Deep Background

Kansas City Star reporter Katie Moore and editorial board member Dave Helling traveled more than 1,000 miles across the state to tell the stories of poor defendants' rights being trampled by Missouri's justice system. On this week's podcast, we look at their project which found Missouri's underfunded public defender system fails to uphold peoples' constitutional rights.

Read the series:

Defenseless: Missouri justice system violates the Constitution every day - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/article237130749.html

Before their day in court, poor people charged with crimes can spend years in jail - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article237036709.html

With overloaded Missouri public defenders, you only get a ‘sliver of an attorney’ - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article237036919.html

Missouri judge says: Represent yourself in court or plead guilty to save time - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article237037159.html

Public defenders ordered to violate ethics to keep defendants moving through court - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article237037079.html

Missouri prosecutors hold all the cards. Public defenders and vulnerable clients fold - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article237037239.html

‘Constant injustice’: Missouri must fund and fix its broken public defender system - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/article237131144.html

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Lead political reporter Jason Hancock joins the podcast today to give a preview of what's in store for the Missouri legislature in 2020. We also spend some time looking at the Galloway-Parson Missouri governor race. Missouri statehouse reporter Crystal Thomas, who has been covering the state's proceedings over Planned Parenthood's license and restrictions to abortion, also joins the podcast to get us up-to-date on the latest in both cases.

For further reading:

Missouri’s abortion restrictions will face scrutiny at congressional hearing - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article237320744.html

Trump, abortion will weigh heavily on Galloway-Parson Missouri governor race in 2020 - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article236904008.html

Missouri health director kept spreadsheet of Planned Parenthood patients’ periods - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article236773058.html

Missouri governor won’t investigate health department spreadsheet with patient periods - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article236917803.html

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What did Kansas City's voters say Tuesday about The Paseo? And what are Johnson County voters saying about their communities? Johnson County beat reporter Sarah Ritter joins this post-election Deep Background podcast to discuss the issues. Dave Helling, of the Star's Editorial Board, hosts.

For further reading:

Kansas City voters reject Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., restore The Paseo as street name - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article237026484.html

Save the Paseo group protests MLK Blvd. rally at KC church, days before Nov. 5 vote - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article236990619.html

Challengers defeat incumbents in many Johnson County races, but not JCCC board - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article237028034.html

Editorial: KC emphatically rejected Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. So, now what? - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article237070109.html

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Kansas City residents will vote on whether to restore The Paseo, a historic boulevard that was renamed to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The issue, put on the ballot by petition, will appear as Question 5. The Star's politics editor, Bill Turque, joins Deep Background to examine the decision put before voters and what implications it may have down the road. Dave Helling and Leah Becerra co-host.

For further reading:

‘Now the stakes are even higher’: citywide vote on MLK Blvd. or Paseo approaches - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article236322773.html

Published Jan. 24, 2019: After months of delay, Kansas City Council renames The Paseo for Martin Luther King - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article225015775.html

Published May 20, 2018: Panel supports naming new KCI airport for MLK, offers 63rd Street as second option - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article211536509.html

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Lead political reporter Jason Hancock joins co-hosts Dave Helling and Leah Becerra to talk about Kansas' Senate race. We look at what's going on with Mike Pompeo, Kris Kobach, Susan Wagle, Roger Marshall, Barbara Bollier and much more.

For further reading:

‘The big enchilada’: Sebelius, backing Bollier, holds power with Kansas Democrats - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article236491863.html

Kobach’s campaign paid Kansan known to post racist comments on white nationalist site - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article236355618.html

Democrat Barry Grissom drops out of Kansas Senate race, endorses Bollier - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article236359218.html

Dave Helling: Is Democrat Barbara Bollier rooting for Kris Kobach in GOP Senate race? She should be - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dave-helling/article236524858.html

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A 13-year-old Johnson County eighth-grader who was arrested for pointing a finger gun at classmates was handcuffed, arrested and charged with a felony. Education reporter Mará Rose Williams is here to discuss the latest. And after threatening to evict the Kansas City T-Bones from the taxpayer-owned stadium, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas followed through by padlocking the gates early Monday morning. Business reporter Kevin Hardy gives an update on what's next for the T-Bones. Dave Helling and Leah Becerra co-host.

For further reading:

Pointing a finger gun lands 13-year-old Johnson County student in handcuffs

Overland Park 13-year-old who pointed finger gun might avoid original felony charge

Wyandotte County padlocks T-Bones stadium, evicts team for months of unpaid rent

KCK may spend $1M on stadium as part of lease with new Kansas City T-Bones owner

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Two people have died in Kansas and one person has died in Missouri from a mysterious vaping-related illness. The same illness has resulted in hundreds of cases nationwide. But what do we really know about vaping or what's causing people to become ill? Healthcare reporter Lisa Gutierrez joins co-hosts Dave Helling and Leah Becerra to talk about what we know about vaping so far and how people are reacting to the latest headlines.

For further reading:

Pressure in Kansas builds for new regulation with vaping-related illness on rise

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article235563052.html

Missouri records first vaping-related death

https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article235273962.html

Another Kansas resident dies from vaping illness as state reports nine cases

https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/health-care/article235403172.html

Meth found in vaping devices used by high school students in Utah, officials say

https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/national/article235763257.html

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Icelandair’s seasonal service from Kansas City to Keflavik will end after only two years due to "commercial reasons," the airline announced earlier this week. Business reporter Kevin Hardy joins co-hosts Dave Helling and Leah Becerra to talk through some of the questions being raised after KCI lost its only nonstop transatlantic flight.

For further reading:

Icelandair drops Kansas City flight after boasting KCI’s only transatlantic service

https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article235650117.html

KCI announces two new international routes — including a new destination in Mexico

https://www.kansascity.com/living/travel/article235715842.html

Looking to save funds, KCI officials set out on long-shot request for federal loan

https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article235419107.html

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Kansas City’s long-time city manager Troy Schulte announced he will retire when his contract expires early next year. By the time Schulte leaves at the end of February, he will have held the post — either on an interim or permanent basis — for more than a decade. City hall reporter Allison Kite and politics editor Bill Turque join co-hosts Dave Helling and Leah Becerra to talk about what this means for Kansas City.

For further reading:

Troy Schulte will retire early next year after a decade as KC city manager - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article235435002.html

Editorial: Why did KC city manager Troy Schulte retire? And how will Kansas City move forward? - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article235245397.html

‘I’m not sure the votes are there’: Concerns over KC’s role in funding new office tower - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article235226752.html

Cost overruns, new budget pushes price of KC’s downtown convention hotel up millions - https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article234801522.html

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Energy companies KCP&L and Westar are set to merge and are expected to officially become Evergy in October. Reporter Steve Vockrodt joins hosts Dave Helling and Leah Becerra to talk what the merger means for you.

For further reading:

KCP&L's note: We will soon become Evergy - https://www.kcpl.com/about-kcpl/merger-information

(Published 2018) Goodbye Westar Energy and KCP&L, hello Evergy - https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article211832124.html

(Published 2017) Regulators deny proposed $12.2 billion merger of KCP&L and Westar - https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article145577559.html

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