>> WILL WE EVER STOP COUNTING THE KANSAS ABORTION VOTE?

A NEW LAWSUIT IS FILED.

ANOTHER RECOUNT ON THE WAY.

PLUS WHY THE MISSOURI GOVERNOR WANTS TO GIVE YOU LOTS OF FREE CASH.

ARE YOU READY FOR SPORTS BETTING?

IT'S SUPPOSED TO START NEXT WEEK IN KANSAS, BUT IS IT ABOUT TO BE DERAILED?

ALSO THIS WEEK, HE WAS IN AND NOW HE'S OUT.

WAS THAT THE SHORTEST CAMPAIGN IN LOCAL HISTORY?

AND IS HE STILL COASTING TO REELECTION?

THE BIG HEADACHES NOW CONFRONTING THE MAYOR.

THOSE STORIES AND THE REST OF THE WEEK'S NEWS STRAIGHT AHEAD.

>> WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF AARP KANSAS CITY, RSM.

DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS, BOB AND MARLEY SCORELY, THE COURTNEY S. TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST, JOHN H. MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA NA, COTRUSTEES AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> NICK: WELCOME.

I'M NICK HAINES.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

WE'VE BEEN FILLING OUR GAS TANK WITH THE OIL WE NEED TO PRODUCE THIS PROGRAM AND SO MANY OTHER SHOWS YOU ENJOY ON PBS DURING OUR SUMMER MEMBERSHIP DRIVE.

BUT WE'RE GLAD TO BE BACK AND HAVE SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

I'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

FOR THE ANSWER AS WE IT TURN TO KCUR LISA RODRIGUEZ, MICHEAL MAHONEY, FROM OUR OWN DIGITAL NEWSROOM FLATLAND MARY SANCHEZ, SHE'S WITH US TOO, AND FROM YOUR PAGES OF THE KANSAS CITY STAR, DAVE HELLING.

NEARLY THREE WEEKS AFTER KANSAS VOTERS DELIVERED THEIR VERDICT ON ABORTION, COULD WE HAVE EVER MANAGED WE WOULD STILL BE COUNTING THE VOTES?

OVER THE WEEKEND, A PARTIAL HAND COUNT OF BALLOTS IN THE STATE'S 9 LARGEST COUNTIES CONFIRMED THE LOPSIDED RESULT, BUT THE RESULT EFFORTS BACKERS ARE NOT GIVING UP.

MARK WHO LEADS THE KANSAS REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY FILED A LAWSUIT THIS WEEK SEEKING A FULL STATEWIDE RECOUNT.

HE SAYS IN WICHITA SEDGWICK COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIALS FAILED TO MEET THE DEADLINE TO COUNT THE BALLOTS, AND SOME OF THE RECOUNT HAPPENED WITHOUT OUTSIDE OBSERVERS PRESENT TO WATCH.

SO IS THIS ELECTION STILL NOT SETTLED, MICHEAL MAHONEY?

>> NO, THE ELECTION IS SETTLED.

IT WAS AN 18 POINT VICTORY PHOTO OPPONENTS.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS THE PEOPLE REMAIN KEEPING THIS CHALLENGE UP IS GIVING A HUGE BLACK EYE TO THE PROLIFE MOVEMENT IN THE STATE OF KANSAS AND PERHAPS TO A LARGER DEGREE IN THE COUNTRY HERE.

THEY LOOK LIKE COLLECTIVELY A BUNCH OF SORE LOSERS.

IT'S ONLY A FEW PEOPLE THAT DOING THIS, BUT THEY'RE REEFFECTED BACK OUT ON THE RIGHT TO LIFE MOVEMENT IN THE STATE OF KANSAS, AND IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK.

>> I WAS LOOKING THROUGH ALL OF THE ELECTION RESULTS THAT CAME THROUGH FROM THE RECOUNT.

THERE WERE 194 DIFFERENT CASES IN ALL OF THOSE 9 COUNTIES WHERE A YES VOTE BECAME A NO VOTE, A NO VOTE BECAME A YES VOTE.

SO ISN'T THAT 194 STORIES.

FOLKS WHO ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ELECTION INTEGRITY CAN NOW TELL AND SAY THINGS AREN'T WORKING QUITE RIGHT.

>> NOT NECESSARILY, AND ALMOST ALL OF THESE AND KRIS KOBACH COULD TELL YOU ALL OF THIS, WHEN YOU DRILL DOWN FURTHER, THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH THERE.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE DEAD PEOPLE VOTING OR ALL OF THE HORRID THINGS THAT ARE VOTE FRAUD.

YOU HAVE MISTAKES THAT OCCUR EVERY NOW AND THEN WITH THAT MANY CHADS, BALLOTS, WHATEVER.

IN THE MEANTIME, THOUGH, YOU HAVE PEOPLE LITERALLY POURING INTO KANSAS TO GET THEIR ABORTIONS.

THE WAIT TIMES RIGHT NOW ARE FOR THREE WEEKS OUT.

>> DAVID, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SURPRISED THAT THERE COULD EVEN BE A RECALL FOR A VOTE THAT WAS SO LOPSIDED IN THE RESULT.

BUT FOR JUST LESS THAN 120,000, THEY WERE ABLE TO DO A PARTIAL RECOUNT.

IS THERE ANY EFFORT NOW TO TRY AND CHANGE THE LAW TO SAY, YOU CAN'T DO IT FOR SUCH A SMALL PRICE OR THAT IT HAS TO BE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE BEFORE A CITIZEN CAN ASK FOR A RECALL?

>> WE DON'T KNOW.

OFFICIALLY, NICK, MY GUESS IS WHEN YOU LEGISLATURE CONVENES NEXT YEAR, THERE WILL BE DISCUSSION OF TRYING TO NARROW THE EXCUSES FOR A RECOUNT, BECAUSE RICH PEOPLE COULD THEN DEMAND A RECOUNT ON DOZENS OF RACES, COSTING TAXPAYERS LOTS OF MONEY BEYOND WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP.

SO THERE WILL BE SOME DISCUSSION OF THAT.

I THINK WHAT WE'VE LEARNED IN PART, NICK, FROM THIS STORY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IS SOMETHING THAT MOST POLITICAL REPORTERS KNOW, AND THAT IS THAT RECOUNTS VIRTUALLY NEVER CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF A RACE EVEN IF IT'S HALF A POINT OR A POINT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WINNER AND THE LOSER.

BY AND LARGE, MARY TALKED ABOUT THIS, THERE WERE 170 AND WHATEVER VOTES CHANGED.

THERE WERE 109,000 CAST.

SO WHEN YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF ERROR RATE IN ANY HUMAN ENDEAVOR, YOU'RE HAPPY WITH THAT OUT COME.

>> NICK: WE KNOW THAT ABORTION IS ON THE BALLOT IN KANSAS.

IT ISN'T IN MISSOURI.

BE WITH YOU SAW JACKSON COUNTY TRYING TO WE SAW JACKSON COUNTY TRYING TO PUT IT ON IN DECEMBER.

IF THEY HAVE A TRIGGER LAW TO BAN ABORTION IN THE STATE OF LAWMAKERS, HOW CAN JACKSON COUNTY LAWMAKERS SAY WE'RE NOT PART OF THIS; WE CAN MAKE IT LEGAL IN JACKSON COUNTY?

>> FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT CAN'T.

THIS APPEARS TO BE A SYMBOLIC MOVE, IF ANYTHING.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING TO SHOW THIS WOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF PRECEDENCE OVER STATE LAW, WHICH IN FACT BANS NEARLY EVERY TYPE OF ABORTION.

>> THERE MAY BE AN EFFORT IN MISSOURI, NICK, TO GATHER PETITION SIGNATURES TO PUT ABORTION ON THE BALLOT.

THAT'S IN COURT NOW ACTUALLY.

THERE IS SOME MANEUVER.

BUT IT WOULD NOT BE NOVEMBER, TOO LATE FOR THAT.

BUT IT MIGHT COME TO THE MISSOURI BALLOT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

>> NICK: WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE TALK THAT HE WAS NOT A SPOILER CANDIDATE, HE'S IN IT TO WIN?

I'M TALKING ABOUT JOHN WOOD, THE FORMER CHIEF INVESTIGATORS FOR THE JANUARY 6 th COMMITTEE WHO GAVE UP HIS JOB TO RUN AS AN INDEPENDENT MISSOURI CANDIDATE FOR AN OPEN MISSOURI SENATE SEAT, EVEN THOUGH JACK DANFORTH PLEDGED $20 MILLION TO PROMOTE HIS CANDIDACY, WOOD IS NOW OFFICIALLY OUT OF THE RACE.

IS THIS THE SHORTEST CAMPAIGN IN LOCAL HISTORY, MARY?

HE GOT IN 7 WEEKS AGO, AND NOW HE'S GIG UP.

>> I THINK ACTUALLY, DAVE, DID YOU ALREADY DO THE MATH?

>> DAVE: NOT THE MATH, BUT WE CAN GUESS IT'S ONE OF THEM.

>> I DON'T THINK IT WAS EVER ABOUT THE RACE.

IT WAS ABOUT ERIC GREITENS.

HE EVEN SAID THAT IN HIS TWEET, THAT THE THREAT OF ERIC GREITENS TAKING OVER AND BEING ELECTED AGAIN WAS SO GREAT THAT HE WAS GOING TO THROW IN TO DO IT FOR THE PARTY MORE OR LESS.

>> NOW, IT WAS VIEWED THAT HE WOULD TAKE VOTES AWAY FROM THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

DOES THIS MEAN NOW THAT ERIC SCHMIDT IS NOW MOST MIKELY TO WIN THIS U.S. SENATE RACE IN MISSOURI?

>> IT CERTAINLY HELPS HIS CAMPAIGN, BECAUSE IF THERE WERE GOING TO BE ANY VOTES SIPHONED OFF, IT WOULD HAVE GONE AWAY FROM SCHMIDT TO WOOD.

WOOD TOLD REPORTERS ALL OVER THE STATE, NO, I'M IN IT TO WIN IT.

THAT WAS HIS PHRASE.

HE WASN'T IN IT TO WIN IT.

HE WAS IN IT TO BLOCK ERIC GREITENS AND, BOOM, THREE WEEKS LATER, HE IS OUT.

IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR JOHN WOOD.

LET'S A LOOK CYNICAL.

PEOPLE SAY WHAT WAS THE ONE WHO TRIED TO RUN FOR THE SENATE?

>> THE SHORTEST CAMPAIGN IN 2009, JOHNSON COUNTY PUBLISHER STEVE ROSE SAID HE WAS RUNNING IN CONGRESS.

8 DAYS LATER HE SAID HE WAS WITHDRAWING FROM THE RACE.

SO WE'LL PUT THAT AS THE SHORTEST CAMPAIGN IN YOUR LOCAL HISTORY.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST STORIES COMING OUT OF KANSAS IS THAT LEGALIZED SPORTS BETTING IS SCHEDULED TO START NEXT WEEK.

BUT IS THURSDAY'S LAUNCH DATE NOW IN QUESTION AS THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS HE'S DISCOVERED SIGNIFICANT LEGAL ISSUES WITH THE PROPOSED BETTING RULES.

DOES THAT MEAN YOU SHOULD CHILL YOUR HEELS FOR YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANDER OVER AND START PLACING BETS ON THE CHIEFS, BASKETBALL SEASON OR THE NEXT SPORTING KC MATCH?

LEASE A.

>> I LISA.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

THEY'RE SET TO GO NEXT WEEK.

IN FACT, JUST THURSDAY MORNING, WE HAD THEM ON KCUR'S AIR SAYING, YEP, WE'RE READY TO GO, AND I BELIEVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AT LEAST INDICATED TO ONE KANSAS CITY MEDIA OUTLET THIS WEEK THAT HIS OFFICE HAD CLEARED AND RESOLVED THOSE ISSUES THAT THEY FOUND, SO BETS ARE ALL A GO.

>> WHAT IF I LIVE IN MISSOURI, CAN I HOP ON OVER TO THE HOLLYWOOD CASINO NEXT THURSDAY, CAN I START OR IS IT RESERVED FOR KANSAS CASINOS?

>> NO.

IF YOU PUT AN APP ON YOUR PHONE AND YOU'RE A MISSOURI RESIDENT, YOU CAN PUT THAT DOWN.

>> NICK: THERE IS A LOT TO GET THAT APP.

HAVE YOU TO SHOW YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, UPLOAD YOUR IDENTIFICATION.

WILL THAT HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON SO PEOPLE WHO ARE SO CONCERNED AND ALARMED ABOUT GIVING UP THEIR INFORMATION?

>> YES, BECAUSE THERE ARE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AT STAKE IN TRACKING PEOPLE, NOT JUST FOR BETTING, OF COURSE, BUT THAT'S HOW THE BETTER NET MAKES TAKE LOT OF ITS MONEY.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY DANGER THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN SEPTEMBER 1.

IN PART BECAUSE THE LAST THING ERIC SCHMIDT WOULD BE SEEN TO DO IS STOP GAMBLERS IN THE STATE OF KANSAS.

BETS ARE ON.

IF YOU'RE FROM MISSOURI AND GO TO KANSAS, DO NOT BRING MARIJUANA WITH YOU, WHICH IS ILLEGAL IN KANSAS.

>> NICK: WE'RE ALL FEELING THE COST OF LIVING SQUEEZE RIGHT NOW.

HOW DOES FREE CASH SOUND?

MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSONS ANNOUNCES HE'S CALLING BACK MISSOURI LAWMAKERS FOR A SPECIAL SESSION THAT COULD PUT A BIG PILE OF DOLLARS BACK IN YOUR POCKET.

>> NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE LARGEST INCOME TAX CUT IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

>> NICK: I'M STRUGGLING TO FIND OUT WHAT THESE REDUCTIONS IN INCOME TAX RATES ACTUALLY MEAN IN REAL DOLLARS.

AFTER ALL, YOU PAY MOST OF YOUR INCOME TAX TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT TO THE STATE.

SO ARE WE LOOKING AT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN SAVINGS HERE OR A COUPLE OF HUNDRED OR A COUPLE OF BUCKS?

>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT THOUSANDS IF YOU MAKE OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, YEAH, YOU'RE GOING TO DO GREAT.

IN FACT, THE DEMOCRATS AND THE CENTER FOR MISSOURI BUDGET PROJECT PUT OUT A PROJECTION BASED ON A STRATA OF INCOME.

THOSE AT THE LOWER END WILL GET A MODEST $10 A MONTH IF THE INCOME TAX CUT GOES THROUGH.

VOTERS SHOULD KNOW THERE ARE SOME CHANGES AT THE BOTTOM AND A REDUCTION OF THE TOP RATE IF IT PASSES.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHETHER IT'S GOING TO PASS OR NOT IN A MINUTE.

>> NICK: THE GOVERNOR SAID EVERYONE WILL BENEFIT REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH YOU MAKE.

IS THAT TRUE, MIKE?

>> YEAH, IT IS.

BUT WHAT DAVE JUST DESCRIBED IS ALSO ACCURATE HERE.

THE MORE TAX LIABILITY YOU'VE GOT, THE BIGGER CUT YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

IF YOU'RE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO ELIMINATE THE BOTTOM RATE ON THIS.

THE THING TO REMEMBER HERE IS GOVERNOR MIKE PARSONS' RECORD ON SPECIAL SESSIONS IS NOT EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD, AND THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THEIR OWN TAX REBATE PLAN THAT HE VETOED JUST BEFORE HE CALLED THE SPECIAL SESSION.

THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG GREEN BALL ROLING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE NO MIKE PARSONS.

THERE ARE LEGISLATORS WHO LIKED A CHEAPER, LESS EXPENSIVE PACKAGE WITH THIS REBATE THAT WILL PROBABLY FIGHT FOR IT AGAIN.

>> NICK: AT THIS TIME WHEN PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING, PEOPLE WANT TO GIVE THE GOVERNOR A BIG HUG.

SO WHY ARE DEMOCRATS IN THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE SAYING THIS IS NOT THE TIME?

THIS IS A BAD IDEA?

>> SOME OF IT IS JUST A PUSHBACK IN THE POLITICAL SPACE HERE, BUT THEY DO HAVE SOME REAL FEARS, BECAUSE THEY LOOKED ACROSS THE LINE AND IT'S THE BROWNBACK FEAR, WHICH IS PUT OUT BY THE MISSOURI BUDGET OFFICE THAT PERHAPS THIS IS TOO MUCH.

EVENTUALLY SOMEONE HAS TO PAY.

IF YOU CUT OUT 700 MILLION OR $800 MILLION OUT OF THE TAX BASE, WHO IS GOING TO FUND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO AS TAXPAYERS?

I THINK PARSONS REAL GAME ON THIS IS HE REALLY WANTS TO GIVE THE KUDOS TO THE AGRIBUSINESS AND EXTEND THE TAX CREDITS THAT ARE FOR ALL SORTS OF COOPS AND RURAL AND EVEN SOME URBAN FARMING INITIATIVES.

THAT'S ALSO IN THERE TO EXTEND FROM A TWOYEAR TO A SIXYEAR ON THOSE TAX CREDITS.

>> THERE WAS ALSO A TALKING POINT THROUGH THIS SESSION WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT BUDGET SURPLUSES, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT FEDERAL DOLLARS POURING INTO STATES, PUSHED BY REPUBLICANS THAT THESE SHOULD BE USED FOR ONETIME SHORTTERM PROJECTS AND NOT ONGOING THINGS, BECAUSE THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS IS THE KIND OF REVENUE THAT IS GOING TO BE CONSISTENT IN MISSOURI.

SO THAT'S BEEN ANOTHER PUSHBACK FROM DEMOCRATS, IS CAN WE AFFORD THIS IN THE LONGTERM VERSUS A PLAN THAT HAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE SESSION TO DO ONETIME PAYOUTS TO ADDRESS THIS INFLATION, YOU KNOW, TENSION THAT WE'RE ALL DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.

>> IF YOU LIVE IN KANSAS, DAVE, COULD WE ASK WHAT HAPPENED TO KELLY'S CASH?

I REMEMBER BACK IN DECEMBER, JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS, SHE WAS ADVOCATING, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A 250DOLLAR REBATE TO EVERY KANSAN, BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THIS MONEY IN SURPLUS REVENUE.

WE NEVER GOT ANY OF THAT.

>> ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT REPUBLICANS IN KANSAS WEREN'T IN FAVOR OF CUTTING TAXES, BECAUSE LAURA KELLY IS ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR, WHEREAS THE REPUBLICANS IN MISSOURI SEEMED FOND OF THE IDEA OF GIVING A TAX REDUCTION TO PEOPLE.

WHAT DEMOCRATS IN MISSOURI WILL TELL YOU, NICK, IS THAT THE PROJECTION OF A $4.9 BILLION SURPLUS, WHICH IS A RECORD IN MISSOURI, IS ACTUALLY A BIT OF MIRAGE, THAT IT WILL GO AWAY, BECAUSE THAT MONEY WILL BE SPENT.

AND AT THAT POINT, IF YOU CUT $700 MILLION PERMANENTLY OUT OF THE TAX BASE, YOU MIGHT BE IN A CASH CRUNCH IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY THEY WANT TO AVOID.

>> NICK: AS GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON WANTS TO GIVE MONEY AWAY, KANSAS CITY MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS IS PUTTING HIS HAND OUT FOR MORE TAXPAYER CASH.

THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL VOTING TO PLACE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT A 175 MILLIONDOLLAR BOND ISSUE TO FIX UP KANSAS CITY.

ACTUALLY IT'S TWO SEPARATE QUESTIONS.

A 50 MILLIONDOLLAR ASK FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE REMAINDER GOING TO REPAIR EVERYTHING FROM PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS AND FOUNTAINS, TO THE CONVENTION SPACES AT BARTLE HALL.

SO WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THAT PANDEMIC CASH PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOWERED ON THE CITY?

AND DIDN'T VOTERS IN KANSAS CITY ALREADY APPROVE $800 MILLION FOR THESE KINDS OF PROJECTS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN SLY JAMES WAS MAYOR?

>> MY MESSAGE FOR VOTERS IS BE PROUD OF YOURSELVES, BE PROUD OF THE CITY.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE TRUST YOU PLACED IN US, AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DISHONOR THAT TRUST.

>> NOW THAT WAS $800 MILLION WE WERE TOLD BY MAYOR JAMES FOR A 20YEAR PERIOD.

SO WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF THAT CASH?

WHY CAN'T THE CITY BE USING THAT, LISA?

>> I THINK THE CITY HAS FOUND IT'S VERY EASY TO SPEND $800 MILLION ON INFRASTRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY IN A CITY LIKE THIS THAT HAS SO MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT HAS SO MANY LANE MILES.

AND I THINK THERE ARE ALWAYS NEEDS FOR THAT.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME TENSION ON THE CITY COUNCIL ABOUT WHAT WAS THE ACTUAL INTENT OF THAT MONEY AND WHETHER IT SHOULD BE GOING TO PROJECTS TO BUILD NEW STUFF OR JUST REBUILD THE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE, AND SO I THINK WE'VE SEEN THAT IT'S BEEN EASIER TO SPEND THAT MONEY ON THE FRONT END AND THAT JUST BECAUSE IT'S A 20YEAR PROPERTY TAX INCREASE DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S GOING TO LAST 20 YEARS.

AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE $800 MILLION VERSUS THE PLAN THAT THE MAYOR IS PUTTING FORTH FOR THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

ONE INCREASES PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT KANSAS CITIANS WILL FEEL THE EFFECT OF OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

THE OTHER ONE IS A BOND ISSUE, SO THE CITY WANTS TO BORROW THE MONEY TO ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> NICK: WE ALWAYS THINK BECAUSE IT'S A BOND IT DOESN'T COST ANYTHING, THAT IT'S FREE MONEY S THAT THE CASE?

>> NO, IT DOESN'T.

LISA HAS DONE A GREAT JOB EXPLAINING BOTH SIDES OF THIS, AND IT TOOK HER 60 SECONDS TO DO THAT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN TO THE VOTERS, REALLY DIFFICULTY.

>> NICK: IT SEEMS LIKE AN UNUSUAL ASK FROM THE MAYOR WHEN HE'S RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

WHY NOW?

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE CRITICISMS, NICK, THAT HE RAMMED THIS THROUGH FOR THE NOVEMBER BALLOT WITH VIRTUALLY NO PUBLIC DISCUSSION OR DEBATE ABOUT THE PROJECT LIST.

HE OFFERED IT ONE WEEK.

IT WAS PASSED THE NEXT.

IT WILL GO TO VOTERS IN NOVEMBER.

THERE'S A LOT OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE CONCERNED THAT IT WAS JUST TOO FAST.

THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND, AND I'M NOT SURE THIS IS WELL KNOWN, IS UNDER THE MAYOR'S PLAN, IF BOTH ISSUES PASS, 50 MILLION FOR HOUSING AND 125 MILLION BASICALLY FOR PARKS AND BARTLE HALL, ALL OF THAT MONEY WILL NOT BECOME IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY THEY'LL HAVE TRENCHES OF MONEY, AND THE FIRST YEAR WILL BE $35 MILLION FOR ALL THE HOUSING NEEDS, ALL THE BARTLE HALL NEEDS, ALL THE PARK NEEDS, AND THEY'LL HAVE TO FIND EACH OTHER TO GET ACCESS FINE EACH OTHER TO GET ACCESS TO THAT.

60 MILLION BACKS AVAILABLE IN YEAR FIVE.

THAT'S ONETHIRD OF THE ENTIRE ISSUE.

SO THERE IS SOME MIRAGE FIGURING GOING ON FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THIS MONEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THESE PROJECTS, LET ALONE THE 800 MILLION THAT PASSED IN 2017.

>> LUCAS STILL HASN'T DRAWN ANY IMAGINE ELECTION OPPONENTS EXCEPT FOR MAVERICK TRANSIT ACTIVIST CLAY CHASTAIN, BUT HE'S CERTAINLY BEEN IN THE CENTER OF A LOT OF CONTROVERSIES WHILE WE WERE IN OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE, AND IT'S NOT JUST OVER ISSUES LIKE POLICE FUNDING.

HE'S ALSO ACCUSING OF WALKING BACK COMMITMENTS ON A NUMBER OF HOT BUTTON POLICIES, INCLUDING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THESE ARE THE SCENES FROM CITY HALL AFTER THE MAYOR PUSHED THROUGH THE COUNCIL A MEASURE DROPPING A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY SET ASIDE 10% OF HOUSING UNITS FOR LOW INCOME RESIDENTS.

WASN'T THIS THE MAYOR THAT WAS MAKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING THE BIG PRIORITY.

WHY THE TURN AROUND, MARY?

>> HE FELT LIKE THE BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS HAD PULLED OUT, WHICH WAS TRUE.

THAT PROPERTY IS NO LONGER IN KANSAS CITY, AND THEY WEREN'T GETTING A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY SHOULD BE STILL GETTING.

THE QUESTION IS, THOUGH, DID THEY DO THIS TOO SOON.

IN MORE TIME, MIGHT THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY APPROVED, YOU KNOW, MATRICULATE, AND THEN WOULD THESE OTHER DEVELOPERS STILL CONTINUE TO COME IN AND AGREE TO THE MEASURES OF SO MANY SET ASIDES FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING, AGREE TO BASICALLY DO THEIR ROLE IN TRYING TO OFFER AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO PEOPLE?

AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

>> NICK: IT'S INTERESTING, THOUGH, THAT THE HOUSING ACTIVISTS ARE CALLING THIS IS A WAR NOW, AND YET I REMEMBER MAYOR LUCAS WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR REELECTION, HE WAS GOING TO BE THE MAYOR FOR POOR PEOPLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND WHEN HE HELPED PASS THE ORDINANCE THAT WENT THROUGH LAST YEAR, HE CHAMPIONED AS A VICTORY, LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO SERVE NOT ONLY PEOPLE WHO MAKE 70% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME, BUT THE VERY LOW INCOME EARNERS, GUARANTEEING THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET PUBLIC MONEY, PUBLIC INCENTIVES TO HELP BUILD THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC IN RETURN, AND SO IT IS AN ABOUT FACE A BIT, AND MAYBE HE SAW A BUNCH OF APPLICATIONS CAME IN BEFORE THAT LOT TOOK EFFECT, AND THEN WE HAVE SEEN THIS SLOWDOWN, AND SO IS HE BACKING AWAY TOO SOON?

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MAKING THAT ARGUMENT.

BUT IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A MISMESSAGING FROM THE MAYOR.

>> NICK: AND WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS IT WASN'T LONG AGO THE MEASURE WAS PUSHING A NEW REQUIREMENT THAT ALL AGENCY LEADERS NOW LIVE IN THE CITY.

NOW THE MAYOR HAS ASKED THE COUNCIL TO DROP THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS SO THEY CAN HIRE THE SON OF JACKSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE FRANK WHITE TO RUN THE BUS SERVICE.

SO WHAT'S BEHIND THIS CHANGE WITH THE MAYOR?

>> AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, A YEAR AGO, HE WAS CUTTING 42 MILLION OR MOVING IT INTO OTHER PROGRAMS, AND SUDDENLY HE'S THE DEPARTMENT'S BEST FRIEND AT LEAST IN SOME WAYS.

HE'S STILL CRITICAL OF SOME DECISIONS THEY MAKE.

BUT OBVIOUSLY I THINK IT'S POLITICS, NICK.

ALTHOUGH INTERESTINGLY, I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY SIGNIFICANT OPPOSITION TO HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN, CERTAINLY NOT IN TERMS OF RAISING MONEY OR OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

IF HE WERE TO FACE A SERIOUS CHALLENGER, YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE FROM THE RIGHT, MORE CONSERVATIVE PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT THE POLICE, WORRIED ABOUT OTHER CHANGES THAT HE'S MADE, AND SO IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS TO ME, ANYWAY, THAT HE'S MOVING TO THE CENTER TO CUT THAT OFF, FEELING PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT HE WON'T FACE A CHALLENGE FROM THE LEFT FROM PEOPLE WHO WOULD SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO BE MORE FAIR TO THE HOMELESS, WE NEED TO CUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MORE.

THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SURFACING.

>> THAT PRIMARY ELECTION WOULD BE IN APRIL OF NEXT YEAR.

IS IT TOO LATE FOR ANOTHER CANDIDATE, A FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE TO COME FORWARD?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO LATE AT ALL.

THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONSIDERING IT AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WANTING OTHERS TO CONSIDER IT ARE PROBABLY IN THE DECISIONMAKING FRAME RIGHT NOW.

THEY CAN DO IT.

KANSAS CITY MAYOR'S RACE CAN GET EXPENSIVE.

BUT IT'S NOT OUT OF REACH, WHERE YOU COULD GET IT'S NOT LATE.

>> I THINK WHERE WE MIGHT SEE SOME PUSHBACK TO THE MAYOR IS NOT NECESSARILY A DIRECT COMPETITOR FOR THE MAYOR SHIP, BUT IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS, I THINK THAT'S WHERE YOU MAY SEE MORE PROGRESSIVE, FURTHER LEFT CANDIDATES VYING FOR THESE SEATS THAT CAN COLLECTIVELY PUSH BACK AGAINST SOME OF THESE POLICY ITEMS FROM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

THOSE MAY BE ONES TO WATCH.

>> JUST QUICKLY, NICK, THE MAYORS HAVE PROBLEMS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THEM ON THE SHOW.

WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THEM A FEW MINUTES AGO.

BUT HE'S NOT MARK FUNKHOUSER.

FUNKHOUSER RUNNING FOR REELECTION WAS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE BECAUSE HE WAS CONSIDERED SO OUT OF TOUCH WITH WHAT THE MAYOR NEEDS TO DO.

I THINK MAYOR LUCAS REMAINS RELATIVELY POPULAR WITH MOST KANSAS CITIANS.

THAT MAKES ANY EFFORTS TO UPSET HIM OR TO UNSEAT HIM FOR THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT VERY DIFFICULT AND VERY EXPENSIVE.

>> IT MAY NOT BE FROM THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, BUT IT MIGHT BE FROM THE NORTH VERSUS THE SOUTH, WHICH IS THE SAME THING.

>> NICK: WHEN YOU PUT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS TOGETHER EVERY WEEK, YOU CAN'T GET TO EVERY STORY GRABBING THE HEADLINES.

WHAT WAS THE BIG LOCAL STORY WE MISSED?

>> COME ON LENNY, PUMP IT IN THERE, BABY.

JUST KEEP MATRICULATING THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD, BOYS.

>> NICK: REMEMBERING A KANSAS CITY SPORTS LEGEND.

HE LED THE CHIEFS TO THEIR FIRST SUPER BOWL TITLE AND WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN TV SPORTS ANCHORS.

LEN DAWSON DEAD AT THE AGE OF 87.

AS MORE KIDS HEAD TO BACK TO SCHOOL, A RECORD OF DISTRICTS ADOPTING 4 DAY WEEKS, NOW CUTTING MOSTLY FRIDAYS FROM THEIR SCHEDULES.

IN KCK, TEACHER SHORTAGES FORTING DISTRICT OFFICIALS TO BRING BACK VIRTUAL LEARNING.

WYANDOTTE HIRING TEACHERS FROM AS FAR AWAY AS TEXAS AND UTAH TO CONNECT WITH STUDENTS VIA ZOOM.

>> IT'S NOT IDEAL, BUT IT IS A LICENSED TEACHER AND QUALIFIED IN THE CONTENT AREA.

>> THE SHAWNEE MISSION DISTRICT JUST TRYING TO HOLD ON TO ITS STAFF.

THE SCHOOL BOARD USING PANDEMIC MONEY THIS WEEK TO GREEN LIGHT 700DOLLAR RETENTION CHECKS FOR ALL TEACHERS, CUSTODIANS AND CAFETERIA WORKERS.

>>> HOMICIDE STILL OUTPACING LAST YEAR, AND YEAR TO DATE KANSAS CITY NOW WITH THE 11 th HIGHEST MURDER RATE IN THE COUNTRY.

MISSOURI'S NEW PHOTO ID LAW GOES INTO EFFECT THIS WEEKEND.

TWO LAWSUITS FILED TO BLOCK THE MEASURE.

THE NAACP CLAIMS IT WILL PREVENT THOUSANDS OF MISSOURIANS FROM CASTING BALLOTS.

STARBUCKS PERMANENTLY CLOSES ITS HIGHEST PROFILE STORE ON THE PLAZA.

SOME WORKERS SAID THEY WERE TOLD THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT RISING CRIME, AND OTHERS CLAIM IT WAS TO PUNISH WORKERS FOR TRYING TO UNIONIZE.

WHEN THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCES HE'S WIPING OUT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN COLLEGE DEBT.

ALL RIGHTY, DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE STORIES, LISA, OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

>> I THINK IT'S HARD TO PICK SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE PASSING OF LEN DAWSON.

SUCH A KANSAS CITY LEGEND, SOMEONE I GREW UP NOT PLAYING FOOTBALL, BUT I GREW UP WATCHING HIM ON MY TV BROADCASTS.

HE WAS A STAPLE AS A LIFELONG CHIEFS FAN AND A LEGACY THAT WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBER.

>> MIKE.

>> MIKE DAWSON, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH.

I WAS NOT A CLOSE FRIEND, BUT HE ENJOYED SOME LAUGHS IN THE NEWSROOM.

HE WAS ON THE SPEAR OF ATHLETES GOING INTO TELEVISION WAY BACK WHEN HE WAS STILL PLAYING FOR THE CHIEFS, ON CHANNEL 9 DOING SPORTS AT NIGHT.

NEVER ON CAMERA, OFF CAMERA, PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, DID HE EVER SEE LEN DAWSON TREAT ANYBODY ANY WAY BUT WITH RESPECT.

>> I WANTED TO SAY LEN DAWSON AND WHAT YOU SAID, BUT STARBUCKS, IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR THE EMPLOYEES SPEAK.

THERE WAS AN ARTICLE TAKEN FROM AUDIO OF CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE MANAGERS AND WORKERS.

THEY WERE JUST DISTRAUGHT WITH SOMETHING YOU JUST DON'T NORMALLY HEAR.

THERE IS THE ASSUMPTION THAT YOUNGER WORKERS AREN'T LOYAL TO WORKPLACES ANYMORE.

WELL, THEY LITERALLY THEY DRANK THE KOOLAID.

THEY DRANK THE COFFEE.

THEY WERE HURT.

>> ECHO MY CONDOLENCES TO THE DAWSON FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

WHAT A STORY AND WHAT A CAREER AND LIFE THAT MAN HAD.

JUST QUICKLY, EVERY 20 YEARS THE MISSOURI CONSTITUTION REQUIRES VOTERS TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO CALL A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN THE STATE TO IN ESSENCE THROW OUT THE EXISTING CONSTITUTION AND DRAFT A NEW ONE.

WELL, THE VOTE ON THAT, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, IS THIS NOVEMBER.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL PASS.

>> NICK: I NEVER UNDERSTOOD QUITE WHY I SHOULD CARE ABOUT IT.

WHY SHOULD WE CARE?

>> YOU COULD THROW OUT MEDICAID EXPANSION.

YOU COULD THROW OUT MARIJUANA IN MISSOURI, RIVER BOAT GAMBLING.

ALL OF THOSE ARE IN THE CONSTITUTION.

A CONVENTION COULD THROW THOSE OUT.

>> DOZENS OF PAGES LONG.

>> YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.

>> NICK: AND ON THAT, WE WILL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED THANKS TO CHANNEL 9'S MICHEAL MAHONEY AND THE STAR'S DAVE HELLING.

FROM OUR OWN DIGITAL NEWSROOM, FLATLAND, MARY SANCHEZ, AND FROM KCUR NEWS NEWSNESS LISA RODRIGUEZ.

I'M NICK HAINES, AND FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS, BE WELL, KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.