
J. Schafer
News DirectorJ. Schafer is the News Director of Kansas Public Radio. He’s also the Managing Editor of the Kansas Public Radio Network, which provides news and information to other public radio stations in Kansas and Missouri.
Before joining KPR in 1995, Schafer spent 10 years as a commercial radio and TV newsman. During his career, he's filed stories for nearly every major radio news network in the nation including ABC, NBC, CBS, AP, UPI, the Mutual Broadcasting System, NPR and the BBC. This seems to impress no one. At KPR, he produces feature stories, interviews and newscast items and edits the work of others. In the fall of 2000, he performed contract work for the U.S. State Department, traveling to central Asia to teach broadcast journalism at newly independent radio stations in the former Soviet Union. One of his passions is Kansas; learning about and promoting the state’s rich heritage, people and accomplishments. Schafer gives presentations about Kansas to various organizations around the state to remind residents about our awesome history and incredible people. A native of Great Bend, he studied journalism and mass communications at Barton County Community College and at the University of Kansas. He was also an exchange student to Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany. The “J.” in J. Schafer stands for Jeremy, but he doesn’t really care for that name. He also enjoys the pretentiousness of using just a single initial for a first name!
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A group called the Sons of Union Veterans will dedicate a new headstone for Doc McWilliams Saturday afternoon at Lawrence's Oak Hill Cemetery. McWilliams, a Black Union soldier in the Civil War, was an early civil rights activist following the War Between the States.
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Solar activity in early October will temporarily disrupt KPR programming.
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An event in Lawrence this Sunday hopes to use poetry and music to raise awareness about suicide prevention. An annual tradition since 2014, the Words Save Lives event will run from 5 to 9 p.m. at the historic Union Pacific train depot in North Lawrence.
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KU aerospace engineering students captured 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards for aircraft and missile design at an international design contest sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
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Most of eastern Kansas remains shut down by an early winter storm... and a former Republican lawmaker is convicted of defrauding COVID-19 relief programs. These and other headlines can be found here.
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Kansas Public Radio is hiring a new Statehouse Bureau Chief. Do you have the skills, experience and curiosity necessary to keep an eye on Kansas state government for KPR and its news partners?
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A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for most of eastern Kansas through Tuesday morning, with up to two inches of snowfall possible in many areas.
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Happy Día de los Muertos! Help ward-off evil spirits by making a contribution to KPR.
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Happy Halloween! Help ward-off evil spirits by making a contribution to KPR. Thanks and stay safe!