Kansas City Today is a daily news podcast from KCUR Studios bringing you all things Kansas City, wrapped up in 15 minutes or less. Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, it’ll be waiting in your feed every weekday. Hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin.
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Statehouse Blend is one-part profile and one-part insider look at the Missouri General Assembly.
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Hungry For MO is a podcast from KCUR Studios where hosts Natasha Bailey and Jenny Vergara celebrate the stories behind Missouri’s iconic foods, from barbecue to pizza and beyond. Supported by the Missouri Humanities Council. Email the podcast at hungry@kcur.org.
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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 exploiting them. Join us every week from September through the election as we examine the forces and consequences of Kansas politics, the history behind ...
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In the mid-1990s, the Kansas City Public Library was threatening to close its branch on the Westside. Librarian Irene Ruiz went door to door campaigning for the building to stay. Today, that branch of the library is named after her. In the 1970s and ‘80s, Kansas City librarian Irene Ruiz conducted nearly 60 interviews on a tape recorder. Her projec…
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Missouri doesn't border Mexico, so why did it send troops there?
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Over a dozen states that do not share a border with Mexico, including Missouri, have joined a Texas operation to crack down on illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. Plus: Two years after he was arrested by the FBI, former Kansas City, Kansas, Police detective Roger Golubski is set to face trial soon. Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska have deploy…
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When Tyson closed a chicken processing facility in southeast Missouri, it also ended contracts with nearby chicken farmers. Now, some of those farmers are suing. Plus: Kansas farms are consolidating, pushing people to leave the region and making rural life even lonelier. Commercial chicken farmers literally bet the farm, spending millions of dollar…
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Kansas Citians are desperate for an end to thefts and break-ins
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With over 5,000 reported car thefts in Kansas City this year, frustrated residents are demanding elected officials and law enforcement to find solutions. Plus: A $10 million federal grant will be used to improve safety on Prospect Avenue, one of the city's most dangerous roads. The death of a beloved Kansas City chef after he tried to intervene in …
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A new Missouri legislative panel investigates crime committed by undocumented immigrants, and is holding hearings around the state. But it's gotten pushback from residents because reports about the extent of immigrant crimes are mostly exaggerated or completely false. Veteran reporter Mary Sanchez, part of the The Beacon’s pop-up 2024 election team…
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Kansas City has lots of women’s sports fans and soon, they’ll have a dedicated space to watch matches together. The Dub, the first dedicated bar for women's sports in the state of Missouri, plans to open this year around the corner from the Kansas City Public Library downtown. It will join several other women’s sports bars that have popped up aroun…
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Missouri's 'secretive' new ID restrictions
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Missouri quietly restricted its policy for transgender residents to change the gender markers on their state IDs. For some people, it was the last straw. Plus: How Children’s Mercy researchers are working to make genetic testing more accessible in rural Kansas. Last month, the Missouri Department of Revenue quietly made it more difficult for reside…
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Abortion rights stays on the Missouri ballot
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The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that Amendment 3, the constitutional amendment that could overturn Missouri's abortion ban, will stay on the Nov. 5 ballot. How did such a big decision end up before the state's highest court at the very last minute? St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Moline and Jason Rosenbaum discuss how we got here, and how the rulin…
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Kansas City military families depend on nonprofits for food
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Military members and their families are especially vulnerable to food insecurity, but Kansas City groups are providing a safety net. Plus: Missouri hemp producers are stuck in confusion after the delay of Gov. Mike Parson's ban on hemp-derived edibles. Many Missouri veterans and military families struggle to access enough food to stay healthy. As K…
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Does agreeing to take part in a political debate make you a man? How gender politics and notions of masculinity are playing out in this year’s presidential election — and in the Missouri showdown between Lucas Kunce and Josh Hawley for the U.S. Senate. The intersection of gender and politics often features in American elections, and has been accent…
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A new Missouri poll shows growing support for Amendment 3, this fall's ballot measure enshrining a right to an abortion in the state constitution. It even has backing from some Republicans, who still have strong leads in all the races for statewide office. A new poll from St. Louis University and YouGov reports that 52% of respondents indicated the…
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Postal Service delays are killing baby birds
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For more than a century, bird hatcheries and farmers across the country have used the U.S. Postal Service to ship newborn birds. But recent shipment delays have led to many birds dying in transit. Plus: Climate change could bring more water scarcity to the Midwest and Great Plains and, with it, more legal battles over water. When someone wants to a…
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What is Kansas City's police chief doing about crime?
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Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves is casting blame on a lack of consequences for teens who commit property crimes like car theft, saying it emboldens them and causes the crimes to escalate — like in the recent murder of Shaun Brady. Two teens were charged Friday in Jackson County family court with second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of…
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Shining a light on Kansas City's new LED streetlights
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Kansas City is finishing its campaign of installing LED streetlights that they say promote green sustainability. But activists say it's just a band-aid on the city's bigger climate problem. Plus: Why Kansas musician Freedy Johnston returned to his small hometown to paint a mural. Over the past six years, Kansas City has converted almost all of its …
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A chef's killing underscores Kansas City's property crime problem
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As the Kansas City Irish Fest begins today, the Irish community is in mourning after the killing of chef and festival organizer Shaun Brady during a possible car burglary. Outgoing Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker says she's seeing a trend of rising property crimes that end in tragedy. “My heart’s really broken. I vacillate from anger an…
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Those annoying political texts are working
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An increasingly popular way for political campaigns to connect to voters is through text messaging. And while you may find the barrage of messages annoying — they're probably working. Plus, Kansas Democrats are hoping to flip enough seats in the state Legislature to get rid of the Republican supermajority. On the day before Missouri’s primary, many…
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Why is there a tuberculosis outbreak in Wyandotte County?
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Nearly 50 cases of tuberculosis have been confirmed in Wyandotte County — more than the total number of cases in the state of Kansas last year. Still, experts say overall public risk is low. Health officials have confirmed 49 cases of the respiratory disease tuberculosis in Wyandotte County, more cases than the entire state of Kansas had last year.…
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Missouri is still trying to execute Marcellus Williams
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Marcellus Williams remains on death row in Missouri after 20 years, despite evidence that he is innocent in the 1998 murder of a St. Louis woman. But a plea deal that would have saved him from the death penalty, in exchange for life in prison, was blocked by the Missouri Supreme Court. An evidentiary hearing for Williams' innocence case is schedule…
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Will voters approve $470 million to fix KCPS classrooms?
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In April 2025, Kansas City voters will weigh in on a proposed $474 million bond issue to improve local schools. Kansas City Public Schools hasn't passed a bond in nearly 60 years. How does the district plan to "level the playing field" for its students? Kansas City Public Schools will ask voters to approve a more than $400 million bond proposal to …
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Meet the salsa-dancing regulars of Society
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The Crossroads bar Society has become Kansas City's hub of Latin dancing. For beginners, it's a place to practice your moves. For experienced salseros, it's an "injection of life." Plus: Frog gigging is a dying art that still draws thousands to Missouri marshes. We’re bringing you an occasional series about Kansas City’s neighborhood joints and the…
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Much of Kansas City experiences some heat island effect. As global temperatures rise, Kansas City planners and environmental experts are trying harder to make these hot spots cooler. Plus: Missouri hasn't just outlawed abortion — it's also funding anti-abortion organizations that are working in neighboring states. Nearly 75% of Kansas City, Missour…
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Missouri's minimum wage reaches the ballot
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In November, voters in Missouri will have the opportunity to raise the state's minimum wage for a third time. Hear from organizers who support the ballot measure. Plus, we'll bring you headlines from around the metro. This November, Missouri voters will weigh in on whether to raise the state's minimum wage, which they've approved twice before. It w…
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A new school year for students — and teachers too
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Teenagers now average nearly five hours per day on social media — but it’s not always great for their mental health. Plus: We'll hear from a new teacher in Kansas about what she’s hoping from her first year on the job. Going back to school can be exciting, but data shows it also coincides with a surge in mental health problems in teens. And as rate…
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Will Missourians legalize abortion in November?
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Advocates for abortion rights in Missouri say they are feeling cautiously optimistic about the statewide vote coming up in November. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in 2022, Missouri was one of the first states to ban abortion in nearly all circumstances. But last week, Missouri announced that there were sufficient signatures for …
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In the late 1800s, a new dance took the country by storm, and Kansas City was home to one of its biggest stars. Meet Doc Brown, “Prince of the Mincing Step," “King of the Order of Mixed Gaits," and “Cakewalk Champion of Missouri and the World.” The “cakewalk” might have looked like your typical showy, 19th-century promenade, but the American dance …
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Kids are ‘not the same’ after Super Bowl parade shooting
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Ten of the 24 people injured by bullets at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade shooting were younger than 18. Six months later, those survivors respond differently to loud noises, celebrations and things they used to love to do. Plus, what rising cases of bird flu in dairy cattle mean for people selling and drinking raw milk. Six months ago, t…
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Low-income Kansans are racking up debt from traffic tickets
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When a low-income driver in Kansas fails to pay their traffic tickets on time, it could turn the fine into thousands of dollars of debt. Plus: Some Kansas districts are scaling back on screen time for students. Unpaid traffic tickets can end up costing low-income Kansans thousands of dollars. Cities can send unpaid fines and fees to collection agen…
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Can Kansas City keep its schools cool enough for kids?
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Kansas City Public Schools are preparing for high temperatures when students return to the classroom later this month. The district released students early during the first week of school last August because many of its high schools didn’t have air conditioning units in all classrooms, and the existing units were struggling to keep schools cool — p…
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Rep. Patty Lewis wants to be Kansas City's next state senator
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Much of midtown, South Kansas City and Grandview have been without a state senator since April. After winning last week's primary, Democratic Missouri Rep. Patty Lewis shares what's next as she heads toward November's election against Republican Joey LaSalle. Missouri state Rep. Patty Lewis defeated Pat Contreras in last week's Democratic primary r…
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The bagpipe dates back thousands of years, with a rich history and tradition especially in Irish and Scottish communities. Today, we'll meet Kansas City bagpiper Griffin Hall, and learn about the gig that will take him and his instrument to Scotland. Plus: Southwest Kansas is now renowned for beef and grain production, but it used to be known as th…
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(Crysta Henthorne, KCUR 89.3 / Images courtesy of Stuart Spivack and Missouri State Historical Society) This episode of A People's History of Kansas City is a collaboration with Gravy podcast, from the Southern Foodways Alliance. It was reported, produced, and mixed by Mackenzie Martin, with editing by Sara Camp Milam, Olivia Terenzio, Suzanne Hoga…
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Hungry For MO is a production of KCUR Studios, with support from the Missouri Humanities Council. It’s hosted by Natasha Bailey and Jenny Vergara. This episode was written and produced by Suzanne Hogan with editing from Gabe Rosenberg and Mackenzie Martin. Sound design and mix by Suzanne Hogan with help from Paris Norvell. Music this episode from B…
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Read more about the Wishbone restaurant and the rise of Wish-Bone Italian dressing, from KCUR's Mackenzie Martin and Jenny Vergara. Hungry For MO is a production of KCUR Studios, with support from the Missouri Humanities Council. It’s hosted by Natasha Bailey and Jenny Vergara. This episode was written and produced by Mackenzie Martin with editing …
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Read more about the black walnut and how it shaped Missouri cuisine from KCUR's Natasha Bailey and Suzanne Hogan. Hungry For MO is a production of KCUR Studios, with support from the Missouri Humanities Council. It’s hosted by Natasha Bailey and Jenny Vergara. This episode was written and produced by Suzanne Hogan with editing from Gabe Rosenberg a…
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Read more about how St. Louis pizza is the style everyone loves to hate from KCUR's Jenny Vergara and Mackenzie Martin. Hungry For MO is a production of KCUR Studios, with support from the Missouri Humanities Council. It’s hosted by Natasha Bailey and Jenny Vergara. This episode was written and produced by Mackenzie Martin with editing from Gabe Ro…
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A toast to the birthplace of sliced bread
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Prior to 1928, if you wanted sliced bread, you had to cut it yourself. Until two entrepreneurs in Chillicothe, Missouri, changed history.(David White KCUR 89.3 / Images Courtesy of Catherine Stortz Ripley / The Rohwedder Family Collection / Sliced Bread Innovation Center) New episodes of Hungry For MO start on November 30. Until then, we recommend …
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Ice tea, cotton candy, ice cream and hamburgers were all popularized at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.(Crysta Henthorne / KCUR 89.3) Read more about how the World's Fair of 1904 offered the best and worst of America from KCUR's Suzanne Hogan.By Natasha Bailey, Jenny Vergara, Suzanne Hogan
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(Crysta Henthorne / KCUR 89.3) Read more about the Kansas City women who taught America how to use the Crock-Pot from KCUR's Mackenzie Martin.By Jenny Vergara, Natasha Bailey, Mackenzie Martin
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George Washington Carver’s quiet revolution
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(Crysta Henthorne / KCUR 89.3) Read more about George Washington Carver's revolutionary contributions to the world, stretching from civil rights to agriculture, from KCUR's Suzanne Hogan.By Natasha Bailey, Jenny Vergara, Suzanne Hogan
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Springfield cashew chicken and the St. Paul sandwich are both dishes created by immigrants in Missouri – and now help define the state's cuisine.(Crysta Henthorne / KCUR 89.3) Read more about how Missouri's immigrants created the St. Paul sandwich 80 years ago or how David Leong turned Springfield cashew chicken into a uniquely Missouri phenomenon …
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(Crysta Henthorne / 89.3 KCUR) Learn more about how two Missourians stepped up to save the global wine industry from KCUR's Suzanne Hogan.By Natasha Bailey, Jenny Vergara, Suzanne Hogan
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(Crysta Henthorne / KCUR 89.3) Learn more about how Missouri's barbecue has evolved over the last 200 years — and recent efforts to redefine it — from KCUR's Mackenzie Martin. KCUR's Jenny Vergara also has a list of the best barbecue in the state of Missouri.By Jenny Vergara, Natasha Bailey, Mackenzie Martin
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To celebrate Missouri’s 200th birthday, hosts Natasha Bailey and Jenny Vergara are uncovering the stories behind the iconic foods of the state of Missouri. New episodes every week for six weeks starting on August 10.By Jenny Vergara, Natasha Bailey, Mackenzie Martin, Suzanne Hogan
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Guns, Gambling And The Gas Tax: Previewing The 2020 Missouri Legislative Session
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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…
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The 2019 Missouri Legislative Session Recap: GOP Wins Big On Abortion, Economic Development
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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
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Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway Discusses The State Budget, Putnam County Hospitals
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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…
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Missouri Rep. Robert Sauls On Changing Criminal Justice Laws
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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…
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Freshman State Rep. Ashley Bland Manlove On The Budget, LGBTQ Issues
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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
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Will Sports Betting Be Missouri's Answer To Shrinking Revenue?
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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.…
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Missouri Sen. Dan Hegeman On The 2019 State Budget, Transportation Funding
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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
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