Yong Li Xuan
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Missouri News Network
Juneteenth has only been a national holiday since 2021, but KBIA’s Katelynn McIlwain and Rebecca Smith bring us the story of one community in rural Missouri that has been celebrating for the last 25 years.
![David Hall sits on his couch on Monday, April 7, 2025, at his home in Columbia. “Even in Missouri there's certain areas that you still don't see that many queens of color. And especially in the bigger cities, how many of them do you see on cast in bigger bars that have, like, either a rotating cast or a main cast throughout weekends? I will give kudos to Kansas City because they've worked really hard on having that diversity within all of their cast, but still. Like, Columbia, one joke was like, ‘Kaycee can't work all the time.’ … ‘Kaycee can't perform in every show, so you can't really ding us on diversity.’ But I'm like, I still want to bring that representation,” Hall said. “Since [Nclusion Plus], one of the places I perform with, we go to smaller areas and perform. And I'm like, just to have one person look at me and say, ‘Oh yeah, I look like them. I can do that,’ makes me really happy. And it's like, ‘OK, what I'm doing, I'm on the right track for that.’”](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7c6f936/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1750x984+0+0/resize/960x540!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F7d%2F9e%2Fe25c27e04e9a9b2be4ca9cb307d6%2F20250407-bas-queer-joy-david-hall-0291.jpg)
MISSOURI NEWS
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The state could soon join 27 others banning hair discrimination if Gov. Mike Kehoe signs the proposal into law. -
As the climate changes, the top allergen producers shift from oak trees to grass to ragweed. -
Drought and strong demand have worsened a recent price hike in beef prices. -
This is the fifth request for federal assistance following major damage from spring storms. The previous four were approved. -
Last year, 81% of firework-related injuries in Missouri occurred during the three-week summer window around July 4. -
The First Alert Weather team predicts extreme humidity in the coming days which will bring record-breaking overnight warmth.
NPR TOP STORIES
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President Trump's decision to launch airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities without first consulting Congress has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers who say the move bypasses their constitutional authority to declare war. -
A federal judge had previously said people must get at least 15 days to challenge their deportations to countries they're not originally from. -
A group of Democratic senators and Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller are hosting a Pride celebration at the Kennedy Center Monday evening. But the Kennedy Center has nothing to do with programming it.
MORE FROM KBIA and the Missouri News Network
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Voluntary Action Center has been keeping Boone County cool since 1996 thanks to its popular 'fan club' program. Chief development officer Stacie Pottinger says they're looking for donations - whether monetary or an actual box fan - to keep this year going as supplies have dropped to only about a dozen fans left. Find out more on today's show. June 23, 2025 -
Construction is underway on CHA’s 34-unit Kinney Point complex, with some units ready by July. -
Columbia will simplify downtown parking meter options in July in an attempt to reduce confusion and improve turnover. -
ITCOMO owner Robert Ricketts tells us how to safely use a mobile phone while traveling internationally. From using airplane mode to connecting to hotel WiFi, if your summer travel plans include a trip overseas, you'll want to pay attention to today's show! June 20, 2025 -
Today's Juneteenth-themed show features a poetry reading by T'Keyah Thomas and a performance of a Sam Cooke classic by Biscuits and Groovy. June 19, 2025 -
Today is Juneteenth, and while it’s only been an official federal holiday since 2021, the city of Fayette will be holding its 25th annual celebration this weekend.
Get behind-the-scenes look into our coverage delivered to your inbox every month.
In this episode, hosts Eric Fey and Brianna Lennon speak with Cristy Lynn, the County Clerk and Recorder in Ouray County, Colorado. She and many of fellow county officials are politically unaffiliated, which means they do not represent or run as a member of either major political party.They spoke about Lynn’s decision to run unaffiliated, how her community has responded to that decision and why she believes this could be a way to bridge the divisiveness of the current political landscape at the local level.
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