| As Missouri’s legislature prepares to take on the issue of Medicaid expansion, we explore the potential benefits and drawbacks, and learn how it could impact people across the state. | Panelists:
Karen Edison, dermatologist and director of the University of Missouri Center for Health Policy
Rep. Keith Frederick, R-Rolla, chair of the Missouri House of Representatives Health Care Policy Committee and an orthopedic surgeon
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| Immediately following Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's annual State of the State address, we brought together panelists inside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City to provide a first round of analysis. Together we go through the governor's main points and discuss the specific proposals, which include a significant expansion of Medicaid in Missouri, increased funding for education at all levels, consolidation within the Department of Natural Resources, and the elimination of some of the state's 61 different tax credit programs. | Panelists:
Phill Brooks, director of Missouri Digital News and statehouse correspondent for KMOX
Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, 45th District
Rep. Caleb Jones, R-California, 50th District |
| As the Columbia City Council considers a halt on downtown demolitions, we explore the factors that are leading to the recent spate of new development, and take a look at the future of Columbia’s downtown area. | Panelists:
Brent Gardner, chairman of the Downtown Columbia Leadership Council and member of the historic preservation commission
Barbara Hoppe, Columbia City Council representative for the sixth ward
Craig van Matre, attorney representing several developers including the Odles, who built the Brookside student housing complexes in downtown Columbia
Brandt Stiles, director of development for Collegiate Housing Partners, a St. Louis-based group seeking to build student housing on the Niedermeyer site in downtown Columbia (joining by phone) |
| As the year comes to a close, we recap some of the stories that made headlines over the past 12 months, and take a look ahead into what 2013 might bring. | Panelists:
Scott Swafford, senior city editor, Columbia Missourian
Lora Wegman, city editor, Columbia Daily Tribune
David Lieb, correspondent, The Associated Press
(joining by phone)
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| We bring together three freshly elected state representatives from mid-Missouri to explain their legislative priorities and to discuss what we might expect from the state legislature in the coming year. |  Panelists:
Rep. Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, state Rep.-elect, 45th District
Rep. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia, state Rep.-elect, 46th District
John Wright, D-Rocheport, state Rep.-elect, 47th District
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| Why does the amount of college debt keep rising? Are students threatening their own futures by taking on unwieldy debt loads? And how big is the danger of indebted graduates not being able to pay back what they borrowed? We explore the causes and effects of large amounts of student debt. |  Panelists:Richard Schwartz, professor of English, University of Missouri and author of “Is a College Education Still Worth the Price? A Dean’s Sobering Perspective” Paul Wagner, deputy commissioner, Missouri Department of Higher EducationSandy Baum, professor of economics emerita at Skidmore College and independent higher education policy analyst for the College Board (joining by phone)
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| A trade deal that Gov. Jay Nixon signed with Chinese officials in October is expected to significantly increase exports between now and 2014. We explore the current state of business relations between Missouri and China, and discuss how they might expand even more in the future. |  Panelists:Tony Clayton, president, Clayton Agri-Marking, a company that exports hogs and horses to China and elsewhere Wen Ouyang, co-director, Confucius Institute at the University of Missouri Handy Williamson, vice provost of International Programs at MU. Rosemary Gallant, principal commercial officer at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing (joining the program by phone)
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| As drought conditions ravage much of the Midwest, we hear how farmers are being affected and discuss how they’re responding. Discussion includes perspective on the weather situation, as well as explanation of how well farmers might be covered by insurance. |  Panelists:
Patrick Guinan, extension assistant professor, Atmospheric Science, University of Missouri
Raymond Massey, extension professor, Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Missouri
Steve Wright, vice president, Missouri Farmers Union
Lonnie Duckworth, president, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association (joining the program by phone)
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_Discussions about balancing the budget for the state of Missouri tend to focus on ways to cut spending. Today we look at the other side of the equation and explore some ideas for increasing revenue to pay for state government programs.  _Panelists:
Amy Blouin, executive director, Missouri Budget Project
Chris Kelly, 24th District Missouri House Representative
Misty Snodgrass, legislative and government relations director for the American Cancer Society.
An effort to convert much of Columbia to an enhanced enterprise zone is underway, but not everyone is pleased with the idea. At issue is a blight decree that has some concerned. Panelists explain what goes into making an enhanced enterprise zone and discuss what it’ll mean for the city.  _Panelists:
Bernie Andrews, executive vice president, Regional Economic Development Inc. (REDI)
Greg Williams, director, University of Missouri Research Parks
Tracy Greever Rice, interim director, Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis
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