Books

Looking At The Larger Context of MLK's 'Mountaintop'

Beth Lipoff and Steve Kraske — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Mountaintop" speech from Memphis is famous for its ending and because he was assassinated the next day. However, much of the speech doesn't receive a lot of attention today.

Hot Summer Reads From Steve's Bookshelf

Steve Kraske and Sangeeta Shastry — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 23:00:00 +0000

The hot weather is out in full force this week, and Up To Date host Steve Kraske has a few good reads to crack open in the shade.

Trekking The Trails

Beth Lipoff and Steve Kraske — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Building bridges, swinging an axe and living in a yurt are all part of normal life for a trail worker at Glacier National Park.

The 2012 Election: An Epic Battle

Steve Kraske, Kaitlin Brennan, Beth Lipoff and Sangeeta Shastry — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Victories for the Republican Party in the 2010 midterm elections seemed to block President Obama at every turn and the GOP appeared to have a clear shot at controlling all three branches of government.

Embracing Anger To Be Happier

Steve Kraske and Sangeeta Shastry — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Have you ever felt so angry that steam could be pouring out your ears?

Guerrilla Warfare During The Civil War

Matthew Long-Middleton and Ross Stinemetz — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:38:43 +0000

When the Confederate Army was pushed from Missouri, a slave state that hadn't ceded from the Union, in late 1861 ordinary people transformed themselves into guerilla fighters for the confederate cause. A mayor's son and town teacher were among those who found themselves part of one of the most violent band of guerilla fighters lead by "Bloody" Bill Anderson. After the war they became notable bank and train robbers.

An Unconventional First Lady

Steve Kraske, Kaitlin Brennan and Sangeeta Shastry — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Thomas Jefferson's eldest and favorite daughter, Martha Jefferson Randolph, would often assume the role of First Lady after her mother died.

ExxonMobil: From PR Disaster To Global Player

Steve Kraske, Kaitlin Brennan and Beth Lipoff — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 23:00:00 +0000

The images of oil-coated animals on the beach after the Exxon Valdez oil spill rallied environmentalists, but the company has made quite the recovery since then.

Hot Summer Reads For Kids

Beth Lipoff, Steve Kraske and Kaitlin Brennan — Tue, 28 May 2013 23:00:00 +0000

When you read a children’s book, you can peek in on aliens, take a nature hike or learn about friendship from a couple of hippos.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan On The Gaffes Of Parenthood

Beth Lipoff and Steve Kraske — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Comedian Jim Gaffigan knows that a four-year-old eating a taco and throwing a taco on the floor is pretty much the same thing, and he can teach you a thing or two about co-opting your kid’s Halloween candy.

WWII: The Last Year Of Europe's Battles

Beth Lipoff and Steve Kraske — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Omaha, Juno, Utah, Gold and Sword. The names of the Normandy beaches echo in the annals of World War II history, but the iconic invasion wasn’t the last step of the European campaign.

Writers' Roundtable: KC Edition

Beth Lipoff and Steve Kraske — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:13:34 +0000

Writing can be a solitary pursuit, and that can mean the tricks of the trade remain quiet.

Pulling Up The Roots Of Words

Beth Lipoff and Steve Kraske — Sun, 05 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Ever wonder where the word hornswoggle comes from? How about doubloon?

Writers' Roundtable: Children's Book Authors

Beth Lipoff and Steve Kraske — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:21:43 +0000

It’s a special blend of characters, engaging stories and occasionally, a bit of magic that goes into a great children’s book.

On Thursday's Up to Date, Steve Kraske hosts a roundtable of children's book authors, including Brian Selznick, Richard Peck, Sarah Weeks and Avi to discuss their methods for putting together award-winning tomes with that extra spark of fun.

Married Poets Share Inspirations For Their Work

Matthew Long-Middleton and Claire McInerny — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:29:23 +0000

Local couple and professional poets Stanley and Janet Banks met while living in Kansas City and trying to get their writing careers off the ground. Now that the two have been married for years, they reflect on how their marriage to each other inspired their work. A common theme between both of their work is the impact that family members have on their lives.