KCUR-FM (Kansas City, MO)

Stifling hot weather will linger in the Kansas City area through the Labor Day weekend, unfortunately coinciding with a slew of outdoor festivals. The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning in the Kansas City area though Tuesday evening, with heat index values in the triple digits. Meteorologists expect high temperatures to stretch through the middle of next week, with little relief in the evenings.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is standing behind his actions — while vowing to fight on.

Want more news about agriculture and the environment? Sign up for the Harvest newsletter for our latest reporting, plus behind-the-scenes exclusives. American farmers are bracing for the impact of new tariffs exchanged between the U.S. and Canada on both their supply costs and their sales. President Donald Trump's administration placed new 50% tariffs on around $20 billion worth of Canadian goods after trade talks between the two countries fell apart in late August.

In a decision with national political implications, the Missouri Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Thursday that a referendum should be placed on the November ballot allowing voters to decide whether to keep or reject the new Republican-drawn congressional map. That also means the gerrymandered districts will not be in place for the Nov. 3 election, which instead will use the previous map that the Missouri General Assembly approved after the 2020 census.

University of Missouri workers rallied outside the school's Memorial Union building Thursday, calling for higher wages and changes to employee benefits as crowds gathered for the school's football season opener. The rally came as fans arrived at the newly renovated north end zone of Memorial Stadium. The $250 million project officially opened Wednesday as Mizzou celebrated new investments across campus.

Millions of monarch butterflies will travel through the state as they make their journey toward central Mexico. The butterflies are headed to warmer weather as the days get longer, temperatures change and winter approaches. They usually arrive in Mexico at the beginning of November, a natural event that coincides with the country’s Day of the Dead celebrations. Kansas plays a vital role in helping the butterflies on their journey, as states like Oklahoma and Texas experience nectar droughts.

A familiar face has returned to the Kansas City Council to replace outgoing council member Andrea Bough. The City Council voted to appoint former council member Kevin McManus to the vacant 6th District at-large position by a vote of 11-0 on Thursday after he was nominated by Mayor Quinton Lucas. Council member Melissa Robinson was absent. Bough had served on the council for seven years when she abruptly departed on Aug. 26 to become the interim president and CEO of the Economic Development Corp.

Nearly 100 years after Harry Houdini’s death, his name is still synonymous with magic, daring escape acts, and stunning illusions — such as making a 10,000-pound elephant disappear. But what’s not as widely known is Houdini’s unlikely connection to Kansas City. Houdini historian and biographer John Cox says the story goes back to when the performer was a boy.

Missouri counties that were hit by flash flooding and severe storms in early July now have access to federal aid. Gov. Mike Kehoe announced Thursday that President Donald Trump has approved the state's request for a major disaster declaration for severe flooding that happened in July. The disaster declaration applies to nine counties in the state where flash flooding and severe storms occurred July 9-11.

The Missouri Supreme Court on Thursday placed a measure on the Nov. 3 ballot that makes it much harder for the legislature to overturn voter-approved initiatives. The high court reversed a decision from Cole County Judge Daniel Green blocking what's known as the Respect Missouri Voters initiative from the November ballot.