>>> THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE SUPER BOWL.

>> NICK: ARE THE CHIEFS THE ONLY THING KANSAS CITIANS CAN TALK ABOUT RIGHT NOW IN PLEASE DON'T CALL ME A PARTY POOPER, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE TRACKING SOME OTHER PRETTY IMPORTANT STORIES YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT FROM THE PANDEMIC TO POLITICS, AND YES, TO PARADES.

OUR WEEK'S BIGGEST NEWS MAKERS AND MOMENTS DISSECTED STRAIGHT AHEAD ON WEEK IN REVIEW.

>> WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS, BOB AND MARLEY SCORELY, HAAS AND WILKERSON INSURANCE, THE COURTNEY S. TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST, JOHN H. MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA, NA, COTRUSTEES, AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> NICK: HELLO, AND WELCOME.

I'M NICK HAINES.

ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM NEWS OVERLOAD?

WE ARE TRYING TO EASE YOUR BURDEN THIS HALF HOUR AS WE SEPARATE THE MOST IMPORTANT STORIES HAPPENING WHERE WE LIVE AND ALL IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES.

WITH US MR.

UP-TO-DATE ON KCUR F.M., STEVE KRASKE, AND THE NEWS DIRECTOR FROM NPR AFFILIATE, LISA RODRIGUEZ.

FROM KMBC 9 NEWS, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER MICHEAL MAHONEY, AND THE EDITOR OF THE CALL NEWSPAPER, ERIC WESSON.

LET ME SAY TO BEGIN WITH THAT I REALLY CAN'T STAND TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN ON THE PROGRAM.

SO LET'S GET THIS THING OVER WITH QUICKLY, BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS TOPIC IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM FOR THREE WEEKS IN A ROW NOW.

THIS WEEK, THE MAYOR MAKES IT OFFICIAL.

THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC CELEBRATION IS THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS WIN THE SUPER BOWL NEXT WEEKEND.

THE MAYOR SAYS IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE.

INTERESTINGLY, THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE ON THE SAME DAY THAT THE KANSAS CITY METRO WAS RECORDING THE LOWEST NUMBER OF COVID CASES IN 3 MONTHS.

NOT SINCE OCTOBER, HAVE THE DAILY TALLY OF VIRUS INFECTIONS BEEN SO LOW.

LISA RODRIGUEZ, A NUMBER OF OUR VIEWERS HAVE BEEN ASKING WHAT WOULD IT HAVE TAKEN FOR THE CITY TO SAY YES?

IF IT'S NOT 400 CASE AS DAY, WOULD THEY SAY YES IF THERE WERE LESS THAN 300, 200, 100?

>> I HAVE A FEELING THAT THE ONLY WAY WE WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT TO A PARADE IS WHEN THE VACCINE IS WIDELY AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

I JUST THINK, ALTHOUGH A PARADE, AN OUTDOOR PARADE, IS MAYBE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE SAFER ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO, WITH SOMETHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE, WITH SO MANY PEOPLE, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO ENFORCE SOCIAL DISTANCING.

YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THIS EXCITEMENT FOR THE CHIEFS.

THERE MAY BE SOME ALCOHOL FLOWING.

EVERY PRETTY FESTIVE.

I THINK IT JUST WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL.

UNLESS WE KNOW WE'VE GOT SOME LEVEL OF IMMUNITY, I DON'T THINK SO.

>> NICK: STEVE.

>> I AGREE WITH LISA.

I SAID THIS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

I THINK EVERYONE IS MAKING A SMART CALL HERE.

HAVING SAID THIS, THIS IS FOOTBALL.

THIS IS KANSAS CITY.

IF IT'S AT ALL POSSIBLE IN ANY WAY, IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A CELEBRATION FOR THIS TEAM SHOULD IT WIN THE SUPER BOWL, IT MAY NOT BE UNTIL THIS SUMMER, IT MAY NOT BE THE WAY WE SAW IT THE FIRST TIME AROUND, BUT I'VE GOT TO BELIEVE SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO CELEBRATE THIS TEAM IF THEY WOULD WIN 2 IN A ROW.

>> NICK: WHAT ABOUT THE INVITATION TO CASS COUNTY OFFICIALS WHO NOW WANT TO TRY AND BRING A CELEBRATION TO THEIR NECK OF THE WOODS WHERE NO MASK MANDATE IS EVEN IN PLACE?

>> TO HAVE SOMEONE COME OUT PREEMPTIVELY AND POUR COLD WATER OVER SOMETHING THAT BRINGS SO MUCH JOY AND HAPPINESS AND HOPE, QUITE FRANKLY, WHICH WE NEED A LOT OF RIGHT NOW, SO WE WOULD BE HONORED TO HOST ANY KIND OF CELEBRATION FOR A KANSAS CITY CHIEFS SUPER BOWL WIN.

>> NICK: ERIC, DID CASS COUNTY EVER GET A RESPONSE ON THAT?

>> THEY GOT A NO RESPONSE FROM THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, AND I THINK WHAT WE MISSED IN ALL OF THE HYPE AND EXCITEMENT THAT WE HAVE IS THE NFL CONTROLS HOW THE PARADES ARE DONE OR IF THEY'RE DONE.

AND THE NFL SAID NO PARADES ANYWHERE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THE CHIEFS SAID THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE PARTICIPATING IN ANY EITHER WAY.

I DID SOME CHECKING LAST NIGHT WITH MAYOR LUCAS, AND THAT WAS THE FINAL OUTCOME THAT THE CHIEFS WEREN'T GOING TO DO IT.

AND A LITTLE MORE DIGGING AND THE NFL SAID NO WAY, JOSE.

>> NICK: MICHAEL, THIS TALK ABOUT, WELL, LET'S DELAY THIS.

LET'S HAVE IT LATER.

BUT I'M NOT CONVINCED WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT OF THE WOODS ON COVID FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO DO A PARADE IN THE FALL WHEN YOU HAVE THE CHIEFS BACK IN ACTION.

IF IT'S GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR, SOMEWHERE ELSE MIGHT HAVE WON A SUPER BOWL.

IT MIGHT SEEM ODD, WOULDN'T IT?

>> SOMETHING THIS SUMMER, I THINK, AT LEAST IN MY MIND, IS UNLIKELY, BECAUSE THE LUSTER OF A SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP, AND THEY'VE GOT TO WIN THAT GAME FIRST, NO.

1, WOULD SAY -- AND THE IDEA OF ANY SORT OF PARADE, GATHERING RIGHT NOW DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC CONDITIONS IS IRRESPONSIBLE.

HOWEVER, I HAVE NO DOUBT, AS STEVE SORT OF ALLUDED TO A MOMENT AGO, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SPONTANEOUS CELEBRATIONS THAT ARE ALL OVER THIS TOWN IF THEY WIN THAT GAME.

IF THEY DON'T, IT'S A MOOT POINT.

>> I WANT TO CORRECT ONE THING REAL QUICKLY.

YOU SAID THAT IF SOME OTHER TEAM WINS THE SUPER BOWL NEXT YEAR, NICK, WE'RE GOING TO WIN IT THIS YEAR AND NEXT YEAR.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THE SAME THING.

>> NICK: WE'LL HOLD YOU TO THAT.

THE NFL ALSO ANNOUNCED THEY'RE GIVING AWAY 7500 FREE TICKETS TO VACCINATED MEDICAL WORKERS FOR THE BIG GAME.

I SEE THAT 18 WORKERS AT KU HOSPITAL WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THEM.

IS THAT LIKE WINNING WILLY WONKA'S GOLDEN TICKET?

>> I MEAN, YES.

I WOULD SAY PROBABLY IT'S LIKE WINNING WILLY WONKA'S GOLDEN TICKET.

NOW, THESE ARE, TO NOTE, THEY DID SPECIFY THAT THEY ARE OFFERING THESE TICKETS TO HEALTH CARE WORKERS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED, GOTTEN THEIR TWO DOSES, BUT IT'S NOT WITHOUT RISK.

THERE IS STILL TRAVEL INVOLVED, BUT FOR THOSE THAT CAN BE THERE AND ENJOY THE GAME, I'M SURE IT WILL BE A MOMENT THEY'LL REMEMBER FOREVER.

>> NICK: MICHAEL.

>> YEAH, IT NO DOUBT WOULD BE A MOMENT OF A LIFETIME.

TRAVEL, AS LEASE A JUST INDICATED, IS PROBLEMATIC RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD GET ON AN AIRPLANE AND FLY TO TAMPA OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER RIGHT NOW.

>> I WOULD DRIVE DOWN THERE.

I WOULD DRIVE.

IF I COULD GO IN A GO-KART OR A MOPED, I'D TAKE THAT DOWN THERE, JUST TO SEE IT.

>> VERY CLEVER.

>> NICK: THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK THAT GOES WITH THE NFL DOING THIS.

WHY COULDN'T KANSAS CITY HAVE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, HOSTED A LOTTERY IF THE CHIEFS WERE TO WIN AND, SAY, BRING IN 17,000 PEOPLE TO ARROWHEAD STADIUM.

YOU CAN HAVE THE PLAYERS ON THE FIELD.

YOU CAN BROADCAST THE WHOLE THING, BUT YOU WOULD STILL GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME PEOPLE, ERIC.

>> YEAH.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ALTERNATIVE.

I WAS THINKING MAYBE PUT SOME OF THE CHIEFS IN A STREETCAR AND LINE SOME CARS UP AND ONE COULD GO ONE SIDE AND THEY COULD HANG OUT THE STREETCAR AND WAVE.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME OPTIONS, BUT AGAIN, IT'S UP TO THE CHIEFS AND IT'S UP TO THE NFL.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT NOW.

SO I DON'T THINK IT WILL HAPPEN.

>> NICK: IN OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK, FOUR SCHOOLS IN THE SHAWNEE MISSION SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE NOW LOOKING FOR NEW MASS SCOTTS AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD UNANIMOUSLY VOTES TO REMOVE ANY NAMES AND IMAGES THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED DEROGATORY TO NATIVE AMERICANS.

SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH HIGH SCHOOL IS ATTRACTING MOST OF THE ATTENTION.

THE SCHOOL'S TEAMS ARE KNOWN AS THE INDIANS AND THEIR MASCOT FEATURES A NATIVE AMERICAN MAN IN FULL HEAD DRESS.

2 YEARS AGO, THE SHAWNEE MISSION SCHOOL DISTRICT LAUNCHED AN EXHAUSTIVE STUDY AND DECIDED TO KEEP THE INDIANS MASCOT AT THE SCHOOL.

ON BALANCE, THEY DECIDED IT WAS NOT INAPPROPRIATE OR OFFENSIVE.

WHAT CHANGED?

>> BECAUSE RESIDENTS KEPT THE PRESSURE ON.

THERE WAS AN ONLINE PETITION, 4600 PEOPLE PLUS SIGNED THAT THING.

THIS ISSUE SIMPLY NEVER WENT AWAY.

I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO ASK IN JUST A MOMENT ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE CHIEFS, BUT THIS ISSUE IS NOT GOING AWAY.

PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE HAVING TO GRAPPLE WITH IT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE THE PUBLIC -- THE THINKING BEHIND THIS IS SLOWLY EVOLVING OVER TIME.

>> NICK: DOES THAT HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON THE CHIEFS, ERIC WESSON?

OR THIS IS JUST A SCHOOL DISTRICT?

THAT ISN'T THE SAME AS THE NFL.

>> THIS IS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IT'S NOT THE SAME AS THE NFL.

SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT MINDSET WITH THAT.

>> I AGREE 100% WITH DERRICK ON THIS.

BUT IF THE DYNAMIC HERE CHANGES AND SAY SOMEBODY, LIKE MAHOMES, COMES OUT AND SAYS, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS APPROPRIATE, ESPECIALLY THE WAY IT'S HANDLED HERE IN KANSAS CITY, BECAUSE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE NAMED AFTER CHIEF ROE BARTLE.

IF SOMEBODY LIKE MAHOMES CAME OUT AND SAID MAYBE I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS, THAT MIGHT CHANGE THINGS, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW FOR THE CHIEFS.

>> NICK: THIS ISSUE HAS COME UP NOW FOR SEVERAL MONTHS FROM THE END OF LAST YEAR WHERE WE HAD TWO TEAMS, PROFESSIONAL TEAMS, MAKE NAME CHANGES, LISA, YET NO WORD FROM PATRICK MAHOMES.

WHY SHOULD WE EXPECT ANY CHANGES NOW?

>> HE MADE A BIG STEP AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SEASON SUPPORTING BLACK LIVES MATTER.

IT TOOK YEARS FOR ANY PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER BESIDES COLIN KAEPERNICK TO GET TO THAT POINT.

I WOULDN'T RULE IT OUT AS A POSSIBILITY FOR PATRICK MAHOMES.

THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY THAT MIGHT PUT ANY PRESSURE ON THE CHIEFS IS IF THEY START LOSING SUPPORT FROM BUSINESSES OR FROM SPONSORS.

IF IT STARTS TO EFFECT THEIR BOTTOM LINE, I BET THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

>> STEVE.

>> NICK, I WAS REALLY STRUCK BY WHAT BEN BARNES HAD TO SAY ABOUT THIS.

HE ONCE AGAIN POINTED OUT THE OBVIOUS.

PEOPLE ARE NOT MASCOTS.

PEOPLE ARE NOT CARICATURES, AND THAT THINKING IS NOT GOING AWAY.

THE CHIEFS CAN WISH THIS AWAY ALL THEY WANT.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GRAPPLE WITH THIS FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> DID YOU NOTICE HOW MANY NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS AND TV STATIONS PICKED UP THE STORY THIS WEEK OF THOSE LONG LINES OF SENIORS WAITING FOR VACCINES IN JOHNSON COUNTY?

THE SHAWNEE MISSION POST CLAIMS THE SCENE WAS LIKE A COMPLETE ZOO WITH 80-YEAR-OLDS BEING FORCED TO LINE UP OUTSIDE IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES.

ABC RAN THE STORY.

SO DID THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS.

JOHNSON COUNTY OFFICIALS SAYING THEY WILL DO BETTER.

HAVE THEY, MICHAEL?

>> THE SECOND DAY WAS MUCH MORE ORGANIZED AND LOW GIST I CANNILY A LOT SMOOTHER THAN THE FIRST.

SO MUCH OF THIS, NICK, AS YOU KNOW AND EVERYBODY ELSE ON THIS PANEL AND MOST OF OUR VIEWERS, IS OPTICS.

AND THE OPTICS HERE WERE ABSOLUTELY AWFUL.

JOHNSON COUNTY APOLOGIZED FOR IT.

THEY DID MUCH BETTER THE SECOND DAY, BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT VACCINATIONS, THEIR AVAILABILITY AND THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO GET THEM AROUND HERE IS REAL TROUBLESOME.

MISSOURI IS LAST IN VACCINATIONS.

KANSAS IS NEAR THE BOTTOM OF IT.

JUST DID A STORY THIS PAST WEEK ABOUT THE FACT THAT MISSOURI HEALTH INSPECTORS THAT WERE GOING INTO LONG-TERM CARE IF A SILTS WERE NOT VACCINATED BEFORE THEY WERE -- LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WERE NOT VACCINATED BEFORE THEY WERE DOING THAT.

THERE IS THE STORY ABOUT MISSOURI LEGISLATORS GETTING VACCINES THAT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE WENT TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

THE OPTICS OF STORIES LIKE THIS, PARTICULARLY THE ONE IN JOHNSON COUNTY, NOT GOOD.

>> NICK: KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, LISA, THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT GOT MORE THAN 1200 CALLS, VOICE MAILS FROM RESIDENTS TOTALLY CONFUSED, NO IDEA HOW TO SIGN UP FOR VACCINES, AND MAYBE BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY HAS A COMPUTER.

>> ABSOLUTE I.

THE ISSUE OF ACCESS AND INTERNET ACCESS IS HUGE, PARTICULARLY WHEN THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE YEAR WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS PANDEMIC, HOW THIS DISEASE IS PARTICULARLY HITTING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, DISTRESSED CENSUS TRACKS, THESE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO EQUITABLE HEALTH CARE ARE ALSO THE ONES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.

THERE HAS JUST BEEN CONFUSION ALL AROUND, PEOPLE SHOWING UP AT VACCINE SITES.

IT'S A MESS.

>> NICK: ERIC.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS, AND I KNOW IT'S A LEADERSHIP THING WITH THE MAYOR, HE'S GETTING HIS SECOND SHOT.

HE'S IN HIS 30s.

SOMEBODY WITH 61 YEARS OLD WITH HEALTH CONDITIONS CAN'T GET IT.

SO I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

IT'S JUST A BAD OPTIC RIGHT NOW.

>> THE WHOLE THING IS A MESS.

IT DIDN'T HELP THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T COMMUNICATE ITS PLANS WITH THE INCOMING BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

IT DOESN'T HELP THAT WE HAVE A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HANDING OFF POWER TO THE STATES, THE STATES HANDING OFF POWER TO THE COUNTIES.

NO ONE KNOWS WHO IS IN CHARGE.

IT DOESN'T HELP THAT WE'VE UNDERFUNDED PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES FOR DECADES IN THIS COUNTRY.

THE PROBLEMS ARE JUST STACKING UP ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO BE PATIENT HERE BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A LONG ROLLOUT HERE.

THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.

>> THIS MORNING WHEN I CAME IN, I HAD A PHONE CALL FROM ONE OF OUR READERS WANTING TO KNOW HOW SHE CAN SIGN UP FOR IT BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE A COMPUTER.

BUT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO REACH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE UNDERSERVED, ESPECIALLY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, GETTING THEM ON THE LIST TO EVEN GET THE VACCINE?

I THINK THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT REALLY NEEDS TO COME TO THE FOREFRONT.

>> NICK: LET'S MOVE NEXT TO WHAT YOUR LOCAL POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE BEEN UP TO THIS WEEK.

>> MR. PRESIDENT, THANK YOU.

>> KANSAS SENATOR JERRY MORAN WAS GETTING LOTS OF ATTENTION, ON A SHORT LIST OF JUST SIX SENATORS WHO HAD STILL NOT DISCLOSED HIS POSITION ON THE TRIAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP NOW WE KNOW MORAN JOINED WITH OUR OTHER THREE LOCAL SENATORS TO DISMISS THE TRIAL ON THE GROUNDS IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

WHAT DO WE READ INTO MORAN'S POSITION AND THE VOTES OF THE REST OF OUR KANSAS AND MISSOURI SENATORS?

>> I THINK ONE THING HE'S GOTTEN THE REPUTATION FOR PLAYING HIS CARDS CLOSE TO HIS VEST, AND PEOPLE OFTENTIMES GO A LONG TIME WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE HE'S GOING TO LAND.

I THINK IT ALSO SUGGESTS, NICK, SIMPLE POLITICS HERE.

DONALD TRUMP WON KANSAS BY 14 POINTS A FEW MONTHS AGO.

JERRY MORAN EXPECTED TO SEEK REELECTION, WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, SIMPLY GOING WITH THE FLOW HERE IN A BID TO WIN ENOUGH VOTES TO GET A THIRD TERM IN THE U.S. SENATE.

>> NICK: YOU SAY HE'S EXPECTED TO RUN FOR REELECTION.

WE HAD A THIRD UNITED STATES SENATOR, REPUBLICAN ANNOUNCED THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN IN 2022.

HE SAYS IT'S JUST BECOME TOO DIFFICULT.

IT'S TOO HARD TO BREAK THROUGH THE POLITICAL DEADLOCK.

IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER THAT JERRY MORAN WOULD SAY THE SAME THING OR EVEN ROY BLUNT IN MISSOURI WHO IS UP FOR REELECTION NEXT YEAR, TOO?

>> NO.

THE LATEST HANDICAPPING ON THIS IS THAT MORAN AND BLUNT ARE VERY SAFE.

ALTHOUGH, KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE MISSOURI SENATE RACE.

THERE MAY BE A CHALLENGE BY ERIC GREITENS?

>> MISSOURI SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY WAS ALSO IN THE SPOTLIGHT, AND IT WASN'T JUST BECAUSE HE MADE THE FRONT COVER OF THE NEW YORK POST WITH DUCT TAPE OVER HIS MOUTH, AMID THE CLAIM HE WAS BEING MUZZLED.

HAWLEY ANNOUNCES ON FOX NEWS HE WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024.

>> DID I READ SOMEWHERE TODAY THAT YOU HAVE DECIDED AGAINST RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024?

>> I'VE ALWAYS SAID MARIA THAT I'M NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO REPRESENT THE STATE OF MISSOURI IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

I JUST GOT ELECTED BARELY TWO YEARS AGO.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO FIGHT FOR MISSOURI EVERY DAY THAT I CAN.

>> ALL RIGHT, ERIC WESSON.

DID YOU SEE THAT COMING?

>> THEY ALWAYS CHANGE THAT MIND.

TOMORROW COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT I DO KIND OF WANT TO BACK UP.

IF THIS DOESN'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF IMPEACHMENT, WHAT WE SAW ON JANUARY 6th, THE MENTALITY BEHIND, THE COMMENTS THAT WAS MADE, WHAT REALLY DOES RISE TO THAT LEVEL?

>> NUMBERS.

POLITICS IS COUNTING NOSES, AND THE VOTES AREN'T THERE.

>> NICK: ERIC WESSON SAID THAT HE THOUGHT THAT JOSH HAWLEY WOULD STILL CHANGE HIS MIND.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

>> I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU, NICK.

I WAS SURPRISED.

I THINK THE BETTING BLIND WAS EVERYTHING JOSH HAWLEY HAD BEEN DOING THE LAST COUPLE YEARS WAS GEARED TOWARDS MAKING THE RUN TOWARD THE BIG KAHUNA HERE.

CLEARLY THE EVENTS FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS HAVE TAKEN A BITE OUT OF HIS BACK SIDE.

HAVING SAID THAT, HIS POLL NUMBERS IN MISSOURI AREN'T BAD.

THEY HAVE DROPPED A LITTLE BIT.

HIS POLL NUMBERS NATIONALLY, HE'S BECOME BETTER KNOWN AS A RESULT OF ALL OF THIS.

SO YES, I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED.

I THINK WE'VE GOT TO TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD.

I THINK HE'S OUT FOR 2024.

>> THIS IS THE END OF THE FIRST MONTH OF 2021.

'24 IS A LIFETIME FROM NOW IN POLITICS.

WE'LL SEE.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT HIM THAT YOU'VE GOT TO LEARN IN THIS PROCESS IS HE REPRESENTS THE WHOLE STATE OF MISSOURI, WHETHER YOU VOTED FOR HIM OR NOT AND NOT JUST RURAL MISSOURI.

I'VE LEFT 3 MESSAGES WITH HIS D.C. OFFICE AND HIS MISSOURI OFFICE.

NOBODY HAS EVER RETURNED A PHONE CALL.

>> NICK: ALSO REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE STATE OF MISSOURI AND MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON.

HE WAS IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK AS HE DELIVERED THE ANNUAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO FIGHT COVID-19 WHILE ALSO DEALING WITH CIVIL UNREST, VIOLENT CRIME AND A DIFFICULT BUDGET.

>> NICK: IT WAS REMARKABLE THAT THE SPEECH TOOK PLACE AT ALL.

LAST WEEK THE MISSOURI HOUSE SHUT DOWN AFTER A COVID OUTBREAK AT THE CAPITOL.

JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO CONCERNS ABOUT SPREADING THE VIRUS PROMPTED KANSAS GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY TO ABANDON HER TRADITIONAL SPEECH BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE, CHOOSING INSTEAD TO SPEAK TO A SINGLE CAMERA IN HER OFFICE.

I TAKE IT MIKE PARSON SAW NO REASON TO DISPENSE WITH THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE OF THE OCCASION?

>> NOT SO FAST.

>> THE SPEECH THAT PARSON GIVES HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE MISSOURI HOUSE CHAMBERS, BUT THE COVID CONCERNS HAD THEM MOVE THIS SPEECH FROM THE HOUSE CHAMBERS TO THE SENATE CHAMBERS.

THE OTHER THING THAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT IT WAS WHILE THE GOVERNOR VIGOROUSLY DEFENDED HIS ACTIONS IN HANDLING THE CRISIS, BUT HE DID NOT MENTION ANY OF THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IN THE STATE.

>> NICK: BUT I DID SEE A LOT OF PRESS RELEASES FROM MEDICAL GROUPS, FROM CANCER SURVIVORS AND SO FORTH IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, TALKING ABOUT, STEVE, THAT THE GOVERNOR DID COMMIT TO MAKING THE MONEY AVAILABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STATE FOLLOWED THROUGHOUT VOTE LAST YEAR FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION.

>> IF THERE WAS A MYSTERY HEADING INTO THIS ADDRESS THE PAST FEW WEEKS, IT WAS WHETHER THIS ADMINISTRATION WOULD GET WHOLEHEARTEDLY BEHIND THIS MEDICAID EXPANSION AMENDMENT THAT THE VOTERS APPROVED LAST SUMMER.

PARSON IS ON BOARD.

THEY'RE GOING FULL BORE TO GET THIS THING GEARED UP AND RUNNING.

THE INTERESTING THING, NICK, IS REPUBLICANS SAID FOR YEARS THAT THE STATE COULDN'T AFFORD MEDICAID EXPANSION.

THE STATE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS IN YEAR ONE WITHOUT CUTTING ANY OTHER PROGRAM.

THERE IS CONCERN ABOUT THE OUT-YEARS, BUT WE CAN DO THIS THING.

>> NICK: LISA, WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU LEARNED FROM THIS SPEECH THAT WE WEREN'T EXPECTING?

>> HE DID MENTION DURING THE SPEECH THAT THE FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION HE'D LIKE TO SEE CROSS HIS DESK IS COVID LIABILITY PROTECTIONS, PROTECTING BUSINESSES FROM COVID-RELATED LAWSUITS.

NOW, THAT'S BEEN A POINT OF TENSION BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AS WELL THAT SAYS YOUR FIRST MOVE SHOULD BE PROTECTING PEOPLE, NOT BUSINESSES, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAME UP DURING THE SPECIAL SESSIONS, AND THEY DECIDED NOT TO TAKE ACTION ON IT UNTIL THE REGULAR SESSION, SO IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT AS HIS PRIORITY AS FAR AS FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> MICHAEL.

>> THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD IMPLEMENT THE MEDICATE EXPANSION, BUT HE ALSO WARNED THAT IT COULD HAVE A STRAIN ON OTHER PARTS OF THE BUDGET.

THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER HERE IS THAT THE GOVERNOR PROPOSES IDEAS BUT A LEGISLATURE EXECUTES THEM.

SO THEY'RE THE ONES THAT BUILD THE BUDGET.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT I FOUND INTERESTING ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WAS JUST MENTIONED HERE IS THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING A TAX INCREASE, AND THE TAX INCREASE WOULD BE TAXING, PUTTING -- ASSESSING A MISSOURI SALES TAX ON GOODS BOUGHT ONLINE.

HE WANTS TO PUSH FOR THAT.

>> NICK: WE DO HAVE TWO STATES THAT WE DEAL WITH, OF COURSE IN KANSAS CITY.

AND THE OTHER ONE BEING IN KANSAS, AND THEIR LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN TACKLING THE ISSUE OF ABORTION.

THAT'S BEEN DOMINATING LEGISLATORS ATTENTION.

YOU COULD BE DECIDING THIS ISSUE YOURSELF AT THE BALLOT BOX.

LAWMAKERS MOVING CLOSER THIS WEEK IN KANSAS TO ADDING AN ABORTION AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION THAT YOU WOULD VOTE ON IN AUGUST OF NEXT YEAR.

SO WHAT IS REALLY AT STAKE?

I'VE HEARD DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS THAT THE AMENDMENT WOULD NOT BAN ABORTION BUT WOULD JUST OVERTURN A RECENT KANSAS SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT DECLARED WOMEN HAVE A RIGHT TO THE PROCEDURE.

SO WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD IT ACTUALLY MAKE IF THIS IS ADDED TO THE KANSAS CONSTITUTION?

>> I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS YOU CAN EXPECT THAT IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT TO CHALLENGE RESTRICTIONS GOING FORWARD IF THE LEGISLATURE HAS ITS WAY WITH THIS THING.

>> THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO PUT ANYTHING INTO A STATE OR FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

>> NICK: LISA.

>> FRANKLY, IF THE CONSTITUTION EXPLICITLY SAYS THAT WOMEN DO NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO AN ABORTION, IT BECOMES INCREDIBLY HARD TO PUSH BACK ON ANY LEGISLATION RESTRICTING THAT SO THAT IT'S NOT AN ACTION AT ALL.

>> NICK, AND THIS GOES TO A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE THIS SUMMER.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A WAR IN KANSAS ON EVERY KANSANS TV SCREENS THIS THEY HAVEN'T SEEN IN FOREVER.

IT'S GOING TO BE A MONUMENTAL FIGHT.

>> AND THAT'S NEXT SUMMER WE WOULD BE LOOK AGENT THAT.

KANSAS CITY HAS A NEW SPORTS TEAM THIS WEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 60 YEARS.

THE KANSAS CITY MONARCHS ARE BACK IN ACTION.

THE OWNERSHIP GROUP BEHIND THE T BONES MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT TO REBRAND THE BALL CLUB AFTER THE LONGEST RUNNING FRANCHISE IN AMERICA'S NEGRO LEAGUES.

THE NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL MUSEUM OWNS THE MONARCHS NAME AND WILL GET A CUT OF TICKET AND MERCHANDISE SALES.

HOW MUCH WOULD THAT REALLY BE?

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE COVID AND PEOPLE GOING TO THOSE GAMES, BUT LET ME TELL YOU, IT'S A FEATHER IN THE CAP OF THE NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL MUSEUM AND BOB KENDRICK FOR HELPING PUT THAT DEAL TOGETHER.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THE DOLLARS AND CENTS, BUT KEEPING THAT LEGACY ALIVE IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

TALKING ABOUT FROM YOUNGER PEOPLE DOING THAT AS WELL, SO IT'S PHENOMENAL.

>> NICK: IS THERE ANY RISK, THOUGH, TO IT, MICHAEL?

WHEN THE T-BONES STRUGGLED OVER THE YEARS, EVICTED FROM THEIR BALLPARK IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY IN 2019.

DOES THIS HAVE A DOWNSIDE?

>> THAT HAPPENED UNDER THE PREVIOUS OWNERS.

THE TEAM HAS BEEN SOLD.

THE NEW OWNERS SEEM TO HAVE A FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL, AND THE OTHER THING THEY WANT TO DO WITH THAT BALLPARK IS DO MORE THAN PLAY BASEBALL.

THEY WANT TO HAVE CONCERTS.

THEY WANT TO HAVE OTHER EVENTS.

THEY WANT TO MAKE IT SORT OF A MULTI-USE FACILITY AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, AND I THINK BRINGING BACK THE MONARCHS NAME IS JUST OUT OF SIGHT.

>> KENDRICK WAS ON THE SHOW YESTERDAY, AND HE MADE THE POINT OF SAYING ANY NONPROFIT WOULD KILL TO HAVE A REGULAR REVENUE STREAM FROM SOMETHING, LIKE A DEAL LIKE THIS.

IT'S A BIG WIN FOR THE MUSEUM.

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

WHAT WAS THE BIG STORY WE MISSED?

>> NICK: A SEXUAL HARASSMENT SCANDAL TOPPLES THE HEAD OF THE BOULEVARD BREWING COMPANY.

IT MAY BE EARLY, BUT KANSAS CITY HOMICIDES DOWN MORE THAN 40% IN JANUARY.

RELIEF FOR WINTERS.

THE KANSAS CITY AREA SECURING $30 MILLION IN FEDERAL AID TO HELP THOSE STRUGGLING TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

NO RETURN TO KANSAS FOR FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO.

HE'S TAKING A THINK-TANK JOB JUST BLOCKS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND PRAIRIE VILLAGE GRABBING THE HEADLINES.

WILL IT BE THE FIRST JOHNSON COUNTY CITY TO DECRIMINALIZE MARIJUANA.

>> NICK: LISA RODRIGUEZ, DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK FEDERAL FUNDING FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE IS HUGE.

WE'VE BEEN UNDER A FEDERAL EVICTION MORATORIUM, BUT THAT REALLY IS JUST A BAND-AID SOLUTION, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T PONY THAT RENTERS WHO HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING THROUGH THIS -- IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT RENTERS WHO HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC DOESN'T NEED THAT.

WHEN YOU PUT MONEY INTO IT TO ALLEVIATE LANDLORDS OR RENTERS, HOWEVER THAT GOES, I THINK THAT'S A MAJOR STEP FORWARD.

>> NICK: MICHAEL.

>> THE WOES IN THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR IN TERMS OF FRAUD AND THE ESCALATING AMOUNT OF CLAIMS.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A MORATORIUM TO TRY AND STRAIGHTEN OUT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OVER THIS COMING WEEKEND, AND THEY'VE GOT TO GET SOMETHING DONE, BECAUSE I FEAR THAT THERE REALLY IS SOME FRAUD GOING ON UNDER THERE.

THEIR CLAIMS ARE THROUGH THE ROOF.

KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

>> ERIC.

>> I DID SOME A LITTLE KIND OF CONNECTING, BLACK WOMEN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND THIS IS 2021, THE YEAR OF THE BLACK WOMAN.

WE'VE GOT A BLACK WOMAN AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE NFL JUST ANNOUNCED A BLACK WOMAN AS THEIR ASSISTANT COACH OF AN NFL FOOTBALL TEAM.

THE CEO OF WALGREENS NOW IS A BLACK WOMAN.

SO I THINK THIS IS THE YEAR SO FAR FOR BLACK WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> NICK: STEVE.

>> I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH THE NEWS DIRECTOR OF KCUR PUBLIC RADIO, NICK, ABSOLUTELY, PUTTING MONEY IN THE POCKET OF THOSE RENTERS IS A HUGE DEAL, MUCH NEEDED DURING THIS VERY DARK WINTER.

>> NICK: ON THAT, WE WILL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED.

OUR THANKS TO OUR NEWS REVIEWERS CHECKING IN WITH US.

KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE WEEKDAYS AT 9 ON KCUR F.M., STEVE KRASKE, AND THE NEWS DIRECTOR OF OUR NPR STATION, LISA RODRIGUEZ.

ALSO WITH US FROM KMBZ 9 NEWS, MICHEAL MAHONEY, AND ERIC WESSON FROM THE CALL NEWSPAPER.

I'M NICK HAINES.

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

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