Kansas City's Northeast Newscast

This week on the Northeast Newscast, managing editor Paul Thompson sits down with Captain Chris Young of KCPD's Violent Crimes Investigative Unit - and the Kansas City No Violence Alliance (KC NoVA) by proxy - for a discussion about all things NoVA. Young explains how the collaboration works, offers a passionate defense of the multi-pronged alliance, and speaks honestly about the wave of violent crime that's recently hit Kansas City.

This week on the Northeast Newscast, managing editor Paul Thompson sits down with John Fierro, Mattie Rhodes Center President/CEO, and Mary Cyr, Director of Northeast Alliance Together (NEAT). The two discuss the Mattie Rhodes Center's role in the creation of NEAT, how the two organizations work together, where the future of NEAT is headed, what Mattie Rhodes Center programs they are most excited about, and the latest news regarding the center's Thursday night clinic.

This week on the Northeast Newscast, Managing Editor Paul Thompson sits down with Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II of Missouri's 5th Congressional District. The former Kansas City, Missouri Mayor and City Councilman - now serving in his sixth term in the U.S. Congress - discusses the potentially historically violent year in Kansas City; last month's harrowing attack on Republicans practicing for the annual Congressional baseball game; where he stands on the Trump administration's travel ban; what he appreciates about his constituency after more than a decade in office; the continuing issues with solving health care in America; and his (lack of a) relationship with Missouri Governor Eric Greitens.

On this week's episode of the Northeast Newscast, managing editor Paul Thompson goes on a ride-along with Independence Avenue Community Improvement District Titan Protection and Consulting officers Daniel Williams and Ryan Bean. The officers discuss their daily routine, prostitution along the Avenue, the hot spots that attract the most disturbances, how they react to accidents on the Avenue, why they prefer their current roles to serving in a single, on-site location and their message to the Northeast community.

This week on the Northeast Newscast, Northeast News managing editor Paul Thompson sits down with Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood Association President Leslie Caplan to talk about the positive momentum of the neighborhood, the association's upcoming marquee events and how interested neighbors can gets involved with them, the Kansas City Museum's plans to add more parking, and the Independence Avenue Pedestrian Safety Improvements Study.

This week, Northeast Newscast host Paul Thompson interviews the publishers of the Northeast News - the husband and wife team of Michael Bushnell and Chris Adams. The couple dives into the past, present, and future of the Northeast News, reflecting on their nearly 19 years of ownership. Michael and Chris discuss the circumstances that led them to purchase the publication, how they developed the paper's editorial style, the origin of Bunny the News Hound, some of the biggest stories they've covered over the years, and how the publication will move forward after facing the real prospect of shuttering the doors in late May.

This week, Northeast News managing editor Paul Thompson meets with Indian Mound Neighborhood Association Vice President Manny Abarca, a strong advocate for the Historic Northeast community. Abarca discusses a variety of topics, including his work as a historic preservationist and how the Northeast area can best protect history while supporting economic development; his disappointment at losing his 2016 race for the Missouri House of Representatives by a mere 19 votes; his thoughts on how the current incarnation of the KCMO City Council is doing at the mid-point of its term; and the rising tide of violence that's permeated throughout Kansas City.

Northeast News Managing Editor Paul Thompson is joined by Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Director Mark McHenry to discuss a variety of pressing issues, including the spate of violence along the Indian Creek Trail, the ongoing City Hall debate over the first-year GO Bond project list, the importance of supporting the city's historic fountains, the timeline for completion of the Cliff Drive Connector Trail, the long-gestating Paseo Gateway Project, and finally, Mark discusses some of his favorite parks in Kansas City, Missouri.

This week, Northeast News Managing Editor goes out into the field for a ride-along with KCMO Illegal Dumping Investigator Alan Ashurst. Ashurst has a fascinating job, serving as one of two illegal dumping investigators currently working in the Neighborhoods and Housing Services Department. The work involves planting camouflaged motion sensor cameras throughout the City in an effort to find and prosecute illegal dumpers. During the ride-along, we found that Ashurst is a unique and lively character who takes his very difficult job seriously.

In this week's episode of the Northeast Newscast, we preview the 2017 Summer Dusk Free Sunset Concert Series, which begins on Friday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m. This annual series is presented by Northeast Arts KC, so we brought in organizers Rebecca Koop and Scott Hobart to break down this year's lineup.

Kansas City's 3rd District at-large City Councilman Quinton Lucas joins the Northeast Newscast this week for a far-reaching discussion about the Kansas City political scene. Topics of conversation include the Council's role (or lack thereof) in the search for a new KCPD Chief of Police, the ongoing issues with gun violence in Kansas City, City Manager Troy Schulte's initial list of projects for the first $40 million in G.O. Bond funding, the latest buzz surrounding the proposed Prospect MAX bus line, Kansas City's role in the renovation or replacement of the Buck O'Neil Bridge, the ongoing expansion efforts of Kansas City University, the recent performance audit of the Independence Avenue CID, and finally, Lucas discusses his future political aspirations.

This week on the Northeast Newscast, managing editor Paul Thompson will discuss the new app-based transit service RideKC Freedom with Kansas City Area Transportation Authority CEO Robbie Makinen. The service is built around the paratransit community in Kansas City, but when the app goes live on May 1, it will also be available to the general public. Makinen discusses the details of Ride KC Freedom, describes his own experiences with prior paratransit services offered by KCATA, discusses what he learned from the Bridj pilot program that concluded in March, and shares his vision for the future of transportation in Kansas City.

With the Buck O'Neil Bridge featured prominently in the news of late, MARC Director of Transportation and Environment Ron Achelpohl joins the Northeast Newscast to discuss the organization's role in the ongoing debate over whether the bridge should be repaired or replaced. After a wide-ranging discussion about the Buck O'Neil Bridge, Achelpohl talks about MoDOT funding and how money can be raised for crucial infrastructure needs in Missouri, whether or not the wild Kansas City to St. Louis Hyperloop is more science fiction or reality, and MARC's future priorities in and around the Northeast area.

In this week's episode of the Northeast Newscast, KCPD Central Patrol Division Major Rick Smith joins Northeast News managing editor Paul Thompson to talk about the Tuesday, April 11 sentencing hearing of notorious Northeast criminal Tyler Sutton, KCPD response times and the amount of shots fired calls in the area, how communities can get Shot Spotter technology, the Central Patrol Division's social worker pilot program, the future of Community Interaction Officers, his thoughts on the KC NoVA program, and finally, the legacy of outgoing KCPD Chief of Police Darryl Forte.

Northeast Newscast host Paul Thompson invites 1st District Councilman Scott Wagner onto the podcast to discuss the $800 million bond package which was passed decisively by KCMO voters on Tuesday, April 4. Wagner discusses his worries heading into the vote, the backup plans considered by the City if the measures had failed, his long-term advocacy for sidewalk repair in Kansas City, and the two other ballot questions approved by voters. Later, Wagner talks about the upcoming KCFD overtime audit and is asked whether he intends to run for Mayor in 2019.

This week, Northeast News managing editor Paul Thompson talks to Kansas City Museum Executive Director Anna Marie Tutera about the Museum's March 29 open house (where the public can learn about the multi-million dollar renovation and restoration of Corinthian Hall), what should most excite the public about the project, the return of the Museum's once-iconic soda fountain, a promotional video that the public will be asked to participate in, and how the Making a Museum capital campaign is progressing. They'll also touch on the $800 million General Obligation Bond package, the repercussions if Question 3 of the ballot issue fails at the ballot box, how Tutera is sleeping at night, and finally, a story about R.A. Long's English gardens.

This week, Northeast News managing editor Paul Thompson talks to District 19 Missouri State Representative Ingrid Burnett about the power of constituent phone calls, charter school expansion, a historic preservation bill she filed, and the minimum wage fight that has permeated throughout Missouri. Then they'll discuss Real ID legislation, senior services protection, dog breed bans, and finally, Burnett's thoughts on the $800 million G.O. bond package that will come before KCMO voters on April 4, 2017.

In this episode, Northeast News managing editor Paul Thompson talks to Indian Mound Neighborhood Association President and Northeast News editorial cartoonist Bryan Stalder about upcoming events in his neighborhood. Then, at the 9:00 minute mark, Stalder removes his neighborhood association hat to offer his personal thoughts on the $800 million General Obligation Bond issue set for the April 4, 2017 ballot. Finally, Thompson hits Stalder with a special request.

Northeast News managing editor Paul Thompson shares the story of Gina English, a social worker currently embedded at KCPD's Central Patrol Division. CPD's Commander, Major Rick Smith, brought English into his division as part of a pilot program aimed to assist the 90% of people whose interactions with police don't end in arrest.