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Up To Date

Election Season Begins | Kansas City COVID-19 Surge

By Steve Kraske,
Danie Alexander, Luke X. Martin
Published September 8, 2020 at 1:07 PM CDT
State Auditor Nicole Galloway, left, meets with supporters Tuesday afternoon at the opening of the Clay County Democratic headquarters. The Democratic candidate for Missouri governor stumped in Gladstone before moving on to St. Joseph where she was scheduled to rally with striking sheet metal, air, rail and transportation workers.
Carlos Moreno
/
KCUR 89.3
State Auditor Nicole Galloway, left, meets with supporters at the opening of the Clay County Democratic headquarters. The Democratic candidate for Missouri governor stumped in Gladstone before moving on to St. Joseph where she was scheduled to rally with striking sheet metal, air, rail and transportation workers.

With Election Day eight weeks away attention to political campaigns from Washington to Kansas and Missouri is dialing up, and hospitals' top doctors warn that Kansas City is verging on uncontrolled coronavirus spread.

Segment 1, beginning at 3:40: The Labor Day weekend has been the traditional launching point for political races.

Ready or not, folks, here it comes again. Our political panel runs down all the big races — from the battle for the White House to the major contests in Missouri and Kansas.

Segment 2, beginning at 40:00: What uncontrolled COVID-19 spread could mean for Kansas City.

COVID-19 test positivity rates in Kansas and Missouri are above 10%, and medical professionals worry that people are getting fatigued with coronavirus control measures. That's part of why top health professionals in the area warned last week Kansas City is poised to become the next major U.S. hot spot.

Tags
Up To Date Talk ShowKansas City Missouri (KCMO)politicsKansas Elections 2020Missouri Elections 2020ElectionsMissouri GovernorU.S. SenatePresidential campaignHealthpublic healthUniversity HealthCoronavirus
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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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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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.
See stories by Luke X. Martin