Kansas City Mayor Lucas | Colleges, Coronavirus & Students

By Steve Kraske,

Luke X. Martin, Danie Alexander, Mackenzie Martin

Published September 1, 2020 at 1:23 PM CDT

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is calling for a series of changes to the police department that would, among other things, require officers to intervene when they see another officer using excessive force.

A conversation with Kansas City's mayor about police reform and leadership, and the city budget. Plus, is it fair that universities are blaming their students for the spread of the coronavirus on campus?

Segment 1, beginning at 3:40: Kansas City's mayor isn't asking to defund the police, just to reform them.

Kansas City's mayor isn't calling for the firing of Kansas City police Chief Rick Smith, either. What he is asking for is a series of changes to department policy that would, among other things, require officers to intervene when they come across other officers using excessive force.

Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri

Segment 2, beginning at 30:44: Can colleges and students work together to stop the spread of the coronavirus on campus?

It's tough to be a college administrator right now, but some think it's a mistake for universities to blame students for outbreaks of COVID-19. One Missouri professor who wrote about the issue for The Atlantic says students are inevitably going to socialize, and the playbook colleges use to govern campuses needs to incorporate that.

Dr. Jessica Gold, psychiatrist and assistant professor at the Washington University in St. Louis
Conner Mitchell, reporter for The Lawrence Journal-World

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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 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.

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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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Mackenzie Martin

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.

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