Deep Background

Missouri’s A+ scholarship program gives millions of dollars to students to pay for two years of college. Yet most of the money goes to those in more affluent districts and not to those who need it the most. Education reporter Mará Rose Williams joins us to talk about this recent report. Hosts Dave Helling and Leah Becerra also chat about college rankings and whether or not they really matter.

For further reading:

Missouri gives millions in college aid, but little goes to KC students needing it most - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article234663192.html

U.S. News Best Colleges - https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges

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Parking and traffic concerns have some Kansas City neighborhoods fighting City Hall’s stalled plan to add bike lanes. Today we talk about the $400 million plan with city hall reporter Allison Kite and business reporter Kevin Hardy.

Dave Helling and Leah Becerra co-host.

For further reading:

‘Rightfully confused’: Over some objections, Kansas City rolls along with bike lanes - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article234487342.html

(Published 2018) For Prospect MAX bus line, it's full speed ahead, thanks to $30 million federal grant - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article208422129.html

(Published 2017) From 6 lanes to 3: How Grand Boulevard’s ‘road diet’ could affect drivers, cyclists - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article176798431.html

(Published 2016) Scathing audit faults Kansas City bike plan as ‘only lines on a map’ - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article122275934.html

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The Kansas City Royals may soon be sold. Will they move downtown? Will they get better players? What's next for the MLB team? Hosts Dave Helling and Leah Becerra chat with Royals beat reporter Lynn Worthy and investigative reporter Steve Vockrodt about the implications of a sale.

For further reading:

Royals owner David Glass is in talks to sell team to group led by Kansas Citian - https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article234449312.html

Potential Royals owner John Sherman: ‘the kind of guy who would pour himself into it’ - https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article234451357.html

Editorial: Will the new Royals owner want a downtown stadium? Taxpayers shouldn’t foot the bill - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article234467697.html

Mellinger: The Royals are for sale, and here’s why that’s a good thing for Kansas City - https://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mellinger/article234453167.html

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Barry Grissom faces questions about his tenure as Kansas’ top federal law enforcement official after a federal judge held his former office in contempt. Reporter Steve Vockrodt is here to talk about how the scandal is clouding the Democrat’s Senate campaign.

And reporter Andy Marso is here to discuss his reporting surrounding stem cell clinics charging thousands of dollars to treat everything from arthritis to Parkinson’s disease. There’s no scientific proof the treatments work. Dave Helling and Leah Becerra co-host.

For further reading:

‘Head in the sand’: Grissom faces fallout from scandal on his watch as U.S. attorney - www.kansascity.com/news/politics-g…e234072672.html

Peddling unproven treatments, stem cell industry ‘fleeces,’ sometimes harms patients - www.kansascity.com/news/business/h…e233635472.html

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Missouri Governor Mike Parson and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly on Tuesday celebrated an end to the longstanding economic border war and pledged to usher in a new era of cooperation between the two states.

Reporter Kevin Hardy joins hosts Dave Helling and Leah Becerra to talk about what this truce means for Kansas, Missouri and the Kansas City area.

For further reading:

‘Sometimes common sense does prevail.’ Missouri, Kansas celebrate end of border war - https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article233725152.html

Port KC plans to ‘get in line’ with Kansas-Missouri border war ceasefire - https://www.kansascity.com/news/business/article233791202.html

Kansas City companies rush to cash in before border war tax breaks disappear - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article233614227.html

Fewer than half of USDA workers will follow agency to Kansas City - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article232730352.html

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After a week of violence in Kansas City that left six dead, residents and city leaders are discussing ideas to curb gun violence. Reporters Kaitlyn Schwers and Luke Nozicka covered a recent high-profile shooting at Crossroads' First Fridays and here to talk about what the mayor and other city leaders may do to confront the issue. Leah Becerra and Dave Helling co-host.

For further reading:

Woman shot and killed at First Fridays identified as daughter of Leawood pastor - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article233489192.html

‘Stop hiding’: KC mother begs witnesses for help finding her son’s killer - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article233536252.html

‘We live it’: In Kansas City, local leaders suggest answers to gun violence problem - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article233541357.html

List of Kansas City area homicides in 2019 - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article223986505.html

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City Hall reporter Allison Kite and investigative reporter Steve Vockrodt join host Dave Helling to talk about Kansas City's new mayor, Quinton Lucas. Join them — and hear from Lucas himself — about his goals for City Hall, and what the city can expect from this change in leadership.

For further reading:

KC Mayor-elect Quinton Lucas pledges cooperation with Kansas during visit to Congress - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article233309007.html

The challenge for Lucas: melding ‘twelve mandates’ into a majority for his agenda - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article231770338.html

The hits, the misses and the swagger: summing up the Sly James era in Kansas City - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article232800067.html

Melinda Henneberger: KC Mayor Sly James’ hand-off to Quinton Lucas has been more like a brush-off - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/melinda-henneberger/article233192376.html

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Gov. Eric Greitens' use of a secret message app called Confide was revealed in 2017, but the controversy surrounding it still swirls today. This week, politics reporter Jason Hancock joins host Leah Becerra to take a deep dive into Confide, its use in Missouri government, and the fear that a recent court ruling may undermine open records laws.

For further reading:

‘Dream for fans of corruption’: Greitens Confide ruling vexes transparency advocates - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article232439834.html

Former Missouri Gov. Greitens’ use of Confide didn’t violate Sunshine Law, judge says - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article232418307.html

Missouri lawmakers hoped to ban secret texting apps in government. Time is running out - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article230093804.html

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The KC city council's last meeting of the current term is this week. The Star's city hall beat reporter Allison Kite and politics editor Bill Turque are here with host Dave Helling to talk about the council members' final days. How did the members do? And what comes next?

For further reading:

Kansas City Council strikes deal on medical marijuana proximity to schools, churches - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article232568727.html

With weeks left in office, KC Council votes pay raise for incoming members, mayor - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article232572577.html

The challenge for Lucas: melding ‘twelve mandates’ into a majority for his agenda - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article231770338.html

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Host Dave Helling and investigative reporter Steve Vockrodt break down the debate over tax breaks, low-cost loans, and other goodies for private businesses. Do they work? Are they fair? Can politicians just say no?

For further reading:

‘Ultimate pork project’: Kansas’ mega tax breaks don’t deliver as promised - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article232206457.html

Editorial: Kansas’ giant tax breaks are a mess. Should lawmakers finally end STAR bonds? - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article232406617.html

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