I took a Skybus jet to Columbus on Thursday night. The next morning, however, I felt as though I had never left Kansas City. Reading the paper at breakfast, I came across a story about America's most newsworthy parks commissioner, Frances Semler.
On page A2, The Columbus Dispatch ran an Associated Press story about Minutewoman Semler's appointment and how it may cost Kansas City millions in lost convention business. The story quoted Semler; Janet Murguía, president of the National Council of La Raza; and Mayor Mark Funkhouser, whose idea of being a "champion for diversity" includes standing by his controversial appointment, hell or high water.
I felt embarrassed for both Kansas City and my profession. The Dispatch ran the AP story under the banner "Not 2 Be Missed." Yeah, the grammar that Prince made popular 20 years ago. That'll save the newspaper business. -- David Martin
