>>> KANSAS CITY MARKING ONE YEAR SINCE LOCKDOWN.

PLUS OPENING THE FLOODGATES TO VACCINES IN BOTH STATES.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR OUR SENIORS AND THOSE AT RISK WHO STILL HAVEN'T HAD THEIR SHOTS?

PLUS NO JAB, NO JOB?

KANSAS WORKING TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYERS FROM REQUIRING WORKERS BE VACCINATED.

AND WE HAVE A BLUNT CONVERSATION.

IS MAYOR LUCAS IN OR OUT?

AND IS A DISGRACED FORMER GOVERNOR THE MAN TO BEAT?

>>> WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS, BOB AND MARLEY SCORE LE, THE COURTNEY S. TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST.

JOHN H. MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA, NA, COTRUSTEES, AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> NICK: WELCOME, EVERYONE, IT IS GREAT TO BE BACK AFTER AN EXHAUSTIVE MEMBERSHIP DRIVE SEPARATED US FOR A FEW WEEKS.

THIS HALF HOUR WE DISSECT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES AND SOME OF THE BIG STORIES WE MISSED WHILE WE WERE AWAY.

UP FOR THE CHALLENGE IS MR.

UP-TO-DATE ON KCUR F.M., STEVE KRASKE, 41 ACTION NEWS INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER CAT REID, THE EDITOR OF THE CALL NUMBER ERIC WESSON, AND FROM THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR, DAVE HELLING.

>>> A YEAR AGO THIS WEEK, LIFE AS WE KNEW IT BEGAN TO CHANGE.

THIS SUNDAY MEAS MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY OF A STAY-AT-HOME ORDER IN KANSAS CITY.

THIS WEEK OUR METRO'S LOCAL LEADERS GATHERED AT UNION STATION TO REMEMBER.

>> THERE ARE MANY WHO LOST THEIR LIVES TO THIS VIRUS.

WE WILL NOT FORGET YOU,.

>> AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, GET VACCINATED.

IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> NICK: BEHIND THE SPEAKERS IS A WALL OF REMEMBRANCE WHERE YOU CAN LEAVE A NOTE.

IT'S GOING TO BE AT UNION STATION FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

THE NOTES WILL THEN BE ARCHIVED BY THE KANSAS CITY LIBRARY FOR HISTORIC PURPOSES.

BY THE WAY, THIS PRESS CONFERENCE TAKING PLACE IN THE VERY SAME SPOT OUR METRO LEADERS GATHERED A YEAR AGO WHEN THEY TOLD YOU TO STAY HOME.

IT'S STRANGE LOOKING BACK.

MANY OF US THOUGHT WE WOULD SHUT DOWN FOR JUST A FEW WEEKS.

THE KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, I WAS LOOKING BACK FROM A PRESS RELEASE FROM THEM THAT SAID THEY WOULD CANCEL PERFORMANCES BUT ONLY UNTIL APRIL 1st.

THE NELSON SAID IT WOULD BE CLOSED FOR THREE WEEKS.

OTHER THAN THE LENGTH OF THIS LOCKDOWN, STEVE KRASKE, WHAT HAS BEEN THE AREA THAT YOU REALLY DIDN'T ANTICIPATE WOULD HAVE HAPPENED OVER THIS PAST YEAR?

>> I THINK THERE'S A VERSIONING SENSE HERE, NICK, IN RECENT DAYS, THE IMPACT OF THE VIRUS IN TERMS OF STATES THAT CRACKED DOWN REALLY HARD WITH TOUGH MASK MANDATES, CLOSING BUSINESSES, IT SEEMS LIKE IN SOME CASES THEY DIDN'T FARE ALL THAT MUCH BETTER IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE INFECTED AND NUMBERS OF DEATHS COMPARED TO STATES THAT DIDN'T CRACK DOWN VERY HARD.

FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS NOW BEING HAILED AS A GOVERNOR WHO DID IT RIGHT, AND HE WAS RIDICULED EARLY ON BY LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW HOSTS FOR DOING VERY LITTLE WHEN IT CAME TO MANDATES AND SHUTTING THINGS DOWN.

SO WE'RE STILL LEARNING A LOT ABOUT THIS VIRUS EVEN TODAY.

>> NICK: ERIC, WHAT ABOUT FOR YOU?

WHAT WAS THE THING THAT YOU MOST -- YOU SAID YOU DID NOT ANTICIPATE BEYOND THE LENGTH OF THIS LOCKDOWN?

>> I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE HOW IT WOULD AFFECT BUSINESSES IN THE MANNER THAT IT DID AND THE LENGTH OF IT, OF COURSE.

BUT IT KIND OF REDEFINED LIVES FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, EASTER, MOTHER'S DAY, ALL OF THOSE EVENTS CANCELED.

WE THOUGHT WE WOULD GET BACK ON TRACK FOR 4th OF JULY, START HAVING FAMILY HE REUNIONS, AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN EITHER.

I THINK THE IMPACT IT HAD ON EVERY DAY LIVES, EVEN GOING TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY HAS BEEN MORE THAN, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD HAVE ANTICIPATED.

>> NICK: AND CAT REID, WE ALSO SAID IN THOSE FIRST FEW WEEKS, WOW, CRIME IS SUBSTANTIALLY DOWN.

THIS IS ACTUALLY HAVING ONE POSITIVE AFFECT.

WE'RE NOT SEEING MURDERS, ALL OF THESE OTHER PROBLEMS.

THAT QUICKLY CHANGED.

>> YEAH, OF COURSE, WE DID BEGIN TO SEE CRIME, WHICH HONESTLY DIDN'T SURPRISE ME, BECAUSE I FIGURE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PERPETRATING CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY WOULD NOT NECESSARILY LISTEN TO STAY HOME LOCK DOWN ORDERS, BUT ONE THING THAT I THINK IS REALLY KIND OF SURPRISING TO THIS DAY IS JUST HOW FUNDAMENTAL THE CHANGE HAS BEEN IN OUR LIVES.

THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE DID A YEAR AGO THAT WE JUST SAID THIS IS ALWAYS THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE.

AND THEY'RE SIMPLE THINGS LIKE SALAD BARS AND SELF-SERVE COFFEE.

THERE ARE THESE THINGS THAT WE EXPERIENCED THAT WE WILL PROBABLY NEVER SEE AGAIN, THINGS THAT WAR PARTS OF NORMAL LIFE.

IN ADDITION, I NOW HAVE NIGHTMARES SOMETIMES ABOUT LEAVING THE HOUSE WITHOUT A MASK.

IT'S THAT REACHING FOR THE MASK EVERY DAY THAT'S SO TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND HAS BEEN ENGRAINED IN US OVER THE PAST YEAR.

>> AND THINK, DAVE, WE HAVEN'T HAD YOU IN THE STUDIO FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR, BEEN DOING IT VIRTUALLY, TRANSFORMING THE WAY WE'VE DONE TELEVISION.

>> RIGHT.

TWO THINGS I THINK I LEARNED, FIRST WE REALLY DO KNOW WHO THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE.

THEY'RE THE PEOPLE AT THE GROCERY STORE, THE PEOPLE IN THE NURSING HOME OR AT THE HOSPITAL OR THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

I MEAN, THOSE FOLKS HAD TO KEEP WORKING IN PERSON DURING THE ENTIRE YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC, AND OUR DEBT TO THEM IS ABSOLUTELY ENORMOUS.

WE CAN'T FORGET THAT.

THE OTHER THING I THINK WE'VE LEARNED IS HOW MANY HOLES THERE ARE AND SORT OF THE HIERARCHY OF AUTHORITY WHEN AN EMERGENCY LIKE A PANDEMIC HITS.

IS IT THE MAYOR?

IS IT THE GOVERNOR?

IS IT THE PRESIDENT?

IS IT THE CITY COUNCIL, THE HEALTH DIRECTOR?

WE DON'T KNOW.

AND WHAT WE ENDED UP WITH IS A LOT OF ARGUMENTS OVER WHO GETS TO DECIDE AND HOW WE HAVE TO RESPOND ON MASKS, CLOSURES, WHETHER WE CAN GATHER, NOT GATHER.

WE REALLY NEED TO REEXAMINE THAT STRUCTURE SO THAT THERE ARE CLEAR LINES OF AUTHORITY THE NEXT TIME A PANDEMIC HITS.

>> NICK: THE NEXT TIME A PANDEMIC HITS, STEVE, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO DO THE KIND OF BUSINESS CLOSINGS AND OTHER CHANGES TO SOCIETY THAT WE SAW IN KANSAS CITY?

BECAUSE WE HAVE BILLS IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI THAT WOULD MAKE IT MUCH TOUGHER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS TO REQUIRE BUSINESSES TO CLOSE, LOCAL MAYORS AND SCHOOL BOARDS, RIGHT?

>> I THINK, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, NICK, THAT IS AN ENDURING LESSON FROM THIS PANDEMIC.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE RESISTANCE GOING FORWARD IF THERE IS A NEXT TIME, GOD FORBID, THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMES DOWN THE PIKE.

LAWMAKERS, CITY OFFICIALS WILL BE REALLY HESITANT TO GO TOO QUICKLY TOO FAST.

HAVING SAID THAT, NICK, YOU'VE GOT TO CUT PUBLIC OFFICIALS SOME SLACK.

IF YOU GO BACK A YEAR AGO, WE CAN PLAY ARM CHAIR QUARTERBACK.

BUT A YEAR AGO, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE HAD ON OUR HANDS.

I HAVE A HARD TIME BEING TOO CRITICAL GIVEN THE MYSTERY THIS VIRUS REALLY TURNED OUT TO BE.

>> MAYOR LUCAS WITH YOU TELLING KCUR NEWS THIS WEEK, LOOKING BACK ON THE YEAR, WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST REGRET THAT HE HAD, AND IT WAS THE FACT THAT HE WAITED SO LONG TO IMPOSE A MASK MANDATE, CAT REID.

YET HE WAS THE MAYOR -- THAT TOOK PLACE IN JUNE, BY THE WAY.

THE CDC WAS RECOMMENDING THOSE IN APRIL.

WHAT STOPPED HIM?

>> WELL, I THINK FIRST OF ALL THERE WAS A HOPE THAT PEOPLE WOULD CHOOSE TO WEAR MASKS TO PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE WITHOUT HAVING TO MANDATE IT, BUT ALSO IT WAS A PRETTY BIG DECISION TO MAKE.

YOU SAW THE POLITICAL BACKLASH, PERSONAL BACKLASH HE FACED.

SOMEONE SENT HIM A MESSAGE SAYING THEY WANTED TO SEE HIM HANGING FROM A TREE AFTER HE PUT IN THE MASK MANDATE.

SO THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS PRICE AND A LOT OF BACKLASH FOR MAKING THAT MOVE.

>> THE BIG PUSH NOW, OF COURSE, IS TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE VACCINATED.

ARROWHEAD STADIUM, THE EPICENTER OF A MASS VACCINATION EVENT THIS WEEK HOPING TO MAKE A BIG DENT IN THE WAITING LISTS FOR THE SHOT.

MISSOURI VASTLY EXPANDED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE THIS WEEK.

TEACHERS, CHILD CARE EMPLOYEES, GROCERY STORE WORKERS NOW ALL CAN GET THE SHOT.

AND SO CAN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

ACCORDING TO THE STATE, IT'S GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, COMMUNICATION WORKERS, THOSE WHO WORK IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, THE DAMS SECTOR, THERE IS SUCH A THING, THE ENERGY INDUSTRY AND IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE JOBS.

COULDN'T MOST PEOPLE CLAIM THEY WERE IN ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES?

>> YES, THEY COULD.

ONE OF OF THE THINGS THAT'S ANNOYING, DOWN THE STREET AT THE NEGRO LEAGUE MUSEUM, THEY STARTED GIVING THE VACCINES.

PROBABLY 95% OF THE PEOPLE GOING IN THERE TAKING THE VACCINE ARE WHITE.

IF YOU LOOK AT REVEREND MILES' CHURCH, MORNING STAR, THAT AREA IS PROBABLY 98% BLOCK, BUT THE PEOPLE GETTING SHOTS AND VACCINES ARE 95 TO MAYBE EVEN SOME DAYS 100% WHITE.

>> NICK: WHY IS THAT BECAUSE I THOUGHT THERE WAS A BIG PUSH TO MAKE SURE THAT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, THERE WAS GOING TO BE A MAJOR EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE VACCINATED, INCLUDING AT THE NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL MUSEUM WHERE YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM.

YOU COULD JUST CALL AND GET AN APPOINTMENT.

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE BLACK COMMUNITY, 1, DOESN'T REALIZE THE SIGNIFICANT IN THE HERD IMMUNITY, AND TWO, IT'S JUST THEY DON'T TRUST MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE ADMINISTERING IT ARE DOING A POOR JOB OF MARKETING IT, I BELIEVE.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE PART OF A MARKETING CONCEPT WITH US AND THE ST. LOUIS AMERICAN, THE TWO BLACK NEWSPAPERS, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE ENGAGED AND GET THE VACCINE.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S AVAILABLE IN THEIR AREAS DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO TAKE A SHOT.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST SURPRISES OF ALL TO ME IS HOW RESISTANT SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TO THE VACCINE AFTER A HALF MILLION PEOPLE HAVE DIED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND IT ISN'T JUST THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

IN RURAL AREAS, THERE'S A GREAT RELUCTANCE, APPARENTLY, TO TAKE THE SHOT.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE SO MANY UNUSED VACCINES IN CITIES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WHERE PEOPLE FROM KANSAS CITY AND OTHER URBAN AREAS HAVE TO DRIVE TO ACTUALLY GET THEIR SHOTS, SENDING LOTS OF VACCINE TO PLACES THAT DON'T NEED IT AND NOT ENOUGH TO PLACES WHERE THEY DO.

I THINK WE NEED TO DO A REAL STUDY OF HOW WE MADE THESE DECISIONS AND HOW WE CAN DO THEM BETTER GOING FORWARD.

>> NICK: KANSAS, STARTING MONDAY, MORE THAN HALF A MILLION KANSANS WILL GET THEIR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> WE'RE DETERMINED TO GET EVERY KANSAN WHO WANTS TO BE VACCINATED VACCINATED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> NICK: SO FOR THE FIRST TIME KANSAS ON MONDAY UNDER THE AGE OF 65 WITH CRITICAL MEDICAL CONDITIONS, LIKE CANCER, HEART PROBLEMS AND DIABETES, WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE SHOT.

AND KANSAS TOO IS EXPANDING THE VACCINE TO CRITICAL WORKERS, INCLUDING ANYONE IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY, THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR, GOVERNMENT, COMMUNICATION WORKERS.

IS THIS BIG EXPANSION, THOUGH, JUST GOING TO MAKE IT TOUGHER FOR THOSE SENIORS WHO ARE STILL WAITING TO GET THEIR SHOTS, STEVE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT MIGHT, NICK.

KCUR DID A STORY THIS WEEK THAT REPORTED THAT AFTER TWO MONTHS OF VACCINATIONS, ONLY 55% OF MISSOURIANS 65 TO 74 HAD RECEIVED DOSES.

42% OF THOSE 75 TO 84, 57 OF THOSE 85 AND OLDER.

SO A HUGE SWATH OF SENIORS HAVE NOT TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE EARLY OPPORTUNITY.

ENDING IT NOW IT GOING TO BE EVEN TOUGHER.

I THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED HERE AS WELL.

>> SOME LEADERS HAVE A RENEWED PUSH TO HELP OUR SENIOR CITIZENS WHO CANNOT PUT THEIR NAME ON 10 DIFFERENT LISTS, WHO DO NOT HAVE INTERNET ACCESS, WHO AREN'T ON TWITTER, AND SO I THINK THAT'S ONE REASON WHY YOU HAVE SEEN, FOR INSTANCE, WYANDOTTE COUNTY HAS BEEN DOING THE WALK-IN CLINICS FOR SOME OF OUR SENIORS, BECAUSE REALLY THIS IS A HARD PROCESS TO NAVIGATE.

SO I DO WORRY ABOUT THE SENIORS WHO DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOUNGER FOLKS MAY HAVE TO GET IN LINE FOR THE VACCINE.

>> NICK: BEFORE YOU RUSH OUT TO WYANDOTTE COUNTY, HAVE YOU TO BE A WYANDOTTE COUNTY TO GET THEM, BUT KUDOS TO WYANDOTTE COUNTY OFFICIALS WHO HAS THE LOOSEST RESTRICTIONS NOW.

JUST WALK INTO THE FACILITIES, AND YOU CAN GET THE SHOT.

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY.

YOU HAVE TO BE 65 AND OLDER.

THAT WILL CHANGE ON MONDAY.

>> NICK: AS MORE OF US ARE GETTING THE VACCINE, ARE YOU NOTICED THERE ARE NOW COMPANIES AND NONPROFITS REQUIRING YOU TO HAVE A SHOT?

KANSAS LAWMAKERS ARE NOW TRYING TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING.

A BILL IN TOPEKA WOULD BLOCK BUSINESSES FROM REQUIRING WORKERS TO BE VACCINATED.

IN FACT, COMPANIES COULD BE FINED IF THEY USED A WORKER'S VACCINATION STATUS TO MAKE DECISIONS ON HIRING, FIRING, COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, PROMOTIONS OR LEAVE.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT, DAVE?

>> I THINK THERE IS SOME SUPPORT FOR IT.

IT'S A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT QUESTION, NICK.

THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT SOME BUSINESSES ARE TELLING EMPLOYEES, DON'T COME BACK UNLESS YOU'VE GOTTEN A SHOT, AND YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR CONCERN, NOT ONLY FOR LIABILITY, WHATEVER THAT TURNS OUT TO BE, BUT JUST THEY DON'T WANT THEIR EMPLOYEES GETTING SICK OR GIVING THE DISEASE TO OTHER FOLKS IN THE ROOM.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE IS AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE THAT IF YOUR BUSINESS CAN ORDER YOU TO GET A SHOT, THEY CAN ORDER YOU TO STOP EATING FRENCH FRIES FOR LUNCH, THAT TYPE OF THING.

I DO THINK THERE IS A BALANCING ACT HERE AMONG BUSINESSES.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS REQUIRE KIDS TO GET SHOTS BEFORE THEY CAN START CLASS.

SO THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN REQUIRE INOCULATIONS IS NOT THAT FAR OFF THE MAP, BUT IT'S A DIFFICULT, DIFFICULT ISSUE FOR BUSINESS AND FOR POLITICIANS.

>> NICK: SHOULD YOU BE DEPRIVED OF A JOB, THOUGH, BECAUSE YOU HAVE A RELUCTANCE TO WHAT SOME PEOPLE STILL SAY IS AN EXPERIMENTAL DRUG.

IT CAME INTO DISTRIBUTION AND DEVELOPMENT IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, FASTER THAN ANY VACCINE HAS COME BEFORE.

STEVE.

>> NICK, I DON'T THINK THAT BILL IS GOING TO PASS.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE WHERE THE BILL IS BEING HEARD SAID HE'S NOT GOING TO KICK IT OUT.

23 STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY LOOKING AT THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION.

NOTHING HAS PASSED ANYWHERE.

EVEN THE KANSAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, NICK, IS SAYING IT DOESN'T WANT THIS LEGISLATION RIGHT NOW, BUT MOST BUSINESS OWNERS SAYING THEY WANT THE FLEXIBILITY TO PUT IN A REQUIREMENT IF IT'S NEEDED.

I DON'T THINK THIS KIND OF LEGISLATION IS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

>> NICK: WILL THIS BE THE WEEK KANSAS CITY MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS MAKES UP HIS MIND?

MAYOR LUCAS SAYS HE'S BEEN MEETING WITH FAMILY AND CLOSE AIDS TO DECIDE WHETHER HE SHOULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE NEXT YEAR.

MISSOURI SENATOR ROY BLUNT SURPRISED MANY LAST WEEK WHEN HE ANNOUNCED HE WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION AFTER SERVING 24 YEARS IN CONGRESS.

IF LUCAS ENTERS THE RACE, WILL HE BE ABLE TO KEEP HIS CURRENT JOB AT THE SAME TIME, CAT?

>> WELL, HE DEFINITELY WOULD BE A BUSY MAN, BUT YES, HE COULD STILL KEEP HIS CURRENT JOB.

ALTHOUGH I HAD HEARD THE CONCERN THAT IF HE WERE TO RUN AND LOSE, IT COULD RAIDS IN DIFFICULTIES FOR POTENTIAL -- RAISE SOME DIFFICULTIES FOR POTENTIAL REELECTION OF MAYOR IN 2023.

>> DID IT SURPRISE YOU, ERIC, THAT HE SAID HE WAS INTERESTED IN THIS RACE?

>> YES.

HE SENT ME A TEXT AND EXPLAINED WHAT HIS POSITION WAS.

IT WAS JUST KIND OF SURPRISING.

I THINK HE HAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT HE WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH YET AS MAYOR.

I DON'T SEE HIM ACTUALLY RUNNING FOR IT, BECAUSE I THINK HE HASN'T DONE HIS CHECKLIST YET.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS, DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE TRYING TO FIND SOMEBODY TO FILL THAT SEAT.

BUT I WOULD HAVE ONE NAME THAT I WOULD LIKE TO THROW OUT, FORMER MAYOR SLY JAMES.

I THINK HE'S GOT GREAT CROSSOVER APPEAL.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE IN RURAL MISSOURI WOULD MAYBE COME OUT OF REPUBLICAN STRONG HOLD AREAS AND VOTE FOR HIM.

>> NICK: WHY ISN'T HIS NAME BEING MENTIONED THEN, STEVE?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE WOULD BE.

I THINK ERIC MADE SOME GOOD SUGGESTIONS.

SLY JAMES WOULD BE AN APPEALING GUY.

YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE IN MIND, THOUGH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO AFRICAN AMERICANS HERE, AND THE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN HAS NEVER WON STATEWIDE OFFICE.

NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO GUYS WHO MIGHT HAVE A SHOT, BUT BOY, IT'S AN AWFULLY RED STATE THESE DAYS, AND I THINK BOTH MEN WOULD THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE TAKING A LEAP LIKE THAT.

>> NICK: ANYONE WITH POLITICAL AMBITIONS WOULD SALIVATE OVER THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN IN A RACE WITH NO INCUMBENT TO BEAT.

THERE ARE UNDOUBTEDLY SCORES OF MISSOURIANS WHO LOOKED IN THE MIRROR OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS AND SAW A U.S.

SENATOR LOOKING BACK AT THEM.

BY THE WAY, AMONG THEM IS FORMER MISSOURI GOVERNOR ERIC GREITENS WHO RESIGNED IN DISGRACE IN 2018.

IS IT POSSIBLE HE CAN RECOVER FROM A SEXUAL MISCONDUCT SCANDAL AND BECOME MISSOURI'S NEXT SENATOR, DAVE?

>> YES, IT'S POSSIBLE, AND IT'S MORE POSSIBLE IF THERE ARE LOTS OF CANDIDATES IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

IF YOU GET TWO OR THREE CANDIDATES, GREITENS PROBLEMS WOULD PROBABLY BE TOO MUCH TO OVERCOME.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A FIELD OF 6 OR 7 WELL FINANCED CANDIDATES, A COUPLE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, ERIC GREITENS, MAYBE JOHN BRUNER WHO HAS RUN FOR THE SEAT BEFORE, YOU COULD SEE AN ERIC GREITENS WINNING WITH 15 OR 16% OF THE VOTE.

IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE KRIS KOBACH ARGUMENT IN KANSAS WHEN HE RAN STATEWIDE.

BY THE WAY, JUST ONE OTHER QUICK NOTE, RUNNING FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE IS SO HARD.

PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SLY JAMES OR QUINTON LUCAS OR ANYONE ELSE RUNNING FOR THAT JOB, THAT'S TWO YEARS AWAY FROM HOME, TRAVELING EVERY WEEKEND TO REMOTE AREAS OF THE STATE, RAISING LOTS OF MONEY, AND IF YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT, YOU'VE GOT TO BE THINKING, AND I'M GOING TO LOSE.

>> NICK: SURPRISING TO ME IS THE NUMBER OF WELL KNOWN NAMES WHO HAVE SAID ABSOLUTELY NO TO RUNNING.

JASON KANDER WHO CAME CLOSE TO UNSEATING BLUNT IN 2016 SAYS HE HAS NO INTEREST IN THE RACE.

FORMER MISSOURI SENATOR CLAIRE MCCASKILL WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH ELECTED POLITICS AGAIN.

MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON HAS SAID NO AND MISSOURI SECRETARY OF STATE JAY ASHCROFT HAS DECLINED TO RUN.

WHAT IS THEIR RELUCTANCE?

>> IT'S LIKE DAVE SAID EARLIER, RUNNING STATEWIDE IS VERY TAXING.

I HEARD FORMER SENATOR MCCASKILL SAY SHE FEELS GUILTY ALMOST JUST TO BE SO HAPPY TO WALK AROUND THE HOUSE AND SIT AROUND AND DO NOTHING.

SHE FEELS GUILTY IN BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

BUT ONE NAME THAT HASN'T COME UP, AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S TRYING TO PUT ANYTHING TOGETHER IS JAY NIXON.

JAY NIXON HAD A DEMOCRATIC SEAT IN A REPUBLICAN STATE TOO.

SO I'M WONDERING WHY HIS NAME ISN'T COMING UP.

>> NICK: IS HE TOO MUCH OF A HAS-BEEN AT THIS POINT IN MISSOURI POLITICS, STEVE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK IF JAY NIXON TOOK A SERIOUS LOOK AND WANTED TO DO THIS, HE MIGHT BE A SHOE-IN FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION, NICK.

KEEP IN MIND, HE RAN FOR THE U.S. SENATE ONCE BEFORE BACK IN 1994 OR '8 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AGAINST JACK DANFORTH.

HE GOT CRUSHED IN THAT RACE, BUT IT DOES SUGGEST HE HAS INTEREST IN A SEAT LIKE THIS.

THE OTHER NAME WE'RE NOT HEARING MUCH ABOUT IS DAVE HELLING WHO LOOKS IN THE MIRROR EVERY MORNING AND SEES A U.S.

SENATOR.

>> I THINK I WOULD HAVE TO LIVE IN MISSOURI, WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST THING.

LET ME JUST SAY QUICKLY ABOUT JAY NIXON, IF I CAN, HE'S GOT A PROBLEM WITH FERGUSON.

>> THAT'S MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN ERIC GREITENS AND THE SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS?

>> WELL, IF WE SAW GREITENS AGAINST NIXON, THAT WOULD BE A FASCINATING RACE TO COVER, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT, BECAUSE BOTH WOULD BE DEEPLY WOUNDED.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS MIGHT OVERLOOK FERGUSON BUT HE WOULD NEED HUGE TURNOUT TO HAVE A CHANCE AGAINST ANY REPUBLICAN, AND I THINK THE ANGER IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AGAINST JAY NIXON, WHICH BY THE WAY HAS BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES, MIGHT MAKE THAT HUGE TURNOUT DIFFICULT IN 2022.

>> NICK: WHILE WE WERE IN OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THERE WERE SOME BIG NEWS STORIES THAT WE MISSED, AND THAT'S JUST THE STRING OF HIGH PROFILE DEPARTURES AT KU.

HOW ABOUT THE STRING OF HIGH PROFILE DEPARTURES FROM DOWNTOWN?

THE ALAMO DRAFT HOUSE ANNOUNCES IT'S PERMANENTLY CLOSING.

SO THERE'S NO LONGER ANYWHERE YOU CAN WATCH A MOVIE DOWNTOWN?

AND THE BIGGER QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENS TO KANSAS CITY'S NEWEST SKY CREPER AS WADDELL AND REED PULLS OUT OF ITS NEW RED QUARTERS BUILDING?

THE 18 STORY TOWER IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

AND I'VE NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SINCE.

HAS SOMEONE ELSE AGREED TO MOVE IN?

>> NO.

THE LAST WE HEARD IS THERE IS A CONTRACT IN PLACE.

THE BUILDING IS GOING TO BE FINISHED, BUT THEY WILL HAVE TO FIND A TENANT.

AND THE NATURE OF WORK HAS CHANGED SO DRAMATICALLY IN THE PAST YEAR.

PEOPLE ARE WORKING REMOTELY.

PEOPLE REALIZE THAT'S AN OPTION THAT WORKS.

SO I THINK IT'S TRICKIER TO FIND A TENANT FOR THAT SPACE THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A YEAR AGO OR BEFORE THAT.

>> NICK: AS TAXPAYERS, THOUGH, DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE?

ARE WE ON THE HOOK IN ANY WAY IF WADDELL AND REED DOES NOT GO DOWN THERE AND THEY DON'T FIND SOMEONE?

>> I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY DICEY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT STRUCTURE.

I DO THINK THEY'LL FINISH IT AND LOOK FOR PEOPLE.

BUT LOOK FOR STORIES ABOUT PROBLEMS IN PAYING OFF THE DEAD OF DEBT AND SUBSIDIES FOR THAT IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

>> NICK: ERIC, I SEE THE MAYOR IS DOWNPLAYING IT, SAYING, QUOTE, TENANT CHANGES HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.

THERE ARE MANY COMPANIES LOOKING FOR OFFICE SPACE.

IS HE RIGHT?

>> YEAH, BUT LURING THEM INTO DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY IS A WHOLE OTHER CONVERSATION.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FINDING SOMEBODY TO UPROOT AND MOVE.

>> NICK: MANY OF US RIGHT NOW ARE CHECKING THE MAILBOX OR OUR BANK BALANCES TO SEE IF THE GOVERNMENT HAS SENT US OUR STIMULUS MONEY.

WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES.

OUR LOCAL CITIES ARE CHECKING TOO.

KANSAS CITY IS GETTING A LOT MORE MONEY THAN ANTICIPATED.

MAYOR LUCAS SAYS THE CITY WILL GET $195 MILLION.

THE BUDGET HOLE IN THE CITY IS 70 MILLION.

DOES THAT SOLVE ALL THE DEMANDS TO CUT BACK INCLUDING SLASHING FUNDING TO THE ZOO, STARLIGHT, ARTS KC, THE FILM OFFICE, THE BLACK ARCHIVES?

>> WELL, THIS IS MONEY FROM HEAVEN FOR MAYOR LUCAS, NICK, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD AN OFFICIAL DECISION ON WHETHER THOSE CUTS WILL BE RESTORED, BUT I'VE GOT TO BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO BE.

AS YOU POINT OUT, THE BUDGET HOLE WAS 70 MILLION BUCKS.

THEY GOT ALMOST $200 MILLION FROM THE FEDS HERE.

THAT SOLVES A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND SHORES UP A LOT OF BUDGET HOLES FOR MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS.

>> NICK: CAT.

>> THE MAYOR SAID THE CITY COUNCIL IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET THAT REFLECTS OUR CURRENT FISCAL SITUATION, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS MONEY YET.

DOWN THE ROAD WE COULD SEE SOME OF THE FUNDING RESTORED, BUT ALSO, WE'RE JUST NOT OUT OF THIS CRISIS YET.

THE COSTS OF THIS ARE NOT GOING TO END THIS YEAR.

SO I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE A RUSH TO SPEND ALL OF THIS MONEY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> NICK: AND ALL OF THE CITIES, BY THE WAY, IN THE ENTIRE METRO GAVE LOTS OF MONEY.

OVERLAND PARK, $20 MILLION.

FIGHTS ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

I SEE IN KANSAS IN THE LEGISLATURE THEY WANT TO USE IT FOR A TAX CUT.

THERE IS A BUSHBACK TO THAT -- PUSHBACK ON THAT.

THIS MONEY CAN'T BE SPENT ON A TAX CUT.

BUT THERE ARE LOOSE RULES AS TO WHERE THIS MONEY CAN GO, RIGHT?

>> NOT ONLY LOOSE, BUT NOT COMPLETELY CLEAR YET.

IF YOU TALK TO OFFICIALS, THEY SAY WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT WE CAN SPEND IT ON, NOT SPEND IT ON.

THEY'RE WAITING FOR GUIDANCE FROM WASHINGTON.

BUT THE POLITICAL PRESSURE, NICK, WILL BE ENORMOUS.

WHEN YOU GET $200 MILLION FROM WASHINGTON, WHAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE ZOO OR $500,000 FOR SOME IMPROVEMENT IN SOME OTHER PART OF THE CITY?

SO I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME NICKEL AND DIMING GOING ON, AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING AND DIFFICULT FOR THE MAYOR TO HOLD THAT BACK.

>> NICK: WHEN YOU PUT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS TOGETHER EVERY WEEK, YOU CAN'T GET TO EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN KANSAS CITY.

WHAT WAS THE BIG STORY WE MISSED?

A PARADELESS ST. PATRICK'S DAY ALMOST.

LEAVENWORTH THE ONLY LOCAL CITY HOSTING ITS OWN PARADE.

A TOP KANSAS POLITICIAN IN BIG TROUBLE, DRIVING THE WRONG WAY DOWN I-70 FOR ALMOST 10 MINUTES.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE HOMELESS NOW?

KANSAS CITY CLOSING ITS BARTLE HALL WARMING CENTER.

STILL NO FINAL DECISION ON HOW KANSAS CITY SHOULD HONOR DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, BUT A GROUNDBREAKING THIS WEEK FOR A DESTINATION PLAYGROUND IN LONG OVERLOOKED MARTIN LUTHER KING PARK.

IT'S BEING FUNDED BY A FOUNDATION SET UP BY CHIEFS QUARTERBACK PATRICK MAHOMES.

AFTER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY AT OAK PARK MALL, THE DISNEY STORE SHUTTING ITS DOORS FOR GOOD ON TUESDAY.

AND LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES, IS FILLING OUT A BRACKET ONE OF THE TOP STORIES FOR MANY KANSAS CITIANS THIS WEEK?

MARCH MADNESS UNDERWAY IN INAPP POLICE.

>> ERIC WESSON, WAS IT ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

>> SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

WE HAD THE COLLAPSE OF A BUILDING DOWN ON 18th STREET, THE HIT BUILDING, HOUSE OF HITS.

IT USED TO BE A RECORD STORE BACK IN 1920.

IT COLLAPSED.

SO I'M GOING TO SAY THE CITY'S NONRESPONSE TO FIXING THESE BUILDINGS DOWN HERE THAT ARE ABOUT TO FALL IN.

I'M JUST GLAD NOBODY WAS WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK WHEN IT COLLAPSED.

>> NICK: NOW, THE CITY HAS MONEY TO FIX UP THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> THEY HAD IT ALL ALONG.

WHENEVER THEY WANT TO FIND SOME MONEY, THEY CAN FIND IT.

THEY JUST LOOK IN A DIFFERENT DRAWER OR A DIFFERENT POCKET.

>> CAT REID.

>> THE CLOSING OF THE BARTLE HALL WARMING CENTER THIS WEEK, WHICH WAS A HUGE THING FOR HOUSELESS PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THESE PEOPLE?

I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH SOCIAL WORKERS.

THE CITY HAS SENT THEM THERE TO TRY AND FIND HOUSING FOR PEOPLE.

BUT IT'S A BIG POPULATION, AND THAT PROBLEM IS NOT GOING AWAY.

>> NICK: STEVE KRASKE.

>> I THINK THE ONGOING INABILITY, NICK, FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE METRO TO REALLY FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET VACCINATIONS TO POOR MISSOURIANS AND POOR KANSANS.

I KNOW STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN, BUT A LOT OF FOLKS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH THAT QUESTION AND A LACK OF ANSWERS ON THIS FRONT FOR ME IS PRETTY TROUBLING.

>> NICK: DAVE HELLING.

>> THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI KANSAS CITY THIS WEEK WILL ANNOUNCE A MAJOR RESTRUCTURING.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE MASS LAYOFFS OF ANY KIND OF FACULTY, AND THERE WON'T BE MAJOR TUITION INCREASES.

THERE WILL BE A RESTRUCTURING OF SOME DEGREE PROGRAMS, AND SOME PROGRAMS, INCLUDING SOME MASTERS DEGREES, WILL BE DROPPED.

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

CONNECTING WITH US ON THE BIG SCREEN THIS HALF HOUR, CAT REID FROM 41 ACTION NEWS, AND ERIC WESSON FROM THE CALL, THE STARS DAVE HELLING, 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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