COMING UP ON WEEK IN REVIEW THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THIS IS JUST A GAME OF POLITICAL SHENANIGANS WE ARE SHOOTING OURSELVES IN FOOT THE REALITY IS THAT HOSPITALS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING THE LINE GOES AROUND THE BLOCK AND AROUND THE BLOCK AGAIN EVERYTHING HAPPENING AT ONCE IS ALMOST A PERFECT STORM RIGHT NOW THERE ARE ALMOST NO SUBS TO GO AROUND FIRST WORD THAT KIND OF CAME TO MY MIND WAS OVERWHELMED 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 DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS BOB AND MARLESE GOURLEY THE COURTNEY S TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST JOHN H MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA N A CO-TRUSTEES AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU THANK YOU WELCOME I'M NICK HAINES GOOD OF YOU TO JOIN US DEFINITELY NO SHORTAGE OF NEWS IN KANSAS CITY THIS WEEK THE CHALLENGE OF COURSE IS HOW DO WE FIT IT ALL IN IN THE NEXT 26 MINUTES WELL WE'RE GOING TO TRY THANKS BECAUSE ON OUR JOURNEY WITH US ON THE MOST IMPACTFUL CONFUSING AND BEFUDDLING LOCAL STORIES OF THE WEEK IS LISA RODRIGUEZ FROM KCUR NEWS DAVE HELLING FROM YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR REPORTER AND MANAGING EDITOR AT THE CALL NEWSPAPER ERIC WESSON AND KMBC POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL MAHONEY AGAIN THERE'S NO SHORTAGE ALSO OF GLOOM AND DOOM IN OUR NEWS SO CAN WE START WITH SOME GOOD NEWS FOR A CHANGE BIG CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK IN THE KANSAS CITY MISSOURI SCHOOL DISTRICT 20 YEARS AFTER BECOMING THE FIRST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE NATION TO LOSE ITS STATE ACCREDITATION THEY'VE EARNED IT BACK THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU HAVING LIVED THROUGH THE NAGGING DISAPPOINTMENT AND FRUSTRATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE LABELS UNACCREDITED OR PROVISIONALLY ACCREDITED THIS MOMENT IS SURREAL I DO BELIEVE THAT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WITH THE ACCREDITATION NOT BEING IN PLACE THAT IT IS A DETRIMENT TO THE TO THE HOME VALUES AND HOME SALES IN KANSAS MISSOURI WE CELEBRATE NOW WE ROLL OUR SLEEVES UP AND WE GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK WELL JUST TO PUT THE STORY INTO CONTEXT IN THE YEAR 2000 THE LA TIMES RUN A STORY ON KANSAS CITY SCHOOLS BEING STRIPPED OF ITS STATE ACCREDITATION WITH NO IMPROVEMENTS THEY REPORTED THE DISTRICT WOULD BE QUOTE ABOLISHED SPLIT UP OR TOTALLY DISSOLVED AND NONE OF THOSE THINGS HAPPENED ERIC WE NEVER HAD THAT DOOMSDAY SCENARIO IN KANSAS CITY RIGHT IT NEVER HAPPENED BUT IT WAS A CHALLENGING TIME WITH THE LAWS COMING IN WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOLS THE ENROLLMENTS DROPPING HE'S WEATHERED THE FIRST PART OF THE STORM BUT NOW THE SECOND PART OF THE STORM THAT HE'S GOT TO WEATHER HE'S GOT TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY DO BUSINESS 20 YEARS AGO LISA THERE WERE 30 000 SCHOOLS STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT TODAY IT'S AROUND FOURTEEN THOUSAND BUT IF YOU'RE A PARENT OF A DIS A PARENT OF A STUDENT IN THE DISTRICT RIGHT NOW WHAT DOES THIS NEWS MEAN THIS WEEK TO YOU I MEAN WHAT WE HEARD IN THE MONTAGE OF CLIPS THAT YOU PLAYED SHEDDING THE LABELS UNACCREDITED OR PROVISIONALLY ACCREDITED IS IS SIGNIFICANT FOR A PARENT THAT IS ONE IF THAT IF THAT WAS A BARRIER TO ENROLLING YOUR CHILD IN PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT BARRIER IS NOW GONE AND IF I ALREADY HAVE KIDS IN THE DISTRICT I THINK THAT THIS IS A SIGN THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME STABILITY THAT THE DISTRICT HAS SHOWN YEARS OF STEADY IMPROVEMENT THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS MADE INROADS WITH WITH CIVIC LEADERS AND IS ON AN UPWARD TRAJECTORY SO WHILE WHILE THEY MAY NOT BE HOME AT THE KITCHEN TABLE DISCUSSING ACCREDITED VERSUS UNACCREDITED I THINK THIS IS A HUGE MOVE FOR A PARENT MARK BEDELL IS A BIG UH PART OF THIS DAVE HELLING AND I KNOW THE EDITORIAL BOARD AT THE STAR DID A STORY TALKING ABOUT HIM NOW BEING THE LONGEST SERVING SUPERINTENDENT IN 50 YEARS IN THAT DISTRICT IT USED TO BE THIS REVOLVING DOOR EVERY OTHER YEAR OR SO YOU'D HAVE A NEW SUPERINTENDENT WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE THERE WHAT WHAT IS THAT THAT CHANGE IN INGREDIENTS THAT HAS GOT HIM TO STAY HERE THAT LONG PART OF IT IS UH DR BEDELL HIMSELF I MEAN I THINK HE'S CLEARLY COMMITTED TO THE KANSAS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DOESN'T HAVE THE WANDERLUST IF YOU WILL THAT OTHER OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE HAD IN THE PAST AND LET'S TIP OUR CAPS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AS WELL YOU REMEMBER 20 25 YEARS AGO IT WAS HIGHLY DYSFUNCTIONAL AND CLOSED MEETINGS AND ARGUMENTS THE SCHOOL BOARD SEEMS TO BE MUCH MORE FUNCTIONAL NOW AND HAS SUPPORTED DR BEDELL IN HIS ENDEAVORS BUT YOU KNOW TEST SCORES STILL REMAIN LOW LOWER THAN ANYONE WOULD LIKE THEY'VE SHOWN PROGRESS BUT THEY'RE NOT WHERE THEY NEED TO BE ATTENDANCE IS AN ISSUE I KNOW THE BOARD AND DR BEDELL ARE TALKING ABOUT WAYS TO EXTEND THE SCHOOL DAY AND THEN NICK PUT COVET ON TOP OF ALL OF IT AND REMOTE LEARNING AND ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THAT AND YOU JUST YOU HAVE A RECIPE FOR A VERY VERY CHALLENGING SITUATION SO THIS IS GOOD NEWS GREAT NEWS ON ACCREDITATION BUT THERE IS OTHER WORK TO BE DONE AND WE ARE LOOKING BY THE WAY ALSO ERIC IN THIS YEAR OF SOME QUITE LARGE UH SCHOOL CLOSINGS IN KANSAS CITY MISSOURI AS A RESULT OF THAT DECLINING ENROLLMENT YEAH AND HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN AND HAVE UTILITY BILLS AND YOU ONLY HAVE 200 STUDENTS IN THE ENTIRE SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL WAS BUILT FOR 1500 STUDENTS BUT I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE OTHER THING TO WHAT DAVE HELLING SAID NOT ONLY IS HE COMMITTED TO KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS I THINK DR BEDELL IS COMMITTED TO KANSAS CITY UH WHEN HE YOU KNOW HIS KIDS HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE THEY'RE IN SCHOOL AND NOT LIKE A LOT OF SUPERINTENDENTS WHO MOVED HERE DID THE JOBS BUT THEY NEVER MOVE THEIR FAMILIES HERE IF THEY LIVE SOMEPLACE ELSE HE'S COMMITTED YOU SEE HIM IN CHURCH YOU SEE HIM IN THE GROCERY STORE I SEE HIM AT THE CLEANERS ALL THE TIME SO I THINK THE BIG DIFFERENCE WITH HIM WAS BEING COMMITTED TO KANSAS CITY THE OTHER THING IS ONE OF THE DIFFERENCES IS THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD NOW FUNCTIONS HAS A POLICY MAKING BOARD AND THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR HANDS IN TINKERINE ON A DAILY BASIS WITH UH WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LIKE THEY USED TO BACK IN THE PAST PATRONAGE WAS A HUGE PROBLEM IN THAT DAY IN THAT DISTRICT AND THE SCHOOL BOARD NOW IT TAKES A MUCH MORE PROFESSIONAL APPROACH RATHER THAN MAKING IT THEIR OWN LITTLE POLITICAL FIGHT ONE OTHER THING UH NICK THE NEXT QUESTION THAT I HAVE AND THE NEXT QUESTION THAT THE MEDIA SHOULD HAVE IS WILL HE STAY HERE THAT'S THE QUESTION BECAUSE SUPERINTENDENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE BECOMING VERY HIGH COMMODITIES BECAUSE OF COVET A LOT OF THEM ARE LEAVING A LOT OF THEM ARE DOING A LOT OF THINGS SO THE QUESTION WILL BE WILL HE REMAIN HERE HE'S HE'S DONE THIS GREAT THING NOW WILL HE STAY HERE AND WILL THE PEOPLE IN KANSAS CITY EMBRACE AND ENCOURAGE HIM TO STAY HERE IT'S NOT HOW WE WANTED TO START THIS NEW YEAR BUT COVID IS STILL DOMINATING OUR LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES IT REMAINS THE MOST UNPREDICTABLE STORY OF THE WEEK HERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF THE WEEK'S PANDEMIC RELATED HEADLINES THE REALITY IS THAT HOSPITALS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ICU ICUS THAT ARE FULL WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING TO DELAY GETTING CARE AREA HOSPITALS FEELING THE SQUEEZE KU REPORTING THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF COVERED HOSPITALIZATIONS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN AND WHERE ARE THE MEDICAL WORKERS NEARLY A THOUSAND KU STAFFERS SIDELINED DUE TO THE VIRUS SCHOOL CANCELLED ENTIRELY IN THE BONUS SPRING SCHOOL DISTRICT TOO MANY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS SICK THREE JOHNSON COUNTY CITIES TAKING MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS PRAIRIE VILLAGE MISSION AND ROLAND PARK ALL VOTING TO REINSTATE CITY-WIDE MASS MANDATES GETTING A COVID TEST STILL A MASSIVE CHALLENGE SOME LOCAL TESTING SITES REPORTING HALF MILE LONG CAR LINES THE LINE GOES AROUND THE BLOCK AND AROUND THE BLOCK AGAIN THE K-U CHANCELLOR SAYS MASS GAP OR ELSE TOO MANY JAYHAWK BASKETBALL FANS IGNORING MASK RULES K.U NOW CONSIDERING LIMITING ATTENDANCE AT ALLEN FIELDHOUSE AND WANT TO BE A TEACHER A PANDEMIC STAFFING SHORTAGE PROMPTING THE KANSAS BOARD OF EDUCATION TO DROP COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS EVERYTHING HAPPENING AT ONCE IS ALMOST A PERFECT STORM RIGHT NOW THERE ARE ALMOST NO SUBS TO GO AROUND THE FIRST WORD THAT KIND OF CAME TO MY MIND WAS OVERWHELMED ALRIGHTY THERE ARE SO MANY STORY LINES HERE IT'S HARD TO KEEP TRACK AS ONE OF THE TEACHERS JUST SAID IT IS OVERWHELMING IT'S EASY TO TUNE OUT OF COURSE SO IN THE INTEREST OF TIME CAN I ASK EACH OF YOU WHICH OF THESE HEADLINES DESERVES MORE PUBLIC ATTENTION MORE CLOSER SCRUTINY THAN IT GOT THIS WEEK LISA OH MAN THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE WE REALLY ARE IN A PERFECT STORM HERE BUT I THINK THESE STAFFING SHORTAGES BOTH AT HOSPITALS AND WITH SCHOOLS POTENTIALLY WILL WILL TOUCH EVERYONE'S LIVES SO MANY KANSAS CITY DEANS AND IT'S NOT IT GOES BEYOND YOU KNOW WHETHER YOU WANT A MASS MANDATE AT SCHOOL OR WHETHER THERE'S A VACCINE MANDATED AT THE HOSPITAL IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN OR WHETHER THE OMICRON VARIANT IS LESS SEVERE THAN OTHER VARIANTS IF TEACHERS AREN'T WELL ENOUGH TO COME TO SCHOOL AND YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE RUNNING THOSE SCHOOLS THEN THEN THOSE ARE GOING TO TRIGGER SCHOOL CLOSURES ANYWAY AND THAT CREATES A HEADACHE FOR PARENTS IT CREATES A HEADACHE FOR SCHOOLS THEMSELVES IT'S IT JUST REALLY IS A MESS THE TEACHERS THOUGH UNION IN KANSAS HATING THIS NEW UH EMERGENCY MEASURE BECAUSE THEY'RE WORRIED HEY WELL THIS MIGHT POSSIBLY BECOME PERMANENT IF YOU CAN NOW JUST HAVE SOMEBODY WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BECOMING A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER IT WILL DEVALUE ALL TEACHING IN KANSAS LISA RIGHT I THINK AND I THINK THAT'S A IT'S A LEGITIMATE CONCERN YOU WANT SOMEONE TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN WHO HAS THE EXPERIENCE AND WHO WHO IS A TEACHER YOU KNOW AS AS A CAREER AND I THINK THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT BRINGING SOMEONE IN WITH A HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE MAY NOT PROVIDE THE VALUE OF EDUCATION THAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR KIDS BUT AGAIN THIS IS NOT A NORMAL TIME THAT WE'RE LIVING IN WE ARE TRULY IN A MOMENT OF CRISIS THE OTHER THING THAT UH THIS UH LOWERING THE BAR ON UH SUB TEACHERS UH IS GOING TO REVEAL TO ITSELF IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MAY WANT TO STEP IN FOR WHATEVER REASON ARE KIND OF FIND OUT JUST HOW HARD IT IS TO BE A TEACHER AT ANY LEVEL AND IN ANY PLACE AND KANSAS IS NOT THE ONLY STATE THAT IS DOING THIS OTHER STATES AROUND THE MIDWEST ARE ALSO EITHER CONSIDERING OR HAVE HAVE DONE SO MISSOURI ALREADY HAS OF COURSE YOU ONLY NEED A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA NOW TO TEACH IN MISSOURI SCHOOLS JUST GET A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK WELL I THINK WE NEED TO PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION NICK TO THE IMPACT OF THE NEW VARIANT ON DAY CARE CENTERS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION REMEMBER THOSE KIDS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINES SO THEIR EXPOSURE TO OMICRON OR OTHER OTHER CORONAVIRUSES IS UH QUITE PROBLEMATIC AND OF COURSE YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH STAFF AND THE DAYCARE STRUCTURE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS PRETTY UNSTABLE ANYWAY BECAUSE OF LOW PAY AND OTHER CONCERNS PEOPLE WHO WORK IN DAYCARE CENTERS CAN MAKE MORE MONEY IN OTHER OCCUPATIONS I HAVE SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THIS REGARD WITH MY EXTENDED FAMILY AND THE CHOICES THAT PARENTS HAVE TO MAKE IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE AGONIZING AND DIFFICULT AND IN SOME CASES DANGEROUS SO I THINK WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE LITTLE ONES AS MUCH AS WE DO THE KIDS IN ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION OVER IN KANSAS GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY WAS DELIVERING WHAT COULD BE HER LAST STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS THIS WEEK SHE'S UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN NOVEMBER AND WHAT SOME ANALYSTS CLAIM IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS DID YOU CATCH HER SPEECH FROM THE STATE HOUSE IF YOU DIDN'T WE'VE MADE IT EASY FOR YOU IN A FRACTION OF A MINUTE HERE ARE FIVE OF KELLY'S BIGGEST APPLAUSE LINES JUST A FEW YEARS AGO KANSAS WAS MAKING HEADLINES FOR ITS BUDGET MISMANAGEMENT I'M NOW PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE THE LARGEST BUDGET SURPLUS IN THE PAST 40 YEARS EVERY WORKING KANSAN WHO FILED TAXES IN 2021 WILL GET A 250 REBATE THIS YEAR 500 FOR MARRIED COUPLES FILING JOINTLY WE HEREBY ELIMINATE THE STATE SALES TAX ON FOOD IN KANSAS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY TODAY I'M ANNOUNCING THAT MY BUDGET INCLUDES A TOTAL FREEZE ON COLLEGE TUITION INCREASES MEDICAID EXPANSION IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW IT'S WELL PAST TIME LET'S GET THIS DONE SOME OF THESE MESSAGES FROM KELLY WE'D HEARD FROM BEFORE FROM HER BUT WHAT WAS THE MOST SURPRISING REVELATION IN KELLY'S SPEECH FOR YOU MICHAEL THIS WAS VERY MUCH A CAMPAIGN SPEECH I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD BE SURPRISED THAT IT WAS GOVERNORS IN ELECTION YEARS OFTEN USE THIS REALLY HIGH PROFILE EVENT FOR THAT I ACTUALLY LISTENED TO THE SPEECH THREE TIMES YES I DID AND ONE OF THE THINGS SHE SAYS IN THERE WHICH WAS INTERESTING IS SHE WORKED WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP SHE MENTIONS HIS NAME I WORKED WITH HIM WHILE HE WAS PRESIDENT AND ANOTHER ONE WAS WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A LOT MORE MONEY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT PAY RAISES FOR STATE TROOPERS NOW FOR A DEMOCRAT THAT'S AN INTERESTING MESSAGE SO DOES SHE THINK THAT THE POLICING ISSUE AND AND CERTAINLY LIMITING FUNDS FOR POLICE ISN'T A WINNING ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS AND AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT UH TRUMP WON THAT STATE I THINK THAT SHE IS KIND OF CRO GOING ON THE OTHER SIDE JUST TO WIN SOME COMPASSION AND CONNECT WITH THAT BASE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND AND I AGREE WITH MIKE IT FROM WHAT I LISTEN TO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU LISTENED TO IT THREE TIMES BUT FOR WHAT I LISTENED TO THE FIRST TIME WAS ENOUGH FOR ME AND IT WAS A BASICALLY A CAMPAIGN SPEECH YOU GOT TO GET A LIFE NICK WELL SOME PEOPLE LISA WERE SURPRISED THAT SHE EVEN HAD THE SPEECH THERE LAST YEAR SHE DID A VIRTUAL SPEECH BECAUSE OF COVID ACTUALLY I THINK THERE'S THREE TIMES AS MANY COVET CASES PER DAY RIGHT NOW THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR WE HAVE HER CALLING FOR US YOU KNOW AN EMERGENCY IN COVETING KANSAS HOSPITAL SAYING YOU KNOW AVOID BIG CROWDS AND AND MASK UP AND YET SHE GOES TO A PACKED CHAMBER IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHERE MASK WEARING WAS ACTUALLY OPTIONAL FOR LAWMAKERS WAS SHE SENDING MIXED MESSAGES THERE BY DOING THAT LISA I I KNOW THE THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS THAT SHE WAS SENDING MIXED MESSAGES AT THIS POINT IN THE PANDEMIC I'M NOT SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TO THE STATE OF THE STATE FOR THEIR CUES ON WHETHER TO WEAR MASKS OR NOT EVEN THE JOHNSON COUNTY COMMISSION THIS WEEK MICHAEL GOING VIRTUAL NOT DOING IN-PERSON UH MEETINGS ANY LONGER YET THE GOVERNOR THERE IN PERSON WITH A LOT OF LAWMAKERS UNMASKED AROUND HER YEAH WELL UH POLITICS IS OFTEN OPTICS AND SOME OF THE OPTICS OF THIS IS THAT UM THE KELLY ADMINISTRATION AND THE GOVERNOR WILL SAY THAT THEY HAVE ADDRESSED AND BEEN AS EFFECTIVE WITH UH DEALING WITH COVET AS THEY POSSIBLY COULD BE AND PART OF THAT WOULD BE SHOWING UP FOR A VERY HIGH PROFILE FILE SPEECH A POLITICAL SPEECH A CAMPAIGN SPEECH IN AN ELECTION YEAR AND DELIVERING THE MESSAGE IN PERSON THERE'S OPTICS INVOLVED IN THAT AS WELL DAVE WE JUST MENTIONED BY THE WAY IN THAT SPEECH YOU HAD MEDICAID EXPANSION MENTIONED WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS 250 DOLLARS FOR UH EVERY INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER IN KANSAS THERE'S EVEN TALK ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUT THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR CAN YOU IMAGINE THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS GOING UH AND MOVING FORWARD AND SUPPORTING HER ON ANY OF THOSE EFFORTS WELL NOT MEDICAID EXPANSION NICK BUT THERE MAY BE OTHER PLACES WHERE THERE CAN BE AGREEMENT YOU KNOW THE BIGGEST SURPRISE FOR ME OF THE SPEECH WAS THAT THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T WEAR A SANTA CLAUS SUIT BECAUSE SHE CAME WITH A BAG OF GOODIES TO JUST HAND OUT TO EVERYONE IN THE STATE A CHECK TO FAMILIES NO GROCERY SALES TAX FOOD SALES TAX TUITION FREEZES AT MAJOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE MONEY FOR THE RAINY DAY FUND I MEAN THE FACT THAT KANSAS LIKE MOST STATES WE MUST SAY IS FLUSH WITH CASH GIVES HER A LOT OF GOODIES TO HAND OUT AND IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR REPUBLICANS TO SAY NO I MEAN REPUBLICANS ARE IN THE POSITION NOW OF SAYING NO TO A 500 CHECK TO MARRIED COUPLES THAT'S A DIFFICULT PLACE TO BE IN WHICH IS WHY I THINK THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL BE DOMINATED BY THINGS LIKE CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND AND UH OTHER SORT OF CULTURAL ISSUES THAT'S WHERE I THINK REPUBLICANS THINK THEY'LL BE ON FIRMER GROUND UH WITH THE ELECTORATE THAN ON ECONOMIC ISSUES THAT THE GOVERNOR OUT SO DAVE TALKS ABOUT VACCINE MANDATES AND RACE THEORY BEING BIG TOPICS IN THIS SESSION AS THEY WILL BE BY THE WAY IN JEFFERSON CITY WE TOUCHED UPON THAT LAST WEEK BUT HOW WILL THIS PLAY OUT IN PRACTICE I WAS JUST READING THROUGH A NEW LAW THAT THE STATE OF IOWA PASSED THAT NOW PROHIBITS ANY TEACHING THAT MAKES A STUDENT QUOTE FEEL DISCOMFORT OR GUILT BECAUSE OF ONE'S RACE HOW WOULD TEACHERS IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI NAVIGATE AROUND A LAW LIKE THAT ERIC IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE UH IT'S HISTORY AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DANCE AROUND HISTORY NOT TO HURT SOMEBODY'S FEELINGS I IT'S JUST IT'S KIND OF MIND-BOGGLING TO ME BECAUSE THESE THINGS HAPPEN AND YOU CAN'T PRETEND THAT THEY DIDN'T JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S FEELINGS MIGHT BE HURT EVEN WITH YEAH EVEN WITH NO BILL OR LAW PASSING AT THIS POINT IN KANSAS OR MISSOURI LISA WILL THIS HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT THOUGH ALREADY ON EDUCATORS IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI ABOUT TOUCHING UH RACIAL QUESTIONS IN THE CLASSROOM YES YES ABSOLUTELY I THINK AND I THINK WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT IN INCREASED PARENT EFFORTS TO REMOVE BOOKS FROM SHELVES THAT PEOPLE FIND UM INSULTING OR THAT PEOPLE SIMPLY DON'T AGREE WITH AND AND THE IDEA THAT A LIBRARY IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GET BOOKS ON ALL ON ALL MANNER OF TOPICS IS THAT THAT IS FADING TO THAT POINT UM WATCH THESE PARENT BILL OF RIGHTS MEASURES THAT COME UP IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI AND IN OTHER STATES FOR THAT MATTER BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE BATTLEGROUND IS GOING TO BE IN TERMS OF WHAT GETS TAUGHT OR WHAT GETS SANCTIONED TO BE TAUGHT UH IN UH IN OUR CLASS CLASSROOMS THESE PARENTAL BILLS OF RIGHTS ARE GOING TO GET SOME TRACTION IN BOTH THESE LEGISLATURES GO BACK TO NOVEMBER THIS IS THE SORT OF THING THAT REPUBLICANS USED QUITE EFFECTIVELY IN VIRGINIA TO WIN THAT GOVERNOR YES AND THAT'S WHY UH DEREK SCHMIDT UH IS PROBABLY STILL THE FAVORITE FOR REELECTION IN NOVEMBER I DIDN'T WANT TO SKIRT THE MARIJUANA ISSUE KANSAS IS JUST ONE OF THREE STATES THAT HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO LIBERALIZE ITS MARIJUANA LAWS DAVE IS THAT A POSSIBILITY THIS YEAR THAT YOU WILL SEE MEDICAL MARIJUANA I I DON'T THINK SO I MEAN I THINK IT WILL BE DISCUSSED BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THERE'S THE ENTHUSIASM IN THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITIES FOR APPROACHING THIS QUESTION OVER IN THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK LAWMAKERS WERE HOLDING HEARINGS ON A NEW BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE KANSAS CITY TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT GIVES TO ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THERE WAS LOTS OF FAMILIAR FACES WHO MADE THE TRIP TO JEFFERSON CITY TO TESTIFY WE'VE SEEN RETRACTION OF SOME OF THE FUNDS THAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST SINCE I'VE BEEN CHIEF THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF OFFICERS WE'VE HAD IS ABOUT 1387.

TODAY WE STAND AT JUST OVER 1160.

THE BILL DRAWS A LINE IN THE SAND SAYING NO LESS THAN 25 PERCENT OF ALL CITY REVENUE INCLUDING TAXES AND FEES WILL GO TO KCPD RIGHT NOW IT'S 20 LAST YEAR WE HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF HOMICIDES ON RECORD IN A SINGLE YEAR AT TH IS CRITICAL JUNCTURE WE NEED TO BE MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS NOT DEFUNDING THEM TO THE TUNE OF OVER 40 MILLION WHICH IS WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL DID BACK IN MAY THIS IS JUST A GAME OF POLITICAL SHENANIGANS AND NOT JUST POLITICAL SHENANIGANS THE MAYOR CLAIMED THE BILL WOULD DEFUND THE KANSAS CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT DEFUND KCI AIRPORT IS THAT REALLY THE CASE OR LISA IS HE JUST TRYING TO MAKE A MORE SENSATIONAL POINT HERE THAT IF MORE MONEY HAS TO GO TO THE POLICE THERE'S GOING TO BE LESS CASH ON HAND FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND RUNNING THE AIRPORT I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY IF MORE MONEY HAS TO GO TO POLICE THAT MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE BUT I'M NOT SURE DIRECTLY I THINK SAYING KANSAS CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT AND KCI PROBABLY FEEL LIKE THE MOST PAINFUL PLACES TO LOSE MONEY BUT BUT WE'RE ALSO UM I MEAN A FIVE PERCENT INCREASE IN THE POLICE BUDGET IS A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF OF KANSAS CITY'S BUDGET SO I DO THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE REAL STRAIN THERE FOR OTHER PARTS OF THE BUDGET AND OTHER BASIC SERVICES FOR KANSAS CITIANS BUT HE COULD HAVE SAID OTHER THAN THE GETTING DEFUNDING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ERIC OR DEFUNDING THE AIRPORT THAT YOU KNOW THIS MAY MEAN WE WON'T HAVE CITY ADMINISTRATORS ANYMORE EARNING MORE THAN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR WE CAN'T HAVE ANY MORE BIKE LANES IN KANSAS CITY HE PICKED THOSE VERY SPECIFIC TOPICS DIDN'T HE FROM FOR THE MOST EFFECT YES AND THAT WAS A PART OF HIS POLITICAL STANCE AS WELL BUT LOOK YOU KNOW I WAS I WAS WAITING ON SOMEBODY TO KIND OF CHALLENGE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT RICK SMITH SAID FOR EXAMPLE UH WITH THE 42 MILLION DOLLARS AND AND THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE OR STATE SENATOR THAT IS INTRODUCING THE BILL BUT WHEN YOU HAD THE MONEY YOU WERE USING IT FOR INSTEAD OF HIRING OFFICERS TO PAY LAWSUITS YOU WERE USING MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS SO YOU HAD THE MONEY BUT WHAT WERE YOU DOING WITH IT AND THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT EVERYBODY ALWAYS AVOIDS WHEN THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE MONEY YOU HAD A LOT OF THESE ARGUMENTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FLESHED OUT IN SO MANY OTHER PLACES MICHAEL DID WE LEARN ANYTHING NEW AT ALL FROM THE HEARINGS IN JEFFERSON CITY THIS WEEK ON THAT POLICE BUDGET ISSUE NEXT WEEK THEY'RE GOING TO PASS THIS BILL OUT AND SEND IT ON TO THE SENATE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF SUPPORT IN JEFFERSON CITY UH TO INCREASE THIS TO DO TWO THINGS NUMBER ONE POKE THE FINGER IN THE EYE OF QUENTIN LUCAS AND POKE A FINGER IN THE EYE OF EVERYBODY THAT USES THE PHRASE DEFUND THE POLICE BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE YOU REPORTED MICHAEL WHICH I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING THAT THE MAYOR DIDN'T EVEN TALK TO THE POLICE CHIEF ABOUT THIS WAS IT A VOICEMAIL OR AN EMAIL THAT WAS THE ONLY THING HE EVER HEARD ABOUT IT YEAH THIS IS UH FROM UH RICK SMITH'S TESTIMONY WHEN HE WAS DOWN THERE HE SAID THAT HE UM HE BECAME AWARE OF THIS PLAN TO SHIFT THE 42 MILLION AWAY FROM DIRECT CONTROL OF THE COPS OVER TO CITY HALL YOU KNOW VOICEMAIL WHILE HE WAS OUT OF TOWN AND UH I HADN'T HEARD THAT BEFORE UM THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT HOW THE PROCESS ON THIS WAS CONDUCTED AND THIS IS ANOTHER PIECE OF THAT SO IT SAYS THAT THIS WAS A VERY FRACTURED RELATIONSHIP THAT'S A LOT DEEPER THAN WE MIGHT HAVE IMAGINED EVEN UH ALREADY UP UNTIL THIS POINT DAVE WELL THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT UH NICK ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO HERE IS THAT THE LUKEMIRE BILL NOT ONLY RAISES THE PERCENTAGE FROM 20 TO 25 BUT IT BROADENS THE TAX FUNDS THAT CAN BE USED TO CALCULATE THAT 25 THAT'S WHY THE MAYOR SUGGESTS THAT THE COST COULD BE 400 MILLION OR SO BECAUSE IT ADDS OTHER THINGS INTO GENERAL REVENUE THAT ARE NOT COUNTED NOW SO IT'S 25 OF A MUCH BIGGER NUMBER THAT'S WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT AND THE OTHER THING TO THROW IN QUICKLY IS THE HANCOCK IMPLICATIONS ARE STILL THERE YOU STILL NEED TO CHANGE THE MISSOURI CONSTITUTION TO ACCOMPLISH THIS THAT CANNOT BE DONE FOR THIS BUDGET CYCLE SO THE REAL UH STORY WILL UNFOLD OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS DOWN AT CITY IN HALF AN HOUR WE CAN'T GET TO EVERY BIG STORY MAKING THE HEADLINES WHAT WAS THE BIG LOCAL STORY WE MISSED THE ROAD TO THE SUPER BOWL FINALLY WINDS THROUGH KANSAS CITY AS THE CHIEFS TAKE ON THE STEELERS IN THE WILD CARD GAME IS THE AGE OF CIVILITY DEAD THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE YOU ARE GETTING AMAZINGLY WRONG INFORMATION DR FAUCI OVERHEARD CALLING KANSAS SENATOR ROGER MARSHALL A [ _ _ ] RESTAURANT WEEK RETURNS AMID A SURGE IN VIRUS CASES AND CRIPPLING STAFF SHORTAGES IS IT JUST THE START OF A NEW ROUND OF BUSINESS CLOSINGS VICTORIA'S SECRET CLOSES ON THE PLAZA MACY'S SHUTS DOWN IN LEE'S SUMMIT AND J CREW CALLS IT QUITS IN TOWN CENTER PLAZA STRUGGLING TO FIND DAYCARE FOR YOUR KIDS A KANSAS CITY CHAMBER REPORT FINDS 40 PERCENT OF CHILD CARE BUSINESSES IN THE METRO HAVE CLOSED SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN AND IT'S OFFICIAL IT WAS THE WARMEST DECEMBER IN KANSAS IN MISSOURI SINCE RECORDS BEGAN BACK IN 1895.

IT'S INCREDIBLE ISN'T IT I MEAN IT FEELS LIKE DESTIN FLORIDA ALRIGHTY LISA RODRIGUEZ DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR DID YOU PICK SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT I I PICKED A STORY A MOVE BY THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATURE AN ATTEMPT BY THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATURE TO RESTORE SOME POWERS TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THIS OF COURSE IN RESPONSE TO A JUDGE'S RULING THAT THAT STRIPPED POWERS FROM LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO ISSUE MASS MANDATES IN IN EMERGENCIES AND UH IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO GET AROUND THAT AND THEN FOLLOWING A PUSHBACK FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN MISSOURI OR SCHMIDT AND UM SOME THREATS UH THREATS TO THESE LEGISLATORS SAFETY ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT THOSE LEGISLATORS DECIDED TO PULL THAT ORDINANCE BACK AND I THINK IT IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE THE FRACTURED POLITICAL TIMES THAT WE LIVE IN THAT ARE THAT DEATH THREATS AND THREATS OF VIOLENCE ARE COMING FROM FROM SIMPLE PROCEDURAL MOVES MICHAEL I BELIEVE IT WAS SHAKESPEARE THAT SAID BEWARE OF THE HOT MICROPHONE AND THAT WAS UH CERTAINLY UH IN PLAY IN THE TESTIMONY OF ANTHONY FAUCI AND UH AND THE BACK AND FORTH WITH ROGER MARSHALL WASN'T SURPRISED BUT YOU KNOW THE HOT MIC WAS INTERESTING ERIC MIKE MAHONEY WAS IN MY HEAD THAT'S THE ONE I SELECTED AS WELL CALLING HIM UH A [ _ _ ] WAS LIKE STATE OF THE ART TO MAKE SURE YOUR MIC IS TURNED OFF DAVE YEAH TH AT'S THE FIRST LESSON THEY TEACH YOU IN TELEVISION BY THE WAY IS THE MIC IS ALWAYS HOT SO REMEMBER THAT UM I THOUGHT THE MOST UNDERREPORTED STORY OR SOMETHING WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO UH NICK IS THE SEVERANCE PACKAGE PUT TOGETHER FOR OUTGOING WYANDOTTE COUNTY KCK ADMINISTRATOR DOUGLAS BACH 800 000 IN VARIOUS UH PAYMENTS UH TO TO THE FORMER ADMINISTRATOR THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY IT'S ALMOST EQUAL PROBABLY TO WHAT MIKE MAHONEY GOT WHEN HE LEFT CHANNEL NINE SO UH YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION I GUESS TO THAT STORY I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS PROBABLY THE VERY FIRST SHOW I'VE EVER DONE WHERE WE HAD SANTA CLAUS AND SHAKESPEARE IN THE SAME SHOW AND ON THAT WE WILL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED THANKS TO KCUS LISA RODRIGUEZ THE STARS DAVE HELLING CHANNEL 9'S MICHAEL MAHONEY AND ALWAYS ON CALL FROM THE KANSAS CITY CALL ERIC WESTON AND I'M NICK HAINES FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS BE WELL KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON