>> NICK: A DISGRACED FORMER GOVERNOR MAKING IT OFFICIAL.

>> I HAVE BEEN SO ENCOURAGED BY THE PEOPLE OF MISSOURI THAT I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE TONIGHT THAT I AM RUNNING FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

>> NICK: ALSO THIS WEEK, THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM A MASSIVE VACCINE EXPANSION EFFORT IN MISSOURI AND KANSAS.

WE ASK, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

AND A MASK MANDATE ABOUT TO DISAPPEAR.

PLUS HOMICIDES OUT OF CONTROL AND SO IS OUR HOMELESS PROBLEM, BUT IS THERE A FIX ON THE WAY?

>> WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE FOR THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF 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, EVERYONE.

I'M NICK HAINES, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AS WE CONNECT THE DOTS ON THE MOST IMPACTFUL STORIES OF OUR WEEK.

CHECKING IN LISA RODRIGUEZ AND PETE MUNDO, CHANNEL 9 CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER MICHEAL MAHONEY IS WITH US AND THE EDITOR OF THE CALL NEWSPAPER, ERIC WESSON.

IT'S OFFICIAL.

ERIC GREITENS IS BACK LESS THAN THREE YEARS AFTER RESIGNING AS GOVERNOR AMID SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS.

THE MISSOURI REPUBLICAN WENT ON FOX NEWS THIS WEEK TO ANNOUNCE HE'S RUNNING TO SUCCEED ROY BLUNT IN THE U.S. SENATE.

>> THE PEOPLE OF MISSOURI NEED A FIGHTER IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

THEY NEED SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO GO, AS I WILL, AS I'M COMMITTED TO DO, TO DEFENDING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AMERICA FIRST POLICIES AND ALSO TO PROTECTING THE PEOPLE OF MISSOURI FROM JOE BIDEN, NANCY PELOSI AND CHUCK SCHUMER'S RADICAL LEFTIST AGENDA.

WE'RE EXCITED.

WE HAVE A GREAT GRASSROOTS TEAM, AND WE'RE IN THIS RACE.

>> NICK: AND HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.

MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC SCHMIDT SAYING HE'S RUNNING TOO.

>> AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, I'VE SPENT MY TIME DEFENDING PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA.

WASHINGTON D.C.

NEEDS MORE FIGHTERS, MORE REINFORCEMENTS TO SAVE AMERICA, SO AFTER A LOT OF REFLECTION, SUPPORT FROM FOLKS BACK HOME AND ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE GREAT STATE OF MISSOURI, I'M ANNOUNCING MY CANDIDACY FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

>> NICK: PETE MUNDO, LET'S START WITH ERIC WESSON.

WHILE SOME PEOPLE MAY DISCOUNT HIS CANDIDACY, WE HAD JUST HOURS AFTER THAT ANNOUNCEMENT FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI ENDORSING GREITENS.

IS PRESIDENT TRUMP NEXT?

>> THAT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY, NICK.

WHAT YOU'RE SEEING BY THE GREITENS TEAM IS A CLEAR PUSH TO BE THE CLOSEST CANDIDATE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THE PROBLEM IS IF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDORSES SOMEBODY ELSE OR STAYS OUT OF IT, IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO DO.

I FIND IT UNLIKELY WITH JOSH HAWLEY WHO HAS ADMITTING TO BENDING THE PRESIDENT'S EAR ON THIS RACE ALREADY, WITH JOSH HAWLEY, WHO IS NO FAN OF ERIC GREATENS, THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD THEN GO ENDORSE A GUY LIKE ERIC GREITENS, THAT SEEMS VERY UNLIKELY TO ME.

BUT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS A STABLE OF TRUMP CONFIDANTS COME OUT, RUDY GIULIANI AND OTHERS, ENDORSING GREITENS, AND GREITENS IS HOPING THAT FRANKLY TRUMP STAYS OUT OF IT AND THAT MORE PEOPLE GET INTO THE RACE AND HE CAN PULL OFF A VICTORY IN A PRIMARY WITH WHAT MIGHT BE MID 30s PERCENT OF THE VOTE.

>> THAT'S WHAT DAVE HELLING SAID LAST WEEK.

THE MORE CANDIDATES IN THE RACE, THE BETTER CHANCE ERIC GREITENS HAS TO WIN.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, NICK.

FOLKS IN THE KNOW IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BELIEVE THIS WILL NOT BE A TWO PERSON RACE.

IT MAY BE THREE OR MORE THAN THAT.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE'S AN EFFORT UNDERWAY TO HAVE SOME SORT OF MEETING OF THE MINDS TO TRY TO STRAIGHTEN IT OUT SO IT IS SIMPLY SCHMIDT VERSUS GREITENS, BUT IN MODERN POLITICS IN AMERICA WITH AN OPEN SENATE SEAT, THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY UNLIKELY.

>> LISA, IT'S INTERESTING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING THEIR ARMS AROUND THE FACT THAT ERIC GREITENS EVEN HAS THE AUDACITY TO GET INTO THE RACE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

LET'S REMEMBER SOME OF THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST HIM FROM HIS HAIRDRESSER WHO CLAIMED HE BLINDFOLD HER, RESTRAINED HER, SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER AFTER TAKING AWAY HER PHONE AND CLOTHES.

HAS ANY POLITICIAN RECOVERED FROM A FALL FROM GRACE THAT BIG AND THEN CAME BACK TO HIGHER ELECTED OFFICE AGAIN.

>> THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST GREITENS WERE EXPLOSIVE AND FOR MANY MONTHS IT WAS THE BIGGER STORY IN MISSOURI FOR SO LONG, BUT ANYONE WHO IS SURPRISED THAT HE'S JUMPED INTO THIS RACE HASN'T BEEN PAYING ATTENTION.

HE'S BEEN HINTING AND DROPPING CLUES THAT HE WAS GOING TO DO THIS FOR AT LEAST THE PAST YEAR.

NOW, WHETHER ANOTHER POLITICIAN HAS SURVIVED A FALL FROM GRACE, MAYBE MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MORE OPINIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT EVEN IN RECENT MEMORY, YOU KNOW, EVEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS PLAGUED BY ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE THROUGHOUT HIS CANDIDACY AND STILL REMAINED VERY POPULAR AMONG HIS BASE THROUGHOUT HIS PRESIDENCY.

>> THE RADIO TALK SHOW HOST HUGH HEWITT WHO IS A CONSERVATIVE DID A VERY LONG AND TOUGH INTERVIEW WITH GREITENS AND ADDRESSED THESE VERY QUESTIONS EARLIER THIS WEEK, AND IT BASICALLY COMES DOWN TO THIS.

GREITENS WAS ASKED, ARE YOU NOT SO FLAWED -- BY A CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST, AREN'T YOU SO FLAWED THAT YOU COULD JEOPARDIZE THIS SEAT?

AREN'T YOU SO FLAWED THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE TODD AKINS 2.0, THE UNSUCCESSFUL AGAINST CLAIRE MCCASKILL IN 2012 BECAUSE OF HIS CLUMSY CAMPAIGN.

GREITENS DIDN'T REALLY ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.

>> NICK: ERIC, THERE HAS TO BE A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE TO GET INTO THIS RACE TOO.

ARE THERE ANY MAJOR NAMES THAT HAVE COME FORWARD?

LAST WEEK YOU WERE SUGGESTING FORMER GOVERNOR JAY NIXON.

HE HASN'T GOT INTO THE RACE YET.

NEITHER HAS QUINTON LUCAS STILL.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK THAT MAYOR LUCAS HAS SOME THINGS THAT HE STILL WANTS TO DO AS MAYOR.

HE'S GOT SOME AGENDA ITEMS THAT HE'D LIKE TO GO SEE THROUGH.

SO I DON'T SEE HIM GETTING INTO IT.

BUT DEMOCRATS ARE HURTING FOR A CANDIDATE TO GET INTO THAT RACE.

>> AND ERIC IS RIGHT THAT THE BENCH FOR THE DEMOCRATS IS VERY THIN.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF GUYS IN THIS RIGHT NOW, LUCAS KOONTZ FROM OUR AREA.

SCOTT SIMPSON, FORMER STATE SENATOR FROM THE ST. LOUIS AREA, IS ALSO MAKING THIS RACE.

I AM TOLD JAY NIXON WOULD LIKE TO DO IT.

WHETHER OR NOT HE DOES IS ANOTHER MATTER, AND IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY TOUGH FOR ANYBODY TO GET IN, ANY DEMOCRAT TO GET IN, RAISE THE MONEY AND DO A STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN WHERE ONE OF THE MAIN SPREAD CATS IS, WELL, I HOPE THE REPUBLICANS NOMINATE GREITENS.

>> LAST WEEK WE MENTIONED THE FACT THAT CLAIRE MCCASKILL HAD NO INTEREST IN JOINING THIS RACE.

NEITHER DID THE FORMER SENATOR HAVE ANY INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR OFFICE AGAIN.

BUT WHAT IF MCCASKILL IS ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SHORT LIST FOR A PLUM OVERSEAS DIPLOMATIC POST, AND THE HONG KONG BASED SOUTH CHINA POST HAS EVEN NAMED HER AS A LIKELY PICK TO BECOME AMBASSADOR TO CHINA.

WHAT PUTS HER ON HIGH ON THE LIST AND WHY CHINA?

>> IF YOU'RE CLAIRE MCCASKILL AND YOU'RE IN THE TWILIGHT YEARS, SO TO SPEAK, AND YOU'VE GOT A REALLY CUSHY JOB, AND THAT'S NOT KNOCKING WHAT WE DO FOR A LIVING, BUT SHE'S GOT A NICE JOB THERE AT MSNBC, I'M SURE MAKING A NICE SALARY, BEING A TALKING HEAD.

I'M SURE SHE PARTIALLY WISHES SHE WAS DOING THIS YEARS AGO.

I DON'T SEE THE BENEFIT TO CLAIRE MCCASKILL.

SHE DOESN'T APPEAR TO HAVE THE ITCH TO GET BACK INTO THE POLICY GAME OR POLITICAL GAME, ESPECIALLY BASED ON WHAT SHE'S DOING RIGHT NOW.

SHE'S MADE THAT PRETTY CLEAR ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ELSEWHERE.

SO HER NAME COMES UP BECAUSE SHE'S STILL A PROMINENT FIGURE IN THE PARTY AND PARTIALLY HERE IN THE MIDWEST.

BUT I DON'T SEE THE PULL FOR A CLAIRE MCCASKILL DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> I'VE TALKED WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH MCCASKILL'S THINKING VERY RECENTLY ON THIS VERY SUBJECT, AND IT BASICALLY COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT SHE IS NOT INTERESTED.

PETE IS RIGHT ON THE BUTTON ON THIS THING, AND THAT SHE IS NOT AT THIS TIME AND PROBABLY WILL NOT PURSUE ANY SORT OF POST INSIDE OF A A BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> THIS WEEK, KANSAS SWUNG OPEN THE VACCINE FLOODGATES TO ALLOW 600,000 MORE RESIDENTS TO GET THEIR SHOTS.

>> MY SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED.

I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE I'M VACCINATED BEFORE THE WEDDING.

>> LOTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING THEIR SHOTS.

BECAUSE BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME ANYONE IN KANSAS WITH A MEDICAL CONDITION IS ELIGIBLE FROM CANCER TO DIABETES, ASTHMA TO OBESITY.

ALSO APPROVED IS ANYONE DOING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORK.

THAT'S A HUGE CATEGORY THAT INCLUDES BANK TELLERS TO IT WORKERS.

COMMUNICATION EMPLOYERS AND ANYONE WHO WORKS FOR UTILITY COMPANIES.

MISSOURI DID SOMETHING SIMILAR LAST WEEK.

SO WHAT WERE THE LESSONS WE LEARNED FROM THIS BIG EXPANSION?

DID IT CAUSE SYSTEMS TO CRASH, THOUSANDS OF NONELIGIBLE PEOPLE SIGNING UP FOR SHOTS THAT WEREN'T INTIENTED TO?

SENIORS BEAGLE BODY OUT BY THE YOUNG AND HEALTHY?

>> YOU KNOW, IT DIDN'T.

WE SAY THIS MASSIVE VACCINATION EVENT AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM GO RELATIVELY SMOOTHLY.

THERE IS SOME CONCERN SENIORS AREN'T GETTING VACCINATED QUICKLY ENOUGH.

I THINK IT PROBABLY MORE HAS TO DO WITH TRANSPORTATION, HOW TO GET TO THE SITES, A LITTLE RESISTANCE AMONG THAT POPULATION, BUT THERE ARE STILL MANY, MANY SENIORS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED AS OTHER TIERS CONTINUE TO OPEN UP.

>> NICK: WHAT WAS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THAT, ERIC, ABOUT THE LESSONS LEARNED ABOUT THIS BIG EXPANSION ON BOTH SIDES OF STATE LINE?

>> I THINK IT WAS POSITIVE TO THE DEGREE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE UNABLE TO LOG IN TO SYSTEMS TO GET VACCINES WERE ABLE TO GET IT.

THEY WENT OUT TO ARROWHEAD, WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, DOWN THE STREET AT THE NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL MUSEUM.

WE HAD LINES FROM NEGRO LEAGUE'S BASEBALL ALL THE WAY IN FRONT OF THE COLUMN NEWSPAPER AT 9:15 IN THE MORNING.

I KNOW NEXT WEEK, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AT THE ZOO, ONE IN THE PARKING LOT, SO I THINK THE EXPANSION OF IT IS GETTING PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE COMPUTERS, THAT DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION IN LINE TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> NICK: AND I SAW AT THE ZOO ONE, EVEN THOUGH SUPPOSEDLY FROM MISSOURI RESIDENTS, A LOT OF KANSAS RESIDENTS SIGNED UP, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PROVE ELIGIBILITY, AND THE HEAD OF HEALTH IN KANSAS, MICHEAL MAHONEY, SAYS WE ARE LOOKING TO RELY ON THE, QUOTE, SPIRIT OF FAIRNESS AND HONESTY.

WERE PEOPLE BEING FAIR AND HONEST THIS WEEK?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO.

THE BIG CONCERN, BOTH IN KANSAS AND IN MISSOURI, IS THEY BELIEVE THAT THERE'S 40% OF ELIGIBLE POPULATION THAT WILL NOT GET A SHOT, AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A CAMPAIGN IN BOTH OF THESE STATES TO GO, LOOK, YOUR NEIGHBOR, YOUR COUSIN, THE PEOPLE YOU GO TO CHURCH WITH, THEY HAVE GOT IT, AND EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

AND IN KANSAS, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO HERE VERY QUICKLY IS ALSO INCLUDE PRIVATE DOCTOR'S OFFICES AS PART OF A VACCINATION PROCESS.

NOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE LOTS OF PEOPLE SHOTS AT DOCTOR'S OFFICES, JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE GOING THROUGH, BUT THAT WILL BE PART OF A CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS THIS HESITANCY.

IF MY DOCTOR SAYS IT'S OKAY, MAYBE I'LL DO IT.

>> NICK: BUT I WAS SURPRISED, THOUGH, THAT MIKE PARSONS SAID ONLY 60% WOULD GET THE VACCINE, 40% WOULD NOT BASED ON THEIR STUDIES, PETE.

AND HE'S SAYING THAT EVERYBODY, BY THE WAY, CAN BE ELIGIBLE BY APRIL 9th FOR THIS VACCINE.

IF WE HAVE SUCH A HUGE NUMBER THAT AREN'T GOING TO GET IT, WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR COMPANIES THAT WANT A POLICY IN PLACE THAT SAY YOU HAVE TO BE VACCINATED TO KEEP YOUR JOB, THE SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS OR ENTERTAINMENT VENUES WHO ARE GOING TO EXPECT YOU TO GET VACCINATED TO GO TO THOSE PLACES OR EVEN A MUSEUM, FOR THAT MATTER.

>> A COUPLE THINGS.

FIRST OFF, MICHAEL IS RIGHT FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT GETTING THE PERSONAL DOCTORS TO PUSH THIS IS THE WAY TO DO IT.

IT'S BECOME POLITICIZED WHERE WE'VE GOT POLITICIANS SAYING, GO GET YOUR VACCINE.

WE'RE IN A HYPER-POLITICAL PARTISAN WORLD.

THAT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ANYBODY.

LETTING PEOPLE TALK TO THEIR OWN DOCTORS ABOUT IT IS THE BEST APPROACH TO HAVE HERE TO THAT POINT, IN TERMS OF THE BUSINESSES AND CORPORATION, THAT DIDN'T REALLY ADDRESS THE MAKEUP OF THE FOLKS WHO ARE HESITANT, WHICH ARE THE ELDERLY PEOPLE, MORE LIKELY IN RURAL PARTS OF MISSOURI, LIKE WE'VE SEEN WITH OVERSUPPLY THERE.

THAT GROUP ISN'T IMPACTED BY THIS ANYWAY, WHICH ALSO IS A BARRIER, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO GO TO A CORPORATE JOB, OR A JOB WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE REQUIRED, THEY'RE ALSO NOT ENCOURAGED TO GO GET IT BASED ON WHAT THEIR LIFESTYLE IS.

SO YOU'VE GOT MULTIPLE HURDLES HERE THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO GET OVER.

>> BUT THEY WON'T GET A KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUT.

THAT'S ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH A VACCINATION CARD.

THEY WON'T GET A TWO FOR ONE BURGER AT WESTPORT FLEA MARKET.

WILL THESE TYPES OF INCENTIVES, BEING ABLE TO SEE A CONCERT, FAVORITE MUSEUM, UNLESS YOU HAVE A CARD PUSH PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINE HESITANT TO GET IT?

>> HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING DOWN TO THE K EVERY SUMMER?

DO THEY DO IT ONCE A YEAR MAYBE?

KRISPY KREME, CAN YOU FORK UP A BIG FOR THE DOUGHNUT?

I'M JUST SAYING, THE INCENTIVES, I DON'T BELIEVE, ARE LARGE A ENOUGH FOR ELDERLY FOLKS IN RURAL MISSOURI BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN RIGHT NOW TO GO OUT AND DO IT.

>> ERIC.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO GO EVEN FURTHER THAN THAT.

I BELIEVE WE'LL SEE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHERE AIRLINES WILL DO IT.

AIRLINES WILL REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE VACCINES IN ORDER TO GET ON FLIGHTS.

I LOOK FOR THAT TO EXPAND.

>> NICK: MOST OF US DON'T ACTUALLY FLY, SO THAT MIGHT BE AN EASIER ONE, BUT WE HAVEN'T GOT A FULL GRASP ON HOW MUCH RESISTANCE THERE THERE BE FROM PARENTS ON HAVING THEIR CHILDREN VACCINATED IN ADDITION TO REQUIRING ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OPEN BY THE END OF THE MONTH, KANSAS LAWMAKERS WANT TO BLOCK SCHOOLS FROM REQUIRING THE VACCINATION UNLESS YOU HAVE A RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL EXEMPTION, YOU HAVE TO HAVE VACCINATIONS TO ATTEND SCHOOL IN KANSAS NOW.

WHY WOULD THIS BE DIFFERENT, LISA?

>> IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A PUSHBACK ON VACCINES IN GENERAL.

IT'S A SPECIFIC PUSHBACK TO THIS VACCINE, AND THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ARGUES THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN WITHIN OUR RIGHTS.

WE CAN DO THIS.

BUT THERE ARE LAWMAKERS IN KANSAS, OFTEN THE SAME ONES THAT HAVE PUSHED AGAINST MASK MANDATES, THAT ARE PUSHING THESE BILLS RIGHT NOW THAT DON'T WANT TO HAND THAT RESPONSIBILITY OVER TO THE HEAD OF THAT DEPARTMENT.

>> NICK: YOU MENTIONED THE MASK MANDATES.

ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI, REMOVING MASK MANDATES.

SEDGWICK COUNTY, REMOVING THE MASK MANDATE.

WILL WE SEE COUNTIES IN OUR METRO SAY WE'RE GOING TO GET RID OF THAT TOO THIS WEEK OR NEXT WEEK?

>> YOU'RE SEEING IT RIGHT NOW.

YOU CAN GO TO VARIOUS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS, VARIOUS RESTAURANTS RIGHT NOW, AND YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DO NOT WEAR A MASK OR DON'T HAVE A MASK ON AT ALL.

>> NICK: LAST WEEK, KANSAS CITY SHUTTERED ITS TEMPORARY WARMING CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS AT BARTLE HALL.

SO WHAT HAPPENS TO THE HOMELESS NOW?

IF YOU'VE BEEN TO WESTPORT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF A LARGE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT HAS NOW SPRUNG UP ACROSS FROM THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

ANOTHER ENCAMPMENT HAS NOW BEEN ERECTED OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL DOWNTOWN.

WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN SCORES OF COMPLAINTS, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SAY THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO TEAR DOWN THE MAKESHIFT VILLAGES OF TENTS AND TARP COVERINGS.

WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO THIS?

>> THE JURY IS OUT ON THAT.

I WILL SAY THE BUDGET THAT THE COUNCIL IS APPROVING THIS WEEK DOES ALLOCATE SOME FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SOLUTIONS TO THE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND TENANTS ADVOCATES.

BUT WE HAVE YET TO SEE A TANGIBLE SPECIFIC PLAN DESPITE THE EXISTENCE OF A HOMELESS TASK FORCE CREATED BY MAYOR LUCAS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.

>> NICK: $195 MILLION, ERIC WESSON, IS COMING INTO THE CITY BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL TAX WINDFALL COMING IN, OR THE STIMULUS WINDFALL.

THE ADVOCATES FOR THE HOMELESS SAY WHY AREN'T WE SPENDING THAT MONEY THEN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM?

SO WHY NOT?

>> WELL, THE MONEY IS GOING TO COME IN TWO PAYMENTS.

THEY'LL GET ONE PAYMENT THIS YEAR.

THEY'LL GET ONE PAYMENT NEXT YEAR.

I THINK MOST OF THE MONEY HAS BEEN AIR MARKED, BUT THERE IS SOME MONEY THAT HE'S GOING TO BE TRYING TO PUT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MAYBE SOME OTHER PLANS THAT THEY HAVE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DO, WHETHER YOU OPEN UP A SCHOOL, RENOVATE IT.

IN TALKING TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE THERE, IT'S LIKE, THEY WANT THE CITY TO GIVE THEM HOUSES OUT A LAND BANK, FIX THEM UP.

BUT MY QUESTION IS, HOW WOULD THEY MAINTAIN THEM IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEM?

UTILITY BILLS, OTHER THINGS THAT IT TAKES AS FAR AS HOME OWNERSHIP, BUT TO YOUR QUESTION, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS COUNCIL WILL PUT IN THE BUDGET FOR THE HOMELESS AND HOMELESS SITUATIONS.

>> NICK: WON'T THE CITY WANT TO SPEND SOME OF THAT MONEY, BY THE WAY, ON TRYING TO SOLVE ANOTHER PROBLEM AND THAT'S CRIME?

THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES IN KANSAS CITY IS RUNNING HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR'S RECORD BREAKING MURDEREL TOTAL.

IS THERE ANY FIX FOR THAT THAT YOU SEE, PETE MUNDO?

>> TO ME, NICK, THIS IS ALL TRICKLE DOWN.

THIS ALL WEAVES TOGETHER.

THINK ABOUT WHERE WE WERE LAST YEAR.

WE HAD ABOUT 100 HOMELESS CAMPS LAST YEAR.

THE NUMBERS I SAW IN THE KANSAS CITY STAR HAD US UP TO ABOUT 170 HOMICIDES.

THAT IS OBVIOUSLY THROUGH THE ROOF RECORD LAST YEAR, UP AGAIN THIS YEAR.

THESE THINGS ALL WEAVE TOGETHER.

YES, IT'S KIND OF BEEN A PERFECT STORM WITH COVID, THE ECONOMY, THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ASPECTS OF THIS AS WELL.

TO ME, THE SOONER YOU GET THINGS GOING AGAIN, AND YOU CAN POINT FINGERS WHEREVER YOU WANT FOR THAT, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A RISING TIDE.

WHEN YOU GET THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL, WHEN YOU GET PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, YOU OPEN UP EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

IT DOESN'T SOLVE ALL OF THIS.

THESE WERE ISSUES PRECOVID THAT WERE MAIN ISSUES, BUT YOU START TO MAKE DENT IN IT, AND THAT'S WHERE ALL OF THIS STUFF REALLY DOES WORK TOGETHER UNDER THE SAME PROBLEM.

>> AND THE POLICE CHIEF SAYS THIS WEEK THAT THE HOMICIDE RATE IS UP ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN LARGE CITIES.

YOU SEE THINGS HAPPENING DENVER, MINNEAPOLIS, SEATTLE.

THIS IS ALSO BECOMING A COUNTRYWIDE ISSUE IN BIG CITIES.

>> I THINK THAT IS EXACTLY TRUE.

I THINK VIOLENT CRIME AND THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS ARE GOING TO BE THE MAJOR ISSUES.

THIS ENCAMPMENTS BY CITY HALL ALMOST AS A FORM OF PROTEST REALLY HAS BROUGHT THIS ISSUE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF US IN REALLY HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS, LITERALLY ON THE FRONT LAWN OF CITY HALL.

AND I THINK THAT PAIRED WITH STILL THE ENERGY FROM ACTIVISTS ON POLICE REFORM, WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO A YEAR SINCE THE PROTEST FOLLOWING THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD.

I THINK THAT AT LEAST IN KANSAS CITY AND PROBABLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT THESE TWO ISSUES WILL REMAIN FRONT AND CENTER.

>> THE WAY OUT OF THE CRIME PROBABLE, KANSAS CITY, NEW YORK CITY, WHEREVER, IS NOT ALWAYS JUST MORE COPS.

IT IS, AS PETE WAS SAYING, IT'S AN IMPROVED ECONOMY, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES INVOLVED IN POVERTY AND IN FEAR THAT ARE DRIVING THE CRIME RATE.

WHAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING TO WATCH IS THE RESULTS FROM THE TRIAL OF MINNESOTA ON THE CASE THAT SPARKED ALL OF THIS BACK IN MAY.

IF THAT OFFICER IS ACQUITTED, AND I SUSPECT HE WILL BE, BECAUSE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CONVICT A POLICE OFFICER WHEN HE'S DOING SOMETHING IN HIS LINE OF DUTY, WE MAY SEE MORE THINGS IN THE STREETS.

>> NICK: IT'S GOING TO BE HARDER, THOUGH, FOR POLICE TO CONTROL THAT.

I SAW THE NEW POLICIES IN PLACE, ERIC, THIS WEEK THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW GOING TO TAKE A MORE LOOSER ROLE IN ACTUALLY POLICING PROTESTS IN KANSAS CITY.

>> NO FIRE AND TEAR GAS IN THE CROWDS, NO RUBBER BULLETS.

PRETTY MUCH THEY JUST HAVE TO STAND BY AND PROTECT THE BUILDINGS.

BUT I DID WANT TO KIND OF BACK UP TO SOMETHING THE CHIEF SAID THIS WEEK, THAT VIOLENT CRIME IS UP ACROSS THE NATION 25%.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT HAS TO DO WITH KANSAS CITY.

WHAT HAS HE DONE IN KANSAS CITY TO IMPLEMENT LETTING PEOPLE FEEL SAFER?

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I SAW THAT DEPUTY CHIEF OAK MAN HAS SAID WAS THAT THEY TARGETED BEING VISIBLE OUTSIDE BECAUSE THEY NOTICE THE TREND WITH PEOPLE GETTING SHOT AND KILLED OUTSIDE, BUT IT'S STILL HAPPENING.

SO WHAT DID YOU IMPLEMENT TO CHANGE THAT WHERE IT STILL HAPPENS?

YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEWS, YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING FOUND DEAD, SHOT IN THE STREET AND SHOT IN THEIR CARS.

>> NICK: TWO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, WE WERE WATCHING OUR LOCAL ELECTED LEADERS DON HARD HATS AND PICK UP SHOVELS FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE TERMINAL AT KCI AIRPORT.

IT'S THE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT UNDERWAY IN OUR REGION.

HAS THE PANDEMIC FORCED THE CITY AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO RETHINK THE SCOPE AND SIZE OF THIS PROJECT, LISA?

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY INDICATIONS.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING THIS PROJECT, PEOPLE AT EDGEMOOR, THE DEVELOPER RUNNING THIS, SAYS THINGS ARE ON TIME, ON SCHEDULE.

CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN MOVING ON PACE.

IF YOU'VE BEEN AROUND THE AIRPORT ANY TIME LATELY, YOU SEE THE BUILDING HAS COME UP FROM THE GROUND, AND DESPITE THE SLOWDOWN IN AIR TRAVEL, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY INDICATIONS THAT THEY'RE REDUCING GATES OR CHANGING THE DESIGN IN ANY WAY.

>> NICK: MARCH 3 READY, 2023, IS THE DATE THE CITY SET FOR THIS TO OPEN, A GRAND OPENING FOR THAT.

IS THERE ANY SUGGESTION THAT WILL CHANGE, MICHAEL?

>> NOT RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, YOU COULD -- THERE WOULD BE A MYRIAD OF THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN THAT WOULD DELAY THAT, BUT THIS IS LINKED UP WITH THE CITY HOSTING THE NFL DRAFT, AND THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE HEAVEN AND EARTH TO HIT THAT.

THE LARGER QUESTION AND THE ONE THAT LISA JUST TOUCHED ON IN A SECOND IS DID THEY BUILD AN AIRPORT IN KANSAS CITY FOR 2019 AND WILL RUN IT FOR 2023 WHEN THE DYNAMICS OF BUSINESS TRAVEL HAVE BEEN ALTERED SUBSTANTIALLY?

AND THAT'S A QUESTION THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

BUT CLEARLY, THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE, RIGHT NOW, AN ABSOLUTE UNIVERSAL COMMITMENT TO RESUME BUSINESS TRAVEL, AND THAT'S THE NUT OF THE AIRLINES BUSINESS THE WAY IT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

>> 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?

MARCH MADNESS OR MARCH SADNESS, EVERY LOCAL TEAM EXITING EARLY.

NO SO FOR THE WOMEN, MISSOURI STATE HEADING TO THE SWEET 16.

THEY TAKE ON STANFORD ON SUNDAY.

THE ROYALS SIGNING THE LARGEST CONTRACT IN TEAM HISTORY.

SALVADOR PEREZ.

ANOTHER BIG KANSAS CITY COMPANY BEING GOBBLED UP.

CANADIAN PACIFIC BUYING KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN IN A 25 BILLION-DOLLAR DEAL.

IT WILL CREATE THE FIRST RAIL NETWORK CONNECTING THE UNITED STATES, MEXICO AND CANADA.

OVERLAND PARK POLICE REMINDING DRIVERS THAT TRAFFIC LAWS STILL APPLY AFTER A WOMAN WAS CLOCKED GOING 149 MILES AN HOUR ON I 43.

SHE WAS SLAPPED WITH A 900-DOLLAR FINE.

AND REMEMBERING THE LEGAL SCHOLAR AND KANSAS CITY CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE WHO HELPED REOPENED SOME OF AMERICA'S MOST NOTORIOUS COLD CASE HATE CRIMES.

HE WAS 64: PETE MUNDO, WAS IT ONE OF THOSE STORMS OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

>> SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, NICK.

DOWN IN JEFF CITY THIS WEEK, LOCAL STATE SENATOR SPONSORED A BILL THAT GOT THROUGH THE SENATE, DOWN THE HOUSE ALLOWING POLICE OFFICERS TO LIVE OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS IN KANSAS CITY.

MAYOR LUCAS HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL AGAINST THAT.

THIS IS ALREADY THE CASE IN ST. LOUIS.

IT NOW COULD BE COMING HERE TO KANSAS CITY AND WILL CERTAINLY BE HOTLY DISCUSSED, DEBATED, TALKED ABOUT AND WILL GET LOT OF CRITICISM AS WELL.

>> NICK: DOES IT DO ANYTHING TO REDUCE CRIMES AND HOMICIDES IN KANSAS CITY?

>> NOT CLEAR AT THIS POINT?

BUT WILL IT HELP RECRUITMENT?

THAT'S WHO THE PROPONENTS SAY, THAT IT WILL ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO APPLY, ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO APPLY, AND THAT WILL HELP THEM WITH THEIR NUMBERS MOVING FORWARD AND GETTING BETTER CANDIDATES.

>> LISA RODRIGUEZ.

>> I HAVE TO THROW MY PORT BEHIND REMEMBERING ALVIN SIKES, CIVIL RIGHTS ICON.

I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTATE THE IMPACT HE HAD IN DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE EMMETT TILL CASE IN BEING ABLE TO REOPEN AND REINVESTIGATE THOSE CASES.

THAT'S WHERE MY VOTE IS.

>> ERIC WESSON.

>> I AGREE WITH BOTH OF THE TWO PREVIOUS STATEMENTS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE POLICE NOT LIVING IN KANSAS CITY.

THE CONNECTION THAT IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE AND YOU SEE SOMEBODY THAT YOU KNOW AND IF YOU PULL THEM OVER, YOUR INTERACTION WITH THEM WILL BE DIFFERENT, AND OF COURSE, ALVIN SIKES' UNTIMELY DEATH.

GREAT GUY, SELF-PROCLAIMED LEGAL EXPERT IN HELPING BRING THE EMMETT TILL CASE TO THE FOREFRONT.

>> MICHEAL MAHONEY.

>> THE GAS BILLS FROM THE CITY FROM THE COLD SNAP.

THEY GOT A $2.4 MILLION BILL NOT FOR KCI, BUT JUST FOR THE OVERHAUL BASE, AND THEY GOT A $1.2 MILLION BILL FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT.

NORMALLY THAT OVERALL BASE BILL IS ABOUT 80,000 A MONTH, THE WATER DEPARTMENT BILL ABOUT 48,000 A MONTH.

IT'S JUST A REMINDER TO EVERYBODY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING SOME HIGHER GAS BILLS, HEATING BILLS DUE TO THE COLD SNAP, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE THEM FOR A WHILE.

>> NICK: MIGHT HAVE TO CUT DOWN THE TOILET CUBICLES AT THE KCI TERMINAL PLUS SNACK SHOP.

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

THANK YOU TO MICHEAL MAHONEY FROM KBMZ 9 NEWS, LISA RODRIGUEZ FROM KCUR, FROM THE CALL ERIC WESSON AND 6 TO 10 WEEKDAYS ON KCMO TALK RADIO, PETE MUNDO.

I'M NICK HAINES.

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

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC