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Up To Date

Seg. 1: Blue Springs Mayor | Seg. 2: KC Fed President | Seg. 3: Kansas City Mayor Lucas

Esther George, president of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank
Luke X. Martin
/
KCUR 89.3
In mid-February, Kansas City's Federal Reserve Bank president, Esther George, told Up To Date the economy would remain in good shape as long as people kept spending and had jobs. Six weeks later, neither of those things are true.

Segment 1: "No one is immune" to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, said Mayor Carson Ross.

The spread of the new coronavirus has already delayed local elections in Blue Springs, Missouri, but the full extent of the damage is yet to be known. It will undoubtedly include hits to public health, residents' wallets, tax revenue and more, says the suburb's mayor.

Segment 2, beginning at 15:00: Decisive action now is required to protect the economy.

In times of crisis, Kansas City's Federal Reserve Bank president said the role of her institution is to aggressively protect the health of the economy, which means taking precautions at levels local through global. Unwinding those measures can be worked out post-pandemic.

Segment 3, beginning at 28:25: Mayor Quinton Lucas takes listener questions.

Kansas City's mayor isn't just learning lessons for fighting the COVID-19 outbreak from New York City, he's also looking to New Orleans, Detroit and others — sometimes for tips on what not to do. Today, he fielded wide-ranging questions from KCUR listeners.

KCUR wants to hear stories of what’s helping you get through these tough times.

We want to hear what’s helping you get through these tough times. Whether it’s a random act of kindness or a personal ritual, let us know. Leave a voicemail at 816-398-8207 ‬with your brief story, name, and where you live. You can also email a voice memo to KCUR producer Mackenzie Martin at mackenzie@kcur.org.

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.