© 2026 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Seg. 1: Kansas City Mayoral Candidate Scott Wagner. Seg. 2: Vocalist Kurt Elling's Jazz Journey.

Kansas City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Scott Wagner is the Northland's only candidate to succeed current MAyor Sly James.
Luke X. Martin
/
KCUR 89.3
Kansas City Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Scott Wagner is the Northland's only candidate to succeed current MAyor Sly James.

Segment 1: The only mayoral candidate from the Northland thinks he brings "a unique perspective in getting us moving forward."

Scott Wagner is in his last months as a city council member. Now his sights are set on occupying the mayor's office. Wagner spoke of his plan to fund affordable housing, explained what he sees as a barrier to reducing violent crime, and observed that, "at the end of the day, I'm still that neighborhood guy, and that position and that perspective needs to be reflected in City Hall."

  • Kansas City councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Scott Wagner, 1st District at-large

Segment 2, beginning at 26:48:  Renowned vocalist says jazz "is inherently a spiritual exploration, and is inherently a broadcast of the soul."

Before pursuing his musical career, Kurt Elling attended divinity school and earned his master's degree in the philosophy of religion. Elling explained how he developed his idiosyncratic sound in the small clubs of Chicago, his working relationship with Wynton Marsalis and the need he feels "to address this moment in time."

The Kurt Elling Quintet performs as part of the Folly Jazz Series at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, at the Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, Missouri 64105. For tickets, go to FollyTheater.org.

Copyright 2021 KCUR 89.3. To see more, visit KCUR 89.3.

Steve Kraske is an associate teaching professor of journalism at UMKC, a political columnist for The Kansas City Star and has hosted "Up to Date" since 2002. He worked as the full-time political correspondent for The Star from 1994-2013 covering national, state and local campaigns. He also has covered the statehouses in Topeka and Jefferson City.
Danette (Danie) Alexander first came to KCUR in 2007 as an intern for Up to Date after completing her B.A. in Communications at the University of Missouri – Kansas City. After her KCUR internship was completed, Danie continued to spend her mornings assisting senior producer Stephen Steigman as a volunteer with the show. Her radio experience also includes stints with public radio's New Letters on the Air as a broadcast engineer and on local public radio as host of a weekly overnight call-in show.