Segment 1: North Kansas City responds to the coronavirus pandemic.
An immediate concern for this Northland municipality is warm weather attracting still too many people to public parks. In the medium- and long-term, local businesses will be hit hard — a revenue loss that will undoubtedly make a dent in the small city's budget.
- Bryant Delong, North Kansas City mayor pro tem
Segment 2, beginning at 14:20: Physical public libraries are closed, but offerings online continue.
From online Friday family fun nights to virtual business classes, libary systems in the region are adapting to the new inability to open the doors and let the public in to their physical structures. Some of those practices could stick around after COVID-19 recedes.
- Debbie Siragusa, Kansas City Public Library interim director
- Steve Potter, Mid-Continent Public Library director
- Sean Casserley, Johnson County librarian
Segment 3, beginning at 30:50: The coronavirus pandemic will have profound impacts on the regional small business community.
Like a lot of entities, businesses were caught off guard by the severity and speed of the coronavirus pandemic. Restaurants and bars are at least able to offer carry-out service, but a transition plan is a less obvious for small retailers, who have seen huge reductions in sales.
- Jenny Miller, KCSourceLink network builder
- Dell Gines, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City-Omaha Branch senior community development advisor
KCUR wants to hear stories of what’s helping you get through these tough times.
Have you experienced a random act of kindness? Do you have a personal ritual, book, song or movie that’s helping you through these days? Leave us a voicemail at 816-398-8207, and include your brief story, full name, and where you live. You can also email a brief voice memo to KCUR producer Mackenzie Martin at mackenzie@kcur.org.
