From the Alvin and Rosalie Sara Check studio PBS Kansas Presents Kansas Week.

Coming up on Kansas week.

Massive coordinated raids across Sedgwick County.

Target a transnational drug cartel as the number of local overdoses skyrockets.

Also, we'll have results from Tuesday's primary election, including the results of a 1% sales tax vote in one town and the two candidates who will now face off this November for a seat on the Wichita City Council.

But first, more financial headwinds for Wichita's largest employer.

Spirit AeroSystems posts a massive second quarter loss as the timeline for its acquisition by Boeing is now delayed again.

We'll discuss those stories and more on this edition of Kansas Week.

Hello and welcome to Kansas Week.

I'm Jared Cirillo.

Financial headwinds continue for spirit AeroSystems, the company posting a staggering $631 million net loss for the second quarter.

This news comes as the timeline for Spirit's pending acquisition by Boeing has now been pushed back to later this year, adding another layer of uncertainty for Wichita's largest employer.

Spirit's losses were driven by, in part, by higher costs and losses on key Airbus and Boeing programs, including the 787 Dreamliner.

All of this comes as its future parent company, Boeing, is now dealing with a strike at its defense plants in the Saint Louis area, putting more pressure on the entire aerospace supply chain.

Here to discuss this and some of this week's other big news is state Representative Emile Berquist of Park City.

State representative Tom Sawyer of Wichita and former Sedgwick County Commission candidate and community activist Celeste Rosette.

Thank you all for joining us.

I'll start with the two state lawmakers, Tom, first.

What does this mean from a state standpoint, from a state lawmakers standpoint?

Well, obviously, we're very, you know, spared, as was stated, as the largest employer in Kansas has been for a long time.

And they're good paying jobs.

It's really important that we save those jobs and keep them in Wichita, in south central Kansas.

So hopefully they'll work through this.

And everything will go smoothly and we'll be able to keep everything going.

But does this change anything with the acquisition that's coming up from Boeing?

Probably not.

Well, hopefully the Boeing will will mean they will be here a long time and and grow.

But you know Boeing left once before.

So that's always you.

But yeah there's a lot of people that have talked that you know Boeing should have never spun this off to begin with.

Aimo go ahead.

And we're we're glad that they allowed spirit to continue and actually grow the business of, building the 737 especially and knowing that, Airbus and other customers have been appealing, to business from the same company.

That's been a nice buffer to Wichita.

If they're having difficulties, keeping some of those contracts, having some of them and and then becoming part of the parent company, Boeing again, hopefully that'll be a great acquisition.

And that's all.

Allow them to continue to diversify their product line as well.

Yeah.

And I had always wondered, you know, how is this, you know, Boeing buyout going to happen because after the spin off happened, spirit became very integrated with Boeing and Airbus.

And they're highly competitive with each other.

Does that have any impact?

You know, I'm sure Boeing considered all that in spirit as well through all these discussions.

So, I mean, the the key is keep making sure we have they have a strong presence in south central Kansas, right.

Celeste said any comments here?

I think our two legislators right here are doing what they can to keep this industry here, and I applaud their efforts because we are, after all, the aircraft capital of the world.

So I'd hate to see us lose this merger.

And I know you're both doing what you can to keep it.

So.

And will it turn around after after Boeing does complete the acquisition?

Will I think so.

I think long term I think it's good.

You know, people are flying more than ever.

I mean in terms of the that's the mode of transportation that people prefer.

So I think the market will be strong in the future is just to make sure that that we can keep them here and keep the business here at Kansas and keep those jobs.

Yeah.

And keeping the spirit, and beach Textron, Cessna, Lear, product lines, work base here and keeping the training systems working together.

That we've developed over the years, through WSU and through the school system and, and in the industry itself.

We have still have the goldmine of, our expertise.

And I think Boeing recognizes that they cannot replicate that, in any way easily or, or and other attempts they've made, they haven't been able to replicate.

Yeah.

And like, there's so many, you know, it's just not spirit.

There's so many subcontract third party vendors that supply parts and make the parts for spirit.

So it's a huge part of the economy.

Staggering new report from Wichita police, which is showing us a sharp rise in drug overdoses this year.

Jumping more than 35% compared to this time last year.

Officials say the driving force is fentanyl, which is increasingly being found laced in other drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine.

But there is a silver lining of sorts.

Despite the spike in overdoses, the number of deaths has not risen.

Police credit faster response times, more police officers carrying Narcan and stronger partnerships with health organizations for saving lives.

And again, from a state lawmaker standpoint.

Have we ever.

Is anybody ever talked about what is the root problem?

I'm sure we've had these conversations, but how do we attack the root problem of what's causing this drug crisis?

You know, that that's really difficult.

Like I said, over the years, a lot of discussions it is.

But one thing we did do in the legislature really, was we started to try to take on the fentanyl issue head on, realizing how dangerous it is and how a lot of people don't even realize that the drugs are laced with it.

And I'm, you know, trying to promote the use of Narcan and, and people that are with somebody that has a drug overdose shielding them from getting in trouble.

So, so that the person that, that had the overdose can get treatment fast.

And that seems to be working because we pass those laws and so that the overdoses keep going up.

But at least the number of people dying have gone down.

So that's that's but that's generally how we've approached it will go ahead and and no police or, or emergency services want to, have to deal with a death, when they, when they respond to an accident or to an incident, we're able to provide legal protection for them to be able to have Narcan and, and, have it in the schools not to encourage drug use, but to encourage life.

And, that encouragement of life is, is saying, giving them another opportunity.

Some of the story that was in your your story you're referred to has, references to people that have recovered from it, but they couldn't have recovered without having had, a recovery mechanism like Narcan.

And, we're glad that, and the other thing is that we can meet it with, border control and, immigration control that keeps the carriers of these elements and, and other things from coming into the country.

And we're we're glad to see that happen in this administration.

And we're going to talk a little bit about cartel activity and things like that in just a little bit.

But, Celeste, I also think that opioid settlement money that the cities received was also helpful in funding some of the recovery efforts and calm care.

So I thought that was a big plus to the opioid settlement money that came in to the communities to help, because we all know recovery is one step of preventing addiction.

Sure.

And nobody knows how much you know where we a breakdown of how that money is being spent.

But it's in the millions of dollars.

I believe the state of Kansas received some sort of settlement from the big pharma companies.

Correct.

You know, we need more details about that.

Not really, but but we did receive a lot and it is going to get you some money.

And the city of Wichita did too.

Yeah, right.

All right.

And officials are releasing few details right now.

But they do say a major drug bust this week is connected to that recent spike in overdose cases, local and federal agents raided multiple locations across Wichita and Sedgwick County after a year long investigation.

That's already, say the coordinated operation targeted a transnational drug cartel involved in manufacturing narcotics in the community.

The raids, which included a muffler shop and several homes, turned dangerous at one location in south Sedgwick County, where a bomb squad had to be called in after a suspected explosive device was found.

This really hit home because one of the homes that was raided is two blocks from my own home.

So, you know, it's it's hard.

You know, this is truly affecting every facet of our community and not just, you know, there's a stigma that certainly goes to, people who use drugs, but that's not necessarily the case.

People of all walks of life have become addicted to this terrible drug.

So.

Well, it's encouraging to me that, an investigation running over days and weeks, can go on without people really knowing what's going on.

They see, they see law enforcement, they see other people around the community and wonder what's going on.

But when the when it comes down to it, the result is as a successful, investigation and acquiring, access to get to these, criminals, sometimes multinational criminals that have, have, made their way into our communities, the society.

They're not the people that live here, that the people that are trying to do us harm or at least make money off of us.

And we're glad.

Celeste, you've been a candidate for a couple of local races.

What have you thought about how these drugs affect our communities?

Yep.

So when we I learned about this problem is I took, one of these classes, which was the Wichita, Sedgwick County Law Enforcement Citizen Act.

It's a citizens class where I could go and learn what is the problem in the community.

And I would encourage anybody who's unfamiliar with the problems involving law enforcement and even how they do.

The search with K-9 dogs should take this class and learn what's facing the law enforcement, because they have a tough situation.

Sometimes in predicting when a drug call is going to escalate and need bomb squads.

And so I thought that was a very helpful resource offered by our local police.

And I enjoyed taking that class.

So I'd encourage citizens to learn about that and take that class.

Yeah.

Representative Sawyer yeah.

You know, I'm glad.

I'm glad to see this raid and be so successful and we need to do more of that.

You know the problem I see a lot of it in my area is meth.

You know, it's just out of control and people using it.

But, you know, the more we can try to get this drug problem under control, it could help our community because it is pretty scary how many people seem to be becoming addicted or become regular regular users of drugs.

Is there a stereotype or a stigma that kind of hampers the effectiveness of what police do, or the treatment and the effectiveness of, preventing this from happening?

Is there a is there a stigma that hampers how we go about doing this?

Yeah, there probably is.

But, you know, I think one of the keys is the fact that, for example, we just talked about the previous but with with police having Narcan, you know, it's the understanding that we're trying to save lives.

Yeah.

You know, and help people and people understand that.

I think that that will help a lot.

But but, you know, the fear of the police, like I mean, I could see that stigma causing people, people not to do the stuff they should be doing.

Yeah.

IMO you're from Park City.

How has that do you see this in your community?

You know, we see it when it happens.

We see it when it happens.

The bust of from very occasionally in our community.

But, we know that, there's eyes on on the problem all the time.

They, you can see that the transfer of people that are that are not usually in the community, it's not being, prejudiced against any certain person or group people group.

It's watching for, unusual activity in the community.

And we appreciate when the police are given the respect to do their job and when we have the leadership.

Yeah.

All right.

Our next story, a citizen advisory group created by Wichita City Council member Dalton Glasscock, claimed this week that it found tens of millions of dollars in potential savings in the Wichita city budget.

But an analysis by the Wichita Eagle also claims to have found those savings are based on flawed comparisons and unverifiable sources.

The report claims Wichita could save nearly $47 million in public safety spending alone, simply by matching the per capita spending of Springfield, Missouri.

However, the Eagles analysis found the report relied on unsigned surveys and cited broken web links as sources.

The group's leader acknowledged the report does have some shortcomings, but says the goal of the whole project is to start a conversation about the budget, which I think this has certainly done.

So last year you were on the committee that helped, come up with this report.

You have the report with you right now?

Yes.

First off, I talked a little bit about the Eagles article.

Do you think the Eagle was fair in its criticism of the overall report?

I must admit I was disappointed in the Eagles reporting because I felt like they didn't look at the entire report, and I felt like they were a little harsh because, after all, we were not claiming to find all the solutions.

We were a bipartisan group that was trying to present alternatives or options.

And so I thought they were a little harsh and focused on perhaps the peer comparison of cities.

We weren't saying cut 42 million.

We were saying use these as benchmarks to see where we were not equal, and perhaps take a look at that to see why we weren't advocating.

Cut 42 million for public safety.

Another disappointment is I worked really hard on the section that had to do with economic development and they didn't talk about this in particular.

They did quote my numbers.

So I appreciate that.

But I spent over five years after doing Save Century to to file cause I'm an accountant and they didn't address any of these numbers other than to quote them in the paper.

And this is so important that we did a bipartisan effort to try to reach out to City Council and say, here's what we found.

Take what you can use, ask us to help in any way we can.

And the paper was so negative, I was really disappointed in thought they weren't paying attention to what we had done.

Some city council members in in the past have been critical of of your work, especially council.

Former council member Brian Frye has has talked to us a number of times and has been very public, saying many of your comparisons or your numbers have been inaccurate.

What do you say to that?

Unfortunately, I don't like to argue, but with Brian Frye, I found that most recently when he criticized the contract for Crystal Prairie Park, he was inaccurate in thinking that we had signed the contract before we took Jay Russell's donations.

He was wrong, and I've got the core in the contract showing that contract was actually signed after we got those donations from Jay Russell.

So I guess when it comes to people criticizing my work, I'm always open to saying, here's the contract, here's my core, let's have a discussion if you don't agree with me.

But sometimes in his case, he'll just argue without actually sitting down to talk to me.

Chase Billingham, sociology professor, associate professor of sociology at WSU, has also been very critical of the entire report, basically saying it's not worth the paper it's printed on.

You know, obviously I think you disagree, but tell me why.

So I have a lot of respect for Chase Billingham.

He and I are actually good friends, professionally.

And, he's appreciated the work I've done with Save Century two.

I take offense with the fact that he said the paper should be destroyed.

It's not worth the time in that he didn't come back to again my section with the numbers and the document that I have proving my numbers.

And so for him to just do a blanket, it's not important.

You can ignore it disregards the work I've done as an accountant, not a social policy professor, but an accountant and a former FDIC examiner to actually do the legwork, pull the documents together.

So it's disappointing that he was so critical with the blanket assumption that nothing was correct.

And one of the one of the accusations, for lack of a better term, that he has made, is that the survey that was done isn't representative of our actual community.

Now, there's always validity to someone saying a survey has been skewed.

I mean, as with any political text for a candidate, it's always going to be slightly skewed.

So I don't argue with it may have been slightly biased or it's not, statistically, you know, correct in this sort of bent.

But, we're not proclaiming that our survey is perfect or that the results represent everybody in Wichita.

We're just saying this is the sampling we did that asks more questions than is on the budget website for the city.

It goes into a little bit more detail.

We did the best we could as non-paid volunteers to try to get a broader sampling of what people say is important to them.

So give us credit for being volunteers and working hard to at least give them a little bit more information than they've had before.

Let me move over to Representative Bergquist.

How has the state thought about doing something like this?

You know, in weighing in to, this year?

We already had, those fully engaged, at the federal level, and we did the same thing at the state level.

And we we did it in a, bipartisan way, across the, chambers and, the results are that there's exposed inefficiencies that need to be taken care of.

And that's when this group, that worked with Roche and Wichita, they're providing a discussion that isn't, hasn't, wasn't being had.

That discussion being had then brings to light the, monster in the room, which is, a deficit spending and and a budget.

It's not to the blame of any one person, but it's a policy.

So I exactly I believe at the state level, and the federal level and the city level we need and it's not my city, but it's the people that I serve.

And I and I appreciate the efforts of a nonpartisan, across the aisle group of people, including legislators on both sides and and local, local, party leaders.

Representative Sawyer, let me give you a quick.

Well, I'll tell you what.

One of the best things I that the state ever did was 2003, when Kathleen Sebelius it to the governor.

She put all these committees of business leaders from across the state to dive into the state budget.

And make recommendations.

And so the best savings I've ever seen that actually happened, the state budget happened at that time, and we changed our purchasing process.

We got rid of a lot of the state car pools and replaced them with many cars because it was cheaper, you know, things like that that were very constructive, that helped us save money.

So I think it never hurts to have more information.

And I was disappointed when I read the article in the paper because I didn't know anything about the details of this report.

But I do know, like Henry Halvorson, who was on the on the committee, those the state budget better than anybody in those budgets.

And so I was interested in the details and I didn't really report on any of that, and they didn't to me from the article.

But the criticism was I could see on the surveys, but not on the numbers it didn't have.

They didn't talk to the count, they didn't look at the numbers.

So I think the city having more information, they could have in this information ought to be helpful.

When they do the budget.

It gives them an idea of some things to look at and maybe some ways to save.

You know, it's not saying you have to do this word for word.

But but I think the whole idea of, of having outside people look at a budget closely and study ways to save money is a it's a good thing.

Yeah.

Celeste, I'll give you the last word here.

So the good news is thank you.

I appreciate those comments.

Is they have already picked up two of the suggestions we made.

They've canceled the old town, police department lease to save money.

There.

And they've also pulled forward some past due water bills for one of the, sports complex.

And they're also looking at the, community improvement districts that aren't collecting the sales tax.

And they realize they need to get compliance, that we're missing hundreds of thousands of dollars there.

So I'm very encouraged that for city council members at the meeting last night, we're very supportive of our work and willing to get more information and work with us.

And I absolutely enjoyed working with a bipartisan group to do what we did as a group.

It was absolutely wonderful.

Thank you for your work.

I think you're welcome.

Our last story today.

Voters in Sedgwick County have made their voices heard in Tuesday's primary election, with residents in May's overwhelmingly approving a new 1% sales tax.

That measure passed 241 to 124, and the funding will fund road repairs and provide property tax relief.

Meanwhile, in Wichita, the race to represent City Council District one is now set for November.

Joseph Shepherd and LaWanda Dasher emerged as the top two vote getters in the crowded primary.

Those two will now move on to face off in the general election.

And Celeste Racette, I'll start with you again.

Since you've you've been very active in city council politics.

So let me first ask whether the two top vote getters, Dasher and Shepherd, do you think those were the right two candidates to, fill the seat that Brandon Johnson is vacating?

I happen to know both of those candidates, and I actually prefer one of them, but I won't say who, but I think I think they both have been involved in community efforts, and I think, that they will have their heart in the right place and do the work it takes to understand city finances.

Yeah.

So you've had a couple of run ins with Brandon Johnson before in the past.

So do you think either one of them will do?

Not necessarily a better job, but help support district one?

Well, all right, I'll tell you my preference.

I think the more I got it, I think the one and two chaser has the maturity and the leadership skills and has shown that she is really going to look for the efficiencies and the ways to save money in a way that perhaps Brandon Johnson, who's endorsed Joseph Shepherd, won't.

So I'm throwing my energy and support behind LaWanda to chase her.

Okay.

Understood.

From, state lawmaker standpoint, this, you know, may not have much to do.

But, you know, the city of Wichita is the largest city in in the state of Kansas and has to deal with the city council representative.

Yeah.

And, you know, I live, in district four, so we're not even having the election right now.

It's two years from now.

But, I do know both the candidates, in district one, I think either one would do a fine job.

And I know, I know pretty well.

So I don't disagree with what you say about her.

I think she'd be good, but.

But I'm fine with either one.

And it's the voters of that district that I have to decide.

I really am absolutely with that on the district one race.

And then we'll move to talk a little bit about the maze.

I trust the voters and the process.

That's why we're in this country.

And I and I appreciate that.

We have elections, and I appreciate that people can learn that if you don't participate in a primary, you get what you get.

Yeah.

And, and there's very small participation in primaries, and it should never be that way.

I think you should vote in every vote.

Yeah, I do and I do.

And the Mays sales tax, which is supposed to fund road repairs and infrastructure, passed not overwhelmingly by about, oh, what, 3 to 2 margin, I would say, a small town raising a sales tax.

And hopefully we'll give some property tax, relief to some residents again, if the people want to spend more money on themselves at the local government, the lowest form of government, then that's their choice.

And I it's when it comes to passing it on up the line to the federal government when it becomes inefficient.

And even the state government and, and, beyond.

So I, I, I, I don't weigh in on that except for to say that the people of Mesa spoken.

Yeah.

Representative Sawyer yeah.

And I think that they picked two very popular issues to spend the money on.

I think people appreciate road work and they appreciate property tax and want property tax relief.

So I think, you know, the voters made that decision that and and one of the things I know that makes sales tax particularly popular is that it's not paid by just the property owners, people who travel, people that don't live in Mesa but spend money there, help contribute to that.

So I think that's always what things that help sell those.

And that's been some of the argument from, people who have opposed raising the sales taxes.

It hurts the lowest economy people.

That's what they claim anyway.

Helps restore.

Well, I think that's true, actually.

Still with local sales tax.

But, you know, we tried to help at the state level by getting rid of the sales tax on food, the to really help get rid of a lot of the regressive of the sales tax.

Yeah.

Celeste.

Anything to add here?

I love the fact that voters got to vote, because when we started Save century two, we never got an opportunity to vote.

So first voters got to vote, and two, they put a time cap on the sales tax.

And I think having a sunset on a sales tax is always key.

So I thought they structured the sales tax appropriately.

And you know, it's interesting you mentioned, a sunset as well.

Is the city of Wichita enacted a similar tax to what Mayes just did, back in the 1980s.

Yeah.

So to fund road and Kellogg, that tax is still on the books.

Exactly.

Has not gone away.

Exactly.

It's, you know, it's hard to.

That's that's how you grow taxes and that's how you enslaved people with taxes.

So if you don't control it, if you don't put a sunset on it, that means something and have the discussion again, then people get complacent.

They accept their there's their bondage.

Yeah.

That's a wrap for this week.

Thank you so much to Amel Bergquist, Tom Sawyer and Celeste Racette for sharing their insights today I'm Jaron Cirillo.

We'll be off for the next three weeks.

We'll return on September 5th.

See you then.