Best KCUR Studios Podcasts (2025)

1
Spring has come to the Missouri state tree nursery 11:20

2d ago11:20

11:20

Every year, 2 million seedlings from the George O. White State Forest tree nursery make their way to front yards and fields all over the region. We'll hear from the staff growing and cultivating trees at the 100-acre site in Licking, Missouri. KBIA’s Jana Rose Schleis brings us an audio postcard from the Ozarks. Contact the show at [email protected]. F…

1
Kansas City teens speak up about their mental health 14:14

3d ago14:14

14:14

Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, students around Kansas City still struggle with their mental health. A group of students at Guadalupe Centers High School share what they learned when they interviewed each other. The COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools for months, upending students’ education and lives. A group of students at Guadalupe…

1
A fight brews over an ICE detention center in Kansas 14:41

4d ago14:41

14:41

A private prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, could reopen to hold detainees for federal immigration authorities. Plus: Farmers fear the trade war could cause another farm crisis. A private prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, that closed amid allegations of mismanagement could reopen to hold detainees for federal immigration authorities. As Zane Irwin of the…

1
Jackson County needs a budget 14:30

5d ago14:30

14:30

In a 5-4 vote last year, Jackson County legislators approved a budget that was later vetoed by County Executive Frank White. Now more than three months into 2025, Jackson County has yet to pass a spending plan. Hear why the gridlock has led to a lawsuit and why some county services aren't being funded. Steve Kraske spoke with government reporters J…

1
How federal health funding cuts will hurt Kansas City 14:35

6d ago14:35

14:35

The Trump administration canceled more than $12 billion in public health grants last month. Local public health departments are worried about what that will mean for Kansas Citians. The cuts included millions of dollars for Kansas and Missouri, with effects that trickle down to virtually every local community. Here in the Kansas City area, impacts …

1
The Van Gogh of the Plains 10:26

9d ago10:26

10:26

More than 100 years ago, Swedish-born artist Birger Sandzén helped shape the way Americans picture the Kansas landscape. Today, the largest collection of his paintings, prints, and drawings is in the small central Kansas town where he immigrated, lived and worked. Whether you know it or not, how you picture the hills and streams of Kansas, and the …

1
Why an 'enrollment cliff' could be bad news for Missouri colleges 14:08

10d ago14:08

14:08

The number of students heading to college is projected to decline after this fall. The financial impact is putting some Missouri institutions at risk of significant cuts — or closure. Plus: Some kindergarten classes in Kansas are rediscovering what young children can learn through old-fashioned free play. The number of students heading to college t…

1
An unconstitutional Missouri gun rights law returns 10:18

11d ago10:18

10:18

A bill moving through Missouri’s Legislature seeks to prohibit police statewide from enforcing federal gun laws — despite federal courts ruling an earlier version of the law was unconstitutional. How could this bill impact Missouri law enforcement and residents? Republicans in Missouri are pushing a bill dubbed the Second Amendment Preservation Act…

1
How Kansas Republicans prevailed during governor's 'veto era' 11:29

12d ago11:29

11:29

The Kansas Legislature had a noticeably short session this year. With Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in what lawmakers dubbed her "veto era," how did Republicans override her decisions? Kansas lawmakers hustled through the spring legislative session. While Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly wasn't shy about using her veto pen, Republican supermajorities were…

1
Should Missouri and Kansas restrict junk food in SNAP? 13:00

13d ago13:00

13:00

Missouri and Kansas lawmakers are trying to eliminate junk food purchases from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps. But food access advocates worry that restricting SNAP will make it harder for recipients. Harvest Public Media’s Anna Pope reports on the efforts across the nation — and in Congress, too — to narro…

1
Father Kapaun, a Kansas saint in the making 10:40

16d ago10:40

10:40

Father Emil Kapaun served as an Army chaplain in the Korean war, and was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor. In February, Pope Francis named him "venerable," bringing him one step closer to canonization as a saint. But interest in his life — and traffic to his hometown of Pilsen, Kansas — is already picking up. KMUW's Rose Conlon visited Pilsen to…

1
Sandra Hemme and the problem with innocence in Missouri 13:27

17d ago13:27

13:27

Sandra Hemme was freed from prison after 43 years for a murder she didn't commit, and her case illustrates how difficult it is to correct errors in the criminal justice system. That's especially true in Missouri, where the attorney general's office aggressively opposes innocence claims regardless of the evidence. KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with K…

1
Kansas City says yes to public schools and a new jail 11:35

18d ago11:35

11:35

Kansas City voted Tuesday to approve the first Kansas City Public Schools bond question in six decades, as well as a public safety sales tax that would fund a new jail. Plus: Funding cuts by the Trump administration mean Kansans will have a lot fewer health navigators to help people enroll in Medicaid and insurance. Yesterday, Kansas City voters re…

1
How federal cuts could impact Kansas City's WWI museum 12:30

19d ago12:30

12:30

The gutting of the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services has many local institutions, including Kansas City's World War I museum, wondering if they’ll receive promised grant money. The Institute of Museum and Library Services usually offers up to $260 million in grants to libraries and museums across the country, but recent cuts have put…

1
Can Kansas City rebuild its relationship with public schools? 14:14

20d ago14:14

14:14

Decades of disinvestment have left Kansas City Public Schools buildings in rough condition, but on April 8, Kansas City voters will decide the fate of a bond that could bring some much-needed fixes. It's been six decades since the city last passed a school bond measure. How did we end up in this critical moment? Even after the district regained acc…

1
Hunting Kansas coyotes at night 13:48

23d ago13:48

13:48

Kansas ranks fourth in the nation in coyote populations. The state encouraged hunting them, and even legalized using night vision, but some property owners and regulars are concerned. Plus: A new exhibition of art by South Asian immigrants is highlighting the challenges many people in Missouri face when they first come to the United States. Coyote …

1
What does Kansas City need before the World Cup arrives? 14:24

24d ago14:24

14:24

Kansas City will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer, the smallest city in North America to join the festivities. Is the city equipped to handle the huge influx of tourists and their transportation and housing needs? KC2026 Chief Operating Officer Lindsey Douglas sat down with KCUR's Steve Kraske to talk about how the city is preparing for thi…

1
How the Midwest can save millions of migrating birds 11:28

25d ago11:28

11:28

Each spring, hundreds of millions of birds fly north through the heart of the continent to breed in Canada. But light pollution leads many of them to their deaths, and Kansas City is one of the deadliest cities for migrating birds. Buildings and light pollution will take a heavy toll on migrating birds this spring, particularly in the middle of the…

1
Why some Kansas City voters oppose a new jail 10:26

26d ago10:26

10:26

Kansas City voters soon will decide whether to renew the public safety sales tax. City leaders would use that money to build a new jail, but not everyone likes the idea. Kansas City voters will decide on April 8 whether to renew the public safety sales tax for 20 more years. City officials plan to use the money to build a new municipal detention ce…

1
A Social Security worker in Kansas City on DOGE and federal cuts 13:00

27d ago13:00

13:00

Workers at many federal agencies fear losing their jobs in the next wave of President Donald Trump's cuts. One Social Security worker in Kansas City shares his fears about future layoffs, DOGE's handling of sensitive information and the delivery of funds for people who need them. KCUR's Nomin Ujiyediin spoke with Garth Stocking, a Social Security A…

1
'Repair and reuse' is this Kansas City group's mission 11:23

30d ago11:23

11:23

We live in a “throwaway society,” and now landfills are reaching their capacity with items that could be fixed. One Kansas City group is trying to change that by encouraging people to repair their broken stuff. Landfills in Shawnee, Kansas, and Sugar Creek, Missouri, are filling up with trash too quickly. KCUR’s Brandon Azim reports on one nonprofi…

1
Inside a Missouri Planned Parenthood clinic 9:53

1M ago9:53

9:53

In-clinic abortion care has returned to Missouri for the first time in seven years, but people seeking those services are still learning to navigate the new system. We'll take a tour behind the scenes of one Planned Parenthood health clinic in Columbia. KBIA’s Rebecca Smith spoke with health care providers staffing central Missouri’s only abortion …

1
A Kansas pastor takes up the fight for trans rights 14:07

1M ago14:07

14:07

Charles McKinzie is a small-town pastor and lifelong Republican. Unlike many of his religious peers, he's also a vocal critic of new laws restricting gender-affirming care for Kansas minors. Plus: a look at organic and naturally grown food labels. Last month, Kansas lawmakers approved a ban on gender-affirming medical care for minors. Kansas is the…

1
Missouri lawmakers take aim at voter-approved measures 13:55

1M ago13:55

13:55

As Missouri lawmakers enter the second half of the legislative session, they are considering bills to amend or repeal the voter-approved measure that ended the state’s near-total abortion ban. They also must pass a state budget. Plus: Layoffs and court-ordered rehiring have all but paralyzed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development ag…

1
A new Kansas City jail and a tiny Westwood park on the ballot 15:00

1M ago15:00

15:00

Kansas City voters will be asked in April's election whether they'll support a renewal of the city's public safety sales tax, which city officials want to use to fund a new jail. Plus: A small park in Westwood has sparked legal battles, heated city council meetings and even protests. Now, voters will decide its fate. Voters will be asked on their A…

1
Let's taco 'bout In-A-Tub 13:15

1M ago13:15

13:15

Since 1951, one locally-owned fast food chain has been a cult favorite for generations of Kansas City residents. How In-A-Tub, famous for its deep-fried tacos coated in a bright orange powdered cheese, came to be. In-A-Tub, which locals lovingly refer to as “the Tub," got its unusual name from its early days serving 50 different flavors of ice crea…

1
The Kansas City mothers working to save infants 10:37

1M ago10:37

10:37

As the number of fetal and infant deaths in Kansas City begins to rise again, a group of women is trying to make sure expecting mothers are well educated on risk factors. Plus: Lawmakers across the Midwest are pushing to support local, independent grocers. Kansas City's metro has a high rate of fetal and infant mortality compared to the rest of the…

1
Why many Kansas police don't want to help with deportations 11:05

1M ago11:05

11:05

Kansans overwhelmingly voted for President Donald Trump. So why are so many local authorities hesitant to help his administration carry out its immigration policy goals? In the first 50 days of the new Trump administration, ICE said it made over 32,000 immigration-related arrests in communities across the country — nearly as many as in all of 2024.…

1
What have Missouri lawmakers accomplished so far this session? 14:22

1M ago14:22

14:22

The Missouri General Assembly is on its spring break this week, and at least as some see it, they could use the rest. It’s been an unusually productive session so far with the Republican supermajority making progress on many of their priorities. Among the bills headed to Gov. Mike Kehoe are a supplemental budget bill with education funding, and a p…

1
5 years of COVID in Kansas City 14:45

1M ago14:45

14:45

Five years ago today, instead of gathering for a festive St. Patrick’s Day parade, Kansas Citians were ordered not to gather in groups, and hospitals began to gear up for the biggest public health crisis of our lives. We look back at the first days of the pandemic through the eyes of a front-line nurse. KCUR’s Nomin Ujiyediin spoke to Carrie Willis…

1
Guns, Gambling And The Gas Tax: Previewing The 2020 Missouri Legislative Session 24:16

5+ y ago24:16

24:16

The 2020 session of the Missouri General Assembly, which convenes Wednesday, promises the usual array of legislative wrangling and partisan bickering — all with an election looming in November. In this episode of Statehouse Blend Missouri, we bring you a preview, which first aired on KCUR's Up to Date on Jan. 6. Host Steve Kraske spoke with Brian H…

1
The 2019 Missouri Legislative Session Recap: GOP Wins Big On Abortion, Economic Development 36:07

6y ago36:07

36:07

In this very special episode of KCUR’s Statehouse Blend Missouri podcast, we joined forces with St. Louis Public Radio’s Politically Speaking podcast to round up the 2019 session of the Missouri General Assembly.By KCUR Studios

1
Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway Discusses The State Budget, Putnam County Hospitals 13:30

6y ago13:30

13:30

Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway ’s been busy, looking into Clay County’s finances, the attorney general’s office and raising questions about the state’s tax revenues and budget issues. She sat down with KCUR's Samuel King on April 15 (Tax Day) to discuss all of these things, as well as what it’s like to be the only Democrat holding a statewide off…

1
Missouri Rep. Robert Sauls On Changing Criminal Justice Laws 25:09

6y ago25:09

25:09

Before getting into the Missouri House, Democrat Robert Sauls was a prosecutor, a public defender and a military lawyer. Perhaps it's no surprise, then, that he has focused on criminal justice reform in his first term, cosponsoring bills that seek to change sentencing laws and create special veterans treatment courts. Sauls spoke with Statehouse Bl…

1
Freshman State Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove On The Budget, LGBTQ Issues 23:28

6y ago23:28

23:28

Missouri state Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove is the granddaughter and niece of state lawmakers, but she’s already making her own mark two months into her first term.By KCUR Studios

1
Will Sports Betting Be Missouri's Answer To Shrinking Revenue? 31:07

6y ago31:07

31:07

Missouri's budget director announced this week that revenues are down 7 percent compared to last year. While that may change as more people file their taxes, lawmakers are looking for new ways to bring in money while faced with tax cuts they instituted on top of growing expenses for health care, infrastructure and education.…

1
Missouri Sen. Dan Hegeman On The 2019 State Budget, Transportation Funding 28:12

6+ y ago28:12

28:12

Missouri Republicans have a firm grip on the state legislature, but among the party’s leadership roles, only one is filled by someone near Kansas City.By KCUR Studios

1
Statehouse Blend Missouri: Rep. DaRon McGee On The 2019 Legislative Session 20:40

6+ y ago20:40

20:40

The Missouri General Assembly convenes this week and Republicans are still in charge, with supermajorities largely unaffected by the 2018 election. They’re united with Gov. Mike Parson, who's a decidedly less controversial leader than predecessor Eric Greitens, who resigned in June.By KCUR Studios

1
An End to Gerrymandering? Missouri's 2018 Ballot Questions 32:48

6+ y ago32:48

32:48

Midterm elections are just around the corner, but much of Missouri's ballot is covered with pot — and redistricting, ethics rules, a gas tax and a minimum wage increase. Ballot questions join the U.S. Senate race as the big-ticket items on November 6 in Missouri. Host Brian Ellison talks with KCUR's Samuel King , Clean Missouri campaign director Se…

1
'Dark Money' Pours Into Missouri 27:28

6+ y ago27:28

27:28

The influence of money in today's politics is undeniable, in Missouri and everywhere else. We explore campaign contributions, PACs, "dark money" groups and more, not only in big races like the U.S. Senate race between Claire McCaskill and Josh Hawley, but also in tight local races like the fight for the Missouri Senate seat in Platte and Buchanan C…

1
A Wild Political Year Races Toward November 24:27

6+ y ago24:27

24:27

The final slog to the November elections is underway, and Missouri's already wild political year holds the possibility of getting wilder yet. As Democrat Jason Kander pivots from the state and national stage to a Kansas City mayoral run, we get his assessment of the state of Missouri politics. We recap the primary election's top story, the overwhel…

1
Trailer: My Fellow Kansans 2:00

6+ y ago2:00

2:00

From its bloody free-state beginnings to present-day, red-state conservatism, we ask: How did Kansas get here? My Fellow Kansans explores one of the most pivotal chapters in the state’s history — its hard turn to the right over the past three decades. A turn driven by abortion and other culture-war wedge issues, and by politicians skilled in exploi…

1
Session Scorecard: GOP Agenda Wins 24:24

7y ago24:24

24:24

As the 2018 legislative session careened to an end, we took stock of what legislation passed, what didn't pass, and what was allowed to quietly pass away. It turns out that with all eyes on the accusations against Gov. Eric Greitens, his fellow Republicans were fairly successful at advancing a legislative agenda. Host Brian Ellison calls on KCUR ed…

1
Battle For A Senate Seat In A Swing District 24:30

7y ago24:30

24:30

Missouri Reps. Lauren Arthur and Kevin Corlew are fighting over an exceedingly rare prize in Missouri politics: an open Senate seat in a district that doesn't have a clear partisan leaning. Whether voters choose the Democratic Arthur or the Republican Corlew in a June 5 special election could speak volumes about the mood of the electorate at a turb…

1
The Second Greitens Report 23:14

7y ago23:14

23:14

Another week, another raft of bad news for Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens. A new report details his use of a charity donor list for campaign fund-raising and the possibility he lied about it to the state ethics commission. We get up to speed with Bryan Lowry of the Kansas City Star. And even as legislators call a special session to consider impeachmen…

1
That's A Wrap 13:55

7y ago13:55

13:55

Kansas lawmakers have ended their 2018 legislative session. School spending, guns, and taxes were at the center of big debates this year. This week we discuss what passed, and what didn't.By KCUR Studios

1
Down To The Wire 21:47

7y ago21:47

21:47

It's the end of the line for Kansas lawmakers. The curtain comes down on the 2018 legislative session Friday — maybe before. We'll talk about the fate of the big tax-cut bill we discussed last week and the school funding plan. Plus, what is the "Truth Caucus" and what are their plans for 2018? Subscribe to Statehouse Blend Kansas, and stay up to da…

1
How A Governor’s Scandals May Shift The U.S. Senate 21:03

7y ago21:03

21:03

Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley seems headed for the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill this fall. But Hawley's path has been made rougher by his complicated relationship with Gov. Eric Greitens—fellow Republican, fellow first-time-officeholder—and subject of his investigations. In this episode, host Br…

1
Can We Afford New Tax Cuts? 15:43

7y ago15:43

15:43

All the commotion around a school funding plan may have overshadowed the fact that Kansas lawmakers are also working on a controversial tax cut bill. Some say it simply returns a federal windfall to Kansas taxpayers. Others argue it’s unaffordable at a time when the state is still recovering from former Governor Sam Brownback’s 2012 tax cuts. Subsc…

1
The Search For Common Ground On Guns 22:47

7y ago22:47

22:47

As students rally nationwide for more gun regulation, Missouri legislators are considering — and advancing — several bills to make firearms more legal, for more people, in more places. What underlies the enduring, and seemingly intractable, divide on gun laws in Missouri? Host Brian Ellison welcomed Rep. T.J. Berry, a Kearney Republican, and Rep. J…

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