>> Nick: A BUILDING COLLAPSE IN FLORIDA PROMPTING CALLS FOR CHANGE IN KANSAS CITY.

SO WHO'S INSPECTING HIGH-RISES WHERE YOU LIVE?

>>> A SHORTAGE OF VENTILATORS NOW RINGING ALARM BELLS IN SPRINGFIELD, BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO US HERE?

GET READY FOR TAKEOFF AS WE DISSECT OUR BIGGEST LOCAL STORIES AND NEWSMAKERS STRAIGHT AHEAD ON WEEK IN REVIEW.

>> Announcer: WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF: DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS BOB AND MARLESE GOURLEY THE COURTNEY S. TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST, JOHN H. MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA N.A., CO-TRUSTEES AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com >> Nick: HELLO, I'M NICK HAINES, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR WEEKLY JOURNEY THROUGH THE WEEK'S MOST IMPACTFUL, CURIOUS, AND BEFUDDLING STORIES MAKING THE NEWS IN OUR METRO.

WITH US ARE FOUR PEOPLE CHARGED WITH DE-FUDDLING THE NEWS.

IS THERE SUCH A THING?

CAT REID IS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER AT 41 ACTION NEWS, MICHEAL MAHONEY IS KMBC'S CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER.

ERIC WESSON LEADS THE CALL NEWSPAPER.

AND YOU FIND DAVE HELLING IN THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR.

THE COLLAPSE OF A CONDO BUILDING IN FLORIDA CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE NATION'S HEADLINES.

AS THE DEATH COUNT INCREASES, THERE ARE STILL LINGERING QUESTIONS OVER WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY.

NOW THE MAYOR OF KANSAS CITY, QUINTON LUCAS, IS CALLING FOR A REVIEW OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS IN KANSAS CITY.

THE MAYOR WANTS TO INSPECT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF ALL CITY-OWNED AND CITY-LEASED BUILDINGS.

>> I THINK ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND IF WE'RE SEEING A FAILURE IN BUILDING CODES IN ONE PART OF THE COUNTRY, I THINK IT'S A SIGN THERE'S MORE WORK WE CAN DO.

>> CAT, RIGHT NOW ARE THERE ANY INSPECTIONS OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS IN KANSAS CITY?

>> THERE ARE NO ROUTINE CHECKS, BUT THERE ARE PERIODIC INSPECTIONS, PARKING GARAGES, CAVES AND BROADCAST TOWERS.

BUT THEY'RE LOOKING INTO POTENTIALLY ADDING THESE THIRD-PARTY STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY INSPECTIONS TO SEE IF WE COULD DO MORE PERIODIC INSPECTIONS.

THAT'S WHAT THE CITY MANAGER IS TASKED WITH STUDYING.

>> I HAVE TO SAY QUITE A LOT OF OUR VIEWERS VERY CONCERN ABOUT THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING RENEE WHO EMAILED ME THIS WEEK: "I LIVE ON THE 10th FLOOR OF A 12-STORY CONDOMINIUM CONSTRUCTED 60 YEARS AGO, SO IT'S BEEN ON THE TOP OF MY MIND LATELY," SHE WRITES.

THE MAYOR'S RESOLUTION IS A START, BUT MANY OF US HOPE IT EXTENDS TO ALL HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, NOT JUST THOSE THE CITY OWNS OR LEASES.

AREN'T MOST HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS IN OUR METRO PRIVATELY OWNED?

AND DOES THE MAYOR HAVE ANY JURISDICTION OVER THOSE, DAVE?

>> WELL, THEORETICALLY, YES.

THERE ARE REGULATIONS THAT ANY GOVERNMENT CAN ENACT THAT REQUIRE INSPECTIONS OR REINSPECTIONS FOR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND I THINK THAT'S WAT MAYOR HAS IN MIND, BUT YOU RAISE A GOOD POINT, NICK, AND THAT IS THAT INDIVIDUAL CONDOMINIUM OWNERS IF THEY WANT THESE INSPECTIONS CAN ACTUALLY GO TO THEIR CONDOMINIUM BOARD AND SAY, HEY, LET'S DO THIS.

I MEAN, LET'S SEE WHERE WE'RE AT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

THE QUESTION IS ALWAYS, NOT ONLY CAN YOU INSPECT THESE STRUCTURES, NICK, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU FIND A PROBLEM?

I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS TRUE IN FLORIDA IS THIS BUILDING THAT COLLAPSED WAS FACING MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR REPAIRS BECAUSE OF STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS THAT WERE GOING TO HAVE -- THAT MONEY WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE PAID BY THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THOSE APARTMENTS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A MULTIFACETED CONCERN.

KANSAS CITYANS SHOULD KNOW THAT THE CITY DOES NOT ROUTINELY INSPECT HOMES OR CONDOS.

IT WOULD TAKE A MORE CONCERTED AND EXPENSIVE EFFORT TO DO SO.

>> AND THAT'S TRUE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE METRO.

I DID NOTICE THAT OVERLAND PARK DOES NOT INSPECT ANY OF ITS HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS, BUT ERIC WESSON, AT A TIME WE'RE SAYING WE WANT CITY GOVERNMENT TO WORK BETTER FOR PEOPLE, WHAT'S THE APPETITE TO HAVING MORE REGULATIONS AT THIS POINT IN TIME IN CITY HALL?

>> WELL, THERE'S PROBABLY NOT AN APPETITE FOR MORE RULES AND REGULATIONS WHEN IT COMES TO INSPECTING BUILDINGS.

PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CITY GIVING THEM TICKETS FOR GUTTERS FALLING OFF THE SIDE OF THEIR HOUSE OR HANGING, AND THEY WIND UP IN HOUSING COURT PAYING FINES.

BUT DAVE BRINGS UP AN INTERESTING POINT WHEN IT COMES TO INSPECTING THEM AND THEN DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE DOWN HERE ON 18th STREET, YOU CAN REMEMBER A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, WE HAD A BUILDING THAT COLLAPSED DOWN THE STREET.

THEY KNEW THAT THAT BUILDING WASN'T SOUND PROBABLY A YEAR AND A HALF, MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO, AND THEY NEVER FUNDED FIXING THAT BUILDING.

THEN IT WINDS UP COLLAPSING.

TO KNOWING THAT THE BUILDING IS IN BAD SHAPE AND DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT ARE ALWAYS TWO DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS.

>> BUT I WOULD SAY, I WONDER IF THE SURFSIDE BUILDING COLLAPSE IS GOING TO BE A WAKE-UP CALL FOR A LOT OF BUILDING OWNERS BECAUSE YOU LOOK, THEY'RE ALREADY FACING LITIGATION DOWN THERE.

MASSIVE LAWSUITS, YEARS OF LITIGATION TO FOLLOW, SO I DO QUESTION IF MAYBE SOME OWNERS WILL TAKE MORE PROACTIVE ACTION TO PREVENT BEING IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT.

>> NOW, ALL OF THIS, OF COURSE, IS TAKING PLACE AS KANSAS CITY IS ABOUT TO MARK THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HYATT REGENCY HOTEL DISASTER.

MORE THAN A HUNDRED DIED WHEN THE HOTEL'S SKYWALKS COLLAPSED.

IT REMAINS THE DEADLIEST NON-DELIBERATE STRUCTURAL FAILURE IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND WAS THE DEADLIEST STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE IN THE U.S. UNTIL THE DOWNING OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER TOWERS 20 YEARS LATER.

APPARENTLY VIDEO FROM THE COLLAPSE OF THE KANSAS CITY HOTEL HAS BEEN PLAYED OVER AND OVER AGAIN BY LOCAL NEWS STATIONS IN FLORIDA AS THEY TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF THE COLLAPSE OF A CONDO BUILDING IN SURFSIDE.

IS THERE A COMPARISON TO BE MADE OR ARE THESE TOTALLY DIFFERENT INCIDENTS?

>> I THINK THAT THERE IS A COMPARISON TO BE MADE BECAUSE IT APPEARS AT FIRST BLUSH THAT THERE WERE ISSUES WITH, A, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT BUILDING, AND B, THE INSPECTION PROCESS OF THAT IN ITS PROCESS.

>> JUST QUICKLY, I THINK MICHAEL KNOWS THIS, THE PROBLEM AT THE HYATT WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND THE WAY THAT DESIGN FLAW WAS EXECUTED, AND EXPERTS HAVE SAID FOR YEARS THAT THAT SKYWALK WAS INEVITABLY GOING TO COLLAPSE BASED ON THAT DESIGN.

IT ISN'T CLEAR WHETHER THE PROBLEM IN FLORIDA IS RELATED TO DESIGN.

SOME PEOPLE SUGGEST IT IS, OR IF IT'S JUST POOR MAINTENANCE OR THE LACK OF MAINTENANCE, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE.

SO IN THAT WAY, THEY'RE DIFFERENT, BUT THE IDEA IS THAT WE BELIEVE SOMEHOW THAT THE BUILDINGS WE GO INTO ARE SAFE BECAUSE THEY'RE INSPECTED AND ROUTINELY IMPROVED, AND THAT JUST I WANT THE CASE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY YOUR VIEWERS SHOULD UNDERSTAND.

>> IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HYATT DISASTER, CHANNEL 9 IS PREMIERING A NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THE TRAGEDY THAT WILL AIR NEXT WEEK.

>> I CAN HEAR IT IN MY HEAD RIGHT NOW 40 YEARS LATER.

>> ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU HEARD THIS NOISE.

>> POP POP!

>> THE NOISE WAS JUST INCREDIBLE AND THE BUILDING SHOOK IT.

>> SOUNDED LIKE A BIG TREE LIMB CRACKING.

>> I JUST REMEMBER HEARING THE CRACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY TUESDAY AT 9:00 ON KMBC.

MICHEAL MAHONEY, YOU ARE A BIG PART OF THAT DOCUMENTARY.

YOU WERE THERE AT THE HOTEL AT THE TIME.

AS DAVE HELLING SAID, THE CAUSE THE SKYWALK COLLAPSE WAS STRUCTURAL OVERLOAD RESULTING FROM DESIGN FLAWS.

WAS ANYONE EVER HELD CRIMINALLY LIABLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED?

>> NOT CRIMINALLY LIABLE, NO.

THE PRIME DESIGNER ON, A MAN BY THE NAME OF JACK GILLHAM, HAD HIS ENGINEERING LICENSE STRIPPED AS A RESULT OF THE ERRORS MADE IN THAT.

THERE WERE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF CIVIL LAWSUITS.

THERE WERE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENTS ON THAT, BUT THERE WERE NO CRIMINAL CHARGES FILED IN CONNECTION TO IT.

>> THERE'S ALMOST NOBODY THAT WAS IN KANSAS CITY THAT DIDN'T KNOW SOMEONE WHO WAS THERE OR KNEW SOMEONE WHO WAS THERE OR KNEW OF SOMEBODY WHO KNEW SOMEBODY.

AND SO IT TURNED INTO A BIG SMALL TOWN IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH THE GRIEF OF THIS, AND KANSAS CITY DID A SORT OF KANSAS CITY THING AND TRIED TO BURY IT FOR A WHILE AND AT LEAST NOT ACKNOWLEDGE, WOW, THIS IS TERRIBLE AND WE NEED TO DEAL WITH IT.

BUT MY COLLEAGUE, HAILEY HARRISON HAS DONE AN ASTONISHING JOB OFFING WHAT I DO THINK MIGHT BE THE DEFIN TISIVE DOC OF THE HYATT.

>> AND YOU CAN SEE THAT AT YOUR STATION TUESDAY NIGHT AT 9:00.

FROM ONE DISASTER TO POSSIBLY ANOTHER.

JUST A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD FROM US IN SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, HOSPITALS ARE ASKING FOR VENTILATORS AND SHIPPING PATIENTS OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE OVERWHELMED BY COVID CASES.

NOW, THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT TRIES TO PUT THINGS IN PROPORTION AND DOESN'T TRY TO ELEVATE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE FOR THE SAKE OF IT, SO ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10, HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE ABOUT THIS?

IF THERE'S NO ROOM FOR PATIENTS IN SPRINGFIELD, ARE THEY COMING HERE TO OUR KANSAS CITY HOSPITALS?

CAT?

>> YEAH, WE DO HAVE SOME PATIENTS COMING TO THIS AREA TO KIND OF RELIEVE SOME OF THAT BURDEN ON THE HEALTH SYSTEM DOWN THERE.

YOU KNOW, THE CEOs OF THE HEALTH SYSTEMS IN SPRINGFIELD HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW QUICKLY THIS RAMPED UP AND HOW THEY WEREN'T PREPARED BECAUSE, I MEAN, THE NUMBERS TRIPLED IN A MATTER OF WEEKS.

IT IS CONCERNING, THOUGH, BECAUSE MISSOURI REMAINS A HOT SPOT FOR THIS DELTA VARIANT AND SO YOU ARE -- YOU KNOW, YOU WORRY ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED IN THE KANSAS CITY METRO GETTING DELTA VARIANT AND SPREADING IT, SO I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS AND KEEPING THEIR PRECAUTIONS GOING EVEN IF THEY ARE VACCINATED.

>> BUT AS THE VACCINATION RATE IS SO MUCH HIGHER IN KANSAS CITY, THOUGH, THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE AS MANY HOSPITALIZATIONS.

SO AREN'T THERE GOING TO BE BEDS AVAILABLE EVEN IF WE ARE BRINGING IN ALL OF THOSE FOLKS FROM RURAL PARTS OF MISSOURI, DAVE HELLING?

>> KANSAS CITY IS WELL VACCINATED, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE HERD IMMUNITY, NOT EVEN CLOSE.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE -- I TALKED WITH FOLKS AT THE KANSAS CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY AND WE'RE WRITING ON THIS.

PEOPLE SHOULD START THINKING, EVEN VACCINATED PEOPLE, AGAIN ABOUT WEARING MASKS IN SOCIAL SETTINGS, MAYBE IN THE WORKPLACE.

THERE'S NO REAL IMPETUS TO FORCE THAT ON PEOPLE, BUT THE HEALTH PEOPLE THAT YOU TALK TO ARE SAYING, HEY, THIS THING IS PRETTY DANGEROUS, IT COULD GET OUT OF HAND, AND EVEN IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT PROTECTING YOURSELF THE REST OF THE SUMMER AND INTO THE FALL.

>> AND WE'LL BE HEARING MORE FROM OUR FIFTH PANELIST, YOUR CAT, DAVE HELLING, LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

CAT REID?

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY CAT ALLOWED ON THIS PROGRAM TODAY, DAVE.

>> VERY CUTE.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FOLLOW THAT.

IT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE PARSON ADMINISTRATION IS DEALS WITH THIS.

HE'S INDICATING HE'S NOT INTERESTED IN FEDERAL FOLKS BEING THERE GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR OFFERING VACCINES AND HE'S NOT EVEN INTERESTED IN A BIG MILLION-DOLLAR LOTTERY LIKE SOME STATES ARE.

WATCH HOW THE PARSON ADMINISTRATION HANDLES IT.

>> HE WAS ON DOING AN INTERVIEW YESTERDAY IN JEFFERSON CITY WHERE HE SAID WE HAD A STOCKPILE OF VENTILATORS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF VENTILATORS.

HE'S GOING TO THEY GOT A STOCKPILE OF THEM.

WHO'S ON FIRST?

WHO'S ON FIRST?

>> YEAH AND -- >> CAN I JUST QUICKLY, NICK?

IF YOU NEED MORE VENTILATORS, YOU HAVE FAILED.

VENTILATORS ARE THE LAST RESORT FOR COVID PATIENTS.

SO TO SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF VENTILATORS BEGS THE QUESTION WHY DO YOU NEED THEM?

YOU NEED THEM BECAUSE THE VACCINATION RATES IN MISSOURI ARE LOW AS MICHAEL POINTS OUT, BECAUSE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND MASKS WERE ALWAYS VOLUNTARY IN MISSOURI.

IF, WHEN THE DELTA VARIANT OR ANY OTHER VARIANT COMES BACK, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO FIGHT AND NOT ON THE BACK END WHEN PEOPLE GET SICK >> A SIZABLE NUMBER OF BEDS THIS WEEK ARE BEING TAKEN UP BY PATIENTS OF A DIFFERENT SORT.

20 PEOPLE WERE SENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT KU HOSPITAL FOR FIREWORK INJURIES, AND THEN THERE WERE THE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE.

IN JUST OVER A THREE-HOUR PERIOD ON INDEPENDENCE DAY, 11 PEOPLE WERE REPORTED SHOT IN KANSAS CITY IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS.

INCLUDING ONE LOSING THEIR LIFE OUTSIDE OF POLICE HEADQUARTERS.

IT COMES AS A NEW NATIONAL SURVEY FINDS THAT CONCERN OVER CRIME IS NOW AT ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN 20 YEARS.

ACCORDING TO AN ABC NEWS/WASHINGTON POST POLL, 55% OF AMERICANS THINK INCREASING FUNDING FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS WOULD REDUCE VIOLENT CRIME.

IS THAT CHANGING MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS'S PERSPECTIVE?

ERIC?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

AND I THINK HIS THING IS THE MONEY THAT WE'RE GIVING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, LET'S JUST SEE IF WE CAN'T FIND A BETTER WAY TO USE IT MORE EFFECTIVELY.

I THINK THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE OF WHAT THIS LAWSUIT AND WHAT THEIR MOVE WAS.

THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

ARE WE SENDING THE MILLIONS -- HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN AN EFFECTIVE MANNER?

>> MICHAEL.

>> THERE IS AN OLD THOUGHT IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION THAT THE SAFEST PLACES ARE NOT THE PLACES THAT ARE FILLED WITH COPS.

THE SAFEST PLACES ARE PLACES WHERE THE ECONOMY IS STRONG.

THAT IS ONE OF THE KEYS TO THIS.

IT'S NOT JUST MORE COPS.

>> HE'S NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT IT PUBLICLY, BUT A NUMBER OF WELL-HEELED KANSAS CITIANS HAVE RECEIVED AN INVITATION TO A PRIVATE RE-ELECTION FUNDRAISER FOR MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS.

CONTRIBUTIONS AT THE $3,500 LEVEL WILL BUY YOU SPECIAL ACCESS AT THE EVENING EVENT AT THE CARRIAGE CLUB.

SO BEING NEWLY MARRIED WITH A NEW BABY AND ONE HEADACHE AFTER ANOTHER FROM CRIME TO FUNDING THE POLICE, CAT, THAT DIDN'T CONVINCE THE MAYOR THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T NEED THIS ANYMORE?

>> NO, I THINK HE FEELS THERE'S UNFINISHED BUSINESS.

I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT HE REALLY NEEDS TO TACKLE STILL IS THE ISSUE OF VIOLENT CRIME AND SEEING THE NUMBERS GO UP YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SO I THINK HE SEES THAT AND THAT THERE'S MORE TO DO AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO THINK ABOUT THE U.S. SENATE SEAT THAT'S GOING TO BE OPEN AND THE RACE FOR THAT.

HE HAD CONSIDERED THAT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WATCHING DEMOCRATS RUN STATEWIDE IS PRETTY SOBERING AND I THINK THIS HAS REALLY PUSHED ANYONE AWAY FROM JUMPING INTO THAT OPPORTUNITY AND THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T THINK HE'S CONSIDERING THAT.

>> NO CHANCE HE'S RUNNING FOR IT, NO CHANCE HE WAS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING IT.

IT WAS A TRIAL BALLOON AT BEST FROM HIS PRESS SHOP AND HE STILL ENJOYS GETTING QUOTED ON IT, ARE YOU RUNNING, AND HIS ANSWER IS STILL, WELL, I'M THINKING ABOUT IT.

HE'S NOT DOING THAT AND I THINK THE WORST-KEPT SECRET IN THE WORLD WOULD BE THAT A FIRST-TERM MAYOR IN KANSAS CITY IS CONSIDERING RE-ELECTION.

OF COURSE HE'S CONSIDERING RE-ELECTION.

>> I WANT TO HEAR WHAT DAVE HELLING'S CAT HAS TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

>> LET ME JUST SAY QUICKLY THAT I THINK THE MORE FASCINATING ABOUT QUINTON LUCAS WILL BE IF HE FACES ANYTHING OTHER THAN TOKEN OPPOSITION FOR A RE-ELECTION, I THINK IT'S ALMOST CONCERN THAT ONE OF THE NORTHLAND COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL RUN FOR MAYOR.

MIGHT BE DAN FOWLER, TERESA LORE, HEATHER HALL, MIGHT BE MORE THAN ONE SEEKING TO REPLACE MAYOR LUCAS AND THAT MAY BE WHY HE'S RAISING MONEY NOW BECAUSE HE REALIZES HIS RE-ELECTION WILL NOT BE A SLAM DUNK AS IT WAS, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR KAY BARNES OR SLY JAMES.

>> ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT ANYBODY PRIVATE WORKING THE PHONES TO TRY TO RAISE MONEY FOR QUINTON LUCAS AT THIS TIME?

>> ACTUALLY, IT HAS.

I HAD -- >> WHO IS THAT?

>> I CAN'T SAY, I WAS SWORN TO SECRECY.

BUT THE CALL, WE ENDORSED QUINTON NOW FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

WE EARLY -- >> YOU ALREADY ENDORSED HIM?

THAT ELECTION WON'T HAPPEN UNTIL 2023.

ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.

THERE COULD BE HUGE SCANDALS AND YOU STILL ENDORSE HIM?

>> I DID LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN, MINUS HIM SOMETHING DID GO TO TALLY OFF THE WALL.

BUT I BELIEVE HE HANDLED THE PANDEMIC EXTREMELY WELL.

WE COULD HAVE HAD A LOT MORE DEATHS HERE IN KANSAS CITY THAN WE DID, SO -- >> MICHAEL.

>> I ALSO THINK THERE WILL BE A SERIOUS CHALLENGE TO QUINTON LUCAS.

I'M NOT SURE IT'S GOING TO BE ANY OF THE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, IN FACT I DOUBT IT, BUT I THINK THERE'S AN EFFORT THAT STEMS FROM NORTH OF THE RIVER TO MOUNT A SERIOUS CAMPAIGN AGAINST QUINTON LUCAS AND THE POLICE BUDGET ISSUE IS GOING TO BE THE CENTER POINT OF THAT CAMPAIGN, AT LEAST RIGHT NOW.

>> AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT THIS WOKE, WE HAD A FORMER POLICE CAPTAIN WRITTEN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY, SO YOU COULD EVEN HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT TO RACE AGAINST.

>> THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF NATHAN GARRICK BEING A CANDIDATE, THE POLICE BOARD MEMBER.

HE'S MOVED OUT OF KANSAS CITY NOW, SO HE WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RUN, LIVING IN SMITHVILLE, BUT MIKE IS RIGHT, THERE WILL BE SOME EFFORT AND I THINK IT WILL BE NORTHLAND BASED.

THE ONLY REASON I MENTION COUNCIL MEMBERS IS SOME OF THEM ARE TERM LIMITED, SO THEIR SERVICE ON THE COUNCIL WILL COME TO AN END AND THEY MAY LOOK AT THE MAYOR'S RACE AS A WAY TO CONTINUE THAT.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT I THINK THAT MAYOR LUCAS UNLIKE, SAY, OTHER RECENT MAYORS, WILL FACE A SERIOUS CHALLENGER IN A COUPLE YEARS.

>> WELL, THAT RACE FOR KANSAS CITY MAYOR IS STILL SOME TIME AWAY, BUT IN OVERLAND PARK VOTERS ARE GOING TO BE HEADING TO THE POLLS TO PICK A NEW MAYOR IN A MATTER OF WEEKS, AND THE RACE TO SUCCEED CARL GERLACH IS ALREADY GETTING UGLY.

DID YOU SEE THE POLICE ARE NOW GETTING INVOLVED WITH BACK AND FORTH ACCUSATIONS OF SIGN STEALING BY CAMPAIGN STAFFERS NO LESS?

OFFICERS NOW POURING THROUGH CCTV FOOTAGE IN A SEARCH FOR THE CULPRITS.

>> WE DON'T THIS TO BE A WAR BETWEEN SIGNS.

WE WANT THIS TO BE A COMPETITION BETWEEN IDEAS.

>> I FIND THIS INTERESTING BECAUSE I'VE HEARD IT SAID ON THIS PROGRAM MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THE NUMBER OF YARD SIGNS A CANDIDATE HAS DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SO IF THEY DON'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE, WHY DO SOME CAMPAIGNS RESORT TO STEALING THEM?

>> BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER.

I AM ONE OF THESE FOLKS THAT BELIEVE THAT YARD SIGNS ARE MISLEADING -- >> YES, YOU'VE CHASTISED ME ON THAT SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS PROGRAM.

I TRY TO PROTECT YOU BY NOT MENTIONING YOUR NAME.

>> AND I -- SO YOU'RE GOING TO HIDE YOU'RE SOURCES AS WELL AS ERIC JUST DID, RIGHT?

I GOT IT.

IT'S PETTY LITTLE JUVENILE PRANKS LIKE THIS, SIGNING STEALING, THAT REALLY IRRITATE CANDIDATES AND IRRITATE THEIR MOST LOYAL SUPPORTERS, BUT I DON'T THINK I WOULD READ MUCH INTO IT.

>> AND MICHEAL USED THE WORD JUVENILE.

I THINK THESE ARE MINOR VOLUNTEERS IMPLICATED IN THIS.

THAT'S WHAT THE CANDIDATE SAID.

I THINK THERE MAY HAVE BEEN KIDS VOLUNTEERING WHO PULLED THIS STUNT.

>> WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS RACE AND THE RACE, BY THE WAY, FOR MAYOR OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY AS WE GET CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY IN AUGUST.

SPEAKING OF ELECTIONS, THE FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY HAS TRADITIONALLY MARKED THE START OF CAMPAIGN SEASON.

>> HELLO, EVERYONE.

IN CASE YOU'RE FORGOTTEN, I'M BOB DOLE.

>> AS MANY OF US WERE STILL PICKING UP OUR SPENT FIREWORKS, FORMER KANSAS SENATOR BOB DOLE AND RECENTLY RETIRED SENATOR PAT ROBERTS MAKE A BIG SPLASH AS THEY PUT THEIR THUMB ON THE SCALES IN THE KANSAS GOVERNOR'S RACE.

THE TWO VETERAN REPUBLICANS ANNOUNCE THEY'RE ENDORSING KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL DEREK SCHMITT FOR KANSAS GOVERNOR.

NOW, OF COURSE, THEY WEREN'T GOING TO ENDORSE LAURA KELLY.

SHE'S A DEMOCRAT.

BUT WHAT ABOUT JEFF COLYER WHO FANCIES HIMSELF BACK IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION?

IS THIS A DEATH BLOW TO HIM, OR DO MORE KANSAS CITIANS CARE ABOUT A SALVY SPLASH THAN A DOLE AND ROBERTS DOUBLE SPLASH THIS WEEK?

>> WELL, IT WILL HAVE SOME IMPACT AMONG SOME REPUBLICANS, BUT I DON'T THINK IN A PRIMARY SETTING, NICK, IT WILL BE DEFINITIVE.

FIRST OF ALL, IT CAME FAR TOO EARLY.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO VOTE UNTIL NEXT YEAR, SO THE IDEA THAT BOB DOLE AND PAT ROBERTS MIGHT SWING A LARGE BLOCK OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS TO DEREK SCHMITT IS PROBABLY UNLIKELY.

IT WILL HELP HIM RAISE MONEY.

>> AND COLYER DOES HAVE THE SUPPORT OF SITTING SENATOR, U.S. -- OR SENATOR ROGER MARSHALL AS WELL AS U.S. REP TRACY MANN, SO HE HAS THOSE ENDORSEMENTS.

I THINK THE TIMING IS INTERESTING.

I THINK THEY WANT TO PREVENT A BLOODY PRIMARY.

YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, BACK IN 2018 WITH THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

I THINK THAT'S WHY THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS CAME THIS EARLY, BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF RUNWAY LEFT IN THE RACE.

>> BY THE WAY, LAURA KELLY, GOVERNOR, DID GET A HUGE BOOST THIS WEEK HERSELF.

THEY NOTICED THAT ALL THE TAX REVENUES WERE COMING IN, MONIES COMING IN HAND OVER FIST IN KANSAS.

DOES THAT PUT HER IN A BETTER POSITION EVEN THOUGH WE'RE BEING TOLD SHE HAS LITTLE CHANCE OF RE-ELECTION?

>> IT'S BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE WITH A STICK.

ANY GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT SIZE OF SURPLUS.

IT SETS UP A REAL BATTLE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE, THE REPUBLICANS WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY GO FOR A MAJOR TAX CUT AND CLAIM THAT TOPEKA HAS FAR MORE MONEY THAN IT NEEDS AND SHE WILL RESIST THAT.

SHE WANTS TO SPEND MONEY ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN KANSAS.

THAT WILL BE THE SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL BATTLE, I THINK, IN 2022.

>> ALSO ON THE POLITICAL FRONT IN KANSAS THIS WEEK, KRIS KOBACH MAKING A SPLASH AS HE WINS THE ENDORSEMENT OF FORMER MISSOURI GOVERNOR AND U.S.

SENATOR JOHN ASHCROFT.

IN FACT, ASHCROFT PUMPED KOBACH, SAYING HIS EXPERIENCE AND SKILL AS AN ATTORNEY ARE AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION.

KOBACH IS RUNNING TO BECOME THE KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WITH SUCH HIGH PRAISE FOR HIS LEGAL SKILLS, WHY DID KOBACH DRAW AN OPPONENT THIS WEEK AS STATE SENATOR KELLY WARREN FROM LEAWOOD FILES AGAINST HIM?

MICHAEL.

>> BECAUSE THERE IS A BELIEF INSIDE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT KRIS KOBACH CANNOT WIN STATEWIDE AND THEY POINT TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

THEY'LL COUNTER AND SAY HE WON STATEWIDE AS SECRETARY OF STATE.

IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT RACE AS GOVERNOR.

NOW, DOWN BALLOT, HIS A.G. IS ALSO A VERY DIFFERENT RACE, BUT THERE'S A FEELING INSIDE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN KANSAS THAT KRIS KOBACH BRINGS MORE TROUBLE TO THEM IN AN ELECTORAL SENSE THAN HE DOES A BENEFIT.

>> AND JUST QUICKLY, NICK, ANYONE WHO THINKS KELLY WARREN IS THE MODERATE ALTERNATIVE TO KRIS KOBACH IN THAT PRIMARY IS MISTAKEN BECAUSE SHE IS VERY, VERY, VERY CONSERVATIVE, VERY FAR TO THE RIGHT OF HER PARTY, SO THAT SETS UP A RATHER INTERESTING -- IF THAT'S THE FIELD, AN INTERESTING PRIMARY FOR THAT SPOT.

>> WE'VE BEEN TOLD CATS HAVE NINE LIVES.

WE CAN ASK DAVE HELLING'S CAT ABOUT THAT.

HOW MANY LIVES DOES THE KATZ DRUG STORE BUILDING HAVE?

YOU MAY REMEMBER, SEVERAL KEY COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID THERE WAS NO WAY THEY WOULD TAX INCENTIVES TO TURN THE FORMER DRUG STORE INTO LUXURY APARTMENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS LOCATED ON ONE OF THE HOTTEST STRETCHES OF REAL ESTATE IN THE ENTIRE METRO ALONGSIDE THE NEW STREETCAR ROUTE DOWN MAIN STREET.

IN FACT, THE CITY COUNCIL KILLED OFF THE PLAN LAST WEEK, BUT GUESS WHAT?

LIKE JASON IN THE HORROR FILM "HALLOWEEN," IT JUST WON'T DIE.

THE PLAN HAS BEEN REVIVED.

I THOUGHT THIS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL WAS DEAD SET AGAINST THROWING OUT HANDOUTS TO DEVELOPERS, THAT MONEY SHOULD BE TARGETED TO BLIGHTED AREAS.

>> NO, NO, NO.

THEY HAND OUT INCENTIVES LIKE CANDY TO THE STRADA BUILDING, THE WADDELL AND REED BUILDING, I CAN GO ON AND ON AND THERE IS AN EFFORT TO REVIVE THIS ONE.

NOW, WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN FIND A BRIDGE TO GET TO AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE FOR THIS PROPOSED APARTMENT BUILDING AND KATZ RESTORATION PROJECT REMAINS TO BE SEEN BECAUSE I DO THINK A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO SEE MORE FROM THE DEVELOPER, INCLUDING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THAT PROJECT AND PERHAPS SOME PARKING, AND THE DEVELOPER TO DATE HAS SAID, NO, WE JUST CAN'T MAKE THE NUMBERS WORK.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AS YOU POINTED OUT AND AS WE POINTED OUT, THERE'S ALWAYS AN EFFORT TO TRY AND SAVE THESE THINGS AND THAT EFFORT IS NOW UNDERWAY DOWN AT 12th -- >> IT'S INTERESTING, THIS IS COMING AT A TIME WE'RE COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC AND STATES AND CITIES ARE SEEING A HUGE INFLUX OF CASH COMING IN.

WHY DO THEY NEED TO GIVE INCENTIVES AT ALL AT THIS POINT IN TIME WHEN THEY'RE FLUSH WITH CASH?

>> THEY DON'T.

THE DEVELOPERS REALLY DON'T NEED IT, BUT THEY KIND OF WANT -- IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE SOME SKIN IN THE GAME, AND SO DEVELOPERS ARE SAYING, WELL, WE'LL DO THIS AND WE'RE GOING TO BRING THIS TAX BASE TO THE CITY WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE PAYING TAXES AND PEOPLE WILL MOVE IN, GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND SPEND MONEY AND THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES WILL RECEIVE PROCEEDS FROM THAT.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THESE GUYS ARE MILLIONAIRES, THEY'RE MAKING MILLIONS AND THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE EVEN MORE MILLIONS.

WHY DO THEY NEED THE INCENTIVE?

>> MICHAEL.

>> IT'S A VERY TOUGH SELL.

IF THEY PROVIDE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPONENT IT IN, THEY MIGHT HAVE A SHOT OF WARMING UP SOME HEARTS AT CITY HALL.

IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THAT'S A PATH THEY FOLLOW.

>> SPEAKING OF INCENTIVES, WADDELL AND REED GOT NEARLY $100 MILLION IN LOCAL AND STATE TAX SUBSIDIES TO BUILD A BRAND NEW 18-STORY HEADQUARTER BUILDING DOWNTOWN.

IN MARCH, THE COMPANY ANNOUNCED IT WAS NO LONGER MOVING IN AFTER BEING BOUGHT BY AN AUSTRALIAN FIRM.

DID THE CITY GET ITS MONEY BACK?

>> WELL, THAT'S A VERY COMPLICATED QUESTION AND THE ANSWER IS NO, BECAUSE THERE ARE INCENTIVES, IT'S NOT LIKE A CASH OUTLAY, BUT WE STILL LACK, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, A PERMANENT TENANT AND THAT MEANS THAT THE FINANCING IS GOING TO BE FASCINATING TO WATCH GOING FORWARD.

>> AND I'M ASSUMING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT WANTING TO GO TO THESE BIG HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS ANYMORE, CAT REID.

>> YEAH, I THINK THE PANDEMIC COMPLETELY CHANGED THE MATH ON ALL THESE PROJECTS AND IT WILL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE IF A COMPANY DOES STEP UP AND SAY THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN MOVING INTO THIS BUILDING WHEN SO MANY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK REMOTELY.

>> AND ON THAT WE WILL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED.

THANK YOU TO CAT REID FROM 41 ACTION NEWS, ON CALL FROM THE KANSAS CITY CALL, ERIC WESSON, AND FROM THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR, DAVE HELLING.

AND HIS CAT.

AND YOU CAN SEE MICHEAL MAHONEY TUESDAY NIGHT AT 9 AS KMBC PRESENTS ITS NEW DOCUMENTARY ON THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HYATT HOTEL DISASTER.

I'M NICK HAINES.

FROM ALL OF US AT KANSAS CITY PBS, BE WELL, KEEP CALM, AND CARRY ON.