Kansas City Mayor | Advertising Amid Coronavirus & Protests | Pandemic Affects Winemaking

By Steve Kraske,

Luke X. Martin, Mackenzie Martin, Danie Alexander

Published June 26, 2020 at 2:59 PM CDT

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas stood with local faith leaders as he announced a push to return local control of the Kansas City Police Department.

Mayor Quinton Lucas wants voter input on local control of the Kansas City Police Department, advertisers are finding new ways to keep brands in front of consumers, and how the pandemic is affecting the wine industry.

Segment 1, beginning at 3:54: Mayor Quinton Lucas fields questions on police, violent crime, tax incentives and the coronavirus pandemic.

Calls for reforming the Kansas City Police Department persist and the homicide count in Kansas City, Missouri, continues to rise. "That is something all of us should be working our level best to change," Mayor Lucas said.

Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri

Segment 2, beginning at 22:08: The coronavirus and Black Lives Matter protests have advertisers looking for new ways to promote brands.

First came the pandemic, and then demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd's killing sent waves through the advertising industry. In response, corporate ads pivoted to messages of support and community.

Tim Galles, chief idea officer for Barkley

Segment 3, beginning at 39:26: Wine sales have gone up during the pandemic, but wine producers have not seen an increase in their bottom line.

Consumers are keeping their wine racks full, but winemakers aren't all benefiting from it. Fifteen percent of them have closed and halted production, says Doug Frost, who entered the winemaking business two years ago and is releasing his first Syrah amid a worldwide pandemic.

Doug Frost, master sommelier, master of wine and co-owner of Echolands Winery

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Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

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Luke X. Martin

As culture editor, I oversee KCUR’s coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. I work with reporters to make sure our stories reflect the fullest view of the place we call home, so listeners and readers feel primed to explore the places, projects and people who make up a vibrant Kansas City. Email me at luke@kcur.org.

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Mackenzie Martin

Whether it’s something happening right now or something that happened 100 years ago, some stories don’t fit in the short few minutes of a newscast. As a podcast producer and reporter at KCUR Studios, I help investigate questions and local curiosities in a way that brings listeners along for adventures with plot twists and thought-provoking ideas. Sometimes there isn’t an easy answer in the end – but my hope is that we all leave with a greater understanding of the city we live in. Reach me at mackenzie@kcur.org.

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Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

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