>> NICK: MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS A WEEK AFTER A MONUMENT AL ABORTION DECISION.

WE LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

PLUS THE FINGER POINTING OVER A DEADLY DERAILMENT, BUT CAN YOU PREVENT EVERY DISASTER?

AND AT WHAT COST?

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: HELLO, AND WELCOME.

I'M NICK HAINES.

GLAD YOU COULD JOIN US AS WE HEAD INTO THIS 4th OF JULY WEEKEND TOGETHER.

SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN OUR METRO THIS WEEK.

FOR THE ANSWERS, WE TURN TO CHANNEL 9 CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST MICHEAL MAHONEY, KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE WEEKDAYS AT 9 ON KCUR F.M.

STEVE KRASKE.

FROM THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR, DAVE -- KANSAS CITY STAR, DAVE HELLING, AND FROM OUR OWN NEWSROOM HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS, MARY SANCHEZ.

I WANT TO START WITH WHAT I THOUGHT WAS ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING STATISTICS.

IN 1984, THERE WERE MORE THAN 20,000 ABORTIONS PERFORMED IN MISSOURI AT 26 CLINICS.

IN 2020, THERE WERE 167 AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE CLINIC WOMEN COULD DO TO, THAT FACILITY RAN BY PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN ST. LOUIS HAS NOTIFIED THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AT THE CEASING ABORTIONS N KANSAS, THERE ARE FOUR ABORTION CLINICS AND RATHER THAN SHUTTING DOWN, THERE ARE MULTIPLE NEWS ACCOUNTS OF ABORTION DOCTORS FROM AS FAR AS CALIFORNIA GAINING KANSAS MEDICAL LICENSES SO THEY CAN FLY TO THE STATE TO KEEP UP WITH THE PROCEDURE.

LAST YEAR IN KANSAS, THERE WERE 7500 ABORTIONS, MOST COMING FROM WOMEN COMING FROM OUT OF THE STATE.

THAT'S THE LAY OF THE LAND.

LET'S START IN MISSOURI, WHICH HAS BANNED ALL ABORTIONS EXCEPT IN CASES OF MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.

RATHER SEVERAL VIEWERS ASKING THIS WEEK, MARY, MOST CONTENTIOUS POLITICAL ISSUES TODAY END UP IN COURT.

WE'VE SEEN UTAH AND LOUISIANA, GOT JUDGES THERE PUTTING A HALT INTO THE TRIGGER LAWS GOING INTO EFFECT.

ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT HAPPENING IN MISSOURI?

>> IT HAS NOT YET.

I THINK EVERYTHING IS GOING INTO THE COURTS, AND THAT IS THE LAND WE'RE ENTERING NOW AS PEOPLE TRY AND PUSH BACK AGAINST THE TRIGGER LAWS AS NEW LAWS ARE INTRODUCED, AS SOME THE CLINICS ARE TRYING TO STAY IN BUSINESS.

THERE'S THE WHOLE ISSUE OFFING INTO INTERSTATE, WHICH I'M SURE WE'LL GET TO IN DEPTH HERE RECENTLY.

THINK OF THIS AS A LEGAL ISSUE AT THIS POINT.

>> NICK: NEVER MIND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STATES.

WE ALSO HAVE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS SAYING I'M NOT GOING TO PROSECUTE ANY OF THESE ABORTION LAWS.

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHICH ZIP CODE YOU'RE IN.

>> IT'S AMAZING, JEAN PETERS BAKER, OTHER ATTORNEYS IN KCK COMING OUT AND SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING AFTER THESE CASES, SO PEOPLE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO, THAT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO MATTER A LOT GOING FORWARD.

>> NICK: FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS IN MISSOURI, MICHEAL MAHONEY, WE'VE HAD VOTERS GO THE TO POLLS.

THEY'VE THEY'VE APPROVED MEDICAL MARIJUANA, INCREASING MINIMUM WANE.

COULD PRO-CHOICE GROUPS GET TOGETHER AND TRY TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT TO CHANGE ABORTION LAW?

>> I'M NOT SURE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR, BUT IT MAY HAPPEN FOR THE VERY REASONS THAT YOU STATED, THAT CITIZENS IN THE MISSOURI AND THE PETITION PROCESS IS A LOT EASIER THAN IT IS IN KANSAS.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF BOTH IN A MOMENT.

IT COULD HAPPEN.

THE POLLS SUGGEST THAT MISSOURI VOTERS, MISSOURIANS ARE NOT AS CONSERVATIVE ON THE ABORTION QUESTION AS THE LEGISLATURE.

>> I WANT TO MOVE ON TO KANSAS.

I MENTIONED, FOR INSTANCE, I SHOWED YOU WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE MOST STRIKING STATISTIC.

I WANT TO LOOK AT THIS MOST STRIKING PIECE OF VIDEO THAT I SAW THIS WEEK.

IT'S FROM ONE OF THE MAIN TV STATIONS IN DALLAS THAT'S NOW TELLING ITS VIEWERS, IF YOU WANT AN ABORTION, HEAD TO KANSAS.

>> KANSAS, BY THE WAY, WICHITA, KANSAS WOULD BE THE CLOSEST THAT A WOMAN FROM DFW WOULD BE ABLE TO GO FIND ABORTION CARE, BUT I SAY THAT THAT ONE COMES WITH A BIG ASTERISK BECAUSE VOTERS ARE GOING TO THE POLLS.

THAT COULD BE CHANGING.

THAT IS ONE OF THOSE STATES WE MIGHT SEE A DIFFERENCE BEING MADE.

RIGHT NOW THAT'S THE CLOSEST DRIVE AT LEAST, WHILE 6 HOURS AWAY.

>> NICK: SO WHILE KANSAS HAS SOME OF THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE LAWS IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, THAT SOON COULD CHANGE.

NEXT MONTH THERE IS AN AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT THAT WILL LET STATE LAWMAKERS SET ABORTION POLICY.

WHAT HAPPENS IF IT PASSES?

>> THEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR, WHOEVER THE GOVERNOR MIGHT BE, WOULD THEN BE INVOLVED IN A DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF HOW YOU WOULD REGULATE ABORTION OR ELIMINATE ABORTION RIGHTS OR ELIMINATE IT ALTOGETHER IN THE STATE OF KANSAS, AND WE SHOULD NOT DOUBT THAT THAT ATTEMPT WOULD BE MADE.

>> NICK: BUT YOU'RE LOOKING AT A SITUATION IN KANSAS.

THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T MEET UNTIL JANUARY, SO IT WOULD BE MONTHS BEFORE THAT?

>> IT WOULD TAKE SOME TIME UNLESS THERE WAS A SPECIAL SESSION CALLED, BUT THAT SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY POSSIBLE, BUT NO, JANUARY.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO GET THAT ANYWAY, NICK.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI, REGARDLESS FRANKLY OF WHAT HAPPENS IN KANSAS, ATTEMPT BY CONSERVE STIFF LAWMAKERS TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT IS ALLOWED AND WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED.

STEVE AND MARY JUST TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LEGAL SITUATION IN THE COURTS.

THE REALITY IS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN OBSESSED WITH THIS ISSUE FOR 30 YEARS, AND THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE SUPREME COURT SAID IN MISSOURI OR KANSAS.

WHAT VOTERS WILL DECIDE IN AUGUST IN KANSAS IS WHETHER OR NOT THE CONSTITUTION GIVES THE LEGISLATURE THE ABILITY TO RESTRICT ABORTION OR IF IT DOES NOT.

>> NICK: COULD THERE BE A SPECIAL SESSION?

>> I'M NOT SO SURE THAT YOU CAN RULE IT OUT, BECAUSE THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE CAN CALL ITSELF INTO SESSION.

IN FACT, THEY JUST DID IT LAST YEAR ON VACCINE MANDATES AND ON AN ISSUE LIKE THIS WITH THE MAKEUP OF THE LEGISLATURE IN THE FALL OF AN ELECTION YEAR, I WOULDN'T RULE IT OUT.

>> JUST UNDERSCORE DAVE'S POINT, NICK, FOR YOUR VIEWERS, IT IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE, IT'S LIKELY THAT THIS AMENDMENT, THIS VOTE IN AUGUST IS ON WHETHER ABORTION WILL CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED IN KANSAS OR NOT.

IT'S REALLY THAT STARK OF A CHOICE HERE.

WHAT I FOUND ON MY SHOW, UP-TO-DATE, THIS WEEK, WE HAD A SPOKESPERSON ON TO SHOW SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF THING.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY KIND OF A SMOKE SCREEN HERE.

THE QUESTION ON THE BALLOT IS, BECAUSE DAVE IS RIGHT, IF THIS THING PASSES, LAWMAKERS WILL GO AFTER OUTLAWING ABORTION OUT RIGHT IN KANSAS JUST AS IT IS IN MISSOURI RIGHT NOW.

>> NICK: LET'S OVER TO MISSOURI.

ANOTHER BIG QUESTION IS HOW BUSINESSES WILL REACT.

MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS CLAIMS HE HAS HEARD FROM A COMPANY THAT IS DECLINING TO COME TO MISSOURI BECAUSE OF MISSOURI'S ABORTION LAW.

IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST, HE SAID HE SUSPECTS MORE TO FOLLOW, BUT HE HASN'T GIVEN ANY NAMES.

>> I DON'T DOUBT HE'S TELLING THE TRUTH.

THE PROBLEM IS THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE, AND IT IS GOING STATE BY STATE BY STATE AS THE EFFORTS TO CLOSE DOWN ON ABORTION ACCESS IS JUST GOING TO CONTINUE.

SO WHERE ARE THESE BUSINESSES GOING TO GO?

NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO END UP IN CALIFORNIA.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

ANOTHER HUGE ISSUE WITH THIS IS WITH THE ABORTION PILLS AND THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE OF BEING ABLE TO PUT THOSE PILLS INTO THE MAIL.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE OTHER BOTH LEGAL ISSUE AND FRANKLY JUST A RAMIFICATION FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECT.

>> DAVE: WE SHOULD POINT OUT THERE WILL BE AN EFFORT IN MISSOURI, AGAIN TO PROHIBIT MISSOURIANS FROM TRAVELING TO OTHER STATES WHERE ABORTION IS LEGAL.

THAT WILL CERTAINLY COME UP AGAIN.

THERE IS DISCUSSION, NICK, OF A LAW THAT WOULD ALLOW INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS TO SUE TO PREVENT THAT TYPE OF THING.

THERE'S MODEL LEGISLATION BEING PREPARED THAT WOULD PROHIBIT WEBSITES FROM OFFERING ABORTION COUNSELING IN SOME STATES, SO ALL OF THAT IS GOING TO BE ON THE AGENDA, AND JUST QUICKLY, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT ABORTION.

IT WILL BE ABOUT OTHER DECISIONS ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE AND CONTRACEPTION.

NEXT WINTER AND SPRING, WILL YOU SEE BILL AFTER BIG INTRODUCED BY CONSERVATIVES IN BOTH STATES THAT WILL REALLY TEST THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT THE COURT IS WILLING TO ACCEPT OR NOT ACCEPT, NOT JUST ON ABORTION, BUT A WHOLE RANGE OF PERSONAL FREEDOM ISSUES.

>> NICK, THE LEVEL OF CONFUSION HERE GOING FORWARD IS GOING TO BE ENORMOUS.

THE NUMBER OF LAWSUITS, THE UNCERTAINTY, THE AMBIGUITY AND WHAT STATE LAW CALLS FOR.

PEOPLE JUST BETTER STRAP IN AND HANG ON HERE, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING AND IT'S GOING TO BE CONFUSING FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.

>> NICK: AND YOU HAVE COMPANIES LIKE DICK'S SPORTING GOODS SAYING WE'RE GOING TO GIVE $4,000 TO OUR EMPLOYEES IF THEY NEED TO TERMINATE THEIR PREGNANCIES OUT OF STATE.

CITY HALL IN KANSAS CITY LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

COULDN'T THAT BE VIEWED, MICHEAL MAHONEY, AS A WAY OF BEING AGAINST THE LAW, THAT YOU ARE AIDING AND ABETTING A CRIME?

BECAUSE NOW WE'RE MAKING IT A FELONY.

>> THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT STEVE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND THE INTERPRETATION OF VARIOUS LOCAL PROSECUTORS ON THIS AND HOW STRICTLY THEY WANT TO APPLY THIS STUFF?

WE'LL SEE.

I'VE GOT TO BELIEVE THAT IN THE CHOICE MOVEMENT AND THE DEFENDERS OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THAT DIE CROWD, THEY MUST STAY AWAKE AT NIGHT GOING WHY DIDN'T THE DEMOCRATS CODIFY ROE VS. WADE WHEN THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY?

THEY HAD 50 YEARS TO DO IT, AND THEY DIDN'T.

MEANWHILE, THE RIGHT TO LIFE GROUPS AND CONSERVATIVES CHIPPED AWAY AND CHIPPED AWAY AND CHIPPED AWAY AT THIS OVER DECADES.

THEY HAVE NOW GOT THEIR GOAL.

>> NICK: IT IS PLAYING OUT IN LOTS OF WAYS YOU COULDN'T HAVE PREDICTED.

WE SAW SAINT LUKE'S HEALTH SYSTEM SAYING THEY ARE NOT GOING TO PROVIDE ANY MORE EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTIVES TO PATIENTS, AND THEN THEY REVERSED COURSE.

>> I THINK THAT'S PART OF THIS CONFUSION.

PEOPLE ARE CONFUSING WHAT IS PLAN B AND WHAT IS ABORTION PILLS, AND THAT IS WHAT DROVE THAT AND IT'S ALSO DRIVING SOME OF THE SOMEWHAT CONSPIRACY THEORIES AT THIS POINT ABOUT LACK OF ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION.

THAT IS STILL VERY LEGAL, BUT THEN WHEN YOU DRAW IN ALL THESE ISSUES OF, AGAIN, I KEEP GOING TO WHERE IT'S GOING TO HEAD, PUTTING THINGS IN THE MAIL, PUTTING THOSE ABORTION PILLS IN THE MAIL.

THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE GET CONFUSED.

THERE IS JUST THE REALITY OF, AS MUCH AS I SAY AND WE'RE ALL CORRECT SAYING THIS IS ILLEGAL, THIS IS LEGISLATIVE, REAL PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED, AND THAT IS WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON, AS WELL.

>> QUICKLY, A SAINT LUKE'S SPOKE PERSON TALKING ABOUT THE REAL FEAR INSIDE THAT SYSTEM THAT ITS OWN DOCTORS COULD BE SUED OR PROSECUTED AS A RESULT OF PROVIDING PLAN B OR THE MORNING-AFTER PILL, THAT'S WHAT DROVE THE ORIGINAL DECISION.

>> AND THEN YOU LOOK BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS PAST WEEK ON THE SAINT LUKE'S QUESTION.

THIS THING WHIPS ON, BACK AND FORTH, OVER A 24 HOUR PERIOD WITH SAINT LUKE'S EVENTUALLY SAYING, YEAH, WE WILL PROVIDE THESE MEDICATIONS.

BUT IT WAS GOING BACK AND FORTH ALL DAY ON WEDNESDAY.

>> NICK: ONE OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ELECTIONS COMING UP THIS NOVEMBER IN OUR OWN BACKYARD IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI, DAVE?

>> IT WILL CERTAINLY BE AN ISSUE IN KANSAS BETWEEN DAVE SCHMIDT AND LAURA KELLY.

IT MAY BE AN ISSUE IN THE MISSOURI RACE, ALTHOUGH IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE STATE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT WILL RISE TO THE TOP AS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE.

IT WILL MATTER IN STATE LEGISLATIVE RACES, NICK, BECAUSE THE STATE LEGISLATORS WILL BE THE CENTER OF THIS DEBATE, AND BY THE WAY, YOU KNOW, THE IDEA THAT ABORTION MIGHT BE ILLEGAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS ON THE TABLE, TOO, BECAUSE THERE IS SOME THEORY AMONG PRO-LIFE GROUPS THAT THE SUPREME COURT, IF GIVEN THE CHANCE, WOULD DECLARE ABORTION ITSELF, THE ACT OF IT, UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BECAUSE IT DEPRIVES THE FETUS OF LIFE AND NOT WHAT THE COURT SAID, WHICH IS IT GOES BACK TO THE STATES.

THEY ALL SAY THAT, AND WE'RE SURPRISED IT WENT THIS FAR, SO THERE IS ENORMOUS PLAY ON THE JOINTS ON THIS ISSUE.

>> ABORTION IN MISSOURI POLITICS COULD COME UP IN THIS FASHION.

IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE PLAYED OUT BETWEEN SCHMIDT AND KELLY.

I AGREE WITH DAVE ON THAT.

IF TRUDY BUSH VALENTINE IS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, FROM THE GET-GO, SHE SAID I VALUE A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

SHE HAS A CAREER AS A NURSE, AND SHE CONSTANTLY BRINGS THAT UP.

I SUSPECT THAT SHE WOULD MAKE THAT A MAJOR ISSUE WITH WHOMEVER COMING OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

>> IF THE NEWS ISN'T ALREADY ANXIETY INDUCES ENOUGH, MORE PANIC AFTER AN AMTRAK TRAIN DERAILS AFTER LEAVING KANSAS CITY ON ITS WAY TO CHICAGO.

FOUR CONFIRMED DEAD AND DOZENS OF OTHERS HOSPITALIZED AFTER 8 CARS AND TWO LOCOMOTIVES TOPPLED OFF AFTER STRIKING A TRUCK ON AN UNCONTROLLED CROSSING.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, THAT THERE ARE NO BARRIERS THAT COME DOWN WHEN A TRAIN IS APPROACHING?

>> NICK, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS, AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR CROSSINGS ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF MISSOURI AND IN SO MANY RURAL PARTS OF KANSAS AS WELL AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NICK.

>> AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU KNOW RURAL AMERICA, THERE ARE CROSSINGS LIKE THIS.

THIS ONE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS FROM WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR JUST BECAUSE OF THE GRADE IN THAT ANGLE.

EVERYONE IN THAT COMMUNITY ALSO KNEW ABOUT THIS CROSSING, THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM.

N.T.S.B.

WILL GO THROUGH, RECREATE VERY, VERY WELL.

WHAT I WANT TO HEAR IS A RE-CREATION OF WHY THAT MONEY DID NOT PASS THROUGH ENOUGH TO GET THE CHANGE MADE.

>> I SAW A REPORT.

EVEN A STATE REPORT SAID IT WOULD COST $400,000 TO FIX UP THAT RAILROAD CROSSING.

THE HEAD OF THE N.T.S.B.

SAYS THERE ARE 30,000 PASSIVE CROSSINGS NATIONWIDE, 3500 IN MISSOURI.

THAT WOULD BE $1.4 BILLION JUST IN MISSOURI.

WHO PAYS FOR ALL OF THAT?

>> THERE IS FEDERAL MONEY THAT CAN DO THIS.

MO DOT HAS MONEY TO DO THIS, BUT THEY'RE NOT DEDICATING A LOT OF IT, AND THEY'VE ALSO GOT TO RESOLVE BETWEEN THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN AND SANTA FE RAILROAD AND MO DOT AND THE FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCIES WITH RAILROADS ABOUT WHO WOULD PAY FOR THIS.

ONE THING I WANT TO POINT OUT TO FOLKS HERE FOR A SECOND, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY STEEP INCLINE GOING UP TO THIS SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS, WHICH IS A VERY BUSY RAILROAD SYSTEM FROM CHICAGO TO LA.

I'VE BEEN ON IT MANY TIMES, AND THE THING ABOUT IT IS IS THEY RAISE THESE TRACKS LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL STATES, ESPECIALLY IN THIS PART OF MISSOURI, BECAUSE OF THE FLOODS OF '93, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY RAISE THE TRACKS UP, SO EVEN IF THE BOTTOMLAND AROUND IT GETS FLOODED, THE TRACKS REMAIN DRY AND STAY OPENED.

>> COULD BE A $1.4 BILLION PROBLEM, DAVE.

IF YOU WERE LOOKING AT SAVING LIVES, COULDN'T YOU SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY AND SAVING EVEN MORE LIVES ON SPENDING IT ON SOMETHING ELSE, PUTTING DEVICES ON VEHICLES THAT DETECT ALCOHOL.

>> THERE'S ALWAYS A COST BENEFIT RATIO AS CRASS AS THAT SOUNDS WHEN HOME LIFE IS INVOLVED N THIS CASE, I'VE READ THE STORIES.

IT'S A LITTLE SHOCKING IT COSTS $400,000 TO PUT UP LIGHTS AND A CROSSING GUARD.

BUT THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, FEDERAL RAILROAD LAW DOES REQUIRE THE TRAIN OPERATOR TO BLAST THE HORN BEFORE THEY REACH ONE OF THESE GRADE CROSSINGS, AND SO I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW IF THAT HAPPENED, THERE ARE REGULATIONS THAT REDUCED THE SOUND OF THE HORN, WHETHER THAT WAS INVOLVED.

THAT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE.

>> NICK: I SHOULD POINT OUT ALSO THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION SAYS IN THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD THAT STARTED IN 2015, MORE THAN 500 DRIVERS WENT AROUND A LORD GATE AND WERE STRUCK BY A TRAIN.

SO EVEN IF YOU HAVE ALL OF THOSE MECHANISMS IN PLACE, IT DOESN'T STOP PEOPLE FROM STILL TRYING TO SUBVERT WHAT WAS THERE.

IN OTHER NEWS, MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON SIGNED LEGISLATION THIS WEEK RAISING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY KANSAS CITY IS REQUIRED TO SPEND ON ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE GOVERNOR HELD A BILL SIGNING CEREMONY AT KANSAS CITY POLICE HEADQUARTERS.

IT REQUIRES CITY HALL TO SPEND AT LEAST 25% OF ITS GENERAL FUND REVENUE ON POLICE SERVICES.

MAYOR LUCAS CLAIMS THE CITY COUNCIL ALREADY REGULARLY FUNDS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ABOVE THE 25% THRESHOLD.

IF THAT IS THE CASE, MARY, WHY IS THE MAYOR SAYING HE'S HEADING TO COURT TO FIGHT THIS?

>> BECAUSE THEY'RE SETTING A LARGER PRECEDENT.

THEY'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE LOCAL CONTROL ISSUE.

IT IS VERY TRUE, AND WE CANNOT UNDERLINE THIS ENOUGH.

THEY ALREADY FUND OVER 25%.

OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

WE'VE ALREADY DONE THAT, SO THAT IMMEDIATELY NEEDS TO DRAW INTO QUESTION WHY DID THIS GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE HERE IN KANSAS CITY.

THEY'RE NOT EVEN IN REAL DIALOGUE WITH THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT TO KNOW HOW THE FUNDING IS BEING USED.

THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW YOU FUND, BUT JUST SIMPLY FUNDING MORE DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOUR CRIME IS GOING TO LOWER.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT A LOT OF THINGS WITHIN THIS DEPARTMENT, AND WE WILL BE GOING FORWARD AS THEY START TO CHOOSE A NEW CHIEF.

>> GOVERNOR PARSON'S SIGNATURE DIDN'T END THIS.

OF COURSE, IT HAS TO GO TO VOTERS TO GET THEIR APPROVAL.

IS IT JUST KANSAS CITY VOTERS WHO DO THIS OR PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF MISSOURI DECIDING THE FUNDING IN KANSAS CITY?

>> PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE ARE GOING TO BE VOTING ON THIS, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT MOST FOLKS IN RURAL MISSOURI, THE TEMPTATION IS GOING TO BE TO STAND WITH THE POLICE, STAND WITH THIS HIGHER FUNDING.

FROM MY VANTAGE POINT, IT'S HARD TO SEE THIS FROM BEING DEFEATED.

>> YOU DON'T THINK PEOPLE IN CAPE GIRARDEAU AND SPRINGFIELD AREN'T GOING TO SAY I'M GOING TO SIGN WITH YOU ON THIS.

>> TO THE POINT THEY AGREE WITH THE COMMERCIALS THAT SAY STOP THEM FROM DEFUNDING THE POLICE, IT WILL HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF PASSING.

THE COURT BATTLE ON THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE ON THE BILL RAISING THE MONEY TO 25%.

IT'S ABOUT THE AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE TO DO IT AND THE HANCOCK AMENDMENT.

MR. HELLING.

>> I'VE WRITTEN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, AS YOU MAY KNOW.

THE VOTE IN NOVEMBER IS TO OVERTURN A PART OF THE HANCOCK AMENDMENT WHICH PROHIBITS THE LEGISLATURE FROM IMPOSING ADDED COSTS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, COUNTIES AND CITIES, AND THE STATE OF MISSOURI WILL BE ASKED TO OVERTURN THAT PART OF IT AS IT PERTAINS TO KANSAS CITY POLICE.

IF IT CAN BE FRAMED THAT WAY, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A CHANCE THAT WOULD LOSE.

IN PART BECAUSE THE PEOPLE IN CAPE GIRARDEAU AND SPRINGFIELD ARE LIKELY TO BE OFFENDED BY THE IDEA THAT THE LEGISLATURE CAN TELL ANY CITY HOW MUCH IT NEEDS TO SPEND ON ANYTHING, LET ALONE JUST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

IF IT'S FRAMED THE WAY STEVE SUGGESTS, MAYBE IT WILL PASS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE WON'T BE LEGAL CHALLENGES BOTH AT THE STATE LEVEL, NICK, AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL ON AN EQUAL PROTECTION QUESTION, BECAUSE IT APPLIES ONLY TO KANSAS CITY, AND THAT HAS UPSET THE MAYOR.

>> FOR THE RECORD, ONLY 93 PERCENT OF THE OPINIONS AND ARTICLES YOU'VE WRITTEN IN THE LAST FEW YEARS WERE ABOUT POLICE.

SPORTS BETTING FINALLY BECOMES LEGAL IN KANSAS THIS WEEK.

BUT DON'T EXPECT TO BE BETTING ON YOUR FAVORITE TEAMS QUITE YET.

GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY SAYS THE STATE IS STILL SETTING UP THE RULES FOR THE NEW LAW AND THE FIRST WAGERS WON'T BE PERMITTED UNTIL SEPTEMBER.

UNDER THE MEASURE, 80% OF ALL THE CASH THAT'S BROUGHT IN WILL BE DEPOSITED INTO A FUND FOR ATTRACTING A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM TO KANSAS, CONTRIBUTING TO THE SPECULATION THAT THE STATE IS TRYING TO LURE THE CHIEFS ACROSS THE STATE LINE.

BUT NEWS FLASH, GOVERNOR KELLY HAS NOW POURED COLD WATER ON THE IDEA SAYING THAT ANY PAST REMARKS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY WERE TONGUE IN CHEEK.

KELLY SAYS SHE'S NEVER APPROACHED THE CHIEFS NOR HAS ANYBODY IN HER ADMINISTRATION.

SHOULD THERE BE A HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF THEN, STEVE, FROM KANSAS CITIANS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN WORRIED THAT ARROWHEAD MAY BE ON THE MOVE?

>> I DON'T THINK THIS DRAMA IS OVER YET.

IF LAURA KELLY IS SAYING THIS IS TONGUE IN CHEEK, WHY SET ASIDE THE POSSIBILITY OF LURING A TEAM LIKE THE CHIEFS ACROSS THE STATE LINE.

THE BIG QUESTION ON THE TABLE IS CAN AN ENTITY, LIKE JACKSON COUNTY, AND TAXPAYERS THEREIN, CAN THEY CONTINUE TO AFFORD PAYING FOR BOTH THESE BIG STADIUMS GOING FORWARD?

DAVE HAS POINTED OUT MANY TIMES.

YOU BUILD A NEW STADIUM FOR THE BASEBALL TEAM.

THE CHIEFS ARE GOING TO WANT SOMETHING SIMILAR.

CAN THE COUNTY AFFORD TO DO BOTH?

I THINK THAT'S WHY KANSAS ENTERS OUR CIRCLING AROUND HERE BECAUSE THEY SENSE BLOOD IN THE WATER AND MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM TO THAT STATE.

>> AND SOME OF THOSE COSTS ARE GOING UP.

WE'VE BEEN HEARING IN THE LAST WEEK ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENTS NECESSARY TO HOST THE WORLD CUP AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM IS GOING TO BE AROUND $50 MILLION.

WHO IS ON THE HOOK FOR PAYING THAT?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

THAT HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET, AND JUST TO FINISH STEVE'S THOUGHT ON THE CHIEFS FUND OVER IN KANSAS.

THAT WAS A SHINING OBJECT PUT INTO THE BILL SIMPLY TO DRAW A FEW MORE VOTES.

IT WOULDN'T GENERATE THE NEARLY CLOSE TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO PULL THAT OFF.

THE BIG QUESTION AND VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION IS WHERE THIS MONEY COMES FROM TO MAKE THESE SORTS OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE AT ARROWHEAD FOR THE WORLD CUP.

AND QUITE SIMPLY, WHY THEY GOT TO DO IT?

THE ARROWHEAD FIELD IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH FOR WORLD CUP SOCCER REGULATION FIELD, SO THEY'VE GOT TO OPEN UP THE CORNERS DOWN IN ALL FOUR END ZONES.

>> NICK: AS WE TALK ABOUT THE WORLD CUP, BY THE WAY, I WILL TELL YOU THAT LAST WEEK AS WE MENTIONED, THE PUSH TO BRING THE STREETCAR TO THE STADIUMS.

NOW WE SEE AS WE RECORD THIS PROGRAM, IT LOOKS LIKE THE HEAD OF THE KCATA IS ON THE WAY OUT AND THEY'RE BRINGING IN THE HEAD OF THE KC STREETCAR POTENTIALLY TO RUN THE BUS SERVICE.

IS THAT ALL CONNECTED TO THE WORLD CUP?

>> I THINK THERE IS A MARGINAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE IDEA THAT MASS TRANSIT WILL BE CRITICAL TO PULL OFF THE WORLD CUP VISIT IN 2026 AND THAT SOMEONE IN THE CITY OR THE COUNTY OR THE REGION NEEDS TO GET A HANDLE ON ALL OF THE WAYS THAT WE MOVE PEOPLE BY BUS, BY STREETCAR AND OTHER THINGS.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT'S INVOLVED HERE.

THERE ARE OTHER PERSONALITIES AND POLITICS INVOLVED, BUT PART OF THIS IS INVOLVING THE WORLD CUP.

>> MARY.

>> ABSOLUTELY IT IS.

ROBBY IS THE PERSON IN QUESTION RIGHT NOW.

I WILL FESS UP, I WENT TO COLLEGE WITH HIM.

>> CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

>> LITERALLY A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

BUT I WOULD SAY HE HAS DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB OF SPEAKING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DO USE BUS SERVICE.

AND I THINK MAYBE HE HAS GOTTEN CROSS-WISE WITH SOME PEOPLE PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THAT STRONG VOICE ON IT, BUT I THINK WHATEVER HAPPENS THIS AFTERNOON, AND WE MAY WE BE GONE BY THE TIME THIS AIRS, WE DO OWE SOME GRATITUDE FOR HIS SERVICE SO FAR.

>> WHEN WE 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?

MASKS ARE BACK.

JACKSON COUNTY NOW REQUIRING FACE COVERINGS IN ALL GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AFTER AN UPTICK IN COVID CASES.

MASKS ALSO BACK AT CITY HALL.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST WEEK.

NOW IT'S OFFICIAL.

THE LEAD INVESTIGATIVE COUNSEL FOR THE JANUARY 6th SELECT COMMITTEE NOW LAUNCHING AN INDEPENDENT BID FOR MISSOURI'S U.S. SENATE SEAT.

THE HEAD OF JOHNSON COUNTY'S GOVERNMENT BACK TO WORK AFTER SUFFERING A MILD STROKE.

ED EILERT SAYS HE HAS NO PLANS TO STEP ASIDE.

HE RETIRES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

THOUSANDS OF NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI FACE DISMISSAL THIS WEEK AS A MANDATORY COVID VACCINE DEADLINE EXPIRES.

MISSOURI NATIONAL GUARD HAS SOME OF THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

IT'S BEEN A ROUGH SEASON FOR THE ROYALS AND IT'S ABOUT TO GET EVEN ROUGHER.

SALVADOR PEREZ OUT FOR 8 WEEKS TO RECOVER FROM THUMB SURGERY.

AND WHY A GENDER REVEAL BECAME ONE OF THE BIGGEST SOCIAL MEDIA STORIES.

KANSAS CITY READY TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S BIRTHDAY, BUT GET READY FOR STICKER SHOCK.

THE COST OF FIREWORKS UP 35% FROM LAST YEAR.

AND A LITTLE SHOW CALLED KANSAS CITY WEEK IN REVIEW BEGINS ITS 30th SEASON THIS WEEK.

THERE'S BEEN QUITE A FEW HOSTS OVER THE YEARS, THOUGH MY LITTLE TUSH AS BEEN IN THIS SEAT FOR QUITE A FEW OF THEM.

WHAT MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS YOU ACTUALLY GOT YOUR START IN PUBLIC BROADCASTING, DIDN'T YOU?

>> I DID.

I MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN YOUR SEAT IF I REALLY STUCK WITH IT.

>> THIS REALLY HAS TO BE THE UGLIEST SET.

>> WHAT?

>> THIS HAS TO BE THE UGLIEST SET.

>> IT'S PUBLIC TELEVISION, BABY.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

JUST SOME MOMENTS FROM 30 YEARS AGO.

MICHEAL MAHONEY, DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

>> YEAH, THE JOHN WOOD INDEPENDENT SENATE CAMPAIGN IS JUST THE LATEST WRINKLE IN WHAT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING FASCINATING MISSOURI SENATE RACE, AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.

>> THANK YOU.

MARY.

>> JOHN WOOD, JUST TO SEE CHUCK DANFORTH ON TV PROMOTING CIVILITY IN POLITICS IS SOMETHING I'LL PRAISE.

>> DAVE.

>> WE DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF A PRO-CHOICE REFERENDUM ON ABORTION IN MISSOURI.

THERE COULD BE AN EFFORT TO PUT AN ANTICHOICE OR PRO-LIFE AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT IN SOME SITUATIONS I'VE DISCUSSED WITH PEOPLE, YOU COULD HAVE BOTH ON THE SAME BALLOT IN MISSOURI.

THE ONES WITH THE MOST VOTES WOULD WIN.

>> STEVE KRASKE.

>> NICK, CONGRATULATIONS ON 30 YEARS, AND I PICKED THE U.S. SENATE RACE TOO.

NEW REPORTING THIS WEEK IN THE MISSOURI INDEPENDENT SUGGESTING THAT REPUBLICAN INSIDERS NOW EXPECT THAT ERIC GREITENS, THE DISGRACED FORMER GOVERNOR, COULD VERY WELL WIN THAT PRIMARY IN AUGUST.

THAT WOULD FLIP THIS STATE UPSIDE DOWN.

>> NICK: AND WE ARE 30 YEARS OLD.

AMERICA IS 246 YEARS OLD THIS WEEK.

WE'VE GOT A LOT TO -- OH, WOW.

THIS IS IMPRESSIVE.

OH, I LOVE THE SLOGAN.

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON, WHICH WE ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY ON THIS SHOW, BE WELL, KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.

BUT MARY SANCHEZ, STEVE KRASKE, MICHEAL MAHONEY, DAVE HELLING, ARE YOU WILLING TO HELP ME BLOW OUT THESE CANDLES.

I'M BLOWING THEM OUT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING FOR 30 YEARS.

APPRECIATE YOU.

BE WELL, KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.

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