KC bloggers share unfiltered cancer journeys
When Sarah Kallail was diagnosed with lymphoma in September of 2014, she immediately knew what her first move would be: She would write about it. Kallail has always been one to put her feelings on paper. Long emails to friends and her boyfriend were not uncommon. She said it made sense to write about this…
Checkoff debate stirs clash within organic food industry
A battle is brewing in the organic food industry. The largest trade association for organic farmers, marketers and processors wants growers to help pay for promotional campaigns, using a decades-old funding model that paid for iconic ads like “Got Milk?” and “Beef: It’s What’s For Dinner.” But deciding how to spread the organic message is…
Some Farmers Warming Up To The Affordable Care Act
Until the federal health insurance marketplace opened in late 2013, farmers and ranchers were more likely to be uninsured than many other occupational groups. The Affordable Care Act changed that by requiring them to buy insurance. But it also gave them coverage options they didn’t have before.
Immigrant’s Sway: The Iway Family, Part 1
“I believe when Americans see that laws aren’t being followed – not just immigration laws, but other laws – it frightens people. And when people are frighten they tend to show it, and it can come off as being racist.” – Danny Spurlock, son-in-law of Olivia & Belino Iway — Doctors Olivia & Belino Iway…
Mayoral candidates differ widely on issues
The Kansas City Mayoral primary is less than two weeks away, and the three candidates met for the first time to answer questions from a crowd of about 125 people Tuesday night. Mayor Sly James and candidates Clay Chastain and Vincent Lee took turns during the 90-minute forum — sponsored by the League of Women Voters — stating their positions on…
Panel of experts discusses Ken Burns’ cancer documentary
Cancer survivors, caregivers, advocates and community members gathered at Union Station for KCPT’s sneak preview of and discussion about “Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies” on Tuesday evening. The preview included several clips from the expansive six hour series, which will air on KCPT over three consecutive nights beginning Monday, March 30 at 8 p.m….
Our kids, our responsibility
“How many of you have found 10 or more four-leaf clovers in your lifetime?” This was a question posed Monday morning by Dorothy Stucky Halley, director of the Victim Services Division of the Kansas Attorney General’s Office. She asked the question of a roomful of community members from Pittsburg, Kansas, who were gathered to learn…
Show Me | Niall Luxury
An American Timepiece Entrepreneur Mike Wilson’s business is all about time. Timepieces, that is. He’s the founder of Niall Luxury, a watch-making company determined to make luxury timepieces built in America. Right now, Niall is one of only three companies manufacturing luxury watches in the United States. Niall Luxury the most recent subject of KCPT’s…
Cancer in KC: Ellis Fischel and the History of Cancer Care in Missouri
In conjunction with “Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies,” a three-part, six-hour major television event from filmmaker Ken Burns, KCPT is examining cancer’s impact in our city and Region. “Emperor” tells the story of this history of cancer. In the Midwest, a major part of cancer’s history is Ellis Fischel Cancer Center in Columbia, Missouri….
Bringing new light to an underground speakeasy
It’s easy to miss John Brown’s Underground, and that’s kind of the point. The eight-month old speakeasy is just a block off Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, Kansas. But there’s no sign to point the way and the entrance is below sidewalk level. “Speakeasies were illegal. They brought in all different types of people. There’s no…
Looking into your genes with a DNA expert
About 10 percent of cancers are considered hereditary. That means some people’s genes put them at a high risk for certain cancers. Fortunately, there are medical professionals trained to look at patients’ personal and family histories to assess this risk: genetic counselors. “It’s a trained specialist who is taught to put the pieces of the…
A song and dance for patients at the end of chemo treatment
Karen Finkbiner is an oncology pharmacist, but her patients often refer to her as a bartender. “I think a lot of patients try to have fun with the thought of coming in for chemotherapy because, of course, it’s a pretty awful thing to think about,” she said. “So a lot of people refer to (the…
Catharsis and community in standup comedy — for parents of kids with autism
Parenting is a tough job for anyone, but raising children with autism, who often have behavioral or communication problems, can be especially demanding. Research has shown that parents of children with autism are at increased risk of depression. But in Kansas City, some of these mothers and fathers are finding a measure of respite, and sympathetic ears, through comedy.
My own private Islam: The Malek Family, Part 4
In this final visit with the Malek family, they discuss Islam and explain their frustrations with the common misconceptions that they feel are perpetuated in the media here in the U.S.
Preview new Ken Burns doc at KCPT screening
“Cancer: the Emperor of All Maladies,” a new Ken Burns documentary based on a book by the same name, will air on KCPT beginning March 30. The six-hour doc, which will air on three consecutive nights, delves deeply into the topic of cancer in America: treatment options, the business behind the disease and the healthcare…