Kansas Families for Education (KFE) endorsed Paul Davis for Kansas Governor and Jill Docking for Lieutenant Governor.

The announcement took place on Friday, January 3, 2014 at the Irene B. French Community Center in Merriam, KS.

Thanks to Kathy Cook of KFE for making this video possible.


Update: Kathy has brought to my attention that at the 2:00 mark, she made a mistake.  Here's the quote:

"Paul (Davis) worked to pull a bipartisan coalition together to craft and pass a budget that presented what would have been the seventh round of budget cuts for our schools."

The word "presented" in this quote should be "prevented."  The statement should read:

"Paul (Davis) worked to pull a bipartisan coalition together to craft and pass a budget that prevented what would have been the seventh round of budget cuts for our schools."

This afternoon, we received a cease and desist email in regards to the events depicted in SBTV Episode 23.  As a result, that video has been taken down and will not be re-published.

I apologize for the inconvenience.

On October 26, Mike taught a class in citizen journalism through the Communiversity program at UMKC.  As a good citizen journalist, Mike brought his camera to the class, which resulted in this video.  Thanks to Byron Dunn for operating the camera for this video.

Communiversity is an adult education program where participants can take classes in a variety of topics - most of which are fun in nature - at a very low cost (this class, for example, cost $10 to take).  The teachers - Mike included - work on a volunteer basis.

Press Release from the Davis for Kansas campaign:

PRAIRIE VILLAGE - During a four-city tour today, House Minority Leader Paul Davis announced that he has named Wichita businesswoman Jill Docking to be his running mate in his bid for Kansas Governor in 2014.

"As a businesswoman, Jill is an expert in making wise investments for the future.  As a former Chair of the Kansas Board of Regents, she shares my commitment to excellence in our schools," Davis said.  "Jill is an outstanding addition to this team and together we will run a strong, Kansas-focused campaign."

Docking, 57, works as a financial adviser.  She and her husband, Tom, reside in Wichita.  They have two grown children and two grandchildren.  Docking has been a longtime advocate for public schools and higher education, having served as the chair of the Kansas Board of Regents from 2009-2010.

Davis announced Docking as his running mate on a school bus tour that spanned Johnson County, Topeka, Salina and Wichita.  They traveled by school bus to emphasize that Kansas public education will be the cornerstone of their campaign.

"I've known Paul Davis for 20 years," said Docking.  "I know his commitment to Kansas, his commitment to our schools and his dedication to growing our economy.  He is a moderate, commonsense leader willing to sit down and reason with anyone to solve problems and get Kansas back on the right track.  I'm energized and ready to get to work making him our next Governor."



Update: Our friends at the Prairie Village Post have included our video in their article on this rally.  Click here to read the article.

We are pleased to welcome community organizer and activist Amber Versola to the podcast.  Today's discussion included groups that Amber is active in, including the Johnson County NAACP, Greater KC Women's Political Caucus, National Breast Cancer Coalition, and so on.  Amber also organized the "Breaking the Chain" protest highlighted in SBTV Episode 20.

Today's beer is Blue Moon Belgian White - without the orange garnish.






Click here to download.

On October 6, a bunch of pro-life protesters formed a "prayer chain" that covered a seven-mile-long stretch of 95th Street in Overland Park.

So, a group of pro-choice demonstrators formed the 3rd Pro Choice Food Drive for the Living (and Prayer/Positive Thought Chain) - a counter-protest (thus "breaking the chain") and food drive (the argument: the pro-life movement only cares about a child while still in the womb; afterwards, they don't want to provide assistance to help raise the child).

This is a brief overview of the counter-protest.



Some facts from the counter-protest Facebook page:

• More then 800 children in Kansas are currently in the foster care system, waiting to be adopted.
   
• The Base State Aid Per Pupil in Kansas Schools has been cut by over $500 (again- PER PUPIL) because of our Governor.
   
• The average age of a homeless person in Kansas City is 7 years old.
   
• Nearly 5,000 disabled Kansans are currently on a waiting list to receive necessary services.
   
• Kansas has changed it's requirements for food assistance, and an estimated 20,000 Kansans will soon find themselves ineligible for assistance. At the same time, nearly 35% of children in the Shawnee Mission School district alone qualify for free or reduced lunches.
  

Today's podcast is part 4 of a four-parter with KC Barbeque Society judges Jeremy Schliesman and Charlie Vincent.

In Part 4, we judge barbeque beef brisket as prepared by Ryan Walsh.

Today's beer is Free State's seasonal Octoberfest.


Click here to download.

Today's podcast is part 3 of a four-parter with KC Barbeque Society judges Jeremy Schliesman and Charlie Vincent.

In Part 3, we judge barbeque pulled pork as prepared by Nathan Victor.

Today's beer is Free State's seasonal Octoberfest.



Click here to download.

Today's podcast is part 2 of a four-parter with KC Barbeque Society judges Jeremy Schliesman and Charlie Vincent.

In Part 2, we judge barbeque ribs as prepared by Mathew "Doc" Love.

Today's beer is Free State's seasonal Octoberfest.



Click here to download.

Today's podcast is part 1 of a four-parter with KC Barbeque Society judges Jeremy Schliesman and Charlie Vincent.

In Part 1, we judge barbeque chicken as prepared by Jeremy Smith.

Today's beer is Free State's seasonal Octoberfest.




Click here to download.

Do lower income tax rates REALLY translate to economic prosperity?  Or do they put more undue pressure on the lower and working class and wreck public services?

On September 4 on the UMKC campus, there was a forum on economic and tax issues in both Kansas and Missouri that directly affect the entire Kansas City metropolitan area (which is split roughly equally between both states).  Speakers include (in order of appearance):

• Tom Kruckemeyer, Director of Fiscal Policy and Chief Economist at the Missouri Budget Project
• Kansas State Senator Tom Holland (D-Baldwin City) (who appeared in the very first SBTV installment)
• Annie McKay, Executive Director of the Kansas Center for Economic Growth
• Missouri State Senator Paul LeVota (D-Independence)

The forum was co-sponsored by Jobs Now Coalition and the UMKC Economics Club.



This event also attracted local media attention.  A crew from KCTV Channel 5 (the CBS station in Kansas City and the only Kansas-based TV station in the metropolitan area) was there and put together their own package, which you can find by clicking here.