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Bill Kurtis: legendary broadcaster, Kansas native, KANU alumnus, and now...author! He joins us to talk about his new memoir, "Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News," in advance of his Lawrence book launch, September 18th. We also preview the Kansas Book Festival, coming up September 20th in Topeka. -
35 years ago, Senator Bob Dole led a delegation to Kosovo to signal support for the republic's independence movement. Dole Institute of Politics director Audrey Coleman talks about the significance of that historic visit and this year's fall line-up at the Institute. We also hear from Fran Borin, author of "The Spirit of Quindaro," named a Great Read from Great Places book for young readers.
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As the Menninger Clinic marks its 100th anniversary, Dr. Walt Menninger talks about the clinic, mental health care in the U.S., and lessons learned in his 93 years. We're also joined by Todd Fertig, co-author of "Like What You Do: The Memoirs of Dr. Walt Menninger." -
Not enough staff, uncertain funding, technology challenges...just a few of the issues facing election officials today. Election experts explore those issues in the Bolstering Elections Initiative, a joint project sponsored by the Dole Institute of Politics and the Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate. -
Renowned journalist Bill Moyers passed away recently at the age of 91. In this special encore broadcast, we revisit his remarks from the 2016 Bennett Forum on the Presidency, sponsored by the Truman Library Institute. Moyers was joined at this event by presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. -
Historian Ian Shaw takes us back to Coffeyville in 1892, the double bank robbery that brought the Dalton Gang to an end, and the surprising story of the gang's lone survivor. -
We celebrate Pride Month with the story of the fight for gay rights on campus. Kathy Rose-Mockry is the author of "Liberating Lawrence: Gay Activism in the 1970s at the University of Kansas." We also hear from Matt Keenan, executive director of Kansas Legal Services, KPR's Community Spotlight organization for June. -
We get a sneak peek at the 2025 Free State Festival — six days of movies, music, and more — with Festival director Marlo Angell and Backer Hamada, co-director of the documentary "Trauma: The New Epidemic." Also, we visit with KPR's new Morning Edition host Matthew Algeo. -
Seventy years ago, the town of Udall was devastated by an F5 tornado — the deadliest in Kansas history. Jim Minick takes us back to the summer of 1955 in his Kansas Notable book, Without Warning: The Tornado of Udall, Kansas. Also, this month marks the 20th and final Symphony in the Flint Hills. We visit with Sandy Carlson, program manager of the Symphony's Signature event, taking place Saturday, June 14th, in Chase County. -
Having trouble staying focused nowadays? Best-selling author Johann Hari explores some of the causes in "Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention — and How to Think Deeply Again." Hari is coming to Lawrence's Liberty Hall on June 11th, sponsored by the Lawrence Public Library. Also, we visit the Topeka-Shawnee County Public Library as they reopen their newly-redesigned children's room. -
The State Library of Kansas has just released its 2025 Kansas Notable Books list, 15 of the best new books by Kansas authors or about Kansas. State Librarian Ray Walling and Notable Books facilitator Brett Rurode give us a sneak peek at this year's batch. We also revisit a conversation with 2024 Kansas Notable winner Sarah Edgerton, author of Daughter of Chaos. And we visit the No Stone Unturned Foundation in Manhattan, KPR's Community Spotlight organization for May. -
Our Kansas Notable series continues with Nghiem Tran's haunting novella, We're Safe When We're Alone. Also, Rachel McCarthy James explores the history of axe murder in her new book, Whack Job.
