Opinion articles provide independent perspectives on key community issues, separate from our newsroom reporting.

Dave Helling

What a year in the region: COVID-19, police reform, even a north-south KC civil war

COVID-19, tax relief, police reform.

Those topics and more dominated the headlines in 2021 — from Washington, to the state capitals in Topeka and Jefferson City, to Kansas City Hall at 12th and Oak.

On the final 2021 edition of “4Star Politics,” KCUR radio host and professor Steve Kraske joins Dave Helling and John Holt to review the year, and to take a peek at the year ahead.

The trio talks about the Biden White House, the collapse of Build Back Better, the prospects for more COVID relief — even the war between the Nothland and Kansas City south of the river.

“4Star Politics” is a joint digital production of The Star and WDAF-TV/Fox 4 in Kansas City.

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Dave Helling
Opinion Contributor,
The Kansas City Star
Dave Helling has covered politics in Kansas and Missouri for four decades. He has worked in television news, and is a regular contributor to local broadcast programs. Helling writes editorials and columns for the Star, and is the co-host of the weekly “4Star Politics” show. He was awarded the 2018 ASNE Burl Osborne award for editorial leadership.
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