Nomin Ujiyediin

1 week ago | kcur.org | Nomin Ujiyediin

The number of students heading to college is projected to decline after this fall. The financial impact is putting some Missouri institutions at risk of significant cuts — or closure. Plus: Some kindergarten classes in Kansas are rediscovering what young children can learn through old-fashioned free play. The number of students heading to college this fall is projected to be the biggest ever —and then it's expected to drop precipitously in the year after.

1 week ago | kcur.org | Nomin Ujiyediin

A bill moving through Missouri’s Legislature seeks to prohibit police statewide from enforcing federal gun laws — despite federal courts ruling an earlier version of the law was unconstitutional. How could this bill impact Missouri law enforcement and residents? Republicans in Missouri are pushing a bill dubbed the Second Amendment Preservation Act through the Legislature again. A previous version was signed into law in 2021 but was struck down by the courts as unconstitutional two years later.

1 week ago | kcur.org | Nomin Ujiyediin

The Kansas Legislature had a noticeably short session this year. With Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in what lawmakers dubbed her "veto era," how did Republicans override her decisions? Kansas lawmakers hustled through the spring legislative session. While Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly wasn't shy about using her veto pen, Republican supermajorities were easily able to override her. The Kansas News Service's Daniel Caudill joined KCUR's Steve Kraske to break down how the session ended.

1 week ago | kcur.org | Nomin Ujiyediin

Father Emil Kapaun served as an Army chaplain in the Korean war, and was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor. In February, Pope Francis named him "venerable," bringing him one step closer to canonization as a saint. But interest in his life — and traffic to his hometown of Pilsen, Kansas — is already picking up. KMUW's Rose Conlon visited Pilsen to explore how Kapaun's legacy and pending sainthood is shaping the town. Contact the show at [email protected].

2 weeks ago | kcur.org | Nomin Ujiyediin

Sandra Hemme was freed from prison after 43 years for a murder she didn't commit, and her case illustrates how difficult it is to correct errors in the criminal justice system. That's especially true in Missouri, where the attorney general's office aggressively opposes innocence claims regardless of the evidence.