TOPIC 1: FINN TO PEN?

Bishop Robert Finn and the local diocese have been charged with failure to report child abuse.

TOPIC 2: SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES!

After a lengthy absence, Phill Kline is back in the news. A Kansas disciplinary panel has recommended that Kline be indefinitely suspended from practicing law in the state. Kline, a former attorney general and district attorney, is not practicing law in Kansas. He’s teaching law in Virginia.

TOPIC 3: HORATIO CAIN?

Presidential hopeful Herman Cain has been critical of the “Occupy Wall Street” protestors, telling them to blame themselves if they don’t have a job and aren’t rich. Local columnist Mary Sanchez says the protestors aren’t to blame, it’s the system. And, Sanchez believes, the work ethic is still alive and well in the United States.

TOPIC 4: BROWNBACK-ED SCHOOL PLAN

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has unveiled plans to change the state’s school finance formula. Johnson County residents have complained about the current formula since its inception.

Finally, want to show your love for RUCKUS? Put your feelings into words! Submit a RUCKUS themed “LIMERICK” and let loose in rhyme. The best will be read on air by Mike on Nov 17. Thanks for watching RUCKUS!

TOPIC 1: CHANGING PROSPECTS

Councilman Jermaine Reed wants to change the name of Prospect Avenue to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive. This, he says, along with economic initiatives can revitalize and rehabilitate the Prospect area, hard hit by crime and violence.

TOPIC 2: DE JA VIEW(S)

Last week, Woody and Yael had dueling roasts and toasts about a familiar topic–the Kansas City E-Tax. The catalyst was Tom Hoenig’s recommendation that Kansas City dump it.

TOPIC 3: POLITICAL NEWS

Robin Carnahan announces that she won’t seek re-election as Secretary of State and won’t run for any other office. Others are indicating they will run for the Democratic nomination. There’s speculation that Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders might be among them.

TOPIC 4: ANSWERED PRAYERS?

The Mission city government has exempted churches and some nonprofit groups from the controversial driveway tax.

TOPIC 1: TEEN-FREE ZONE.

The new curfew ordinance took effect last weekend and there were no problems on the Country Club Plaza. In fact, the Plaza may well have been the safest public place in the area this past Friday and Saturday.

TOPIC 2: ATTACKS ON TAX.

Kansas Citians are taxed in a myriad of ways as an excellent Star editorial explained last weekend. To bring some order out of the chaos, the new mayor has appointed a 16-member panel to review municipal finance and make recommendations.

TOPIC 3: THE MORE THINGS CHANGE…THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME.

A new state report shows the Kansas City, Missouri, school district’s test scores fail to meet most of the state’s criteria. Some fear this will lead to the district’s loss of its provisional accreditation status.

TOPIC 4: KEEP YOUR MONEY!

Kansas Governor Brownback is rejecting a federal grant to help implement part of the new “Obamacare” legislation. Brownback says states need to prepare for fewer resources. Kansas applied for the grant before Brownback was inaugurated.

TOPIC 1: IT HAD TO HAPPEN!

Last weekend, three teens were shot on the Country Club Plaza. Mayor James and other black leaders were in the area trying to assess the extent of the problem caused by large throngs of teens “hanging out” there. Now, he and they know. The mayor says he is working on solutions.

TOPIC 2: DO WE NEED A KINDER, GENTLER (Peter) KINDER?

A former stripper and “entertainer” says that in the mid-90s, she performed private dances (lap dances?) for then state-Senator Peter Kinder. She alleges that, on occasion, he would become aggressive during the dances and try to push her down to his groin. Tammy Chapman asserts that Kinder, now Lieutenant Governor, is not fit to hold public office. Kinder, the front-runner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination next year, says her story is wrong, the woman’s comments are bizarre and this is a Democratic Party effort to derail his campaign.

TOPIC 3: IT SEEMS TO ME I’VE HEARD THIS SONG BEFORE.

The mayors of Kansas City, Missouri, and the Unified Government of KCK are pledging to work together in a spirit of cooperation, not competition.

TOPIC 4: AND NOW THERE ARE THREE?

After the Iowa Straw Poll and Rick Perry’s entrance into the presidential campaign, some analysts say the GOP race is down to three: Michelle Bachmann, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney.

TOPIC 1: NOT AS “SLY” AS HIS FATHER.

Mayor James’ son, Kyle, made some news because of his involvement with disturbances in the P&L District. Young James refused to pay his restaurant bill, made rude and intemperate remarks to patrons, threatened some bystanders and told one police officer he “would have his job.” The mayor issued an apology for his son’s behavior. Later, Kyle also apologized publicly.

TOPIC 2: MORE PRESSING ISSUES FOR MAYOR JAMES.

Yael has written a review of the mayor’s first three months in office.

TOPIC 3: THE RICK AND SAM SHOW.

Last weekend, Texas Governor Rick Perry took part in a project he initiated titled “The Response.” It was a day of prayer and fasting seeking divine help to solve our burgeoning national problems. Perry is expected to announce his candidacy for president in the near future. Critics of the event said it was not inclusive and was blurring the lines between politics and religion. Governor Perry invited all of his 49 counterparts to attend and take part. Only one did. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback.

TOPIC 4: HELL OF A TASTE!

Congressman Cleaver’s comment about the debt ceiling deal being a “Satan Sandwich” have been widely covered. Star columnist Tom McClanahan takes issue with Cleaver’s point that the deal with hurt current recipients of Social Security and Medicare. McClanahan notes the real “Satan Sandwich” will come for future generations if we continue on our current financial course.

TOPIC 5: WHY RUCKUS?

TOPIC 1: A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCH

Writing in the Star, Henry Bloch (H&R Block) calls for a balanced approach to the federal budget and tax policy. Noting that he’s a registered Republican, Bloch defends the idea of raising tax rates on the wealthy.

TOPIC 2: A WIDENING GAP

New Pew Center research says the gap in wealth between whites and minorities (namely blacks and Hispanics) continues to widen.

TOPIC 3: EASTWARD HO!!

News accounts indicate that now some businesses are moving into Kansas City, Missouri, from Johnson County. On the “eco-devo” war front, Mayor James says these developments result from changes at City Hall.

TOPIC 4: PROBABLY NOT THE GREATEST GENERATION.

The under 30s, dubbed the “Millenials,” voted in large numbers for President Obama in 2008. New studies show that white members of that generation are now moving toward the GOP.

TOPIC 1: WHAT TIGHT BUDGET?

The Kansas City Council has approved a pay raise for firefighters ranging from 2-18 percent. Firefighters received no raises for the past two years. The Council vote was 11-1.

TOPIC 2: WHO’S ON FIRST?

Steve Kraske writes that Kansas re-districting might result in the third congressional district becoming part of the first, despite their vast dissimilarities.

TOPIC 3: POWER AND “WHITE” DISTRICT?

Blogger Tony Botello (Tony’s Kansas City) is calling for a boycott of the P&L District. Botello claims the method of collecting cover charges during certain weekend hours discriminates against minorities and the working poor. The ten-dollar cover for the “live” area can only be paid by debit or credit cards, not with cash.

TOPIC 4: SPECIAL(?) SESSION.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon is calling a special legislative session for September. Among the ostensible reasons is to give Kansas City some additional tools to more effectively attract new business and industry.

TOPIC 1: THE LIST NARROWS.

The Greater Kansas City Chamber has narrowed its list of 182 recommendations for the “Big Five” ideas to improve the metro area to 20. The chamber will select the final five in September.

TOPIC 2: DOWNTOWN–COWTOWN?

The American Royal Rodeo is moving from Kemper Arena to the Sprint Center. AEG officials say the event draws poorly at Kemper and will do much better downtown.

TOPIC 3: BROWNBACK IN 2016?

Steve Rose opines that Governor Brownback is doing everything possible to cement his solid credentials as a conservative. And these positions will stand him in good stead if he seeks the GOP presidential nomination again, perhaps in 2016. Rose says Brownback’s biggest liability is his lack of charisma.

TOPIC 4: U.G. TAX INCREASE. UGH!

Unified Government County Administrator Dennis Hayes is asking commissioners to approve an 8.9 percent property tax hike. Hayes warns of personnel and service cutbacks if the increase is not approved.

TOPIC 1: DIOCESAN DISPUTE!

The Bishop of the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese, Robert Finn, has refused to step down, despite intense criticism for his handling of child abuse and sexual misconduct allegations involving priests. Instead, Finn has appointed former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves to review policies and procedures to deal with such concerns.

TOPIC 2: AFFIRMATIVE ACTION ELECTIONS?

Columnist Mike Hendricks writes that Johnson County has too few minorities in elective office. He notes that the minority population is about 18 percent; however, only one minority, a Latina, holds office.

TOPIC 3: NO COLOR LINE IN KC. MO.

Certainly, Kansas City, Missouri, and Jackson County have a number of minority elected officials. Among them, Kansas City Mayor Sly James.

TOPIC 4: NEWT-INY.

Sixteen staffers left the Newt Gingrich presidential campaign last week, apparently troubled by his wife’s influence on how and how often he campaigns. Gingrich says the aides are outmoded in their thinking about how presidential campaigns should be run. And he expects to prove them wrong.

TOPIC 1: TROY AGAIN

The City Council has finally named Troy Schulte City Manager, eliminating the “acting” from his title. We can discuss what his goals are and what obstacles he will face.

TOPIC 2: CHIEF CONCERN

Kansas City Police Chief Jim Corwin is retiring. The Star says his legacy is “mixed.” The paper also calls for the Police Board to consider applicants from both within and outside the department.

TOPIC 3: DECLINE TO SIGN

The rezoning battle on the Country Club Plaza has taken a new turn. Proponents of the new zoning are campaigning to discourage citizens from signing a referendum petition that could place the issue on the November ballot.

TOPIC 4: MEET HERMAN CAIN

Herman Cain is among the most recent entrants into the race for the GOP presidential nomination. Cain is a former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, once served as president of the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City and now hosts a radio talk show. He’s never held elective office.