overhaul base.

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-18-08 (2008-08-18)
Scrap metal is worth so much these days, thieves are willing to risk death, even if they might not intended it. That and more news from KCUR!

American Meets City Hall: Job Cuts Uncertain (2008-08-18)
Top execs of American Airlines get city assurances. City receives same. Contract for KCI base is intact. Job reduction issue is less firm.

Sonia Nazario Discusses Enrique's Journey (2008-08-17)
Los Angeles Times reporter Sonia Nazario won a Pulitzer Prize in 2003 for her series about a boy who migrated from Central America to the United States. Like many other children, as Nazario uncovered, he traveled through Mexico riding on top of freight trains. Nazario based her series on one Honduran teenager's experience, and she spent years researching his life and journey.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-08-16)
The majority of the city council made it clear they want Mark Funkhouser's wife out of the mayor's office. Margaret Donnelly called for a recount on Chris Koster's narrow victory. And Kansas City faced massive job cuts at the American Airlines overhaul base. Steve Bell reviews those and other top stories of the week on the KCUR Saturday News Review.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-08-16)
The majority of the city council made it clear they want Mark Funkhouser's wife out of the mayor's office. Margaret Donnelly called for a recount on Chris Koster's narrow victory. And Kansas City faced massive job cuts at the American Airlines overhaul base. Steve Bell reviews those and other top stories of the week on the KCUR Saturday News Review.

Obama Policy Director Leads Women's Health Forum (2008-08-15)
Senator Barack Obama's domestic policy director, Neera Tanden, met with Kansas City supporters yesterday for a town hall on women's health.

Missouri Factory is Focus for Obama Camp (2008-08-15)
Factories for Obama in march toward November McCain vote generator goes into homes

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-15-08 (2008-08-15)
The controversy of policing KCI was put to rest yesterday with a resolution calling for, among other things, more timely communication and airport officers trained at the Police Academy. That and more local news from KCUR!

Council Presses for Squitiro Resignation (2008-08-15)
How do you know how the Kansas City Council stands on an issue when they haven't voted, and it hasn't been debated or even read aloud? It was pretty certain on one resolution introduced Thursday. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-15-08 (2008-08-15)
Democrat Margaret Donnelly will call for a recount of the votes in her primary loss to Chris Koster.

Nursing Workforce Center Opens in Kansas City (2008-08-14)
The nation's first bi-state nursing workforce center is opening up in Kansas City. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-14-08 (2008-08-14)
Two more casino companies will make their pitch today to build and run a state-owned casino in Wyandotte County. That and more news from KCUR!

No Longer In Vogue Among Suburbanites: Meth (2008-08-14)
life-cycle of pop drug takes it out of original demographic. meth use grows rural, dies out urban.

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-14-08 (2008-08-14)
The Kansas City city council has given the Police Department more say-so over security forces at the airport.

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-13-08 (2008-08-13)
American Airlines will cut about 600 jobs at its maintenance facility at KCI.

Medicaid Forums Come to KC (2008-08-13)
Missouri's Medicaid Director is in Kansas City this week, gathering public input on the state's medical assistance program. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

First Two Casino Pitches Lobbed: Some Gamble. (2008-08-13)
State regulators meet in KCK to hear sell jobs. Two of four casino operators are heard.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-29-08 (2008-08-13)
A hand recount in Johnson County is scheduled for today in the legislative race between Democrats Mike Slattery and Andy Sandler. That and more news from KCUR!

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-12-08 (2008-08-12)
It was biggest manhunt in K.C. history. It was today. Growth on horizon for Vets Mental health care. 'Dirty Dozen" list uncoils close to home.

Veterans Lining Up For Top Campaign (2008-08-12)
Veterans' political clout is being sought. Obama Missouri team woos ex-military men and women. McCain supporters rebut

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-12-08 (2008-08-12)
Senator Barack Obama's Veterans affairs advisors in Missouri have been listening to former military members at meetings around the state. Ten veterans and a soldier's widow told their stories yesterday at the National World War One Museum in Kansas City. That and more news from KCUR!

Veterans Address Needs With Obama Advisors (2008-08-12)
Senator Barack Obama's veteran affairs advisors in Missouri have been listening to former military members at meetings around the state.

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-11-08 (2008-08-11)
Manhattan, Kansas was one of five finalists chosen by a panel of experts for the Homeland Security Department's new lab to study human and animal diseases, but its competition may have gotten special treatment. That and more news from KCUR!

Health Care Advocates Celebrate Medicare's Birthday (2008-08-11)
The nation's health care program for seniors and the disabled turned 43 years old this summer. Some local doctors and public officials say that calls for a celebration. KCUR's health reporter Elana Gordon reports.

Haskell Indian Nations University to Host Tribal College Summit (2008-08-11)
Professor Dan Wildcat speaks about the upcoming conference and the evolution of American Indian education

Urban Violence and Kansas City Youth (2008-08-11)
Youth advocate Ossco Bolton discusses the causes and solutions to urban violence among young urban men.

U.S Soldier Sues Government Over Immigration Delay (2008-08-10)
Iraqi born U.S soldier Julian Polous Al Matchy is suing the government with the help of the ACLU

Bicycle Legend Speaks for First Time about Childhood Trauma (2008-08-10)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. But Greg LeMond, the three time Tour de France winner, says the numbers may be even higher. LeMond was recently in Kansas City at an event organized by a local child abuse prevention center.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-08-09)
KU just about doubled Bill Self's salary. A light rail proposal made its way to the November ballot. And Missouri and Kansas primary elections generated high interest but mediocre turnouts. Steve Bell reviews those and other top stories of the week on the KCUR Saturday News Review.

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-8-08 (2008-08-08)
Mayor Mark Funkhouser is seeking out-of-town advice on federal funding for light rail.

Regional Rail Rout: Kansas City is Not Unique (2008-08-08)
Mayors from East and West advise their Kansas City counterpart. Light rail challenges likened to Chicago trials.

Council: Nov. Light Rail Vote for KC, No Police Change at KCI (2008-08-08)
Kansas Citians can look forward to a vote on light rail and some fancy new parking meters downtown. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

Bicycle Legend Speaks for First Time about Being Abused as Child (2008-08-07)
1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. That's according to the Centers for Disease Control. But Greg LeMond, the three time Tour de France winner, says the numbers may be even higher, because it's not something most male victims ever talk about or report. The bicyclist was in Kansas City yesterday, where he spoke publicly for the first time about having been sexually abused as a child by a family friend.

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-7-08 (2008-08-07)
Kansas City voters will have their say on a light rail starter route in November.

In HST's Shadow. Dems Launch Fall Fight (2008-08-07)
Primary is over, but opponents in unsettled AG race put on united front. Rally starts in Truman country.

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-6-08 (2008-08-06)
Chris Koster Jim Ryun held on to their leads in their respective races through delayed ballot counts in St. Louis, Topeka.

Kline Loses Primary Race for Johnson County DA (2008-08-06)
Phill Kline lost the Johnson County district attorney's office in the Republican primary Tuesday night.

Hulshof Defeats Steelman in GOP Gubernatorial Primary (2008-08-06)
Congressman Kenny Hulshof defeated state Treasurer Sarah Steelman in the Missouri Republican gubernatorial primary.

Political Pundits Analyze Primary Results (2008-08-06)
In this edition of Up to Date, political pundits analyze the results of the primary elections, and what impact it could have on this year's presidential contest.

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-6-08, Elections Coverage (2008-08-06)
Steve Howe beat sitting Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline in yesterday's Republican primary. That and more election news from KCUR!

Koster Narrowly Wins Democratic Attorney General Contest (2008-08-06)
In the Democratic race for Missouri Attorney General, State Senator Chris Koster squeaked by State Representative Margaret Donnelly with a margin of less than a thousand votes. Donnelly's campaign is considering calling for a recount. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross was at Koster victory party in the Teamsters Hall in east Kansas City.

Issue of Abortion Central to Kline's Defeat in Republican Primary (2008-08-06)
Phill Kline will have to leave the Johnson County District Attorney's office. Steve Howe, who billed himself as the "unity candidate" won Tuesday's Republican primary 60 percent to Kline's 40 percent.

Koster Declares Victory in Democratic AG Race (2008-08-06)
Missouri State Senator Chris Koster declared a victory in the Democratic attorney general primary on Tuesday. His opponent state Rep. Margaret Donnelly may ask for a recount. Koster leads by 854 votes.

Voters Approve JoCo Public Safety Sales Tax (2008-08-06)
Johnson County voters passed a quarter-cent sales tax with a focus on public safety 53 percent to 47 percent.

Why Non-Voters Skip the Polls (2008-08-05)
Even in the midst of a historical election year, there are people who won't be voting. We examined why non-voters skip the polls and the impact of their decision not to cast their ballot.

Senator Dole Hosts Forum Featuring Regional Health Experts (2008-08-05)
Bob Dole says he's on a mission to improve the nation's health care system. The former Kansas Senator visited his namesake, the Dole Institute of Politics yesterday, to hear from Kansans about the area's current health care problems and about what they think should be done to fix them. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

Nixon Wins Democratic Gubernatorial Primary (2008-08-05)
Democrat Jay Nixon handily won his party's gubernatorial nomination Tuesday and starts his campaign with millions to spend.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-5-08 (2008-08-05)
A ballot measure to end Missouri's $500 loss limit has been certified for a November vote.

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-5-08 (2008-08-05)
Kansas City Health Department officials say two suspected heat deaths are being investigated by the Jackson County medical examiner's office.

Fighting 'Streetsweepers':Attack On Killing Machines (2008-08-05)
K.C. joins collective against illicit guns. Rising homicide toll punctuates effort.

Battle for Suburban Kansas Board of Education Seat (2008-08-04)
Social conservatives and moderates are competing again this year for control of the Kansas State Board of Education. Voters will go to the polls in primary elections on Tuesday to nominate candidates in the five seats that are up for election this year. One of the most closely-watched races is in District 2, which covers parts of Johnson and Wyandotte counties. More from Kansas statehouse reporter Peter Hancock.

What If You Held An Election.......? (2008-08-04)
Long lines at polls are no excuse. Entry to voting places is guaranteed to be jostle-free.

Getting out the Geek Vote (2008-08-04)
Rarely, does a race for the Kansas legislature generate much interest outside that district's boundaries, but that's just what's happening this year, all due to an online comic strip. A campaign in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe is drawing attention and money from around the globe. Maria Carter of member station KCUR reports.

Heat Holds City Hostage (2008-08-04)
Blaze of heat poses hazards for ultra security conscious residents. Veteran cop worries over special cases

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-4-08 (2008-08-04)
The EPA says the University of Kansas could be fined for violating regulations for the second time in three years. That and more news from KCUR!

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-4-08 (2008-08-04)
The heat index has hit 106 degrees downtown... 108 at KCI, and heat as stifling as it is right now poses hazards beyond mere temperature and humidity.

Senator Dole to Host Health Care Forum (2008-08-03)
Bob Dole, the former Kansas senator, will be at the Dole Institute of Politics in Lawrence to hear what Kansans have to say about health-care reform. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

Senator Dole to Host Health Care Forum (2008-08-03)
Bob Dole, the former Kansas senator, will be at the Dole Institute of Politics in Lawrence to hear what Kansans have to say about health-care reform. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

Positive Drug Tests on the Rise in Kansas City (2008-08-03)
A company that does workplace drug tests just recently released data showing an increase in positive drug tests in the Kansas City area. Even while nationally, fewer people are testing positive for drugs in these workplace screenings. Jim Nunnelly runs Jackson County's COMBAT anti-drug programs. He told KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross that this new information from Quest Diagnostics demonstrates the importance of looking at substance abuse from a public health perspective.

Top Stories of the Weekl (2008-08-02)
East side advocates are celebrating an expanded light rail starter route plan that extends to 63rd and Prospect.

KCUR Evening Newscast 8-1-08 (2008-08-01)
Richard Davis has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the sex-torture killings of two women.

Kansas Democratic Candidates for the Senate: Jim Slattery and Lee Jones (2008-08-01)
Up to Date host Steve Kraske talks with Jim Slattery and Lee Jones, the two Democrats seeking to unseat Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas.

Art the Vote Reveals Eighth Billboard Artist (2008-08-01)
Starting in September, more than 70 billboards across Missouri will display artworks by 8 artists for a get-out-the vote initiative called Art the Vote.

KCUR Morning Newscast 8-1-08 (2008-08-01)
Kansas City's east side won a victory in fight over light rail. A proposal would extend a light rail line an extra two miles down Prospect to 63rd Street. That and more news from KCUR!

Light Rail Plan Expands to 63rd and Prospect (2008-08-01)
The Kansas City light rail proposal to be sent to voters will extend to 63rd and Prospect on the south and will run down Main Street in midtown. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

Governor Candidates Differ on Earnings Tax Repeal (2008-08-01)
It may be impossible to find a popular tax. And in the "unpopularity contest" among many forms of taxation, people often complain about Kansas City's Earnings Tax. Republican candidates for Missouri governor Kenny Hulshof and Sarah Steelman may have their strongest disagreement on whether the state should continue to allow the E-Tax. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

Kemper at the Crossroads Opens November 7 (2008-07-31)
The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art has two locations near the Kansas City Art Institute and plans to open a third downtown, in the Crossroads Arts District, in November.

KCUR evening newscast 7-31-08 (2008-07-31)
Battle for presidential votes in western Missouri begins in earnest: Obama campaign opens KC office. dispute over staff size KC Light rail plan revised southward

KCUR Morning Newscast7-31-08 (2008-07-31)
Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama told audiences in southwest Missouri it's time to choose a new direction for the country. That and more news from KCUR!

Democrats Vie for Missouri Attorney General (2008-07-31)
There's four lawyers competing to be the Democratic candidate for Missouri's Attorney General in next week's primary. They have similar ideas on how to protect Missourians from crime and consumer fraud. But the candidates are coming at the race from very different perspectives. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports.

Trolling For Votes. How Many Are Employed? (2008-07-31)
How many are on the job? Campaign hedges on number of Obama Missouri workers.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-30-08 (2008-07-30)
Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain is raising funds in Kansas City this evening. His Democratic counterpart, Senator Barack Obama was in Springfield. He addressed a rally styled as a town meeting . Obama said that McCain will resort to what he called "tired Republican charges." Officials symbolically broke ground this morning to start the restoration of three fountains along the Paseo Boulevard. That and more from KCUR

Restoration Begins for Historic Kansas City Fountains (2008-07-30)
Officials symbolically broke ground Wednesday morning to start the restoration of three fountains along Paseo Boulevard, including one of the city's oldest.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-30-08 (2008-07-30)
Flood waters are receding now after storms dumped up to 6 inched inches of rain in the Kansas City area. That and more news from KCUR!

WEB EXTRA: Interview with Johnson County DA candidate Steve Howe (2008-07-30)
Steve Howe worked for 15 years in the Johnson County District Attorneys office as a prosecutor. Now, Howe is running against Phill Kline in the Republican primary for the top job in the office.

WEB EXTRA: Interview with Johnson County DA candidate Steve Howe (2008-07-30)
Steve Howe worked for 15 years in the Johnson County District Attorneys office as a prosecutor. Now, Howe is running against Phill Kline in the Republican primary for the top job in the office.

WEB EXTRA: Interview with Johnson County DA candidate Phill Kline (2008-07-30)
Phill Kline is currently the Johnson County District Attorney and formerly Kansas Attorney General. He's running to keep his job against Steve Howe in the Republican Primary.

WEB EXTRA: Interview with Johnson County DA candidate Steve Howe (2008-07-30)
Steve Howe worked for 15 years in the Johnson County District Attorneys office as a prosecutor. Now, Howe is running against Phill Kline in the Republican primary for the top job in the office.

Obama Making Major Efforts to Win Republicans in Missouri (2008-07-30)
In this edition of Up to Date, political pundits analyze campaign ads, the upcoming primary elections, and this year's presidential contest.

Green Light for Vitagraph Building (2008-07-30)
A $17 million Crossroads redevelopment plan received the green light from a City Council committee Wednesday.

WEB EXTRA: Interview with Johnson County DA candidate Steve Howe (2008-07-30)
Steve Howe worked for 15 years in the Johnson County District Attorneys office as a prosecutor. Now, Howe is running against Phill Kline in the Republican primary for the top job in the office.

DA Candidates Battle over Experience & Abortion (2008-07-30)
Both Republican candidates for Johnson County District Attorney describe themselves as pro-life, but abortion is one of the biggest topics in the elections. Phill Kline has staked out a name for himself with pro-life groups and the national media, first as Kansas Attorney General and for the past year and half as the Johnson County District attorney. His opponent, Steve Howe, has kept a lower profile, spending the past 15 years working the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

WEB EXTRA: Interview with Johnson County DA candidate Steve Howe (2008-07-30)
Steve Howe worked for 15 years in the Johnson County District Attorneys office as a prosecutor. Now, Howe is running against Phill Kline in the Republican primary for the top job in the office.

Verbal Guns Loaded For Aerial Dogfight: KCI (2008-07-29)
A Kansas City Council committee hearing room will be the arena. The quarrel is over who provides police power at Kansas City International airport.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-29-08 (2008-07-29)
KC Council set for skirmish over airport security Police find a one and a half year old boy taken from his Independence home Authorities search for relatives of a man killed walking on I-435 The Woodlands keeps trying to get slot machines T. Boon Pickens brings his campaign for wind energy to Kansas

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-29-08 (2008-07-29)
An Amber Alert has been issued by Independence police for a toddler who was allegedly taken from his crib by his 17-year-old noncustodial mother. That and more news from KCUR!

KCUR Evning News Cast 7-28-08 (2008-07-28)
US Justice Department Investigation Touches KC, Marquez Pleads Guilty to Killing Mother, K-DOT finds Sloppy Kansas Bridge Inspections, Nixon Health Plan Numbers Disputed, Steelman Kicks In Another $200,000 for Republican Primary Campaign

Johnson County votes in August on Sales Tax (2008-07-28)
A look at the pros and cons of the vote to renew a three-quarter cent sales tax for public safety.

Green Sewers for Kansas City? (2008-07-28)
The city plans to use a 6 month extension granted by the EPA to explore ways in which environmental solutions can be used in revamping its sewer system

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-28-08 (2008-07-28)
The next multi-year transportation program in Kansas may put less emphasis on highways and more on passenger rail and other kinds of services. That and more news from KCUR!

Twenty-Five Year Minimum For Mother Murder (2008-07-28)
Life term for Taylor Marquez. He was 15 when murder plot was hatched. Plea to lesser charge averts August trial.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-07-26)
The Independence district finally got seven disputed school buildings. Suburban leaders steered toward a bus system rather than light rail. And justice came in the Kelsey Smith murder case without a trial. Steve Bell revisits those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

KC Light Rail Will Carry Heavier Burden (2008-07-25)
Suburban and county leaders opt out of Kansas City light rail transit plan. Fast buses get the green light. Rail plan might fit into the future.

Democratic AG Candidates in Missouri (2008-07-25)
In November, Missouri voters will choose a new Attorney General to replace Democrat Jay Nixon, who is running for Governor. Two of the three active candidates seeking the Missouri Democratic Party's nomination for Attorney General discussed the issues on this edition of Up to Date.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-25-08 (2008-07-25)
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt wants lawmakers to know he has no intentions of spending the state's 833 million-dollar surplus on restoring Medicaid benefits cut three years ago. That and more news from KCUR!

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-25-08 (2008-07-25)
Area leaders at a transit summit have endorsed a regional system that is mostly bus rapid transit.

Light Rail Transit Plan Swirls Around Overseers (2008-07-24)
Disagreements abound as KC Council Transport committee asks input on grand plan. At least one week will intervene before a votable version goes to full council.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-24-08 (2008-07-24)
The family of murdered Overland Park teenager Kelsey Smith hopes the world will forget Edwin Hall. The 27-year-old Hall pleaded guilty yesterday to capital murder, rape, kidnapping and sodomy. That and more news from KCUR!

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-23-08 (2008-07-24)
The city council debated a light rail starter route and passed a measure to get weeds mowed in vacant lots.

KCK Raises Minimum Wage (2008-07-24)
Many employees in Kansas City, Kansas can expect an increase in their paychecks next week. Wyandotte County Commissioners unanimously approved a citywide minimum wage hike at a board meeting last night. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-23-08 (2008-07-23)
Edwin Hall has entered a plea of guilty in the murder of Kelsey Smith.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-23-08 (2008-07-23)
Seven Kansas City schools will be transferred to the Independence district. A Jackson County Judge ordered the Kansas City School district and its building corporation to transfer the schools within two week. That and more news from KCUR!

Suburban Murder Mystery Dissolves: Guilty plea (2008-07-23)
Edwin Hall pleads guilty to capital murder. Avoids death penalty in 2007 kidnap-slaying of Kelsey Smith.

Nixon Announces Health Care Plan (2008-07-22)
Jay Nixon, the main Democrat running for Missouri Governor, passed through Kansas City yesterday to outline his new health care plan. KCUR's Elana Gordon Reports.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-22-08 (2008-07-22)
Later today, Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser plans to change the makeup of two panels that oversee economic development. It's part of a larger aim to move development focus back to distressed areas. That and more from KCUR news!

Shakeup On City Development Panel: Seven New Are Named by KC Mayor (2008-07-22)
Funkhouser appointees hold power on tax abatement authority. Mayor pledges to shift development to poorest districts.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-22-08 (2008-07-22)
The Woodlands race track will close August 24th after failing to negotiate a profitable deal to incorporate slot machines.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-21-08 (2008-07-21)
Civic leaders propose an investment fund to boost blighted areas in the urban core.

Memorial Proposed to Honor Victims and Rescuers at Hyatt Skywalk Collapse (2008-07-21)
In Washington Square Park on Thursday, on the 27th anniversary of the Hyatt Skywalk disaster, members of the Skywalk Memorial Foundation unveiled tentative plans for a memorial to the victims and rescuers at the collapse. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports on the details of the plans, and what inspired the foundation members to start conversations about a memorial.

Not Your Same Old Ways: Boosters Plot Blight Fight (2008-07-21)
Battle against dissolving neighborhoods draws innovators. Goal is clear cut. Path is less linear.

Sportswriter Anthony Tao on Beijing Preparations (2008-07-21)
KCUR's Susan Wilson checked in with our man in Beijing Anthony Tao who filled us in on the latest developments.

KC Hosts Alpha Phi Alpha National Convention (2008-07-21)
The oldest African-American Greek letter fraternity visits Kansas City.

Missouri Now Taking Medicaid Applications Online (2008-07-20)
Missouri is expanding the way residents can apply for state medical assistance. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-07-19)
A new light rail plan ran into its first opposition. Senator John McCain brought his campaign to Kansas City. And Bombardier dropped a bomb on 240 million dollars in tax credits, opting not to build a plant near KCI. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

Committee Reaction Mixed on Light Rail Starter Route (2008-07-18)
The light rail starter route before the Kansas City council had its debut on the committee floor Thursday and met mixed reaction.

Medicare Pilot Program Delayed (2008-07-18)
A pilot Medicare program that recently took effect in Kansas City has been postponed. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-18-08 (2008-07-18)
Phill Kline's prosecution of the Overland Park Planned Parenthood clinic has been postponed again.

McCain Rouses Union Station Crowd (2008-07-18)
Missouri is a state where votes may count more. It's a fact recognized by the campaign of Republican Senator John McCain in his quest for the White House.

Plans Unveiled for Hyatt Skywalk Memorial (2008-07-18)
Tentative plans were unveiled yesterday for a memorial honoring victims of the skywalk collapse at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in 1981. Yesterday marked the 27th anniversary of the disaster in which 114 people died, and hundreds were injured.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-18-08 (2008-07-18)
Expected GOP presidential nominee John McCain spoke to a capacity crowd at Union station yesterday. That and more news from KCUR!

Extended Audio: John McCain's Town Hall in Kansas City (2008-07-17)
Arizona Sen. John McCain held a town hall meeting Thursday at Union Station. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed approximately 800 people in a forum at Union Station's Sprint Celebration Plaza.

McCain Talks Gas Prices, Gas Taxes and Offshore Drilling in Kansas City (2008-07-17)
With a cluster of Obama supporters gathered on The Liberty Memorial hillside across the street, Union Station packed in some 800 people to hear Senator John McCain Thursday in Kansas City, Missouri.

Plans for Hyatt Memorial Revealed (2008-07-17)
Tentative plans were unveiled Thursday for a memorial honoring victims of the skywalk collapse at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in 1981. Yesterday marked the 27th anniversary of the disaster in which 114 people died, and hundreds were injured.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-17-08 (2008-07-17)
The cost of building a light rail line In Kansas City just went up 140-million dollars. That and more news from KCUR!

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-17-08 (2008-07-17)
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain campaigned in a "town meeting" format at Union Station today.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-16-08 (2008-07-16)
The Missouri Supreme Court has put on hold what would have been the first execution in the state in nearly three years. That and more news from KCUR!

Six Million To Troost Transit (2008-07-16)
New, greener buses can be added for Troost transit project:federal funding is freed.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-16-08 (2008-07-16)
An engineering review of Kansas City's proposed light rail starter line says the cost of the project was underestimated by about 20 percent.

Latest Round of Grants for ArtsKC Fund (2008-07-15)
The ArtsKC Fund, like a United Way for the arts, raised nearly $732,000 during its annual spring workplace giving campaign and recently announced its latest round of grant recipients. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

Drug Company Pays MO and KS Millions for Medicaid Fraud Claims (2008-07-15)
One of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies has agreed to pay Missouri and Kansas millions of dollars to resolve claims of Medicaid fraud. KCUR's health reporter, Elana Gordon, reports.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-15-08 (2008-07-15)
A preliminary hearing in Phill Kline's prosecution of Planned Parenthood has been postponed pending a decision by the Kansas Supreme Court on whether Kline must return abortion records he received as attorney general.

Interim Chancellor Named for UMKC (2008-07-15)
University of Missouri System President Gary Forsee has named Leo Morton as interim chancellor of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Morton begins his duties Aug. 1.

Gang Leader Stopped by Federal and Local Partnership (2008-07-15)
Local and federal agencies have closed an infamous period in Kansas City illegal drug history. KCUR's Dan Verbeck listened in at police headquarters.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-15-08 (2008-07-15)
Officials in the Kansas City and Independence school districts will have to wait for a judge's ruling. That and more news from KCUR.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-14-08 (2008-07-14)
Canadian aircraft giant Bombardier won't be building a new multimillion dollar plant in Kansas City. That and more news from KCUR!

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-14-08 (2008-07-14)
Missouri Economic Development head says Bombardier deal was the first of many.

David Jackson: Financial Advice for Couples (2008-07-13)
It's hard enough managing your own money as a single person, but how do you negotiate with a partner or spouse about your financial future? KCUR's Susan Wilson recently explored this subject with financial planner David Jackson.

Kansas Teen Becomes Nation's First Congressional Page with Autism (2008-07-13)
Kansas native Ben Berlin was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a mild form of autism, when he was 5 years old. The now 16 year old just got back from D.C., where he served as a Congressional Page. The program has been around since the early 1800s, but Berlin is the first participant to have an autism spectrum disorder. KCUR's, Elana Gordon, met up with Berlin and his mother, Marie, at their home in Topeka. Berlin says he's surprised he's been getting so much attention.

KC's Oldest Community Health Center to Break Ground on New Facility (2008-07-13)
Kansas City's oldest community health center is gearing up to expand its facility. KCUR's health reporter, Elana Gordon, reports.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-07-12)
The Independence School District got permission to start shaping up seven contested school buildings. Michelle Obama campaigned for her husband in Kansas City. And a November vote on light rail stayed alive, but a regional plan will have to wait. Steve Bell revisits those stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-11-08 (2008-07-11)
A Cole County judge agrees with attorneys appointed by Governor Blunt that an appointed investigator can't file a Sunshine Law suit on behalf of Attorney General Jay Nixon.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-11-08 (2008-07-11)
Michelle Obama stopped in Kansas City and told a group of women that her husband understands the struggles of working mothers and their families. That and more news from KCUR.

First Lady Hopeful Michelle Obama Stops in Kansas City (2008-07-11)
First lady hopeful Michelle Obama reached out to women voters in Kansas City yesterday, as part of a two day swing through the Midwest. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-10-08 (2008-07-10)
Michelle Obama brought her husband's presidential campaign to Kansas City today with a roundtable discussion on the challenges faced by working women.

'Green' Tax Breaks in Missouri (2008-07-10)
It's now the law!! The good part is there will be a one week tax break when you buy 'green' appliances in Missouri.

Extended Audio: Michelle Obama's Roundtable Discussion (2008-07-10)
Michelle Obama visited Kansas City Thursday to discuss the economic challenges facing families and women. This roundtable is one of a series of discussions with women that the wife of the Democratic presidential nominee has hosted across the country.

Light Rail Vote in November Still Possible (2008-07-10)
Kansas City Missouri voters will decide on a light-rail starter route and the 3/8-cent sales tax to support in on November 4th if the process started today continues to fruition.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-10-08 (2008-07-10)
The court battle over allegation of financial mismanagement in the Liberty School district is about to begin, but former superintendent superintendent is saying he was betrayed and is planning to sue for wrongful dismissal. That and more news from KCUR.

First Lady Hopeful Reaches Out to Working Women (2008-07-10)
Michelle Obama hosted a roundtable discussion at the University of Missouri, Kansas City today about the economic challenges of working women.

KCUR newscast afternoon7908 (2008-07-09)
Boeing is still in the bidding for the Defense Department's contract to replace its' air tanker fleet, and that bodes well for Kansas' economic reliance on the aircraft industry. The Air Force will reopen bidding for the $35 billion pact, originally won by the European parent of Airbus and Northrup Grumman. Boeing protested that the process was flawed.

Missouri Republican Gubernatorial Debate (2008-07-09)
Kenny Hulshof and Sarah Steelman, two candidates seeking the Republican nomination for Missouri Governor, debate the issues and their qualifications.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-9-08 (2008-07-09)
Missouri attorney general candidate Chris Koster reportedly used his campaign staff to channel big checks around the state's contribution limits. That and more news from KCUR.

Kansas City Native Muna Lee Heads to Bejing (2008-07-09)
One of the world's fastest women grew up in Kansas City. Since graduating from Central High School, Muna Lee's path has taken different twists and turns, but now it leads to Bejing.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-8-08 (2008-07-08)
One candidate for governor of Missouri picks up an endorsement, while another promises help for business, as state transportation planers dream big.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-8-08 (2008-07-08)
A judge granted the Independence school district full access to seven schools transferred from the Kansas City district.

Test story (2008-07-08)
This is a test and only a test. Sorry for the annoyance. This will be taken down shortly.

Highway Horrors Face Funding Flaws (2008-07-08)
Missouri road projects are termed 'critical need." Budget shortfall is pegged at $5.5 billion.

Childhood Immunizations: Kansas Panel Makes Recommendations (2008-07-08)
A special Kansas Task Force has found that many families throughout the state face major barriers when it comes to accessing immunization services for their children. KCUR's health reporter, Elana Gordon, reports.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-7-08 (2008-07-07)
Judge Gives Independence District Full Access to Seven Disputed Buildings

Among Toughest In Nation: Missouri Immigration Laws To Begin (2008-07-07)
Hotly disputed laws put Missouri in forefront against illegal immigration. Sanctuary cities banned. Sponsor, Rep. Bob Onder(Right), denies proliferation of ethnic profiling.

More People and Money in Kansas City (2008-07-07)
A new study by UMKC's Cookingham Institute of Urban Affairs shows that Kansas City's population, and buying power are significantly higher than estimates from the census suggest. UMKC Professor Robyne Turner directed the research, which could affect federal funding and economic development throughout Kansas City.

Travels in Thailand (2008-07-07)
How do you stay connected to family members who are halfway around the world? It's a question that Pete Dulin explores in a series of essays called Travels in Thailand: Explorations of Family, Food, Heritage and Culture.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-7-08 (2008-07-07)
A dispute between the Independence and Kansas City school districts heads to court today. The squabble stems from last fall's public vote changing the two districts' boundaries

Water Safety Advocates Step up Efforts to Prevent Pool Drownings (2008-07-05)
For many, summertime means but one thing: pool-time. But summer's also the time when 90% of pool drownings occur. Many aquatic experts, lawmakers, and child safety advocates say most cases are actually preventable. And now they're stepping up efforts to put an end to incidents that could otherwise be avoided. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-07-05)
Barack Obama quoted Mark Twain in Independence. Liberty Memorial kept its eternal flame alive. And the Independence and Kansas City school districts try to work out differences over the transfer of seven buildings today. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

Safety Advocates Step up Efforts to Prevent Pool Drownings (2008-07-05)
For many, summertime means but one thing: pool-time. But summer's also the time when 90% of pool drownings occur. Many aquatic experts, lawmakers, and child safety advocates say most cases are actually preventable. And now they're stepping up efforts to put an end to incidents that could otherwise be avoided. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

Water Safety Advocates Step up Efforts to Prevent Pool Drownings (2008-07-05)
For many, summertime means but one thing: pool-time. But summer's also the time when 90% of pool drownings occur. Many aquatic experts, lawmakers, and child safety advocates say most cases are actually preventable. And now they're stepping up efforts to put an end to incidents that could otherwise be avoided. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-4-08 (2008-07-04)
The stage is set for either a resolution or showdown this weekend on shifting 7 schools between the Kansas City and Independence districts. That and more news from KCUR.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-4-08 (2008-07-04)
Police in Lawrence are seeking the killer of a 25-year-old KU student.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-3-08 (2008-07-03)
There appears to be a thinning-out of patience in sparring over seven disputed school buildings in Sugar Creek and Independence. That and more news from KCUR.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-3-08 (2008-07-03)
The Independence school district went to court today to prevent further delays in taking over seven schools.

Waiting for the Blink: School Staredown Awaits Reasoned End (2008-07-02)
There appears to be a crack in iron wills. Independence and Kansas City educators may find accord within days.

KCUR Morning Newscast 7-2-08 (2008-07-02)
Independence school district officials had planned on getting a first look at seven schools transferred from the Kansas City district but were kept out.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-2-08 (2008-07-02)
Conflict over the transfer of school buildings from Kansas City to Independence continues with a Saturday meeting scheduled.

Grant Launches Habitat Home Extension (2008-07-01)
Federal Home Loan Bank grants $110,000. This sum will fund Habitat homes in depressed neighborhoods.

KCUR Morning Newscast 07-01-08 (2008-07-01)
A judge ruled the Independence School District can enter disputed schools, Senator Barack Obama visited Independence, Missouri yesterday. That and more news from KCUR.

KCUR Evening Newscast 7-1-08 (2008-07-01)
Relations between Independence and Kansas City schools deteriorated --further -- today as Independence tried to inspect buildings it's receiving in the contested takeover of some schools.

David Jackson: Financial Advice for Troubled Economic Times (2008-06-30)
Some advice from financial adviser David Jackson on how to watch your wallet in these uncertain financial times.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-30-08 (2008-06-30)
Senator Barack Obama addressed a packed auditorium in Independence this morning.

Cleaver Reacts to Obama Speech on Patriotism (2008-06-30)
US Congressman Emanuel Cleaver talks to Up to Date's Steve Kraske following Senator Barack Obama's speech on patriotism at the Truman Library.

Obama Defends Patriotism and Dissent in Independence (2008-06-30)
Hundreds of people turned out to see Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama Monday morning in Independence.

New Book from Fort Leavenworth Chronicles the US Army's Historic and Painful 2003 Transformation (2008-06-30)
In the months after the fall of Baghdad, largely unforeseen circumstances forced US soldiers into many roles for which they were never trained, and fundamentally changed the United States Army. That's according to Army's just published history of that time, On Point II, Transition to the New Campaign.

Peddling Irish Goods for More than a Century (2008-06-30)
In honor of St. Patrick's Day, Alex Smith paid a visit to one of Irish Kansas City's oldest institutions - Browne's Market. It's on 31st street in Midtown across the street from Penn Valley Community College.

End of Challenge to Kansas' In-state Tuition Law (2008-06-30)
The end of a long-standing court battle over a Kansas law that allows undocumented students to receive in-state tuition benefits.

A Conversation with Presidential Candidate Barack Obama (2008-06-30)
Presumptive Democratic Party presidential nominee and Illinois Senator Barack Obama spoke to a crowd Monday gathered at the Truman Memorial Building Auditorium in Independence, Missouri. Up to Date host Steve Kraske talked to the candidate.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-30-08 (2008-06-30)
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is scheduled to make a campaign stop in Independence today. That and more news from KCUR.

Medicare Launches Program Changes in Kansas City (2008-06-29)
About a quarter million Medicare beneficiaries in the Kansas City area will no longer be able to purchase certain [durable] medical equipment, like walkers, wheel chairs, and oxygen machines from just anywhere. Instead, they'll have to get equipment from specific suppliers contracted through Medicare. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-06-28)
Arbitrators gave the Independence School district a lowball price on 8 buildings it will take over from Kansas City. Juveniles won the right to jury trials in Kansas. And the Johnson County Sheriff raided what was called a major cockfighting operation. Steve Bell revisits those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-27-08 (2008-06-27)
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is planning to join a Mississippi suit against stricter national ozone standards approved by the Environmental Protection agency in March. That and more news from KCUR.

Death Date Set in Northern Missouri Meth Murders (2008-06-27)
First execution in Missouri since 2005 is scheduled for July 30th.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-27-08 (2008-06-27)
The Independence school district gets a break on 8 buildings it will take over from Kansas City, Missouri.

Ordinance Aims at Copper Thieves (2008-06-26)
The Kansas City, Missouri city council gave final approval to an ordinance to crack down on copper thieves yesterday. The new law requires metal recyclers to keep records of the identities and vehicle descriptions of persons who sell them scrap metal. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

Supreme Court Declines to Hear Challenge to Kansas In-state Tuition Law (2008-06-26)
The US Supreme Court has declined to hear a challenge to the Kansas law that allows illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition at public colleges. A group of out-of-state students and parents had challenged the constitutionality of the law, but federal and appeals courts ruled they didn't have standing to sue.

Funkhouser: "Parks Board Choice Bridges the River" (2008-06-26)
Mayor Mark Funkhouser has chosen a replacement for parks board member Frances Semler who like Semler lives in the Northland, but has strong ties to midtown KC.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-26-08 (2008-06-26)
About a hundred Kansas City Missouri teachers packed aconference room at district headquarters to protest the upcoming termination of their contract on June 30th. That and more news from KCUR.

KU Cancer Center Kicks Off First "Bench to Bedside" Clinical Trial (2008-06-26)
Phase one clinical trials of a new chemotherapy drug officially began this week at the university's cancer center in Westwood Kansas. It's the first trial of a cancer drug that scientists at the university actually developed and tested themselves.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-26-08 (2008-06-26)
Kansas City, MO now has an ordinance to crack down on scrap metal theft.

Clean Air Complaint: Where's Brotherhood in Federal Fight? (2008-06-26)
Missouri Attorney General fails Department of Natural Resources sniff test. Ozone enforcement fight flails on.

Teachers Protest Termination of Contract (2008-06-25)
About a hundred Kansas City, Missouri teachers packed the board conference room at district headquarters yesterday evening. They were protesting the upcoming termination of their contract on June 30th.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-25-08 (2008-06-25)
Johnson County Sheriff's officers have raided what they say is a major cockfighting operation.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-25-08 (2008-06-25)
Wal-Mart has told Kansas City convention officials that it's outgrown the city. That and more news from KCUR.

Marshal's Hunt Leads to Marshall, MO (2008-06-25)
U.S. Marshal's team from K.C. tracks Georgia fugitive

Prison Gates Opening Faster (2008-06-25)
Judges eye new data. Missouri inmate count declines.

Zimbabwe Artists Shown at Powell Gardens (2008-06-24)
Fifty massive stone sculptures of graceful human forms, animals and plants are now on display amongst the waterfalls and lush vegetation at Powell Gardens.

Check here for a slideshow of images.

Teens Devote Vacation Time to Urban Repairs (2008-06-24)
An often-quoted chapter of new-testament Christian scripture has inspired a group of Mid-America teens to give up part of their summer vacation: Matthew 25. The mission of the Matthew 25 project is to perform needed repairs to houses in the urban core for owners who can't afford to fix them. Participants Abby Cirrot, Ellen Nikadym and Kehinde Aderibigbe are pictured here. KCUR's Steve Bell visited the project and filed this report.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-24-08 (2008-06-24)
The Johnson County District Attorney's Office says a lawsuit by seven former attorneys and an investigator will be dismissed. That and more news from KCUR.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-24-08 (2008-06-24)
Following a Supreme Court decision today, midwives will be able to practice in Missouri.

Zimbabwe Artists Shown at Powell Gardens (2008-06-24)
Fifty massive stone sculptures of graceful human forms, animals and plants are now on display amongst the waterfalls and lush vegetation at Powell Gardens.

Check here for a slideshow of images.

Minor Border War Averted (2008-06-24)
New law takes some sting from state line work commutes.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-23-08 (2008-06-23)
The Johnson County District Attorney's office says it has come to a settlement with eight employees Phill Kline fired when he took over - and the settlement did not involve money.

Campaign Pledge Pressed: Armor-Plate Asphalt IsTarget (2008-06-23)
The KC Mayor dons a hardhat and expounds upon the promise of smooth and safe streets.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-23-08 (2008-06-23)
A bill that overhauls the government's powers to eavesdrop on suspected terrorists is getting bipartisan support from the Kansas congressional delegation. That and more news from KCUR.

Somalis Adapt to Life In Kansas City (2008-06-23)
A visit with the head of the Somali Foundation, who's trying to help people adapt to life in Kansas City.

UMKC Researchers Make Discovery in Muscle Aging (2008-06-22)
A group of UMKC researchers has located what could be a main factor in muscle deterioration in older adults.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-06-21)
A November vote on regional transit suffered a probably fatal setback. New Kansas City school board member districts were defined, but not everyone was happy. And floodwaters lapped at northwest Missouri and took towns and farms on the eastern side of the state. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-20-08 (2008-06-20)
The smoking ordinance Kansas City voters approved goes into effect Saturday, June 21.

KC Smoking Ban Takes Effect This Weekend (2008-06-20)
A lawsuit challenging Kansas City's smoking ban will no longer delay it from taking effect.

Transit Debate Lacks Sweetness and Light (2008-06-20)
Disagreements Abound in Intermodal Transit Debate:Predictions of arduous progress

National Magazine About Race Launches in Kansas City (2008-06-20)
This morning, a new magazine about race debuts in the Kansas City Star, and eleven other newspapers across the country. Rise Up is the brainchild of Janice Ellis, the former mayoral candidate who headed the non-profit Partnership for Children.

Election Board Redraws School Board Lines (2008-06-19)
Minor Variations Draw Major Ire: Vote is without dissent

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-19-08 (2008-06-19)
Regional leaders say November is too soon for voters to decide on an area transit plan.

KC Election Board Votes on New School Subdistrict Map (2008-06-19)
The Kansas City Election Board meets today to redraw the sub-district boundaries in the Kansas City Missouri school district. New subdistricts won't effect where children go to school, but could change the balance of representation of the school board.

GAO Renews Boeing Hopes For Airtanker RIghts (2008-06-19)
Boeing Has Two Dozen Vendors in KC Area Who May Win Or Lose. Contract Worth $35 Billion.

Caregivers Union Calls for Improvements in Services for People with Disabilities (2008-06-19)
Caregivers in Johnson County say they're worried about their working conditions and the overall quality of services for people with disabilities.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-19-08 (2008-06-19)
The federal government warns that 20 to 30 more levees may overflow on the Mississippi River. That and more news from KCUR.

Tick and Mosquito-Borne Diseases on the Rise (2008-06-19)
The Kansas City Health Department is advising people to take precautions against disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes.

State Control Boosts Pay Levels at KC PD (2008-06-18)
Historic Takeover of KC Police Department Exemplified in New Laws. Pendergast Era Aftermath Still Lives in Legislative Action

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-18-08 (2008-06-18)
Boeing is back in the running to build the Air Force's latest super-tanker.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-18-08 (2008-06-18)
Singer and Leavenworth native Melissa Etheridge is slated to help re-open the renovated Midland Theater in Kansas City. That and more news from KCUR.

Kansas Man Discovers Buddhism In Prison (2008-06-17)
Tony Farnan is one of many Kansas prisoners who was taught Buddhism by Lama Chuck Stanford.

Working After Prison (2008-06-17)
One of the biggest factors in a person's success when they get out of prison is whether they can get, and keep, a decent job. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross recently visited some businesses in the Kansas City area that make a point of hiring ex-offenders.

Prairie Village Passes Smoking Ban (2008-06-17)
Prairie Village has passed a smoking ban. Council members approved the ordinance in a meeting Monday night.

Working After Prison (2008-06-17)
One of the biggest factors in a person's success when they get out of prison is whether they can get, and keep, a decent job. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross recently visited some businesses in the Kansas City area that make a point of hiring ex-offenders.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-17-08 (2008-06-17)
As flooding continues,Amtrak service between Kansas City and Chicago is disrupted.

New Boundaries for KCMO School Subdistricts (2008-06-17)
The Kansas City Board of Elections considers new boundaries for the Kansas City, MO school board subdistricts.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-17-08 (2008-06-17)
The Platte River is overflowing its banks near Platte City. That and more news from KCUR.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-16-08 (2008-06-16)
A proposed new casino in Sugar Creek is on hold indefinitely.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-06-14)
Storms continued to pound the midwest with winds, flooding and more than 20 tornadoes. North Kansas City became the latest metropolitan community to ban smoking in bars and restaurants. And Phill Kline reversed course and announced a run for re-election. Steve Bell reviews those and other top stories of the week on the KCUR Saturday News Review.

Study Finds Lack of Consumer Protections in Private Insurance Market (2008-06-13)
Many struggle in Missouri and Kansas to get health insurance because of a lack of consumer protections. That's according to a new study.

New Lawsuits Assail Diocese (2008-06-13)
Civil suits claim Catholic leadership covered up Kansas City youth abuse.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-13-08 (2008-06-13)
Two more lawsuits have been filed against current and former Roman Catholic clergy and the Kansas city-St. Joseph diocese, alleging child sex molestation and coverup.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-13-08 (2008-06-13)
The small town of Chapman is beginning the recovery process after a direct hit from a massive tornado. That story and more from the KCUR Newsroom.

Businesses Hiring Ex-Offenders (2008-06-12)
Since 9/11, many companies now run security checks on every hire, and even small businesses can use the internet to dig up a candidate's past. But there's one group of business owners that are often willing to give an ex-offender a second chance.

TIF Commission Deadlocks on Vitagraph Building (2008-06-12)
Kansas City's Tax Increment Financing or TIF Commission Wednesday deadlocked on a financing request to rehabilitate a building in the Crossroads Arts District near the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-12-08 (2008-06-12)
Today was dedication day for the new Federal Reserve Bank Building.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-12-08 (2008-06-12)
At least two people died in Kansas after a line of tornadoes cut through the state. Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline is being called before the Kansas Supreme Court for a hearing to decide whether he should be held in contempt of court. That and more from the KCUR newsroom.

More Money Than You Can Count-Cash Has New Home (2008-06-12)
Shotgun toting federal reserve guards no longer need shepherd shipments via downtown sidewalks.

Aim - Fire - Collect, Greeners Home In On Range (2008-06-11)
Tons of discarded lead and copper to be collected on site. Missouri shooting range makes radical change.

North Kansas City Passes Smoking Ban (2008-06-11)
The City Council of North Kansas City has approved a smoking ban. KCUR's Health Reporter, Elana Gordon, reports.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-11-08 (2008-06-11)
Three news organizations are seeking to join a government lawsuit to get copies of e-mails from Governor Matt Blunt's Office.

North Kansas City Passes Smoking Ban (2008-06-11)
The City Council of North Kansas City has approved a smoking ban. KCUR's Health Reporter, Elana Gordon, reports.

North Kansas City Passes Smoking Ban (2008-06-11)
The City Council of North Kansas City has approved a smoking ban. KCUR's Health Reporter, Elana Gordon, reports.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-10-08 (2008-06-10)
Republican Phill Kline says he will run for re-election as Johnson County district attorney. That story and more from the KCUR Newsroom.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-10-08 (2008-06-10)
Phill Kline has filed to run again for the office of Johnson County District Attorney.

Foreclosure Fighting Forum Sets Aims (2008-06-10)
Fed Reserve Headlines Panel:Saving Endangered Mortgages is Goal. Entire Metro Included

Chinese Students React to Earthquake (2008-06-09)
A local reaction to last month's earthquake in China.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-9-08 (2008-06-09)
Two Kansans filed today to run against Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Boyda.

Overland Park Swimmer Prepares for Olympics (2008-06-09)
A swimmer who got his start in the pools of Overland Park goes to the Olympics . . . for Israel.

Viability of Community Development Corporations Questioned (2008-06-09)
Why are organizations tasked with revitalizing troubled areas having so much difficulty accomplishing their goals?

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-9-08 (2008-06-09)
Johnson County residents may have to foot part of the bill for a multi-billion dollar overhaul of Kansas City's sewer system. That and more news from the KCUR Newsroom.

ACEP Honors Dr. Joseph Waeckerle as "Hero of Emergency Medicine" (2008-06-08)
The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)has recognized Kansas City Physician Joseph Waeckerle as a "Hero of Emergency Medicine." KCUR's Health Reporter, Elana Gordon has more.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-06-07)
The Johnson County Commission set the wheels in motion for a Research Triangle with public financing. The Kansas City council heard new transit and light rail proposals. And we watched $5 million worth of gasoline go up in smoke. Those are some of the stories Steve Bell recaps on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-6-08 (2008-06-06)
Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder's Chief of Staff, Eric Feltner, has resigned after being arrested on a pornography charge.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-6-08 (2008-06-06)
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners gave the go ahead to putting a measure on the November ballot to finance a research triangle.

Johnson County Board Approves Sales Tax for Research Triangle (2008-06-05)
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners gave final approval to a proposed one-eighth-cent sales tax to help fund the Johnson County Research and Education Triangle.

Health Care Quality Varies in Kansas City (2008-06-05)
One third of women insured by Medicare in Kansas City are not getting recommended mammograms. And, African Americans with diabetes in Kansas City are more than 4 times as likely as whites to have a limb amputated. Those are some of the findings released this week by the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care.

Smoking Ban Delayed (2008-06-05)
A Jackson County Judge has postponed Kansas City's new smoking ban from taking effect until at least June 20th. KCUR's Elana Gordon Reports.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-5-08 (2008-06-05)
The Johnson County Commission has approved plans for a research triangle.

Raw Tomatoes Linked to Salmonella Outbreak: Three cases identified in Kansas (2008-06-05)
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has identified three cases of Salmonella infections that are linked to a recent outbreak of the illness across nine states. Health officials in Texas and New Mexico, where the majority of cases have occurred, believe the consumption of raw tomatoes is responsible for the outbreak.

Stilwell Stymied:Self Rule Aborted (2008-06-05)
Jo Co Commission votes. Incorporation nixed. Community remains an island of non-city.

Johnson County Board to Vote on Tax for Research Triangle (2008-06-05)
The Johnson County Board of Commissioners is expected to reach a final decision today on whether to put a proposed 1/8 cent sales tax for science education and research on the November ballot.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-4-08 (2008-06-04)
A blaze at a fuel storage tank in Kansas City Kansas continues to burn. Officials say lightening from a line of strong thunderstorms struck the tank yesterday evening, setting off a spectacular fire at Magellan Midstream Partners that could be seen for miles. That and more news from the KCUR Newsroom.

Lightning Sparks Fire at Fuel Facility (2008-06-04)
A blaze at a fuel storage tank in Kansas City. Kansas continues to burn. Officials say lightning from a line of strong thunderstorms struck the tank Wednesday evening, setting off a spectacular fire at Magellan Midstream Partners that could be seen for miles.

Police Calm Dispute over Abandoned School (2008-06-03)
Rival Renovators dispute breaks into open. Fact Finding vs. Building breakin. Building is 116 years old.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-3-08 (2008-06-03)
Insurance adjusters are continuing to assess damage across northeast Kansas following severe storms in north central Kansas. Fewer Missourians are dying from heart disease and stroke, but the death rate remains above the national average. Missouri appears ready to resume executions for the first time in nearly three years. KU's national basketball championship team is in Washington, D.C to meet the President.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-3-08 (2008-06-03)
Still another light rail plan from Clay Chastain, even before debate on the mayor's latest plan.

Mayor Funkhouser's Plan for Regional Transit (2008-06-02)
Reactions and discussion of the mayor's new transit plan.

Sugar Creek's Slavic Festival Awaits Giant Chicken (2008-06-02)
A giant chicken is finding its way to Sugar Creek.

Painter Kerry James Marshall at the Nelson (2008-06-02)
Artist Kerry James Marshall talks about his use of superheroes and the color black in his paintings

Tornado Deaths in Car Hit a High (2008-06-02)
Highway trooper exec is convinced statistics need to be hammered-home. Tornado death rate makes it's own awesome point.

Celebration Marks Completion of Renovations to Cancer Survivors Park (2008-06-02)
Cancer survivors and advocates rallied this weekend at the newly renovated Cancer Survivors Park near the Country Club Plaza. KCUR's Health Reporter, Elana Gordon, was there.

KCUR Morning Newscast 6-2-08 (2008-06-02)
Westar Energy says it will probably have to build a new coal-fired power plant. A study will begin this summer to determine aviation needs in Kansas. Wildlife officials in Kansas and Missouri are trying to stop non-native minnow from arriving in the two states.

KCUR Evening Newscast 6-2-08 (2008-06-02)
80 percent of incumbents in the Kansas Legislature have filed for re-election, but not so in Johnson County.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-05-31)
The flame atop Liberty Memorial burned anew. Southside neighbors haggled again over an off-leash dog park. And Mayor Mark Funkhouser unveiled a new transit plan with the emphasis on regional. Steve Bell revisits those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

Mixed Reaction to Sunnyside Dog Park Plan (2008-05-30)
Supporters of an off-leash dog park in Sunnyside Park made their pitch to the Dog Park Task force at a south Kansas City church Thursday night. KCUR's Steve Bell was there.

Dress Codes at the Power and Light District (2008-05-30)
KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross spoke to Jon Stephens, activist Alonzo Washington and patrons checking out the Power and Light District for the first time.

Don't Rush Us: Tri County Leaders Appraise Transit Push (2008-05-30)
KC Mayor convenes area counterparts, enlisting allies for mass transit plan. Reception is mixed:concept weighed with caution

President Honors UMKC Dental Student (2008-05-30)
President Bush was in Eastern Kansas on Thursdsay and honored a UMKC dental student. KCUR's health reporter, Elana Gordon, reports.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-30-08 (2008-05-30)
Arbitrators meet today, but some are warning don't count on a resolution of the bitter turf battle between Kansas City and Independence school districts. That and more news from the KCUR newsroom.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-30-08 (2008-05-30)
Most tri-county leaders are skeptical about Mayor Funkhouser's plan to put regional transit on the November ballot.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-29-08 (2008-05-29)
A spokeswoman for Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius confirms abortion provider Doctor George Tiller attended a reception at the governor's residence last year, but disputes an anti-abortion group's description of the event as honoring Tiller. That and other stories.

Johnson County D.A. Phill Kline files brief asking the Kansas Supreme Court to throw out lawsuit against him. (2008-05-29)
Planned Parenthood has sued Kline to surrender medical records he subpoenaed years ago as Attorney General. As KCUR's Frank Morris reports Kline's attorneys are taking the fight to the Kansas Supreme Court, and the media.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-29-08 (2008-05-29)
President Bush raised money for an area Congressional candidate today.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-28-08 (2008-05-28)
Mayor Mark Funkhouser says he has poll results that indicate his regional transit plan can pass in Clay, Platte and Jackson Counties.

Poll Cites Fast Transit Fervor (2008-05-28)
KC Mayor Promotes Rapid Transit:Poll Builds His Arsenal. Program Appears Specific But Is Termed "Flexible".

KCK Students Collect Oral Histories in Douglas and Sumner (2008-05-28)
Young people in Kansas City Kansas learn more about the history of their school's neighborhood.

Memories of Brown vs. Board of Education (2008-05-28)
Memories of Zelma Henderson, the last surviving plaintiff of the case that legally ended school segregation.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-28-08 (2008-05-28)
Mayor Mark Funkhouser will put in his first pitch for a new regional transit plan this morning at eleven. A decision in the dispute over school building is expected as soon as Friday. Missouri Senator Christopher Bond is on a week-long tour of the state, promoting the American Energy Production Act of 2008.

Economic Development on Kansas City's East Side (2008-05-28)
Two urban core developers speak about the challenges of development in Kansas City's East Side and their thoughts on the Mayor's Economic Symposium

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-27-08 (2008-05-27)
Mayor Mark Funkhouser has released more details of his regional transit plan.

Bond Thrust: Green SUV's to Arctic Oil (2008-05-27)
Missouri's senior senator sells domestic oil bill with KC automaker link. Warm reception at Claycomo Ford

Dental Hygienists in Kansas Take Services to Seniors (2008-05-27)
Dental hygienists typically work inside an office alongside a dentist. In many places it's illegal for hygienists to practice anywhere else. But in Kansas, some hygienists are now stepping out of the office and providing teeth cleanings in places where people need it most.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-27-08 (2008-05-27)
An investigation continues into a Sunday helicopter crash at the Lake of the Ozarks that killed 9-year-old Zachary West of Eureka. Thousands of veterans and onlookers sat in the rain at Liberty Memorial yesterday as more honors were heaped on the last surviving US veteran of World War I, Frank W. Buckles.

Oldest Living US Veteran Honored (2008-05-26)
Military leaders and politicians heaped awards and gratitude on the last surviving US veteran of World War One in Kansas City.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-05-24)
Auto workers in Fairfax put down their picket signs. The Kansas City area celebrated its first American Idol winner. And Johnson County District Attorney wrestled with the state Attorney General over evidence and a witness in the prosecution of Planned Parenthood. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

KCUR Evening Newscast (2008-05-23)
The Kansas City police board has terminated two officers who ignored a pregnant woman's repeated requests to be taken to a hospital.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-22-08 (2008-05-22)
Plans for two coal fired power plants are dead. Council committee asks voters to increase museum sales tax. Those and other headlines from the KCUR newsroom.

Blue Springs' David Cook Wins Idol (2008-05-22)
Blue Springs native David Cook won American Idol by a landslide. The 25-year-old rocker beat out his competition teenager David Archuleta by some 12 million votes.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-22-08 (2008-05-22)
Kansas Attorney General Steven Six has modified his request that subpoenaed records from Planned Parenthood should be immediately returned.

Kline Battles Moves to Suppress Abortion Records (2008-05-22)
Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline says he wants the state Supreme Court to hear his side of things as the Attorney General tries to block the presentation of what Kline says is his key evidence against Planned Parenthood.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-21-08 (2008-05-21)
Headlines from the KCUR Newsroom for Wednesday May 21, 2008.

Local David Cook Sings for American Idol Title (2008-05-21)
Blue Springs native David Cook is battling it out to become the next American Idol.

WEB EXTRA: The Kansas City Star's Tim Finn Talks American Idol (2008-05-21)
The Kansas City Star's Timothy Finn has been following and blogging about American Idol. KCUR's Maria Carter spoke with Finn about Blue Springs-native David Cook and his chances to take the title.

Kansas City Council Expected to Discuss Museum Tax (2008-05-21)
The Kansas City Council's Finance and Audit committee Wednesday approved a measure asking voters in August to consider raising the museum property tax to 10 cents.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-21-08 (2008-05-21)
The Kansas Legislature will not try to override the governor's third veto of a bill allowing construction of coal-fired power plants.

Missouri Million Dollar Court Win Is Detailed (2008-05-21)
Eighth of an inch is worth 900 thousand to veterans. A-G says door gap held up payments for years.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-20-08 (2008-05-20)
Another controversy may be shaping up over an appointment to the Kansas City, Missouri park board.

Legislation Expands Care for Heart Attacks and Strokes (2008-05-19)
The Missouri House and Senate have unanimously approved a bill to expand the state's emergency response system. KCUR's Health Reporter, Elana Gordon reports.

Dealing with the End of Life in African American Families (2008-05-19)
Kansas City Hospice President Elaine McIntosh and social worker Gloria Thomas Anderson recently spoke to KCUR's Susan Wilson about dying in different cultures.

Muslims and the Media (2008-05-19)
Overland Park resident Zulfiqar Malik talks about his Muslim community monthly digest.

Black Heritage District Among Mayor's New Tools for Economic Development (2008-05-19)
City moves to create new sales tax-free area around the 18th and Vine district.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-19-08 (2008-05-19)
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius says financing for a intermodal railroad hub in Gardner should be done by the county not the state. The 2008 Missouri legislative session is over, and Republican leaders got much of what they wanted, including an immigration bill, rollbacks in property tax rates, and a repeal of campaign contribution limits. A grass roots alliance wants to launch passenger rail service between Oklahoma City and Kansas.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-19-08 (2008-05-19)
Governor Sebelius has vetoed a Kansas bill that would have required voter photo-ID.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-05-17)

The Missouri Legislature passed its final bills of the session and headed for home. Phill Kline said, wait a minute, I may change my mind about not running again. And the Kansas City council endorsed a sales-tax-free zone centered on 18th and Vine. Steve Bell revisits those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

Stowers Researchers Identify Gene Linked to Spinal Defects (2008-05-16)
Two researchers from the Kansas City-based Stowers Institute have identified a gene that's linked to spinal defects in humans. KCUR's Health Reporter, Elana Gordon, has more.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-16-08 (2008-05-16)
Governor Sebelius has vetoed a third bill that would have allowed coal-fired power plants in southwestern Kansas.

Stowers Researchers Identify Gene Linked to Spinal Defects (2008-05-16)
Two researchers from the Kansas City-based Stowers Institute have identified a gene that's linked to spinal defects in humans. KCUR's Health Reporter, Elana Gordon, has more.

Stowers Researchers Identify Gene Linked to Spinal Defects (2008-05-16)
Two researchers from the Kansas City-based Stowers Institute have identified a gene that's linked to spinal defects in humans. KCUR's Health Reporter, Elana Gordon, has more.

KCAI Expands to the Northland (2008-05-15)
The Kansas City Art Institute announced plans this week for a new Northland location. Community education classes will be offered starting mid-February 2009.

Mayor Proposes Black Heritage District (2008-05-15)
Mayor Mark Funkhouser introduced a plan this afternoon to eliminate the city's sales tax for 23 years in the area surrounding 18th and Vine.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-15-08 (2008-05-15)
The Kansas City Board of elections is looking at plans to redraw the Kansas City Missouri School board's subdistricts. Kansas city Mayor Mark Funkhouser unveils a plan to make Kansss City more bicycle friendly. The Kansas City Art Institute plans for a new Northland location.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-14-08 (2008-05-14)
Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse says the company is working to regain momentum against its wireless competitors. Twenty-one-year-old Gary Eye of Kansas City will go to prison for life and not to death row for the racially motivated murder or an African American man in 2005 The Missouri Senate spent nearly nine hours Tuesday debating a wide-ranging bill that targets illegal immigrants. But senators did not pass anything.

Jury Reaches Verdict in Hate-Crime Murder (2008-05-13)
A federal jury Tuesday handed down a verdict of life in prison for Gary Eye, one of the defendants in the hate-crime murder of a black pedestrian.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-13-08 (2008-05-13)
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt says storm damage in southwest Missouri is among the worst he has ever seen. Two amendments that would regulate how Missouri cities use red-light cameras have been added onto the House's omnibus transportation bill. A senate committee has passed a proposed constitutional amendment that would clear the way for a new voter I.D. law in Missouri.

Trial Testimony Continues in Death Penalty Case (2008-05-13)
Family members and lawyers trying to save two men from federal death sentences have started trial testimony at the Kansas City U.S. District Courthouse. Prosecutors are ready with cross examination. KCUR'S Dan Verbeck is covering the trial and has this report.

Greater Losses than Expected for Sprint (2008-05-13)
First quarter earnings and losses reported Tuesday by Sprint-Nextel show losses even more remarkable than expected.

Artists Bring Work from Zimbabwe to Powell Gardens (2008-05-13)
Fifty massive stone sculptures of graceful human forms, animals and plants are now on display amongst the waterfalls and lush vegetation at Powell Gardens.

KC Sports Journalist and Blogger in Beijing (2008-05-12)
KC area sports writer and blogger Anthony Tao talks about his experiences living in Olympics-fevered Beijing.

Working With the Dalai Lama (2008-05-12)
Local Tibetan Buddhist monk Champa Lhunpo speaks about his work with the Dalai Lama, sand painting, and the current situation in Tibet.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-12-08 (2008-05-12)
Sprint Nextel reported a half-billion dollar quarterly loss today. The resulting look for cost-cutting measures could bring more job cuts at the Overland Park-based company.

Area Residents Look Forward to Tax Rebate (2008-05-12)
How will you spend your stimulus check? KCUR's Alex Smith speaks to Kansas Citians on the street.

Defense Attorney Discusses Penalities for Murder (2008-05-12)
An unusual civil rights murder trial moves into its most crucial phase this week in Kansas City Federal District Court. A jury will hear testimony and see evidence from defense and prosecution.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-05-10)

United Auto Workers went on strike in Fairfax. Voter photo-ID bills resurfaced after a Supreme Court decision. And the bill enabling $240 million in tax credits if Bombardier builds in Kansas City was on its way to Governor Blunt's desk. Steve Bell reviews those and other top stories of the week on the KCUR Saturday News Review.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-9-08 (2008-05-09)
Johnson County voters may decide this fall whether to impose a sales tax to support a research triangle made up of the state's two largest universities. The Missouri House has given first-round approval to legislation designed to reduce the number of illegal workers in the state. The Missouri House passed a new voter I-D bill, less than 24 hours after taking it up and giving it first round approval.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-9-08 (2008-05-09)
Planned parenthood has lost its attempt to overturn a Missouri law toughening regulation of abortion clinics.

Exit Interview Tape Supports Eckersly Firing Story (2008-05-08)
Fired Blunt administration attorney Scott Eckersly says he recorded his exit interview. And an excerpt published by the St. Louis Post Dispatch suggests he was telling the truth about confronting Blunt's staff concerning deleted e-mails.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-8-08 (2008-05-08)
A bill designed to lure a Canadian aircraft builder to Kansas City has passed the Missouri House. Missouri's state budget for Fiscal Year 2009 has passed both the House and Senate, and is on its way to Governor Matt Blunt. The Missouri House has endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that would clear the way for a new voter I.D. law.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-8-08 (2008-05-08)
A voter photo-ID measure has passed the Missouri House and is on its way to the Senate.

Stimulus Checks Ready To Go (2008-05-08)
Treasury printers in Kansas City are cranking out windfall payments.

KCUR Morning Newscast 5-7-08 (2008-05-07)
The Kansas Supreme court limits the power of a grand jury looking into a Wichita abortion provider. Supporters of two coal fired power plants are hoping economic development incentives in other parts of Kansas will win them the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto. The state House debates funding for Missouri HealthNet today. The Missouri Senate has approved a 7-percent increase in spending for the state's higher education system.

Legislature Passes Bombardier Incentives (2008-05-07)
The Missouri House has passed legislation that would provide tax breaks to a Canadian aircraft builder if it opens a new plant in Kansas City.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-7-08 (2008-05-07)
A bill authorizing incentives for Bombardier to build in Kansas City has passed and is on its way to the governor.

Governor Decries Gas Tax Cut: Who'd Notice It (2008-05-06)
Temporary drop of gas taxes is no silver bullet. Kansas governor is explicit in Overland Park comments.

KU Cancer Center Receives over $15 Million (2008-05-06)
Thanks to Kansas Masons, the University of Kansas Cancer Center is making headway in its efforts to become designated as National Cancer Institute. KCUR's Health Reporter, Elana Gordon, reports.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-6-08 (2008-05-06)
Last week's review of the Kansas City, MO school says the district needs "significant improvement."

UAW Workers Strike Plant in KCK (2008-05-05)
General Motors has been banking on its popular Chevy Malibu to help lift it from a $3.3 billion loss in the first quarter. The Malibu is built in two plants. One of them is struck today by United Auto Workers. It's in Kansas City, Kansas.

Affirmative Action Ban Misses Deadline to Hand in Signatures (2008-05-05)
A petition to ban race and gender-based affirmative action in Missouri has failed to gather enough valid signatures. It's a second set-back for California businessman Ward Connerly's campaign to get the issue on the November ballot in five states, in what he was calling "Super Tuesday for Equal Rights."

Forming a Black Brown Coalition (2008-05-05)
Local African American and Latino communities try to find common ground.

KCUR Evening Newscast (2008-05-05)
The UAW went on strike against the Fairfax GM assembly plant this morning, slowing the company's efforts to make up losses through sales of the Chevy Malibu.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-05-03)
Red light cameras were finally on their way to Kansas City, Missouri. Bombardier incentives advance in Jefferson City. Governor Sebelius prevailed again on coal-fired power plants. And tornadoes struck in the middle of the night. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

Storms Pummel Kansas City Area (2008-05-02)
More than 200 homes and businesses in the Kansas City area are damaged following hurricane-force winds, hail, and heavy rain.

Sunday Deadline for Affirmative Action Petition Looms (2008-05-02)
Opponents of the measure say people are signing petitions without really understanding the issue. But circulators say that those opponents are trying to thwart the petition process.

Independence Superintendent Weighs in on Schools Dispute (2008-05-02)
Another arbitration session was postponed Friday in the dispute over the eight school buildings in the area that voted to leave the Kansas City school district and join the one in Independence.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-2-08 (2008-05-02)
The National Weather Service now says there were two or more tornadoes involved in a 2AM Friday storm that damaged 300 homes and left 50,000 without electricity.

KC Council Approves Contract for Red Light Cameras (2008-05-02)
Kansas City, Missouri motorists will soon be on candid camera at selected intersections, but they needn't smile. Only their license plates will be photographed.

UMKC's New Letters Receives Prestigious Magazine Award (2008-05-02)
The winners of the 2008 National Magazine Awards, the highest honor in the magazine industry, were announced Thursday at a gala event at Lincoln Center in New York. Kansas City-based New Letters won the essay writing award.

New Shawnee Mission Superintendent Gene Johnson (2008-05-01)
Long time associate superintendent in Shawnee Mission schools will take over top job in July.

Senate Passes Bombardier Tax Incentives Bill (2008-05-01)
A bill to allow a mega-tax-incentives for a $375-million Bombardier aircraft plant in Kansas City passed 24-8 in the Missouri Senate Thursday. But the latest version from majority leader Charlie Shields is not the original $880-million, 22 year plan that the House approved. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

KCUR Evening Newscast 5-1-08 (2008-05-01)
The Missouri Senate has passed the scaled back version of a tax-credit program to lure Bombardier to Kansas City.

Employee Health Costs Outpace Incomes in Missouri (2008-05-01)
The cost of employee-based health coverage has far outpaced worker incomes in Missouri. KCUR's Health Reporter, Elana Gordon, has more.

KCUR Everning Newscast 4-30-08 (2008-04-30)
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has vetoed another coal-fired power plant bill. The legislature will attempt to override the veto.

Outgoing Shawnee Mission Schools Superintendent Marjorie Kaplan (2008-04-30)
Superintendent Marjorie Kaplan reflects on 16 years with the Shawnee Mission School District.

Artificial Blood Testing Questioned (2008-04-29)
A report is raising questions about the safety of artificial blood, including one tested by KU Hospital. A review of human trials found patients given one of five blood substitutes had a 30 percent greater chance of death and a threefold increase in heart attacks.

Charlotte Street Foundation Announces Recipients of New Awards (2008-04-29)
The Charlotte Street Foundation has supported visual artists in Kansas City for more than a decade with unrestricted cash awards and a curated exhibition of work. The new awards for Generative Performing Artists support professionals who are actively creating new work in their fields, from dance to music to theatre and performance art.

KCUR Evening Newscast 4-29-08 (2008-04-29)
Kansans who work in Missouri will finally get their property tax deduction back.

Smoking Ban Tricky to Enforce (2008-04-28)
Kansas City will go smoke free on June 7th, KCUR's Elana Gordon reports on how Independence handled its own transition to smoke free establishments and what Kansas City authorities might have in store.

KCUR Evening Newscast 4-28-08 (2008-04-28)
A Johnson County judge has denied District Attorney Phill Kline access to Planned Parenthood abortion records.

Alan Keyes Runs For Constitution Party (2008-04-28)
Perennial candidate Alan Keyes quits the Republican party, and meets up with the Constitution party here in Kansas City.

Boom Time in Western Kansas (2008-04-28)
Record oil prices are benefiting an unlikely part of the country - Western Kansas.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-04-26)
Mayor Mark Funkhouser called for urban redevelopment. The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now sued the Kansas City and Jackson County election boards. And rising gas prices got everyone's attention. Steve Bell revisits those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

KCUR Evening Newscast 4-25-08 (2008-04-25)
There'll be no walkout at GM-Fairfax this weekend. Aquila has settled with Cass county over the plant it built without approval. And the Kansas Supreme Court won't come to an early rescue of coal-fired power plants.

Funkhouser Delivers State of City Message (2008-04-25)
Mayor Mark Funkhouser delivered his State of the City address on Thursday. After emphasizing the power of the council and the Kansas City spirit to solve serious problems, he presented a list of ten priorities, among them, revitalizing the urban core. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

AIDS Walk Enters 20th Year (2008-04-25)
Twenty years have passed since the first AIDS walk took place in Kansas City. KCUR's Health Reporter, Elana Gordon, met with some of those involved in the early days of the walk, who say that nowadays, AIDS doesn't have the stigma that it used to. But they say there's still a lot more to do.

KCUR Evening Newscast 4-24-08 (2008-04-24)
Mayor Mark Funkhouser delivered his State of the City address today and outlined a ten-point set of priorities, with a strong emphasis on infrastructure and urban redevelopment.

KCUR Evening Newscast 4-23-08 (2008-04-23)
The ACORN community organization has filed a voter rights suit against state of Missouri and election boards in Kansas City, Jackson County and St. Louis.

KCUR Morning Newscast 4-22-08 (2008-04-22)
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has vetoed a bill allowing a patient, her spouse or her family to sue an abortion provider if they believe that provider is violating restrictions on late-term abortions. That and more news from KCUR.

KCUR Evening Newscast 4-22-08 (2008-04-22)
Union members demonstrated in Jefferson City in favor of getting tough on businesses that employ illegal aliens.

Growth and Diversity in Lee's Summit (2008-04-21)
Historians disagree whether Lee's Summit was named after Civil War General Robert E. Lee or early civic leader Pleasant Lee. But we can probably all agree that today, to steal a line from Walt Bodine, "Lee's Summit is a sudden burst of everything."

KCUR Evening Newscast 4-21-08 (2008-04-21)
A citizen's group will try to stop a planned Gardner,KS rail hub, and Governor Sebelius vetoed a bill placing tougher restrictions on abortions.

Participatory Prairie Burning in the Flint Hills (2008-04-20)
The rising price of corn and other grains has put the squeeze on cattle ranchers in the Midwest, who use grain to feed their livestock. So some are looking for other ways to earn their living off the land. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross recently visited a ranch near Emporia, Kansas where one man has come up with a pretty good plan.

Top Stories of the Week (2008-04-19)
The Missouri House killed a plan to put state supreme court judge selection in the hands of the governor and legislature. The city council voted itself a raise. And tax credits to lure an aircraft plant to Kansas City were floundering in the legislature. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

KCUR Evening Newscast - 4/18/09 (2008-04-18)
The threat of a strike loomed at the GM Fairfax plant and the mayor had good things to say about an east side economic development plan.

KCUR Evening Newscast 4-17-08 (2008-04-17)
The Kansas City, Missouri city council chose a new municipal judge today. Tax incentives for Bombardier advanced in the Missouri House, but failed again in the Senate. The House also defeated a plan to change the way judges are nominated. Kansas Governor Sebelius vetoed another coal-fired power plant bill. And two Jayhawk basketball stars declared for the draft.

Food Aid Conference Calls for Action (2008-04-16)
The international conference on food aid ended in Kansas City on a note of urgency, with a call to action, and some voices of skepticism.

KCUR Evening Newscast 4-16-08 (2008-04-16)
KCUR Evening Headlines (1 min 48 sec)

• Governor Sebelius and Kansas lawmakers got an unpleasant surprise from a revenue projection panel. The state will have $130 million less to spend next year than planned.

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  KCUR Morning Newscast 4-16-08 (2008-04-16)
  KCUR Morning Headlines (3 min 10 sec)

  • The Missouri house has approved a bill asking voters to raise their taxes for veterans services.

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    Food Aid Programs Look for Relief (2008-04-16)
    Boom times for American farmers are helping create a crisis in humanitarian food aid programs.

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    KCUR Evening Newscast 4-15-08 (2008-04-15)
    KCUR Evening Headlines (1 min 48 sec)

    • Republican candidate for Missouri Governor Kenny Hulshof came on strong in campaign fundraising, according to reports filed today. But he was far outpaced by Democratic candidate Jay Nixon, now Attorney General.

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      KCUR Morning Newscast 4-15-08 (2008-04-15)
      
      KCUR Morning Headlines

      • The Edwardsville City Council votes unanimously to allow a $777 million casino along I-70 near Kansas Speedway.

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        Libertarian Candidates, Supporters Gather in KC (2008-04-15)
        Earlier this month, seven presidential candidates visited Kansas City in the same week. One of them, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, got top of the news coverage. The other six, who are running for president as Libertarians, received far less air time and ink. They spoke at a five-state Libertarian Conference at one of Kansas City's smaller convention hotels.

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        Combating Health Disparities in Kansas City (2008-04-14)
        Former CBS anchorwoman Rene Syler talks about dealing with health issues and parenting at the same time. Plus, Black Health Care Coalition President Stacy Daniels-Young talks about efforts to reduce health disparities in the Kansas City area.

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        Two Kansas City Artists Awarded Guggenheims (2008-04-14)
        The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation announced the 2008 Guggenheim fellows earlier this month. And two of this year's fellows are from Kansas City and both teach at UMKC. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

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        KCUR Morning Newscast 4-14-08 (2008-04-14)
        
        KCUR Morning Headlines

        • More than 80,000 people lined the main street through downtown Lawrence Sunday for a parade celebrating the Kansas Jayhawks' national basketball championship.

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          KCUR Evening Newscast 4-14-08 (2008-04-14)
          
          KCUR Evening Headlines (1 min 46 sec)

          • Kansas State freshman basketball forward Michael Beasley is holding a news conference in Manhattan at this moment regarding his future.

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            Garage Approved for Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts (2008-04-14)
            After more than six months of negotiations, the Kansas City Council Thursday approved an agreement for the forty-seven million dollar parking garage for the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

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            Congressman Cleaver Steps Down from Pulpit (2008-04-14)
            Fifth District Congressman Emanuel Cleaver has announced he will no longer be head pastor of St. James United Methodist Church.

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            Top Stories of the Week (2008-04-12)
            Kansas City, Missouri voters said yes to the bus system and no to smoking in bars. Northland motorist prepared for three years of traffic flow challenges. And KU basketball fans had two reasons to celebrate. Steve Bell revisits those stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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            KCUR Evening Newscast 4-11-08 (2008-04-11)
            KCUR Evening Headlines

            • Dozens of police officers packed the room where the police board held the hearing today for two officers chief James Corwin wants to fire.

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              KCUR Morning Newscast 4-11-08 (2008-04-11)
              KCUR Morning Headlines (2 min)

              • The Missouri House passed its illegal immigration package yesterday, just one day after giving it first-round approval. It includes bills that would ban state grants to sanctuary cities and requires State Troopers to be trained to enforce federal immigration laws.

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                KCUR Evening Newscast 4-10-08 (2008-04-10)
                KCUR Evening Headlines (1 min 44 sec)

                • Bill Self is staying at KU, and will not be going to his Oklahoma alma mater to fill the vacant coaching job there.
                • Unofficial results from the Kansas City Election Board show that civil rights lawyer Arthur Benson will represent the first subdistrict of Kansas City, Missouri on its school board.
                • It was a day of severe weather across Missouri and Kansas.

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                  KCUR Morning Newscast 4-10-08 (2008-04-10)
                  KCUR Morning Headlines (2 min 8 sec)

                  • Crews will start work on the Paseo Bridge replacement project a week from Monday. The I-29-35 corridor will be widened to three lanes from near Armour to the downtown loop, and all major interchanges and on-ramps will be rebuilt.

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                    Three-Year Paseo Bridge Project Will Create Traffic Problems (2008-04-10)
                    Construction begins this month on the Paseo Bridge replacement project. And project officials say the effect will be similar to the recent three-month closure of the bridge for repairs.

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                    KC Approves Smoking Ban (2008-04-09)
                    Kansas City voters have approved a measure that prohibits smoking in restaurants and bars at all times. Establishments now have 60 days to go smoke-free. The ban excludes area casinos and the concourses of Truman Sports Complex.

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                    KCUR Morning Newscast 4-09-08 (2008-04-09)
                    KCUR Morning Headlines (2 min 6 sec)

                    • Kansas City bars and restaurants have 60 days to go smoke free. Voters passed a smoking ban by a slim margin 52 percent to 48 percent.

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                      West Elected to Kansas City, MO School Board (2008-04-09)
                      Votes for the only really contested race in Kansas City's school board elections will be counted today - it's between write-in candidates in Subdistrict One. For the at-large seat, computer programmer Airick Leonard West defeated incumbent Bill Eddy, who had dropped out the race, though his name was still on the ballot.

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                      Funkhouser Says Area Counties Support Light Rail (2008-04-09)
                      Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser says he expects the light rail proposal to go before voters in Jackson, Clay, Platte and Wyandotte Counties.

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                      KCUR Evening Newscast 4-09-08 (2008-04-09)
                      KCUR Evening Headlines (1 min 49 sec)

                      • The act of extending Kansas City's bus tax is likely to send voters to November's polls with another issue: a light rail plan.

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                        Kansas Receives Less Funding from Centers for Disease Control (2008-04-09)
                        A new study released by the non-profit research group, Trust for America's Health, reports that Midwestern states receive less funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention than other states.

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                        KCUR Evening Newscast 4-08-08 (2008-04-08)
                        KCUR Evening Headlines

                        • The Missouri House finally passed a bill to allow Kansans who work in the state to deduct their property taxes from their Missouri income tax - but after many returns were already filed.

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                          KCUR Morning Newscast 4-08-08 (2008-04-08)
                          KCUR Morning Headlines

                          • The Kansas Jayhawks won their first national title in men's basketball since 1988. KU defeated Memphis, 75-68.

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                            KCUR Evening Newscast 4-07-08 (2008-04-07)
                            KCUR Evening Headlines

                            • Presumptive Republican Presidential nominee John McCain told veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas City today that the war in Iraq is going better than most people think, and that calls to withdrawal are driven by political expediency.

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                              Kansas City, Missouri School Board Elections (2008-04-07)
                              Although many see the future of the school district as key to the city's development, the only truly contested races are between write-in candidates.

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                              Local Musicians Talk About Smoking Ban (2008-04-07)
                              Kansas City voters go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether or not to impose a smoking ban. The initiative proposes banning smoking in public places, like restaurants and bars. For photos from the story, check here.

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                              KU's Rush to Championship Game (2008-04-07)
                              KU junior Brandon Rush might be playing in the NBA today if he hadn't injured his knee last year in a pick-up game. Instead, Rush is now hoping to help the Kansas Jayhawks win the national championship game.

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                              Sen. McCain Speaks to Veterans in KC (2008-04-07)
                              Sen. John McCain says Democrats who offer a quick withdrawal from Iraq aren't being honest about the consequences of defeat there.

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                              KCUR Morning Newscast 4-07-08 (2008-04-07)
                              KCUR Morning Headlines

                              • Vehicle owners in Missouri who lose their driving privileges would be forced to use special license plates, under a transportation bill passed unanimously last week by the State Senate.

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                                Top Stories of the Week (2008-04-05)
                                Pressure from the legislature led to resignations at the Kansas Board of Healing Arts. The Kansas City city council came out unanimously against a proposed Missouri constitutional amendment. And election officials said results from next Tuesday's Kansas City school board election may not be binding. Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                Airick Leonard West: At-Large Candidate for School Board (2008-04-04)
                                KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross spoke to computer programmer and neighborhood activist Airick Leonard West. West is running unopposed for the at-large seat occupied by Bill Eddy. Eddy dropped out of the race last month, but his name will still be on the ballot.

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                                KC Doctors Warn of Second-Hand Smoke (2008-04-04)
                                Medical experts joined supporters of a proposed Kansas City smoking ban today in an effort to draw attention to the harms of second-hand smoke.

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                                KCUR Evening Newscast 4-04-08 (2008-04-04)
                                KCUR Evening Headlines

                                • A District Judge in Kansas City today followed the jury's recommendations and sentenced Lisa Montgomery to death for killing Bobbie Jo Stinnett in 2004 and cutting the baby from her womb.

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                                  KCUR Evening Newscast 4-3-08 (2008-04-03)
                                  The Kansas City Council approved a study of creating a new convention hotel, expanded the non-discrimination ordinance, and took a stand against a proposed constitutional amendment. The Johnson County Commission will fund the special prosecutors in Phill Kline's investigation of Paul Morrison. A judge won't decide till April 28 on whether the state can authenticate abortion records in Kline's prosecution of Planned Parenthood. The Missouri Senate passed an omnibus illegal immigration bill.

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                                  KCUR Morning Newscast 4-03-08 (2008-04-03)
                                  KCUR Morning Headlines (3 min 17 sec)

                                  • Johnson County lawmakers are voicing strong opposition to a special-education funding bill that they say discriminates against large, urban school districts.

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                                    Bus Tax Draws Critics and Supporters (2008-04-03)
                                    Kansas City voters are being asked to extend a 3/8th cent sales tax for the bus system. The current tax brings in some $23 million a year and will expire in March of next year. Supporters say the 15 year extension is crucial to keeping the bus system running, but some critics say transit officials need to come up with a combined light rail and bus plan to take to voters.

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                                    Upcoming School Board Election Results Questioned (2008-04-03)
                                    Since voters approved the transfer of seven schools to the Independence school district in November, Kansas City's subdistricts need to be reorganized.

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                                    KCUR Morning Newscast 4-02-08 (2008-04-02)
                                    KCUR Morning Headlines

                                    • The Missouri Senate gave first-round approval to an illegal immigration bill yesterday.

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                                      KCUR Evening Newscast 4-02-08 (2008-04-02)
                                      KCUR Evening Headlines

                                      • Kansas City, Missouri's Transportation and Infrastructure committee unanimously approved an amendment to the city's nondiscrimination ordinance today. It would add that it's illegal to discriminate based on gender identity.

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                                        Civil Rights Group Warns of Misleading Petitioners (2008-04-02)
                                        Some area civil rights groups are saying the tactics employed by petitioners for the Missouri Civil Rights Initiative are misleading.

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                                        Committee Approves Change for Nondiscrimination Ordinance (2008-04-02)
                                        The Transportation and Infrastructure committee unanimously approved a measure that makes it illegal to discriminate based on gender identity.

                                        ---

                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 4-01-08 (2008-04-01)
                                        KCUR Evening Headlines

                                        • It's general election day in many Johnson County communities. Polls in Leawood, Mission, Prairie Village, Shawnee and Westwood remain open until 7 p.m. tonight.

                                          ---

                                          KCUR Morning Newscast 4-01-08 (2008-04-01)
                                          

                                          • Pressure is building in the Kansas legislature today for a complete overhaul of the state Board of Healing Arts, and some lawmakers are demanding that the head of that agency be fired.

                                            ---

                                            Cattle Rustling on the Rise in Missouri (2008-03-31)
                                            When you hear the term cattle rustlers, you might think of an era of stagecoaches, pistols and the Wild West. But modern day ranchers and dairy farmers will tell you the old crime of stealing cattle is very much alive today. And in Missouri, it's on the rise. KSMU's Jennifer Moore reports from Marshfield.

                                            ---

                                            KCUR Morning Newscast 3-31-08 (2008-03-31)
                                            
                                            KCUR Morning Headlines

                                            • A bill that would legalize midwifery in Missouri is awaiting action in the State Senate.
                                            • Missouri is one of the most dangerous places to ride a motorcycles. The Springfield News-Leader reports that between 2002 and 2006 the state's motorcycle deaths remained constant between 9 and 12 per 10,000 registered rider.

                                              ---

                                              KCUR Evening Newscast 3-31-08 (2008-03-31)
                                              KCUR Evening Newscast (1 min 48 sec)

                                              • Kansas City police report that they have two persons in custody - a man and a woman - in connection with a carjacking-murder that has received considerable media attention.

                                                ---

                                                Top Stories of the Week 3-28-08 (2008-03-29)
                                                
                                                Kansas City rejoiced at being one of two finalists for a major aircraft assembly plant. A judge decided Terry Blair was a serial killer. And after weeks of conflict the Kansas City council passed a budget for next year - one with many cutbacks. Steve Bell revisits those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

                                                ---

                                                KCUR Evening Newscast 3-28-08 (2008-03-28)
                                                
                                                KCUR Evening Headlines

                                                • The Kansas House passed a voter photo id bill today. It came as part of a bill scheduling a Kansas presidential primary to replace the caucuses the parties run at their own expense.

                                                  ---

                                                  KCUR Morning Newscast 3-28-08 (2008-03-28)
                                                  
                                                  KCUR Morning Headlines

                                                  • After weeks of arguing, the Kansas City council passed a city budget by a 12-1 margin yesterday.

                                                    ---

                                                    KCUR Evening Newscast 3-27-08 (2008-03-27)
                                                    Today was deadline day for the Kansas City, Missouri City Council to pass a budget. Many expected chaos, but the council delivered consensus.

                                                    ---

                                                    KCUR Morning Newscast 3-27-08 (2008-03-27)
                                                    KCUR Morning Headlines (3 min 26 sec)

                                                    • Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline say he won't appear before the County Commission today.
                                                    • The Kansas City council is set to finalize the city budget today. One council member plans to propose that the city move forward with plans for a regional jail.

                                                      ---

                                                      City and County Officials Explore Possibility of Regional Jail (2008-03-26)
                                                      A long-discussed concept for a regional jail in Jackson County took a step closer to becoming an official plan Wednesday. Kansas City and Jackson County officials announced their intention to move forward with a merger during last minute negotiations on the city's budget - which is due Thursday.

                                                      ---

                                                      Funkhouser Holds Budget Press Conference (2008-03-26)
                                                      The Kansas City Council must vote on a final budget package by Thursday. The city's budget came under question when Mayor Mark Funkhouser criticized it as imbalanced and called for slashing tens of millions of dollars.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Morning Newscast 3-26-08 (2008-03-26)
                                                      The Kansas House passed a health care bill funding a year's worth of state aid to help poor families buy insurance.

                                                      ---

                                                      Missouri Legislature Takes Up Bombardier (2008-03-26)
                                                      Action was swift in the Missouri General Assembly during discussions of a $375 million passenger jet assembly plant being considered for Kansas City by Montreal-based Bombardier Aerospace.

                                                      ---

                                                      First Lady Visits Olathe School (2008-03-26)
                                                      First Lady Laura Bush stopped by an Olathe school during a brief visit to Johnson County this week. Bush told students that they should spend as much time reading as watching television.

                                                      ---

                                                      KC Ponders Fate of City Jail (2008-03-26)
                                                      The Kansas City Missouri City Council has until Thursday to hammer out the coming year's budget. With the slowdown in the national economy, and a recent downgrading of the city's financial status, city council members are preparing to make decisions that will upset people.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Evening Newscast 3-26-08 (2008-03-26)
                                                      Kansas City and Jackson County officials held a news conference this morning to announce that city budget proposals that close or privatize the city jail as a part of Kansas City budget cuts have accelerated plans for a regional jail.

                                                      ---

                                                      Emergency Rooms Assess Preparedness (2008-03-26)
                                                      Emergency rooms are busy year round. But they can become even more strained during flu season. That was true this year in Kansas City, when ER patient admissions rose between 20 and 25 percent in February and March.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Morning Newscast 3-25-08 (2008-03-25)
                                                      Kansas City may be the home of a new passenger jet assembly plant.

                                                    • A Kansas Senate committee has approved a bill banning smoking in most public place, including bars, casinos, and restaurant.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Evening Newscast 3-25-08 (2008-03-25)
                                                      Kansas City in running for $375 million aircraft assembly plant. Kansas House advances replacement funeral picketing bill. Missouri House debates 2009 budget. Judge refuses to stop Missouri river spring rise.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Morning Newscast 3-24-08 (2008-03-24)
                                                      Some Kansas legislators say a state program that holds sexual offenders indefinitely does not work. Under Kansas law, sex offenders who finished their prison can be kept in a program at Larned State Hospital if they are believed to be a continuing threat to the community.

                                                      ---

                                                      KC-MO Considers Fate of City Jail (2008-03-24)
                                                      The Kansas City Missouri City Council has until Thursday to hammer out the coming year's budget. With the slowdown in the national economy, and a recent downgrading of the city's financial status, city council members are preparing to make decisions that will upset people.

                                                      ---

                                                      Funding Sought to Improve Amtrak in Missouri (2008-03-24)
                                                      The Missouri Department of Transportation wants the legislature to spend $10.6 million to add sidings along the tracks it leases for Amtrak.

                                                      ---

                                                      NAACP Convention Slated for Kansas City (2008-03-24)
                                                      The NAACP Board of Directors ratified Kansas City as the site for its 2010 national convention. Last year, officials considered pulling the convention in solidarity with the National Council of La Raza, which cancelled its 2009 meeting here. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Evening Newscast 3-24-08 (2008-03-24)
                                                      The Kansas City Star is reporting that the NAACP will hold its 2010 convention in Kansas City.

                                                      ---

                                                      New Biography of Kansas Basketball Legend John McLendon (2008-03-23)
                                                      The history of sports is filled with athletes who have become civil rights heroes because of their insistence on equal rights in a segregated society. The accomplishments of people like Jackie Robinson and Jesse Owens are widely revered, but their legend frequently overshadows lesser-known figures like basketball coach and Kansas native John McLendon, who died in 1999.

                                                      ---

                                                      Top Stories of the Week (2008-03-22)
                                                      Governor Sebelius vetoed a Kansas energy bill that allowed construction of coal-fired power plants. The man who led the desegregation suit against Kansas City schools announced he is running for the school board. And arguments heated up in the debate on budget cuts for Kansas City, Missouri. Steve Bell has the highlights and the voices from those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Everning Newscast 3-21-08 (2008-03-21)
                                                      Sebelius vetoes energy bill. Burglar knocks first in Leawood. Suit over KC municipal judge selection to go to trial.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Evening Newscast 3-20-08 (2008-03-20)
                                                      Council divided on social services cuts. Kansas House adopts partial budget. Running gun battle ends in Brookside. Suit filed to stop Overland Park annexation.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Evening Newscast 3-19-08 (2008-03-19)
                                                      Council committe passes budget. Five dead in Missouri flooding. KU presses on in March Madness.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Morning Newscast 3-19-08 (2008-03-19)
                                                      Two members of the Kansas City council discussed their proposed, compromise budget for the city. And more news from the KCUR Newsroom.

                                                      ---

                                                      Kansas City Council Takes Up Budget Compromise Plan (2008-03-19)
                                                      The full Kansas City Council will discuss its own budget proposal at its business session Thursday afternoon. The plan advanced from committee Wednesday morning, despite an overflow crowd at the public hearing.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Morning Newscast 3-18-08 (2008-03-18)
                                                      Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline says defense lawyers for the man charged with killing Kelsey Smith are trying to divert attention away from evidence. A Kansas House committee meets this afternoon to consider a new funeral picketing bill to replace the one struck by last week by the Kansas Supreme Court. And more of the latest news from KCUR.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Morning Newscast 3-18-08 (2008-03-18)
                                                      Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline says defense lawyers for the man charged with killing Kelsey Smith are trying to divert attention away from evidence. A Kansas House committee meets this afternoon to consider a new funeral picketing bill to replace the one struck by last week by the Kansas Supreme Court. And more of the latest news from KCUR.

                                                      ---

                                                      Civil Rights Lawyer Runs for KCMO School Board (2008-03-18)
                                                      The man who took the Kansas City Missouri school district to court in 1979 in a far-reaching desegregation case has decided to run for the school board. Civil rights lawyer Arthur Benson will conduct a write-in campaign in subdistrict one for a seat that no one is officially running for. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Morning Newscast 3-18-08 (2008-03-18)
                                                      Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline says defense lawyers for the man charged with killing Kelsey Smith are trying to divert attention away from evidence. A Kansas House committee meets this afternoon to consider a new funeral picketing bill to replace the one struck by last week by the Kansas Supreme Court. And more of the latest news from KCUR.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Morning Newscast 3-18-08 (2008-03-18)
                                                      Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline says defense lawyers for the man charged with killing Kelsey Smith are trying to divert attention away from evidence. A Kansas House committee meets this afternoon to consider a new funeral picketing bill to replace the one struck by last week by the Kansas Supreme Court. And more of the latest news from KCUR.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Evening Newscast 3-17-08 (2008-03-17)
                                                      
                                                      The Kansas House has given first-round approval to a bill that would tighten the state's late-term abortion law and advanced an economic stimulus and disaster relief package.
                                                      A Kansas City, Missouri firefighter suffered a heart attack while fighting a blaze at an abandoned house near 55th and Prospect this afternoon.
                                                      Participants marched in the St. Patrick's day parade despite the rain, but crowds were smaller than usual and the parade lasted a half-hour less than last year.

                                                      ---

                                                      Bill Cosby Plans Women's Conference in KC (2008-03-17)
                                                      When Eric Wesson and KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross spoke to Bill Cosby over the phone earlier this week, they were planning for the upcoming event.

                                                      ---

                                                      State Education Board Member Advises KCMO District (2008-03-17)
                                                      Missouri Board of Education member and Reverend Stan Archie, of the Christian Fellowship Baptist Church, told KCUR's Steve Bell that the laws surrounding the St. Louis schools takeover don't apply here.

                                                      ---

                                                      Immigration Sparks Passion Not Action in Legislature (2008-03-17)
                                                      Republican leaders in Missouri have made illegal immigration one of the top priorities of the 2008 legislative session. KWMU statehouse reporter Marshall Griffin takes a look at their progress.

                                                      ---

                                                      Dolores Arzola Campaigns for KCMO School Board (2008-03-17)
                                                      Dolores Arzola, who's head of the District Advisory Committee, is full speed ahead on her write-in campaign for the first subdistrict seat. She spoke recently to KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross.

                                                      ---

                                                      Mayor Calls for Drastic Budget Cuts (2008-03-17)
                                                      Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser called on the city this week to take a hard look at its budget and make some tough cuts. The city's dealing with chronically unfunded budget obligations and faces a likely recession in the coming years.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Morning Newscast 3-17-08 (2008-03-17)
                                                      The Kansas Jayhawks played to a home crowd at the Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City this weekend. Immigration advocates are questioning testimony earlier this month by Missouri treasurer and Republican gubernatorial hopeful Sarah Steelman. The Liberty School District has hired an auditor to look into how the school handles credit cards used by the district's top administrators. The Kansas City Health Department is expanding services for women, infants, and children.

                                                      ---

                                                      Group Protests Bodies Revealed Exhibit (2008-03-17)
                                                      Members of a Catholic-based organization rallied outside union station Sunday to protest the Bodies Revealed exhibit on display there.

                                                      ---

                                                      Top Stories of the Week (2008-03-15)
                                                      
                                                      Paul Morrison protested the attorneys appointed to investigate his alleged criminal actions during an illicit affair. A Missouri board of education member reassured Kansas City Schools they're not in danger of a state takeover. And a Kansas City budget to meet a $78 million shortfall took center stage. Steve Bell revisits those and other top stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Evening Newscast 3-14-08 (2008-03-14)
                                                      Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius today accused Republican lawmakers of tying up important legislation to force approval of two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas.

                                                      ---

                                                      Jail Director Reacts To Funkhouser's Proposed Budget (2008-03-14)
                                                      The head of Kansas City's municipal jail says that Mayor Mark Funkhouser's proposal to close the institution could also eliminate unique services for drug addicts and the mentally ill. The mayor has said the facility costs the city almost five million dollars a year. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Morning Newscast 3-14-08 (2008-03-14)
                                                      The budget continued to dominate yesterday's Kansas City Council meetings with no new suggestions as to what to cut to meet an expected $78 million shortfall, but with additional red flags mentioned.

                                                      ---

                                                      Brazilian Company Plans to Buy Major U.S. Beef Packers (2008-03-13)
                                                      JBS is a Brazilian-based beef packing company that has announced plans to own three of the major packing companies in the U.S.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Morning Newscast 3-13-08 (2008-03-13)
                                                      Facing a likely recession, and chronically unfunded budget obligations, Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser proposed controversial cuts yesterday.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Evening Newscast 3-13-08 (2008-03-13)
                                                      The budget continued to dominate today's Kansas City Council meetings with no new suggestions as to what to cut to meet an expected $78 million shortfall, but with additional red flags mentioned.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Morning Newscast 3-12-08 (2008-03-12)
                                                      Only one company has filed a proposal to build a casino in Sugar Creek. Wild Rose Entertainment runs two casinos in Iowa and the company is proposing a 135 million dollar facility with 12-hundred slots and a 200 room hotel.

                                                      ---

                                                      Kansas Supreme Court Rejects Funeral Picketing Law (2008-03-12)
                                                      The Kansas Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to validate the state's new law placing limits on picketing at funerals. KCUR's Steve Bell talked with Sen. John Vratil of Leawood about the decision.

                                                      ---

                                                      KCUR Evening Newscast 3-12-08 (2008-03-12)
                                                      
                                                      KCUR Evening Headlines

                                                      • Mayor Mark Funkhouser delivered his proposed budget to a city council committee today and held a news conference for reporters to ask questions about the proposal.

                                                        ---

                                                        Funkhouser Proposes Privatizing Zoo and Jail (2008-03-12)
                                                        Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser has proposed privatizing the city jail, laying off some 220 city workers, and cutting off funds to the Zoo.

                                                        ---

                                                        test (2008-03-12)
                                                        test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test test

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 3-11-08 (2008-03-11)
                                                        The Shawnee Mission School Boards chose a long time employee as its new superintendent. Gene Johnson will take over in July.

                                                        ---

                                                        Local Organization Campaigns for Smoking Ban (2008-03-11)
                                                        Breathe Easy KC kicked off its campaign on Tuesday to support the smoking ban on the April ballot in Kansas City, Missouri. The proposal would prohibit smoking from enclosed workspaces and public places, like bars and restaurants.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 3-11-08 (2008-03-11)
                                                        The Kansas Supreme Court ruled the new funeral picketing law unconstitutional today, faulting a clause that required the court to approve the law before it could take effect.

                                                        ---

                                                        Forsee Starts As New UM System President (2008-03-11)
                                                        Forsee says he's experienced a high learning curve during his first weeks on the job. He also says UMKC's position as Kansas City's only public university is important for both the region and the university system.

                                                        ---

                                                        Federal Grant Funds Statewide Drug Busts (2008-03-10)
                                                        Kansas City Police seized over 20 pounds of marijuana and made over 70 arrests in a statewide narcotics bust last week. Police agencies across 38 states carried out similar operations to highlight the importance local narcotics efforts.

                                                        ---

                                                        High School Students Compete in Robotics (2008-03-10)
                                                        High school students from around the region competed in a robotics competition at Hale Arena.

                                                        ---

                                                        National Biobank Discussed at Town Forum (2008-03-10)
                                                        More than 100 people gathered at the Kauffman Center over the weekend to weigh in on the potential creation of a national biobank. The National Institutes of Health and other federal health agencies are looking at creating a database with the medical information from half a million people.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 3-10-08 (2008-03-10)
                                                        he prison population in Kansas is falling - contrary to a national trend. The state now has 500 fewer prisoners than it did five years ago.

                                                        ---

                                                        School Board Member Rethinks District Governance (2008-03-10)
                                                        Bill Eddy has been an at-large member of the Kansas City School Board since 2004. He's decided not to run again and plans to explore some alternate forms of governance for the district.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 3-10-08 (2008-03-10)
                                                        A member of the Missouri Board of Education held a news conference in Kansas City today to dispel rumors that the state board is considering taking control of the Kansas City School District.

                                                        ---

                                                        Top Stories of the Week (2008-03-08)
                                                        
                                                        An appeals court told Aquila it may have to dismantle a $140 million Cass County power plant. A judge sided with the Kansas City council in its extending the city manager's contract. And a Johnson County grand jury disbanded, refusing to indict Planned Parenthood's Overland Park Clinic on any abortion law violations. Steve Bell reviews those and other top stories of the week on the KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 3-7-08 (2008-03-07)
                                                        Community leaders met this morning to launch a new campaign to renew the bus tax. The 3/8th cent tax first approved in 2003 funds almost a third of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority's operations.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 3-7-08 (2008-03-07)
                                                        Kansas City Missouri police seized over 20 pounds of marijuana and made more than 70 arrests in a statewide narcotics bust this week.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 3-6-08 (2008-03-06)
                                                        After being censured by council members and community leaders for trying to terminate City Manager Wayne Cauthen, Mayor Mark Funkhouser said he would not challenge the city council's desire to keep Cauthen. But a court decision upholding the contract extension will be challenged.

                                                        ---

                                                        Listeners Comment on City Budget (2008-03-06)
                                                        Walt and Laura meet with City Auditor Gary White and Kansas City Star Reporter Dave Helling to talk about the proposed budget. Listeners share opinions on what they feel should be Kansas City's top priorities.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 3-6-08 (2008-03-06)
                                                        The Kansas Senate passed the bill allowing construction of two coal-fired power plants in the southwestern part of the state today.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 3-5-08 (2008-03-05)
                                                        The Johnson County grand jury that rendered no indictments against Planned Parenthood issued a one-page report today. In it the twelve citizens called for a review of the law that allowed the grand jury to be convened.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 3-5-08 (2008-03-05)
                                                        The Air Force has agreed to move up a planned debriefing to tomorrow to discuss its decision to grant a $35 billion tanker deal to Airbus instead of Boeing.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 3-4-08 (2008-03-04)
                                                        Utility officials are holding off on plans to build a new coal fired power plant in a rural area east of Kansas City.

                                                        ---

                                                        Judge Sides with KC City Manager (2008-03-04)
                                                        A Jackson County judge yesterday affirmed the city council's right to override Mayor Mark Funkhouser and extend the contract of City Manager Wayne Cauthen.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 3-4-08 (2008-03-04)
                                                        An appeals court today threw its weight behind a mandate for Aquila to dismantle a $140 million power plant it has already build near Peculiar in Cass County.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 3-3-08 (2008-03-03)
                                                        Jackson County judge ruled today that Mayor Mark Funkhouser was wrong and the city council correct in interpreting the city charter on the retaining or dismissing the city manager.

                                                        ---

                                                        Movie Documents Life of Injured Iraq Vet from KC (2008-03-03)
                                                        Body of War follows a Kansas City man whose life was turned upside down after an AK-47 round ripped through his spine in Iraq.

                                                        ---

                                                        Reactions to Bodies Revealed at Union Station (2008-03-03)
                                                        The Bodies Revealed exhibit opened in Union Station on Friday. The show displays human bodies and body parts that have undergone a special preservation process. KCUR's Elana Gordon talked to visitors about their impressions of the exhibit. She also spoke to John Lantos, a fellow at the Center for Practical Bioethics about ethical issues surrounding the exhibit.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 3-3-08 (2008-03-03)
                                                        The Kansas City School District will be allowed to keep some money directed to charter schools.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCAI Opens Teaching Collection (2008-03-03)
                                                        On March 1, the Kansas City Art Institute marked the dedication of a new room housing the Ken Ferguson Teaching Collection. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

                                                        ---

                                                        New Immigration Legislation in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma (2008-03-03)
                                                        Kansas lawmakers held hearings this week on a set of bills dealing with immigration. Many of the bills before the House's Federal and State Affairs Committee strengthen penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants. Hear a union perspective on local immigration laws and enforcement. Plus, visit a Latino neighborhood in Oklahoma City to hear about the effects of recent immigration legislation there.

                                                        ---

                                                        Top Stories of the Week (2008-03-01)
                                                        
                                                        The Kansas City, Missouri budget faced a whopper shortfall. Missouri legislators planned to give homeowners some tax breaks. And there was more talk about light rail - this time in the form of public comment. Those are some of the stories Steve Bell recaps on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-29-08 (2008-02-29)
                                                        The trial of John Henry Horton continued today with testimony from a Kansas inmate that Horton had confessed the killing of 13-year-old Lizabeth Wilson in 1974.

                                                        ---

                                                        Topeka Man Found Guilty in Pyramid Scheme (2008-02-29)
                                                        A jury has found Topeka entrepreneur Michael Cooper guilty on more than 70 counts for his involvement in a tax avoidance pyramid scheme in which he cheated thousands of people, and the federal government.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-29-08 (2008-02-29)
                                                        Chemcentral has agreed to pay $470,000 to two federal agencies after an explosion and fire last year.

                                                        ---

                                                        Bodies Revealed in Kansas City (2008-02-29)
                                                        The Bodies Revealed exhibit opened in Union Station on February 29. It displays human bodies and body parts that have undergone a special preservation process.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-28-08 (2008-02-28)
                                                        Kansas City, Missouri's Transportation and Infrastructure Committee endorsed a Red Bridge Road renovation plan yesterday. Council members John Sharp and Cathy Jolly spearheaded a successful move to scale back original city plans that called for a five-lane street and four-lane bridge.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-28-08 (2008-02-28)
                                                        The controversy over sealed documents in abortion clinic investigations has led the Kansas House toward passage of a bill limiting the judiciary's power to close documents and hearings.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-27-08 (2008-02-27)
                                                        Kansas City, Missouri City Manager Wayne Cauthen has sent the mayor and council an alternative budget proposal radically different than the one Mayor Mark Funkhouser asked for - saying fixing a $78 million shortfall in one year would be a cure worse than the disease.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-27-08 (2008-02-27)
                                                        A plan for a three-lane street and a two-lane bridge with attached bike lane and sidewalks will advance to the full Kansas City Council next week as the replacement for the aging red sandstone structure on Red Bridge Road.

                                                        ---

                                                        Cauthen Submits Alternative Budget Proposal (2008-02-27)
                                                        Kansas City, Missouri City Manager Wayne Cauthen has sent the mayor and council an alternative budget proposal radically different than the one Mayor Mark Funkhouser asked for - saying fixing a $78 million shortfall in one year would be a cure "worse than the disease."

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-26-08 (2008-02-26)
                                                        ansas City International got some good news. It's been ranked the third least miserable airport by US News and World report.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-26-08 (2008-02-26)
                                                        Wayne Cauthen says solving the shortfall in one year is a "cure worse than the disease." Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline and Defense Attorney Michael McCulloch presented opening statements today in the second murder trial of John Henry Horton. And Catholic leaders condemned "Bodies Revealed" as unfit for school field trips.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-25-08 (2008-02-25)
                                                        Negotiators in the Kansas House and Senate will begin working this week on an energy bill dealing with coal-fired power plants.

                                                        ---

                                                        Wyandotte County Considers College Scholarship Program (2008-02-25)
                                                        Wyandotte County officials hope that a new college scholarship program for high school students will bring more young families to the area.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-25-08 (2008-02-25)
                                                        Jury selection got underway today in the second murder trial of John Henry Horton. Horton is accused of killing 13-year-old Lizabeth Wilson of Prairie Village in 1974.

                                                        ---

                                                        Luz D'Sol Mixes Afro-Latin and African American Music (2008-02-25)
                                                        Local musician Pablo Sanheza collaborates with singer Mocha Jackson to form Luz D'Sol. The group will perform as part of UMKC's Black History Month celebration.

                                                        ---

                                                        Top Stories of the Week (2008-02-23)
                                                        
                                                        An effort to recall Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser was abandoned. A bill to outlaw the Lawrence, Kansas domestic partner registry was sent to die in committee. And Overland Park, officially the second-largest city in Kansas, planned to get bigger. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-22-08 (2008-02-22)
                                                        Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt postponed his efforts to expand health care assistance this afternoon.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-22-08 (2008-02-22)
                                                        Children's Mercy is set to receive more than 43 million dollars from the Hall Family foundation. The Kansas City Star reports the gift will be part of an 800 million dollar expansion taking place over the next 15 years, almost double the number of beds at the Hospital Hill campus and adding outpatient clinics and labs. The gift from the Hall Family foundation will help to pay for bonds beings issued to fund the first part of the project.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-21-08 (2008-02-21)
                                                        Attorneys for a Planned Parenthood of Overland Park accuse Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline of being on a witch hunt. Yesterday, Kline told a district judge that a grand jury needs records about how the Overland Park clinic handles fetal tissue after abortions.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-21-08 (2008-02-21)
                                                        The Johnson County Commission voted unanimously today to let Overland Park expand south, but the county stopped short of giving the city everything it wanted.

                                                        ---

                                                        Johnson County Commission Votes on Annexation (2008-02-21)
                                                        Overland Park is going to swell in size by about eight and a half square miles. The Johnson County Commission voted to allow the city to annex the land, much of which lies beneath its southern borders.

                                                        ---

                                                        Reactions to Metcalf Development Plan (2008-02-21)
                                                        After almost a year and a half of research and input from thousands of residents, the city of Overland Park and a team of consultants are ready to reveal a new "vision" for Metcalf Avenue.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-20-08 (2008-02-20)
                                                        Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline filed 80 pages of documents this morning asking a judge to make Planned Parenthood turn over more documents to a grand jury investigating the organizations Overland Park clinic.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-20-08 (2008-02-20)
                                                        A move to recall Kansas City mayor Mark Funkhouser is off. Saundra Ross along with four other petitioners filed paperwork with the city several weeks ago, but Ross is withdrawing her efforts, saying the general consensus is to give the mayor more time.

                                                        ---

                                                        Overland Park Annexation Faces Opposition (2008-02-20)
                                                        The opposition to Overland Park's proposal to extend its boundaries by almost 9,600 acres has been called a "rural tsunami." City officials are expected to vote on the proposal which would expand the city by almost 25 percent.

                                                        ---

                                                        Avenue of the Arts 2008 (2008-02-20)
                                                        Six artists were selected recently for the ninth annual Avenue of the Arts, a summer exhibition of temporary public artwork in downtown Kansas City. This year's installations will explore themes of fantasy, decoration, symmetry, and environmental issues.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-19-08 (2008-02-19)
                                                        UMKC is one step closer to getting a $15 million nursing and pharmacy.

                                                        ---

                                                        Lawrence Companies Compete to Offer Free Internet (2008-02-19)
                                                        The monthly broadband bill is as common as the light bill in many area households. But some can't afford to get online at all, which educators say is creating a digital divide between haves and have-nots.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-19-08 (2008-02-19)
                                                        There will be no recall election for Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

                                                        ---

                                                        KC Faces Budget Problems (2008-02-18)
                                                        Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser has warned council members that the city faces ongoing budget shortfalls and across the board cuts unless it makes targeted reductions this year.

                                                        ---

                                                        Effort to Recall Mayor Continues (2008-02-18)
                                                        The attempt by some Kansas City residents to recall Mayor Mark Funkhouser looked for a boost over the President's Day weekend, during which volunteers gathered signatures at libraries.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-18-08 (2008-02-18)
                                                        Yesterday's wet snow turned to slush on airport runways, grounding flights at Kansas City international airport. Crews tried to clear the runways but because of the slush testing still showed they were too slick for planes to takeoff or land.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-18-08 (2008-02-18)
                                                        The Kansas House has given first-round approval to a bill allowing construction of two coal-fired power plants in southwest Kansas.

                                                        ---

                                                        Report Details Status of Asian American Businesses (2008-02-18)
                                                        Kansas City's Asian American Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a discussion of a recent report detailing the status of Asian American businesses in the United States.

                                                        ---

                                                        Steam-Cleaning Entrepreneur Benny Lee (2008-02-18)
                                                        Benny Lee owns Top Innovations, a local business which develops steam cleaners for clothes, floors, furniture, and other appliances. The company's headquarters recently moved to Troost Avenue from north of the river.

                                                        ---

                                                        Top Stories of the Week (2008-02-16)
                                                        
                                                        Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser called for $50 million in city budget cuts. Kansas legislators tried to bypass the governor's push for emissions controls on coal-fired power plants. And Mike Huckabee pulled off a surprise win over John McCain in the Kansas Republican Caucuses. Steve Bell revisits those stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-15-08 (2008-02-15)
                                                        Police and fire crews responded this morning after receiving a report about a suspicious substance in the IRS mailroom.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-15-08 (2008-02-15)
                                                        Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline is asking a judge to extend the mid-March end date for a grand jury investigating Planned Parenthood's Overland Park clinic.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-14-08 (2008-02-14)
                                                        Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser today responded to a record budget proposed by the city manager Wayne Cauthen

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-14-08 (2008-02-14)
                                                        Sprint Nextel corporation is going to consolidate its top leadership team at the company's campus in Overland Park.

                                                        ---

                                                        Sprint to Combine Headquarters at OP Campus (2008-02-13)
                                                        Sprint Nextel has announced that it will combine its two headquarters locations at its Overland Park, Kan. campus. The company, which employs more than 13,000 workers in the Kansas City area, previously had its operational headquarters in Overland Park and its corporate headquarters in Reston, Va.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-13-08 (2008-02-13)
                                                        Sprint Nextel today announced it will consolidate its corporate headquarters in Overland Park.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-13-08 (2008-02-13)
                                                        The debate over global warming and coal-fired power plants will finally hit the floor of the Kansas Senate today.

                                                        ---

                                                        KC Group Opposes Affirmative Action Ban (2008-02-12)
                                                        Kansas City opponents of a proposed Missouri constitutional amendment banning some affirmative action programs kicked off a new coalition on Monday night. The group includes unions, civil rights groups and business leaders.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-12-08 (2008-02-12)
                                                        A new coalition of labor, business and civil rights groups kicked off a campaign last night against a proposed ballot measure banning many affirmative action programs in Missouri.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-12-08 (2008-02-12)
                                                        The Missouri House has moved toward resolving a bi-state tax dispute. Last year, the Missouri General Assembly removed a tax deduction for Kansas residents who work in Missouri.

                                                        ---

                                                        Huckabee Wins Kansas Republican Caucuses (2008-02-11)
                                                        Kansas Republicans challenged conventional wisdom with their overwhelming support for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee on Saturday morning.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-11-08 (2008-02-11)
                                                        The Federal Transportation Security Administration has named KCI as one of seven airports around the country to test beefed up security screening measures for airport employees. KCI spokesman Joe McBride says the screening will occur outside public parts of the airport and should not inconvenience passengers.

                                                        ---

                                                        KC Supporters of Presidential Candidates (2008-02-11)
                                                        KCUR sent reporters out to most of the official area watch parties on Super Tuesday, and we thought we'd introduce you to some of the local people who have been motivated to support some of the major candidates.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-11-08 (2008-02-11)
                                                        Democrats turned out in larger numbers for the Kansas caucuses, despite being easily outnumbered by Republicans in the state.

                                                        ---

                                                        Top Stories of the Week (2008-02-09)
                                                        McCain and Clinton won in Missouri, but Clinton will split the Democratic Delegates with Obama. Kansas Democrats picked Obama over Clinton 7 to 3.

                                                        ---

                                                        Huckabee Campaigns in Olathe (2008-02-08)
                                                        Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee made a campaign stop at Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe and urged voters to support him in the Kansas Caucus this weekend.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-8-08 (2008-02-08)
                                                        The brother of a gunman carrying a grudge against City Hall in Kirkwood says there was a suicide note.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-7-08 (2008-02-07)
                                                        Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt stopped in North Kansas City today, announcing his plan to restrict what he says have been excessive increases in local property taxes across the state.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-8-08 (2008-02-07)
                                                        Missouri once again had more meth lab seizures than any other state. The Missouri Highway Patrol announced today the state once again topped the list in 2007, a dubious distinction for more than a decade.

                                                        ---

                                                        Pet Food Recall Leads to Indictments in KC (2008-02-07)
                                                        A federal grand jury in Kansas City has handed up indictments against three companies and their executives for making and distributing chemically tainted food that may have killed thousands of American pets.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-6-08 (2008-02-06)
                                                        The U.S. Attorney's office in Kansas City, Missouri today indicted two Chinese businesses and a U.S. company in the tainted pet food incidents that killed dozens of animals last year.

                                                        ---

                                                        Missouri Primary Coverage (2008-02-06)
                                                        Voters in Missouri split along geographical lines, giving narrow victories to Senator John McCain, and Senator Barack Obama. KCUR sent reporters to watch parties for all the major candidates last night.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-6-08 (2008-02-06)
                                                        issouri and Kansas both saw a heavy turnout in yesterday's Super Tuesday votes. Senator Barack Obama won a close race in the Democratic primary, barely beating Hillary Clinton 49 to 48 percent.

                                                        ---

                                                        Kansas Democrats Overwhelm Caucus Sites (2008-02-06)
                                                        Kansans turned out in record numbers across the state last night for Democratic caucuses in spite of bad weather.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-5-08 (2008-02-05)
                                                        oter turnout is heavy in Missouri's presidential preference primary - with unofficial reports of some polling places placing last minute calls for more ballots.

                                                        ---

                                                        Kansas Democrats Caucus, Have Questions (2008-02-05)
                                                        Kansas Democratic Party headquarters were swamped with calls Monday as people tried to find out more about Tuesday's caucus process. Party officials are anticipating a high voter turnout, based on response to outreach efforts, and campaign appearances in the state.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-5-08 (2008-02-05)
                                                        Today is Super Tuesday, and supporters for both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama say they will be out in full force in Kansas City.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2/4/08 (2008-02-04)
                                                        
                                                        Large "Super Tuesday" voter turnouts predicted in Kansas, Missouri. Missing child found in Texas, father arrested.

                                                        ---

                                                        Voices from Minuteman Conference and Protest in KC (2008-02-04)
                                                        Hear voices from this weekend's Minuteman Civil Defense Corps conference and the protest outside (including Minuteman founder Chris Simcox, former Parks Board member Frances Semler, and Reverend Nelson Fuzzy Thompson of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference).

                                                        ---

                                                        Top Stories of the Week (2008-02-02)
                                                        
                                                        The Minutemen met in Kansas City, and were greeted by protesters. A group began a petition drive calling for the first mayoral recall election in Kansas City history. And Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius spoke for her party on national TV. Steve Bell looks back at those stories and more on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 2-1-08 (2008-02-01)
                                                        President George Bush spent much of today in Kansas City talking about the economy.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 2-1-08 (2008-02-01)
                                                        Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is criticizing a bipartisan energy bill, saying that utility executives rejected a compromise she proposed.

                                                        ---

                                                        Minuteman Group Meets in Kansas City (2008-02-01)
                                                        Members of a group that opposes illegal immigration are gathering in midtown Kansas City this evening for a regional conference. Leaders of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps decided to hold their first regional conference here after the mayor appointed a member of the group, Frances Semler, to the parks board.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-31-08 (2008-01-31)
                                                        A House committee is seeking to block Missouri Governor Matt Blunt's Insure Missouri program from taking effect as scheduled.

                                                        ---

                                                        Schools Influence Obesity in Kids (2008-01-31)
                                                        Some studies report that more than 15 percent of U.S. children are overweight or obese. The situation is worse in Kansas and Missouri where childhood obesity rates are higher than the national average.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 1-31-08 (2008-01-31)
                                                        Harrisonville state Sen. Chris Koster filed a bill today that would toughen state laws on the use, manufacture or sale of methamphetamine.

                                                      • As the Minutemen prepare for a regional conference in Kansas City, tomorrow, civil rights groups plan counter-demonstrations. Governor Sebelius is criticizing the energy bill proposed by a Kansas legislative committee. MoDOT says some bridges need reinspection due to weight changes.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 1-30-08 (2008-01-30)
                                                        he group that filed with the city clerk to circulate petitions for Mayor Mark Funkhouser's recall charged the mayor with unforgivable mistakes. A Missouri House committee is trying to stop the governor from restoring some health insurance cuts. Another bill would eliminate the group that supervises Missouri high school athletics and extracurricular activities.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-30-08 (2008-01-30)
                                                        Five Kansas City residents are seeking to remove Mayor Mark Funkhouser from office.

                                                        ---

                                                        Kansas and Missouri Voter Information (2008-01-30)
                                                        Missourians will vote in the presidentail primary election on Super Tuesday, February 5. Kansas Democrats will also caucus on February 5, but Kansas Republicans will caucus on February 9.

                                                        ---

                                                        New School Superintendent Takes Office (2008-01-29)
                                                        Kansas City's new school superintendent John Martin took office today. He says he doesn't plan any major changes until a permanent replacement is named in the next six to nine months.

                                                        ---

                                                        Obama Campaign Gains Support in Republican Territory (2008-01-29)
                                                        Kansas is usually an afterthought in the presidential campaign. Republicans know they can count on it and Democrats tend to see it as hostile territory. Usually the caucuses were always too late to matter anyway. But this year, Kansas Democrats caucus on Super Tuesday, and the Republicans will hold their caucus a week and a half later.

                                                        ---

                                                        Group Files Petition to Recall Mayor Funkhouser (2008-01-29)
                                                        A group of Kansas City residents filed a petition Tuesday to recall Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser. The group now has 30 days to collect 16,950 signatures for a recall election.

                                                        ---

                                                        Reactions to Parks Board Resignation (2008-01-28)
                                                        A controversial member of the Kansas City parks board stepped down this week, ending a months-long showdown between the mayor and several national civil rights organizations. The standoff threw Kansass City into a national debate about illegal immigration. KCUR's Elana Gordon has the story.

                                                        ---

                                                        Former KC Councilman Advocates for Stronger Smoking Ban (2008-01-28)
                                                        Former city councilman Jim Rowland, who is also the director of the Sports Complex Authority, told KCUR's Alex Smith he's not impressed with the city council's ban. Rowland is leading the effort to get the petitioner's plan adopted.

                                                        ---

                                                        Reactions to KCMO Schools Superintendent's Departure (2008-01-28)
                                                        School board President David Smith, as well as board members Bill Eddy and Marilyn Simmons, discuss the conditions around Superintendent Anthony Amato's departure. Plus, hear from the District's Advisory Council chair Dolores Arzola, school board candidate Airick Leonard West, and Michael Casserly, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools, an organization which has been consulting for the Kansas City Missouri school board.

                                                        ---

                                                        Top Stories of the Week (2008-01-26)
                                                        
                                                        Embattled parks board member Frances Semler resigned. So did Kansas City School Superintendent Anthony Amato. And Republicans and Democrats alike were floored by the announcement that Missouri Governor Matt Blunt is abandoning his bid for re-election. Those are some of the stories Steve Bell recaps on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                        ---

                                                        KC Council Approves Smoking Ordinance (2008-01-25)
                                                        There will be only one smoking ban proposal on the Kansas City, Missouri April ballot and the city will already have a toughened smoking ordinance.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-25-08 (2008-01-25)
                                                        here will be only one smoking ban proposal on the Kansas City, Missouri April ballot and the city will already have a toughened smoking ordinance.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 1-25-08 (2008-01-25)
                                                        As the scramble continues following the announcement that Matt Blunt won't seek a second term, Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan says she's considering entering the Democratic governor's race, challenging Attorney General Jay Nixon.

                                                        ---

                                                        KC School Superintendant Amato to Step Down (2008-01-24)
                                                        After several weeks of private meetings, the Kansas City School Board decided last night to replace Superintendent Anthony Amato, after he served only half of his 3-year contract with the district.

                                                        ---

                                                        KC School Superintendant Amato to Step Down (2008-01-24)
                                                        After several weeks of private meetings, the Kansas City School Board decided last night to replace Superintendent Anthony Amato, after he served only half of his 3-year contract with the district.

                                                        ---

                                                        KC School Superintendant Amato to Step Down (2008-01-24)
                                                        After several weeks of private meetings, the Kansas City School Board decided last night to replace Superintendent Anthony Amato, after he served only half of his 3-year contract with the district.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-24-08 (2008-01-24)
                                                        Kansas City Missouri's school board has parted ways with Superintendent Anthony Amato. Board members announced last night they would replace Amato with a former superintendent of the Grandview school district

                                                        ---

                                                        KC School Superintendant Amato to Step Down (2008-01-24)
                                                        After several weeks of private meetings, the Kansas City School Board decided last night to replace Superintendent Anthony Amato, after he served only half of his 3-year contract with the district.

                                                        ---

                                                        KC Council Passes Smoking Ban (2008-01-24)
                                                        There will be only one smoking ban proposal on the April ballot after all. The Kansas City, Missouri City Council today passed a revised version of the competing council version of the ordinance. They then formally took it off the election agenda, leaving only one drafted by an initiative petition committee.

                                                        ---

                                                        KC School Superintendant Amato to Step Down (2008-01-24)
                                                        After several weeks of private meetings, the Kansas City School Board decided last night to replace Superintendent Anthony Amato, after he served only half of his 3-year contract with the district.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-24-08 (2008-01-24)
                                                        Kansas City Missouri's school board has parted ways with Superintendent Anthony Amato. Board members announced last night they would replace Amato with a former superintendent of the Grandview school district

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-24-08 (2008-01-24)
                                                        Kansas City Missouri's school board has parted ways with Superintendent Anthony Amato. Board members announced last night they would replace Amato with a former superintendent of the Grandview school district

                                                        ---

                                                        KC School Superintendent Amato to Step Down (2008-01-24)
                                                        After several weeks of private meetings, the Kansas City School Board decided last night to replace Superintendent Anthony Amato, after he served only half of his 3-year contract with the district.

                                                        ---

                                                        KC School Superintendant Amato to Step Down (2008-01-24)
                                                        After several weeks of private meetings, the Kansas City School Board decided last night to replace Superintendent Anthony Amato, after he served only half of his 3-year contract with the district.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-24-08 (2008-01-24)
                                                        Kansas City Missouri's school board has parted ways with Superintendent Anthony Amato. Board members announced last night they would replace Amato with a former superintendent of the Grandview school district

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-23-08 (2008-01-23)
                                                        Missouri Governor Matt Blunt says he's accomplished his goals and he won't run again.

                                                        ---

                                                        Gov. Blunt Discusses Decision Not to Seek Reelection (2008-01-23)
                                                        Gov. Matt Blunt says he decided within the last few days not to seek a second term. He says he loves the job and campaigning, but says he has no plans or aspiration to run for higher office.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 1-23-08 (2008-01-23)
                                                        It appears more and more probable that Kansas City School Superintendent Anthony Amato is on his way out, and the announcement may come today.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-22-08 (2008-01-22)
                                                        Two companies operated by pastors at a prominent Overland Park church have closed down. Complaints filed with the Kansas attorney general's office and the IRS allege inappropriate use of church proceeds.

                                                        ---

                                                        Parks Board Member Frances Semler Resigns (2008-01-22)
                                                        Embattled Kansas City Parks Board member Frances Semler is stepping down. Semler said in a letter to the media that she'd had enough of the controversy surrounding her membership in the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.

                                                        ---

                                                        Contrasting Opinions in Black Community about Funkhouser (2008-01-22)
                                                        When Mayor Mark Funkhouser unilaterally attempted to fire City Manager Wayne Cauthen last month, he was roundly rebuked by African American and Latino community leaders in City Hall. But some black Kansas Citians don't agree that Funkhouser's approach has been racist, or contributing to a racist climate in the city.

                                                        ---

                                                        Contrasting Opinions in Black Community about Funkhouser (2008-01-22)
                                                        When Mayor Mark Funkhouser unilaterally attempted to fire City Manager Wayne Cauthen last month, he was roundly rebuked by African American and Latino community leaders in City Hall. But some black Kansas Citians don't agree that Funkhouser's approach has been racist, or contributing to a racist climate in the city.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-22-08 (2008-01-22)
                                                        Two companies operated by pastors at a prominent Overland Park church have closed down. Complaints filed with the Kansas attorney general's office and the IRS allege inappropriate use of church proceeds.

                                                        ---

                                                        Gov. Blunt Will Not Seek Second Term (2008-01-22)
                                                        Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt has announced that he will not run for re-election this year.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-22-08 (2008-01-22)
                                                        Two companies operated by pastors at a prominent Overland Park church have closed down. Complaints filed with the Kansas attorney general's office and the IRS allege inappropriate use of church proceeds.

                                                        ---

                                                        Contrasting Opinions in Black Community about Funkhouser (2008-01-22)
                                                        When Mayor Mark Funkhouser unilaterally attempted to fire City Manager Wayne Cauthen last month, he was roundly rebuked by African American and Latino community leaders in City Hall. But some black Kansas Citians don't agree that Funkhouser's approach has been racist, or contributing to a racist climate in the city.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-22-08 (2008-01-22)
                                                        Two companies operated by pastors at a prominent Overland Park church have closed down. Complaints filed with the Kansas attorney general's office and the IRS allege inappropriate use of church proceeds.

                                                        ---

                                                        Contrasting Opinions in Black Community about Funkhouser (2008-01-22)
                                                        When Mayor Mark Funkhouser unilaterally attempted to fire City Manager Wayne Cauthen last month, he was roundly rebuked by African American and Latino community leaders in City Hall. But some black Kansas Citians don't agree that Funkhouser's approach has been racist, or contributing to a racist climate in the city.

                                                        ---

                                                        Gov. Blunt Says He Will Not Seek Second Term (2008-01-22)
                                                        Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt will not run for re-election this year. In a stunning announcement Tuesday, Blunt said he had decided not to seek a second term because he had accomplished virtually everything he set out to do when he ran for governor four years ago.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 1-22-08 (2008-01-22)
                                                        Gov. Matt Blunt jolted Republicans and Democrats alike with the announcement that he will not seek a second term.
                                                        

                                                      • The SCLC and LaRaza say it's too late to reconsider their conventions in Kansas City in light of the Frances Semler resignation.

                                                        ---

                                                        Public Art Approved for the Zoo (2008-01-22)
                                                        City officials recently approved a new $170,000 public art project for the entry plaza of the Kansas City Zoo. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

                                                        ---

                                                        Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. (2008-01-21)
                                                        Community groups are assembling throughout the area today for festivities in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. According to Dr. Wallace Hartsfield, Dr. King's vision of community is especially clear this year.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 1/21/08 (2008-01-21)
                                                        A Missouri senate committee endorsed a court fees increase give raises to sheriffs' deputies. A new energy plant was disqualified from a Missouri loan program because investors included relatives of elected officials. Governor Sebelius and a tourism task force argued over the Kansas tourism budget. Westar said December storms cost the utility up to $85 million. A Leawood doctor was killed in Breckinridge snowboard accident.

                                                        ---

                                                        Top Stories of the Week (2008-01-18)
                                                        
                                                        Missouri and Kansas governors delivered their State of the State messages. Sprint-Nextel announced over $700 million in cutbacks. And Kansas City lost two conventions, and the smaller one made the biggest headlines. Steve Bell takes a look back at those stories and more on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                        ---

                                                        Sprint Announces Layoffs, Store Closures (2008-01-18)
                                                        Sprint has announced that it plans to cut 4,000 jobs and close 125 retail stores as the company continues to slump against rival mobile phone service providers.

                                                        ---

                                                        Kansas Plans for Wind Energy (2008-01-18)
                                                        Kansas utilities, developers, public officials, and advocates, are convening at Wichita State University to develop plans for wind energy throughout the state.

                                                        ---

                                                        Gov. Sebelius Appoints New Attorney General (2008-01-18)
                                                        Kan. Governor Kathleen Sebelius appointed Douglas County District Judge Stephen Six attorney general Friday to replace Paul Morrison, who's leaving office because of a sex scandal.

                                                        ---

                                                        Kansas City Voters Face Two Smoking Ban Proposals (2008-01-18)
                                                        Kansas City voters will likely face two competing smoking ban proposals, and one to renew a tax that supports city buses. But as KCUR's Steve Bell reports, the final ballot isn't set in stone.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-18-08 (2008-01-18)
                                                        Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius appointed Douglas County District Judge Stephen Six attorney general Friday to replace Paul Morrison, who's leaving office because of a sex scandal.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Evening Newscast 1-18-08 (2008-01-18)
                                                        Sprint Nextel told the rest of the story today, or at least part of the rest of it. The company announced 4,000 job cuts earlier in the week.

                                                        ---

                                                        KCUR Morning Newscast 1-17-08 (2008-01-17)
                                                        KCUR Morning Headlines (1 min 30 sec)

                                                        • Three Kansas City area people died last night in separate accidents as snow began to stick on area roads last night.

                                                          ---

                                                          KCUR Evening Newscast 1/17/08 (2008-01-17)
                                                          
                                                          

                                                        • Council rejects changes, places two smoking bans on April Ballot.
                                                        • Police board faces conflicting recommendations on officer who denied pregnant woman medical care.
                                                        • Missouri Republican proposas revenue growth share to go to roads, bridges.
                                                        • Kansas Democratic group endorses Obama.

                                                          ---

                                                          KCUR Evening Newscast 1-17-08 (2008-01-17)
                                                          

                                                          • A Jackson County judge today released a report disagreeing with Police Chief Jim Corwin's recommendation to fire an officer who ignored a pregnant woman's requests for medical care.
                                                          • More than a dozen Democratic lawmakers in Kansas announced their support today for presidential candidate Barack Obama.

                                                            ---

                                                            KCI to Keep Three Terminals, For Now (2008-01-16)
                                                            Travelers who have been concerned about losing the convenience of the three-terminal system at Kansas City International Airport can relax. If it happens, it won't be anytime soon. The city's aviation director and a consultant reported to the City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee today, and though they did present three long-term alternatives for KCI, committee chair Ed Ford said nothing will be decided for another ten years.

                                                            ---

                                                            Former Missouri Charity Indicted for Funding Terrorists (2008-01-16)
                                                            A federal grand jury in Kansas City Wednesday charged members of a former Missouri-based Islamic charity and a former U.S. Congressman with money laundering and financing al-Qaeda terrorists. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

                                                            ---

                                                            KCUR Evening Newscast 1-16-08 (2008-01-16)
                                                            

                                                            • KCI will keep three-terminal system for at least ten years, according to Councilman Ed Ford.
                                                            • Republicans in the Kansas Senate unveiled their agenda for the 2008 session today.

                                                            • ---

                                                              Blunt Gives State of the State Address (2008-01-16)
                                                              Governor Matt Blunt says he has transformed Missouri during his three years of leadership into a strong, healthy state. KWMU's Bill Raack covered the governor's annual state of the state address last night.

                                                              ---

                                                              KCUR Evening Newscast 1-15-08 (2008-01-15)
                                                              
                                                              KCUR Evening Headlines

                                                              • Sebelius to deliver State of Union response.
                                                              • Amato future still in doubt.
                                                              • SCLC pulls annual convention from Kansas City.

                                                                ---

                                                                SCLC Pulls KC Convention (2008-01-15)
                                                                The national president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference cancelled plans on Tuesday to hold the group's 2008 convention in Kansas City. SCLC is the second national civil rights organization to boycott what they consider Mayor Mark Funkhouser's insensitivity to race.

                                                                ---

                                                                KCUR Morning Newscast 1-15-08 (2008-01-15)
                                                                Morning Newscast Summary

                                                                • The Southern Christian Leadership Conference pulls its convention from Kansas City because of perceived racial insensitivity by Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KCUR Morning Newscast 1-14-08 (2008-01-14)
                                                                  Governor Blunt says he supports legislation that restricts subprime lenders. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver visits Raytown to raise money for the city's First Baptist Church.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Students Look Forward to Upcoming Election (2008-01-14)
                                                                  Kansas City high school students discuss their thoughts about the presidential candidates.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KCUR Evening news 01-14 (2008-01-14)
                                                                  
                                                                  Sprint-Nextel likely to cut thousands of jobs. Kansas legislative session opens. Blunt proposes tough penalties for mortgage fraud. Petitioners reject council changes to smoking ban. Officers cleared in northland shooting.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2008-01-12)
                                                                  
                                                                  A week that began with freak winter tornados in central and southwest Missouri also held other surprises - including rumors that school Superintendent Anthony Amato was on his way out - a change in ballot language on a Missouri initiative -- and a Kansas City city council decision to amend a smoking ban initiative. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KCUR Morning Newscast 1-11-08 (2008-01-11)
                                                                  KC voters will face competing smoking bans, Downtown KCK casino opens, Missouri law makers focus on sub prime lenders and drunk drivers.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Local Company Competes with Large Stock Exchanges (2008-01-11)
                                                                  KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports for Marketplace about a new stock trading network in Kansas City.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Off Center Theatre Opens at Crown Center (2008-01-11)
                                                                  A new multipurpose theatre space opens today at Crown Center.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KCUR Evening Newscast 1-11-08 (2008-01-11)
                                                                  Kansas Republicans announces priorities for upcoming session. Blunt proposes appropriation for his Insure Missouri program. Missouri Department of Transportation wants funding for Amtrak routes. Special prosecutor hired by Phill Kline says he has not been paid. (1:48)

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Voters to Consider Two Smoking Bans (2008-01-11)
                                                                  Voters will possibly see two versions of a smoking ban on the ballot in April. The Kansas City Council this week approved an amended version of a smoking ban petition initiative submitted last year.

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                                                                  Thursday 11:30 newscast (2008-01-10)
                                                                  KS Republicans endorse McCain, Prosecutors accuse St. Joseph man of murder, New Bio diesel plants open

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KCUR Evening Newscast 1-10-08 (2008-01-10)
                                                                  K.C. likely to vote on two smoking ban proposals in April. Blunt walks out on reporters after questions about e-mail lawsuit. Sebelius promotes tobacco tax for health care. Federal Reserve Bank president presents mixed 2008 economic forecast.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  IRS Scrutinizes Tax Refund Loans (2008-01-10)
                                                                  KCUR's Frank Morris reports for Morning Edition about high interest "refund anticipation" loans.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KCUR Evening Newscast 1-9-08 (2008-01-09)
                                                                  Blunt sued by fired legal aide Eckersly; council committees consider smoking ban, transit tax; Missouri legislative session starts.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Finance and Audit Committee to Consider PAC Garage (2008-01-09)
                                                                  The Kansas City Council's Finance and Audit Committee today is expected to again take up the issue of how to fund the garage near the $358 million Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, now under construction in downtown Kansas City. It's been held in committee since September of last year. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Looking Back at the Mayoral Candidates (2008-01-09)
                                                                  The story that most impacted the rest of the year's news coverage in Kansas City was the spring's mayoral showdown between then City Auditor Mark Funkhouser and city councilman Alvin Brooks.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KC Council Committee Hears Reactions to Proposed Smoking Ban (2008-01-09)
                                                                  The Kansas City Council today takes up amendments to the smoking ban, likely to come to a public vote this April. A council committee this week heard from area residents.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Gov. Blunt Appoints State's First Poet Laureate (2008-01-08)
                                                                  Governor Matt Blunt today appointed Walter Bargen, a resident of Ashland, Missouri as the state's first official poet laureate.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Voter Registration Deadlines Approach (2008-01-08)
                                                                  Wednesday, January 9, is the last day for Missourians to register to vote before the presidential primary elections.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Grieving Families Warned About Scam (2008-01-08)
                                                                  The Missouri attorney general's office says a new phone scam targeting grieving families is being reported in the Kansas City area.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Artists Receive Grants from ArtsKC Fund (2008-01-07)
                                                                  The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City recently announced local artists will receive more than $11,000 in the second round of ArtsKC Fund Inspiration grants. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

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                                                                  KCUR Newscast (2008-01-07)
                                                                  Listen any time of day or night for the latst Kansas City newscast broadcast on KCUR.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2008-01-04)
                                                                  
                                                                  A transit lobbyist warned the Kansas City council that it doesn't have a light rail plan that will get federal help yet. Three more major suburbs snuffed out smoking in bars and restaurants. And both Missouri and Kansas started 2008 with football bowl wins. Those are some of the stories Steve Bell recaps on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Up to Date LIVE from Des Moines, Day 1, Part 3 (2008-01-04)
                                                                  Don Gonyea, NPR's White House correspondent discusses what he's heard from voters across the state in the weeks leading up to the caucus.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Up to Date LIVE from Des Moines, Day 1, Part 2 (2008-01-04)
                                                                  Washburn University student RJ McGuire discusses his political science class with Bob Beatty, an associate professor of political science, which took McGuire and other students to Iowa to follow the candidates.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Up to Date LIVE from Des Moines, Day 1, Part 1 (2008-01-04)
                                                                  Today in the first of two live broadcasts from Des Moines Steve Kraske explores how the Iowa caucus functions and why it's so important to candidates. O. Kay Henderson, news director of Radio Iowa discuss the inner-workings of the caucus and its history.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KCUR Newscast (2008-01-04)
                                                                  Stay current with Kansas City area news from KCUR's award winning newsroom.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Kansas City Museum Packs Up Collection Until 2010 (2008-01-04)
                                                                  The Kansas City Museum this weekend offers its last public programming inside Corinthian Hall until at least 2010. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KU Fans Celebrate Orange Bowl Victory (2008-01-04)
                                                                  Since the bowl game selections were announced early last month, KU's football team endured questions on whether the Jayhawks deserved to be in the a BCS (that is, Bowl Championship Series) game. They answered Thursday night with a 24-21 victory over Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. KCUR's Greg Echlin was there.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Council Ponders Light Rail, Bannister Petitions (2008-01-04)
                                                                  
                                                                  At its January 3 business session, the Kansas City, Missouri City Council heard a report on light rail from city transit lobbyist and attorney Jeff Boothe, who said a proposed starter system would reduce the amount of federal money available. Later, in legislative session, council members worried that a petition drive to stop the Bannister Mall redevelopment project will cause the K.C. Wizards to look elsewhere. Steve Bell reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KU Gears Up for Orange Bowl (2008-01-03)
                                                                  In the five games that comprise college football's Bowl Championship Series, or BCS, the Kansas Jayhawks are one of this year's surprise teams.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Smoking Ban for Four More Cities in the Metro (2008-01-02)
                                                                  Smoke-free ordinances go into effect for four more cities in the metropolitan area on January 2, 2008.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  MU to the Cotton Bowl (2008-01-01)
                                                                  When the Cotton Bowl kicks off in Dallas on January 1 between Missouri and Arkansas, the Tigers will be hoping for a better outcome than their last trip to Texas.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Bids Open for Missouri Riverfront Trail (2007-12-31)
                                                                  Work begins soon on an essential link for an interconnected trail network throughout the Northland. The Missouri Riverfront Trail will span 11 miles along the Missouri River from Parkville to Riverside.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of 2007 (2007-12-28)
                                                                  
                                                                  More than any in recent memory, the year that will end Monday at midnight, has been dominated by ongoing news stories involving newsmaking personalities and changes in their fortunes -- for example, the stumbles of Mayor Mark Funkhouser and the fall of Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison. Steve Bell looks back on some of those dramas on KCUR's 2007 News Review.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Gov. Blunt Calls for Doctor Pay Raises (2007-12-27)
                                                                  Missouri Governor Matt Blunt wants lawmakers to increase funding for doctors treating Medicaid patients.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Study Cites Violations in Nursing Home Policies (2007-12-27)
                                                                  A recent study by an advocacy group, the National Senior Citizens Law Center, found inconsistencies in how Missouri nursing homes admit residents.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  More Trash Collected During Holidays (2007-12-26)
                                                                  There are two times a year Kansas City, Missouri designates a no tag period for trash collection, where there's no extra charge for more than two bags: after the Fourth of July and after Christmas.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-12-22)
                                                                  
                                                                  Mayor Mark Funkhouser promised to back down on firing Wayne Cauthen and improve relations with the council. A smoking ban for Kansas City bars and restaurants got enough signatures for an April Vote. And the rumor that Gary Forsee would lead the University of Missouri system proved true. Those are some of the stories Steve Bell recaps on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  National Cyclocrossing Championships in KCK (2007-12-21)
                                                                  When ice and snow hit the area recently, most people stayed inside and tried to keep warm. Meanwhile, several hundred bicyclists from across the country flocked to the region for the National Cyclocrossing Championships and couldn't have been happier with the cold weather.
                                                                  
                                                                  For more photos, check here.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Mayor, Lawsuit Delay Cauthen Contract Renewal (2007-12-20)
                                                                  
                                                                  Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser returned the Cauthen contract renewal ordinance to the city council unsigned, saying he was advised the measure violates the city charter because it was not introduced by the mayor. However, Funkhouser chose not to veto the council's ordinance, and says he is now willing to propose the renewal himself if that is the will of the council. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KU Hospital, Med Center Reach Agreement (2007-12-19)
                                                                  After 18 months of negotiations the University of Kansas Hospital and the University of Kansas Medical Center have found common ground on plans for expansion and compensation.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Smoking Ban on Ballot in April in KC (2007-12-19)
                                                                  A group that has been circulating a petition for a ban on smoking in Kansas City bars and restaurants turned in 6,000 signatures Wednesday, pretty much guaranteeing the ordinance will be on the April ballot. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Forsee Appointed President of UM System (2007-12-19)
                                                                  Native Missourian and former Sprint Nextel CEO Gary Forsee was appointed Thursday as the 22nd President of the four-campus University of Missouri system.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Sprint Nextel Taps Dan Hesse as CEO (2007-12-18)
                                                                  Two months after the ouster of Gary Forsee, Sprint Nextel's board has chosen a new CEO. Dan Hesse headed A-T-and-T's wireless division in the late 90s and most recently ran Sprint's local telephone spinoff Embarq.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Kansas City Councilman Files Lawsuit Over Cauthen (2007-12-18)
                                                                  Kansas City's Mayor Pro Tem Bill Skaggs filed a lawsuit Tuesday to overturn the council's vote to extend the city manager's contract.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Trappist Monks Make Fruitcake in Southern Missouri (2007-12-18)
                                                                  For over fifty years, a small secluded monastery of Trappist monks has thrived in southern Missouri. The Trappist tradition calls for contemplation and prayer and self-sufficiency. So for the past 20 years, the monks have been baking dark and rich fruitcakes to sell.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  PsyOp Soldiers "Battle for Hearts and Minds" in Iraq (2007-12-17)
                                                                  Earlier this month, KWMU reporter Adam Allington traveled for two weeks with soldiers of the 10th Psychological Operations Battalion from St. Louis now on their third tour of Iraq.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Priorities Revealed for Kansas City Artists (2007-12-17)
                                                                  The results are in from a recent artists' town hall meeting where more than 100 artists gathered to talk about the future of the arts in Kansas City. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Kansas City Detective Headed Police Force in Liberia (2007-12-17)
                                                                  Leon Jordan was born more than a hundred yeas ago into a prominent African American family in Kansas City. After graduating from college, Jordan became a detective in the Kansas City Police Department, and in 1947, he was chosen to reorganize the police force in the West African country of Liberia.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Council Renews Cauthen's Contract (2007-12-17)
                                                                  This past Monday, the mayor unexpectedly asked the city manager to resign, and informed the members of the council and the media that he planned not to renew the manager's contract. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-12-15)
                                                                  
                                                                  Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment and political spying. The mayor's wife and the superintendent of schools were blasted for politically-incorrect language. And Mark Funkhouser's power attempt to oust the city manager produced a council legislative mutiny. Steve Bell recaps those stories and more on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Virgin Mary of Guadalupe Celebration in KCK (2007-12-13)
                                                                  Many Catholic Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the Kansas City area bundled up early yesterday to go to church. And some had stayed up the whole night before to celebrate the feast day of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross was at a church in downtown Kansas City Kansas at dawn, where parishioners sang in the day.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Council Rebuffs Funkhouser, Extends Cauthen Contract (2007-12-13)
                                                                  
                                                                  Civic leaders representing minority organizations, churches, labor unions, and business groups protested Mayor Mark Funkhouser's attempt to terminate City Manager Wayne Cauthen on Thursday. And the city council followed suit by extending Cauthen's contract over the mayor's objections. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Morrison Losing Support Amid Sex Scandal (2007-12-11)
                                                                  Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison may be in danger of losing support among key Democrats over an alleged sex scandal. But so far, Morrison says he has no intention of resigning. We get more from statehouse reporter Peter Hancock.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Funkhouser Says Cauthen is Out (2007-12-11)
                                                                  City Manager Wayne Cauthen's contract will not be renewed if Mayor Mark Funkhouser has his say-so. And Funkhouser says he is the only one who does. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Urban League President on 2007 State of Black Kansas City (2007-12-10)
                                                                  For the local study, researchers at UMKC's Economics department analyzed data from Jackson County, Wyandotte County, and this year Johnson County. Urban League President Gwen Grant said what emerges is a tale of two Kansas Cities.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Immigrant and Refugee Farmers Share Planting Tips (2007-12-10)
                                                                  In the winter, as the land takes a rest, farmers often attend seminars and workshops so they can prepare for the next growing season. In the small cafeteria of the Korean Presbyterian Church in the Argentine neighborhood of Kansas City Kansas, a group of immigrant and refugee farmers recently gathered to share ideas.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Groundbreaking for Black Archives Building (2007-12-10)
                                                                  The Black Archives of Mid America broke ground at its new location on Tuesday (December 4, 2007). Once it's restored, a historic parks building on 17th terrace, near 18th and Vine, will house the organization's collection of tens of thousands of documents relating to African American history throughout the area.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KCUR's Top Stories of the Week (2007-12-08)
                                                                  The Vice President comes to town, the Mayor lays out a light rail vision, e-mails get another Missouri official in trouble, and the city loses an architectural pioneer. News Director Frank Morris revisits those and other top stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Kemper Museum Expands into Crossroads (2007-12-07)
                                                                  The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art announced plans Friday to expand into the Crossroads Arts District. Museum founder Crosby Kemper says contracts have been signed to purchase the building now occupied by the Dolphin, a gallery and frame shop on the corner of 19th and Baltimore. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KC Mayor Proposes 60-mile Bistate Light Rail System (2007-12-06)
                                                                  
                                                                  Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser unveiled his light rail plan for Kansas City on the Wednesday, December 5 edition of KCUR's Up to Date. And the mayor's plan is more than twice as ambitious as the Clay Chastain plan the city council repealed in November. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Urban League Publishes 2007 State of Black Kansas City Report (2007-12-05)
                                                                  A new study by Kansas City's Urban League measures African Americans as about three-fourths of the way towards equality with whites. The 2007 State of Black Kansas City compares statistics on the two groups in Jackson, Johnson and Wyandotte Counties. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KC Mayor Issues Statement on Bannister TIF (2007-12-05)
                                                                  Dozens testified yesterday at the Kansas City Council's Finance and Audit Committee about the proposed Three Trails TIP plan, a nearly 1 billion dollar redevelopment proposal for the Bannister Mall area in South Kansas City.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  High Court Looks at MO Work Comp Changes (2007-12-04)
                                                                  Two years ago, the Missouri legislature replaced the state's workers' compensation law with one supporters said would correct excesses introduced through 80 years of court interpretation. The new law has no provision for courts to judge the fairness of work comp administrative decisions and invalidates all work comp case law from the past. As a result, a group of unions and employees' and seniors' organizations have taken the new law before the state supreme court. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Somali Immigrants Worries Emporia Locals (2007-12-03)
                                                                  Over the past year-and-a-half, hundreds of refugees from Somalia have come to Emporia, Kansas to live and work. Some Emporia citizens are wondering whether their way of life and quality of health are being jeopardized by their new neighbors.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Urban Walkability in Kansas City (2007-12-03)
                                                                  A new study by the Brookings Institution ranks Kansas City as 23rd of the 30 largest US cities in terms of walkable urban areas. But the study's author, Christopher Leinberger, sees a lot of potential in some of Kansas City's new development, particularly downtown.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Pioneering Kansas City Architect Dies at 90 (2007-12-03)
                                                                  Ralph E. Myers, Sr, the founding partner of the Kansas City architectural firm that broke new ground in modernist architecture and in the design of professional sports stadiums, died Monday. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Somali Immigrants Worries Emporia Locals (2007-12-03)
                                                                  Over the past year-and-a-half, hundreds of refugees from Somalia have come to Emporia, Kansas to live and work. Some Emporia citizens are wondering whether their way of life and quality of health are being jeopardized by their new neighbors.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  The Changing Face of Emporia (2007-12-03)
                                                                  Over the past year-and-a-half, hundreds of refugees from Somalia have come to Emporia, Kansas to live and work. Some Emporia citizens are wondering whether their way of life and quality of health are being jeopardized by their new neighbors.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  New Local ACLU Executive Director Dan Winter (2007-12-03)
                                                                  The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri recently hired a new executive director. Dan Winter was a banker for nearly 20 years, but he's been involved in civil liberty issues throughout his life.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Search for First Missouri Poet Laureate Continues (2007-12-03)
                                                                  Forty-one states, including Kansas, have state poet laureates. That number will soon increase by one. The selection process starts this week for Missouri's first poet laureate, as KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-12-01)
                                                                  
                                                                  Planned Parenthood withdrew its challenge of a grand jury investigation. Top Missouri candidates agreed to refund over-the-limit campaign contributions. And Clay Chastain tried again to make Kansas City light rail his own. Steve Bell revisits those and other top stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Missouri Arts Awards Announced (2007-11-30)
                                                                  The Missouri Arts Council, the state's grant-making agency for the arts, recently announced the winners of the state's highest honor in the arts.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KC Council Expects More Light Rail Planning (2007-11-30)
                                                                  The Kansas City City Council moved ahead with light rail planning Thursday, and talked about who will be in charge. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Clay Chastain Offers Light Rail Compromise (2007-11-27)
                                                                  Activist Clay Chastain this week made an offer to Kansas City Council that he called a great compromise."

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Harvesters Check Out Campaign (2007-11-27)
                                                                  Harvesters hopes the community will donate by adding coupons to their grocery bills that support Harvester's many food banks.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Blunt Touts Immigration Proposal (2007-11-26)
                                                                  Missouri Governor Matt Blunt says he wants the state legislature to reaffirm existing policy, prohibiting illegal immigrants from obtaining state driver's licenses. The governor crisscrossed the state Monday promoting his proposal.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  McCaskill Responds to FOIA Request (2007-11-26)
                                                                  Senator Claire McCaskill says a freedom of information act request by Missouri Republican Party is part of a transparent attempt to strike back at Democrats in the wake of an e-mail scandal in the Governor's office.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  More Tax Relief Expected for Crossroads (2007-11-26)
                                                                  It's round two for tax abatement proposals in the Crossroads Arts District where rising property taxes have forced some artists and property owners to consider leaving the area they helped revitalize.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  UMKC Launches Intellectual Pluralism Campaign (2007-11-25)
                                                                  In October, UMKC began an Intellectual Pluralism campaign to protect students from biased teaching, or from being discriminated against for their political or religious views.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KCUR's Top Stories of the Week (2007-11-23)
                                                                  
                                                                  Priest Holmes ended his comeback with the Chiefs after two starts. Governor Matt Blunt's controversy-prone chief of staff resigned. And so did H & R Block CEO Mark Ernst, with proxy-battler Richard Breeden moving into the chairman spot. Steve Bell has the highlights and the voices from those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Cranksgiving Alley-Cat Bicycle Race (2007-11-21)
                                                                  Alley-Cat races are like scavenger hunts through city streets but all the participants are on bikes. The races are chaotic, fast pace, and can be lawless. But mostly they're just a chance for people to ride together. KCUR's Suzanne Hogan rode the Cranksgiving alley-cat race last weekend.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KCK Residents Sue Police Officers for Discrimination (2007-11-19)
                                                                  A black Kansas City Kansas family and two friends filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday against six white police officers for allegedly violating their civil rights. The lawsuit stems from an incident that happened two years ago, at an eighteen year-old's birthday party in the basement of a duplex apartment in the Turner area of KCK.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Groundbreaking for Environmentally Friendly Tow Lot (2007-11-19)
                                                                  A groundbreaking ceremony takes place Tuesday for Kansas City's new $20 million abandoned car tow lot on about 20 acres east of I-435 and north of Front Street. It's one of the first projects the city has registered as a high performance green building, as KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-11-17)
                                                                  
                                                                  Missouri's governor and attorney general locked horns over deleted e-mails. The Kansas City council got sued over repealing the light rail plan, but not by Clay Chastain. And the public got its first look at the plans for the new Paseo Bridge. Steve Bell reviews those and other top stories of the week on the KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Black Family Sues KCK Police for Discrimination (2007-11-16)
                                                                  Nine Kansas City Kansas residents filed a federal lawsuit yesterday against six white police officers for violating their civil rights at a teenager's birthday party two years ago. The black family says police raided the basement party for no reason, assaulted some of the residents and used racial slurs. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  New Center for Breast Cancer Survivors (2007-11-16)
                                                                  The University of Kansas Cancer Center is starting a program to help breast cancer survivors with their recovery.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  MoDOT Unveils New Paseo Bridge Plans (2007-11-15)
                                                                  The Missouri Transportation Department unveiled the long-awaited design for a replacement for the Paseo Bridge on Wednesday. It also announced the contractors that will build the new span, inluding Kansas City's Clarkson-Massman and TransSytems. Renderings and 3-D animations of the design are available at kcicon.org. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Garth Brooks Fans Descend on Sprint Center (2007-11-14)
                                                                  Kansas City's skyline will be broadcast to hundreds of movie theaters across the continent last night, as country music legend Garth Brooks plays the last of nine shows at the new Sprint Center downtown. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross was outside the arena before Brooks' Monday night show, and brought us this audio postcard.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Veterans Ready Flag Display for Veterans Day (2007-11-14)
                                                                  The 3,336 flags on State Line at 96th Street are straight thanks to a group of Vietnam Vets who want the memorial to fallen soldiers looking right this Veterans Day.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Vandals Destroy Flag Memorial (2007-11-14)
                                                                  The Bender family was flooded with help from veterans, friends, and, strangers after vandals ruined a display of almost 4,000 flags commemorating American soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Mental Health Hospitals Go Smoke-Free (2007-11-14)
                                                                  Missouri's state mental health hospitals will now be smoke-free. These facilities are later than other general hospitals to implement a tobacco ban. One reason for this is because of the complexities surrounding mental illness and smoking.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  New President and CEO for Liberty Memorial (2007-11-13)
                                                                  The Liberty Memorial Association, which operates the monument and the National World War I Museum, recently hired Brian Alexander as the new president and CEO. Alexander officially starts today. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  KC-MO Media Panel on Light Rail, School Boundary Switch, Bannister Mall (2007-11-12)
                                                                  Pitch editor CJ Janovy and Call reporter Eric Wesson discuss this week's big stories in KC-MO: the city council's repeal of the voter-approved light rail plan, the school boundary shift and the soccer stadium proposal for the site of the former Bannister Mall.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-11-10)
                                                                  
                                                                  Voters let seven schools secede from the Kansas City district. The tax incentives for redeveloping Bannister Mall got their first okay. And the Kansas City city council repealed the Clay Chastain light rail plan voters approved last year. Steve Bell takes a retrospective look at those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  K-State Hopes New Biosecurity Research Will Help Win Federal Facility (2007-11-09)
                                                                  K-State will open a high-level Biosecurity Research Institute and has brought on new faculty to enhance chances to attract a multi-million dollar agro-terrorism facility.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Council Repeals Chastain Light Rail Plan (2007-11-09)
                                                                  
                                                                  No one at City Hall could remember a Kansas City Council ever repealing a voter mandate. But the present council did yesterday, scrapping the Clay Chastain light rail plan voters approved by a 9-3 vote. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  ELECTION: Voters Approve School Boundary Change (2007-11-07)
                                                                  Both Kansas City and Independence residents voted yesterday to change the boundary between the two school districts.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  ELECTION: Kansas City Sales Tax Support Tops 77% (2007-11-07)
                                                                  Kansas City voters have approved a 10 year extension of a one cent sales tax that funds infrastructure by an unprecedented margin.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Kansas City Repertory Theatre Names New Artistic Director (2007-11-07)
                                                                  The Kansas City Repertory Theatre today announced its new artistic director, Eric Rosen. He's the co-founder and artistic director of About Face Theatre in Chicago. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

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                                                                  Federal Jurors Find Shields and Cardarella "Not Guilty" (2007-11-07)
                                                                  A federal jury today cleared former Jackson County Executive Katheryn Shields, and her husband, Philip Cardarella, of all charges in the mortgage fraud case. The jury convicted the two other defendants involved in the scheme.

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                                                                  ELECTION: One Cent Sales Tax Up for Vote (2007-11-05)
                                                                  Kansas City's one cent sales tax for capitol improvements has been around for almost a quarter of a century. On Tuesday, voters will decide if they want to extend the tax for another ten years. City leaders point to hosts of improvements where the tax has helped foot the bill from enormous projects like flood control on Brush Creek to smaller ones like new curbs. But some neighborhood advocates worry the sales tax does not do enough to funnel money into economically distressed areas.

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                                                                  Olathe school board keeps Of Mice and Men (2007-11-05)
                                                                  One of the two Olathe school board members speaks out on his vote to remove OF MICE AND MEN from the school reading list.

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                                                                  Millions Lose Employer-Based Health Insurance (2007-11-05)
                                                                  A national study shows a steady decline in the number of people who get their health insurance through their employers. This is having an impact on Missouri adults and their children's access to health care.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  New Substance Abuse Program for Inmates (2007-11-05)
                                                                  Kansas City, Mo. will use grant money to take a comprehensive approach in treating jail inmates with substance abuse problems.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-11-03)
                                                                  
                                                                  The mortgage-fraud trial of former County Executive Katheryn Shields went to the jury. The COMBAT anti-drug program got a call for better organization. And a jury slapped Topeka's Westboro Baptist Church with an eleven million judgment for picketing a Marine's funeral. Steve Bell revisits those and other top stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Should Independence Absorb KCMO schools? (2007-11-02)
                                                                  The future of seven Independence schools will be decided in the special election on Tuesday, November 6, 2007.

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                                                                  Reverend Wallace Hartsfield Plans to Retire (2007-11-02)
                                                                  Reverend Wallace Hartsfield has served as a spiritual leader not only for his congregation at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, but for many involved in civil rights and justice issues throughout the Kansas City area, and nationally. He is retiring at the end of the year.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Council Passes Minority-Women's Business Ordinance (2007-11-01)
                                                                  The Kansas City, Missouri city council gave final approval to revisions in its program for minority-and-women-owned businesses. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

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                                                                  Kansas Considers Health Reform Options (2007-10-31)
                                                                  After months of planning the Kansas Health Policy Authority will present health reform recommendations to Governor Kathleen Sebelius and the Legislature. With talks of universal coverage swirling and more people than ever living without insurance people across the state are watching this proposal. If the legislature implements these recommendations it's estimated that thousands more Kansans would get health insurance.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Ceremonial Groundbreaking for UMKC Miller Nichols Library (2007-10-31)
                                                                  Groundbreaking takes place this afternoon for phase one of UMKC's Miller Nichols Library expansion.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Commission Releases Results on COMBAT (2007-10-30)
                                                                  Jackson County's COMBAT anti-drug program is getting results, but needs a larger controlling commission with representatives from all parts of the county, an appointed director and better communication with the public. That's the finding of an advisory committee in a report delivered to the county yesterday.

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                                                                  Local Teachers Win Prestigious Milken Award (2007-10-30)
                                                                  Two Kansas City area teachers received prestigious Milken Foundation awards Tuesday. Eric Kessler who teaches biology at Blue Valley North, in Overland Park and Jamelle McConnell-Brown at Sumner Academy in Kansas City Kansas, each won a $25,000 award.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Public Hearing on OP Annexation Plan (2007-10-29)
                                                                  The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners holds a public hearing Tuesday about Overland Park's proposal to annex land south of its current border.

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                                                                  Civil Rights Leaders Debate Missouri Affirmative Action Amendment (2007-10-29)
                                                                  Civil rights activists in Missouri are gearing up for a possible battle over affirmative action in next year's November election. A couple of national figures in the debate came to Kansas City recently, KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

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                                                                  Dice-K at the K (2007-10-28)
                                                                  In the Royals opening series against the Red Sox on Thursday, Japanese superstar Daisuke Matsuzaka threw his first pitch in the major leagues. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross talked to fans who had come from around the country, and some 200 reporters from around the world. Photo: Ryutaro Higuchi (left) and Shigeki Watanabe (right) came from Utah to watch Dice-K's debut. Their chests read Matsuzaka Generation.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-10-26)
                                                                  The Baseball Hall of Fame finally will honor Buck O'Neil. Planned Parenthood faced still another possible investigation. And a federal jury decided childhood abuse shouldn't spare Lisa Montgomery from the death penalty. Steve Bell revisits those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  PIEA Reviews Tax Abatement for Crossroads (2007-10-26)
                                                                  A Kansas City development agency Friday is expected to review applications for tax abatement for property owners in the Crossroads Arts District, an area hit hard this decade with rising property values and taxes. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

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                                                                  Reports of MRSA Infections Need Perspective (2007-10-26)
                                                                  Missouri health officials say some media reports of recent staph infections were taken out of context.

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                                                                  State Senator Chris Koster Seeks New Office (2007-10-25)
                                                                  Chris Koster, a state senator, officially announced his bid for Missouri Attorney General tonight in his home town of Harrisonville. Koster who was a Republican until this summer, is running in the Democratic Primary. He tells KCUR's Frank Morris that a handful of issues drove him out of the GOP.

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                                                                  Pandemic Flu Readiness Audit (2007-10-24)
                                                                  The Kansas City Missouri's Auditor's Office released a report about how well the city would respond to a pandemic flu outbreak - it's part of a national government study of emergency preparedness. KCUR's Kelley Weiss has more details.

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                                                                  Joint Chiefs Chairman Visits Fort Leavenworth (2007-10-23)
                                                                  Today, the highest ranking officer in the US Military will visit a hot spot in the military's internal, but increasingly open, debate over Iraq war policy Fort Leavenworth. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, Admiral Mike Mullen says he's worried about the Army, and sees the mission in the Middle East evolving quickly. KCUR'S Frank Morris caught up with Admiral Mullen on the plane to Kansas this morning and asked him about his recent trip to Iraq and Afghanistan.

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                                                                  New Black Archives Board Plans for Future (2007-10-22)
                                                                  Barbara Peterson worked for the Environmental Protection agency for 25 years, and never expected that she would roll up her sleeves and get back to work as president of the Black Archives' new board of directors.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  NCLR President Explains Decision to Cancel KC Convention (2007-10-22)
                                                                  This weekend, the board of the National Council of La Raza, a leading Hispanic civil rights organization, decided to move its scheduled 2009 conference away from Kansas City. National Council of La Raza President Janet Murguia is from Kansas City Kansas originally. The group has five affiliates in Kansas City Missouri, and Murguia told KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross that the national board voted unanimously to follow their lead.

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                                                                  NCLR Moves 2009 Convention Away from Kansas City (2007-10-21)
                                                                  The board of a Latino civil rights organization decided unanimously this weekend to move its 2009 annual conference away from Kansas City. National Council of La Raza board members say they followed the request of local affiliates, who had called for the resignation of a controversial city official. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-10-20)
                                                                  
                                                                  Mayor Funkhouser declared the voter-approved Clay Chastain light-rail plan dead . Kansas' secretary of Health and Environment turned down permits for two coal-fired power plants. And District Attorney Phill Kline filed felony charges against a Johnson County abortion clinic. Steve Bell takes a look back at those stories and more on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Contract Prompts Council Filibuster Try, Repeal of Chastain Plan Advances (2007-10-18)
                                                                  The ethnic divide on how to handle negotiations on City Manager Wayne Cauthen's contract showed again at yesterday's city council meeting. Councilman Terry Riley (at left) attempted to block a vote on the majority's latest move with a filibuster. In other business, the council acknowledged petitions calling for the repeal of the voter-approved light-rail proposal and its replacement with a more workable rail plan.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Local Concerns over SCHIP's Future (2007-10-18)
                                                                  Congress will try to override President Bush's veto of the ten-year-old State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP.

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                                                                  Area Mayors Back Regional Light Rail Plan (2007-10-17)
                                                                  A regional transit plan got support from leaders North of the River on Monday. KCUR's Maria Carter reports.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-10-13)
                                                                  
                                                                  Rumors about Gary Forsee's demise as Sprint-Nextel CEO proved to be true. Both sides weighed in on banning smoking in Kansas City bars, restaurants and casinos. And Elton John plays the first concert tonight, after Sprint Center Arena opened its doors mid-week. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  First TIF Deal Passed by KC Council (2007-10-12)
                                                                  The Kansas City, Missouri City Council passed its first Tax Increment Financing deal since the city's new policy on business incentives took effect. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

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                                                                  Lawsuit against Missouri Industrial Hog Farm (2007-10-12)
                                                                  Residents of Arrow Rock, Missouri sue the Department of Natural Resources for allowing construction of 48-hundred industrial hog farm nearby.

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                                                                  KU Hospital Moves up the Ranks in Patient Care (2007-10-11)
                                                                  A 2007 University of HealthSystem Consortium national study puts the University of Kansas Hospital among the best medical centers for patient care.

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                                                                  MOHELA Audit Reveals Excessive Perks (2007-10-11)
                                                                  A state audit released today showed Missouri's student loan agency MOHELA spent millions of dollars in perks and benefits for executives. KCUR's Maria Carter reports.

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                                                                  Audit: MOHELA Gave Executives Generous Perks (2007-10-11)
                                                                  A state audit show Missouri's student loan agency, MOHELA, spent millions of dollars in perks and benefits for executives.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  New Art Installation at the Sprint Center (2007-10-10)
                                                                  A new $1.3 million public art installation called The Moons was unveiled yesterday on the opening day of the Sprint Center. It marks the largest commission awarded in the 20 year history of Kansas City's one percent for art program.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Sprint Center Opens to the Public (2007-10-10)
                                                                  Sprint Center employees are getting ready for the venue's first concert Elton John this Saturday. Members of the public got their first look inside the arena at yesterday's ribbon cutting. KCUR's Maria Carter reports.

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                                                                  Son Remembers Integration Strategist Donald Sewing (2007-10-09)
                                                                  A man who led the way to integrate Kansas City's suburbs died last week at the age of 76. Donald Sewing moved with his own family to Fairway, Kansas in 1966, and proceeded to sell houses throughout the region to other African Americans. His son, Henry Sewing, told KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross how his father got started in real estate.

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                                                                  Tenth Street Jewelry (2007-10-09)
                                                                  Tenth Street Jewelry has been on the same block on North 10th Street in Kansas City, Kansas for more than 50 years. Delores Jones paid a visit recently to Tenth Street Jewelry, and talked to brothers Lester, Billy and Kelvin Boyice.

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                                                                  Penn Valley Administrators Switch Flag of Vietnam (2007-10-09)
                                                                  Last Monday, members of Kansas City's Vietnamese American community gathered at the Penn Valley campus of the Metropolitan Community Colleges to watch the deans switch a flag in the campus center. They replaced the flag of Vietnam, which is red with a yellow star, with what's called the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag, which is yellow, with three thin red stripes. That's the old Vietnamese flag, which represented South Vietnam during the country's civil war.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-10-06)
                                                                  
                                                                  The rumor mill said Gary Forsee is on his way out as Sprint-Nextel CEO. Another petition drive for a special grand jury was launched in Johnson County. And police fear remains found yesterday near Belton may be those of a missing teenager. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Cauthen Contract Tactic Sparks Council Skirmish (2007-10-05)
                                                                  
                                                                  A last-minute proposal to not let City Manager Wayne Cauthen's Contract automatically renew itself for a year sparked heated words at Thursday's Kansas City Council meeting. Some members called it a "sneak attack" tactic. And the council's three African-American members said it is the council, not the city manager that is not negotiating in good faith. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

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                                                                  Group Brings Influx of Young Teachers to KC, MO District (2007-10-03)
                                                                  Up to 50 recent college graduates will take up teaching positions in the Kansas City Missouri school district next year. Teach for America announced its expansion in to Kansas City this morning.

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                                                                  Anti-Abortion Groups Seek Grand Jury (2007-10-03)
                                                                  A coalition of anti-abortion groups is circulating a petition to convene another grand jury in Johnson County. In most states, it's the role of the judge to call a grand jury. But in Kansas, there's also the petition option. KCUR's Maria Carter reports.

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                                                                  First TIF Advances Since New Policy (2007-10-03)
                                                                  The Kansas City council will soon vote on the first TIF project since the new economic development policy was put in place.

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                                                                  Mental Health, Story Five: The Future (2007-10-01)
                                                                  Many of Missouri's poor and severely mentally ill living in group homes are having their money mismanaged, living in squalor and at least five residents have died from alleged abuse or neglect. Some do not even have a home and live on the streets or go in and out of the revolving door to jail. In this final story KCUR's Kelley Weiss looks at the future of mental health care and some of the plans to fix the broken system.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Mental Health, Story Five: The Future (2007-10-01)
                                                                  Many of Missouri's poor and severely mentally ill living in group homes are having their money mismanaged, living in squalor and at least five residents have died from alleged abuse or neglect. Some do not even have a home and live on the streets or go in and out of the revolving door to jail. In this final story KCUR's Kelley Weiss looks at the future of mental health care and some of the plans to fix the broken system.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Mental Health, Story Five: The Future (2007-10-01)
                                                                  Many of Missouri's poor and severely mentally ill in group homes have their money mismanaged, live in squalor and at least five residents have died from alleged abuse or neglect. Some do not even have a home and live on the streets or go in and out of the revolving door to jail. In this final story KCUR's Kelley Weiss looks at the future of mental health care and some of the plans to fix the broken system.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Mental Health, Story Four: From the Streets to Jail and Back Again (2007-10-01)
                                                                  In the fourth part of our ongoing series KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports on how a broken system is making law enforcement take care of an increasing number of mentally ill on the streets and in jail.

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                                                                  Changing Perceptions of Wyandotte County (2007-10-01)
                                                                  People from around the region discuss changing perceptions of Kansas City Kansas, and its relationship with Kansas City Missouri, including former Mayor Carol Marinovich and Kansas State Senator David Haley. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross visited the Village West development in Western Wyandotte County, and downtown Kansas City Kansas.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-09-28)
                                                                  
                                                                  The first UAW strike against GM in 30 years ended after two days. A Judge ordered a Johnson County trial for Edwin Hall, the man accused of killing Kelsey Smith. And the first sexual abuse lawsuit against the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese scheduled for a court trial ended in an out-of-court settlement. Steve Bell reviews those and other stories on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  CORRECTION: Diocese Settles Sexual Abuse Case (2007-09-27)
                                                                  The Diocese of Kansas City and St. Joseph settled the lawsuit out of court for $225,000.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Diocese Settles Sexual Abuse Case (2007-09-27)
                                                                  The Diocese of Kansas City and St Louis will pay 225-thousand dollars to an Independence man allegedly abused as an alter boy in the early 1970s. The case is one of the first of many considered under a new interpretation of Missouri's statute of limitations.

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                                                                  Several Area Churches Join National Sanctuary Movement (2007-09-26)
                                                                  About a half-dozen churches in the area have pledged to support, and potentially shelter, illegal immigrants in danger of being deported. They're joining coalitions in several cities across the country in what's being called the New Sanctuary Movement. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports.

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                                                                  Independence Superintendent Jim Hinson Discusses School Transfer Plan (2007-09-24)
                                                                  Kansas City district officials issued a statement on Thursday that they were ready to start meeting with Independence to help parents understand the implications of the upcoming election. When KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross spoke to Independence Superintendent Jim Hinson on Friday, he said that he hadn't yet been contacted about setting up a meeting. But he did discuss the district's currents plans, in case the transfer is approved by voters in November.

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                                                                  Union Strike Could Idle Other Plants (2007-09-24)
                                                                  The United Auto Workers strike against G-M could start to affect other workers in the region.

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                                                                  Fairfax Workers Go on Strike (2007-09-24)
                                                                  Failed contract negotiations have ground work to a halt at the General Motors plant in Kansas City and around the country.

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                                                                  Students and Parents Discuss Possible School Transfer (2007-09-24)
                                                                  Seven schools are at the center of a tug-of-war between Kansas City and Independence. Six of the schools are located in western Independence, and one is in Sugar Creek, but since the 1950's, they've been part of Kansas City Missouri's school district.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-09-22)
                                                                  
                                                                  The Wyandotte Nation signed an agreement to open a casino in Downtown Kansas City Kansas. Kansas City, Missouri got its first formal tax-incentives policy. And a judge ordered the first court trial in a sexual abuse suit against the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese. Steve Bell has the highlights and the voices from those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Council Approves TIF Task Force Recommendations (2007-09-20)
                                                                  Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser delivered on a major campaign promise Thursday when the city council passed a formal policy on tax breaks for economic development. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

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                                                                  Mexican Americans and World War II (2007-09-17)
                                                                  University of Texas Professor Maggie Rivas Rodriguez wrote A Legacy Greater than Words, and edited, Mexican Americans and World War II. Rivas-Rodriguez created an oral history project that has already documented the stories of some 600 Latinos and Latinas who lived through that period, mostly veterans. She told KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross that she's noticed some patterns in their stories.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Mental Health, Story Three: Living in Squalor (2007-09-14)
                                                                  A KCUR investigation has told the stories of corruption and neglect in many of Missouri's group homes for the mentally ill. Our investigation uncovered at least five group home residents deaths because of this neglect. In the third story of our mental health series, KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports from inside one of these group homes to give a window into daily life.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Mental Health, Story Three: Living in Squalor (2007-09-14)
                                                                  A KCUR investigation has told the stories of corruption and neglect in many of Missouri's group homes for the mentally ill. Our investigation uncovered at least five group home resident deaths because of this neglect. In the third story of our mental health series, KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports from inside one of these group homes to give a window into daily life.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Mental Health, Story Two: Who's In Charge? (2007-09-13)
                                                                  KCUR has reported on the story of a woman who died in a group home near Kansas City three years ago as one tragic illustration of a mental health care system in crisis. In the second report in our series KCUR's Kelley Weiss looks at money mismanagement in group homes and who's responsible for watching over these facilities.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Mental Health, Story One: Deadly Neglect (2007-09-12)
                                                                  About 3,000 of Missouri's poor and mentally ill live in residential care facilities, or group homes. Records show state inspectors cite these facilities repeatedly for medication errors, money mismanagement, lack of staff and sometimes even preventable deaths. In one 2004 case, a woman collapsed in a group home near Kansas City and died after trained employees stood by without giving her first aid.

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                                                                  Soccer Stadium Could Replace Former Mall (2007-09-12)
                                                                  A developer as propose a plan to revamp the former Bannister Mall site with office space, retail locations, and a new stadium for the Wizards.

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                                                                  Cookbook Highlights City Market (2007-09-11)
                                                                  From March to November, farmers from across Kansas, Missouri and Iowa sell fresh produce at the City Market. In a new cookbook called In Season, Julienne Gehrer tells stories about these vendors and the 150-year history of the market. KCUR's Alex Smith caught up with her at the market.

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                                                                  Officers in Training at Fort Leavenworth Respond to Petraeus Testimony (2007-09-11)
                                                                  Military officers are torn between their strong commitment to the war in Iraq and the damage the war is doing to their families and the military.

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                                                                  City Looks at TIF Policy (2007-09-10)
                                                                  Some $4 billion in construction is now under way in Kansas City, thanks in large part to a development tool known as tax increment financing, or TIF.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-09-08)
                                                                  
                                                                  Johnson County commissioners sent a sales tax for jail improvement measure to the voters. Governor Blunt appointed a new Missouri Supreme Court member. And a Missouri law ending property tax deductions for out-of-state residents drew backlash from the Kansas Legislature. Steve Bell looks back at those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Kansas City Council Passes New Billboard Ordinance (2007-09-06)
                                                                  The Kansas City Council this week voted to approve a more restrictive billboard ordinance, placing limits based on size and location.

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                                                                  Possible Retalition in Kansas for Missouri Tax Law (2007-09-05)
                                                                  The chairman of the Kansas House Committee on Taxation is asking Attorney General Paul Morrison for an opinion on a new Missouri law that eliminates state income tax deductions for Kansans while keeping them for Missouri residents.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Education Officials Concerned about Missouri's Schools (2007-09-04)
                                                                  A federal government report cites Missouri as perhaps the most lax in the nation at implementing sanctions for failure to meet No Child Left Behind goals.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Blunt Introduces Strategy to Combat Illegal Immigration (2007-09-04)
                                                                  Missouri Governor Matt Blunt announced a new initiative to combat illegal immigration this week. He said there's been an unnatural influx of immigrants in Missouri, and mobilized state law enforcement agents to verify the immigration status of anyone they arrest. Blunt also called for the Department of Economic Development to ensure that state-supported contractors do not hire any undocumented workers.

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                                                                  TIF Ordinance Drafted, to Committee (2007-08-31)
                                                                  Less than 24 hours after a Kansas City task force on tax increment financing finished its last public hearing, its recommendations were wending the way through the city council as a proposed tax-break policy ordinance. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-08-31)
                                                                  
                                                                  Kansas City rolled toward a new policy on tax incentives for developers. Gays and lesbians in Kansas government jobs got discrimination protection. And it was looking more and more like seven schools may secede from the Kansas City, Missouri district. Steve Bell revisits those and other top stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Governor Spells out Plans to Enforce Immigration Laws (2007-08-30)
                                                                  Missouri Governor Matt Blunt this week empowered state troopers and the Department of Economic Development to help enforce federal immigration law. Blunt described the new strategy in Kansas City yesterday. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

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                                                                  TIF Taskforce Finalizes Report (2007-08-29)
                                                                  The policy recommendations include a point system that taskforce members say they hope balances business development with quality of life issues.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Sixteen Arrested in Drug Bust (2007-08-29)
                                                                  Authorities confiscated large quantities of drugs and cash in a bust that resulted in the arrest of 16 defendants. KCUR's Maria Carter has more.

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                                                                  Independence School Board Puts Secession on Ballot (2007-08-29)
                                                                  The march toward the secession of seven Kansas City Missouri public schools continues. The Independence school board voted Tuesday to put a plan to annex the seven schools on the November ballot.

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                                                                  McCaskill Proposes Reform for Doctors and Drug Reps (2007-08-28)
                                                                  Pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars a year to market their wares to medical doctors. Senator Claire McCaskill says those efforts should be disclosed to the public. KCUR's Frank Morris reports.

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                                                                  Funkhouser Supports TIF Taskforce (2007-08-27)
                                                                  An economic development taskforce is expected to reveal its policy recommendation for Kansas City.

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                                                                  KC-MO Blocks Vote on Independence School Secession (2007-08-27)
                                                                  Both school boards would now need to place the issue on the ballot for the November 6 election; residents of each district would be able to vote. Independence is expected to do so next week, but on Thursday, the Kansas City School Board refused to take that step. Board president David Smith explained why to KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross in a phone conversation on Friday morning.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-08-25)
                                                                  
                                                                  The VFW convention brought the Iraq war debate to Kansas City. The drive for an expanded performing arts center at UMKC had a $2.5 million kickoff. And seven schools in western Independence and Sugar Creek moved closer to seceding from the Kansas City School District. Steve Bell has the highlights and the voices from those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Bill Cosby Discusses KC Men's Conference (2007-08-22)
                                                                  The comedian Bill Cosby was in town a little over a year ago for one of his series of call-out sessions about personal responsibility. The talk at Penn Valley Community College brought out about a thousand people, mostly African Americans. On that visit, Cosby made a connection with Eric Wesson, a reporter at the Kansas City Call.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  $2.5 Million Kauffman Grant for Conservatory (2007-08-22)
                                                                  The UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance will receive a two-and-a-half-million dollar grant from the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

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                                                                  Lawyer Ready to Challenge School Secession (2007-08-21)
                                                                  A group that wants seven Kansas City Missouri public schools to switch to the Independence district has filed petitions to force elections in the two communities. But the attorney for the plaintiffs in the 25-year desegregation case says he is ready to challenge any such move. Lee Ingalls reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Bill Cosby Discusses Upcoming Men's Conference (2007-08-19)
                                                                  The comedian Bill Cosby was in town a little over a year ago for one of his series of call-out sessions about personal responsibility. The talk at Penn Valley Community College brought out about a thousand people, mostly African Americans. On that visit, Cosby made a connection with Eric Wesson, a reporter at the Kansas City Call.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Questions for 'Ask a Mexican' Columnist (2007-08-19)
                                                                  It's the face of a fat, mustached man with a gold tooth and a sombrero, but it doesn't look much like the Mexican who writes the weekly column in the Pitch, Ask A Mexican.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-08-18)
                                                                  
                                                                  The Johnson County Commission approved a plan to expand the area's jails, taking the money from what has been a subsidy of public schools. Former Kansas City council member Saundra McFadden-Weaver was convicted of mortgage fraud. And the current Kansas City council decided to wait till February for an election to repeal Clay Chastain's light rail plan. Steve Bell takes a look back at those stories and more on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Johnson County Commissioners Endorse Jails Expansions (2007-08-17)
                                                                  The Johnson County Commissioners passed a fiscal year budget calling for $539 million in locally-funded spending Thursday. It includes a plan to extend the sales tax now used for schools and dedicate the proceeds to expanding the jail and juvenile center.

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                                                                  ATA Wants Opinions on Light Rail (2007-08-17)
                                                                  The Area Transportation Area is gathering suggestions from the public in an effort to create what they call a workable, light rail plan.

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                                                                  Jo Co Jails Needs May Trump Education (2007-08-15)
                                                                  A quarter-cent sales tax that now helps support Johnson County schools is set to expire next August, and county leaders want it renewed. But they want proceeds to go toward expanding correctional facilities and replacing a deteriorating juvenile intake center where the walls are settling away from the roof (at left).
                                                                  
                                                                  The plan has good support among the county legislature. But there is likely to be resistance to taking the sales-tax money from the schools.
                                                                  KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

                                                                  ---

                                                                  Heat Dangerous for Ill and Elderly (2007-08-13)
                                                                  Health officials are warning the extreme heat can be dangerous, already contributing to two deaths in the area.

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                                                                  Shopping in KC-MO's Third District (2007-08-12)
                                                                  In March, UMKC urban planning professor Robyne Turner helped launch Viable Third. It's a project in which she and co-founder Airick Leonard West pledged, for one year, to do all their shopping exclusively in Kansas City's Third Council District. The idea is to draw attention what's already there and what the third district is lacking. KCUR's Maria Carter recently went along with Turner on some errands, looking for a kitchen faucet, power tools, and a good meal.

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                                                                  Exoduster Descendents Reconnect in KCK (2007-08-12)
                                                                  It's something like a family reunion, mixed with an academic conference. About a hundred people gathered this week at the Woodlands Turf Club in Kansas City Kansas to share their enthusiasm for Kansas history - specifically the history of black colonies and communities created by the exodusters who came up from Texas in the late 19th century.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-08-11)
                                                                  Governor Matt Blunt called a special legislative session to deal with Missouri economic development and bridge repairs. Wichita's slot machine loss was the Woodlands' gain. And Clay Chastain's light rail plan was hit with an unfavorable engineering study and a repeal initiative. Steve Bell takes a retrospective look at those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  More Light Rail Elections Likely (2007-08-10)
                                                                  It's looking like Kansas City will have at least two more light rail elections following two new developments yesterday. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

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                                                                  Researching Black Masculinity in Africa (2007-08-06)
                                                                  Penn Valley Community College President Bernard Franklin has been studying masculinity in the African American community and church for many years. But two recent trips to Africa helped answer some of Dr. Franklin's persistent questions. Dr. Franklin stopped by our studios this week to talk about his research with KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-08-04)
                                                                  
                                                                  State Representative Chris Koster jarred Missouri Republicans by switching parties. A bizarre kidnapping plot was foiled in Blue Springs. And a Minneapolis-St.Paul tragedy prompted Missouri bridge inspections. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Shields Denies Responsibility for Shortfall (2007-07-31)
                                                                  Former Jackson County Executive Katheryn Shields denies allegations from her successor, Mike Sanders that her administration is responsible for a $20 million shortfall.

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                                                                  Stories about Home on KC Currents (2007-07-31)
                                                                  We thought that storytelling was a fitting way to celebrate KC Currents and KCUR's 50th anniversary, because we try to bring you stories of people from around here. And a lot of time, at some point - they're talking about finding their niche, their place in this city or country or world . . . or getting thrown out of it.

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                                                                  Local Debate about Kids' Health Insurance, SCHIP (2007-07-31)
                                                                  As Congress continues to debate the reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program local officials are talking about how to improve health care for kids.

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                                                                  Columnist Lewis Diuguid discusses Discovering the Real America (2007-07-30)
                                                                  Discovering the Real America: Toward a More Perfect Union examines discrimination and racism in the United States. Lewis Diuguid and Elsja Smith stopped by our studios recently and spoke with KCUR's Ty Chandler.

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                                                                  Jackson County Budget $7 Million Short (2007-07-30)
                                                                  Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders says the county is facing a $7 million budget shortfall in 2008.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-07-28)
                                                                  
                                                                  Science magazine retracted an MU embryonic cell story because doctored photos skewed the results. The Kansas City School Board expressed concerns about the management style of Superintendent Anthony Amato. And a Kansas City council committee voted to terminate City Manager Wayne Cauthen's contract. Steve Bell revisits those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Democratic Contenders Address Urban League in St. Louis (2007-07-27)
                                                                  The leading Democratic presidential contenders spoke at the National Urban League Conference in St. Louis earlier today (Friday, July 27). The candidates addressed a variety of topics including mandatory early childhood education, raising the minimum wage, and the Iraq war.

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                                                                  KC Council Moves Closer to Ending Cauthen's Contract (2007-07-25)
                                                                  The Kansas City council came one step closer to terminating the city manager Wayne Cauthen's contract, but that move does not mean Cauthen will be losing his job.

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                                                                  EPA Files Suit against Chemcentral (2007-07-25)
                                                                  The Enivronmental Protection Agency has filed a civil complaint against the company whose Kansas City distribution plant exploded in February.

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                                                                  Local Entrepreneur Analyzes Smartphone Applications (2007-07-23)
                                                                  Tunji Afonja is a local engineer and founder of the companies GX-5, which stands for Great Experiences in five dimensions. and Efiko Software. Afonja designs programs for an IPhone competitor, the Palm Treo, and he tries to make the experience of the phone more appealing.

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                                                                  High School Students Try College Life (2007-07-23)
                                                                  Some Kansas City teenagers went off to college a little early this summer. They've spent the last two weeks in Lawrence at the University of Kansas. Their time on campus introduced them to a new place and a new way of thinking about their future. KCUR's Ty Chandler has the story.

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                                                                  New Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Brian Wimes (2007-07-23)
                                                                  Brian Wimes has spent the last 6 years on the 10th floor of the Jackson County Courthouse, helping first time drug offenders stay clean, as the Drug Court Commissioner. But now he's moving down two floors to an even bigger bench. He'll be the Judge who will lead Division 18 in the 16th Circuit Court. KCUR's Ty Chandler stopped by his chambers recently.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-07-21)
                                                                  
                                                                  Property owners took Mark Funkhouser and Mike Sanders to task for raising their taxes while giving breaks to big developers. Independence moved toward minor league hockey and a new community center. And campaign contribution limits were suddenly back in in Missouri. Those are some of the stories Steve Bell recaps on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Sprint Center On Schedule for October Opening (2007-07-20)
                                                                  Kansas City's mayor, city manager and council members donned hard-hats Thursday to get a look at progress on Sprint Arena. The air was filled with construction dust that refracted light into polka dots on this photo of the new hockey rink floor... and filled with enthusiasm and optimism on the part of the leaders and arena staff. Steve Bell has more in this audio report.

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                                                                  Property Tax Town Hall Draws a Crowd (2007-07-20)
                                                                  Property owners Thursday night voiced their concerns about rising taxes to Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser and Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders at a town hall meeting at the Leedy Voulkos Art Center in the Crossroads Arts District. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

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                                                                  Health Record Bill Stresses Patient Privacy (2007-07-20)
                                                                  Kansas Congressman Dennis Moore recently introduced a bill to move health records into a national, electronic network. His proposal aimed at reducing medical errors is quickly gaining bipartisan support.

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                                                                  Town Hall Scheduled to Address Rising Property Taxes (2007-07-19)
                                                                  A town hall meeting Thursday in Kansas City takes on the topic of rising property taxes. In recent years, as Jackson County reassessed property values, property owners have seen a steep increase in taxes and the Crossroads Arts District, pioneered by artists, has been hit hard.

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                                                                  KC Council Creates Vacant Building Taskforce (2007-07-19)
                                                                  The Kansas City Council is taking a look at what to do with vacant buildings. KCUR's Maria Carter reports.

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                                                                  Missourians Getting More Abortions, Many Out of State (2007-07-18)
                                                                  The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports that slightly more women had abortions last year but many of the procedures were performed across the state line.

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                                                                  Chastain Tours Light Rail Line (2007-07-18)
                                                                  Community activist Clay Chastain took city council members and transportation and parks officials on a tour of the voter-approved light rail line.

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                                                                  Kids Experience Farm Life at Freedom Schools (2007-07-18)
                                                                  Nearly 2000 inner-city kids participating in summer Freedom Schools gathered at the American Royal this week. From making ice cream in a bag to roping steer and milking cows, students in the program learned hands on about life on the farm. KCUR's Hayley Salvo has this audio postcard.

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                                                                  US Secretary of Labor says Education is Key (2007-07-18)
                                                                  Education is the key to keeping the Kansas City economy healthy. That's according to U-S Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. She was in town for a conference that brought some 36-hundred educators and workforce specialists to Kansas City.

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                                                                  Judge Ronnie White Leaves Missouri Supreme Court (2007-07-16)
                                                                  Judge Ronnie White's last day on the Missouri Supreme Court was Friday. He announced on Monday that he's becoming a partner with the St. Louis law firm Holloran & Schwartz, now to be called Holloran, White & Schwartz. White was appointed to the high court in 1995 and had one more year to go in his 12-year term. KWMU's Maria Hickey spoke him about why he left the court, and his thoughts on the state's judiciary. But the first thing she asked was whether to call him Judge White, or Mr. White.

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                                                                  Olathe Considers Museum Proposal (2007-07-16)
                                                                  The Olathe City Council will hear public testimony tonight on plans to bring several museums to the area by Bass Pro Shops.

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                                                                  Kansas City's Bid for International Trade (2007-07-16)
                                                                  The Mexiplex opened just about four years ago, when the regional Mexican consulate moved from St. Louis to Kansas City. But now, the city's international relations office is restructuring, and two tenants of the Mexiplex will be moving out. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross stopped by the building recently to visit with Jody Edgerton, director of the city's International Affairs and Trade Office.

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                                                                  Councilwoman Cindy Circo on Neighborhood Conditions (2007-07-16)
                                                                  A new study shows that housing conditions have improved a little in 11 of Kansas City Missouri's central neighborhoods since 2000. During the same time period, curbs and sidewalks in those neighborhoods have deteriorated. That's according to a survey by UMKC's Center for Economic Information. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross asked committee member Cindy Baker Circo for a reaction. Councilwoman Circo represents some of the neighborhoods surveyed in the fifth district.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-07-14)
                                                                  
                                                                  UMKC agreed to pay out a million dollars in a sexual harassment suit. Capital murder charges were filed against the man accused of killing Kelsey Smith. And Kansas made the "final five" not in basketball, but in bio-agro-defense site potential. Steve Bell reviews those and other top stories of the week on the KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-07-14)
                                                                  UMKC agreed to pay out a million dollars in a sexual harassment suit. Capital murder charges were filed against the man accused of killing Kelsey Smith. And Kansas made the "final five" not in basketball, but in bio-agro-defense site potential. Steve Bell reviews those and other top stories of the week on the KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Conservative Commentator Featured on Kline's Website (2007-07-13)
                                                                  Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline this week featured a article by a conservative commentator front and center on office's website homepage. KCUR's Frank Morris reports.

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                                                                  Advocate Calls Light Rail Study a Diversion (2007-07-13)
                                                                  A Senate committee has given the go ahead to some 2-and-a-half million dollars to study light rail in Kansas City. The House and the Senate still need to approve the bill before the city sees in money, but as KCUR's Maria Carter reports the author of the city's light rail plan says the study is a diversion.

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                                                                  UMKC Investigates Sexual Harassment Suit (2007-07-13)
                                                                  UMKC officials have spoken out on a sexual harassment suit involving two psychology professors.

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                                                                  Wi-Fi Spreads Across the Metro (2007-07-12)
                                                                  Wireless Internet is now available at Kansas City's Country Club Plaza and the Legends at Village West.

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                                                                  Starlight Dedicates Final Stage of Improvements (2007-07-12)
                                                                  Over the past seven years, Starlight Theatre has completed about $23 million in improvements. The organization's executives, board of directors and city officials today will dedicate major upgrades, which mark the final stage of construction.

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                                                                  Decision on KC Crossroads Delayed (2007-07-12)
                                                                  Good news and bad news this week for the owners of Crossroads KC, the music venue behind Grinders on 18th Street.

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                                                                  Public Forum Considers Payday Loans (2007-07-11)
                                                                  Right now, new payday loan businesses in Kansas City, Missouri are prevented from opening. The moratorium is temporary, but the city council is looking at whether to place permanent restrictions on the businesses. KCUR's Maria Carter attended a public forum last night and has this report.

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                                                                  Challenges Remain for Kansas Bioscience Authority (2007-07-10)
                                                                  Governor Kathleen Sebelius told stakeholders in the Kansas Bioscience Authority yesterday that the public/ private partnership is a unique model nationally. But she says challenges remain for the authority to achieve its goals. More from Laura Ziegler.

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                                                                  Charges Filed Against Edwin Hall (2007-07-10)
                                                                  Charges of capital murder, rape and aggravated sodomy were filed against Edwin Hall yesterday. Hall is charged with abducting and killing 19-year-old Kelsey Smith.

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                                                                  Medicare Summit (2007-07-09)
                                                                  National and local health officials will meet in Kansas City for a Medicare Summit that will focus on health prevention and awareness.

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                                                                  Smoking Ban on the Horizon for Kansas City (2007-07-09)
                                                                  Kansas City restaurants and bars are a bit closer to being smoke-free after Lenexa recently approved a smoking ban.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-07-07)
                                                                  
                                                                  Governor Blunt approved a new health care system for Missouri's poor, but critics called a "poor excuse." Independence finalized plans for a pro hockey team and a new arena to house it. And 2007 seemed destined to be remembered as the year of the floods. Steve Bell revisits those and other top stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Social Security Tax Cut (2007-07-05)
                                                                  Many Missouri seniors will soon be getting a tax cut.

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                                                                  Blood Supply Decline (2007-07-05)
                                                                  Summer can be a hard time for blood banks to keep their supplies stocked.

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                                                                  Blunt Signs Healthnet Bill in Kansas City (2007-07-03)
                                                                  Governor Matt Blunt chose the Cleaver family YMCA Center at 70th and Troost as the site for a signing of the bill creating MO Healthnet. As the governor touted the benefits, opponents held a counter-conference outside.

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                                                                  Landlords and Neighborhood Leaders Discuss Rental Property Regulations (2007-07-02)
                                                                  KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross talked to a representative of the landlords association about the plan, but first paid a visit to St. Matthew's Church in Ruskin Heights, where Communities Creating Opportunities member Shirley Dobbins has been concerned about rental properties for a long time.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 7-1-2007 (2007-07-02)
                                                                  Kansas City, Missouri looks to change the way it regulates rental properties. Historian Delia Gillis discusses her photographic of Kansas City's African American communities. And Bollywood singer Shreya Ghoshal performs at UMKC.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-06-30)
                                                                  
                                                                  The Stowers Institute put its Kansas City expansion plans on hold. Wyandotte County voters opted for casinos and slot machines. And Attorney General Paul Morrison filed charges against abortion provider George Tiller. Steve Bell looks back at those stories and more on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Stowers Stem Cell Research on Hold (2007-06-28)
                                                                  Stowers Institute officials say a volatile political climate is preventing them from starting embryonic stem cell research and expansion plans are now on hold.

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                                                                  Stowers Puts Expansion on Hold (2007-06-28)
                                                                  Stowers Institute officials say a volatile political climate is preventing them from expanding embryonic stem cell research and the building of new laboratories are now on hold.

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                                                                  KC-MO Begins Planning New Landlord Regulations (2007-06-28)
                                                                  Kansas City Missouri's city council laid the groundwork for new regulations for rental housing yesterday. The city manager now has 60 days to design a licensing program for landlords, which could involve property inspections. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

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                                                                  City and Union Station Reach Agreement on Kansas City Museum (2007-06-28)
                                                                  UPDATE: On Thursday, the City Council passed the measure. The Kansas City Council is expected to vote Thursday on the compromise between the city and Union Station over issues related to the Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall.

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                                                                  Charges Filed Against Abortion Provider (2007-06-28)
                                                                  Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison did Thursday what Phill Kline and abortion opponents said he would never do - file charges against Wichita abortion provider Dr. George Tiller. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

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                                                                  Planned Parenthood Cleared by Morrison (2007-06-27)
                                                                  Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison has ended an investigation launched by former state Attorney General Phill Kline.

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                                                                  Wyandotte County Approves Gaming (2007-06-26)
                                                                  Wyandotte County voters overwhelmingly approved two gambling measures. KCUR's Maria Carter has more.

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                                                                  City Creeps Up to Northland Ranch (2007-06-25)
                                                                  When cattle rancher Gordon Philip left his native Scotland nearly a half a century ago for the heartland of America, he didn't intend to go to an urban place, but the city sort of came to him. KCUR's Ty Chandler stopped by his Northland ranch recently, where Philip reflected on the changes to his once rural community.

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                                                                  National Interfaith Academies Convene in Kansas City (2007-06-25)
                                                                  Over the past 40 years, a diverse group of religions have taken root in cities throughout the United States. And religious leaders are learning to relate to practices they'd never heard of when they studied their own denomination. A new national academy for religious leaders hopes to introduce them to each other; the organizers are using the strong interfaith relations in Kansas City as a model. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 6-24-07 (2007-06-25)
                                                                  This week, visit a couple of different types of urban farms in the metro area. And, young religious leaders from around the country study interfaith relations here in Kansas City. Plus, Wyandotte County votes on gambling, and a new kind of aerobics based on Latin music.

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                                                                  Blunt Touts Voluntary Renewable Energy Goals (2007-06-25)
                                                                  Missouri Governor Matt Blunt stopped at the Iatan plant under construction near Weston Monday. Blunt was there to sign an energy bill, creating renewable energy targets for utilities.

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                                                                  Joe Jennings' J-14 Enterprises Inc. (2007-06-25)
                                                                  The Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture held it's second Bi-Annual Urban Farms Tour this weekend (June 24, 2007). Earlier this week, KCUR's Lee Ingalls visited one of the 11 farms on the tour and prepared this report.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-06-23)
                                                                  
                                                                  Mayor Mark Funkhouser decided to drive his ten-year-old Toyota after all. The KU Med Center announced an $800 million plan for regional bioscience research. And a new US Attorney made a six-million-dollar immigration bust. Steve Bell has the highlights and the voices from those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Wyandotte County Gaming Vote June 26 (2007-06-21)
                                                                  Oddsmakers say there will be casino gaming in Wyandotte County within months. The question is, on what scale and in how many locations? The Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma is preparing to open one facility - with the Indian Gaming Commission likely to give its approval. And the future could also include slot machines at the Woodlands Racetrack and a destination casino with hotels and a convention center somewhere in the county. Those depend on what happens in next Tuesday's gaming election.

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                                                                  Kansas City Museum Talks Continue (2007-06-20)
                                                                  City officials and Union Station continue negotiations over a new management contract for the Kansas City Museum in the city's Northeast.

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                                                                  Kansas City Mayor Declines Hybrid Car (2007-06-19)
                                                                  Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser announced today he won't accept the free use of a Honda Civic hybrid car.

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                                                                  Beer: from Birth to the Bottle (2007-06-19)
                                                                  Hear from Boulevard Brewery's Alex Rodriguez about how beer is made, from birth to the bottle.

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                                                                  HPV Grant Money Increase (2007-06-19)
                                                                  Additional money will help more women to get vaccines to prevent cancer caused from a common sexually transmitted disease.

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                                                                  Community Weighs in on KC-MO Parks Controversy (2007-06-18)
                                                                  Kansas City Missouri Mayor Mark Funkhouser hit some of his first major obstacles this week. Critics questioned his judgment over his acceptance of a free Hybrid Civic from a local car dealership. And his controversial appointment of an activist against illegal immigration to the parks board prompted almost unanimous disapproval from the city council. But at the same time, phone calls supporting the new parks commissioner flooded Funkhouser's office. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has this story.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 6-17-2007 (2007-06-18)
                                                                  Alvin Brooks talks about life after City Hall and reviving the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime. Plus, we examine the controversy over Mayor Mark Funkhouser's appointment of member of the Minuteman Project to the Parks and Rec Board of Commissioners, and we visit a local record label that produces Indian classical music albums.

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                                                                  Alvin Brooks Revives the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime (2007-06-18)
                                                                  Former councilman and police officer Alvin Brooks' long career of public service ended last month, but that doesn't mean he has any plans to stop serving the public. One of the first things on his agenda: revive the Ad Hoc Group Against Crime. KCUR's Ty Chandler talked to Brooks in the studio this week about his reflections on the Mayor's race, and why retirement is out of the question.

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                                                                  Scorecard Ranks State Health Systems (2007-06-18)
                                                                  Results from a national scorecard ranked the fifty states' health systems.

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                                                                  KU Plans $800 million Bioscience Expansion (2007-06-18)
                                                                  The University of Kansas Medical Center is unveiling its research plan involving millions of dollars and collaborations with hospitals across state lines.

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                                                                  New American Masterwork at the Nelson-Atkins (2007-06-15)
                                                                  An American masterwork on loan from the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art now hangs in the American galleries of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

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                                                                  KC-MO Council Rebukes Mayor on Parks Appointment (2007-06-15)
                                                                  Kansas City Missouri's city council voted 9 to 3 to condemn one of the mayor's appointments to the Parks Board yesterday because of her affiliation with the anti-illegal immigrant Minuteman Project. Mayor Mark Funkhouser said Northland neighborhood leader Frances Semler has offered to resign, but he's standing by his decision for now. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports.

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                                                                  Statewide Increase in Brain Injuries (2007-06-15)
                                                                  Missouri health officials are examining why traumatic brain injuries are on the rise.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-06-15)
                                                                  
                                                                  Kansas City police considered going back to the "partners" system on patrol. The red-light-cams project was turned on again. And a Funkhouser plan to create more inclusiveness for the parks system backfired, at least at the start. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Green Light for Red Light Cameras (2007-06-13)
                                                                  Kansas City council committee turns down a delay on starting a red light camera program.

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                                                                  Parks Board Sworn In; Controversy Continues (2007-06-13)
                                                                  The new appointees to Kansas City's Park Commission were sworn in yesterday (June 12, 2007), despite concerns about a new commissioner who is a member of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, an organization that targets illegal immigrants.

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                                                                  Police Department Reconsiders Staffing Policy (2007-06-12)
                                                                  Kansas City's Police Chief says he's rethinking the department's policy of one officer per car. KCUR's Maria Carter reports.

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                                                                  An Interview with Mayor Mark Funkhouser on Diversity and Economic Policy (2007-06-12)
                                                                  Kansas City Missouri Mayor Mark Funkhouser made a new economic development policy for the city a key campaign issue. He created a task force made up of citizens and council members who will work on a new policy over the next few months. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross spoke to the mayor in our studio last week about some issues that haven't been widely addressed.

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                                                                  An Interview with Fifth District Council Member Terry Riley (2007-06-12)
                                                                  Kansas City Missouri's city council is settling into a new term. One member who's keeping very busy is the 5th district's Terry Riley, who's also president of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials. He spoke over the phone to KCUR's Ty Chandler recently about some of his advocacy at the national level, and ideas he's bringing back to Kansas City.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 6-10-2007 (2007-06-12)
                                                                  This week, a discussion of the new city council term with Mayor Mark Funkhouser and 5th district council member Terry Riley. Some US senior citizens are moving to Mexico, and older women consider the HPV vaccine. Plus, the competitive BBQ team The Immigrant Smokers.

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                                                                  KCUR Wins Radio Station of the Year (2007-06-11)
                                                                  KCUR-FM won Radio Station of the Year, and top honors in two categories, including talk show and feature reporting, when the Heart of America journalism awards were handed out Saturday, June 9, 2007.

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                                                                  Bloch Building Opens to the Public (2007-06-11)
                                                                  After 8 years of planning and construction, the $200 million dollar renovation and expansion project at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is complete. And the final piece, the new Steven Holl-designed Bloch Building, opened to the public on Saturday, June 9.

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                                                                  Mayor Funkhouser Appoints New Parks Board (2007-06-11)
                                                                  Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser says the new Parks Board will help end decades of division in the city. KCUR's Maria Carter reports.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-06-08)
                                                                  
                                                                  Former U.S. Attorney Brad Schlozman said he didn't "cross the line" on appointments or prosecutions. Missouri's execution technique got a reprieve from an appeals court. And a city worried about and then grieved for an Overland Park teen. Steve Bell reviews those and other top stories of the week on the KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  KC Girlfriends Book Club (2007-06-08)
                                                                  Reading a book is usually thought of as something we do alone. But a group of Kansas City women are reading so they don't have to be. KCUR's Ty Chandler sat in on a meeting of the KC Girlfriends Bookclub, where reading is only part of the attraction.

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                                                                  MySpace Releases Names of Sex Offenders in Missouri (2007-06-08)
                                                                  The social networking website MySpace has turned over the names of registered sex offenders in Missouri to the state highway patrol.

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                                                                  Police Arrest Suspect in Kelsey Smith Murder Case (2007-06-07)
                                                                  Charges will be filed this morning (Thursday) in the killing of 18 year old Kelsey Smith of Olathe, whose body was found near Longview Lake yesterday (Wednesday). KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

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                                                                  Blogger Helps Release Lewis "Scooter" Libby Letters (2007-06-05)
                                                                  Later today (June 5), Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former White House Chief of Staff for Vice President Cheney, will be sentenced. And some 150 letters will be released with recommendations for his punishment. Blogger "Blue Girl, Red State" signed on to a motion on behalf of all bloggers to release sentencing letters in the case. KCUR's Maria Carter has this interview.

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                                                                  KCK School District Doubles Scholarship Awards (2007-06-04)
                                                                  Going to college is expensive, but some recent grads from Kansas City, Kansas have a whole lot of help. The Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences'class of 2007 made district history when it racked up four million dollars in scholarships. KCUR's Ty Chandler talked with Principal Mary Viveros on the phone this week about how they made it happen.

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                                                                  Program Helps Homebuyers Avoid Pitfalls (2007-06-04)
                                                                  Homefree USA is a national organization, with an affiliate here in Kansas City, that helps people purchase their first homes. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross spoke to the local and national directors, she found that more and more homeowners are turning to the organization for help.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 6-3-2007 (2007-06-04)
                                                                  Store owners and shoppers bid farewell to Bannister Mall. An Army Reservist discusses the lack of support for women coming back from Iraq. Plus, Sumner Academy graduates rack up a record number of scholarships and a local program assists people in buying a home.

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                                                                  Bannister Mall Shuts Doors (2007-06-04)
                                                                  Bannister Mall in South Kansas City officially shut its doors last week after 27 years in business. But while the final remaining tenants packed up, customers still streamed through the mall for some final goodbyes and last-minute sales. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports.

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                                                                  Women Reservists: Support Systems, Culture and Gender in the Army (2007-06-04)
                                                                  Many Iraq War veterans report mental health problems stemming from the traumatic events of combat. But, female reservists coming home have a particular challenge - there are not many support groups for reservists and even a smaller network of other women soldiers. Christina Vasquez Case, is a Lt. Col. in the Missouri Army National Guard. Health Reporter Kelley Weiss talked with Vazquez Case about the challenges she's faced in 30 years of service.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-06-02)
                                                                  
                                                                  A Kansas City couple sued the state over the way it has used tobacco settlement money. The Missouri board of curators started over from square one in its search for a system president. And the Missouri Supreme Court reversed a sixty-year labor precedent. Those are some of the stories Steve Bell recaps on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Proposed Arena for Belton: Voters Decide Tuesday (2007-06-01)
                                                                  Next Tuesday (June 5), the voters of Cass County will choose whether or not to approve a half-cent sales tax that, if passed, would fund the construction of a 5,500-seat arena.

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                                                                  UMKC Conservatory Dean Takes a Bow (2007-05-30)
                                                                  Officials at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Tuesday announced the Dean of the Conservatory of Music and Dance is stepping down after 6 years. But it marks Randy Pembrook's 20th year at the Conservatory. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

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                                                                  World War II Veteran Roque Riojas (2007-05-29)
                                                                  The first Latino to head an Army division association, specifically the 34th Red Bull Combat Infantry Division, lives in Kansas City Kansas.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 5-27-2007 (2007-05-29)
                                                                  World War II veteran Roque Riojas of Kansas City Kansas shares memories of the war. Kansas filmmaker Kevin Willmott discusses the implications of PBS filmmaker Ken Burns' decision to re-edit the upcoming series about World War II, to include the voices of Latino and Native American veterans. And the KC Girlfriends Book Club brings together women who've recently moved to the Kansas City area.

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                                                                  Reaction to Defeat of Missouri Farm Bill (2007-05-29)
                                                                  Farm activists succeeded in killing a Missouri bill this past legislative session they said would take control away from local farmers and put it in the hands of corporate agriculture.

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                                                                  Reaction to Failure of Missouri Factory Farm Bill (2007-05-29)
                                                                  Farm activists helped defeat legislation in Missouri that would have made it easier for large scale commerical farms to proliferate.

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                                                                  Race and Representation in Documentary Film (2007-05-29)
                                                                  Filmmaker and KU professor Kevin Willmott discusses the controversy surrounding Ken Burns' new PBS documentary on World War II.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-05-26)
                                                                  
                                                                  The MOHELA student loan asset sale bill was signed - minus a 15-million-dollar nursing pharmacy project for UMKC. Governor Sebelius refused to mandate more questions to doctors about late-term abortions. And Kansas City got a look at the final plans for the Kauffman Stadium renovation. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Malpractice Coverage Expanded for Pro Bono Health Care (2007-05-25)
                                                                  The recently passed Missouri Medicaid bill has built in protection for doctors providing charitable care.

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                                                                  HPV Vaccines for Low-Income Women (2007-05-22)
                                                                  The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City will help low-income and uninsured girls and women get vaccines to prevent cervical cancer.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 5-20-2007 (2007-05-21)
                                                                  New perspectives on a recent controversy over a facility for cab drivers at Kansas City International Airport. Plus, health experts, clergy and families discuss the prevalence of asthma in Kansas City's black community. And a visit to New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and a story of a boy and his hero, baseball's homerun champion Hank Aaron.

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                                                                  Space Conflicts at KCI Airport Taxi Facility (2007-05-21)
                                                                  In early May, reporters swarmed a small facility on the campus of Kansas city airport to investigate a story published on-line by WorldNetDaily, a conservative news site. According to the article, the airport had built several foot-washing basins to accommodate Muslim cab drivers in preparation for daily prayers. KCUR's Hayley Salvo visited the facility recently and found a different story.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-05-19)
                                                                  Former mayor Kay Barnes kicked off her run for Congress. Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison said he will start investigating the First Family Church. And the Missouri Legislature adjourned, leaving fire departments in a quandry. Steve Bell takes a look back at those stories and more on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Ruskin Heights Today (2007-05-18)
                                                                  Homeowners in Kansas City's Ruskin Heights housing development rebuilt after a major tornados struck on May 20th, 1957. But as the years passed, this part of Southeast Kansas City would face new challenges.

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                                                                  Lawmakers Pass Sweeping Changes to Medicaid (2007-05-18)
                                                                  Missouri lawmakers agreed on sweeping changes to the state health system serving the poor and disabled. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports on how this Medicaid plan stacks up to other states programs.

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                                                                  Funding Boost for Mental Health (2007-05-17)
                                                                  The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City is increasing funding this year for mental health care organizations around the area. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports.

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                                                                  Report Questions TIF Use (2007-05-17)
                                                                  Kansas City council members took the first steps toward developing a policy on how they city should deal with tax increment financing and other tax breaks.

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                                                                  Remembering Ruskin Heights (2007-05-16)
                                                                  The Ruskin Heights tornado traveled some 70 miles and became one of the most infamous in the city's history, leveling the Ruskin Heights Neighborhood and killing more than forty people.

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                                                                  Excerpt from "Diary of a Disaster" (2007-05-15)
                                                                  In this edited excerpt from "Diary of a Disaster," a radio documentary on the Ruskin Heights Tornado of 1957, we hear the weather bureau bulletin from the night of the tornado and stories from survivors.

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                                                                  Asthma Grips Black Community (2007-05-15)
                                                                  Local health experts say asthma rates for African-American kids in Kansas City are at epidemic levels. Black children are much more likely to go to the emergency room and be hospitalized for the respiratory disease. Researchers, clergy and families are alarmed by the high rates and are searching for the causes and how to fix it. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports.

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                                                                  Proposed Amendment Would Limit Court Powers (2007-05-14)
                                                                  As state constitutional amendment proposals become more commonplace nationwide, another one may be on the Missouri ballot in November of 2008. The Governor and leaders of both the House and Senate want an amendment to limit the powers of the courts. KCUR's Steve Bell reports on House-Senate Joint Resolution One.

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                                                                  UMKC Graduate's Life Documented in Book, TV Special (2007-05-14)
                                                                  As a ninth grader, Marcus Leach never thought about his future, until a Central High School teacher convinced him to join the debate team. Journalist Joe Miller chronicled the debate team's journey in his book Cross-X, and now, that story is going be turned into a Lifetime movie. KCUR's Ty Chandler sat down with Marcus Leach, now a college graduate to find out how he feels about having his life on the small screen.

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                                                                  Memorial Service for Political Leader Philip Curls (2007-05-14)
                                                                  KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross was at Curls' memorial service on Friday (May 11, 2007) at St. James United Methodist Church. Among others, daughter Monica Curls, son Michael Curls, former State Senator Tom McCarthy, former US Congressman Alan Wheat.

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                                                                  Media and Youth (2007-05-14)
                                                                  Zach Hinton is a debater at Central High School, and a student ambassador for Debate-Kansas City, the region's urban debate league. In this commentary, he talks about how music and media effect his community.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 5-13-2007 (2007-05-14)
                                                                  This week, family members and colleagues of former Missouri State Senator Phil B. Curls share stories about his life. Plus, a recent UMKC graduate talks about having his life told in a non-fiction book and upcoming television special. And a rigorous new charter school plans to open this summer in Kansas City's downtown.

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                                                                  KIPP Endeavor Academy Slated to Open in July (2007-05-14)
                                                                  A national network of charter schools is opening a new middle school next year in downtown Kansas City. The Knowledge is Power Program, or KIPP, has set up 52 schools in 16 states across the country, and they all follow a strict framework which has been developed specifically for underprivileged students.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-05-12)
                                                                  The Missouri Legislature passed Governor Blunt's plan to sell student loan assets, but there's already a move to block the sale. Both Missouri and Kansas got new health care bills, and Missouri joined Kansas in tax breaks for seniors. But the number one newsmaker this week was Mother Nature. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-05-12)
                                                                  The Missouri Legislature passed Governor Blunt's plan to sell student loan assets, but there's already a move to block the sale. Both Missouri and Kansas got new health care bills, and Missouri joined Kansas in tax breaks for seniors. But the number one newsmaker this week was "Mother Nature." Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  KC Gains More Than It Loses (2007-05-11)
                                                                  New residents are flocking to Kansas City from around the Midwest.

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                                                                  Lawmakers Working to Overhaul Medicaid System (2007-05-11)
                                                                  Missouri lawmakers are trying to pass a bill to overhaul the state's Medicaid system. It's a high priority of Governor Matt Blunt's to get it done but there is only a week left before the session ends.

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                                                                  Kansas Moves Ahead with Health Reform (2007-05-10)
                                                                  Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius signed a bill to move toward universal health coverage.

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                                                                  Introduction to "Diary of a Disaster" (2007-05-10)
                                                                  Radio veteran and KCUR talk show host Walt Bodine worked for WDAF in Kansas City, Missouri from 1947-1965. During that time, Bodine covered a number of stories, including the Ruskin Heights Tornado.

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                                                                  Water Levels Continue to Rise in Kansas City (2007-05-08)
                                                                  Officials with the National Weather service say that the Kansas City metro area should have a chance to dry out. But meteorologist Mike July says water levels in the Kansas City area should continue to rise today.

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                                                                  News Conference in Olathe on No Child Left Behind (2007-05-08)
                                                                  Democratic Congressman Dennis Moore and Republican Jerry Moran held a news conference Monday at the Olathe Board of Education Building to talk about No Child Left Behind.

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                                                                  Study to Treat Teens with ADHD and Substance Abuse Problems (2007-05-08)
                                                                  A study led by the National Institute on Drug Abuse is researching how to treat teenagers who have both Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, and substance abuse problems. KCUR's Kelley Weiss spoke with Dr. Eileen Duggan of Crittenton's Children's Center about her work on this study to find the best way to treat both issues at the same time.

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                                                                  Judge Jon Gray Retires From Jackson County Circuit Court (2007-05-07)
                                                                  Judge Jon Gray retired from the Jackson County Circuit Court last month, after more than 20 years on the bench. He recently sat down with KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross to talk about his career in the judiciary.

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                                                                  NJROTC Brings Home Honors (2007-05-07)
                                                                  Every Spring, the top two-dozen or so high school Navy ROTC units in the nation head for Pensacola, Florida to compete in the National NJROTC finals. This year, when the scores on the various drill, athletic and academic competitions were totaled, a Kansas City area unit was among the top five in the nation. KCUR's Steve Bell visited Shawnee Mission North High School and filed this report.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 5-6-2007 (2007-05-07)
                                                                  Judge Jon Gray retires after 20 years on Jackson County's Circuit Court. He talks about the thousands of stories he witnessed in the courtroom, and the changing role of the judiciary in Missouri. Plus, voices from the recent immigrants rights rally in Kansas City and Missouri's role in the US attorney scandal.

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                                                                  Greensburg Relief Effort Information (2007-05-07)
                                                                  The tornado struck Friday night, leaving a broad swath of destruction in Greensburg, Kansas, about 110 miles west of Wichita. Here's an updated listing of relief opportunities to help area residents.
                                                                  
                                                                  Listen to KCUR's Frank Morris report on NPR's Morning Edition here.

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                                                                  Immigrants' Families and MO State Senator Discuss Proposed Bills (2007-05-07)
                                                                  On Tuesday (May 1,2007), immigrant families and their supporters marched from Kansas City's West Side to Washington Square Park near Crown Center. The protest was in conjunction with rallies around the country for immigrants' rights and came about a year after much larger gatherings here and elsewhere. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports and speaks to Missouri State Senator Chris Koster about his legislation intended to restrict immigration.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-05-05)
                                                                  
                                                                  Kansas City's new mayor and council took office and postponed some plans from the old council. The Kansas Legislature passed a budget that dips into its cash reserves for a half-billion dollars. And good police work prevented a shopping mall shooting tragedy from becoming a massacre. Steve Bell revisits those and other top stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  US Attorney Scandal Tied to Missouri Voter ID Law (2007-05-03)
                                                                  Attention focused on Missouri this week in the Justice Department scandal over the firing of US attorneys. Former US Attorney for Western Missouri Todd Graves and Thomas Heffelfinger in Minnesota may have been the first federal prosecutors purged last year. KCUR's Frank Morris reports that here in Missouri, Democrats speculate the move may have been an attempt to influence the hotly contested senate race last year.

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                                                                  Local Immigration Rally Draws Hundreds of Supporters (2007-05-02)
                                                                  Immigrant families and their supporters marched from Kansas City's West Side to Washington Square Park near Crown Center yesterday in conjunction with rallies around the country for immigrants' rights. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports that about 500 people from around the region attended, compared to several thousand at last year's largest local rally.

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                                                                  Funkhouser Vows to Improve City Services (2007-05-02)
                                                                  Kansas City's new mayor and city council were sworn in to office this morning at city hall. Before launching in to his priorities for the city in his inaugural address, Mayor Mark Funkhouser promised that his family would come first. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

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                                                                  Air Quality Report Gives KC Low Marks (2007-05-01)
                                                                  The American Lung Association's State of the Air annual report shows rising pollution levels in the Kansas City area.

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                                                                  Mayor Mark Funkhouser's Inaugural Address (2007-05-01)
                                                                  Listen to the full audio of Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Mark Funkhouser's inaugural address, delivered this morning (May 1, 2007) at City Hall directly following his swearing-in as mayor.

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                                                                  KC-MO School District Reorganization (2007-04-30)
                                                                  Starting in the fall, the district will implement universal pre-kindergarten, and most middle schools will be phased out in favor of a kindergarten to eighth grade configuration. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports that some board members and community leaders still have reservations about the plan.

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                                                                  Stop Snitching Messages in Rap Music (2007-04-30)
                                                                  Since radio shock jock Don Imus used degrading terms to describe the Rutgers Women's Basketball Team, the focus has turned to hip hop and its often misogynistic and sexist lyrics. Everyone from Oprah to the NAACP have demanded rappers to clean up their lyrics, but there is another message some hip hop artists send that could be even more damaging.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 4-29-2007 (2007-04-30)
                                                                  KC-MO schools are reorganized into kindergarten through eighth grade buildings. Examine the effect of some rap music's stop snitching messages on Kansas City crime. The KC-MO city council passed a controversial affirmative action plan for city construction projects. Plus, a local high school student recites poetry in a national competition judged by Garrison Keillor.

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                                                                  Three Dead at Kansas City Mall Shooting (2007-04-30)
                                                                  Three people died at a mall in Kansas City after a gunman opened fire, apparently targeting victims at random. KCUR's Frank Morris reports.

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                                                                  Last-Minute Affirmative Action Ordinance Passes (2007-04-30)
                                                                  In one of its last acts, the outgoing city council in Kansas City Missouri passed an affirmative action plan for all city construction projects on Thursday (April 26, 2007). A coalition of contractors, community leaders, clergy and unions developed the plan over the past couple of years but critics say the goals are too low, and the legislation will be open to legal challenges. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports.

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                                                                  Police Tapes Tell Mall Shooting Story (2007-04-30)
                                                                  Police say the shooting suspect gunned down Sunday after he killed two shoppers at the Ward Parkway mall "had a plan." David Logsdon had formerly worked at the Target store in the shopping center as a security guard.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-04-28)
                                                                  The Kansas City School District returned to the concept of neighborhood schools. Kansas legislators overruled the governor's veto of a bill to forbid local governments from imposing more strict concealed carry laws. And mayor-elect Mark Funkhouser said, "No Town Car for me." Steve Bell revisits those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Aladdin Hotel Slated to Reopen (2007-04-27)
                                                                  The Aladdin Hotel is set to reopen in downtown Kansas City next week. The eight decade old hotel has been closed for the past three years, but will reopen after a 19 million dollar renovation.

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                                                                  New Kansas City Council Takes Shape (2007-04-27)
                                                                  The Kansas City Council started to take shape today (Friday) as mayor elect Mark Funkhouser appointed committee chairs and members. KCUR's Maria Carter reports.

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                                                                  Prosecutor's DUI Policy Proposes Arrest of Hospital Workers (2007-04-27)
                                                                  Health care laws shield patients and providers from intrusion on medical treatment. But, sometimes prosecutors can challenge these laws, like when police want a blood sample from a person suspected of drunken driving. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports on the struggle between hospitals and Johnson County District Attorney Phill Kline's office on how to get blood samples in DUI cases.

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                                                                  KC-MO School Board Approves Major Reorganization (2007-04-26)
                                                                  The Kansas City Missouri school board voted 5 to 2 to approve the superintendent's reorganization plan of the district's schools. Starting in the fall, the district will implement universal pre-kindergarten, and most middle schools will be phased out in favor of a kindergarten to eighth grade configuration. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

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                                                                  KC-MO Operations Committee Considers Affirmative Action Plan (2007-04-26)
                                                                  In a final meeting of Kansas City's Operations Committee today, council members recommended passing affirmative action goals for all city construction projects. The ordinance would require all contractors to have an overall workforce comprised of 10 percent minorities and 2 percent women. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

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                                                                  Kansas City Museum Stays Open During Contract Negotiations (2007-04-26)
                                                                  The City of Kansas City and Union Station officials announced yesterday (Wednesday) the Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall would stay open while a new contract is negotiated. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

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                                                                  Officials Call for Building Regional Jail (2007-04-24)
                                                                  Local leaders put in another push for building a regional jail in Jackson County.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 4-15-2007 (2007-04-24)
                                                                  A local gang leader converts to Christianity under a hail of bullets. A new photography show by Chester Higgins, Jr. displays images of spirituality in the African diaspora. And Ken Burns' new PBS documentary on World War II is causing a stir among Latino Veterans.

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                                                                  House Takes Up Funding for Kansas City Museum (2007-04-24)
                                                                  A bill in the Missouri House that would prevent Union Station from using funds generated by a museum tax had a committee hearing today (Tuesday).

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                                                                  Lt. Albert Bly Helped Preserve Buffalo Soldier History (2007-04-22)
                                                                  A man who devoted his life to preserving the memory of Kansas' Buffalo Soldiers and other all-black military units died almost two weeks ago in Kansas City. His close friend and colleague Jimmie Johnson remembers long conversations about military history with Lieutenant Bly.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-04-21)
                                                                  The nation was nervous after its worst shooting disaster in history, and a security scare at Lawrence schools didn't help. Across the state line, Governor Blunt formed a task force on campus security, and said UMKC has a one of the best critical incident plans. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Final State of the City Address for Mayor Kay Barnes (2007-04-19)
                                                                  Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes took a look back at her accomplishments today (Thursday) in her final state of the city address. Watch the video or read the State of the City Address.
                                                                  The swearing-in ceremony for Mayor-Elect Mark Funkhouser and City Councilmembers will be Tuesday, May 1 at 9:30 a.m.

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                                                                  New Regional Diabetes Institute (2007-04-18)
                                                                  The University of Kansas Medical Center is starting a new regional Diabetes Institute, emphasizing research, prevention and access to treatment. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports.

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                                                                  MOHELA Resumes (2007-04-17)
                                                                  The Missouri Senate is about to take up the MOHELA bill again. The legislation, backed by Governor Matt Blunt, would use about 350 million dollars in excess funds from the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority to build new buildings on college campuses.

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                                                                  UMKC Police Hope Plan Would Avert Virginia-Tech-Type Tragedy (2007-04-17)
                                                                  Campus Poice Chief Scott Shelton says UMKC has a thorough plan to deal with a violent incident. And he believes a system is in place that can prevent tragedies like this week's massacre at Virginia Tech. But for the system to work, says Shelton, students, faculty and staff have to do their part. KCUR's Steve Bell reports.

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                                                                  Missouri House and Senate Members Commemorate Virginia Tech Victims (2007-04-17)
                                                                  Missouri House and Senate members paused this afternoon (Monday) to remember the victims of today's massacre at Virginia Tech.

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                                                                  Testimony on the Mutual Musicians Foundation (2007-04-17)
                                                                  A Missouri House committee heard testimony today (Tuesday) to reinstate an all-night Kansas City jazz tradition at the Mutual Musicians Foundation.

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                                                                  Jails and Homeless Shelters: Unofficial Mental Health Providers (2007-04-17)
                                                                  A shortage of mental health providers in Kansas City is forcing other unofficial organizations to pick up the slack. At a local Health Equity Conference one topic the medical community will explore is the role of jails and homeless shelters in providing this care. Dr. Stuart Munro, the head of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Medical School's psychiatry department, talked about the mental health system with KCUR's Kelley Weiss.

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                                                                  KU Med Expanding Clinical Research (2007-04-17)
                                                                  The University of Kansas Medical Center will use new grant money to move medical research from the lab to the patient's bedside. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-04-14)
                                                                  Gambling got the go-ahead in Kansas, but restrictions on local gun laws drew a veto. Missouri's governor and legislature argued over whether to change the state's new minimum wage law. And middle schools neared endangered species status in Kansas City, Missouri. Steve Bell recaps those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 4-12-07 (2007-04-12)
                                                                  New York Times photojournalist Chester Higgins discusses his latest book of photographs and the current show of his work at the American Jazz Museum.

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                                                                  Former Gang Member Becomes a Pastor (2007-04-12)
                                                                  Marvin Kirkwood tells the story of his transformation from a gang leader to a pastor.

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                                                                  Possible Request for Court Ruling on Casino Gaming Law (2007-04-11)
                                                                  Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius says she may ask for an early court ruling on whether the state's new casino gaming law is constitutional. Sebelius made that comment today (Wed.) as she signed a bill into law that allows casinos in four areas of the state and slot machines at pari-mutuel racetracks. Statehouse reporter Peter Hancock has that story.

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                                                                  Encouraging Mentorship in Missouri Employees (2007-04-11)
                                                                  Governor Matt Blunt has signed an executive order that provides incentives to state employees that take part in mentoring programs. KWMU's Marshall Griffin reports.

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                                                                  Quelling Gang Violence in KC-MO (2007-04-10)
                                                                  KCUR's Ty Chandler spoke with Kansas City Missouri Police Captain Rich Lockhart over the phone. He tells us how a change of tactics is helping curb the gang violence.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 4-10-2007 (2007-04-10)
                                                                  International media swarm Kauffman Stadium for the Royals-Red Sox season opener; they came to watch the pitching debut of Japanese superstar Daisuke Matsuzaka. We follow a couple as they visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Kansas City police say neighborhoods are quieter since they arrested six suspected gang members, including Shauntay Henderson, who was briefly on the FBI's 10 most wanted list. Plus, an update on Missouri's proposed Medicaid overhaul, and jazz vocalist Kevin Mahogany.

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                                                                  Missouri Crop Damage Assessment Pending (2007-04-10)
                                                                  How can the federal government help? Democratic Senator Wes Shoemeyer isn't sure that the State Senate can do anything at this point.

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                                                                  Male Contraceptive Research Continues (2007-04-10)
                                                                  The University of Kansas Medical Center will continue to research male contraceptives with new funding from the National Institutes of Health.

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                                                                  April 4 Election roundup (2007-04-07)
                                                                  Voters return incumbants and approve tax levys in Kansas and Missouri. Some highlights from yesterday's races.

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                                                                  Kansas Schools Election Preview (2007-04-07)
                                                                  A look behind some of the issues as voters go to the polls today to elect board members in a number of Kansas districts and community colleges.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-04-07)
                                                                  
                                                                  Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes talked about a run for Congress. Jackson County regained full control of its jail for the first time since 1999. And a cold wave had Midwesterners saying: "this is April?" Steve Bell revisits those and other top stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  KC Citizen Survey (2007-04-05)
                                                                  Kansas City residents are a little happier with their hometown.

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                                                                  Kansas City TIF Audit (2007-04-05)
                                                                  The final version of the long-discussed Kansas City TIF audit came out yesterday.

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                                                                  Judge Lifts Court Order Limiting Inmate Population (2007-04-05)
                                                                  A federal judge lifted a court order limiting the number of inmates at the Jackson County Jail.

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                                                                  Police Target Four Other Suspected Gang Members (2007-04-04)
                                                                  Police have charged a second man found at a North Kansas City apartment over the weekend with harboring a fugitive. Kendale Dawkins was arrested coming out of his apartment on Saturday, just before police went in to find Shauntay Henderson, the suspected gang leader who was briefly on the FBI's 10 most wanted list. Police calling for tips on the whereabouts of four other young men, believed to be involved in recent gang violence. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

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                                                                  National Group Blasts Medicaid Proposal (2007-04-03)
                                                                  Families USA, a national health care watchdog group, released a report today blasting Missouri's proposal to overhaul Medicaid.

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                                                                  National Group Blasts Medicaid Proposal (2007-04-03)
                                                                  A report from Families USA, a national health care advocacy group, criticizes the Missouri Senate bill outlining plans to replace the Medicaid system.

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                                                                  Johnson County Water Board Election Preview (2007-04-02)
                                                                  Johnson Countians elect 2 new people to the 7-member board of Water District #1 in April 3 elections.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 4-1-2007 (2007-04-02)
                                                                  This week, landscape architect Walter Hood (pictured) analyzes 18th Street from the Crossroads to 18th and Vine. The Urban League of Greater Kansas City discusses diversity practices with local human resources professionals. And, poet Nikki Skies returns to her home town to perform at the Blue Room. Plus, from Latino USA, local communities react to recent immigration raids and hear from Chilean singer Francesca Ancarola.

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                                                                  Urban League Job Fair Highlights Diversity Practices (2007-04-02)
                                                                  The Urban League of Greater Kansas City held its Ultimate Career Bazaar and Hiring Fair on Thursday at the Hyatt Crown Center. There, Alonzo Byrd, Jr, assistant vice president for corporate relations at Enterprise Rent-a-Car, and Wanda Jackson, vice president of human resources at the National Urban League told KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross about a 2004 survey of US workers, that was funded by Enterprise.

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                                                                  Landscape Architect Analyzes 18th Street (2007-04-02)
                                                                  UMKC Urban Planning professor Jacob Wagner thought his students might be able to imagine ways to bridge 18th and Vine with the Crossroads. Wagner invited landscape designer Walter Hood to lead a two-day exercise - it's called a charette. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross caught up with Walter Hood at the offices of 360 Architecture, and asked what he noticed on this first visit to Kansas City.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-03-31)
                                                                  
                                                                  Kansas finally got a casino gaming law. The Crossroads arts district finally got tax abatement. And Kansas City, Missouri got "the Funk" - for its next mayor. Those are some of the stories Steve Bell recaps on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Voices United (2007-03-30)
                                                                  An audio postcard from a war protest held in Columbia, Missouri.

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                                                                  Mobilizing Emergency Health Services (2007-03-30)
                                                                  Area health departments are gearing up to better equip the metropolitan area to respond to a medical emergency.

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                                                                  City Council PassesTax Relief for Artists (2007-03-28)
                                                                  Update: The City Council approved the Crossroads Arts PIEA. The issue of tax relief for the Crossroads Arts District is expected to come under review today at the City Council meeting.

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                                                                  Funkhouser Wins Mayor's Race (2007-03-28)
                                                                  Former city auditor Mark Funkhouser scored a close win over mayor Pro Tem Alvin Brooks. KCUR's Maria Carter has more.

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                                                                  KCMO Election Roundup (2007-03-28)
                                                                  Kansas City Auditor Mark Funkhouser defeated Alvin Brooks for mayor Tuesday night and there's a new slate of council members. KCUR's Lee Ingalls provides this overview of Tuesday's general election.

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                                                                  Election Day: Getting Out the Vote (2007-03-27)
                                                                  Tuesday marks the culmination of months of effort and planning for candidates for mayor and city council. The mayoral candidates Mark Funkhouser and Alvin Brooks have run very different campaigns and their get-out-the-vote efforts only sharpen the contrast. KCUR's Frank Morris reports.

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                                                                  Funkhouser Takes Lead in Mayoral Race (2007-03-27)
                                                                  Former city auditor Mark Funkhouser defeated Mayor Pro Tem Alvin Brooks on Tuesday in a closely contested race for Kansas City mayor by a margin of just over a thousand votes. After Funkhouser was declared the winner he stated, "Ain't this grand? Ain't this really something special? We have faith that if you talk straight to the voters, they will believe in you."

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                                                                  No Matter What, a Brand New City Council (2007-03-26)
                                                                  Kansas City's next mayor will set the overall agenda for the metropolitan area. But on the city council, he will represent just one vote. Come May, the majority of the 12 other council members, at least 8 and as many as 10, will be serving for the first time. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports.

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                                                                  New Bill would allow Historic Club to Serve Liquor until 6am (2007-03-26)
                                                                  Mike Talboy represents Missouri's 37th District and introduced the bill that could allow the Foundation to stay open until 6 am.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 3-25-2007 (2007-03-26)
                                                                  Journalists from The Kansas City Call, KC Hispanic News, and The Pitch talk about the races for mayor and city council in Kansas City, MO. Hear the candidates' platforms on health care, basic services and transportation. Plus, an update on the status of the Mutual Musicians Foundation from Missouri State Representative Mike Talboy.

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                                                                  Media Panel on KC-MO City Council and Mayoral Races (2007-03-26)
                                                                  This Tuesday, voters will head to the polls to choose Kansas City's next mayor. On the ballot you have city councilman Alvin Brooks and retired city auditor Mark Funkhouser. Brooks led in the primary by a few hundred votes, but at this point it can be any man's race.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-03-24)
                                                                  
                                                                  President Bush praised fuel-efficient vehicles and their makers in Fairfax and Claycomo. Environmentalists and Kansas City Power and Light ended a six-year feud over a new power plant. And the tiff over TIFs continued to dominate the Kansas City mayoral race. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Rev. Jesse Jackson Comes to KC to Talk About Health Care (2007-03-22)
                                                                  Reverend Jesse Jackson stopped in Kansas City yesterday to speak at the annual Black Health Care Coalition fundraising event. Rev. Jackson focused on the racial disparities in health care and sat down with KCUR's Kelley Weiss to talk about the importance of prevention, access to care, and the increasing number of African Americans with HIV.

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                                                                  KC Mayor's Race: Neighborhoods and Infrastructure (2007-03-22)
                                                                  Street maintenance, codes enforcement, and snow removal are just a few of the things Kansas City residents consistently say don't measure up.

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                                                                  Mayor Blasts TIF Audit (2007-03-22)
                                                                  Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes blasted a draft audit released earlier this week of the city's TIF program. Note: To read the 48-page TIF audit draft, check here.

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                                                                  KC Mayor's Race: Light Rail (2007-03-21)
                                                                  As Kansas City voters prepare to choose a new mayor and council, they also await word on the future of the light rail proposal they approved in November: a light rail system from the zoo through the Plaza and Downtown to the airport. KCUR's Steve Bell reports on how the future of light rail might be effected by who is elected mayor.

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                                                                  President Bush Tours Automotive Plants (2007-03-20)
                                                                  President Bush's tours of the GM Fairfax and Ford Claycomo plants today marked his first official visits to domestic carmakers.

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                                                                  KCP&L Reaches Agreement on Power Plant (2007-03-20)
                                                                  For six years, the Sierra Club in Kansas and Missouri and a citizens group called Concerned Citizens of Platte County, fought plans by Kansas City Power and Light to build a coal-fired plant, the Iatan-2, near Weston. Officials today (Tuesday) say an agreement meets the needs of both sides. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

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                                                                  KC Mayor's Race: Crime (2007-03-19)
                                                                  As candidates for mayor of Kansas City, KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports that neither Alvin Brooks nor Mark Funkhouser has offered specific strategies to fight crime, even though the city's homicide rate has spiked over the past two years.

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                                                                  KU Hospital CEO Resigning Post (2007-03-19)
                                                                  Irene Cumming will step down as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Kansas Hospital in June.

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                                                                  Interview with Kansas City Mayoral Candidate Mark Funkhouser (2007-03-19)
                                                                  Former city auditor Mark Funkhouser sits down with KCUR's Frank Morris.

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                                                                  KC Mayor's Race: Health Care (2007-03-19)
                                                                  Two Kansas City fixtures are vying to become the next mayor -- Alvin Brooks and Mark Funkhouser. Some recent national and state polls show voters rank health care as one of their top concerns.

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                                                                  Interview with Kansas City Mayoral Candidate Alvin Brooks (2007-03-19)
                                                                  City councilman and mayor pro tem Alvin Brooks sits down with KCUR's Frank Morris.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 3-17-2007 (2007-03-19)
                                                                  Hear one-on-one interviews with mayoral candidates Alvin Brooks and Mark Funkhouser, and take a look at two of the major issues in the coming election: tax-increment financing and crime. Also, Kansas Citians preview the new film My Brother, which will be the first movie ever to star African Americans actors with developmental disabilities, and a state judge throws out two city ordinances on illegal immigration in Valley Park, Missouri.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-03-17)
                                                                  
                                                                  UMKC announced a $300-million-dollar-plus construction plan. The man called Kansas City's worst serial killer was convicted of six murders. The Penguins decided to stay in their Pennsylvania habitat. And Kansas City celebrated two different kinds of March Madness. Steve Bell revisits those stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Bio-ethicist Looks at Issues Facing Kansas City (2007-03-14)
                                                                  The Center for Practical Bioethics is bringing a pediatric specialist to Kansas City to fill the John B. Francis Chair in Bioethics to educate the public about complicated medical issues, talk with policy makers about these topics and do research. KCUR's Kelley Weiss recently talked with the bio-ethicist about his views on the local stem cell debate, Medicaid coverage and life science research.

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                                                                  KC Mayor's Race: TIF (2007-03-14)
                                                                  In the Kansas City Mayor's race, one of the central, some would say THE central issue, is something called Tax Increment Financing, or TIF.

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                                                                  Blunt Includes Sickle Patients in Chronic Care Plan (2007-03-12)
                                                                  Missouri Governor Matt Blunt wants to expand chronic care coverage as part of his new Missouri HealthNet plan.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 3-11-07 (2007-03-12)
                                                                  This week, Kansas and Missouri legislators debate whether to allow illegal immigrants pay in-state tuition rates at state schools, or enroll at all. A Missouri State University senior travels to Zambia and founds an orphanage there. We'll stop in at a celebration of the Vietnamese New Year. Plus, Kansas City musicians Beau Bledsoe and Jeff Harshbarger join up with Buenos Aires bandoneon player Hector del Curto to play Argentine tango.

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                                                                  New Legislation on Undocumented Students in Missouri and Kansas (2007-03-12)
                                                                  As KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports, Kansas lawmakers are considering repealing the in-state tuition law and the Missouri assembly could pass some groundbreaking legislation that would prohibit illegal immigrants from attending state colleges altogether.

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                                                                  TET: Vietnamese New Year (2007-03-12)
                                                                  The Vietnamese American Community of Greater Kansas City rang in the New Year with traditional food and dance performances, as well as live pop songs and a fashion show. KC Currents' assistant producer Alex Smith was there and talked to organizer Troung Nguyen.

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                                                                  MO College Student Founds Orphanage in Zambia (2007-03-12)
                                                                  Amanda Dye, a Missouri State senior from Liberty isn't your typical college student. After class, she serves as president of a not-for-profit, Energy of Hope and runs an orphanage in Zambia. KCUR's Ty Chandler spoke with Amanda Dye over the phone this week.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-03-10)
                                                                  Kansas City police declared war on gangs. Johnson County wriggled out of any liability for Phill Kline's firings of eight district attorney's office employees. And with the Kansas City Mayoral election a little over two weeks away, the campaign between two nice-guy candidates began to heat up. Steve Bell revisits those and other top stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  KU Law Professor Campaigns to be Cherokee Chief (2007-03-05)
                                                                  Professor Stacy Leeds directs KU's Center for Indigenous Nations Studies. Leeds is the lone candidate challenging the Cherokee tribe's leader, Principal Chief Chad Smith, in next summer's election. KCUR's Frank Morris spoke to Leeds, who says Indians have long struggled with issues of tribal identity.

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                                                                  Funkhouser Backs Down from Vouchers (2007-03-05)
                                                                  Both candidates for Kansas City Mayor showed up outside Central High School yesterday to talk about their positions on education.

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                                                                  Activists protest proposed state agriculture bill (2007-03-05)
                                                                  Farmers and farm activists plan a rally in Jefferson City to protest a bill they say will hasten the trend toward corporate agriculture. Laura Ziegler has more.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 3-4-2007 (2007-03-05)
                                                                  Members of the Cherokee nation voted on Saturday whether to expel a group of African Americans. Hear from a KU professor who's campaigning to be the Cherokee tribal leader. Also, an Indo American Chamber of Commerce opens in Kansas City to promote trade with India. And a play that chronicles the true lives and stories of the Delaney Sisters and their thoughts on US history.

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                                                                  New Chamber Promotes Trade with India (2007-03-05)
                                                                  Given the rapid development in India and the increasing entrepreneurship of Indian Americans, software engineer Raj Bhatia and some prominent colleagues in business, medicine and academia decided it was time to start an Indo American Chamber of Commerce in Kansas City. The organization was launched in January, and Bhatia told KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross says it will join a network of chambers in 10 other cities around the US.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-03-03)
                                                                  
                                                                  Missouri's governor was criticized for his handling of a sexual harassment case. The Kansas City Council debated what to do about panhandlers. And the top two candidates split half the votes in Kansas City's 12-candidate mayoral primary. Steve Bell looks back at those stories and more on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Nixon Joins Barnes in Call for End to Robo-Calls (2007-03-01)
                                                                  Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon joined Mayor Kay Barnes today (Wednesday, February 28) to call for an end to political robo-calls.

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                                                                  Panhandling Ordinance Put on Hold (2007-02-28)
                                                                  More than a dozen street performers, writers, and others gave testimony yesterday (Wednesday, February 28) - including music and poetry - about Kansas City's proposed panhandling ordinance.

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                                                                  Brooks and Funkhouser Advance in Mayor's Race (2007-02-28)
                                                                  Kansas City Mayor Pro Tem Alvin Brooks, and former City Auditor Mark Funkhouser have emerged from a 12 person primary to square off in the general election for Mayor. The two nearly tied. Both were in the 26 percent range, with Brooks coming out 331 votes ahead of Funkhouser.

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                                                                  Missouri Ethics Commission Director Responds (2007-02-27)
                                                                  Missouri Ethics Commission Director Robert Connor says if an individual files a complaint, it will be investigated if it falls under the jurisdiction of the office.

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                                                                  Survey Looks at Health Issues of Mexican Immigrants (2007-02-26)
                                                                  It's not always easy to get accurate data on how immigrants in the Kansas City area access health care. But that information plays an important role in debates about health and immigration policy, both locally and statewide. University of Missouri organization Alianzas has been collecting surveys, specifically about Mexican immigrants and migrant workers in the region. Health reporter Kelley Weiss talked with an Alianzas coordinator, Katy Fields, about some of the survey results.

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                                                                  Voters May Need to Check Poll Locations (2007-02-26)
                                                                  Many Kansas City area voters will be voting in unfamiliar poll locations in Tuesday's elections. Cash-strapped election boards will be operating fewer polling places than in the November general election, leading to some concerns about hurried voters who did not read their mail notifications of the fact showing up at the wrong place to vote. The article text explains how Kansas City, MO and Johnson County voters can verify their voting locations. (photo credit: Sylvia Maria Gross)

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                                                                  KC-MO 4th District Council Race (2007-02-26)
                                                                  Both 4th District seats on Kansas City Missouri's city council are also wide open. The at-large seat, in particular, has attracted five candidates and turned into a pretty expensive battle. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross takes this look at their campaign messages, and how they're communicating them.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 2-25-07 (2007-02-26)
                                                                  This week, candidates compete in Kansas City's most expensive council race the fourth district. And the first charter school in Kansas City Kansas prepares to open in 2008. Hear about new data on the health concerns of local immigrant communities. Plus, we explore the Latin American influences on poet Langston Hughes.

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                                                                  First Charter School in KCK Prepares for 2008 (2007-02-26)
                                                                  The Northeast Business Association will open Kansas City Kansas' first charter school in 2008. The KCK School board received six applications for charters and picked just one. The school will be called the Maurice R. Holman Academy of Excellence, named after the association's founder, who passed away last year. KCUR's Ty Chandler spoke to Chiquita Coggs, Executive Director of the Northeast Business Association.

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                                                                  Grant to Help Manage Heart Failure (2007-02-26)
                                                                  A local hospital will use a more than $3 million grant to help improve care for heart failure patients.

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                                                                  Mayor Calls for Investigation into Illegal Attacks (2007-02-26)
                                                                  In the past two weeks, the Kansas City Missouri race for mayor has turned ugly. Many voters have received anonymous negative mail and unidentified automated phone calls. Both of which are illegal. Mayor Kay Barnes has called for an end to negative campaigning and an investigation into illegal attacks. Yestreday at a candidate forum aired on KCUR's Up to Date, none of the candidates disputed that illegal attacks has occurred, but, surprisingly, no one wanted to fess up.

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                                                                  Music Hall Rededication (2007-02-23)
                                                                  City officials today celebrated the rededication of the Music Hall at Municipal Auditorium and the completion of the $13.4 million dollars in renovations.

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                                                                  Mayoral Candidates Try to Standout (2007-02-22)
                                                                  Two term Kansas City mayor Kay Barnes has built her legacy on revitalizing downtown with high profile projects like the Sprint Center and the Power and Light District, but when Barnes steps down in May, the next mayor will inherit those accomplishments but also many challenges a growing debt, citizens unhappy with basic services and one of the worst violent crime rates in the country. On Tuesday, voters will narrow a crowded field of 12 candidates down to two.

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                                                                  Cherokees May Vote to Expel Freedmen (2007-02-21)
                                                                  A federal court hearing Wednesday (February 21) pits Native Americans against the descendants of African slaves who were once kept by tribal members. The Cherokee nation has moved to expel those descendants, known as Cherokee Freedmen. The Freedmen argue that their shared heritage and a 140 year old treaty protect their citizenship.

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                                                                  Chief Recommends Firing Two Officers Over Mistreatment of Pregnant Woman (2007-02-21)
                                                                  Kansas City Missouri's Police Chief fired a jail employee yesterday and recommended terminating two officers who mistreated a pregnant woman during an arrest last year. The Board of Police Commissioners will make a final decision on the officers in a hearing scheduled for next Tuesday. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.

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                                                                  Cordish Approaches Affirmative Action Goals for Power & Light District (2007-02-21)
                                                                  The company developing the new Power & Light district downtown announced yesterday that it is exceeding city goals for the participation of minority and women-owned businesses. But according to numbers submitted to the city in December, Baltimore-based Cordish Company actually fell short in the area of construction services, and is about on target for professional services.

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                                                                  Grant Money to Help Reduce Harmful School Bus Emissions (2007-02-20)
                                                                  The EPA is giving Kansas City more than $200,000 to help kids breathe easier while riding the bus to school.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 2-18-07 (2007-02-19)
                                                                  Drop in on a forum of candidates for city council in Kansas City Missouri's third and fifth districts. Local historian Delia Gillis compiles a photographic history of black Kansas City. An interview with presidential candidate and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Plus, a visit with funk singer Marva Whitney, a Kansas City Kansas native, who jump-started her career singing with the legendary James Brown.

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                                                                  Olathe Teacher Finalist for National Teacher of the Year (2007-02-19)
                                                                  A Kansas City area teacher has received an unusual honor. For the fourth time in the past six years, Olathe Northwest speech drama and forensics teacher Josh Anderson is one of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year. KCUR's Steve Bell visited Anderson in the classroom to see an outstanding teacher in action

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                                                                  Third and Fifth District Council Hopefuls at NAACP Forum (2007-02-19)
                                                                  Between term limits and the five council members running for mayor, more than half of the seats on the Kansas City Missouri city council are up for grabs in the upcoming election. On Thursday evening, candidates for the third and fifth district council seats addressed about a hundred people at a forum sponsored by the NAACP and the local chapter of the sorority AKA. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross was there.

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                                                                  Five Firefighters Injured in Waldo Fire (2007-02-16)
                                                                  Five firefighters were injured Friday morning, two critically, while battling a blaze at a Waldo bar.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-02-16)
                                                                  
                                                                  Kansas threw out science standards that question the theory of evolution. Embryonic stem cell research opponents flexed their muscles in Kansas and Missouri. And five Kansas City firefighters were injured battling a blaze in a historic Waldo building. Steve Bell revisits those stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Helping Native Americans Get Health Care (2007-02-14)
                                                                  Native Americans living on the Potawatomi reservation north of Topeka and in Kansas City can face roadblocks in getting healthcare. To help make it easier to see a doctor the Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribe opened a new health center last fall. And, back in the city free health clinics are trying to improve urban Indian's access to care.

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                                                                  Funkhouser Questions Budget Process (2007-02-14)
                                                                  Mayoral candidate Mark Funkhouser is criticizing City Hall for not being more open with the budget process.

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                                                                  Tax Incentives Proposed for Filmmakers in Kansas (2007-02-13)
                                                                  Tax incentives are offered around the world - from California to New Zealand - as a way to draw film productions and potential revenue. In Topeka today (2/13), the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee holds a hearing on three bills that would provide tax breaks for filming in Kansas. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

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                                                                  Beleaguered Mining Town Succumbs to Federal Buyout (2007-02-12)
                                                                  Like a number of small towns across the Great Plains, Picher, Oklahoma is dying. But Picher hasn't gone without a fight.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 2-11-07 (2007-02-12)
                                                                  On this week's show, we sort through the dozen candidates in Kansas City's mayor's race with journalists from the Kansas City Call, KC Hispanic News and the Pitch. As the Kansas City Missouri school district considers implementing K-8 schools, hear the opinions of local parents and an expert studying similar schools in Philadelphia. Plus, Rabbi Morris Margolies talks about the Dead Sea Scrolls, now on display at Union Station.

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                                                                  Parents and Expert Weigh in on K-8 Schools (2007-02-12)
                                                                  The Kansas City Missouri School District hired a group of consultants to help the district determine which schools should close. But a few weeks after the consultants gave their recommendations, Superintendent Anthony Amato came up with a new plan. How about closing middle schools all together, and keep sixth, seventh and eighth graders in elementary school?

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                                                                  Media Panel on KC-MO Mayor's Race (2007-02-12)
                                                                  We spoke to reporters and editors at three of Kansas City's weekly newspapers. KCUR's Ty Chandler asked Joe Arce, publisher and editor of KCHispanic News, CJ Janovy, editor of the Pitch, and Eric Wesson of the Kansas City Call how they've been covering the election.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-02-10)
                                                                  
                                                                  Embryonic stem-cell research opponents cut science buildings from Governor Matt Blunt's campus construction plan. Kansas City got a proposed new budget with some breathing room. And a fire at a chemical plant caused worries about the air we breathe. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-02-10)
                                                                  
                                                                  Embryonic stem-cell research opponents cut science buildings from Governor Matt Blunt's campus construction plan. Kansas City got a proposed new budget with some breathing room. And a fire at a chemical plant caused worries about the air we breathe. Steve Bell looks back on those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Chemical Plant Catches Fire (2007-02-08)
                                                                  A black cloud of smoke loomed over Kansas City, the result of the fire at Chemcentral and cots awaited evacuees as the city experienced its most intense fire in fifty years.

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                                                                  Tuberculosis Cases Reported in Homeless Shelter (2007-02-08)
                                                                  The health department is investigating Tuberculosis cases found in a Kansas City homeless shelter.

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                                                                  Kansas City Preparing for Pandemic Flu (2007-02-07)
                                                                  Tonight, Wednesday Feb. 7, William Jewell College is sponsoring a lecture with the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Dr. Michael Osterholm. Locally officials are getting ready for a pandemic flu outbreak.

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                                                                  KC-MO Police Ignore Pregnant Woman's Pleas (2007-02-05)
                                                                  KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross recaps the story and speaks to retired law enforcement officer Raul Guerrero, who now teaches cultural competence to future police officers at Blue River Community College.

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                                                                  Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit Opens in Kansas City (2007-02-05)
                                                                  We'll look behind the preparations for the opening of this week's exhibit of some never-before-seen Dead Sea Scrolls.

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                                                                  Bruce R Watkins Center Often Empty (2007-02-05)
                                                                  The founders of the Bruce R Watkins Cultural Heritage Center had high expectations of what the center would mean to Kansas City. Their goal was to create a place to commemorate African American achievements and culture. They named it after a local pioneer--Kansas City's first black city councilman, Bruce R Watkins. But 18 years later, has it lived up to their goal? KCUR's Ty Chandler reports.

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                                                                  Senator Roberts talks about biosecurity center in Kansas (2007-02-05)
                                                                  Kansas Senator Pat Roberts says his home state ought to be where the federal government builds a multi-million dollar National BioSecurity Center. KCUR's Laura Ziegler reports.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 2-5-07 (2007-02-05)
                                                                  Kansas City Missouri's police chief responds to a widely-circulated video that shows two officers ignoring a woman's repeated pleas for medical help. Hear a Latino perspective on the candidates on the upcoming presidential election and Kenyan Nobel Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai comes home, in a sense, to Atchison, Kansas. Plus, a conversation with children's book author Christopher Paul Curtis.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-02-02)
                                                                  
                                                                  The Kansas City Royals proposed a $900,000 "instant video" system as part of stadium renovations. Kansas legislators decried a bi-state health sciences partnership. Jackson County's budget took a paring. And a police videotape prompted outrage and an investigation. Steve Bell looks back at those stories and more on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Network will Place Uninsured with Specialty Care Services (2007-02-02)
                                                                  A new referral network in Kansas City will link uninsured patients with specialists to get needed healthcare for no charge.

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                                                                  Kansas City Repertory Theatre Opens Copaken Stage (2007-02-02)
                                                                  The Kansas City Repertory Theatre today (Friday, February 2) opens previews of a new production, Love, Janis, in a new performance space: the Copaken Stage, in downtown Kansas City.

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                                                                  Officers Suspended for Mistreatment of Pregnant Woman (2007-02-01)
                                                                  Kansas City Missouri's police chief suspended two officers yesterday while the department investigates the traffic stop and overnight jailing of a pregnant woman last year. A videotape released on Tuesday shows the two officers repeatedly ignoring the woman's pleas that she was bleeding and needed to go the hospital. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports.

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                                                                  Health Commission Analyzing Governor's Health Plan (2007-01-30)
                                                                  The Kansas City Health Commission is weighing in on Missouri Governor Matt Blunt's proposal to overhaul Medicaid.

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                                                                  Questions Raised Over Video System for Royals (2007-01-30)
                                                                  Jackson county officials say questions remain over paying for a video training system for the Royals.

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                                                                  Missouri Bill Proposes Office of Immigration Compliance (2007-01-29)
                                                                  A new bill filed in the Missouri State Senate on Tuesday contains some of the most far-reaching restrictions on illegal immigration in the country. If passed, Missouri would be the first state in the country to set up an office to verify the immigration status of residents. It would be called the Division of Immigration Compliance, and would be under the Secretary of State. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports.

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                                                                  A Conversation with Wangari Maatthai (2007-01-29)
                                                                  Wangari Maatthai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004. She's a leading politician, feminist, and enviromentalist in her native Kenya...and a graduate of Mount St. Scholastica, in Atchinson, Kansas (which has since been renamed Benedictine College).

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 1-28-07 (2007-01-29)
                                                                  The region's last freestanding kosher market has moved into a local grocery store, and, at least temporarily, lost its kosher certification for meat processing. We'll talk about the business and history of kosher foods in the Kansas City area. The Missouri legislature debates a new bill on illegal immigration. Plus, a preview of the Celebration of Black Film that begins next weekend at the Gem Theater.

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                                                                  Last Kosher Market Moves into Local Supermarket (2007-01-29)
                                                                  The last kosher market in the Kansas City area has moved into a grocery store, and, at least temporarily, lost its kosher certification for processing meat. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross reports on the business and history of Kosher foods in the region

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                                                                  Budget Proposal Supports Arts Funding in Missouri (2007-01-28)
                                                                  Despite fears that a lawsuit filed last month by the Kansas City Symphony might jeopardize arts funding in Missouri, Governor Matt Blunt's budget proposal last week did include the arts and at the expected level. KCUR's Laura Spencer reports.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-01-26)
                                                                  
                                                                  Liberty Memorial closed its observation deck and tower as new concrete crumbled. Senator Sam Brownback formally began his campaign to be president. And the man who is president came to Kansas City to promote his health care plan. Steve Bell recaps those stories and more on KCUR's Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Blunt Focuses on Medicaid Overhaul, Health Care in State Address (2007-01-25)
                                                                  Missouri Governor Matt Blunt dedicated almost half of his State of the State address last night to his plans for improving health care.

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                                                                  President Promotes Healthcare Plan in Lee's Summit (2007-01-25)
                                                                  President George W. Bush took a major part of the domestic agenda on the road, stopping in Lee's Summit to promote his health care proposal.

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                                                                  Research Looks at Traditional South African Herb for HIV Treatment (2007-01-23)
                                                                  University of Missouri-Kansas City psychology associate professor is studying if Southerlandia, a traditional South African herb, is effective in treating HIV.

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                                                                  Kansas City Launches United Arts Fund (2007-01-23)
                                                                  The United Arts Fund movement began in the late 1940s as a way to broaden support for the arts. And across the country, there are now about 70 United Arts Funds, including one in Kansas City called the ArtsKC Fund.

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                                                                  Blunt Gives Preview of New State Health Plan (2007-01-23)
                                                                  Missouri Governor Matt Blunt is giving a glimpse into his proposal to reform the state's health care system for the poor.

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                                                                  Neighborhood Identity Crisis: Crossroads and the Westside (2007-01-22)
                                                                  Joe Arce and Yvonne Bruner of KC Hispanic News reported two weeks ago that concerns about the Westside's neighborhood identity have recently focused on one futuristic-looking house. KC Hispanic News publisher Joe Arce spoke to KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross.

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                                                                  KC-MO Superintendent Proposes K-8 Schools (2007-01-22)
                                                                  Kansas City Missouri School Superintendent Anthony Amato discusses his proposal to expand elementary schools to the eighth grade and its effect on consolidation plans. He also comments on the fate of the district's schools in Independence and Sugar Creek, and the upcoming mayoral race.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 1-21-07 (2007-01-22)
                                                                  Kansas City Missouri school superintendent Anthony Amato discusses his proposal to integrate the city's elementary and middle schools, and its effect on school consolidation. Plus, residents and real estate agents differ on the boundary between the Crossroads and the Westside. And, an interview with Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, the Mexican director of Babel and Amores Perros.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-01-19)
                                                                  
                                                                  An area state senator staged a one-man filibuster. Kansas City came up missing some IRS tax data tapes. And planning for light rail began to see the light of day. Steve Bell has the highlights and voices from those stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Advocates Speaking Up For Patients (2007-01-19)
                                                                  As healthcare insurance policies are continually changing, doctors are trying to squeeze in more patient visits and Baby Boomers are aging the role of the professional patient advocate is emerging. A patient advocate makes sure the sick get the care they need.

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                                                                  Tax Relief for Crossroads Arts District (2007-01-16)
                                                                  An application for tax relief for the Crossroads Arts District is expected to come under review today (Tuesday, January 16) at a meeting of the City Plan Commission.

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                                                                  BET's American Gangster (2007-01-16)
                                                                  Comic book artist and crime-fighting activist Alonzo Washington has called for companies to stop advertising on BET's popular series American Gangster, which he says glorifies violence in the black community. Also, hear from St. Petersburg Times media critic Eric Deggans.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 1-14-07 (2007-01-16)
                                                                  Local activist Alonzo Washington takes on American Gangster, a television series on BET that profiles notorious criminals. Artist Adolfo Martinez documents two years of riding Kansas City buses in the early morning hours. African Americans return to the deep south, and, new latin jazz artists are going beyond Afro-Caribbean rhythms.

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                                                                  Secret Santa dies at age 58. (2007-01-13)
                                                                  Secret Santa, the Santa-clad donor who anonymously gave thousands of 100 dollar bills to people in need, died January 12th.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-01-13)
                                                                  
                                                                  Sprint-Nextel announced major job cuts, some for Kansas City. Jackson County got a new prosecutor. The Royals honored Buck O'Neil. And Kansas City lost a great inspiration: "Secret Santa" Larry Stewart. Steve Bell has the facts and voices from this week's top stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.
                                                                  
                                                                  At left: Businessman Larry Stewart, Kansas City's "Secret Santa," who died Friday.

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                                                                  Web Site to Compare Prescription Drug Prices (2007-01-12)
                                                                  Missouri is extending its Missouri Prescription Drug Plan so consumers can use an online site to find the best drug prices.

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                                                                  Jackson County Wants Out of Jail Matrix (2007-01-08)
                                                                  Jackson County has taken action to remove the county's jail from a court order limiting inmate population.

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                                                                  Doctor Walter Peterson Remembered (2007-01-08)
                                                                  Dr. Peterson's colleagues remember his contributions to medical treatment in Kansas City.

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                                                                  Train Museum Streetcar Sparks Memories of Light Rail Past (2007-01-08)
                                                                  As the Kansas City council ponders how to create the light rail system approximating the one voters mandated, long-time residents remember that at one time Kansas City had light rail. Before it was discontinued in 1957 it had more than six times the miles of track called for in the proposal voters approved in November. KCUR's Steve Bell revisited the days of the streetcar and filed this report.

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                                                                  KC CURRENTS 1-7-06 (2007-01-08)
                                                                  Memories of Dr. Walter Peterson, who helped found one of the first all-black, multi-service health clinics in the country. A staged reading of Langston Hughes poems and essays turns the Kansas City Public Library into a Harlem bar-room. Plus, revisit last year's local Bill Cosby event and an interview with author Michael Eric Dyson, who responds to Cosby's controversial comments about parenting and responsibility.

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                                                                  Bill Cosby at Penn Valley Community College (2007-01-07)
                                                                  Bill Cosby sparked controversy two years ago, when he began criticizing poor African Americans for their dress, language, and parenting skills. Some, like author and University of Pennsylvania Professor Michael Eric Dyson, a recent guest on KC Currents, accused him of blaming the victim. But Cosby continues to use his fame to preach a message of self-reliance for African-Americans.

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                                                                  Michael Eric Dyson on MLK, Bill Cosby, and More (2007-01-07)
                                                                  Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. as a hero, and a human being. Hear a longer version of Dyson's interview with KC Currents host Delores Jones.

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                                                                  Top Stories of the Week (2007-01-06)
                                                                  A judge ruled that David Wittig and Doug Lake don't have to go to jail. A former county legislator faced charges over loans to a judge. And federal prosecutors filed mortgage fraud charges against a city-council member and the former Jackson County Executive. Steve Bell has the highlights and voices from those stories on this week's KCUR Saturday News Review.

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                                                                  Shields Faces Federal Charges (2007-01-05)
                                                                  Former Jackson County Executive Katheryn Shields and her husband Phil Cardarella are facing one count each of federal wire fraud and conspiracy over a deal to sell their Kansas City home. The couple claims the charges are just politics, but the U-S attorney says they knowingly were involved in a real estate scheme using fake documents and false information.

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                                                                  Few Realize Costs of Long Term Care (2007-01-02)
                                                                  Results from a recent AARP study show that long-term health care costs keep going up but most people do not realize the financial commitment they could be faced with.

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                                                                  Jackson County Under New Leadership (2007-01-02)
                                                                  Jackson County has a new leader. Last night, Mike Sanders took the oath to become County executive, replacing Katheryn Shields. In his inauguration speech, Sanders laid out his agenda for the coming year.

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