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Kansas City Hiker Treks From Georgia To Maine, And State Auditor Investigating Delayed Tax Refunds

Luke X. Martin
/
KCUR 89.3
The decision to pay other expenses before issuing tax refund money to Missourians is a way of balancing the budget on taxpayers backs, says State Auditor Nicole Galloway. "This matters to people, this is their money," she says.

When you think of a relaxing retirement, you don't normally consider hiking more than 2,000 miles. But you are not Deb Vacek, who took on the Appalachian Trail after leaving the professional world. Today, we meet the Kansas City adventurer. Then, we find out why Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway is crying foul over the state's delay in issuing tax refunds, and why she says "a dark money group with secret donors" is retaliating against her office's search for documents related to the case.

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.