Deep Background

On the Deep Background podcast, Johnson County reporter Sarah Ritter joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan of the editorial board to talk about the Shawnee Mission School District’s recent decision to impose a three-year contract on teachers. Will Kansas’ arguments about school funding ever end? Also, they talk about the debate in Overland Park about tax incentives to promote private businesses to investment in the community. Are they the right mechanism to keep the city growing?

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With Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts retiring, there are three candidates with name recognition vying for his seat: U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall, state Senate President Susan Wagle, and Kris Kobach, who lost the race for governor to Laura Kelly in 2018. Also, three new faces seek to unseat Sharice Davids in the 3rd District for the U.S. House. Will Kansas Republicans come together? Michael Ryan joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to talk about it.

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On today's Deep Background, The Kansas City Star's Colleen McCain Nelson joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to discuss the role of editorial board endorsements in today's fragmented media world. Iowa enjoys an outsize influence in the presidential campaign, and Americans care what The Des Moines Register thinks because of its extraordinary access during the primary. But what role would a regional paper such as The Kansas City Star play in endorsing a presidential candidate who won't have the chance to sit down with the members of the editorial board?

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How did Chillicothe, Missouri, farmer Randy Constant get away with one of the biggest agricultural frauds in American history? Star reporter Mike Hendricks joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to talk about what it may mean for the organic food market in the future. Steve Vockrodt also joins us to discuss allegations that UMB, one of Kansas City's premiere financial institutions, about allegations that the bank mismanaged the Thomas Hart Benton estate, as well as possible misconduct among its management ranks.

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One of Mayor Quinton Lucas' highest priorities is finding meaningful solutions to the violent crime epidemic that makes Kansas City far more dangerous than most other cities its size. Star reporter Allison Kite joins Dave Helling and Derek Donovan of the editorial board to discuss the mayor's plans. Also, reporter Kevin Hardy talks about the big layoff Hallmark announced this week. What lies ahead for one of Kansas City's flagship businesses as it navigates the drastically changing world of retail?

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The Kansas City Star's Laura Bauer and Judy Thomas spent a year investigating the United States' foster care system. A quarter of those in our prisons started out as foster kids - and there are no easy solutions in sight.

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Star opinion writer Melinda Henneberger joins her editorial board colleagues Dave Helling and Derek Donovan to discuss Sarah Gonzales-McLinn, who was only 19 when she killed Hal Sasko, the man 33 years her senior who she said treated her like his "personal Barbie doll." Gonzales-McLinn will be in court Monday, and a Douglas County District Court judge will hear evidence that might lead to a new trial.

Read Melinda's column about the case here, and thanks for listening to Deep Background.

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Reporter Eric Adler joins Dave Helling and Leah Becerra to discuss the story of Carol Dille, an eccentric neighbor in midtown Kansas City. Then Sarah Ritter, a reporter, discusses public incentives for a huge project in Overland Park.

Read the stories we discussed:

Amid $500,000 homes, KC neighbors wage decades-long fight against woman’s ‘rat house’ - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article236906633.html

Reverse Robin Hood syndrome’: Overland Park Council approves $200M tax break deal - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article237964979.html

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Justice Horn, the student government president at University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Alex Dwyer, a July graduate from the University of Kansas, sit down with The Star education writer Mara Rose Williams and Deep Background host Dave Helling to discuss the growth of conservatism on college campuses.

For further reading:

College conservatives say their numbers are growing. Or are they just getting louder? - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article237165489.html

MU claims recovery from racial protests, boasting another record fundraising year - https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article232492142.html

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Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly recently sat down for an interview with members of The Kansas City Star's Editorial Board, to talk about taxes, schools, Medicaid, and a host of other issues. This edition of Deep Background contains excerpts from those discussions. Dave Helling hosts.

For further reading:

Medicaid work rules would come at high cost to Kansas, Kelly official warns lawmakers - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article237536114.html

Kansas tax outlook improving, but state still set to spend more than it receives - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article237109454.html

Editorial: Kansas is third-worst in nation for retirement, report says. Are high taxes to blame? - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article237555884.html

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