Candidates Rise Volume 127 March 12, 2020 Number 11 By Dr. Jim Haas Until a few weeks ago, there were more Democratic presiden- tial candidates than a small child The could count, but the recent primary elections saw two candidates rise to the top and others rise to the occasion. As this is written, Joe Biden is the favorite with Senator Bernie Sanders a strong contender. Unlike Republican candidates in Record 2016 who refused to get behind a single alternative to the uninformed and immoral Trump, Democrats put State of Kansas is Prepared their egos aside in order to back a potential winner. Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders for COVID-19 Cases Cory Booker, Julian Castro, and Governor Laura Kelly, • in constant communi- are ready to respond should Beto O’Rourke are rising stars along with Kansas Depart- cation with local hospitals that be necessary,” Kelly whose influence for the public ment of Health and Envi- and health departments, said. “The best way to protect ronment (KDHE) Secretary coordinating with local, state yourself, your family and your good will continue to grow. Senator Dr. Lee Norman and Kansas and federal public health friends against contracting Elizabeth Warren is already a star Adjutant General Lee Ta- partners; the virus is to use good hy- and a brilliant policy expert. Former fanelli, director of the Kan- • preparing for emergency giene practices like washing mayor Mike Bloomberg has vowed sas Division of Emergency management situations on a your hands, coughing into to use his extensive and well-funded Management (KDEM), today regular basis, with staff who your sleeve, avoid touching campaign organization to support outlined a robust, compre- have decades of experience your eyes, nose and mouth Biden as well as to back Democratic hensive preparedness plan in developing responses and and stay home if you’re not Senate and House candidates. for COVID-19, also known preventative measures for feeling well. It’s simple, but Biden and Sanders are both old as novel coronavirus. any situation; effective.” white men, and it will be no surprise “We are prepared,” Kelly • continuing to work with Kansas has tested a few if either chooses a running mate said. “Currently, in Kansas, federal, state and local part- suspected cases of coronavi- who is a woman or a minority or the overall risk of the virus is ners to maintain awareness rus, with no positive results both. Warren and Klobuchar ran Joe Biden low, but that does not mean of national and international as of today. solid campaigns, Booker is a minority and a respected senator, Castro we can rest easy. We take COVID-19 trends and strat- “Our KDHE lab now has the is an experienced Obama official and a minority, and Harris is female this situation seriously. We egies. capability to test for cases of and a minority. Any would be a worthy asset to the ticket. can and will remain ready to “The health and safety COVID-19, which will expe- There are policy differences between Biden and Sanders, but they’re respond swiftly and effective- of every Kansan is our top dite the test results,” Dr. Nor- more about how to achieve their goals than about the goals themselves. ly, should the virus spread to priority and we are utilizing man said. “That means our Both want to enact universal healthcare with Sanders emphasizing Kansas.” every tool at our disposal state can respond quickly and healthcare as “a human right” and preferring Medicare for All while The Kelly administration is to continue monitoring the Biden prefers expanding Obamacare with a public option for all who working closely with feder- situation and ensure that we CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 want it. Both want to reduce prescription drug costs, which are much al, state and local partners higher here than in other countries. to maintain awareness of Both favor more support for schools and making higher education national and international much more affordable, Biden by making community colleges debt trends related to the virus. Metropolitan Avenue Food Pantry free and Sanders by extending that to all public colleges as well as KDHE currently is working United Methodist Church canceling most current student debt. on Kansas-specific guidance, Both agree that climate change is a global emergency right now based on information from the 3730 Metropolitan Ave, Centers for Disease Control and are committed to phasing out fossil fuels and creating new jobs in and Prevention (CDC), to help Open Tuesday, sustainable energy and infrastructure that will be essential to averting local communities continue 9 am to Noon environmental catastrophe. their preparedness efforts. How to pay for all these improvements? Biden and Sanders agree that far too much of the nation’s wealth has gone into the pockets of Under Governor Kelly’s For information direction, KDHE and KDEM the very rich and not nearly enough to the millions of working people are: call 816-805-0150 who are America. Both would undo the 2018 Republican tax cuts for the rich and also tax high individual and corporate wealth in other ways. There’s more than enough there to pay for all the candidates’ plans and leave the rich still plenty rich. Both support strong unions as a proven way to reduce the gap between the rich and the rest and to ensure workers have a voice in Periodical Postage Paid at Kansas City, their company’s policies. Both want a higher minimum wage, strong voting rights protections, and an end to gender discrimination and to the influence of big money in elections. Overall, Sanders advocates deeper changes while Biden prefers a more incremental approach. None of this will happen, of course, unless a Democratic president has a Democratic House and Senate to write and approve legislation. Even then, a president’s proposals are always modified by Congres- sional negotiations. That’s how democracy works. Senator Klobuchar looked forward to returning “dignity and de- cency” to the White House. Should either Biden or Sanders win in November, that will happen. Jim’s columns are online at http://greatsociety2point0.blogspot.com Page 2 The Record - March 12. 2020 this community dating many the same church years ago their items are environmen- Sue’s Soapbox By: Sue Reich generations back. I noticed in Argentine. She was Megan tally safe. The straws were a the big place on the corner of Kendall. It was sure great to sturdy paper, the go boxes night at the Argentine Rec. the strip on Shawnee Dr. had see her. I asked about her were biodegradable, the place (the old Parish House). Our changed hands. The Pizza little toddler and she said that was immaculate, the hostess, Mayor will be the speaker and Hut went across to Shawnee she is 15 years old already. I Kylee was a Turner student, I have a lot of stuff I want to Plaza in the old Dairy Queen remember when Megan went very polite, and Devin was ask him. One thing is about store. Then a new business to culinary school, she used our waiter. It has tables of all the Harmon boy who was was taking over the pizza to bring us the best flan that sizes, seating 2 or four and murdered on Maple Hill in place. Was almost like play- she had learned. I asked her even 12. The chandelier was the laundromat, another is ing checkers. Then it opened if she worked here and she over the big table, for VIP. I about some of the happen- and I went in to talk to the said she was the co-owner suppose. It had a homey at- ings of our KCKPD, another new establishment’s owner. with her husband. I decided mosphere and a great choice is some things happening When I went into Deep Roots, to take Mr. Ed out to dinner of food on the menu. I told at a certain high rise in Ar- I sat on a stool at the bar and there recently and it was Devin that I would give them gentine, another is the trash looked at the lady next to really good. We ordered our a TEN. He said, yippee. Go try that seems to grow and grow me. “You sure look familiar” meal and I was taking note this local REAL restaurant. and grow all over the streets. I told her. She replied it was of the beautiful way the place Sit down, relax and enjoy. Well, helloooo. How was PEOPLE!!!! Yes you! What in at EPCC. We used to attend was decorated and some of Tell them Sue sent you. everyone on this beautiful the world is wrong with you day? Did you see the beauti- all? Why, why, why do you ful pink and blue sky as the throw that junk all over the sun was setting? Omgosh, so street, in little hideaways off gorgeous. Well I went to see of Metropolitan, Inland, in the burned out old Catholic our wonderful little towns church this morning. What that has gone through all a shame. 130 some years kinds of hell and back? I have old. To top it off, a grant was run people out of a certain just given to preserve it and place that they were going to now, nothing. An accelerant dump. I get my camera out detector canine was brought and they leave. I even chased in and it was really excited. It some teeny boppers in a car has been said that a couple of out of there and when I pulled children ran from the church in, four heads popped up.