THIS IS THE LAST REMAINING ABORTION CLINIC IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI MISSOURI VOWING TO COPYCAT A NEW TEXAS ABORTION LAW WHAT ABOUT KANSAS GAY HISTORY BECOMES A POLITICAL FOOTBALL I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN PUT BACK IN A CLOSET AND MASK DEFIANCE REACHES NEW HEIGHTS WE HAVE A STRICT DRESS CODE THERE ARE NO MASKS AT ALL PERMITTED 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 EVERYONE I'M NICK HAINES AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE WEEK'S MOST IMPACTFUL CONFUSING AND BEFUDDLING STORIES TO KEEP OUR VIEWER FRANK HAPPY HE'S THE ONE WHO REPEATEDLY E MAILS ME ABOUT THE TIME WE SPEND ON MISSOURI ISSUES VERSUS KANSAS ONES.

SHE'S THE KANSAS STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR KAKE TV IN WICHITA.

SHE'S COMING FROM THE ANCHOR DESK WHERE SHE'S ABOUT TO DELIVER THE NEWS.

STEVE KRASKE HAS JUST WRAPPED UP HIS DAILY NEWS SHOW UP TO DATE ON KCUR F.M.

AND USUALLY WRAPPED INSIDE A THIN PLASTIC BAG IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR DRIVEWAY, DAVE HELLING IS WITH US FROM YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR.

MORE THAN 18 MONTHS INTO THIS PANDEMIC, HOW MANY OF US EXPECTED WE WOULD STILL BE WEARING MASKS.

HOW MANY OF US EXPECTED FACE COVERINGS TO CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE MOST DIVISIVE ISSUES IN OUR METRO?

THIS WEEK IT EVEN LEADS TO FISTICUFFS IN THE PLEASANT HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT.

>> PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY THROWING FISTS AND HITTING EACH OTHER.

THEY WERE ABLE TO HANDCUFF ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WAS GETTING INTO FIGHTS AND MORE SHERIFF DEPUTIES ARRIVES.

>> NICK: MEANWHILE A RESTAURANT IN BLUE SPRINGS IS MAKING NATIONAL NEWS AFTER THE OWNER REFUSED TO REQUIRE MASKS.

EVEN AFTER JACKSON COUNTY SHUT THEM DOWN, IT'S REOPENED AS A PRIVATE CLUB.

SO THEY CAN GET AROUND THE LAW THAT SAYS FACE COVERINGS HAVE TO BE WORN IN PLACES THAT SERVE THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

>> YOU MUST PAY A MEMBERSHIP FEE.

WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE DOORS, ONE DOLLAR.

WE HAVE A STRICT DRESS MODE.

NO MASKS AT ALL PERMIT.

>> DAVE: SHOULDN'T BE A MANDATE ANYWHERE.

IT SHOULD BE A FREE CHOICE.

>> NICK: SO STEVE KRASKE, IF YOU PAY A DOLLAR AND YOU'RE A PRIVATE CLUB, YOU CAN GET AROUND ALL OF THE COVID RULES YOU WOULD LIKE?

>> IT APPEARS TO BE WORKING FOR RAY'S CAFE IN BLUE SPRINGS, NICK.

THE QUESTION WILL BECOME IF THIS PRACTICE BEGINS TO TAKE ROOT AND SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE ACROSS JACKSON COUNTY, HOW WILL THE LEGISLATURE RESPOND?

HOW WILL THE ATTORNEY FOR JACKSON COUNTY RESPOND?

AGAIN, THIS SEEMS TO BE WORKING OUT THERE, THIS DOES SEEM TO BE A WAY AROUND THE LAW, BUT WHETHER THIS IS GOING TO SIT WELL WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TRYING TO DEAL WITH A PANDEMIC, WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

>> CERTAINLY THESE BUSINESS VERSUS POWER AT THEIR ELBOW, THANKS TO THE MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO HAS BEEN TELLING PARENTS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO ABIDE BY LOCAL MASK MANDATES.

IF A MASK CAUSES YOU ANY UNHAPPINESS, DON'T WEAR ONE, AND I'M GIVING YOU LEGAL COVER FOR THAT.

>> ALTHOUGH THE JACKSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE FRANK WHITE AND MAYOR CLINTON LUCAS QUICKLY PUT OUT A STATEMENT SAYING DON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND IT'S CLEAR, NICK, THAT ALL SIDES ARE GOING TO TEST THE BOUNDARIES OF THESE ORDERS IN COURT.

LATE LAST NIGHT JACKSON COUNTY SAID IT'S GOING TO COURT TO TRY TO CLOSE RAE'S CAFE BECAUSE OF ITS ACTIONS IN MASKING THAT YOU JUST REFERENCED.

SO I THINK THE COURTROOM BATTLES HAVE BEGUN.

IN THE MIDDLE, NICK, OF ALL CONFUSION ABOUT COVID AND THE NEXT STEP OF THIS IS CLEARLY GOING TO BE VACCINE MANDATES.

THESE ARGUMENTS ARE ABOUT REQUIRING MASKS, BUT NOW INCREASINGLY GOVERNMENTS AND BUSINESSES ARE REQUIRING EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS TO EITHER PROVE VACCINATION OR PROVE A NEGATIVE COVID TEST.

THAT WILL BE EVEN MORE INTRUSIVE FOR SOME PEOPLE.

PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN TODAY IS ANNOUNCING A TOUGHER FEDERAL STANCE ON ALL OF THIS, SO THE LEGAL AND POLITICAL CONFUSION SURROUNDING THE RESPONSE TO THIS DISEASE SEEMS TO BE ACCELERATING.

>> NICK: WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE MISSOURI EXAMPLES, BUT IF YOU LIVE IN KANSAS, YOU CAN'T JUST LOOK AND SHAKE YOUR HEAD.

MULTIPLE LAWSUITS FILED THIS WEEK TO BLOCK MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS, INCLUDING FROM A PARENT IN THE BLUE VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO CLAIMS THE COUNTY MANDATE HAS INTERFERED WITH HER CHILD'S ABILITY TO COMPLETE SCHOOLWORK, INTERACT WITH HER FRIENDS AND RECEIVE INSTRUCTION FROM THE TEACHERS.

I TALKED TO ONE SCHOOL OFFICIAL THIS WEEK WHO SAYS THAT DESPITE LARGE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS NOW INFECTED OR IN QUARANTINE, THEY CAN'T FORCE CLASSES ONLINE BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING SQUEEZED BY A KANSAS LAW THAT LIMITS ONLINE INSTRUCTION.

SO IF THESE MASK MANDATES ARE STRUCK DOWN IN COURT, SCHOOLS HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO KEEP KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM?

>> KEEP KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM, OR AS WE'VE SEEN IN SOME DISTRICTS, THEY'VE HAD TO SHUT DOWN.

>> THAT WAS ABOUT GETTING AROUND THAT LAW THEN, THAT THEY COULDN'T GO ONLINE?

>> THEY COULD NOT GO ONLINE, SO THEY JUST THEY HAD TOO MANY KIDS SICK, SO THEY HAD TO JUST SHUT DOWN.

HOW DID THEY END UP HANDLING THAT?

EITHER GOING TO HAVE TO TACK THOSE DAYS ON TO THE SCHOOL YEAR, OR AS WELLINGTON HAS DONE, EXTEND THE LENGTH OF EACH SCHOOL DAY, ADDING ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO EVERY SCHOOL DAY TO MAKE UP THAT MANDATORY STRUCTURAL TIME.

>> WHAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING IN HOW THIS PLAYS OUT, NICK, IS IF MORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN, THEY DON'T HAVE THIS OPTION OF GOING ONLINE, TO PELAR'S POINT, IF THEY START ADDING DAYS TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND YOU GET INTO JUNE, MID JUNE, EVEN LATE JUNE, THE ERUPTION FROM FAMILIES IN KANSAS IS GOING TO BE PROFOUND, BECAUSE YOU'RE SUDDENLY EATING INTO FAMILY VACATION TIME, A TIME THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES LOOK FORWARD TO A WHOLE LOT, AND THE PRESSURE ON THE LEGISLATURE TO RETHINK THIS RULE, TO RETHINK THIS LAW, I THINK, WILL BE EXTREME.

>> YEAH, THAT PRESSURE IS ACTUALLY ALREADY BEING FELT BY SOME LAWMAKERS.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PARENTS.

THEY'RE JUST NOW REALIZING THE IMPACT OF WHAT THAT NEW LAW MEANS, AND THEY ARE NOT HAPPY, AND OFTENTIMES ELECTIONS IN KANSAS GO THE WAY OF EDUCATION.

IT COULD BE A BIG IMPACT IN THE COMING ELECTION.

>> DAVE HELLING SAID A LOT OF FIGHT RIGHT NOW, HEARING ABOUT MASK MANDATES, BUT WE STILL HAVE THAT VACCINE REQUIREMENT THAT COULD NOW BE THE NEXT BATTLEGROUND.

LAST WEEK ON THIS PROGRAM, WE TOLD YOU HOW LOCAL NURSING HOMES WERE WORRYING ABOUT A MASS EXODUS OF STAFF AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN TOLD ADULT CARE FACILITIES LOCALLY IF YOU DON'T REQUIRE YOUR STAFF TO BE VACCINATED, WILL YOU NO LONGER GET MILLIONS IN FEDERAL MEDICAID AND MEDICARE FUNDING.

HAVE LAWMAKERS DISCOVERED A NEW TWIST AS THE GOVERNOR IS TOUTING A NEW 50 MILLION DOLLAR FUND TO TRY TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN NURSES IN KANSAS, REPUBLICAN LEADERS ARE TRYING TO BLOCK THE MONEY GOING TO ANY HOSPITAL THAT REQUIRES STAFF TO GET THE COVID SHOT.

THAT WOULD DEFINITELY ELIMINATE KU HOSPITAL GETTING ANY OF THAT EXTRA CASH N SCIENCE, THEY SAY FOR EVERY ACTION THERE IS AN EQUAL AND OPPOSITE REACTION.

IF THE PRESIDENT CAN TIE MONEY TO PLACES IMPOSING VACCINE MANDATES, SHOULD WE BE SURPRISED THAT SOME PO LITICAL LEADERS WANT TO REWARD PLACES, PELAR, THAT ARE TAKING THE OPPOSITE APPROACH?

>> WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT ALL.

LAST SESSION THERE WAS AN EFFORT ACTUALLY TO MAKE IT ILLEGAL FOR PRIVATE BUSINESSES IN KANSAS TO IMPOSE WHAT'S CALLED THE VACCINE PASSPORT, REQUIRE PEOPLE TO BE VACCINATED TO COME IN.

THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF LAWMAKERS WHO STILL BELIEVE THAT ANY SORT OF REQUIREMENT, EVEN FROM A PRIVATE BUSINESS, SHOULD BE BANNED WHEN IT COMES TO VACCINES, AND THEY'RE TAKING A LEAP OUT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S PAGE AND ATTACHING STATE FUNDING TO IT.

NO SURPRISE WHATSOEVER.

>> STEVE.

>> JUST TO POINT OUT, THE EFFORT BY THE KANSAS STATE SENATE PRESIDENT TO BLOCK THAT MONEY GOING TO PLACES LIKE THE KU HOSPITAL APPEARS TO HAVE FALLEN SHORT IN A VOTE YESTERDAY, NICK, SO I THINK THAT EFFORT IS GOING AWAY.

>> NICK: FOR NOW.

>> FOR NOW.

YOU'RE TAKING THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH.

WE'LL SEE WHAT MIGHT COME DOWN THE ROAD HERE.

ALL THIS MONEY IS IS AN ATTEMPT TO RETAIN NURSES AT HOSPITALS.

OTHER STATES ARE COMING INTO KANSAS TRYING TO POACH OUR NURSES AWAY, BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH A SHORTAGE EVERYWHERE.

THIS MONEY IS AN ATTEMPT TO KEEP THOSE NURSES ON THE JOB GOING FORWARD.

>> NICK: ABORTION POLITICS IS DOMINATING THE NEWS AGAIN.

>> THIS IS THE LAST REMAINING ABORTION CLINIC IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, SERVING MORE THAN A MILLION REPRODUCTIVE AGE WOMEN.

>> AFTER THE SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO BLOCK A TEXAS LAW THAT BANS ALL ABORTIONS AFTER SIX WEEKS, SOME MISSOURI LAWMAKERS VOWING TO PASS A COPYCAT LAW.

DAVE HELLING, YOU MENTIONED AT THE END OF OUR PROGRAM LAST WEEK THAT THIS WILL HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI.

HAVE THOSE RIPPLE EFFECTS ALREADY ARRIVED?

>> WELL, IN MISSOURI, CERTAINLY.

IN FACT, THERE'S A COURT OF APPEALS CASE ON A MISSOURI ABORTION LAW THAT IS SET FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, NICK, SO THAT ARGUMENT CONTINUES IN COURT, AND IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO WATCH, AND ALREADY LAWMAKERS ON THE MISSOURI SIDE ARE SAYING THEY WANT TO ADOPT LANGUAGE ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THAT IN TEXAS, SO WE'LL SEE THAT COME TO FRUITION MOST LIKELY IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY WHEN THE LEGISLATURE MEETS.

I DO THINK THERE WILL BE A SIMILAR ATTEMPT IN TOPEKA, ALTHOUGH THE STATE SUPREME COURT RULING THAT ESTABLISHED THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO ABORTION IN THE STATE CHANGES THE PICTURE SOMEWHAT AND RETURNS THE FOCUS TO THE OFFICE TO THE AUGUST REFERENDUM ON WHAT'S BEING CALLED BOTH THE REFERENDUM ON THE CONSTITUTION IN THE STATE OF KANSAS.

I DO THINK THAT INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE DECISION OF JEFF COLYER TO GET OUT OF THE PRIMARY IN AUGUST MAY CHANGE SOME OF THE CALCULATION ON THE ABORTION MEASURE, BECAUSE THE TURNOUT MAY BE LOWER THAN REPUBLICANS ONCE ANTICIPATED, BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY MIGHT HAVE A COMPETITIVE GOVERNOR'S PRIMARY, SO THAT'S CHANGES A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE FOCUS WILL BE.

>> IN 2019, THERE WERE 25 WOMEN FROM TEXAS WHO CAME TO KANSAS TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

LAST YEAR, IT WAS UP TO NEARLY 300, AND THERE'S CONCERN THERE WILL BE A HUGE NUMBER OF WOMEN COMING FROM TEXAS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF KANSAS LAW, WHICH MANY PEOPLE MAY FIND INTERESTING, BUT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MOST LIBERAL ABORTION LAWS CURRENTLY IN THE MIDWEST.

>> KANSAS LEGISLATURE OVER THE LAST 10 TO 20 YEARS HAVE PASSED A LOT OF LAWS TRYING TO RESTRICT ABORTION ACCESS, BUT THEY'VE BEEN CHALLENGING THE COURT, AND THE COURT HAS OPENED MANY THE STRICTER LAWS, AND THAT RULING THAT WOMEN IN KANSAS HAVE THE RIGHT OF CONTROL OF THEIR OWN BODIES, WHICH INCLUDES THE RIGHT TO FREE ACCESS TO ABORTIONS REALLY TIED LAWMAKERS HANDS AS TO WHAT THEY CAN DO.

THE COUPLE OF CLINICS IN THE STATE THAT ACTUALLY DO PERFORM ABORTION, THEY ARE BRACING FOR THIS ONSLAUGHT.

AS YOU SAID, ALREADY ON THE UPTICK THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

>> IT'S AN AMAZING THING, NICK, JUST TO UNDERSCORE PELARR'S POINT, THIS IDEA THAT KANSAS IS A PLACE TO COME AND GET AN ABORTION AFTER ALL THE STATE HAS BEEN THROUGH, THE SUMMER OF MERCY IN 1991, ALL THE PROTESTS IN WICHITA, HERE WE ARE AND THE GOVERN SHIP OF SAM BROWNBACK, HERE WE ARE TODAY, KANSAS HAS A RIGHT TO AN ABORTION BUILT INTO STATE LAW BECAUSE OF THAT SUPREME COURT RULING A FEW YEARS AGO.

IT IS AN AMAZING THING.

IF YOU ASK PEOPLE ON THE COAST WHAT A RESTRICTIVE ABORTION STATE MIGHT LOOK LIKE, THEY WOULD POINT TO KANSAS.

THAT IS NOT, IN FACT, THE CASE.

>> NICK: IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, DAVE, SINCE WE'VE TALKED MUCH ABOUT ABORTION ON THIS PROGRAM, BUT IT COULD BECOME ONE OF THE MOST DEFINING ISSUES IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS IN OUR REGION.

I ALSO SEE ONE OF THE LEADING DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR ROY BLUNT'S SENATE SEAT IN MISSOURI FOR NEXT YEAR, HAS ALREADY MADE THIS A HUGE CAMPAIGN ISSUE.

THE FORMER STATE SENATOR NOW CALLING ON PRESIDENT BIDEN TO EXPAND THE SUPREME COURT, TO COUNTER THE CONSERVATIVE SHIFT.

IS THAT GOING TO HELP HIM OR HURT HIM IN A STATE LIKE MISSOURI THAT WENT STILL CONVINCINGLY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP LAST YEAR?

>> YEAH, I'M NOT SURE IT'S DEFINITIVE EITHER WAY, NICK, BUT I WILL SAY THAT DEMOCRATS DO THINK THAT THE TEXAS LAW, THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ACTUALLY ACCRUES TO THEIR FAVOR OVER TIME.

THEY THINK WOMEN WILL REACT TO THE IDEA THAT ROE V. WADE COULD GO AWAY AND SUPPORT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES LIKE SCOTT OR LUCAS OR ANY OTHER DEMOCRAT THAT GETS IN THE RACE.

>> I THINK A LOT OF KANSANS WOULD BE UPSET OVER EXPANDING THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

NO MATTER WHAT KANSANS FEEL LIKE ABOUT ABORTION, THEY ARE STILL VERY CONSERVATIVE ON A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES.

OVERALL, IT WOULD NOT BE POPULAR HERE.

>> STEVE.

>> NICK, THIS IDEA OF EXPANDING THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

JOE BIDEN HAS ALREADY WALKED AWAY FROM IT.

AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, CERTAIN REPUBLICANS PLAYING TO THEIR BASES, LET'S TALK ABOUT A DEMOCRAT PLAYING TO HIS BASE.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SCOTT SIFTON IS DOING HERE.

HE KNOWS IT'S NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE NATIONAL LIMIT HE'S TRYING TO WIN A PRIMARY, A TOUGH PRIMARY RACE FOR THE U.S. SENATE NEXT YEAR, PLAYING TO HIS BASE BY TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

HE'S HOPING TO WIN SOME VOTES HERE.

>> NICK: AN EXHIBIT DETAILING THE HISTORY OF GUY MISSOURIANS HAS NOW BECOME A NATIONAL STORY, THAT AFTER IT'S PULLED FROM DISPLAY ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE MISSOURI CAPITOL BUILDING.

>> THERE ARE MEMBERS THAT I SERVE WITH WHO WANT TO SILENCE THAT HISTORY, THAT DON'T WANT THAT TO BE TOLD, BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTHERED I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY BY WHAT, BUT CERTAINLY BY THE FACT THAT I EXIST.

>> NICK: THAT'S KANSAS CITY AREA SENATOR GREG RAZOR WHO IS OPENLY GUY.

WHAT DID THEY SEE, STEVE, THAT THEY FOUND SO OBJECTIONABLE?

>> I GUESS, TO USE YOUR WORDS, NICK, THEY THINK THIS EXHIBIT PUSHES THE LGBTQ AGENDA IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

GREG RAZOR AND MANY OTHERS SAY THIS EXHIBIT DOES KNOT NOTHING OF THE SORT.

IT'S SIMPLY A HISTORY OF GUY ACTIVISM HERE IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA, THAT EXHIBIT PUT TOGETHER BY STUDENTS AT UMKC.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR CERTAINLY SAYING IT WAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CONTENT OF THAT EXHIBIT AND IT WAS REALLY THAT THEY WERE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES, DAVE HELLING.

WHAT RULES WERE NOT FOLLOWED?

>> WELL, THE GOVERNOR AND PEOPLE AROUND HIM SAID, NO, YOU HAVE TO GO TO A SPECIFIC BOARD FOR APPROVAL FOR EXHIBITS.

I GUESS THAT WAS SHOT DOWN PRETTY QUICKLY.

IT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

IN FACT, THE HOUSE MINORITY LEADER YESTERDAY SAID, IF THIS IS THE RULE, THEN EVERYTHING IN THE MUSEUM AT THE CAPITOL NEEDS TAKEN OUT, BECAUSE NO OTHER EXHIBITS FACED THIS KIND OF SCRUTINY, AND THERE IS GENERAL DISSATISFACTION WITH THE IDEA THAT THEY PICKED UP THIS EXHIBIT AND MOVED TO ANOTHER BUILDING NEAR THE CAPITOL.

THAT'S SORT OF A SEPARATE BUT EQUAL THING.

>> BUT IT'S IN THE LOEHMANN BUILDING, WHICH IS DOWN THE HILL FROM THE CAPITOL NEXT TO THE AMTRAK STATION ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

ABOUT 12 PEOPLE WILL COME TO SEE THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR, UNLIKE THE KIND OF CROWDS YOU WOULD HAVE HAD ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE STATE CAPITOL.

THIS EXHIBIT HAS BEEN VANISHED, NICK.

NO ONE IS GOING TO SEE THIS THING.

>> NICK: IS THE UPSHOT OF ALL OF THIS GOING TO BE, WELL, LET'S NOT HAVE ANY DISPLAYS AT ALL IN THE MISSOURI STATE CAPITOL?

STATEHOUSES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FOR LEGISLATING.

LET'S NOT GET IN THE EXHIBITION BUSINESS, PERIOD.

>> I THINK THAT'S A POSSIBILITY, NICK.

SOMEONE MIGHT SAY, HEY, LOOK, WE JUST DON'T NEED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

THAT WOULD BE A SHAME, OF COURSE, BUT THERE IS A POTENTIAL LEGAL PROBLEM IN WHAT THE STATE HAS DONE HERE, BECAUSE IF IT HAS MOVED AN EXHIBIT FOR CONTENT REASONS, YOU START TO GET INTO A 1st AMENDMENT PROBLEM WITH THE DECISION THAT WAS MADE, INVITING A LAWSUIT.

THIS CONTROVERSY ISN'T GOING AWAY ANY TIME SOON.

>> OF COURSE, NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE EVER HAPPENED IN THE STATE OF KANSAS AT THE STATE CAPITOL IN TOPEKA, PELAR.

>> I THINK THERE WOULD DEFINITELY BE COMPLAINTS.

WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD END UP BEING BANISHED, I DON'T KNOW.

KANSAS IS ALSO VERY CONSERVATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO LGBTQ RIGHTS.

ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE THREE LGBTQ MEMBERS ON THE LEGISLATURE.

>> NICK: DIVISION OF A DIFFERENT KIND SHOWING UP IN A NEW POLL THIS WEEK.

THIS TIME BASED ON WHERE YOU LIVE.

>> KANSAS CITIANS NORTH OF THE RIVER HAVE ALWAYS FELT SHORT CHANGED IN CITY HALL.

NOW A POLL OF MORE THAN 540 LIKELY NORTHLAND KANSAS CITY VOTESSERS SHOWS 41% SUPPORT LEAVING THE CITY.

>> IT CERTAINLY BRINGS TO ATTENTION TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES THE NORTH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS CITY, AND THEY'VE GOT TO START UNDERSTANDING THAT.

>> THAT REPORT FROM MICHEAL MAHONEY OVER AT CHANNEL 9.

THAT POLL RELEASED IN THE SAME WEEK THAT MAYOR QUINTIN LUCAS ANNOUNCES A NEW PANEL TO DRAW KANSAS CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS, PART OF THE RESTRICTING PROCESS WE'RE SEEING PLAYING OUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY NOW THAT THE NEW CENSUS FIGURES ARE IN.

DAVE HELLING, WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS AT THE STATE LEVELS, SUCH AS IN KANSAS WHERE THERE MAY BE AN EFFORT TO CARVE OUT THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR SHARICE DAVIDS TO WIN REELECTION, BUT WHAT'S AT STAKE AT THE KANSAS CITY LOCAL LEVEL?

>> IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT THE GROWTH IN THE NORTHLAND EXCEEDS THE GROWTH SOUTH OF THE RIVER IN KANSAS CITY, AND THAT MEANS DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE NORTH IN ORDER TO MAKE THE MATHEMATICS WORK.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED, YOU WILL HAVE MORE NORTHLAND REPRESENTATION ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

WHEN I STARTED COVERING CITY HALL, THERE WAS ONE DISTRICT NORTH OF THE RIVER, ONE.

>> BUT MOST OF US, STEVE KRASKE >> HOW OLD ARE YOU, DAVE HELLING?

>> HUH?

>> MAN, YOU'RE GETTING OLD, DAVE HELLING.

WOW.

>> NICK: MOST OF US, STEVE, ARE MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BETWEEN KANSAS CITY AND THE CLEVELAND BROWNS ON SUNDAY THAN HEARING THE WORD REDISTRICTING, BORED OUT OF THEIR MINDS, READY TO CHANGE THE CHANNEL.

WHY SHOULD PEOPLE CARE?

>> IT'S A TOUGH SALE.

IT'S AN INSIDERS GAME, BUT IT GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS DETERMINING WHO HAS POWER AND WHO DOESN'T.

>> LET ME JUST SAY THIS QUICKLY, NICK.

WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE POLICE FIGHT OVER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FUNDING, THERE WERE FOUR NO VOTES NORTH OF THE RIVER.

IMAGINE IF THERE HAD BEEN TWO ADDITIONAL NORTHLAND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

THEN YOU HAVE A 6 6 VOTE.

IT CHANGES THAT DISCUSSION ENTIRELY.

>> THAT'S WHY IT MATTERS.

>> NICK: PELAR, IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH NOW SINCE WE'VE HAD ALL OF THOSE HEARINGS IN KANSAS, BY THE WAY, 14 AROUND THE STATE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, SOME CONTROVERSY ABOUT THAT, YET WE'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT EVER SINCE THEN.

DID THEY DRAW UP THE POLITICAL MAPS IN KANSAS BEHIND OUR BACKS IN THAT MONTH OR ARE WE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING WHETHER SHARICE DAVIDS WE SHOULD MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR SHARICE DAVIDS TO WIN REELECTION.

>> OFFICIALLY, THERE HASN'T BEEN ANYTHING, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THERE HAVEN'T BEEN SOME BACK ROOMS DRAWING OVER THE LAST MONTH.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM.

>> THIS IS AN INTENTIONALLY POLITICAL PROCESS.

REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE GAME IN KANSAS, AS PELAR IS POINTING OUT.

THEY CERTAINLY CONTROL THE GAME IN MISSOURI.

THEY'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT SHARICE DAVIDS DOES NOT WIN REELECTION TO ANOTHER TERM.

DON'T EXPECT A LOT OF BIPARTISANSHIP HERE.

THIS IS POLITICS, BASE POLITICS AT ITS WORST OR BEST, DEPENDING ON YOUR POINT OF TWO.

>> TWO HOLIDAYS THIS WEEK, THE FIRST WAS LABOR DAY.

EVEN THOUGH WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SENDING MOST OF OUR TIME CELEBRATING OUR WORKERS, PARTICULARLY AT THIS MOMENT OF GREAT UPHEAVAL, HELP WANTED SIGNS POPPING UP IN ALMOST EVERY BUSINESS, THE HOLIDAY WAS ALSO MARRED WITH VIOLENCE AT A WICHITA SHOOTING.

AND GUNFIRE ERUPTS IN INDEPENDENCE, FOUR INJURED THERE, INCLUDING THREE TEENAGERS.

I WANT TO FOCUS ON WORKERS, BUT IT'S HARD TO IGNORE THE CRIME.

METAL DETECTORS, IS THAT PRACTICAL?

>> MAYBE INEVITABLE.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT METAL DETECTORS WOULD BE COMMON IN SCHOOLS.

>> WE SAID THAT ABOUT THE FIRST FRIDAY'S EVENT IN THE CROSSROADS AFTER A WOMAN WAS KILLED, STEVE KRASKE, AND YET PEOPLE GO THERE.

THERE'S NO METAL DETECTORS.

>> BUT FIRST FRIDAYS HAS OFFICIALLY DISAPPEARED AS A THING IN KANSAS CITY BECAUSE OF THAT INCIDENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE WORLD KEEPS CHANGING, NICK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT'S NOT FOR THE BEST GIVEN THIS LEVEL OF VIOLENCE, AND DAVE IS RIGHT.

THEY'LL HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO INSURE THAT NOT ANYONE CAN WALK INTO THESE FESTIVALS.

>> IT COMES DOWN TO AS LONG AS AMERICANS ARE NOT WILLING TO CHANGE THE GUN LAWS, THE ONLY OTHER OPTION IS INCREASED DEFENSE, INCREASED SECURITY.

>> NICK: I DIDN'T WANT TO FORGET ABOUT OUR WORKERS, THOUGH, DURING THIS LABOR DAY WEEK.

WHAT IS THE MAJOR TREND WE STILL NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO, STEVE?

>> SO MANY WORKERS, EMPLOYEES FROM COMPANIES HAVE DECIDED TO WALK AWAY FROM THEIR JOBS.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT WORK LIFE BALANCE IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY.

THE RESULT IS VACANCIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT ALL MANNER OF BUSINESSES.

WAGES HAVE GONE UP.

BENEFITS FOR MANY OF THEM HAVE GONE UP.

AND I THINK A LOT OF WORKERS ARE FEELING BETTER OFF TODAY THAN THEY WERE BEFORE.

>> NICK: WE HAVE MORE POWER TODAY THAN WE DID BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AS WORKERS, PELAR?

>> OH, MOST DEFINITELY.

I THINK WORKERS HAVE MORE POWER NOW THAN THEY'VE HAD SINCE WE MOVED FROM A MANUFACTURING TO A SERVICE ECONOMY IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE THE 50s, 60s OR SO.

AND SINCE THEN, WORKERS HAVE BEEN LOSING ECONOMIC POWER IN THIS COUNTRY, AND NOW THEY'VE GOTTEN SOME OF IT BACK.

>> NICK: BY THE WAY, WE LAUNCH A NEW PROGRAM ON KANSAS CITY PBS NEXT WEEK, AND THE FIRST TOPIC, THE FUTURE OF WORK.

>> HI.

WELCOME TO THE FLAT LANDS.

IT'S OUR NEW MONTHLY SHOW THAT TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO A SINGLE LOCAL ISSUE.

UP FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF WORK IN KANSAS CITY.

IN THIS FIRST EPISODE, WE GO INSIDE METRO AREA BUSINESSES THAT ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE WORLD OF WORK AND ASK, HOW WILL IT CHANGE FOR YOU?

WE'LL TALK TO THE EXPERTS AND TRACK THE CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD FOR US ALL.

JOIN US SEPTEMBER 16th AT 7 P.M. ON KANSAS CITY PBS.

>> THAT'S SEPTEMBER 16th IS NEXT THURSDAY AT 7.

THIS SATURDAY, BY THE WAY, WE MARK THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11.

IF YOU'RE HEADING TO THE CHIEFS GAME ON SUNDAY, WILL YOU SEE A MOBILE EXHIBIT HONORING THOSE WHO DIED ON THAT DAY IN THE PARKING LOT.

LOTS OF OTHER EVENTS AROUND THE METRO, INCLUDING A MASSIVE FLAG DISPLAY OUTSIDE THE JOHNSON COUNTY MAIN GOVERNMENT BUILDING IN OLATHE.

BUT WITH SO MUCH THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN, INCLUDING A PANDEMIC THAT HAS CLAIMED SO MANY MORE LIVES, HAS 9/11 BECOME ECLIPSED IN OUR REGION, PELAR?

>> IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GETTING AS MUCH MEDIA ATTENTION, BUT WHEN YOU GO OUT AND TALK TO THE PUBLIC, THEY'RE AWARE OF IT, ESPECIALLY OU R GENERATION AND OLDER AND THOSE OF US WHO LIVED THROUGH IT.

NOW, THE YOUNGER KIDS, THEY'RE LESS AWARE OF IT, BUT THE SCHOOLS ARE REALLY MAKING AN EFFORT TO TEACH IT TO THEM BY BRINGING IN FOLKS WHO WERE INVOLVED.

>> 200 TIMES MORE PEOPLE HAVE DIED NOW FROM COVID.

THERE'S NO DAY FOR THAT, DAVE HELLING.

>> WELL, THERE MAY BE SOME DAY, BUT I THINK INCREASINGLILY, NICK, I'M WRONG A COLUMN ON THIS SUBJECT AS SOON AS WE CALL IT QUITS.

9/11 IN MY VIEW WAS THE DEFINING POLITICAL MOMENT OF OUR LIFETIME, EVEN MORE THAN COVID IN SOME WAYS.

IN FACT, OUR REACTION TO COVID IN SOME WAYS IS A REFLECTION OF OUR REACTION TO WHAT HAPPENED ON 9/11, AND THAT IS WE LOST FAITH IN GOVERNMENT REALLY AND SELF GOVERNMENT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT ACROSS THE SPECTRUM NOW IN OUR COUNTRY.

IT LED TO DONALD TRUMP.

IT MAY HAVE LED TO JANUARY 6th.

AND IT CERTAINLY LEADS TO FISTFIGHTS ABOUT MASKS AND COVID.

>> NICK: PELAR JUST LEAVING US.

SHE'S DOING THE NEWS RIGHT NOW IN WICHITA, STEVE KRASKE.

BUT JUST ABOUT YOU AND YOUR JOURNALISM CLASS AT UMKC, DOES THAT EVEN GET A PASSING MENTION?

>> YEAH, WE TALKED ABOUT IT THIS WEEK, NICK.

SO MANY OF MY STUDENTS WERE BORN AFTER 9/11.

THEY DIDN'T WITNESS THAT CATACLYSMIC CHANGE AND IMPACT ON OUR CULTURE.

>> DUE TO A NUMBER OF CIRCUMSTANCES THIS WEEK, IT'S BECOME CLEAR, WE STILL WANT TO HONOR THOSE IN UNIFORM.

20 YEAR OLD MARINE FROM MISSOURI WAS HONORED WITH HUGE CROWDS AS HIS BODY WAS LAID TO REST JUST OUTSIDE ST. LOUIS.

AND MANY PAID RESPECT TO FREDDIE CRUZ, THE OVERLAND PARK POLICE OFFICER THAT DIED OF COVID.

>> ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS, YOU SEE THE OUTPOURING.

IT'S VERY POSITIVE, AND WHEN THE OFFICERS SEE THAT, THEY GET VERY EMOTIONAL.

>> NICK: I HAD THE CHANCE, STEVE, TO TALK TO RICK SMITH, THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI POLICE CHIEF, WHO TOLD ME RIGHT AFTER THE EVENTS OF 9/11, YOU COULDN'T A POLICE OFFICER IN KANSAS CITY COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT SOMEBODY WANTING TO PAY THEIR BILL.

REGARDLESS, EVEN IF THEY WERE IN THE DRIVE THROUGH, IT WOULD ALREADY BE PAID FOR.

THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN TODAY.

>> THAT'S JUST ONE BIG CHANGE OUR COUNTRY HAS SEEN SINCE 9/11, NICK.

YOU'RE RIGHT, BEING A POLICE OFFICER TODAY IS A VERY DIFFERENT THING THAN IT WAS AFTER 9/11.

SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED.

SO MUCH VIOLENCE, DIRECTED VIOLENCE HAS CHANGED THE EQUATION.

>> AND NICK THE POINT IS THE GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTIONS OF ALL KINDS HAVE FALLEN OUT OF FAVOR DRAMATICALLY SINCE 9/11.

THAT INCLUDES NEWSPAPERS, MEDIA, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, SCHOOLS, POLICE DEPARTMENTS, CITY GOVERNMENTS.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE FAITH IN INSTITUTIONS ANYMORE AFTER 9/11, AND THAT'S THE CAUSE, IF YOU WILL, OF SOME OF THE DISRUPTIONS WE'VE SEEN, I BELIEVE, DURING THE COVID ERA.

>> NICK: AND THANK YOU, ONCE AGAIN, DAVE HELLING, FOR ALLOWING US TO LEAVE THIS PROGRAM ON A DOWN NOTE.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND THAT IS OUR WEEKEND REVIEW.

OUR THANKS TO STEVE KRASKE KEEPING UP TO DATE WEEKDAYS AT NINE ON KCUR F.M., AND FROM THE PAGES OF KANSAS CITY STAR, DAVE HELLING, AND PELAR READING THE NEWS FROM K AKE TV IN WICHITA.

I'M DAVE HELLING.

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