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Frank Morris

As news director, Frank Morris supervises the reporters in KCUR's newsroom.  He has presided over the station's news coverage since 1999.

In addition to his managerial duties, Morris files regularly with National Public Radio.  He’s covered everything from tornadoes to tax law for the network, in stories spanning six states.   His work has won dozens of awards, including four national Public Radio News Directors awards (PRNDIs) and several regional Edward R. Murrow awards. 

Morris grew up in rural Kansas, listening to the public radio station out of Hutchinson.  He worked as a DJ throughout college at the University of Kansas.  After graduating with degrees in Philosophy and Political Science, Morris went to work at an AM news/talk station in Lawrence, Kansas, and later at the Statehouse in Topeka for Kansas Public Radio. He started at KCUR in 1991.    He’s married with two fine sons.  

Around the Nation
2:29 pm
Thu September 27, 2012

Despite Record Drought, Farmers Expect Banner Year

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Credit Frank Morris / KCUR
With far less than half of their normal corn yield, the Ulrich brothers are relying in part on government-subsidized crop insurance to keep their farm afloat.
Credit Frank Morris / KCUR
Kansas farmer Luke Ulrich pilots his combine through the last eight rows of this year's ragged crop, which produced far less than half the normal yield.
Credit Frank Morris / KCUR
The dairy Eric Neill and his wife operate in Freeman, Mo., nearly went under this summer, crushed by high feed prices from drought-scarce grains. The farm was saved by restorative rains brought by Hurricane Isaac.
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Originally published on Fri September 28, 2012 9:39 am

After one of the driest summers on record, recent rains have helped in some parts of the country. But overall, the drought has still intensified. The latest tracking classifies more than a fifth of the contiguous United States in "extreme or exceptional" drought, the worst ratings.

In some parts of the Lower Midwest, water-starved crops have collapsed, but the farmers have not. Farmers across the country are surviving, and many are even thriving. This year, despite the dismal season, farmers stand to make exceptionally good money, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

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