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!
-
Organizers of the Toys for Tots drive in Overland Park say they're in need of 20,000 more toys this holiday season. -
Two hundred years ago this month, a handful of American traders from Franklin, Missouri, received a warm welcome in the Mexican city of Santa Fe, which signaled the opening of trade on what became known as the Santa Fe Trail. Listen to Part 11 in our monthly series marking 200 years of the Santa Fe Trail. -
This week, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey will inject a harmless, bright red fluorescent dye into the Kansas River this week. The dye-tracing study, which begins near Wamego, will provide researchers with a better understanding of how quickly water flows from one location to another. -
KPR's monthly series, commemorating 200 years of the Santa Fe Trail, continues this week as we recognize Indigenous People's Day (October 11, 2021) and reflect upon the arrival of Native Peoples in North America. This radio series highlights excerpts from the documentary called The Road to Santa Fe. -
Army Chaplain Emil Kapaun died in a POW camp during the Korean War. The priest from Pilsen, Kansas, already earned the Medal of Honor. Now, the Vatican is moving to make him a saint. How and why? -
The American Red Cross is facing a severe shortage of blood, the worst in six years. In some areas, officials report less than a day's supply in the blood inventory. Americans are urged to donate blood now to alleviate the shortage. Learn more at RedCrossBlood.org. -
This year, KPR has been airing a monthly series commemorating the bicentennial of the Santa Fe Trail. In this latest installment, we feature a story highlighting the relationship between the community of Council Grove and the Kaw, the Native people from whom the state of Kansas derived its name. -
As we continue our monthly series of reports commemorating the bicentennial of the Santa Fe Trail, we head southwest of Great Bend to Fort Larned. Referred to as "The Guardian of the Trail," the fort now operates as a unit of the National Park Service and was the most visited national park in Kansas in 2020. Historians and park rangers who provide programs and greet visitors at the fort often find themselves addressing misconceptions related to the army's role on the trail, as well as conflicts involving Native Americans. Listen to Part 8 of our monthly series. -
Thousands of Kansas tenants are in danger of losing their homes. The CDC's moratorium on evictions will be lifted Saturday (July 31), which could result in as many as 24,000 Kansas renters being forced to find a new place to live. But a new round of federal funding is available to help both tenants and landlords. -
Listen to episode seven in KPR's monthly series commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail. In today's episode, we hear about John Brown, "Border Ruffians" and Fort Union through the words of Marian Sloan Russell, who wrote about them in her memoirs. Russell is portrayed here by actress Lindsay Wagner. (Yes, the Bionic Woman!)
