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Up To Date

Activist Seeks Tougher Crime Penalties From Kansas House

  The Kansas House is looking at a bill that would make it a crime for attackers to try to strangle their victims, but just how strong the punishments will be is causing friction between those who work with the victims of domestic violence and lawmakers. On this edition of Up To Date, Steve Kraske talks to a forensic nurse examiner and a state legislator about how non-fatal strangulation will be handled in courts. 

Guests:

  • Jennifer Bieberdorf is a Forensic Nurse Examiner at Shawnee Mission Medical Center.
  • John Rubin (R-Shawnee) is a Kansas State Representative and chairs the House Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice.
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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.
Kansas City needs journalists who show up not just on people’s worst days, but on their best ones — and the boring ones in between. As KCUR’s news director, I build relationships across the metro, so our newsroom can bring you critical information when times are tough, and seek out moments of joy to celebrate. Email me at lisa@kcur.org.