And the Heart of America Award goes to...

Okay, okay...it's me. From the tooting-my-own-horn department, I am thrilled to announce that two of my pieces for "A Fan's Notes" on KCUR's Up to Date—"Still Running" and "Under the Spell"—were honored this weekend at the annual Heart of America Awards luncheon hosted by the Kansas City Press Club in the category of "Editorial/Commentary, Radio."

Many thanks to KCUR and to Stephen Steigman and Danie Alexander for producing the pieces, inviting me back and tolerating me every month, and for nominating me for these awards in the first place...

Oh, and where, you may wonder, is the Gold Award? Next year...next year.