Steve Kraske
Executive Producer and Host, Up to DateWhen I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
I got a call out of the blue one day from then-news director Frank Morris who asked if he would be interested in hosting a show. I didn't think I had the time, but thought it over and decided to give it a shot. Now, more than 20 years later, I'm glad I did.
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It’s hard to imagine what might go into planning the wedding of America's biggest super star and a Kansas City Chiefs player — but we have some ideas. A premier Kansas City event planner said a wedding of that magnitude would shut down the city, if it happens here. -
Families from around Kansas City will descend upon Crown Center for three days of food, music and culture at the Irish Fest this weekend. Among the attendees will be Ireland’s ambassador to the United States, who says the festival's "reputation goes before you." -
Missouri lawmakers may redraw Kansas City's congressional district to dilute Democratic voting power, in order for Republicans to win another seat in the 2026 midterms. Democrats intend to fight, but ultimately, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver said that President Trump's disregard for democracy will endanger the country. -
Few election cycles in living memory have been quite as chaotic as the 2024 presidential election. A new book from journalists Amie Parnes and Jonathan Allen looks at what happened behind the scenes in Washington as the campaign unfolded. The authors are in Kansas City for an American Public Square event on Wednesday. -
Kansas City is known worldwide for the jazz legends that called this city home. But local musicians say the city should do more to uplift its present-day musicians and the music industry. -
The city flag of Overland Park has long been considered among the worst in the nation. A new flag set to be adopted next month, with its tree motif and green and white color palette, is much more effective, according to the North American Vexillological Association. -
President Trump recently announced his intent to "lead a movement" to end mail-in ballots and the use of voting machines in states' elections. Both are used extensively in Missouri and Kansas, and election officials weigh in about what those changes would mean. -
Residents who enroll in North Kansas City's Citizen Academy get a 10-week course on local government systems, and how the various departments function and affect their lives. The mayor said the program has increased participation in local boards and commissions. -
After serving less than a year of his elected term as Missouri attorney general, Andrew Bailey resigned to join President Trump's administration as co-deputy director of the FBI. He's only the latest Republican to use that role as a stepping stone to a federal position. -
Since taking over as the owner of Foo's Fabulous Frozen Custard in 1996, Betty Bremser has turned the Brookside ice cream shop into one of Kansas City's most iconic sweet treat destinations. Now, she is selling Foo's to two former employees.
