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Up To Date

Seg. 1: Sen. Roy Blunt | Seg. 2: Mayor Quinton Lucas | Seg. 3: Coronavirus Unemployed Q&A

File photo by Lisa Rodriguez
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KCUR 89.3
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas declared a state of emergency in his jurisdiction on March 12. A day later, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and President Donald Trump did the same.

Segment 1: What Washington lawmakers are working on in response to the spread of COVID-19.

The federal response to the spread of coronavirus had "a clunky start," said Missouri's senior U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt. Since then federal decision-makers have enabled state leaders, he said, and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has enabled county and local leaders to get things done.

Segment 2, beginning at 16:15: Mayor Lucas said drastic measures are needed in the fight against coronavirus.

The added complications of working from home have already wreaked havoc on one Kansas City Council committee meeting. We asked the mayor about that incident, the importance of ongoing budget proceedings, and the city's response to more COVID-19 cases in the metro.

Segment 3, beginning at 31:31: The consequences of a new coronavirus are introducing new financial dilemmas.

Many people in Kansas City and around the country are finding themselves newly unemployed or underemployed, but their bills are in many cases still due. Today, the Community Services League of Jackson County joined us to help answer community questions about preparing for a very new reality.

  • Rachel Barker, vice president of financial coaching at Community Services League of Jackson County
  • Amber Bauer, vice president of housing services at Community Services League of Jackson County
  • Doug Cowen, president & CEO of Community Services League of Jackson County

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 oversee KCUR’s coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. I work with reporters to make sure our stories reflect the fullest view of the place we call home, so listeners and readers feel primed to explore the places, projects and people who make up a vibrant Kansas City. Email me at luke@kcur.org.