Lee's Summit Town Hall

It's election week in Lee's Summit, and host Nick Parker and co-host Jason Norbury are back to finish their April 7 municipal election preview — this time focused on the six candidates vying for seats on the Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education.

Nick and Jason break down what the candidate questionnaire responses reveal, why the relative absence of divisive issues in this race might actually be good news for the community, and where voters can still find meaningful differences between candidates. They also discuss Proposition C — the teacher salary ballot measure — and zoom out to the bigger picture: what a potential state income tax repeal in Jefferson City could mean for LSR7, and why the advocacy skills of whoever wins a board seat may matter more than anything else on their platform.

Missed part one on the mayoral and city council races? Find it at Link2LeesSummit.com or on the Lee's Summit Town Hall Podcast feed. Read all candidate Q&As at Link2LeesSummit.com. 

Justin Bliefnik, owner of Stuey McBrew's, joins Nick Parker to talk about the Do Drop Inn — his tribute to the legendary and beloved downtown bar that served Lee's Summit for 58 years before closing. Justin shares how the project evolved from a Stuey's overflow space into something he'd wanted for a long time: a low-key, vintage-feeling neighborhood bar with cold beer and no pretense. He talks about getting former Do Drop Inn owner Sue Pfeiffer's blessing, his approach to the build-out, the intentionally mismatched bathrooms, and the early response from customers. They also dig into the philosophy behind Stuey's longevity, the accidental genius of the soup style nachos, and what 16 years of running a downtown bar teaches you about opening the next one. The Do Drop Inn is open Fridays and Saturdays, 4 p.m. to close, right next door to Stuey McBrew's in downtown Lee's Summit.

 

Jason Norbury joins Nick Parker for a bonus episode previewing the April 7 Lee's Summit municipal election. They break down all five contested city council races (Districts 2, 3, and 4) and the mayor's race, walking through the topics that have surfaced across nearly every candidate's questionnaire — infrastructure, public safety, housing, growth, and economic development. The bigger conversation is about what questions voters should be pushing candidates on beyond the campaign talking points, and what kind of council Lee's Summit actually needs as it heads into another decade of significant growth. Candidate Q&As for every race are available at link2leessummit.com. Election Day is Tuesday, April 7.

Superintendent Dr. David Buck and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Chad Hertzog visit the studio to explain Proposition C ahead of the April 7 municipal election. They walk through what the Prop C rollback waiver means for LSR7's budget, how a $300,000 home would be affected, and why teacher salaries have slipped in the metro rankings. They also detail the district's grow-your-own teacher pipeline and make the case for why the waiver matters for long-term staff retention.

Pro Deo Youth Center Executive Director Elaine Metcalf and board member Kent Ruehter join host Nick Parker to talk about Twisted Trivia, Pro Deo's annual fundraising night, coming Saturday, March 21, to the Green Street Market in downtown Lee's Summit. The trio covers what makes this year's event different — a new venue, a Saturday time slot, and a jukebox auction — while digging into what Pro Deo actually does for local teens: providing safe spaces, caring adults, and experiences many young people have never had. Plus: why the team with the most right answers doesn't always win.

In this special bonus episode, we hosted a live mayoral candidate forum at BridgeSpace with more than 100 Lee's Summit residents in attendance. Councilmembers Beto Lopez and Cynda Rader answered tough questions on the issues that matter most to your neighborhood. In this episode:

• The apartment vs. attainable housing debate: are we building the right things?
• The single-hauler trash question heading to voters in November
• What Lee's Summit should do with its World Cup moment
• Commercial development, job creation, and the city's long-term growth plan
• Leadership styles, city communication, and holding the city manager accountable

Whether you've followed this race closely or you're just tuning in, this forum gives you everything you need to make an informed vote.

In the final days of Black History Month, host Nick Parker had an opportunity to sit down in The Vault with Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum for a wide-ranging conversation about why the story of the Negro Leagues isn't just a baseball story, but the story of America. The conversation covers the economic legacy of segregation, why Jackie Robinson's Signing my have sparked the Civil Rights Movement, the museum's ambitions plans for a new 30,000+ SF home at historic 18th & Vine, and how MLB The Show video game is bringing these legends back to life for a new generation. A must-listen for baseball fans, history buffs and anyone who loves stories of the human spirit and the American dream.

Host Nick Parker sits down with Nigel Woodberry to explore the origins and mission of their podcast Beers with Nigel. In this Black History Month conversation, they discuss how beer became a gateway to telling untold stories of Black-owned breweries, diversity in the beer industry, and building unexpected communities. From discovering Fresh Fest (now Barrel & Flow) to highlighting breweries like Vine Street and FunkyTown, Nigel shares how less than 1% of the brewing industry is Black-owned and why representation matters. They reflect on six years of podcast storytelling, the power of intentional conversation, and how sharing people's histories creates real relationships. Whether you're a beer enthusiast or simply love a good story, this episode celebrates the intersection of craft beer culture, diversity, and authentic human connection.

Vanessa Hickman, Chair of Lee's Summit's Human Relations Commission, returns to discuss Take Time to Be Kind Week (February 9-14). Discover how this annual initiative brings the community together through intentional acts of kindness—from pop-up gratitude stations to kindness bingo. Learn about simple ways to participate, share your stories using #LSKindness, and help build stronger relationships throughout Lee's Summit. Free materials available at City Hall all week. Visit LSKindness.net for details.

What does it take to transform a creative vision into a thriving retail destination that an entire community rallies behind? In this episode, host Nick Parker sits down with Lindsey Fliehs, the creative force behind Team Cocktail, one of downtown Lee's Summit's most beloved shops. Lindsey pulls back the curtain on her unique entrepreneurial journey, revealing the real challenges and unexpected wins of building a business that's become more than just a store — it's a community hub.