Kansas City Today KCUR Studios

The number of severe complications during labor and delivery has increased for Kansas moms. For moms of color or women enrolled in Medicaid, complications are even more common. One of the state’s Medicaid contractors is now covering doula services as a way to help.

We’re less than one year away from the 2024 elections. As the political landscapes take shape that will determine the future of abortion, taxes, education and more in both Kansas and Missouri, what will we be watching in the next 12 months?

A new generation of Native American students in Lawrence, Kansas, is learning the art of thatching and reconnecting with a Great Plains tradition. Plus: A Black karate master from Kansas City represented the U.S. at a world kickboxing tournament.

The total lunch debt that students have accumulated in Kansas climbed to more than $23 million last year. Many school districts have policies that single out kids when they can’t afford to pay, but that can hurt families. Plus: Pumpkin pie or sweet potato pie for Thanksgiving?

The hold times for people calling for help from Kansas City Police at times have topped two minutes. Police hope a proposed automated phone menu could help, but the fire department says the change would be less efficient for them.

When the emergency room in Fort Scott, Kansas, closes next month, the next closest in-state facility will be 40 minutes away — and some patients may not make it that far. Mayor Matthew Wells says the closure shows the need for the Kansas Legislature to pass Medicaid expansion.