What did Kansas City's voters say Tuesday about The Paseo? And what are Johnson County voters saying about their communities? Johnson County beat reporter Sarah Ritter joins this post-election Deep Background podcast to discuss the issues. Dave Helling, of the Star's Editorial Board, hosts.

For further reading: 

Kansas City voters reject Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., restore The Paseo as street name - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article237026484.html

Save the Paseo group protests MLK Blvd. rally at KC church, days before Nov. 5 vote - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article236990619.html

Challengers defeat incumbents in many Johnson County races, but not JCCC board - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/election/article237028034.html

Editorial: KC emphatically rejected Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. So, now what? - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article237070109.html

The MLK vote in Kansas City, and changes in Johnson County

Lead political reporter Jason Hancock joins the podcast today to give a preview of what's in store for the Missouri legislature in 2020. We also spend some time looking at the Galloway-Parson Missouri governor race. Missouri statehouse reporter Crystal Thomas, who has been covering the state's proceedings over Planned Parenthood's license and restrictions to abortion, also joins the podcast to get us up-to-date on the latest in both cases.

For further reading:

Missouri’s abortion restrictions will face scrutiny at congressional hearing - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article237320744.html

Trump, abortion will weigh heavily on Galloway-Parson Missouri governor race in 2020 - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article236904008.html

Missouri health director kept spreadsheet of Planned Parenthood patients’ periods - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article236773058.html

Missouri governor won’t investigate health department spreadsheet with patient periods - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article236917803.html

What's ahead for the Missouri legislature — and an update on the abortion debate

Kansas City Star reporter Katie Moore and editorial board member Dave Helling traveled more than 1,000 miles across the state to tell the stories of poor defendants' rights being trampled by Missouri's justice system. On this week's podcast, we look at their project which found Missouri's underfunded public defender system fails to uphold peoples' constitutional rights.

Read the series: 

Defenseless: Missouri justice system violates the Constitution every day - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/article237130749.html

Before their day in court, poor people charged with crimes can spend years in jail - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article237036709.html

With overloaded Missouri public defenders, you only get a ‘sliver of an attorney’ - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article237036919.html

Missouri judge says: Represent yourself in court or plead guilty to save time - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article237037159.html

Public defenders ordered to violate ethics to keep defendants moving through court - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article237037079.html

Missouri prosecutors hold all the cards. Public defenders and vulnerable clients fold - https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article237037239.html

‘Constant injustice’: Missouri must fund and fix its broken public defender system - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/article237131144.html

Missouri's public defender system fails to protect the poor

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly recently sat down for an interview with members of The Kansas City Star's Editorial Board, to talk about taxes, schools, Medicaid, and a host of other issues. This edition of Deep Background contains excerpts from those discussions. Dave Helling hosts.

For further reading: 

Medicaid work rules would come at high cost to Kansas, Kelly official warns lawmakers - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article237536114.html

Kansas tax outlook improving, but state still set to spend more than it receives - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article237109454.html

Editorial: Kansas is third-worst in nation for retirement, report says. Are high taxes to blame? - https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article237555884.html

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly discusses her priorities for 2020

Justice Horn, the student government president at University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Alex Dwyer, a July graduate from the University of Kansas, sit down with The Star education writer Mara Rose Williams and Deep Background host David Helling to discuss the growth of conservatism on college campuses. 

For further reading:

College conservatives say their numbers are growing. Or are they just getting louder? - https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article237165489.html

MU claims recovery from racial protests, boasting another record fundraising year - https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article232492142.html

Conservative student voices getting louder on college campuses

A news podcast by the Kansas City Star's political and news reporters, including in-depth commentary and analysis. It's a deeper look at news and issues in Kansas and Missouri.