TOPIC 1: ACE IN THE HOLE!
The Kansas City, Missouri, School District is taking over operations of the African-Centered Education program.
The district alleges that the ACE board can not account for 8-million dollars in funding. ACE officials dispute the assertion. The story has received wide-spread attention on radio/tv and in the press.

TOPIC 2: BROWNBACK TO THE FUTURE.
The Shawnee County D.A.s probe into whether gatherings at the Governor’s Mansion violated Kansas’ Open Meetings law continues. While Governor Brownback acknowledges that he discussed his agenda at the events, he denies they were violations. Some legislators, Democrats and Republicans, are urging Brownback to say he made a mistake and get this out of the way.

TOPIC 3: END OF AN ERA?
As Kansas City, Missouri, City Council approves a budget, there will likely be cuts in public safety programs.
Yael writes that the police and fire departments have been shielded from reductions historically, but this year will be different.

TOPIC 4: HERE’S TO YOUR HEALTH.
The U.S. Supreme Court has just finished three days of hearings on the Affordable Care Act, sometimes called “Obamacare.”

TOPIC 1: PEERLESS?
A recent Yael column was structured to measure Kansas City against other Midwestern cities of comparable size.

TOPIC 2: TOO FEW CURFEWS?
There is now discussion about imposing a daytime curfew in Kansas City, Missouri, in an effort to reduce truancy. Strong opposition has been registered by parents who home-school their children.

TOPIC 3: “MOVING” EXPERIENCE.
Because the Ks. Legislature is apparently not going to move Wyandotte County to the First Congsressional District, we will change emphasis in our discussion. I will explain what happened and then pose the first question to Mary. It will be something like this: This change would have benefited Republicans who control the legislature. Why did they abandon it?

TOPIC 4: IS MITT IT?
As this is written (before Tuesday’s primaries), Mitt Romney continues to lead in the quest for the GOP presidential nomination. Rick Santorum, however, has gained momentum and has clearly become what’s been called the “anti-Romney.”

Ruckus is a lively roundtable about the big ticket issues that face our community today. Moderator Mike Shanin leads the ensemble of conservatives and liberals as they duke it out over whose view will stand.

TOPIC 1: THE BILLION DOLLAR MAN!
Mayor James outlines his reaction to the City Manager’s budget plan and calls for a ten-year general obligation bond issue of a billion dollars to deal with infra-structure problems.

TOPIC 2: PLAYGROUND OR CULTURAL HUB?
The opening of an art gallery in the West Bottoms area causes some to think this suggests the area will evolve into a “cultural hub.” Meantime, a Star columnist sees the West Bottoms’ future as a sort of “playground” for adults.

TOPIC 3: LINE-ITEM VETO—AGAIN!
Senator McCaskill is introducing legislation (along with both Democrats & Republicans) to give the president line-item veto authority. The legislation is identical a bill already passed by the house.

TOPIC 4: PALIN POWER.
During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, Governor Palin called Mitt Romney a “great candidate,’ but expressed concern that he was not instinctively a conservative. In the video clip we’ll play, she says she’s not convinced he’s reached that point.

Ruckus is a lively roundtable about the big ticket issues that face our community today. Moderator Mike Shanin leads the ensemble of conservatives and liberals as they duke it out over whose view will stand.

TOPIC 1: PRIMARILY POINTLESS?
We’ll discuss Tuesday’s primary in Missouri and elsewhere and review the GOP race for president in general.

TOPIC 2: BRATTIN’S BACK!!
Missouri legislator Rick Brattin (of teaching Creationism alongside Evolution fame) is calling for legislation that would subject fellow lawmakers to random drug testing. Says Brattin: “I think we should live by the same standard we are asking others to live by. Our salaries are paid by taxpayers. So we should assure them we aren’t using the money on drugs.”

TOPIC 3: MORE THAN FOOD FOR DINNER?
An investigation is underway in Topeka regarding dinners at the Governor’s Mansion. There are allegations that state business is being transacted during the meals in violation of Open Meetings laws.

TOPIC 4:
If federal funding is going to be accessible, it’s believed that Kansas City voters must pass two proposals before September. The goal is to create a “Downtown Development District.”

Ruckus is a lively roundtable about the big ticket issues that face our community today. Moderator Mike Shanin leads the ensemble of conservatives and liberals as they duke it out over whose view will stand.

TOPIC 1: SUNSHINE SUPERMAN
The Florida Primary is today and will be the topic of our first discussion. We’ll talk about results, state of the GOP race, and how things look from the White House perspective.

TOPIC 2: WILL STAMP ISSUE STICK?
Kansas Governor Brownback is embroiled in a dispute over food stamps. It’s reported his administration is withholding them from children who are U.S. citizens and eligible, but whose parents are not. At issue are federal guidelines regarding family income.

TOPIC 3: GRADE THE TEACHERS?
Another proposal being discussed in Kansas would put teacher evaluations on the Internet for public review. The idea is receiving mixed reactions and probably won‘t be approved by the legislature. It may, however, be fun to discuss.

TOPIC 4: THELMA AND LOUISE?
A Kansas City Star story suggests that gun sales to women are on the increase, even though crime rates nationwide are declining. The acquisition of a conceal and carry permit makes it legal in Missouri and Kansas to carry a gun in a purse. Before concealed carry was legal in this area, the issue generated great controversy.

Ruckus is a lively roundtable about the big ticket issues that face our community today. Moderator Mike Shanin leads the ensemble of conservatives and liberals as they duke it out over whose view will stand.

State of the Union
The president delivered his State of the Union address Tuesday evening. We will discuss style, substance and reaction. GOP response will be offered by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.

Mitt Takes a Hit!
In the GOP presidential race, Newt Gingrich scored a major victory over Mitt Romney in the South Carolina primary last Saturday. We will discuss the state of the GOP race and the four remaining candidates.

Fiery Discussion
In his budget outline, Kansas City, Missouri, City Manager Troy Schulte has proposed significant cuts to the Fire Department. The Chief claims such cuts would violate national safety standards. Yael has been critical of the Fire Department’s budget and staffing for several years.

Speaker Should Stick to Speaking!
Kansas Speaker Mike O’Neal has sent a couple of controversial e-mails about the Obama family that have gone “viral.” Despite his apologies, a group of ministers has collected 30,000 online signatures calling for his resignation.

TOPIC 1: DESIGNED FOR CONTROVERSY.
A Missouri state representative wants “Intelligent Design” taught in public schools alongside Evolution. Rick Brattin says most Americans believe in a higher power and yet students are taught that we arose from “primordial ooze.” Brattin believes students should learn about both theories and then decide for themselves.

TOPIC 2: NO PLACE LIKE HOME!
Governor Brownback’s plan to eliminate the home mortgage deduction is causing considerable discussion and controversy. Democrats say they will oppose it.

TOPIC 3: BOTTOMS UP?
A report from the Urban Land Institute offers recommendations for improving the economic and physical aspects of the West Bottoms area. Among the suggested improvements—better transit, branding and landscaping. A Star editorial says the report could spark a brighter future.

TOPIC 4: CREATIVE DESTRUCTION
Columnist Tom McClanahan says the theory of “Creative Destruction” as a vital part of capitalism should be–and usually is–defended by Republicans, especially in presidential campaigns. The term, associated with the late economist, Joseph Schumpeter, involves clearing away declining companies, allowing capital to migrate and deliver the wealth creation enterprises need to prosper. This time, Governor Romney’s association with Bain Capital, a private equity and venture capital firm, is being criticized by some GOP candidates, notably Gingrich and Perry.

TOPIC 1: OUT ON A LIMB.
Political columnist Steve Kraske is predicting that Mitt Romney will be the GOP presidential nominee AND the next president. Kraske also predicts Claire McCaskill will win re-election and that Lt. Governor Peter Kinder will be pressured to withdraw his candidacy for re-election.
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TOPIC 2: KRASKE IN KANSAS.
Steve also offers a prediction or two about the Sunflower state. He says Governor Brownback’s legislative agenda includes some “whoppers.” Specifically, they are school finance, lower income taxes, redistricting and Medicaid reform. Kraske thinks Brownback will fail in the school finance and income tax categories, but will prevail on re-districting and Medicaid.
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TOPIC 3: WORST SCHOOL DISTRICT ANYWHERE?
Interim Kansas City School Superintendent Steve Green is not happy with Mayor Sly James’ depiction of the district as the worst in the country. James says he was quoting Education Secretary Arne Duncan whose reference was to the dropout rate. James also notes that when he met with the Secretary, Duncan endorsed the plan for mayoral control of Kansas City Schools.
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TOPIC 4: CORE VALUES.
Leaders of the Kansas City Urban Summit (including Gwen) say they plan a petition drive to put a one-eighth-cent sales tax on the ballot. The revenues would be used to “address blight, economic development and neighborhood stabilization.” The Kansas City Star quotes Gwen as saying “It is time to make a sustainable economic investment in Kansas City’s urban core.”

TOPIC 1: RAUCUS CAUCUS
The results of the Iowa Republican caucus are in (or will be tonight) and we’ll review. Who are the big winners? Losers? What’s the impact on the rest of the campaign?

TOPIC 2: NOTHING’S EASY!
A Jackson County judge has refused to temporarily halt student transfers from the Kansas City School District to suburban facilities. Area superintendents argue they will need time, money and more information before facilitating the numerous transfer requests spawned by the Kansas City district’s loss of state accreditation.

TOPIC 3: STATE OF THE STATES.
Both Missouri and Kansas state legislatures are going back into session. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, recently profiled in the Washington Post, is getting set to deliver his State of the State address next week.

TOPIC 4: COME AND STAY AWHILE!
The Kansas City Convention and Tourist Association has hired a new sales executive in an effort to boost convention business. In 2011, hotel room night were down 30 percent from the previous year and off 50 percent from projections.

TOPIC 1: WINNING! WINNING! WINNING!
With the help of some Charlie Sheen video, we’ll talk about the importance of sports franchises justifying taxpayers’ investments by WINNING!!!. This is in the context of the Star editorial about the sports complex on Saturday and the Chiefs’ victory on Sunday.

TOPIC 2: BACKING BROWNBACK.
The Kansas Governor has unveiled a plan to revise school financing. The plan has met with approval by many in Johnson County.

TOPIC 3: STILL A SCHOOL BOARD?
Amid all the talk of a state takeover of the Kansas City School District or the development of a system run by the mayor, it’s a bit surprising to be reminded that there’s a school board election coming in April. In a Star piece about the election, Joe Robertson wrote that this indicates“…there is more life in the maligned institution than many of its critics expected.”

TOPIC 4: DEMOCRATIC DEMOLITION?
Polling continues to show President Obama may have a tough time winning a second term. Because we will have Mr. Glorioso’s expertise available to us, we’ll talk about Obama and how he should conduct his campaign.