A Missouri House committee hears opposition to proposed photo ID measures for voters.  A bill in the Kansas House would limit collective bargaining for teachers in hopes of improving efficiency.  Composer Kirke Mechem is a Topeka native who went on to compose the opera “Tartuffe” and more than 250 other works.

Opponents Testify Against Missouri Photo ID Measures

Republicans in the Missouri House are making another attempt to pass legislation that would require voters to show photo identification at the polls.   Everyone who testified either opposed requiring photo ID’s for voting or were neutral.  Find out what they said here.

Kansas Bill Would Limit Collective Bargaining for Teachers

A bill in the Kansas House would limit the bargaining rights of teachers in the state. Supporters of the measure want administrators to have more flexibility to hire, fire and assign teachers.  Opponents of the bill argue that the current process is working fine, and the bill is an attempt to weaken unions. Read more here.

Composer Kirke Mechem On Realizing What Opera Could Be

Composer Kirke Mechem has lived in San Francisco since 1963, but he grew up in Topeka, Kansas - and still considers himself a Midwesterner. Mechem, 87, has written more than 250 works - from choral music to operas - including "Tartuffe," the first opera he composed. This three-act opera, based on Molière's play, premiered in 1980 - and it's estimated it's been performed nearly 400 times in six countries.  Listen to an interview with KCUR’s Laura Spencer here.