David McKeel

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Articles

May Missouri's best man win

Sep 9, 2024 | kcur.org | Brian Ellison |David McKeel

Does agreeing to take part in a political debate make you a man? How gender politics and notions of masculinity are playing out in this year’s presidential election — and in the Missouri showdown between Lucas Kunce and Josh Hawley for the U.S. Senate. The intersection of gender and politics often features in American elections, and has been accentuated by Donald Trump’s presidential contests against Hillary Clinton in 2016 and now Kamala Harris.
Shining a light on Kansas City's new LED streetlights

Sep 3, 2024 | kcur.org | Brian Ellison |David McKeel

Kansas City is finishing its campaign of installing LED streetlights that they say promote green sustainability. But activists say it's just a band-aid on the city's bigger climate problem. Plus: Why Kansas musician Freedy Johnston returned to his small hometown to paint a mural. Over the past six years, Kansas City has converted almost all of its street lights to energy-saving LED bulbs.
50 years later, Sedalia is still talking about sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll at ‘Missouri’s Woods'

Jul 17, 2024 | ksmu.org | David McKeel

For more stories like this one, subscribe to A People's History of Kansas City on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. The temperature was over 100 degrees on the weekend of July 19 in 1974, when the small town of Sedalia, Missouri, hosted a massive rock ‘n’ roll festival. It would never happen again. The exact number of attendees at the Ozark Music Festival remains a mystery.
Kansas Democrats aim to break the GOP supermajority

Jun 20, 2024 | kcur.org | Nomin Ujiyediin |David McKeel

In Kansas, issues like abortion restrictions and transgender rights might hinge on whether Republicans can keep their powerful majorities in the Statehouse. Democrats have set their sights on breaking the supermajority. Plus: Problems with Boeing are causing anxiety in Wichita, where aviation is a big industry.
The heroic adventures of Alvin Brooks

Jun 19, 2024 | kcur.org | Madeline Fox |David McKeel

Alvin Brooks’ life has become the stuff of legend around Kansas City. Now, a new film by Academy Award-winner Kevin Wilmott details it for the big screen. Brooks is the civil servant of Kansas City. A former police officer, then police commissioner, educator, civil rights leader and the founder of Ad Hoc Group Against Crime, Brooks has dedicated his life to improving the lives of Kansas Citians.
Missouri voters will weigh in again on KCPD funding

May 6, 2024 | kcur.org | Nomin Ujiyediin |David McKeel

Missouri voters must weigh in again on a constitutional amendment requiring Kansas City to increase its minimum funding of the police department, after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled last week that the language on the original measure was so inaccurate it misled voters. In November 2022, Missouri voters passed a constitutional amendment requiring Kansas City to increase the share of its general revenue it allocates to the KCPD every year from 20% to 25%.
What Ramadan means to Kansas City Muslims amid war in Gaza

Mar 28, 2024 | kcur.org | Nomin Ujiyediin |David McKeel

Muslims around the world have been praying, studying the Quran, and fasting from sunrise to sunset since March 10 in observance of Ramadan. The holy month is usually a joyous time that centers on acts of charity and community for followers of Islam. But this year is different because the war between Israel and Hamas is nearing its sixth month with no ceasefire in sight.