>> NICK: THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT NOW UNDER A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION.

SOME BIG POLITICAL NAMES FLY IN, AND IS THE NEW LOOK KCI READY FOR TAKEOFF?

AIRPORT OFFICIALS SAY IT'S 90% COMPLETE.

AND A NEW FIX FOR THE HOMELESS.

WHY THE CITY IS NOW PAYING THEM 15 BUCKS AN HOUR TO PICK UP TRASH.

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

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

THANK YOU.

>> NICK: HELLO, AND WELCOME.

I'M NICK HAINES, YOUR HOST AND GUIDE THROUGH THE WEEK'S MOST IMPACTFUL, CONFUSING AND BEFUDDLING LOCAL NEWS STORIES, LIFTING UP THE HOOD, AND POSSIBLY THE ROOF, WINDOWS AND DOORS OFF OUR METRO'S TOP HEADLINES ARE THE KANSAS CITY CALL'S ERIC WESSON, DAVE HELLING OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR AND CHANNEL 9 CHIEF LIT CALL ANALYST MICHEAL MAHONEY.

OUR TOWN IS BACK IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK AS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES A FEDERAL PROBE INTO THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> I DO NOT THINK THIS IS THE SORT OF THING THAT PERHAPS IS ASTONISHING TO US, AND FRANKLY, THAT IN IT OF ITSELF SHOULD BE CONCERNING.

>> NICK: THE WASHINGTON POST, CNN, THE NEW YORK TIMES ALL PICKING UP THIS STORY.

WHAT ARE FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS LOOKING FOR, ERIC?

>> WELL, DISCRIMINATION, BLACK POLICE OFFICERS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR PROMOTIONS, BLACK POLICE OFFICERS DISCRIMINATED AGAINST WHILE THEY'RE GOING THROUGH TRAINING.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN DOING THIS STUDY ABOUT IT IS THE RETENTION OF BLACK POLICE OFFICERS ONCE THEY GET OUT OF THE ACADEMY.

I THINK THE STAR, GLENN RICE AND THE CREW, DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF EXPOSING IT.

WHAT I THINK MOST PEOPLE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY WANTED THEM TO DO WAS LOOK AT THE POLICE SHOOTINGS, LOOK AT A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THAT CULTURE THAT IS JUST GROWING AMUCK.

>> NICK: BUT THERE HAVE BEEN GROUPS CALLING FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

THEY'VE BEEN ON THE STREETS PROTESTING.

WHY NOW THEN, MICHAEL?

>> WELL, IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND YOU'RE RIGHT AND ERIC IS RIGHT, THAT THE FIRST CALLS FOR THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE INCIDENTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS AND TROUBLES HERE IN KANSAS CITY, FROM THE URBAN LEAGUE, GWEN GRANT, SOME OTHER CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS.

LET'S HAVE THE DOJ COME IN AND LOOK AT THE POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING IN ADDITION TO THE HIRING POLICIES APPARENTLY THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT.

SO IT'S TAKEN A WHILE FOR THIS TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE DOJ.

NOW IT'S GOING TO BE THERE, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE FOR THE DOJ TO CONDUCT AN EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATION, AND SO I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD BE WAITING FOR A REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ABOUT THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ANY TIME SOON.

IT'S GOING TO BE MONTHS, MAYBE WELL OVER A YEAR.

>> NICK: DOES THIS CHANGE THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF?

WE'RE STILL UNDER INTERIM LEADERSHIP.

>> YES, IT DOES, NICK, FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

FIRST, IF YOU SELECT SOMEONE FROM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH APPEARS TO BE LIFE IN KANSAS CITY, HASN'T PICKED A NEW CHIEF FROM ANOTHER DEPARTMENT IN DECADES, THEN WHOEVER YOU PICK IS GOING TO BE TAINTED BY THIS ALLEGATION, THESE CREDIBLE ALLEGATIONS OF RACISM AND HIRING PROMOTION, AND ERIC DIDN'T MENTION THIS BUT ALSO HOSTILE WORK DEPARTMENT IS ALSO PART OF THE PROBE, AND THAT'S PART OF THE STORY THAT GLENN AND OTHERS WROTE FOR THE STAR, THAT ONCE YOU'RE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, YOU'RE SUBJECT TO HARASSMENT AND NAME CALLING, AND THAT NEEDS EXPLORED AS WELL.

SO IF YOU PICK SOMEONE FROM INSIDE, YOU PICK SOMEONE FROM THE EXISTING CULTURE, AND THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW TRUST CAN BE REBUILT WHEN YOU IN ESSENCE JUST CONTINUE THE PRACTICE AS IT WAS TO THIS POINT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE WRITING A BIT ABOUT THIS.

IF YOU PICK SOMEONE FROM OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT, THAT PERSON, HIM OR HER, COMES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE CLOUD OF A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE POTENTIAL OF A CONSENT DECREE THAT WOULD OUTLINE SPECIFIC HIRING PRACTICES, SPECIFIC REMEDIAL STEPS THE DEPARTMENT MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE.

SO EITHER WAY, IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE POLICE BOARD TO PICK A NEW CHIEF.

>> BUT HERE'S THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION.

THE BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS HAVE SAID NOTHING.

>> TWO OF THE FOUR MEMBERS OF THE POLICE BOARD WHO ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR ARE SERVING ON EXPIRED TERMS.

THEY EXPIRED A YEAR AGO, AND THE IDEA THAT THEY'RE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH FOR A NEW CHIEF WHEN THEY'RE IN ESSENCE SERVING WHEN THEY SHOULD NOT BE SHOULD BE A CONCERN TO EVERY KANSAS CITIAN, AND WE'RE WRITING ON THAT SUBJECT IN THE STAR.

>> AND TODAY'S POINT ABOUT THE NEW POLICE CHIEF, I JUST I DON'T BELIEVE YOU CAN HIRE FROM WITHIN THE RANKS AND CHANGE THE CULTURE, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE ON THAT LIST TO BE HIRED, THEY HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE THINGS GOING ON.

>> NICK: IN THAT SENSE, WHAT DOES A PROBE DO TO THE CULTURE OF THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT?

DOES IT REALLY CHANGE IT?

I WAS STRUCK BY A WASHINGTON POST STORY TWO YEARS AFTER THE GEORGE FLOYD SHOOTINGS IN MINNEAPOLIS AND IS SAID BASICALLY IT HADN'T MADE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE AT ALL IN THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICING, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION THERE TOO.

>> ONE WOULD THINK IT WOULD MAKE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE A LITTLE MORE CAUTIOUS WITH THIS UNDERWAY, AND AS DAVE AND ERIC HAVE SAID, THE CLEAR IMPACT THAT THIS IS GOING TO HAVE ON PICKING ANOTHER CHIEF, WHICH IS PROBABLY ALSO STILL A YEAR AWAY.

BUT I ALSO SUSPECT THAT THE SOP IN THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WON'T CHANGE THAT MUCH UNTIL IT'S FORCED TO.

>> NICK: WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT MORE ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, WHERE THE FORMER KCK DETECTIVE NOW MAKING THE HEADLINES INVOLVING RAPING WOMEN, CORRUPTION, PROTECTING DRUG DEALERS, CASES FOR YEARS COULD HAVE BEEN TAINTED BY THIS, FOR DECADES EVEN.

SO WHY ISN'T THERE A FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION GOING ON IN THE KCK POLICE DEPARTMENT?

>> OBVIOUSLY ROGER GULINSKY HAS BEEN CHARGED FEDERALLY, SO THERE'S F.B.I.

INVOLVEMENT IN THIS CASE.

WE HAVE FOR MANY YEARS CALLED FOR A FEDERAL PROBE IN KCK SIMILAR TO THE ONE ANNOUNCED IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AND FOR REASONS THAT REMAIN A LITTLE FUZZY, THE U.S. ATTORNEY ON THAT SIDE OF THE STATE LINE HAS NEVER PURSUED THAT.

BUT THERE ARE OBVIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE DEPARTMENT.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY, MARK DUPREE, TOLD US THIS WEEK THAT HE WANTS TO REOPEN EVERY CASE THAT ROGER TOUCHED, IF NECESSARY.

THERE ARE THERE IS EVIDENCE OF TAINTED CASES.

SO THE STORY IS STILL BEING TOLD IN KCK AS WELL AS KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

>> NICK: ERIC.

>> TO MIKE'S POINT, DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THEY TRY TO HIRE A NEW CHIEF BEFORE THE END OF NOVEMBER, BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO FAST TRACK IT RIGHT NOW.

>> NICK: ARE YOU READY TO FLY?

KANSAS CITY AVIATION OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW LOOK KCI IS NOW 90% DONE.

THEY'VE BEEN TAKING REPORTERS AROUND THE REGION'S BIGGEST ONGOING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THIS WEEK.

>> WE WANTED THIS TO BE THE GATEWAY TO THE CITY.

>> IT'S AMAZING.

>> MARK DOWN MARCH 3 rd ON YOUR CALENDAR.

THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE INSISTING THE NEW TERMINAL WILL BE OPEN, INCLUDING ITS 50 STORES, RESTAURANTS AND BARS.

MAYOR LUCAS TOOK TO TWITTER.

Y'ALL REMEMBER ALL THOSE NEWS PIECES ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD BE A DISASTER, NEVER BE COMPLETE ON TIME?

DAVE HELLING, ARE YOU WILLING TO CONCEDE THIS IS MOVING FORWARD BETTER THAN EXPECTED OR IS IT STILL TOO SOONTOBE PATTING THE CITY ON THE BACK FOR A JOB WELL DONE?

>> EVERYTHING WE SEE SUGGESTS IT WILL BE READY.

THE FINAL PUSH OF THE CASH REGISTER BUTTON IS NOT UPON US YET, BUT WE'LL SEE IF THEY CAME IN UNDER BUDGET.

I THINK THE MAYOR PROTEST TOO MUCH.

THERE WERE ENORMOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE SELECTION OF THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR ON THIS PROJECT, AS WE RECALL.

AND THERE HAS BEEN A BIT AFTER CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE CONCESSIONERS WHO WERE HIRED AND THE PROGRAM FOR THAT.

BUT BY AND LARGE, ONCE THEY STARTED CONSTRUCTION, MAYBE YOU GUYS AGREE OR DON'T AGREE, THERE HASN'T BEEN THAT MUCH CRITICISM OF THE PROJECT OUT THERE, AND IT HAS PROCEEDED ON TIME.

>> CONTRARY TO WHAT WE MIGHT HAVE HEARD IN THE PAST AND RUMORS WE'VE HEARD IN THE PAST, THEY'RE SAYING THAT EVERY ONE OF THOSE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS AND EATERIES WILL ALL BE OPEN BY THAT TIME, TOO, THEY WON'T DID HE DELAYED, AND I KNOW THE KANSAS CITY CALL IS GOING TO HAVE A SPACE THERE WHERE YOU WILL BE SELLING CHEWING GUM, DRINKS AND NEWSPAPERS.

THEY WANT TO GO TO ALL THESE FANCY RESTAURANTS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

IS THAT YOUR EXPECTATION, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE OPEN MARCH 3 rd?

>> IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE SMOOTH SAILING.

I THINK SOME OF THE STORES MIGHT BE GETTING FROM OVERSEAS HAS ALREADY BEEN ORDERED, SO IT'S SCHEDULED TO BE HERE ON TIME.

SO I THINK RIGHT NOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IS THE BUILDOUT WITH THE INDIVIDUAL STORES.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY EDGEMOOR DIDN'T DO THE BUILDOUT WHILE THEY WERE IN THERE, SO NOW WE HAVE THE COST OF BUILDING OUT THE STORES.

BUT RIGHT NOW FROM EVERYTHING THAT I'VE HEARD, IT SHOULD BE SMOOTH SAILING, AND EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED BY MARCH 3 rd .

>> NICK: WHAT WAS KIND OF IMPRESSIVE LOOKING AT THAT VIDEO, YOU SAW ALL THE SIGNS THERE, ALL THE GATES.

YOU'VE SEEN THEM ALL UP THERE ALREADY.

I DON'T SEE THIS SLY JAMES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT SIGN OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT YET, MICHAEL.

>> PROBABLY WON'T EITHER.

I HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK AROUND IT, BUT I'VE HEARD GOOD THINGS FROM THE PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO THAT HAVE.

TO DAVE AS POINT, THE PROCESS OF SELECTION AND PROCUREMENT ON THE FRONT END OF THIS WAS VERY MESSY.

AND ALMOST DERAILED THE PROJECT AT ONE POINT.

BUT ONCE THEY STARTED HAMMERING THE NAILS AND POURING THE CONCRETE, I THINK IT'S BEEN PRETTY SMOOTH.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN SOME COMMENTS ABOUT THERE NOT BEING A LOT OF NATIONAL CHAIN PLACES OUT THERE.

PROBABLY 85% OF THE TOTAL CONCESSIONS ARE LOCAL VENDORS.

AND I WANT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT IN SAN FRANCISCO, THEY HAVE THE SAME MODEL, WHERE THEY'RE USING LOCAL VENDORS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE THERE'S NOT THAT CHAIN THERE, THERE'S NOT THAT CHAIN THERE.

I LIKE THE CONCEPT OF USING LOCAL VENDORS FOR THAT, BECAUSE PEOPLE, WHEN YOU GO SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT, YOU WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> ACTUALLY, DAVE HELLING WAS LOOKING FOR A BROOKS BROTHERS DRESS SHIRT AND TIE THERE.

THAT'S WHAT HE WAS LOOKING FOR.

>> I'M OBVIOUSLY THE FASHION PLATE HERE OF WEEK IN REVIEW.

I DO THINK ANOTHER THING THAT HAS ACCRUED TO EDGEMOOR'S FAVOR IN THAT ENTIRE ENDEAVOR, NICK, IS AS BEST WE CAN DETERMINE, THEY HAVE MET THEIR PROMISES ON INCLUSIVITY AT LEAST IN TERMS OF CONTRACTING.

WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION MAY BE A LITTLE BIT WEAKER, BUT IN TERMS OF THEIR PROMISES TO, HEY, WE WILL DO THIS FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WE WILL MAKE SURE OF WOMEN PARTICIPATION AND MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN THE PROJECT, THOSE GOALS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN MET.

AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE FINAL FIGURES, BUT IT APPEARS THAT WAY.

THAT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A STUMBLING BLOCK, THAT IF INDEED HALFWAY THROUGH THEY WERE FAR BEHIND, THERE WOULD BE PROTESTS, WORK WOULD BE SHUT DOWN, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

SO THAT ACCRUES TO THEIR CREDIT.

WE'LL KNOW FOR SURE IF THEY MET THOSE GOALS AT THE END OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

>> AND BACK TO THE VENDORS FOR A SECOND, I THINK THE RENOVATION OUT THERE IS CAUGHT IN A DAMNED IF YOU DO OR DAMNED IF YOU DON'T, BECAUSE IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL CHAINS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING JUSTIFIABLY, WHERE ARE THE LOCALS, AND NOW IT IS A LOT OF LOCAL KANSAS CITY FLAVOR OUT THERE, AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING WHERE ARE THE CHAINS?

FOLKS, WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF CHAINS, ALL RIGHT?

>> NICK: COMING UP NEXT, EMPTY NO MORE.

THIS 18 STORY DOWNTOWN OFFICE TOWER WAS SUPPOSED TO HE ABOUT THE HOME OF WADDELL AND REED.

THAT WAS UNTIL THE OVERLAND PARK BASED FINANCIAL FIRM DECIDED LAST YEAR IT DIDN'T WANT IT ANYMORE EVEN THOUGH CITY HALL WAS THROWING $35 MILLION IN INCENTIVES AT THEM TO MOVE FROM KANSAS TO THIS SPOT JUST WEST OF THE POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT.

BUT CAN CITY LEADERS FINALLY WIPE THE EGG OFF THEIR FACE?

THIS WEEK A NEW TENANT HAS FINALLY BEEN FOUND FOR WHAT IS NOW THE MOST LUXURIOUS ABANDONED BUILDING IN KANSAS CITY.

BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD IS MOVING IN ALONG WITH ITS 1400 EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOW BUSY PACKING UP THEIR BELONGINGS.

SO AFTER ALL OF THIS DRAMA, DAVE HELLING, HAVE KANSAS CITY TAXPAYERS TAKEN A HIT OR HAS IT HAD NO IMPACT ON OUR POCKETBOOKS?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS ON THE FINAL AGREEMENT FOR THIS LEASE ON THE BUILDING, SO WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THERE WILL BE CLAWBACKS FOR THE CITY BASED ON THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION THAT AT THE BUILDING.

REMEMBER, SOME OF IT WAS BASED ON HAVING HIGH SALARIED EMPLOYEES FROM WADDELL AND REED IN THAT BUILDING, SOME OF THE INCENTIVES, AND ONE GUESSES THAT BLUE CROSS PROBABLY DOESN'T PAY QUITE AS WELL TO ITS 1400 WORKERS AS MAYBE WADDELL AND REED.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

BUT THE OTHER THING TO POINT OUT IN THIS STORY, NICK, IS NOW THE BLUE CROSS BUILDING IS EMPTY.

>> YEAH, AND THEY'RE RIGHT NEXT TO UNION STATION, A BIG SPACE THERE.

SO THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW IT'S A NET POSITIVE FOR KANSAS CITY IS AN INTERESTING CONCEPT, BECAUSE IT WILL HELP THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND HELP DOWNTOWN, BUT CREATES A HOLE NOW NEXT TO UNION STATION THAT WILL HAVE TO BE FILLED AT SOME POINT.

>> THAT COULD BE THE HOME OF THE NEW DOWNTOWN BALLPARK, THOUGH.

>> WELL, THAT'S AN IDEA.

THERE YOU GO.

RIGHT.

IN SERIOUSNESS, THOUGH, THE FACT THAT, YES, THERE IS GOING TO BE HOLE, A VACANT BUILDING DOWN BY UNION STATION, THE WHOLE IDEA OF OFFICE SPACE IN THE 21 st CENTURY IN THE SECOND DECADE IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT EVERY CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND CONFRONT, BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED THE WAY WE WORK, AND THERE ARE NOT GOING TO BE AS MANY PEOPLE 8 TO 5 IN OFFICES ANY MORE.

>> NOW WHEN CITIES GIVE AWAY POUNDS OF CASH TO BIG COMPANIES, YOU EVEN HEAR, WHY CAN'T THEY FIND THAT MONEY TO HELP PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED IT.

THIS WEEK, KANSAS CITY IS THROWING ITS MONEY AT THE HOMELESS AS PART OF A NEW PROGRAM CALLED CLEAN UP KC.

THEY'RE PAYING THE HOMELESS $15 AN HOUR TO PICK UP TRASH.

>> I'VE SLEPT IN PARKS, BEEN ON BUS BENCHES BEFORE.

>> WE HAVE FAR TOO MANY VACANT POSITIONS IN OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A JOB.

>> TO GET BACK ON MY FEET AND HAVE MY OWN PLACE, YOU KNOW, DRIVE A CAR AGAIN, YOU KNOW, NORMAL THINGS LIKE I USED TO DO.

>> NOW, I KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE AT HOME WATCHING THIS AND SAYING THEY'RE GETTING PAID MORE THAN I AM.

EVERY NEW PROGRAM, THOUGH, HAS ITS SUPPORTERS AND ITS CRITICS.

HOW IS THIS NEW EFFORT BEING VIEWED, ERIC?

>> THE JURY IS STILL OUT.

IT'S A GOOD CONCEPT.

I THINK THE CITY PUT $300,000 IN IT.

>> WHICH IS A TINY PORTION OF THE BUDGET.

>> A REALLY, REALLY SMALL PORTION OF THE BUDGET, BUT WHAT ARE WE DOING AFTER THAT?

AND THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A YEARLONG PILOT PROGRAM.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

WILL THIS ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE GET ON THEIR FEET?

THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON IT.

>> IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, HOWEVER, YOU NEED TO CRAWL BEFORE YOU WALK.

AND SO, I THINK CITY HALL GETS SOME PROPS FOR THAT.

NOW, THE PROGRAM IS NOT VERY EXTENSIVE.

IT'S A HANDFUL OF WORKERS AT THIS POINT.

I MEAN, THERE'S A VALUE TO WORK THAT JUST HELPS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN MANY WAYS.

15 BUCKS, NOBODY IS GOING TO GET RICH ON THAT.

I GOT IT.

BUT IT'S 15 BUCKS THEY WEREN'T MAKING BEFOREHAND.

>> BUT SHOULDN'T WE BE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE IN CAREERS?

AND I DON'T KNOW IF I IS THERE A MARKET FOR A CAREER OF PICKING UP TRASH, CUTTING VACANT LOTS?

WHY AREN'T WE GEARED MORE TOWARD GETTING PEOPLE SUBSTANTIAL, SUSTAINABLE CAREERS?

>> AGREED, BUT SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN KNOT CAN.

AGAIN, I GO BACK TO LET'S CRAWL BEFORE WE WALK.

>> AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS QUICKLY, NICK, IS THE PUBLIC UPSET WITH THE TRASH IN THE STREETS AND UNCUT VACANT LOTS AND IMMEDIATEIANS WITH WEEDS AND TRASH.

IT'S VERY HIGH.

PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT IT IN KANSAS CITY, AND SO THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS EQUATION IS THIS AT LEAST ADDRESSES AN IMPORTANT NEED IN THE COMMUNITY TO BE CLEANER ABOUT WHAT WE DO, AND IN THAT SENSE, IT MAY BE A SUCCESS AS WELL.

>> LAST WEEK WE ASKED WHY WE'VE HAD ZERO VISITS IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI THIS ELECTION YEAR FROM PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE AREN'T GETTING BIG POLITICAL NAMES FLYING INTO TOWN.

THIS WEEK NEW VIRGINIA GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN WAS AND AND SO WAS THE MAN SOME SAY COULD BE THE NEXT REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT, FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS.

BOTH GOVERNORS CAMPAIGNING FOR DEREK SCHMIDT WHOSE TRYING TO UNSEAT LAURA KELLY AS KANSAS GOVERNOR.

>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE STATE OF KANSAS.

>> MICHEAL MAHONEY, WHAT WAS THE VALUE OF DEREK SCHMIDT IN BRINGING IN GOVERNORS DESANTIS AND YOUNGKIN.

>> YOUNGKIN WON ELECTION IN 2021 BASICALLY ON A VERY INTERESTING PLATFORM THAT REALLY WORKS IN GOVERNORS RACES, AND IT'S, PARENTS YOU'RE NOT GETTING YOUR MONEY'S WORTH FOR YOUR SCHOOLS.

THAT RESONATED WITH REPUBLICAN VOTERS AND VOTERS IN VIRGINIA QUITE WELL, AND PEOPLE STARTED LOOKING, HERE'S THE PATHWAY BEYOND DONALD TRUMP FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> NICK: HOW ABOUT FOR DESANTIS THEN?

IMMIGRATION HAS BEEN HIS BIG PUSH WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT.

DOES THAT ALSO BENEFIT DEREK SCHMIDT?

>> HE WILL NOT WIN THE NOMINATION TO BE THE GOVERNOR OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD, BUT THE DESANTIS TRIP WAS HIM, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, COMING IN TO PICK UP POLITICAL CHIPS AMONG THE REP KAHNE ESTABLISHMENT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SO THERE ARE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

SO TWO VERY DIFFERENT BUT BOTH SPEAK TO THE IMPORTANCE REPUBLICANS HAVE IN THIS RACE, AND THE SCHMIDT CAMPAIGN IS STEPPING UP ITS ATTACKS ON GOVERNOR KELLY THIS PAST WEEK AS WELL.

IN FACT, THEY'RE SAYING SHE'S LYING ABOUT THINGS.

>> NICK: DEREK SCHMIDT HAS BEEN TRYING TO DEEMPHASIS ABORTION IN THAT CAMPAIGN.

DOES IMMIGRATION HELP HIM MORE AS AN ISSUE?

>> IT MIGHT.

IMMIGRATION IS AN ISSUE IN KANSAS AND SHOULD BE MORE THAN, FOR EXAMPLE, THAN MISSOURI.

THE LATINO POPULATION OF KANSAS IS ACTUALLY QUITE HIGH, MUCH HIGHER IN WESTERN KANSAS THAN IT IS IN OUR AREA, SO IT HAS SOME RESONANCE IN A WAY THAT IT SHOULD NOT OR DOES NOT IN MISSOURI.

THE OTHER INTERESTING THING TO ME, DEREK SCHMIDT, THERE WAS NEW POLLING THIS WEEK THAT SHOWS SCHMIDT TRAILING LAURA KELLY BY 2 OR 3 POINTS, MARGIN OF ERA STUFF.

A TOSSUP RACE.

THAT SHOULD BE SOME CONCERN TO REPUBLICANS SINCE KANSAS IS SUCH A REPUBLICAN STATE AND JERRY MORAN IS A HUGE FAVORITE IN THE SENATE RACES AND OTHER PLACES.

THE IDEA THAT WE'RE 7 WEEKS OUT AND IT'S A DEAD HEAT BETWEEN LAURA KELLY AND DEREK SCHMIDT SUGGESTS ONE REASON WHY HE'S CALLING IN GLENN YOUNGKIN AND GETTING MORE AGGRESSIVE ON TV AND CALLING HER A LIAR AND OTHER THINGS, BECAUSE I THINK HE REALIZES HE REALLY NEEDS TO TURN UP THE HEAT OR HIS CAMPAIGN WOULD BE IN TROUBLE.

>> THE INDEPENDENT PERSON, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE THE ONES PULLING HIS VOTES.

I DON'T THINK HE'S HURTING LAURA KELLY.

>> DENNIS PILE, HE HAD 3% OF THE VOTE, AND IF THAT ALL WENT TO SCHMIDT, AS WE ASSUMED IT WOULD, HE WOULD ACTUALLY BE AHEAD IN THE POLL THAT I SAW.

SO THAT'S A CONCERN.

AND THERE'S ALSO WORRY IN BOTH PARTIES ABOUT THE TURNOUT OF THE ABORTION VOTERS FROM AUGUST.

WILL THEY VOTE OR WILL THEY NOT VOTE?

IF THEY DO TURN OUT, LAURA KELLY IS IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

IF THEY DON'T, IF IT'S A NORMAL NOVEMBER ELECTION, IT MAY BE A BETTER NIGHT FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> JUST TO FLIP THAT COIN FOR A SECOND, FROM A DEMOCRATIC PERSPECTIVE ON THIS, THE FACT THAT THE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR IS UNDER 50% IS ALWAYS A TROUBLE FLAG FOR THAT CAMPAIGN.

THEY BELIEVE THAT SHE'S IN HER 40s.

SHE'S OKAY FROM THAT, BUT SHE'S NOT AT 50%, AND INCUMBENTS ALWAYS FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE IF THEY'RE ABOVE THE 50%,.

>> THE REASON IS INDEPENDENTS TEND TO VOTE OR GO TO THE CHALLENGER IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AFTER CAMPAIGN, BECAUSE THEY KNOW LAURA KELLY, SO THEY MAY PICK SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> I THINK THE DIFFERENCE WITH JUST BEING, IF YOU WERE A DEMOCRAT, IS THAT THAT STATE VOTED OVERWHELMINGLY FOR DONALD TRUMP, AND FOR HER TO EVEN BE A FRONTRUNNER OF ANY SORT, I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES OF WHAT HER CAMPAIGN IS DOING AND WHAT SHE'S DONE, I GUESS.

>> THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THAT LEAD IS WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR ON THAT, AND IT'S THE SAME THING ON THE KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE WHERE KRIS KOBACH HAS A VERY SLIM LEAD OVER CHRIS MANN THAT IS ALSO IN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

>> IF YOU BELIEVE THE POLLS.

>> THEY WERE WRONG ON ABORTION, HEAVILY WRONG.

THAT WAS A TOSSUP RACE IN THE DAYS BEFORE, NICK, AS YOU KNOW.

AND THE NO VOTE WON BY 18 POINTS, SO THE POLLSTERS HAVE SOME WORK TO DO, AND WE'LL SEE IF THAT TURNS OUT TO BE THE TREND.

>> THERE WASN'T A LOT OF POLLING DONE ON THE VALUE OF THE POLLING.

>> PUTTING TOGETHER A PROM LIKE THIS EVERY WEEK, YOU CAN'T PROGRAM LIKE THIS EVERY WEEK, YOU CAN'T GET TO EVERY BIG STORY MAKING THE HEADLINES.

WHAT WAS THE BIG STORY WE MISSED?

>> I KNOW THE ROYALS HAVEN'T BEEN PLAYING VERY WELL THIS YEAR, BUT IS THAT ANY REASON TO FIRE THE GUY IN CHARGE?

>> WHEN YOU DON'T WIN ENOUGH GAMES, CHANGE SOMETIMES IS REQUIRED.

>> IT WAS A WEEK FOR BREAKING HEAT RECORDS.

>> EXPECT A HIGH OF 100 DEGREES TOMORROW.

>> CITING HEALTH CONCERNS, A FEDERAL JUDGE RELEASES FORMER KCK POLICE DEPARTMENTER ROGER FROM DETENTION.

HE'S BEEN ACCUSED OF RAPING BLACK WOMEN.

KANSAS STARTED SPORTS BETTING.

OVERLAND PARK VOTES TO CRACK DOWN ON AIRBNB'S WITH FINES AND JAIL TIME FOR NUISANCE PARTIES.

>> IT PROVIDES IMMEDIATE RELIEF TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS ABOUT CHAOTIC PARTIES.

>> THE PARK HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT NOW IS SO DESPERATE FOR BUS DRIVERS, THEY'RE TRAINING AND PAYING PARENTS TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL.

ONE OF KANSAS CITY'S LONGEST RUNNING TRADITIONS ON THE WAY THIS WEEKEND, AND MOVE OVER FANCY RESTAURANTS.

ONE OF KANSAS CITY'S TINIEST AND UNASSUMING EATERIES MAKES THE NEW YORK TIMES 50 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA LIST, AND IT'S JUST A STONE'S THROW FROM OUR STUDIOS HERE ON 31 st STREET.

KITTY'S CAFE CLAIMS TO SERVE THE BEST TENDERLOIN IN TOWN SINCE 1951.

AND THAT WAS LONGER THAN THE QUEEN SERVED ON THE THROWN.

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

>> I THINK THE SPORTS QUOTE OF THE DECADE, MAYBE THE CENTURY, WAS SAYING THAT HE WANTED TO HE WAS TALKING ABOUT DAYTON MOORE, AND HE ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT CHAMPIONSHIPS.

I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A WILDCARD TEAM.

I THINK THAT MOORE ACTUALLY HAD TWO YEARS LONGER, BECAUSE YOU FIGURE HE'S HAD SIX LOSING SEASONS.

I FIGURED AFTER 4 THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE LOOKING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION, SO I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE DETECTIVE OVER IN KANSAS, WHEN THE F.B.I.

CAME TO ARREST HIM, THEY SAID THERE WAS AN AMBULANCE WITH THEM.

THE QUESTION IS, EVEN IF HE IS IF THAT BAD OF HEALTH, IF THEY DO CONVICT HIM, HOW LONG WILL HE BE ALIVE.

>> SPEAKING OF THE ROYALS, WE ARE NOT A SPORTS SHOW, BUT DOES IT HAVE BROADER IMPLICATIONS FOR KANSAS CITY, DAVE?

>> I THINK THERE IS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU NEED A FRANCHISE THAT IS AT LEAST COMPETITIVE IF YOU WANT TO GO TO VOTERS TO TALK ABOUT A NEW STADIUM, AND I THINK THIS MAY BE THE FIRST OF A ROLLOUT OF INITIATIVES THAT HEAD IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> NICK: WHAT WAS THE STORY WE MISSED, MICHAEL?

>> JUST TO ADD ON TO THE ROYALS THING, I THINK THERE ARE MORE CHANGES IN THE FRONT OFFICE TO COME AS THIS SEASON CONCLUDES.

THE SPORTS BETTING STORY, THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A BILL FILED DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION AND THERE'S ALSO A BILL TO REPEAL THE MISSOURI ABORTION LAW IS WINDOW DRESSING AT BEST.

NONE OF THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE SPECIAL SESSION.

>> NICK: DAVE.

>> JUST BRIEFLY, THE QUEEN WOULD HAVE LOVED A KITTY'S TENDERLOIN SANDWICH.

I'LL THROW THAT OUT THERE.

AND THE KING IS INVITED TO COME OVER AND HAVE ONE IF HE WANTS ONE.

THIS WEEK THE U.S. HOUSE PASSED A BILL DESIGNED TO CLEAN UP THE WAY THEY COUNT ELECTORAL VOTES AFTER THE DEBACLE IN 2020 AND THE JANUARY 6 th DIFFICULTIES.

EVERY REPUBLICAN FROM MISSOURI AND KANSAS VOTED NO IN THE HOUSE.

EVERY DEMOCRAT VOTED YES.

>> NICK: AND BACK ON KITTY'S, DON'T GO THERE RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS A FAVORITE SPOT FOR PEOPLE HERE.

IT'S JUST DOWN THE ROAD.

AND YOU CAN'T GET IN.

THERE ARE LINES DOWN THE ROAD EVEN BEFORE 9 O'CLOCK THIS MORNING.

PEOPLE ARE COMING IN FROM ALL OVER THE REGION LOOKING FOR TENDER LOINS, AND THEY RAN OUT HALFWAY THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING ON THE LIST THAT GETS POPULAR, THAT'S NOT THE TIME TO GO.

AND ON THAT, WE WILL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED THANKS TO CHANNEL 9'S MICHEAL MAHONEY, AND ALSO A CALL FROM THE KANSAS CITY CALL, ERIC WESSON, FROM THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR, DAVE HELLING, AND I'M NICK HAINES.

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