KMUW | Wichita Public Radio

One School Year Later, Guns On Kansas Campuses Draw Little Notice

For the past school year, guns have been allowed at public colleges in Kansas. But the concealed nature of campus carry, alongside a year with no major gun-related incidents at Kansas universities, has meant most students and faculty haven’t really noticed the guns — or a difference.

'Short Story Dispensers' Coming To Wichita

Feds Say Kansas Can’t Cap Time On Medicaid

Sedgwick Co. Commissioner O’Donnell Due In Court Wednesday

By Deborah Shaar • 2 minutes ago

Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O’Donnell is scheduled to be in federal court Wednesday afternoon to be formally charged with bank fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

It will be his first court appearance since a grand jury indictment was unsealed Friday.

O’Donnell is accused of taking money from his campaign accounts and using it to pay himself and his friends. He's also accused of falsely reporting the expenditures to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission.

'Short Story Dispensers' Coming To Wichita

By Deborah Shaar • 8 hours ago

The Wichita Public Library is one of four public libraries nationwide that will soon be offering machines that print short stories on demand and free of charge.

The library is expected to receive three short story dispensers by June.

Wichita Public Libraries director Cynthia Berner says these short story dispensers will help promote literacy and encourage reading.

"It’s a simple kiosk, you’ll be able to hit a button, make a few choices and then you’ll get the paper that comes out with your story," Berner says.

Banditos: Bringing Southern Roots Across The US

By Jedd Beaudoin • 8 hours ago

Banditos released the album Visonland to wide acclaim in 2017 via Chicago's esteemed Bloodshot Records. The band formed in Birmingham, Alabama in 2010, and then relocated to Nashville sometime after. The sextet performs at Barleycorn's Wednesday, May 9.

Feds Say Kansas Can’t Cap Time On Medicaid

By Celia Llopis-Jepsen • 21 hours ago

The Trump administration has nixed Kansas’ idea of a three-year lifetime cap on Medicaid benefits.

Gov. Jeff Colyer had wanted to include the limit in a remake of the state’s privatized Medicaid system, KanCare. He also wants work requirements for non-disabled KanCare beneficiaries.

Late last month, he walked back his stance on pursuing a lifetime cap, while sticking by the work proposal. Both ideas had faced criticism from health care advocates who fear they would reduce poor people’s access to doctors and medication.

Lawyers Seek Up To $1.5B More For Kansas Schools

By Associated Press • 22 hours ago

Attorneys for four public school districts suing Kansas are arguing that a new school funding law is as much as $1.5 billion short of providing adequate funding.

The attorneys filed legal arguments Monday with the Kansas Supreme Court against a new state law that phases in a $548 million increase in spending on public schools over five years.

Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt argued Monday that the GOP-controlled Legislature approved a "massive" funding increase.

Wichita Public Schools Proposes First High School Aviation Pathway In Kansas

By Stephan Bisaha • May 7, 2018

Wichita Public Schools on Monday proposed a new high school aviation curriculum, with the goal of getting students ready to work in the aviation industry immediately after graduation.

Governor Colyer Signs Bill To Fix Flaw In School Funding Law

By Associated Press • May 7, 2018

Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer has signed legislation fixing a flaw in a new public school funding law as the state Supreme Court prepares to consider whether it increases spending enough.

Colyer's office tweeted photos Monday from a signing ceremony at the Olathe public schools' headquarters. The bill ensures that the state phases in a $534 million increase in spending over five years as intended.

Legislators learned before Colyer signed the new funding law in April that it inadvertently shorted schools $80 million.

Adam Purinton Gets Life Sentence, Still Faces Possible Death Penalty For Hate Crime

By Andrea Tudhope • May 7, 2018

As Johnson County District Court Judge Charles Droege told 52-year-old Adam Purinton on Friday that he likely "won't leave prison alive," the convicted murderer briefly lowered his head.

Purinton was sentenced to life in prison for the February 2017 murder of Srinivas Kuchibhotla at an Olathe, Kansas, bar. He received an additional 28-year sentence for the attempted murders of Alok Madasani and Ian Grillot.

He still faces federal hate crime charges that could mean the death penalty. A hearing in that case is set for later this month.

Kansas Tax Cut Bites The Dust, Lawmakers Brace For Political Fallout

By Celia Llopis-Jepsen • May 5, 2018

The Kansas House killed a tax cut bill on its way out the door Friday, ending the 2018 session with yet another signal that this isn’t the same conservative-dominated body of just two years ago.

This is the Legislature that voted last year to expand Medicaid and end then-Gov. Sam Brownback’s signature 2012 tax cuts with a two-year, $1.2 billion tax hike.

Study: In Becoming The Bread Basket, Midwest Contributed To Climate Change. But There’s A Solution

By Madelyn Beck • May 4, 2018

Luke Runyon / Harvest Public Media/File photo

New research suggests that no-till farming could help mitigate climate change.

A study from Iowa State University, released Monday, examined Midwest land use between 1850 to 2015. As agriculture and the practice of tilling spread, less carbon was being stored in the ground and more was going into the atmosphere. That added to the carbon emissions already accumulating from burning coal and driving cars.

A solution, according to study co-author Chaoqun Lu, is ending tilling.

Commentary

New American Songbook: High Hip Hop

Hip hop has always been fascinated with itself--one of the music’s unique and endearing qualities is its constant self-reflection and self-assessment. This is great for true fans--there’s nothing an enthusiast loves more than to constantly talk about their enthusiasm--but it’s often difficult for casual or first-time listeners to get into it.

On Stage: Warm Weather

Cooking With Fire: Buffalo Wings

KMUW Music

Banditos: Bringing Southern Roots Across The US

By Jedd Beaudoin • 8 hours ago

Asian American Heritage Month & Birthdays Of Keith Jarrett, Mary Lou Williams & More

By Chris Heim • May 7, 2018

Monday 5.7.18

Night Train remembers alto saxophonist Arthur Blythe on his birthday. For the May Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month feature, there’s music from Indian percussionist Ramesh Shotham for his birthday, and from critically acclaimed pianist, composer, and educator Vijay Iyer, including a special with him in hour two of the show. And Night Train also highlights new music from the Barrett Martin Group, drummer Peter Erskine and his Dr. Um Band, and Latin jazz percussions Steven Kroon.

Tuesday 5.8.18

Night Train marks birthdays of two great jazz pianists tonight – Mary Lou Williams and Keith Jarrett. We’ll hear music from Jarrett’s new album with the Standards Trio in hour one and a special with him in hour two of the show. There’s also new music from pianist Emmet Cohen with legendary bassist Ron Carter, pianist Chick Corea with drummer Steve Gadd, and the Peter Sommer Septet.

Wednesday 5.9.18

Night Train marks birthdays of Brazilian pianist, singer and composer Tania Maria, and of guitarist Anthony Wilson (featured with Diana Krall and the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, along with his own groups). Plus new swing-inspired releases from Squirrel Nut Zippers, Hot Club Sandwich, Kevin Connor & Swing 3PO, and the Idiomatiques – and Don Braden’s new tribute to Earth Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder.

Thursday 5.10.18

Music of Duke Ellington & Billy Strayhorn tonight on the Night Train, as performed by guitarist Kenny Burrell, John Coltrane with Johnny Hartman, Red Mitchell with Roger Kellaway, Red Garland, Oscar Peterson, the Jeff Hamilton Trio, Benny Golson, Sarah King & the Smoke Rings, Allen Toussaint, Dan Cray and Lafayette Harris, Jr.

Songlines Awards + Visits To France, Togo & The Twilight Zone

By Chris Heim • May 7, 2018

Monday, May 7

Global Village goes to Togo for music that rarely gets attention in world music releases. But a few compilations, including the Togo Soul 70 and Afro-Beat Airways sets, have offered a glimpse into the lively sounds from there. Also this time, music from the legendary Congolese rumba band L’Orchestra Afrisa International, Spanish Afrobeat group Ogun Afrobeat, and some ska and reggae from the Skatalites and Third World.

Tuesday, May 8

For the past decade the UK world music magazine Songlines has presented awards honoring artists with impressive recordings in the past year. There are a variety of award categories, including for artist and group, and also by geographic region, the last of which will be announced this Friday, May 11th. In this special edition of the show, Global Village highlights nominees in a number of different categories in advance of the announcement of those 2018 winners.

Wednesday, May 9

Global Village heads to France for a wide array of sounds from that country – from traditional to contemporary French music, along with some of the many artists from other parts of the globe who now call France home. Among the artists featured – musette accordionist Michel Macias, jazz accordionist Richard Galliano, DJ and producer St. Germain, former Zawinul Syndicate member Aziz Sahmaoui, French ‘Mediterranean blues’ artist Titi Robin, Paris-based Vietnamese artists Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le, soukous star Kanda Bongo Man, and contemporary bands Lo’Jo and L’Attirail.

Thursday, May 10

Global Village marks birthdays of drummer Sly Dunbar (half of reggae’s legendary ‘Riddim Twins’ with Robbie Shakespeare) and of Haitian star Coupe Cloue. Plus more music for the Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month feature – this time from Bombay Dub Orchestra and MC Yogi.

Friday, May 11

It’s the annual Global Village Twilight Zone Day celebration with music inspired by the famed TV sci-fi show or capturing its trademark eerie vibe. Among the highlights, a song from Lorraine Feather inspired by the first episode of the show, re-workings of the show’s theme song by Manhattan Transfer and the B52s, and some general weirdness from Les Baxter, TriBeCaStan, Madness, Raymond Scott and more.

Asian/Pacific Island Blues & Stevie Wonder’s Birthday

By Chris Heim • May 7, 2018

May 11/13

Crossroads kicks off the May Asian-American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month feature with music from some artists who bring together Indian music and blues – Slide to Freedom and Harry Manx.

We also remember Charles Neville and Deborah Coleman, who passed away in April.

And Sunday (May 13) is Stevie Wonder’s birthday – in hour one of the show a cover of one of his songs from the Deep Blue Organ Trio and a hit song Wonder wrote for Rufus with Chaka Khan. Then in hour two a Stevie Wonder special featuring many of his classic tracks.

A Pink Moon, A Man Alive And Catnip Dynamite

By Jedd Beaudoin • May 4, 2018

Tuesday, May 8

Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. first came to national attention as part of the band Jellyfish in the early 1990s. Since then, he’s become an integral member of Beck’s band and has recorded and performed with acts such as The Moog Cookbook, Imperial Drag and as a solo artist. Later this month, Manning will reissue his first two solo albums as well as release a new EP. We’ll hear selections from Manning’s 2009 album Catnip Dynamite on this episode as well as selections from his work with Jellyfish.

Wednesday, May 9

Don’t Be Afraid is the new release from singer-songwriter Chris Stills. We’ll hear music from that recording on this episode of Strange Currency as well as music from his father, Stephen Stills, and the 1975 album Stills.

Thursday, May 10

A Man Alive is the 2016 album from Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. Inspired by songwriter Thao Nguyen’s estrangement from her father and exploration of family secrets, the album received universal critical acclaim upon its release. We’ll hear selections from this recording as well as music from Nick Drake’s Pink Moon.

Friday, May 11

Listen for selections from Roger Joseph Manning Jr.’s 2006 release Land of Pure Imagination as well as music from Queen’s soundtrack to the 1980 film Flash Gordon.

Saturday, May 12

We’ll celebrate the birthday of Stevie Wonder with selections from throughout his career.

Monday, May 14

Listen for selections from Neil Young’s Roxy: Tonight’s The Night Live which captures Young and his band performing material that would form the nucleus of his classic 1975 release, Tonight’s The Night. We’ll also hear music from Black Music For White People, the 1991 LP from Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.