Episode 27 - Amber Versola

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.

Sunflower Brew TV Episode 20 - Breaking the Chain

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.
  

Episode 26d - Jeremy Schliesman and Charlie Vincent

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.

Episode 26c - Jeremy Schliesman and Charlie Vincent

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.

Episode 26b - Jeremy Schliesman and Charlie Vincent

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.

Episode 26a - Jeremy Schliesman and Charlie Vincent

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.

Sunflower Brew TV Episode 19 - Race to the Bottom

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.