>>> HAWLEY FEELING THE HEAT.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> AT A TIME OF DIVISION, WE'VE GOT TO RALLY AROUND THE THINGS THAT UNITES US AS AMERICANS.

>>> EXTENDING KANSAS CITY'S EMERGENCY ORDER, WE PICK APART THE NEW COVID RULES.

WHAT WILL A BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MEAN FOR US HERE IN KC?

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

>> 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 BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> NICK: HELLO, AND WELCOME.

I'M NICK HAINES.

SO MUCH TO KEEP TRACK OF ON WHAT HAS BEEN ANOTHER ROLLERCOASTER WEEK OF NEWS.

FOREGOING SLEEP TO KEEP US ABREAST OF HOW EVENTS WILL IMPACTING US HERE IN THE METRO.

FROM KMBC 9 NEWS CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER MICHEAL MAHONEY.

FROM THE INVESTIGATION AT 41 ACTION NEWS, CAT REID.

KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE ON KCUR F.M.

STEVE KRASKE, AND THE EDITOR OF THE CALL NEWSPAPER, ERIC WESSON.

AS THE PRESIDENT WAS BEING IMPEACHED FOR A SECOND TIME FOR THE SECOND WEEK, MISSOURI SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY COMING UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE CREATED A CARD FOR IT, BUT KANSAS CITY BASED HALLMARK, NOW WANTS IT'S MONEY BACK.

THEY'RE DEMANDING HAWLEY AND NEW KANSAS SENATOR ROGER MARSHALL RETURN THE CAMPAIGN CASH THE COMPANY GAVE THEM FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S EVENTS IN WASHINGTON.

THE AGREEING CARD MAKER IS UPSET THAT OUR TWO LOCAL SENATORS CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE AFTER THE CAPITAL BUILDING WAS STORMED.

OTHER KANSAS CITY COMPANIES FROM CERNER TO COMMERCE BANK ALSO SAY THEY'RE PULLING THEIR CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS.

LAST WEEK, HAWLEY'S BIGGEST WORRY WAS SIMON AND SCHUSTER CANCELING ITS UPCOMING BOOK AND FENDING OFF CALLS FROM DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS TO RESIGN.

BUT DOES THIS LOSS OF MONEY REPRESENT A BIGGER HIT TO HIS POLITICAL CAREER, STEVE?

>> OH, IT'S A HIT.

THERE'S NO QUESTION, NICK, PARTICULARLY THIS KIND OF ACTIVITY CONTINUES.

BUT HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK SOME CONTEXT IS NEEDED HERE.

THINK ABOUT THIS JUST FOR A MOMENT.

JOSH HAWLEY WAS ON THE BALLOT A MONTH FROM NOW OR THREE MONTHS FROM NOW IN A STATE LIKE MISSOURI THAT WENT FOR DONALD TRUMP BY 16 POINTS IN NOVEMBER, 19 POINTS FOUR YEARS AGO, WOULD JOSH HAWLEY LOSE?

I'M NOT CONVINCED THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS YES.

A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES WHO HAVE STEPPED AWAY FROM HIM ARE GOING TO COME BACK AT SOME POINT, NICK, BUT A SIX-YEAR TERM, FOUR YEARS LEFT, IS A VERY LONG TIME.

>> CAT.

>> YOU KNOW, IT IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THIS IS NOT A LARGE PORTION OF HIS CONTRIBUTION.

THESE ARE SMALL AMOUNTS, LARGELY SYMBOLIC.

HALLMARK IS UNIQUE IN ACTUALLY ASKING BOTH SENATORS ROGER MARSHALL AND JOSH HAWLEY TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK.

SO THAT IS HOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THIS SCENARIO.

>> NICK: SO MICHEAL MAHONEY, AS KATHLEEN MENTIONED, THIS IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY.

$7,000 TO HAWLEY, TO ROGER MORE SHALL $5,000 OVER TWO YEARS.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DID AN INTERESTING ANALYSIS OF THESE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND SAID REALLY THESE CORPORATE PACS DON'T ACTUALLY GIVE A HUGE AMOUNT.

IN FACT, IN HAWLEY'S CASE, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST 15% OF HIS TOTAL WAR CHEST.

SO IS IT, AS CAT SAYS, MORE SYMBOLIC THAN SUBSTANTIVE?

>> YEAH, IT IS, BUT MONEY IS MONEY.

IT'S CLICHE IS IT'S THE MOTHER'S MILK OF POLITICS.

THE ASTONISHING THING IS THAT BACK IN 2018 THE CERNER PAC DID NOT GIVE JOSH HAWLEY A DIME, NOT ONE CENT.

THE LONGVIEW HERE IS I THINK STEVE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, POLITICAL DAMAGE TO JOSH HAWLEY IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI IS LIMITED.

I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME SECOND THOUGHTS GOING ON NOW ABOUT WHAT HIS ROLE IS IN THE 2024 CAMPAIGN AND TED CRUZ CAMPAIGN IS PROBABLY MAKING SOME OF THE SAME GUESSES.

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THE TRUMP VOTER AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LOOKS LIKE IN A FEW YEARS.

>> NICK: ERIC.

>> FOUR YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO REMEMBER, BUT IT DEPENDS ON WHO LINES UP AND WHO STARTS RUNNING A CAMPAIGN NOW TO RUN AGAINST HIM.

FOUR YEARS IS A LONG TIME, AND I BELIEVE, WHEN IT COMES TO COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN THE NEXT MONTH, HE WILL PROBABLY BE PIGEON HOLED INTO MAYBE THE CHAIR OF THE PENCIL SHARPENING COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING SO THAT HIS TALENTS CAN'T EXTEND TO WHAT PEOPLE WOULD PAY ATTENTION TO HIM.

>> THAT COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT THING IS IMPORTANT, AND IT'S GOING TO BE MITCH MCCONNELL THAT DECIDES IT.

HAWLEY SITS ON HOMELAND SECURITY, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE ALSO SITS ON JUDICIARY.

THOSE TWO COMMITTEES ARE GOING TO LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL.

IF HAWLEY HAD TO GIVE SOMETHING UP, THE LAST THING I BELIEVE HE WOULD GIVE UP -- I DON'T KNOW THIS FOR A FACT, BUT HE CHERISHES THAT SEAT ON THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

>> HOW EFFECTIVE CAN THIS SENATOR BE GOING FORWARD IN THE WAKE OF THIS UNBELIEVABLE CONTROVERSY.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE MICHEAL MAHONEY AND MYSELF SAW ANY POLITICIAN FROM MISSOURI OR KANSAS GET SLAPPED AROUND UPSIDE THE HEAD LIKE HE HAS LAST WEEK.

HE'S BECOME SOMETHING OF A PARIAH IN THE U.S. SENATE.

CAN THIS GUY GET ANYTHING DONE FOR MISSOURI GOING FORWARD.

THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.

>> THERE IS AN EFFORT, OF COURSE, TO EXPEL JOSH HAWLEY FROM THE SENATE.

MOST POLITICAL OBSERVERS SAY THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT THERE IS A GROWING MOVEMENT TO SENSOR HIM.

WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN AND WHAT IMPACT WOULD IT HAVE ON JOSH HAWLEY?

>> WHEN YOU'RE CENSORED, IT'S YOUR COLLEAGUES IN THE SENATE OR HOUSE SAYING THAT YOU STEPPED OVER THE LINE, YOU DID SOMETHING THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE.

NOW, CENSURES HAPPEN IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

THEY ARE VERY RARE BECAUSE IT'S REGARDED AS AN INSULT, TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL HAPPEN IN THIS CASE.

I THINK WHAT THEY'VE GOT ON THEIR PLATE ARE REALLY TWO THINGS.

NO.

1 IS CHUCK SCHUMER AND THE DEMOCRATIC NEW MAJORITY WANT TO CONFIRM BIDEN'S CABINET CHOICE.

THEN THEY WILL DEAL WITH THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, AND I DON'T THINK WHEN THAT IS OVER THERE'S GOING TO BE MUCH OF AN APPETITE TO START PUTTING OTHER FOLKS TO THE POST AND ROAST THEM.

>> NICK: BEFORE I MOVE ON, I DON'T WANT TO DISMISS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE IMPEACHMENT HEARING, BUT EVERY SINGLE DEMOCRAT, STEVE KRASKE, IN OUR KANSAS AND MISSOURI DELEGATION VOTED YES.

EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTED NO.

THAT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS IT WAS IN 2019 WHEN THE PRESIDENT WAS FIRST IMPEACHED.

SO NO CHANGE IN THE POLITICAL CALCULATION HERE?

>> RIGHT.

THAT WASN'T A BIG SURPRISE, NICK.

THE VOTES CAME DOWN ALONG PARTY LINES.

THAT'S JUST WHERE OUR TWO STATES ARE RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO DONALD TRUMP AND HOW DIVISIVE THIS GUY IS.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DRAMA OR SUSPENSE AROUND THESE VOTES AT ALL.

>> NICK: THIS WEEK I TOOK A LITTLE TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE.

I WAS LOOKING THROUGH MY NOTES FROM THIS TIME FOUR YEARS AGO TO SEE WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ON THIS PROGRAM WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS GETTING READY TO BE INAUGURATED.

>> ON THE SHOW FOUR YEARS AGO, WE WERE ASKING, WHAT WILL A TRUMP PRESIDENCY MEAN FOR KC.

BEFORE WE TAPED THE SHOW, MIKE PENCE HAD JUST SPOKEN TO THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS.

>> IN ADDITION TO URGING ME TO SEND ALONG GREETINGS, HE SAID, TELL THEM WE'RE GOING TO DO AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, AND IT'S GOING TO BE BIG.

>> THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO COZY UP TO MAYORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NICK, SO MANY OF WHOM ARE STRUGGLING WITH INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING KANSAS CITY MAYOR SLY JAMES.

THAT'S A HUGE THING.

IT'S GOING TO MAKE A LOT OF MAYORS VERY HAPPY, NICK.

>> NICK: ALL RIGHT, STEVE.

THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

>> IT NEVER HAPPENED, AND I THINK WE REALLY LACK THIS TIME AROUND SOME BIG NAMES THAT MIGHT BE MOVING INTO JOE BIDEN'S CABINET.

THIS IS AN EXCEPTION PERHAPS, JASON CLUM A LONG TIME LEADER HERE IN KANSAS CITY IS MAKING A PLAY FOR THAT TOP JOB OUT IN WASHINGTON D.C., REALLY INTERESTING GUY, COULD HAVE BEEN A STOP STATE LEADER IN MISSOURI A FEW YEARS AGO.

HE RAN FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE AND LOST.

HE'S SOMEONE TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON.

>> CAT.

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE BIG IMPACTS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ON THE KANSAS CITY AREA, ONE THAT IS JUST KIND OF GOING TO HAPPEN EVERYWHERE AND ONE SPECIFIC TO KANSAS CITY.

THE FIRST WOULD BE THAT PEOPLE ARE DESPERATELY WANTING RELIEF FROM COVID.

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR MAYBE AN EXPANSION OF THE EVICTION MORATORIUM, MORE STIMULUS FUNDS.

THE KANSAS CITY SPECIFIC ASPECT IS THE MOVEMENT OF THOSE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO THE KANSAS CITY AREA.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE.

FROM THE THINGS I'VE READ, IT'S UNLIKELY THAT THEY'LL MOVE EVERYONE BACK TO THE CDC.

WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS KANSAS CITY BECOMES A FIELD OFFICE, AND THEN THEY REHIRE THE PEOPLE IN D.C. WHO LEFT THE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE OF THE MOVE TO KANSAS CITY.

THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

>> WITH ALL OF THE FOCUS ON THE IMPEACHMENT, I HAVEN'T HEARD MANY STORIES ABOUT WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL DO, PARTICULARLY LOCALLY.

WHAT OTHER IMPACT MIGHT WE SEE HERE?

>> WELL, NO.

1, I THINK YOU'LL SEE ESPECIALLY EMANUEL CLEAVER RENEW AN AGGRESSIVE PUSH FOR FEDERAL HOUSING FUNDS FOR OUR AREA, AND THEN SHARICE DAVIDS SITS ON THE HOUSE INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE.

SO DOES SAM GRAVES OF NORTHERN MISSOURI.

THERE WILL BE A PUSH ON THAT ELEMENT, TOO.

>> NICK: WHAT OTHER IMPACT MIGHT WE SEE LOCALLY, ERIC?

>> I THINK THERE WILL BE AN IMPACT ON CRIME.

I THINK THE SITUATION WITH CRIME HERE IN THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA, I THINK IT WILL BE MORE FOCUS AND EMPHASIS ON IT.

I ALSO A AGREE WITH MIKE THAT CONGRESSMAN CLEAVER WILL DO SOMETHING WITH HOUSING, BUT ALSO TRANSPORTATION.

THAT MONEY COULD HELP EXPAND THE STREETCAR TO GO IN EITHER MORE DIRECTIONS OR IMPROVE AN ALREADY IMPROVING BUS SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE HERE.

>> NICK: IT WAS DURING THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THE STREETCAR GOT ITS MONEY FOR THE EXPANSION, ERIC, AND ALSO DIDN'T WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF FEDERAL OFFICERS COMING IN TOWN TO HELP SOLVE THE CRIME SITUATION?

>> FEDERAL OFFICERS CAME IN, AND I'M GOING TO BE OBJECTIVE HERE.

IT DID DO SOMETHING WITH IT.

BUT AFTER THEY LEFT AND WHILE THEY WERE HERE, THE HOMICIDE RATE STILL WENT UP.

>> STEVE.

>> FOR YEARS, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT COMES IN AND MANUAL CLEAVER CAN GETS KICKED AROUND.

HE'S NOW IN HIS MID 70s, NICK.

HE'S NOT GOING TO LEAD A CABINET AGENCY.

BUT TO UNDERSCORE A POINT THAT BOTH ERIC AND MICHAEL JUST MADE, EMANUEL CLEAVER NOW EMERGES AS JUST THREE OR FOUR LEADING VOICES ON FEDERAL HOUSING POLICY IN THIS COUNTRY.

THAT'S A HUGE PROMOTION IN A SENSE FOR HIM.

HE'LL NOW LEAD A TOP COMMITTEE.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> NEXT UP, A HEADS-UP, YOU'RE GOING TO BE WEARING A MASK AT LEAST UNTIL MAY.

KANSAS CITY MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS EXTENDING THE MASK MANDATE AND EMERGENCY HEALTH ORDER FOR AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS.

YET AT THE SAME TIME HE ANNOUNCES HE'S LETTING BARS AND RESTAURANTS STAY OPEN LATER.

>> WE WILL JOIN THE REST OF THE REGION WITH A MIDNIGHT CLOSING TIME, AND WITHIN THE MONTH, WE WILL REVIEW WHETHER THAT CLOSING TIME SHOULD EITHER BE EXTENDED OR IF THAT CLOSING TIME SHOULD ACTUALLY BE MORE RESTRICTIVE THEREAFTER.

>> WHEN COVID CASES ARE STILL HIGH, VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IS GOING SLOWER THAN EXPECTED.

ERIC WESSON, WHY IS THE MAYOR DECIDING TO RELAX THE RULES FOR RESTAURANTS AND BARS?

>> WELL, ACCORDING TO HIM, PEOPLE ARE ACTING A LITTLE BETTER IN THOSE PLACES.

THEY'RE WEARING THEIR MASKS, THEY'RE HONORING THE CURFEW.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST POINTS THAT WE HAVE IS A LOSS OF SALES TAX REVENUE AND PEOPLE GOING OVER TO KANSAS AND STAYING OUT LATER, AND YOU'VE GOT THE CHIEFS SITUATION WITH THEIR VICTORIES COMING UP.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WANT TO BE OUT AT RESTAURANTS AND BARS.

SO I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH ECONOMICS.

>> CAT REID, THE KANSAS CITY STAR SAYS THIS IS SENDING A WRONG MESSAGE AT A VERY DANGEROUS TIME.

WHAT DO PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS SAY?

>> WELL, I KNOW PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS ARE STILL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASE, THE RISE IN CASES, AND OTHER POLITICAL OFFICIALS AS WELL.

IN A STATEMENT, JACKSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE FRANK WHITE SAYING THEY WOULD ADOPT IT BECAUSE THEY WANT EVERYTHING TO BE UNIFORM.

IT'S CONFUSING, THE PATCHWORK OF RULES IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

I'LL SAY THAT IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY, THEY SPECIFICALLY CITED THE INPUT FROM SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AS PART OF THEIR DECISION TO LOOSEN THE RESTRICTIONS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS IMPACTS OUR POSITIVITY RATE, AND WE JUST WON'T KNOW FOR A LITTLE BIT.

>> MICHAEL.

>> YEAH.

THE OTHER ELEMENT OF THIS THAT WAS IMPORTANT, I THINK, IS THE FACT THAT LAUNCHING A SURVEY AND START A SIGN-UP SHEET TO VACCINATE, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI RESIDENTS.

THE COUNTY, THE FACT THAT THEY'VE GOT 1,000 DOSES FOR A CITY OF A HALF MILLION PEOPLE, AND THEY CAN SEE THAT'S NOWHERE CLOSE TO WHAT THEY NEED AND THAT THIS PROCESS IS GOING TO BE LONG AND SLOW.

ON THURSDAY, MISSOURI STARTED TO TALK ACTIVELY ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING IN TERMS OF ROLING OUT THE SECOND AND THIRD WAVES OF THE VACCINATION PROCESS AND WHO WILL BE IN THOSE LINES.

KANSAS IS DOING THE SAME THING.

THEY SAY THAT THEIR VACCINATION PROGRAM IS GETTING BETTER, BUT THEY ALSO ALL ADMIT THAT THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY CAN DO AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT IT IS ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON HOW MUCH VACCINE THEY GET FROM THE FEDS AND WASHINGTON, WHICH IS CONTROLLING THE ALLOCATIONS.

>> NICK: CAT.

>> REALLY QUICKLY, GOING BACK TO MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS' DECISION.

WHILE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CASES GOING UP, ONE STATISTIC THAT HAS HAS CITED WAS THE NUMBER OF CASES AMONG 18 TO 29-YEAR-OLDS HAS BEEN GOING DOWN, OR AT LEAST 21 AND UP IS THE POPULATION STAYING OUT LATE.

THAT WAS ONE METRIC THAT HE WAS USING EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF THE OVERALL NUMBERS ARE GOING UP.

>> IT'S HARD FOR ME TO DISAGREE WITH MY FORMER COLLEAGUES ON THE EDITORIAL BOARD, NICK.

DO YOU REALLY LOOSEN THE RULES AT A TIME WHEN COVID IS DOING WHAT COVID IS DOING?

I'M NOT SURE YOU WANT TO BE IN THAT SPACE RIGHT NOW.

>> AREN'T OTHER TOP LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY DOING THE SAME THING, INCLUDING ANDREW CUOMO IN NEW YORK?

>> THERE IS SOME OF THAT GOING ON, NICK.

THIS PANDEMIC IS NOT OVER.

LOOSEN THE RULES RIGHT NOW ARGUABLY SENDS THE WRONG SIGNAL.

>> NICK: THIS WEEK JACKSON COUNTY'S PRESIDING JUDGE TEMPORARILY HALTS ALL EVICTIONS AFTER TWO DEPUTIES SHOOT A MAN WHILE CARRYING OUT AN EVICTION IN BLUE SPRINGS.

A GROWING RENTER'S RIGHTS GROUP CALLED KC TENANTS HAS BEEN TRYING TO SHUT DOWN EVICTIONS BY CHAINING THEMSELVES TO THE DOORS OF LOCAL EVICTION COURTS.

DID IT TAKE A TENANT BEING SHOT FOR CHANGE TO HAPPEN, CAT?

>> IT, I THINK, WAS A COMBINATION OF FACTORS.

I THINK THEY SPECIFICALLY CITED THE SHOOTING SAYING THIS SHOWS JUST HOW HIGH EMOTIONS ARE RUNNING RIGHT NOW, THE SOCIETAL PRESSURES WITH COVID, BUT I THINK ALSO THE ACTIONS OF KC TENANTS REALLY IMPACTED.

WHAT I FIND VERY INTERESTING IS THAT IN DECEMBER I HAD ASKED ABOUT THEM SUSPENDING EVICTIONS OR EXTENDING A MORATORIUM.

THE SPOKESPERSON TOLD ME THE PRESIDING JUDGE CAN'T DO THAT, HE DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THAT.

SOMETHING CAME OUT FROM THE STATE OR OTHER OFFICIALS, WE COULD FOLLOW THAT.

BUT IT IS INTERESTING THAT NOW, AFTER ALL OF THIS, HE CAN SUSPEND EVICTIONS.

>> THIS IS JUST A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION, THOUGH.

THIS WAS ONLY THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

WHAT HAPPENED THEN?

>> THE EVICTIONS GO RIGHT BACK INTO PLACE, AND AGAIN, IF I UNDERSTAND RIGHT, THIS ORDER IS REALLY NOT A MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS, PER SE, BUT A MORATORIUM ON THE POSTING OF NOTICES.

KC TENANTS, THE GROUP THAT LOBBIES ON BEHALF OF TENANTS' RIGHTS, WANTED A JUDGE TO DO A LOT MORE HERE.

THEY GOT HALF A BITE OF THE SANDWICH.

THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE IT FOR NOW.

I JUST WOULD POINT OUT, NICK, THAT THIS KC TENANTS ORGANIZATION, BOY, HAVE THEY HAD AN IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.

I HAVEN'T SEEN A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION COME DOWN THE PIKE THAT HAS HAD THIS KIND OF IMPACT THIS CONSISTENTLY IN A LONG TIME.

>> ERIC.

>> YEAH, I AGREE WITH STEVE.

I THINK THAT WHAT WE DO IS WE COME BACK AND WE REVISIT THIS IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

ONE OF THE OTHER FACTORS THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IN THIS IS THE WEATHER.

NOW WITH ALL THE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE THROWING PEOPLE OUT INTO THE COLD.

THAT WAS A FACTOR IN THAT AS WELL.

>> NICK: ANOTHER FACTOR WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IS SOME ARE SAYING, IF WE CAN'T BE COLLECTING RENT, MICHEAL MAHONEY, FROM TENANTS, WE AREN'T GOING TO BOTHER TO DO THIS ANYMORE.

THAT MIGHT MEAN LESS HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO RENT IN THE FUTURE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS EQUATION, AND THE SENSE IS THAT THERE ARE LOTS OF LANDLORDS IN KANSAS CITY AND IN OUR AREA, NICK, THAT ARE NOT BIG HOUSING MOGULS BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.

IT'S SMALL BUSINESSMEN WHO HAVE A FEW PROPERTIES, AND IF THEY AREN'T GETTING THE RENT AND CAN'T PAY THE NOTE ON THEIR PROPERTIES, THERE NEEDS TO BE A BALANCE ON THIS.

>> A SURVEY DONE BACK IN OCTOBER BY THE KC REGIONAL HOUSING ALLIANCE DID FIND THAT NEARLY HALF OF LANDLORDS PLAN TO SELL SOME OR ALL OF THEIR PROPERTIES IF THE SITUATION DID NOT CHANGE SOON.

SO IT IS IMPACTING THEM.

THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET SOME INCOME THROUGH THE UNITED WAY.

211 HAS BEEN CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES AND PAYING LANDLORDS DIRECTLY ON BEHALF OF TENANTS.

BUT THE CARES ACT MONEY WAS KIND OF ALL SPENT BY THE END OF DECEMBER.

FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO KNOW, THIS IS A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION THAT ONLY LASTS TWO WEEKS, BUT THE HOPE IS THAT AFTER JANUARY 24th THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WILL DO SOMETHING THAT IS MORE LASTING, MORE PERMANENT, SO WE COULD SEE THE PICTURE CHANGE AGAIN.

>> NICK: ERIC.

>> I KNOW PERSONALLY AT LEAST FOUR LANDLORDS THAT HAVE STARTED SELLING THEIR PROPERTIES, AND ONE OF THEM ACTUALLY SOLD ALL OF HIS.

IT WAS A COMBINATION OF THIS SITUATION AND THE ORDINANCES IN THE CITY, RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT THEY PLACED ON LANDLORDS THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WHEN LANDLORDS START SELLING THEIR PROPERTIES TO OTHER PEOPLE, THEN THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE AMOUNT OF HOUSING THAT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE AREA.

>> NICK: NEXT UP, A TALE OF TWO SPEECHES.

>> IN THE OFFICE OF MISSOURI GOVERNOR.

>> IN THE OFFICE OF MISSOURI GOVERNOR.

>> SO HELP ME GOD.

>> SO HELP ME GOD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THIS WEEK, AROUND 2,000 GUESTS GATHERED ON THE LAWN OF THE MISSOURI CAPITOL TO WITNESS THE INAUGURATION OF GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON.

AND OVER IN TOPEKA, KANSAS GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY WAS ABANDONING ALL POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE TO DELIVER HER ANNUAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IN A REMARKABLY DIFFERENT WAY.

WAS HER ONLY AUDIENCE A CAMERA OPERATOR?

>> GOOD EVENING.

TYPICALLY, I WOULD DELIVER THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATURE AND THE PUBLIC FROM THE HOUSE CHAMBER IN THE CAPITOL BUILDING, AND I WOULD BEGIN BY LOOKING OUT OVER ALL FAMILIAR FACES, BUT THESE AREN'T TYPICAL TIMES.

>> NICK: THAT, STEVE KRASKE, WAS NOT THE TYPICAL SPEECH, WAS IT?

>> NO, NOT AT ALL, NICK, AND I JUST WOULD POINT OUT THAT BOTH SPEECHES, FAIRLY LOW KEY, NOT A LOT OF NEWS.

I THINK COVID IS SIMPLY DOMINATING TOO MUCH RIGHT NOW.

>> NICK: WAS THERE ANYTHING WE LEARNED FROM EITHER OF THOSE SPEECHES THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE?

>> YOU HAVE TO USE WHAT LAURA KELLY SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED, SEDITION, IN THE CAPITOL RIOT.

THE PERSON WHO TEXTED HIS SPEECH DID NOT MAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT MENTION TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN D.C., USED MORE GENERAL PHRASES.

HE ANSWERED SOME QUESTIONS AT THE END OF HIS SPEECH BUT DIDN'T QUITE CALL IT OUT THE SAME WAY.

>> NICK: TWO OTHER THINGS THAT CAME UP IN LAURA KELLY'S SPEECH IN KANSAS WAS THE FACT THAT SHE WAS LOOKING AT MEDICAID EXPANSION AGAIN EVEN THOUGH SHE IS FACING A MORE CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATURE.

AND ALSO STEVE KRASKE, SHE TALKS ABOUT THIS DIGITAL NETFLIX TAX WE'VE HEARD ABOUT BEFORE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO START CHARGING STREAMING SERVICES AND TAXING THEM, AND THAT WOULD BRING IN ABOUT $80 MILLION A YEAR.

I CAN'T IMAGINE SALES TAX IS GOING TO GO DOWN WELL WITH A MORE CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATURE EITHER.

>> I THINK YOU JUST ANSWERED THAT QUESTION VERY WELL, NICK.

THIS LEGISLATURE IS MORE CONSERVATIVE.

TAX INCREASES WON'T GO DOWN WELL.

DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN PUSHING THIS IDEA FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, YET SOME POINT IT MIGHT GO THROUGH, BUT I'M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH FOR IT THIS YEAR.

>> NICK: FOR MANY KANSAS CITIANS, THE CHIEFS WILL BE THE MOST WELCOMED DISTRACTION OF THE WEEK.

THE FIRST PLAYOFF GAME IS THIS WEEKEND.

THE CHIEFS TAKE THE FIELD SUNDAY AFTERNOON AGAINST THE CLEVELAND BROWNS.

MEANWHILE, WHILE THEY'RE RELUCTANT TO SHARE DETAILS, THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT IS QUIETLY PLANNING ANOTHER SUPER BOWL PARADE.

BUT IF THE CHIEFS WIN, IS IT POSSIBLE THERE WON'T BE ONE?

CITING CONCERNS OVER COVID, PRESIDENT ELECT JOE BIDEN IS CANCELING THE TRADITIONAL INAUGURATION PARADE THIS YEAR.

INSTEAD, THEY'RE HOSTING A VIRTUAL PARADE.

IF KANSAS CITY WINS THE SUPER BOWL, IS THERE ANY TALK OF CANCELING THE PARADE HERE AND HOSTING A VIRTUAL EVENT, ERIC?

>> NO.

THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT.

THEY'RE GOING TO COME OUT.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THEIR MASKS ON.

WE'RE TALKING BACK TO BACK SUPER BOWL WINS?

OH, THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUT THERE AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BALL OUT THERE.

>> NICK: EVEN DURING A PANDEMIC, CAT?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, NICK, I DO THINK THERE IS A SENSE AMONG KANSAS CITIANS AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL THAT IN THIS ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC YEARLONG ORDEAL WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, THE CHIEFS HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE ONLY GOOD THINGS WE CAN ALL HOLD ON TO, AND SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE VERY UNPOPULAR TO CANCEL.

I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE WEARING MASKS, BUT I DO NOT SEE IT BEING CANCELED.

ALSO, WITH SECURITY CONCERNS, THOSE PLAY INTO THE INAUGURATION PARADE BEING CANCELED WHEREAS THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL EVENT, SO I THINK THAT CHANGES THE DYNAMIC JUST A LITTLE BIT.

>> AND ADDING SOME EXPERIENCE ORGANIZING BIG PARADES IN KANSAS CITY WITH THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE COMMITTEE, WE CANCELED THE PARADE IN 2020 BECAUSE OF COVID.

I EXPECT THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PUSHBACK TOWARDS DRAWING LOTS OF PEOPLE DOWNTOWN TO A PARADE TO CELEBRATE A POSSIBLE SUPER BOWL VICTORY, BUT IT WILL STILL HAPPEN, BUT THERE WILL BE THAT DEBATE.

I DO LOVE BIG CROWDS, BUT SO DOES COVID.

>> NICK: STEVE, YOU MENTIONED EARLIER THE KANSAS CITY STAR EDITORIAL BOARD WAS RIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO NOT RELAXING COVID RULES.

IN YOUR VIEW, THEN, DOES THAT MEAN WE SHOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT A PARADE?

>> WELL, NO, BECAUSE THIS IS KANSAS CITY.

WE LOVE OUR FOOTBALL.

WE LOVE OUR CHIEFS.

ERIC WESSON IS RIGHT.

BACK TO BACK SUPER BOWLS WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU COULDN'T STOP THIS CITY FROM GOING OUT AND CELEBRATING, NICK.

>> NICK: ALL RIGHTY.

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

WHAT WAS THE BIG STORY WE MISSED?

>> THE F.B.I.

WARNS KANSAS AND MISSOURI OFFICIALS TO PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE ARMED ACTION AT OUR STATE CAPITOL BUILDINGS STARTING THIS WEEKEND: THE ONLY WOMAN ON FEDERAL DEATH ROW EXECUTED AFTER MURDERING A PREGNANT MISSOURI WOMAN, REMOVING HER BABY AND PASSING IT OFF ON HER OWN.

A KANSAS CITY COUNCILMAN CALLING FOR THE POLICE CHIEF TO RESIGN.

ERIC BUNCH CALLS FOR RICK SMITH TO BE FIRED.

THE KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY RETURNING THIS WEEKEND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MARCH AFTER 300 PEOPLE BEING ALLOWED INTO THE KAUFFMAN CENTER TO WATCH.

AND RESTAURANT WEEK CONTINUING THROUGH SUNDAY.

MORE THAN 100 RESTAURANTS OFFERING MULTI-COURSE MEAL DEALS, EATERIES DESPERATE TO GET ANY BUSINESS.

>> ERIC WESSON, DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

>> I PICKED TWO OF THOSE.

ERIC BUNCH JOINING THE OUTCRY TO GET RID OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE KANSAS CITY STAR REMOVING NELSON'S NAME FROM THEIR LETTERHEAD AFTER A CENTURY OF BENEFITING OFF OF HIS BUSINESS, THEY DECIDE TO KICK HIM TO THE CURB.

>> NICK: I DIDN'T ADD THE POLICE CHIEF'S STORY WITH ERIC BUNCH, BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT SO MANY TIMES.

NOTHING HAPPENS.

HE HAS NO PLANS TO RETIRE, PLANS TO LEAVE, AND THE CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE A SAY OVER WHO THE POLICE CHIEF IS.

>> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, BUT HAVING SOMEBODY OTHER THAN THE BLACK CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION START MAKING THAT OUTCRY MIGHT START GAINING SOME TRACTION AS WELL.

>> I AGREE WITH ERIC COMPLETELY.

TO HAVE A FOURTH DISTRICT COUNCILMAN, NICK, FROM THE PLAZA WESTPORT AREA COME OUT AGAINST THE POLICE CHIEF IS SIGNIFICANT.

YOU'RE RIGHT, THE COUNCIL CAN'T FIRE THIS GUY, BUT THIS STORY IS NOT GOING AWAY.

THE STRUGGLES AND CONTROVERSY AROUND RICK SMITH CONTINUE.

>> NICK: MICHEAL MAHONEY.

>> THE PACE OF VACCINATIONS IN KANSAS CITY, IT'S NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE, AND LET'S WATCH HOW LONG IT TAKES TO PICK UP THE PACE.

>> NICK: CAT.

>> I'M GOING TO GO WITH SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, WHICH IS THE CHANGES WE'RE SEEING TO SOCIAL MEDIA IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK.

I THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE PEOPLE LEAVING SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA SITES AND GOGGLES WHERE.

I LISTENED TO A CONCERNING NEW YORK TIMES REPORT TODAY ABOUT SOME OF THE PLANNING FOR INAUGURATION DAY THAT'S HAPPENING NOW ON THE DARK WEB, WHERE EVERYTHING IS ENCRYPTED AND IT'S MUCH HARDER FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO TRACK THOSE THREATS.

SO I THINK THAT IS A REALLY BIG THING TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

>> NICK: AND ON THAT, WE WILL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED, GIVING UP TIME FOR ZERO COMPENSATION TO HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND OUR WEEK.

THANK YOU, CAT REID FROM 41 ACTION NEWS, ERIC WESSON FROM THE CALL, CHANNEL 9'S MICHEAL MAHONEY AND KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE WEEKDAYS AT 9 ON KCUR F.M., STEVE KRASKE.

I'M NICK HAINES.

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

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