Deep Background

Latest Episodes:

How should Kansas City fund its police department? Jun 18, 2020

Show notes

Funding the police department is one of any city’s highest priorities. The Kansas City Police Department’s role in civic life is under scrutiny today, though public support for law enforcement is generally high. On today’s Deep Background podcast, Star reporters Glenn Rice and Mike Hendricks join Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to discuss budgets, reform and the police’s relationship with the public.

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What did Kansas City and its police learn from the protests? Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

On today's Deep Background podcast, Kansas City Star reporters Katie Moore and Steve Vockrodt join hosts Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to talk about the protests that have been going on in Kansas City and around the world in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in a Minneapolis police officer's custody. Kansas City is committing to police body cameras and other reforms, but will that solve the problem?

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Protests on the Country Club Plaza and all eyes on Kansas' congressional races Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

Kansas City is just one of about 100 cities where demonstrators are taking to the streets in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. The Star's Mara Rose Williams talks about what she saw at the Country Club Plaza. McClatchy Washington bureau reporter Bryan Lowry also joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to talk about Roger Marshall, Bob Hamilton and the race for the Senate in Kansas.

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The strangest Jefferson City legislative session in years comes to a close May 21, 2020

Show notes

As the coronavirus pandemic swept through the country, Missouri lawmakers curtailed their session to avoid large groups. This time, though, things got pretty wild - and the General Assembly set its sights on reversing the Clean Missouri redistricting and ethics reform initiative that voters approved by 2-to-1 in 2018. The Star's Jefferson City correspondent Crystal Thomas joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan on today's podcast.

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As Kansas City starts a tentative reopening, do masks come in red and blue? May 13, 2020

Show notes

On today's Deep Background podcast, Kansas City Star reporters Sarah Ritter and Eric Adler join Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to talk about the road back from the coronavirus shutdowns. Are people taking social distancing measures seriously? And is it surprising that during this politically fraught era that this global health crisis turn into a left-versus-right debate?

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Is Kansas City ready to end the lockdown and get back to business? May 06, 2020

Show notes

The Deep Background podcast returns as Dave Helling hosts Star reporters Steve Vockrodt and Kevin Hardy to discuss how Kansas City and the surrounding area is coping with the coronvirus pandemic. What has been holding up testing for weeks — and are people just no longer willing to shelter in their homes?

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Kansas City declares a COVID-19 coronavirus emergency. What's next? Mar 12, 2020

Show notes

Star reporters Katie Bernard and Eric Adler have been covering the coronavirus outbreak and what it means to the Kansas City area. University classes in person are canceled; NCAA basketball will be played without spectators and Mayor Quinton Lucas has declared an unprecedented state of emergency. Will these measures stave off a disaster - or is it all overreaction?

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Joe Biden makes up lost ground. What lies ahead for Bernie Sanders? Mar 05, 2020

Show notes

On today's Deep Background podcast, Colleen McCain Nelson and Melinda Henneberger join their Star Editorial Board colleagues Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to discuss the wild ride of this year's Democratic primaries. Just a few weeks ago, pundits were ready to write off Joe Biden's bid for the White House. But now that the field is down to two contenders, will Democrats rally behind the candidate they think is the best chance to unseat President Donald Trump?

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Being a Kansas City police officer is a tough job. Body cameras might just help Feb 26, 2020

Show notes

There's always much discussion of the Kansas City Police Department's budget. The topic of body cameras is on the agenda yet again. But several mitigating factors - especially the fact that the city doesn't have local control over the department - continue to stand in the way. Toriano Porter joins his editorial board colleagues Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to talk about these and other police-related topics on this week's Deep Background podcast.

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Quinton Lucas’ first KC budget and Cerner’s unhappy neighbors Feb 19, 2020

Show notes

Did Kansas Citians get any big surprises from Quinton Lucas’ first budget as mayor? The Star’s City Hall reporter Allison Kite joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan of the editorial board to talk about it. Also, development writer Kevin Hardy joins the podcast to talk about Cerner Corp. and its apparently stalled plans to develop retail near its huge Innovations campus along Bannister Road.

Read the stories we discuss:

‘Only a beginning’: Mayor Quinton Lucas promises equity in first State of the City

What’s next for Cerner’s Bannister development after standstill with Kansas City?

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