Laura Ziegler

By Laura Ziegler and Brenna Daldorph

KANSAS CITY, MO – The hot weather has many of us wearing as little as possible: tank tops and shorts are pretty standard for women who are going to be outside for any length of time. But this isn't the case in every culture or time period.

By Laura Ziegler

Kansas City, Missouri – A spokesman for Kansas Bioscience Authority says the state- funded agency will be meeting at the Venture Accelerator - one of the new buildings at the Kansas Bioscience Park, in Olathe. Sherlyn Manson says the board plans to make an announcement Monday or Tuesday morning about new investments in human and animal health start-ups.

By Laura Ziegler

Prairie Village, Kansas – It's a small glass front office on Roe Avenue with a simple sign above the entrance - The Cremation Society.

The name always called to mind other groups I knew little about but invested with some mystery - The Royal Order of Hibernians or The Society of Creative Anachronism.

By Laura Ziegler

Kansas City, Missouri – When the U.S. food aid program began in 1954, known as The Agricultural Trade Development Assistance Act, the country had a vast surplus of farm commodities.

The aim of the program was to expand export markets, but also to help American farmers by diminishing surpluses.

Today, the United States doesn't have those surpluses. Food-aid has become a much more complicated system, with more variety and participants.

By Laura Ziegler

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Movie houses have figured out that many of us don't buy snacks when we go to the movies. And that they're losing a bunch of money because of that. So across the country theaters are starting to offer options.

Some healthier, some not. But many are more substantial, like dinner. KCUR's Laura Ziegler reports about Kansas City-based AMC's "dine-in" movie going experience.

Kansas City, Missouri – John Davies is an experienced storm chaser. He analyzes data for weather outlets, including the National Weather Service. He and his wife were struck when driving toward the Joplin tornado how many people were out on the streets, going about their daily business.

Kansas City, Missouri – People need to pay attention to severe storm warnings, even though it may seem unnecessary.

Severe weather yesterday caused at least one tornado to touch down around 151st and Metcal in South Johnson County, and another around Harrisonville, according to law enforcement officers. Area police departments dispatched officers and trained storm spotters to the periphery of the county to file weather reports and check on residents and businesses.

By Laura Ziegler

Kansas City, Missouri – People ignore severe storm warnings at their peril and yesterday's weather gave officials an opportunity to make that point.

At least one tornado touched down in South Johnson County, and another around Harrisonville, according to law enforcement officers in the area.

By Laura Ziegler

Kansas City, Missouri – People need to pay attention to severe storm warnings, even though it may seem unnecessary.

Severe weather yesterday caused at least one tornado to touch down around 151st and Metcal in South Johnson County, and another around Harrisonville, according to law enforcement officers. Area police departments dispatched officers and trained storm spotters to the periphery of the county to file weather reports and check on residents and businesses.

By Laura Ziegler

Kansas City, Mo. – Officials in Joplin say the St. John's Regional Medical Center will be rebuilt, after being all but demolished by the EF5 tornado last weekend.

By Elana Gordon and Laura Spencer

Kansas City, MO – Just after noon today, a tornado touched down in Sedalia, Missouri. Heavy damage is reported in some parts of the city. According to the Sedalia Democrat, early reports include damage along U.S. 65 and debris throughout the area.

By Laura Ziegler

Kansas City, Missouri – Area service agencies mobilized immediately in response to the F4 tornado that tore through Joplin last night.

The Red Cross is providing emergency supplies to disaster victims.

Prairie Village, Kan. – Ever pass something that catches your eye while you're driving around or walking? Something that makes you turn you head in wonder as you pass by? It might an architectural anomaly, an unusual object, artwork, or a storefront?

KC Currents will be exploring these curiosities in a new occasional series we're calling "What IS That?" KCUR's Laura Ziegler has this first installment about a sacred space in the heart of Prairie Village, Kan. It's a shrine to the only horse bred in Kansas to win the Kentucky Derby.

The Kansas House voted unanimously last night to strip the troubled Kansas Bioscience Authority of bonding authority for the National Bio and Agro Defense Facility, or NBAF.

The vote gives the state Department of Administration charge over issuing $150 million dollars in bonds.

In a separate move, a provision added to a Senate bill requires the State Finance Department to approve any NBAF bonds.

Kansas City, Missouri – A jury in Southern Missouri has awarded almost 2 million dollars to 16 defendants in Southern Missouri in a suit against industrial agriculture. The residents said 2 Iowa-based hog producers were liable for unpleasant odors that made it impossible for plaintiffs to work or enjoy their land. The barns collectively house over 7 thousand hogs.

The lawsuit divided a community of one time friends who live side by side and went to high school together.