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Missouri State of the State | Capturing Thomas Hart Benton

Segment 1, beginning at 5:01: Governor Parson addresses Missouri residents ahead of what will be a difficult year between the pandemic and the state budget.

Missouri currently ranks last among states in vaccinations per resident. In spite of this and a recent outbreak in the statehouse, Governor Parson delivered the State of the State in person. The legislature currently has no mask mandate for lawmakers at the capitol.

Segment 2, beginning at 30:29: For decades, exclusive photos of famed painter Thomas Hart Benton at work in his Kansas City studio sat in a box completely hidden from view of the public until now.

It wasn't until photographer Nick Vedros received them from his uncle that their existence became known. The photographs paint an intimate portrait of the prolific painter who once called Kansas City home.

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.
Chris Young