COMING UP WHY IS LAURA KELLY WIELDING AN AXE IN A CROWDED GROCERY STORE AND WHY IS THE COVID CAUTIOUS GOVERNOR NOW THE LEADING DEMOCRAT OPPOSING THE PRESIDENT'S VACCINE MANDATE PLUS DRAMA IN THE COURTROOM WE TRACK THE RIPPLE EFFECTS OF TWO BIG CASES TOPPING THE HEADLINES IN KANSAS CITY AND GUESS WHO'S ON 60 MINUTES MAYOR LUCAS IN THE LIMELIGHT AND THE REST OF THE WEEK'S MOST IMPACTFUL LOCAL NEWS STORIES 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 IT'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY NEWSWEEK HERE IN OUR METRO HERE TO LIFT UP THE HOOD CONNECT THE DOTS AND DISSECT THE WEEK'S MOST IMPACTFUL AND BEFUDDLING STORIES FROM KCUR NEWS MR UP TO DATE STEVE KRASKE IS WITH US SO IS PILAR PEDRAZA KANSAS STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR CAKE TV IN WICHITA AND THE HOST OF KANSAS WEEK ON KANSAS SIDE PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS ALWAYS ON CALL FROM THE KANSAS CITY CALL ERIC WESSON AND FROM THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR DAVE HELLING SHE WAS THE FIRST GOVERNOR IN THE NATION TO ORDER A STATEWIDE SHUTDOWN OF SCHOOLS SO WHAT HAS TURNED THE COVID CAUTIOUS KANSAS GOVERNOR INTO THE LEADING DEMOCRAT NOW OPPOSING THE PRESIDENT'S VACCINE POLICY IN A SURPRISE MOVE LAURA KELLY HAS DECLARED THAT BIDEN'S NEW VACCINE MANDATE FOR BUSINESSES IS QUOTE NOT THE CORRECT ALMOST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR KANSAS SO WHY DID KELLY GO SO PUBLIC ON THIS WHY NOT CALL UP THE WHITE HOUSE OR SPEAK TO JILL BIDEN WHEN SHE WAS IN KANSAS CITY A FEW WEEKS AGO AND SAY YOU KNOW YOU MEAN YOU NEED TO RETHINK THIS STEVE WELL SHE MAY HAVE SERIOUS OPPOSITION TO THIS NICK BUT LISTEN UH EVERYTHING NOW IS POLITICAL WE ARE IN THE POLITICAL WINDOW IN THE STATE OF KANSAS WE ARE LESS THAN A YEAR AWAY NOW FROM THE 22 22 UH 2022 ELECTION WHEN SHE'S UP UH FACING A VERY DIFFICULT OPPONENT IN DEREK SCHMIDT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SO SHE IS TRYING TO SEPARATE HERSELF FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO'S WOEFULLY UNPOPULAR IN KANSAS AND THIS LOOKS A WHOLE LOT TO ME NICK LIKE THE BEGINNING OF THE 2022 RACE IS IT UNFAIR JUST TO PEG THIS ON AN ELECTION DECISION PILAR NOT AT ALL A IT IS VERY MUCH A RE-ELECTION DECISION UH SHE HAS HAD HER HANDS TIED BY THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE SO SHE'S REALLY NOT MUCH SHE CAN DO AT THIS POINT UNDER UH THE EMERGENCY POWERS ACT WHICH BY THE WAY IS STILL IN THE COURT SYSTEM WAITING FOR A RULING FROM THE SUPREME COURT OVER WHETHER OR NOT IT STANDS BUT THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT SHE CAN DO SO AT THIS POINT WHY NOT TAKE THE STEP THAT MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP HER WITH REELECTION AT THE SAME TIME YOU KNOW THERE IS A LITTLE SOMETHING TO BE SAID YOU KNOW THIS HAS LONG BEEN ARGUED WHETHER IT'S BETTER FOR A SINGULAR TOP-DOWN APPROACH WHERE THE SAME THING APPLIES TO EVERYBODY OR YOU ALLOW MORE LOCAL CONTROL IN SOME WAYS SHE'S KIND OF STEALING THE REPUBLICAN MANTRA OF LOCAL CONTROL HERE SAYING YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S BETTER FOR EACH STATE TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THAT STATE THAN FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SAY EVERYBODY HAS TO DO THE SAME THING BUT ISN'T SHE AN UNLIKELY UH DEMOCRAT TO BE THE ONE THAT IS NOW BEING VIEWED NATIONALLY AS THE LEADING OPPONENT TO THIS DAVE WELL I'M NOT SURE SHE COUNTED ON THAT NICK I MEAN SHE DID PUT OUT THE STATEMENT WHICH DREW EVERYONE'S ATTENTION OF COURSE BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN SO AGGRESSIVE ON OTHER COVETED MEASURES DEREK SCHMIDT HER LIKELY OPPONENT OF COURSE IS SUING TO BLOCK THE UH THE PRIVATE EMPLOYER MANDATE IN KANSAS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOR THAT MATTER SO SHE MAY HAVE WANTED TO GET A LITTLE LEG UP ON WHAT HE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BUT MY COLLEAGUES ARE EXACTLY RIGHT THIS IS 99 POLITICAL FORCED IN SOME DEGREE BY THE RESULTS IN VIRGINIA WHERE A REPUBLICAN WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO I THINK SHE AND THE PEOPLE AROUND HER NICK ARE READING THE TEA LEAVES AND AND SHE NEEDS TO REALLY MOVE TO THE CENTER HER PEOPLE MAY BELIEVE PRECISELY BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH AN ISSUE IN STATES LIKE CAMPUS WILL THIS CAUSE ERIC WESSON THE WHITE HOUSE TO RECONSIDER ITS VIEW THAT ALL EMPLOYERS WITH OVER 100 EMPLOYEES HAVE TO HAVE A VACCINE MANDATE POLICY IN PLACE NO I DON'T THINK THAT'LL CHANGE THAT I THINK THEY GOT A BIG WIN THIS WEEK WHEN THEY HAD SO MANY CHILDREN GET VACCINATED SO I THINK THE WHITE HOUSE BELIEVES THEY'RE ON THE RIGHT COURSE NICK THERE ARE LEADING DEMOCRATS IN KANSAS WHO WILL SAY PRIVATELY THAT GOVERNOR KELLY IS TRAILING HER REPUBLICAN OPPONENT BY FIVE OR SIX POINTS SO SHE HAS TO DO EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO GET BACK IN THIS RACE AND THIS IS STEP ONE WE'RE GOING TO SEE OTHER STEPS IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS TO COME KANSAS LAWMAKERS ALREADY ALSO FLEXING THEIR MUSCLES THIS WEEK PLR THEY WANT TO DO A SPECIAL SESSION THAT COULD START ON NOVEMBER 22ND WHICH IS NOT THIS MONDAY THE MONDAY AFTERWARDS BUT WHAT COULD LAWMAKERS ACTUALLY DO THEY HAVE A VERY LIMITED CONCEPT OF WHAT IT IS THEY WANT TO DO THEY'RE LOOKING AT JUST TWO BILLS BASICALLY PROTECTING UNEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS UH FOR ANYBODY WHO LOSES THEIR JOB BECAUSE OF VACCINES VERY VERY NARROWLY TAILORED BILLS THAT ARE VERY SPECIFIC TO KANSAS ONLY LIKE ALSO THE SHIELDING OF WORKERS FROM INQUIRIES INTO THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AS WELL IS THAT BY MAKING IT SO NARROW THOUGH DAVE IS THAT A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT LAWMAKERS REALIZE UH THEY MAY NOT BE ON SOUND LEGAL GROUND WHEN IT COMES TO FILING THAT UH FEDERAL LAWSUIT THAT THEY FILED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN KANSAS WELL WE'LL SEE I MEAN IT YOU KNOW A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON WHAT FINAL LEGISLATION DOES COME OUT OF A SPECIAL SESSION IF INDEED IT TAKES PLACE IT WOULD BE HARD FOR LAURA KELLY TO VETO A MEASURE FOR EXAMPLE THAT WOULD EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO UH YOU KNOW VACCINE UH THE PEOPLE WHO REFUSE THE VACCINE NICK THAT'S JUST UH YOU KNOW THAT WILL BE A PRETTY POPULAR THING THE CENTRAL DYNAMIC I TALKED TO LAURA KELLY ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK THE CENTRAL DYNAMIC OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE NICK WILL INVOLVE WHETHER THIS IS A NATIONAL GOVERNOR'S RACE THAT IS DO WE TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE COVET AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR WILL IT CENTER WHICH WILL HELP REPUBLICANS OR AS LAURA KELLY WANTS WILL IT FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE WHETHER SCHOOLS ARE FULLY FUNDED THOSE ARE STATE ISSUES AND SHE THINKS THOSE ARE THE GROUNDS ON WHICH SHE CAN MAKE A BETTER CAMPAIGN WHAT WAS THE MOST DRAMATIC PIECE OF NEWS VIDEO THIS WEEK HOW ABOUT LAURA KELLY WIELDING AN AXE IN A CROWDED GROCERY STORE WE WILL FINALLY AXE THE FOOD TAX THIS TAX CUT WILL KEEP KANSAS SPENDING THEIR MONEY IN KANSAS NOT GOING ACROSS OUR BORDERS TO BUY GROCERIES GOVERNOR KELLY SAYS KANSAS HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST SALES TAX ON FOOD IN THE NATION BY THE WAY MISSISSIPPI IS NUMBER ONE BUT PILAR RUN SHE RAN ON THIS ISSUE IN 2018 WHEN SHE CAMPAIGNED FOR GOVERNOR SO WHY HAS IT TAKEN HER THREE YEARS TO SAY SHE'S SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING IT HAPPEN UH ONE WORD COVEN YOU HIT 20 20.

THE SESSION GOT CUT THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS THAT WERE ON THE BILLET FOR THAT SESSION THAT NEVER HAPPENED AND DIDN'T NECESSARILY GET BROUGHT BACK UP IN 2021 YEAH A BIG REASON WOULD BE COVERED HER MAIN REPUBLICAN OPPONENT STEVE KRASKE DEREK SCHMIDT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALREADY HAD A PRESS CONFERENCE HE SAYS I CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA OF ELIMINATING THAT SHE'S JUST FOLLOWING ME WELL WE COULD ARGUE ALL DAY WHO'S COPYING WHO NICK HERE IT'S GONNA SET UP ALL OF THIS SETS UP A FASCINATING POLITICAL UH SITUATION UH NEXT SESSION FOR REPUBLICANS WILL THEY GO AHEAD AND PASS A FOOD SALES TAX CUT PUTTING 500 BUCKS ARGUABLY GIVE OR TAKE INTO THE HANDS OF EVERY FAMILY OF FOUR IN THE STATE OF KANSAS OR WILL THEY GUM UP THE WORKS AND WAIT TO AVOID GIVING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY A BIG WIN IN HER RE-ELECTION YEAR AND YOU HAVE A FAT ESTATE BUDGET UH IN A GENERATION YOUR 2.9 BILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS HERE THEY'VE GOT NO EXCUSE NOT TO CUT THE FOOD SALES TAX GOING FORWARD BUT WILL THEY WILL THE REPUBLICANS GIVE DEMOCRAT LAURA KELLY A WIN THAT'S GOING TO BE AWFULLY FUN TO WATCH ERIC AND THEN IF THEY DO HOLD IT UP WILL THAT MAKE THE VOTERS MAD ENOUGH TO CHANGE THEIR VOTING STRATEGY PEOPLE ARE LIKE YOU GUYS ARE PLAYING POLITICS WITH MY 500 SAVINGS I'M GOING TO RETALIATE AGAINST YOU AND SHOW YOU WHO'S IN CHARGE FOR REAL SO THIS IS A VERY STICKY SITUATION THAT THEY'RE IN LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE VOTERS WE MAY NOT GIVE A LOT OF THOUGHT DAVE HELLING TO HOW MUCH ACTUALLY THE TAX IS WHEN WE'RE BUYING A GALLON OF MILK OR A LOAF OF BREAD AT OUR GROCERY STORE WHAT TYPE OF DIFFERENCE DOES THIS REALLY MAKE TO PEOPLE OH IT'S A TON YOU KNOW IT ADDS UP BECAUSE YOU ALSO HAVE LOCAL SALES TAXES ON GROCERIES THOSE WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED IN KANSAS YOU CAN SPEND 10 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR AT THE GROCERY STORE WHICH ADDS UP ENORMOUSLY THE TAX BRINGS IN HALF A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND THE IDEA OF CUTTING IT IS BASED ON THIS SURPLUS THAT STEVE AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BUT TWO OTHER POINTS I WANT TO MAKE VERY QUICKLY FIRST LAURA KELLY CANNOT USE COLBIT AS THE EXCUSE FOR NOT CUTTING FOOD SALES TAXES THE BILL CAME UP IN 2019 BEFORE COVID AND SECOND THE THING YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT AND WE'RE WRITING ABOUT THIS TOO IS WHETHER THE REPUBLICANS WILL ATTACH FOOD SALES TAX RELIEF TO OTHER TAX CUTS TAX CUTS FOR CORPORATIONS TAX CUTS FOR WEALTHY PEOPLE IF THEY DO THAT THEN IT'LL BE HARDER FOR KELLY TO SIGN THE BILL BECAUSE IT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT FAR BEYOND JUST THE FOOD SALES TAX WHICH IS WHY SHE'S ASKING FOR WHAT THEY CALL A CLEAN BILL JUST REPEAL THE TAX WE WALK AWAY EVERYONE'S HAPPY BY THE WAY I DID DO A LITTLE BIT OF MATH FOR YOU AT HOME IF YOU ARE A HUNDRED DOLLAR GROCERY STORE BILL SAY YOU'RE ON THE MISSOURI SIDE YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAYING A DOLLAR 22 IN TAX ON THAT 100 DOLLARS IN IN MISSOURI AND YOU'RE GONNA PAY SIX DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS IN KANSAS SO IT'S FIVE DOLLARS AND TWENTY EIGHT EIGHT CENTS CHEAPER TO SHOP IN MISSOURI WE'VE GOT PEOPLE IN OUR VIEWING AREA GOING TO OKLAHOMA FOR GRANTED YES SAME REASON GUESS WHO HAS A STARRING ROLE ON THE LATEST EDITION OF 60 MINUTES AS MANY KANSAS CITIANS WERE WATCHING THE CHIEFS TAKE ON THE PACKERS SUNDAY THE CBS FLAGSHIP NEWS PROGRAM 60 MINUTES WAS RUNNING AN EXTENSIVE PIECE ABOUT GUN LAWS IN MISSOURI AND SPECIFICALLY THE RECENTLY PASSED SECOND AMENDMENT PRESERVATION ACT THAT BLOCKS LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM ENFORCING FEDERAL GUN LAWS AND GUESS WHO'S IN IT MATT Q ARE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ESSENTIALLY GOING TO STOP AND THINK TWICE BEFORE TRYING TO STOP SOMEONE WITH AN ILLEGAL GUN YES NOW IF YOU STOP SOMEONE WITH A FIREARM YOU MAY BE ASKING YOURSELF DO I WANT TO BE SUBJECT TO LITIGATION DO I WANT TO SUBJECT MY DEPARTMENT TO LIABILITY AND IN MANY CASES THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE NO ANALYST IS THAT REALLY TRUE THE LAW SPONSORS IN THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE TELL 60 MINUTES THERE ARE MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AROUND THE STATE WHO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEIR FEDERAL COUNTERPARTS WITHOUT PROBLEMS WHICH IS IT ERIC I THINK IT'S BOTH I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME AND AND I THINK BOTH SIDES I WATCHED THE PRESENTATION AND BOTH SIDES HAD GREAT POINTS PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY WERE STILL DOING IT BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF THEM AND I THINK ONE OF THE OLDEST SERVANT SHERIFFS IN THE STATE WAS SAYING NO BECAUSE IT'S A 50 000 FINE IF THEY DO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROCESS NICK CLEARLY SOMETHING IS AMISS HERE WHEN YOU HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AROUND THE STATE VIEWING THIS LAW IN DIFFERENT WAYS ON AN ISSUE AS THIS IMPORTANT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT WHICH INVOLVES GUNS AND HOW WE HANDLE GUNS IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI EVEN REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON A FORMER COUNTY SHERIFF HIMSELF NICK IS SAYING WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THIS LAW AND PROBABLY POSSIBLY REVISIT IT COME JANUARY SO THERE IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT RIGHT FROM THE MAN HIMSELF WHO SIGNED THIS BILL INTO LAW THAT THEY'VE GOT TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT THIS THING AND MAYBE MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS I LOVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE COMMENTS THAT COME WITH UM SHOWS LIKE THIS UH DAVE AND UH WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE 60 MINUTES UH COMMENTS FROM VIEWERS SOME PEOPLE WERE VIEWING IT OH THIS WAS MAYOR LUCAS TRYING TO DISTRACT HERE FROM THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH VIOLENT CRIME AND MURDER RATE IN KANSAS CITY AND USING THIS IS THE REASON WHY HE HASN'T GOTTEN THINGS DONE IS THAT A FAIR POINT NO I MEAN YOU KNOW I OBVIOUSLY 60 MINUTES WANTS TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT THEY'RE AFFECTED BY THE SECOND AMENDMENT PROTECTION ACT AND MAYOR CLINTON LUCAS IS AS GOOD AS ANYONE ELSE TO TALK ABOUT THAT GIVEN THE MURDER RATE IN KANSAS CITY WHICH BY THE WAY IS DOWN A LITTLE BIT FROM LAST YEAR WHEN IT WAS SO HORRIFIC SO NO I DON'T THINK THAT'S A FAIR CRITICISM OF THE MAYOR AT ALL ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FOUND REALLY INTERESTING IN THAT INTERVIEW WAS THE PROSECUTOR I THINK WAS FROM BUTLER I'M A MEMBER OF TWO DIFFERENT GUN CLUBS I SHOOT ONCE A WEEK AT A MINIMUM MY KIDS SHOOT MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD OWNS MULTIPLE FIREARMS HE SAID HIS SEVEN-YEAR-OLD SON OWNS GUNS AND I THOUGHT I WONDER IF SOMEBODY IN THE URBAN CORE SAID THAT THEIR CHILD OWNED SOME GUNS AS A PROSECUTOR WHAT WOULD BE HAPPENING TO THEM AFTER THAT SHOW AIRED I'M SURE YOU'D HAVE THE DIVISION OF FAMILY SERVICES KNOCKING ON THE DOOR SAYING HEY THERE'S SOME CHILD ENDANGERMENT GOING ON BUT IT JUST GOES ALONG WITH THE CLIMATE VERSUS RURAL PARTS OF MISSOURI VERSUS OTHER PARTS HOW SUPPORTIVE THEY ARE OF GUN RIGHTS BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE VIOLENT CRIME WELL THIS WAS A WEEK OF HIGH COURTROOM DRAMA IN KANSAS CITY OVER THE DECADES THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF OCCASIONS WHEN KANSAS CITY POLICE HAVE HAD TO SHOOT AND KILL SUSPECTS BUT ACCORDING TO THE JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE THIS WEEK MARKED THE FIRST TIME A WHITE KANSAS CITY POLICE OFFICER WAS PUT ON TRIAL IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A BLACK MAN HE TAKES HIS LEFT HAND WITH THE GUN AND AS HE BRINGS IT ALONG UP AND AROUND THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS WHEN I WE COME IN FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WE'RE NOT GONNA STAND STILL UNLESS THEY LET THIS CONTINUE TO HAPPEN TO US OVER AND OVER AGAIN POLICE DETECTIVE ERIC DE VULCANIERE IS CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER IN THE SHOOTING OF 26-YEAR-OLD CAMERON LAMB WHO WAS KILLED WHILE BACKING HIS PICKUP TRUCK OUT OF HIS GARAGE IN 2019.

PROSECUTORS ALLEGE LAMB DID NOT HAVE A WEAPON IN HIS HAND AND POLICE PLANTED A GUN AND BULLETS AFTER HIS DEATH THOSE WERE SOME OF THE EXPLOSIVE ACCUSATIONS MADE IN A JACKSON COUNTY COURTROOM THIS WEEK BUT AS WE WAIT FOR A VERDICT AS WE RECORD THIS PROGRAM CAN WE EXPECT AN EQUALLY EXPLOSIVE RESPONSE THIS IS NOT THE GEORGE FLOYD CASE AND THIS IS NOT MINNEAPOLIS BUT IF THE POLICE OFFICER IS FOUND NOT GUILTY WILL IT SPARK VIOLENCE AND WILL IT SPARK A NEW ROUND OF DISRUPTIVE PROTESTS IN KANSAS CITY ERIC WESSON ABSOLUTELY IT ABSOLUTELY WILL SAY WHAT YOU WANT AND THEN THEY RELEASED A VIDEO DURING THE TRIAL THAT A CITIZEN HA D RECORDED THAT SHOWED THAT THEY HELD THE AMBULANCE UP FOR 15 MINUTES DOWN THE STREET AND THE THEORY IS THAT THEY WERE PLANTING THE EVIDENCE THEN TO SUPPORT THE SHOOTING THE POLICE ALSO HAVE A ROBUST DEFENSE THOUGH STEVE WHAT HAPPENS IF HE IS FOUND GUILTY WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO TO POLICE MORALE IN THIS CITY WHEN THEY'RE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO RECRUIT OFFICERS NOW I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION IT'S AN OBVIOUS CONCERN NICK GIVEN THE FACT AS YOU POINT OUT POLICE STAFFING NUMBERS ARE WAY DOWN FROM WHERE THEY TYPICALLY ARE AND THERE'S GROWING EVIDENCE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT A LOT OF FOLKS WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN INTERESTED IN A LAW A CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT DON'T WANT TO GO THERE ANYMORE GIVEN JUST WHAT YOU POINT OUT CONVICTING A POLICE OFFICER WHO'S MAKING A STRONG EMOTIONAL CASE THAT HE FELT HIS LIFE WAS IN DANGER OR HIS PARTNER'S LIFE WAS IN DANGER THAT'S A BIG HILL DECLINE FOR A JURY OR A JUDGE IN THIS CASE A JUDGE ONLY AND YOU KNOW I WOULDN'T HOLD MY BREATH THAT THIS OFFICER IS GOING TO BE FOUND GUILTY I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OBVIOUSLY SO I THINK THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BRACE ITSELF A LITTLE BIT IF ERIC IS RIGHT AND KEEP IN MIND TOO THERE ARE TWO TRIALS GOING ON HERE OF NOTE IF KEVIN STRICKLAND REMAINS BEHIND BARS AND THIS DETECTIVE IS RELEASED AND NOT CONVICTED OF THIS CRIME THERE'S GOING TO BE A HEAVY DUTY CONVERSATION IN THIS COMMUNITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WHO KNOWS WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN ON THE STREETS AT THAT POINT CAN I JUMP IN HERE HERE'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LEADERSHIP AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH FORTE AND RICK SMITH WHEN FORTE WAS GOING THROUGH THINGS WHERE WE HAD AN EMOTIONAL VOLATILE CLIMAX CLIMATE RATHER WE HAD FORTE THAT WOULD COME IN AND KIND OF GET THE COMMUNITY COMPARED PREPARED TALK TO THE COMPUTER COMMUNITY AND ENGAGE RICK SMITH HAS SAID ANYTHING AND I THINK THAT IF THERE IS SOME PUSHBACK IT'LL BE BECAUSE THE LEADERSHIP IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE NOTHING TO COUNTER WHAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN THIS IS NOT THE ONLY LAW IN ORDER CASES STEVE KRASKE MENTIONS GRABBING THE LOCAL HEADLINES THIS WEEK AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE IN KANSAS CITY ALL WEEK THAT WILL DETERMINE WHETHER KEVIN STRICKLAND SHOULD BE SET FREE IF THAT NAME IS NOT QUITE RINGING A BELL HE'S THE MISSOURI MAN WHO SPENT MORE THAN 40 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MURDER SIX MONTHS AFTER THE JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR DECLARED WE MADE A MISTAKE HE'S INNOCENT STRICKLAND REMAINS IN A PRISON CELL WERE YOU ONE OF THE MEN THAT ENTERED THE HOME BY NO MEANS WAS I ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THAT CRIME SCENE AS WE RECORD THIS PROGRAM HIS FATE REMAINS UP IN THE AIR IF PROSECUTORS PREVAIL AND STRICKLAND IS EXONERATED HIS IMPRISONMENT WILL MARK THE LONGEST KNOWN WRONGFUL CONVICTION IN MISSOURI HISTORY BUT WHAT CHANGES IF HE IS FOUND INNOCENT DO WE SAY NOTHING CHANGES BECAUSE HE WAS CAUGHT UP IN A JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT 40 YEARS AGO OPERATED VERY DIFFERENTLY TODAY DAVE HELLING YOU KNOW THE RULES OF EVIDENCE WERE DIFFERENT DNA WERE ALL DIFFERENT THEN RIGHT AND UH YOU KNOW IT'S HARD TO SAY NICK WHAT FIRST OF ALL OF COURSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RULING WILL BE IN THE STRICKLAND CASE AND WHAT I THINK WILL BE INTERESTING IN THE SHORT TERM IS IF HE'S RELEASED WHETHER ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC SCHMIDT WHO'S A CANDIDATE FOR THE SENATE WILL SUFFER ANY BLOWBACK FOR HIS CONCERTED EFFORTS TO KEEP STRICKLAND IN CUSTODY AND FOR GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON WHO'S REFUSED TO ISSUE A PARDON BOTH OF THOSE ARE INTERESTING QUESTIONS IN THE SHORT TERM IN THE LONG TERM IT'S NOT CLEAR IT'S GOING TO MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHOULD HAPPEN AFTER THIS IS THEY NEED TO KIND OF RE-EXAMINE HOW THAT STATUTE ALLOWS THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE TO BRING THESE TYPE OF CASES UP BECAUSE IF NOTHING ELSE THE OPTIC OF IT IN THE COURTROOM JUST LOOKS VERY STRANGE IT'S THE STATE VERSUS THE STATE YOU HAVE THE JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR SITTING WITH AND ACTING IN A GREAT DEGREE AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY VERSUS THE STATE OF MISSOURI ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT'S ACTING AS A PROSECUTOR AND ALL THE WHILE POLITICALLY KEVIN STRICKLAND IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE BECAUSE AS DAVE SAID YOU'VE GOT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RUNNING FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE IF THIS WAS ANY OTHER TIME IF THIS WASN'T THIS POLITICAL WOULD HE HAVE BEEN GONE EIGHT MONTHS AGO AND BEEN AT HOME IN OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK YOUR LOCAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE BEEN BACK HOME AS CAPITOL HILL TAKES A FALL BREAK THAT MEANS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S MULTI-TRILLION DOLLAR SOCIAL SPENDING PACKAGE IS STILL ON HOLD BUT BEFORE DEPARTING WASHINGTON THEY SENT TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK A 1.2 TRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE BILL ACCORDING TO OUR FRIEND MICHAEL MAHONEY AT CHANNEL 9 THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF NEW MONEY SLOSHING AROUND KANSAS AND MISSOURI IN THE MONTHS AHEAD HOW ABOUT 14 BILLION DOLLARS WORTH BETWEEN THE TWO STATES SO HOW IS MY LIFE GONNA CHANGE WHAT'S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE I'M GOING TO SEE BECAUSE OF THAT PILAR IN KANSAS THE TWO BIGGEST ISSUES AT LEAST IN OUR PART OF KANSAS THAT FOLKS ARE TALKING ABOUT BROADBAND THAT'S GOING TO BE HUGE FOR RURAL KANSANS I THEY'VE REALLY STRUGGLED WITH THIS ESPECIALLY AS WE WENT TO REMOTE LEARNING SO MANY FOLKS DID NOT HAVE GOOD INTERNET ACCESS IT MADE REMOTE LEARNING FOR RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT STORIES OF PEOPLE HAVING TO DRIVE THEIR KIDS TO THE PARKING LOT OF FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS IN ORDER TO GET RELIABLE INTERNET TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK 70 000 PEOPLE IN KANSAS DON'T EVEN HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET OF ANY KIND 330 000 MISSOURIANS DON'T HAVE ACCESS UH TO AT LEAST BROADBAND INTERNET SO THAT IS A PROBLEM WHERE ELSE ARE WE GOING TO SEE A DIFFERENCE STEVE YOU KNOW THERE'S NOTHING SEXY HERE NICK UH LOTS OF TRAFFIC JAMS LOTS OF CONES LOTS OF REROUTING AROUND UH BRIDGES I MEAN WE'RE TALKING HIGHWAYS BRIDGES BROADBAND HERE AND UH STUFF THAT WE NEED STUFF THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BUT IN TERMS OF RAW EXCITEMENT HERE I'M NOT SURE THERE'S TONS OF IT FOR MOST PEOPLE IS THERE THE MONEY TO PEDESTRIANIZE THE 18TH AND VINE JAZZ DISTRICT ERIC WASN'T THAT GOING TO BE PART OF THIS TO MAKE IT A MORE WALKABLE TOURIST DESTINATION YES BUT I I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WAS A PART OF THE BUILDBACK UH BILL BACK BETTER BILL OR IT WAS A PART OF THAT BILL JUST QUICKLY THERE IS MONEY IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL FOR AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS AND THEN THERE MAY BE MONEY FOR STREET CARS TOO AND PARTICULARLY THE IDEA OF THE STREETCAR IN KANSAS CITY EAST TO WEST INSTEAD OF NORTH TO SOUTH WHICH IS NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION SO THOSE ARE ALL POTENTIAL INTO THE AIRPORT AND MAKING ELECTRIC BUSES TOO IN KANSAS CITY TRANSFORMING THOSE AND CAN WE NICK JUST QUICKLY WHEN THEY CUT THE RIBBONS ON THE NEW BRIDGES WHEN THEY START BROADBAND WHEN THEY OPEN THE NEW AMTRAK TRAIN OR GET NEW ELECTRIC BUSES REMEMBER JERRY MORAN AND ROGER MARSHALL VOTED NO AND RON ESTES VOTED NO AND JAKE LET TURNER VOTED NO AND SAM GRAVES VOTED OKAY ALL RIGHT OKAY BUT I DID NOTICE THERE WERE SIX DEMOCRATS ALSO VOTED AGAINST IT INCLUDING NEW MISSOURI CONGRESSWOMAN UM COREY BUSH WHAT DID SHE SEE IN THIS BILL THAT SHARICE DAVIDS IN KANSAS DIDN'T YEAH AND SENATOR ROY BLUNT VOTED FOR THE ONE WHO WHO'S ON BOARD HERE COREY BUSH UH LIKE OTHER PROGRESSIVES WANTED TO SEE BOTH THESE BILLS PASS SORT OF SIMULTANEOUSLY HERE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE BUILD BACK BETTER SHE DIDN'T GET WHAT SHE WANTED SHE VOTED NO NOW 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 LOCAL HEALTH LEADERS URGE PATIENTS AS APPOINTMENTS FOR THE KID SIZE COVERT SHOT PHILIP FAST CHILDREN'S MERCY SAYS THEY FILLED UP EVERY VACCINE CLINIC SLOT TILL THE END OF THE MONTH HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS WALK OUT AT SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH THEY'RE UPSET THAT ADMINISTRATORS ARE DOING TOO LITTLE TO RESPOND TO SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON AND OFF CAMPUS WE'RE KIDS STILL AND WE WANT TO BE PROTECTED BY THE ADULTS WHO SHOULD BE IN CHARGE KANSAS CITY MARKS VETERANS DAY AND MARKING 100 YEARS SINCE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON LIBERTY MEMORIAL A WEEK AFTER CONTENTIOUS SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS OLATHE AND BLUE VALLEY DROPPING HIGH SCHOOL MASS MANDATES KANSAS CITY'S ONE DOLLAR HOME PROGRAM SCRUTINIZED THE STAR CLAIMS NOT ONE OF THE MORE THAN A HUNDRED HOMES HANDED OVER TO HELP THE HOMELESS HAS BEEN WORKED ON AFTER BEING MIRED BY CONTROVERSY THE KANSAS CITY KANSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW A REALITY TV SHOW REAL PD KANSAS CITY IS RUNNING ON THE DISCOVERY NETWORK HE WAS REBUFFED JUST BEFORE HIS DEATH NOW BUCK O'NEIL GETTING A SECOND SHOT AT THE HALL OF FAME HE'S ON THE BALLOT FOR EARLY BASEBALL ERA PLAYERS A FINAL VOTE SET FOR DECEMBER YOU MAKE SURE YOU CROSS YOUR ARMS YOUR TOES YOUR LEGS AND IF YOU CAN CROSS YOUR EYES CROSS THOSE TWO AND CAN A KANSAS CITIAN BE THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE PEOPLE MAGAZINE SAYS SO ACTOR AND SHAWNEE MISSION WEST GRAD PAUL RUDD SAYS HE'S GOING TO GET NEW BUSINESS CARDS MADE ALREADY STEVE KRASKE DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR DID YOU PICK SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT I THINK SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NICK THE INVESTIGATIVE STORY THAT KCUR NEWS JUST PUT OUT BY STEVE VOCKROTT AND PEGGY LOWE POINTING OUT THAT PROBLEMS IN THE KCK POLICE DEPARTMENT GO BACK TO THE EARLY 1990S JUST LISTEN TO THIS STUFF THEY WERE THERE'S ALLEGATIONS THAT OFFICERS SEVERELY BEAT PEOPLE IN THE JAIL THEY WERE ALLEGED TO HAVE SOLD ILLEGAL DRUGS THERE'S ALLEGED ALLEGATIONS THEY COMMITTED ROBBERIES NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DIDN'T STEP IN YEARS AGO TO DEAL WITH A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT HAD RUN AMOK AND THAT'S WHY SOME PEOPLE IN KANSAS CITY KANSAS THIS WEEK NOT HAPPY THEY'RE NOW GETTING ALL OF THIS ATTENTION ON NATIONAL REALITY TELEVISION BE A VERY GOOD POINT NICK ERIC I CAN'T WAIT TO READ DAVE HELLING'S EDITORIAL ON THE FIREFIGHTERS UNION CHIEF THAT COLLECTS A CITY SALARY WHILE WORKING A JOB IN WASHINGTON D.C I MEAN WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET ISSUES THAT'S I MEAN I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THAT ONE DAY YEAH WELL IT WILL YOU JUST OPEN YOUR NEWSPAPER SOON AND YOU WILL SEE IT THERE I I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE BACKED UP ON JOSH HAWLEY COLUMNS THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT ONE DAY NO OUCH ALL RIGHT YEAH NO THIS WILL COME UP I GUARANTEE IT AND PILAR PEDRAZA WELL I GOT TO SAY MY INNER TEACHER GOT STUCK BETWEEN TWO OF THEM THERE THE SCHOOL SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND THE SCHOOL MASK MANDATES BOTH OF THEM HUGE ISSUES WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE SAME THING HERE IN THE WICHITA CENTRAL KANSAS AREA WHERE SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS THEY'VE HAD A MAJOR TURNOVER WITH THE ELECTION ARE DROPPING MASS MANDATES A BIG CONCERN FOR SOME PARENTS BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY ARE IN LINE OR THEY'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THEIR KIDS VACCINATED IT'S STILL A GOOD FIVE WEEKS BEFORE THEIR KIDS ARE FULLY VACCINATED AND SOME PARENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND ON THAT WE WILL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED THANKS TO PILA PEDRAZA COMING TO US FROM CAKE TV IN WICHITA KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE WEEKDAYS ON KCUR FM STEVE KRASKE FROM THE CALL NEWSPAPER ERIC WESSON AND THE STARS DAVE HELLING AND I'M NICK HAINES FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS BE WELL KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON