News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Putting A Price Tag On The Chase For Cancer-Fighting Excellence
Over a span of a dozen years, the University of Kansas Cancer Center estimates that philanthropists, taxpayers and other funders will plow about $1.3 billion into its effort to become one of the nation’s most elite cancer-fighting institutions.
Cancer superheroes: KC survivors share their stories
“I named my tumor Walt. Humor = tool.” “2-0, baby. No rematch, please.” “Cancer is a word. Not a sentence.” “Overcoming physical, social, economic, emotional hurdles.” “Wonder when it will win.” These short narratives are just a handful of the many our newsroom received from community members describing their experience with cancer. As part of…
New live/work artist space may come to KC
Artspace, a nonprofit real estate organization that aims to develop affordable live/work spaces for artists of all kinds, is in the midst of a preliminary feasibility study to determine if and how development could happen in KC. Megan Crigger, the director of creative services for KCMO, said the city is interested in the ways expanding…
How canine cancer patients help sick people
If you have cancer and your dog has cancer, it turns out you may be treated with the exact same drugs. An innovative initiative at the University of Missouri combines traditional cancer research and care with veterinary medicine. This benefits our canine friends and, ultimately, human cancer patients. Dr. Carolyn Henry, a veterinary oncologist at…
The Learning Curve: Innovating education, in Kansas
A recent Kansas law allows up to 10 per cent of the state’s school districts to be designated as “Innovative,” allowing them to opt out of certain state regulations they deem unproductive or restrictive. Blue Valley and KCK, along with McPherson, Concordia and Hugoton, are the first five on board. Along with a waiver on some…
Bringing cancer treatments to rural Kansas
A cancer diagnosis is often the beginning of a life-or-death struggle. Patients want to go into that fight armed with the most powerful weapons available. In many cases, that involves treatments still in their experimental stages that are only available through clinical trials, which are typically found at academic medical centers. But the University of Kansas Cancer Center has created a partnership to bring those options closer to home for rural Kansans.
KU, Children’s Mercy cement relationship with cancer agreement
A new agreement between the University of Kansas and Children’s Mercy will strengthen research, education and clinical ties between the institutions in oncology and beyond, officials said Wednesday at a signing ceremony.
KC week in review: elections, minimum wage and the Schweich issue
The news sounded implausible. Just weeks after Missouri State Auditor and candidate for governor Tom Schweich took his own life, his aide and communications chief, Spence Jackson, is found dead in his Jefferson City apartment of a single gunshot wound to the head. Also on this edition of “Kansas City Week in Review”: Seattle and…
KC Checkup: 4 questions for Seft Hunter
Seft Hunter became chief operating officer last year of Communities Creating Opportunity, a faith-based organization that addresses poverty-related issues. As part of its campaign to promote health access and equity, CCO, working with the REACH Healthcare Foundation and other groups, has been mapping medical “hot spots” in the metropolitan area in an effort to better manage residents’ chronic conditions, improve access to health care and reduce emergency room visits.
Children’s Mercy, KU team up to fight childhood cancer
Children’s Mercy Hospital said late Monday that it has joined a consortium organized through the University of Kansas Cancer Center.