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Essential & Nonessential Business | History Of The Census | The Black Creatures

Jenny Garmon is leading census outreach for the Kansas City Public Library, but the pandemic has made it difficult to reach many communities.
Lisa Rodriguez
/
KCUR 89.3
Jenny Garmon is leading census outreach for the Kansas City Public Library, but the pandemic has made it difficult to make contact in many communities.

An argument for moving away from the essential-nonessential business designation that has proliferated since the pandemic, how censuses have shaped society for thousands of years, and an eclectic album has emerged from the Black Creatures' new hunkered-down routine.

Segment 1, beginning at 3:45: Can bars ever be safe in a pandemic?

Figuring out which businesses are essential and nonessential during a pandemic can be a hairy ordeal. That's why some conservative groups say states and counties should instead be determining which businesses are safe and which are not — so that a bar with a tricked-out ventilation system, rigorous social distancing and no karaoke can still be allowed to open.

  • Ryan Kriegshauser, Kansas attorney and legal counsel for the Trust Kansas Coalition

Segment 2, beginning at 21:15: 'How the Census Has Shaped Nations, from the Ancient World to the Modern Age'

The U.S. Constitution requires an "actual Enumeration" to occur every 10 years, and the implications of that decennial census are huge. It affects the number of elected officials states have in Congress, the makeup of the electoral college, our society's ability to determine how and where people live in America, and how we use that to distribute resources.

Segment 3, beginning at 41:35: Band's latest release combines elements of pop, hip hop, electronic dance music and soul

The COVID-19 pandemic put The Black Creatures' plans for a tour on hold, but it gave the Kansas City duo more time to focus on a new album, called "Wild Echoes." The collection explores ideas and issues highly relevant to the social movements now gripping the U.S.

The Black Creatures are hosting album release parties at 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28 and Saturday, Aug. 29 at Lemonade Park, 1628 Wyoming St., Kansas City, Missouri 64102. For tickets and more information, visit LemonadeParkKC.com.

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.
As culture editor, I help you embrace what makes Kansas City fun and vibrant, whether it’s a championship sports franchise or a little-known wonder. I work with reporters to ensure KCUR stories on art, culture, and race fully reflect our diverse home so readers and listeners can take full advantage of what the metro has to offer. Email me at luke@kcur.org.
As senior podcast producer for KCUR Studios and a host of A People’s History of Kansas City, I interview everyday people and dig through old newspaper articles to unearth stories of the visionaries and renegades who created this region. I focus on bringing the past to life, so we can all better understand the city we live in today. Email me at mackenzie@kcur.org.