By KHI NEWS SERVICE
TOPEKA — The MSNBC television network announced today that it plans to air an interview with Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger next week.
During the interview, Praeger, a Republican, discusses her support for – and Gov. Sam Brownback’s resistance to – expanding the state’s Medicaid program and embracing implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
The segment is expected to air Wednesday as part of the “All In with Chris Hayes” show, which begins at 7 p.m.
“They were here on May 1,” said Bob Hanson, a spokesperson for Praeger’s office. “They taped for a good half-hour, but we have no idea how much of it will actually run.”
The MSNBC film crew was led by Rebekah Dryden, who grew up in Derby, graduated from Kansas State University and was an on-camera reporter for KWCH TV in Wichita before becoming a producer for MSNBC. She’s now senior producer for “All In with Chris Hayes.”
Other Kansas-centered segments expected to air on the program next week will feature:
• Marquette Elementary School Principal Darryl Talbott discussing the school having to close due to budget cuts;
• Greensburg Mayor Bob Dixson discussing the town’s decision to rebuild “green” after being destroyed by a tornado in 2007;
• Pete Ferrell, who runs a wind farm on his cattle ranch near Beaumont, critiquing legislative resistance to renewable energy;
• Julie Burkhart describing the challenges that accompanied the reopening of the Wichita abortion clinic once owned by Dr. George Tiller, who was murdered in 2009;
• Former State Rep. Jim Howell, a Derby Republican, and Wichita City Council Member Janet Miller, discussing their opposing views on gun control.
Diana Rocco, a spokesperson for “All In with Chris Hayes,” declined to predict when the segments would run.
“To be safe – and since things in news often get moved around – it would be best to say the segments will air each night during the week,” Rocco wrote in an email. “I would hate to give you a schedule and have the days move around and your readers miss anything.”