>> NICK: COMING UP, WHAT HAPPENED IN JOHNSON COUNTY AFTER A FULL WEEK WITHOUT A MASK MANDATE?

>> I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH LETTING THOSE WHO COME TO THE SHOP MAKE THAT DECISION FOR THEMSELVES.

>> NO LET UP IN CRIME.

NOW THE MAYOR TAKING ON STATE LAWMAKERS OVER GUNS.

WE HAVE ALL THE WEEK'S BIG COMINGS AND GOINGS STRAIGHT AHEAD ON WEEK IN REVIEW.

>> MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE SUPPORT OF DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS, BOB AND MARLEY SCORELY -- JOHN H. MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA, COTRUSTEES, AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> NICK: WELCOME, EVERYONE.

I'M NICK HAINES, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR 30 MINUTE JOURNEY THROUGH THE MOST IMPACTFUL LOCAL NEWS STORIES OF OUR WEEK.

ROLING UP THEIR SLEEVES TO LIFT UP THE HOOD ON THOSE HEADLINES, PILAR PEDRAZA IS WITH US.

SHE IS STATEHOUSE REPORTER FOR KAKE TV IN WICHITA AND THE HOST OF KANSAS WEEK AIRED ON PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS ACROSS THE SUNFLOWER STATE.

PETE MUNDO SPENDS FOUR HOURS DISSECTING THE NEWS EVERY WEEKDAY MORNING ON KCMO TALK RADIO.

YOU FIND DAVE HELLING IN THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR, AND TRACKING NEWS IMPORTANT TO KANSAS CITY'S AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, THE EDITOR OF THE CALL NEWSPAPER, ERIC WESSON.

I WANT TO START THIS WEEK ON THE KANSAS SIDE OF STATE LINE.

LAST WEEK I ASKED IF YOU WERE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK, WOULD YOU STILL WEAR ONE?

IT'S NOT A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION ANY LONGER.

WE'RE JUST WRAPPING UP THE FIRST FULL WEEK SINCE JOHNSON COUNTY DROPPED ITS MASK MANDATE.

>> FOR ME, IT MEANS THAT MY CUSTOMERS CAN MAKE THE DECISION WHETHER THEY WANT TO WEAR A MASK OR NOT.

THOSE LIBERTIES SHOULD NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY FROM US OF BEING ABLE TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

>> THAT, BY THE WAY, IS DOUG FLICK BEING CAUGHT ON CAMERA BY KCTV 5.

HE'S THE OWNER OF THE PARK STREET CAFE IN OLATHE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

DID PEOPLE DON THEIR MASK OR DITCH THEM?

>> IT DOES NOT SEEM TO CHANGE MUCH BECAUSE IT WAS STILL A STRONG RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE A POLICY, ESPECIALLY THE BIGGER BOX STORES, THEY KEPT ONE IN PLACE.

THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, YES, HE OR SHE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE NOT A LOT IS DIFFERENT, AND IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR THE JOHNSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO TELL THEIR CONSTITUENTS, WELL, WE TECHNICALLY DON'T HAVE A MASK MANDATE, JUST A STRONG RECOMMENDATION.

>> NICK: I WAS CERTAINLY IN LOWE'S AND JIMMY JOHNS THIS WEEKEND, AND THERE WERE VERY, VERY FEW PEOPLE WEARING MASKS IN THOSE LOCATIONS, AND NOBODY WAS SAYING ANYTHING.

WAS THERE ANY CONFRONTATIONS WITH POLICE WE KNOW OF IN ANY WAY WITH ARGUMENTS BETWEEN STAFF AND CUSTOMERS?

>> I THINK THERE ARE STILL ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF SOME DISAGREEMENTS, NICK, BETWEEN STORE OWNERS, RESTAURANTS OR OTHER PLACES WHEN PEOPLE SHOW UP WITHOUT MASKS, BUT BY AND LARGE, I THINK PETE IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

VERY LITTLE HAS CHANGED.

MOST PEOPLE IN JOHNSON COUNTY WHERE I LIVE HAVE COME TO ADJUST TO THE IDEA OF MASKS IN MOST PUBLIC PLACES, AND BREAKING THAT HABIT IS GOING TO TAKE WEEKS, IF NOT MONTHS.

>> NICK: I ALWAYS HAVE THE EXPECTATION, ERIC, NOW THAT N JO SON COUNTY HAS MOVED FORWARD WITH DROPPING ITS MASK MANDATE THAT THAT WOULD PUT PRESSURE ON OTHER PLACES, INCLUDING KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, TO DROP ITS MASK MANDATE.

ANY EVIDENCE THAT THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> NONE SO FAR.

THE MAYOR IS NOT IN FAVOR OF DOING THAT YET.

I THINK THEY'RE RELAXING IT AS MUCH AS THEY'RE GOING TO RELAX IT, BUT RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE STILL PUSHING THE VACCINES AND PEOPLE GETTING THE VACCINES.

SO I THINK IT WILL STAY LIKE IT IS, AND I DON'T SEE FRANK WHITE AS A JACKSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE CHANGING THE RULING YET EITHER.

>> NICK: WE HAVE THIS IMPRESSION AS WE FOCUS JUST ON THE CITIES RIGHT HERE IN THE MOST POPULATED PARTS IN OUR AREA THAT WE HAVE THESE MASK MANDATES.

BUT PRETTY MUCH ONCE WE LEAVE THE CONFINES OF OUR METRO, MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT WEARING THEM ANYWAY.

PILAR PEDRAZA AT THE STATEHOUSE, YOU KNOW, IN KANSAS, THERE'S ONLY TWO COUNTIES CURRENTLY THAT HAVE MASK MANDATES.

THAT'S WYANDOTTE COUNTY AND DOUGLAS COUNTY, HOME OF THE CITY OF LAWRENCE.

IF I CAME TO TOPEKA OR YOUR HOME CITY OF WICHITA, WOULD MOST PEOPLE NOT BE WEARING MASKS?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU GO, BECAUSE JUST LIKE IN JOHNSON COUNTY, MOST OF YOUR BUSINESSES AND STORES STILL HAVE MASKS REQUIRED SIGNS ON THE DOOR.

THAT BEING SAID, I WOULD SAY THAT AT LEAST 25% OR SO, ROUGH GUESSTIMATE, OF FOLKS INSIDE EVEN THOSE BUSINESSES ARE ALSO GOING UNMASKED NOW.

DEFINITELY MORE RELAXED HERE IN THE STATEHOUSE.

FOLKS ARE BACK ON THE HOUSE FLOOR NORMALLY, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE SITTING CHEEK BY JOWL AND MOST ARE COMPLETELY UNMASKED IN THERE, NOT JUST WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO THE PODIUM TO SPEAK.

>> I'M HALFWAY EXPECTING LAURA KELLY, THE GOVERNOR, TO BE WALKING BY YOU GRABBING A SANDWICH.

IT'S INTERESTING IN KANSAS, ALSO, THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STATES AMONG THE LEGISLATURE TO SAY, NOT ONLY PUSHBACK AGAINST MASKS, BUT ALSO TO BLOCK PRIVATE BUSINESSES FROM HAVING THESE PROOF OF VACCINE REQUIREMENTS.

YOU CAN'T TELL EMPLOYEES AND YOU CAN'T TELL YOUR CUSTOMERS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE PROOF OF VACCINES.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT?

DID THAT JUST END OR JUST GOT KILLED?

>> IT IS STILL UNDER DISCUSSION, AND UNTIL THEY GAVEL OUT AND ADJOURN THE END OF THIS SESSION, PROBABLY END OF THIS WEEK EARLY NEXT WEEK, IT IS STILL UP FOR GRABS.

THE WAY THE VETO SESSION WORKS, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

>> WE'RE TRACKING THE COMINGS AND GOINGS IN OUR METRO THIS WEEK.

LET'S START WITH THE GOINGS.

OUR AREA'S BEST KNOWN PUBLIC HEALTH LEADER IS HANGING UP HIS STETHOSCOPE AFTER A TUMULTUOUS PANDEMIC YEAR.

DR. REX ARCHER IS DEPARTING AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS AS KANSAS CITY'S PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR.

>> JUST BECAUSE I'M LEAVING DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT STILL THERE.

>> DAVE HELLING, WAS IT HIS OWN DECISION TO RETIRE NOW OR WAS HE FEELING PRESSURE FROM THE MAYOR TO CALL IT A DAY?

>> EVERYTHING WE UNDERSTAND, NICK IS REX ARCHER IS LEAVING OF HIS OWN ACCORD.

IT'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARILY BUSY YEAR, AS WE ALL KNOW, VERY DIFFICULT.

IT'S A TOUGH JOB, SUBJECT TO A LOT OF CRITICISM.

HE'S AT RETIREMENT AGE, SO THERE IS NO SUGGESTION THAT THE MAYOR, AT LEAST THAT I HEARD, THAT THE MAYOR OR ANYONE ELSE WAS ANXIOUS TO SEE REX ARCHER GO, AND FINDING A REPLACEMENT IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING AND DIFFICULT CHALLENGE.

>> PETE MUNDO, HE WASN'T WITHOUT HIS CONTROVERSIES.

I DID FIND A TWEET FROM HIM FROM LAST SUMMER IN WHICH HE SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD GET A LIFE SENTENCE FOR CAUSING MORE THAN 90% OF AMERICA'S COVID DEATHS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSHBACK AFTER THAT WAS PUBLISHED.

THAT WAS A YEAR AGO, BUT HE STILL KEPT HIS JOB.

>> AND I THINK THIS MAY BE TRUE FOR THE PROFESSION.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE A NONELECTED BUREAUCRAT TRYING TO LEAD A CITY IN A TIME OF CRISIS AND THE OVERTLY PARTISAN TAKES THAT HE SEEMED TO TAKE AT TIMES BOTHERED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

WHEN IT CAME TO HIM TRYING TO RALLY A CITY AROUND WHAT HE WANTED TO SEE HAPPEN, HE HURT HIMSELF IN THAT CATEGORY, AND HE DID HIMSELF NO FAVORS.

>> NICK: ERIC WESSON, WHAT WILL BE HIS RECORD?

>> I THINK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE DID IN SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH AND CONNECTING IT TO VIOLENT CRIME, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID.

>> NICK: PILLAR, IT'S INTERESTING, THESE PUBLIC OFFICIALS, PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS, PRETTY MUCH LOW KEY OFFICIALS, BUT DURING THIS PANDEMIC YEAR, THEY HAVE BECOME A HUGE DEAL.

SOME PEOPLE SEE THEM IN POLITICAL ROLES, AND I HEARD IT SAID, JUST LIKE WE HIRE NOW OUR SHERIFFS AND OUR DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, THEY'RE ELECTED POSITIONS, ARE WE COMING TO A POINT THAT WE WOULD EXPECT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS TO ALSO BE ELECTED TO OFFICE?

>> IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT MAKING THE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR A MEMBER OF COUNTY COMMISSIONS IN MANY COUNTIES, WHICH WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE KIND OF AN ELECTED POSITION.

I KNOW IN KANSAS WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTORS, DOZENS OF THEM, ANNOUNCING THEIR RETIREMENTS, LEAVING THE BUSINESS.

WE'VE TALKED SPECIFICALLY WITH SEVERAL IN THE COURSE OF MY JOB WHO HAVE SAID THEY'VE BEEN GETTING DEATH THREATS AS WELL AS OTHER HORRIBLE E-MAILS.

I'VE SEEN SOME OF THESE E-MAILS, THEY'RE JUST NASTY, SO IT'S BECOME, AS YOU SAID, AN EXTREMELY POLITICAL POSITION.

USED TO BE BUREAUCRATIC.

>> NICK: AS REX ARCHER DEPARTS, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF STATE LINE, KRIS KOBACH IS MAKING A COMEBACK.

REMEMBER HIM?

IF YOU LIVE IN KANSAS, HE NOW WANTS TO BE YOUR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> I'M DOING THIS BECAUSE SO MANY KANSANS HAVE ASKED ME TO CONSIDER RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY.

>> HE LOST THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR UNITED STATES SENATE LAST YEAR AND THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR IN 2018.

WHY DOES KRIS KOBACH BELIEVE HE HAS A BETTER SHOT AT BECOMING THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL OF KANSAS?

PETE MUNDO.

>> BECAUSE HE WON'T BE ON THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

THAT'S WHAT HURT HIM IN 2018.

AND THE CAMPAIGN HURT HIM AS WELL, FRANKLY.

HE'S ADMITTED AS MUCH.

I THINK HE'S KIND OF HOPING THIS RACE DOESN'T GET A TON OF ATTENTION, ALTHOUGH ANYTHING WITH KRIS DOES GET MORE ATTENTION AND THAT HE'LL BE ABLE TO RIDE THE GOVERNOR'S RACE COATTAILS INTO OFFICE.

THAT MAY WORK FOR HIM.

>> NICK: AND THIS ISN'T OPENING UP PILAR PEDRAZA BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

HAVE ANY DEMOCRATS EXPRESSED INTEREST?

>> I HAVE HEARD THE RUMBLES OF A COUPLE, BUT NOTHING IS OFFICIAL YET, SO I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE NAMES BECAUSE IT'S JUST RUMOR AT THIS POINT.

THERE IS A BELIEF AMONG A LOT OF DEMOCRATS THAT MAYBE THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO TAKE IT IF KOBACH RUNS.

>> NICK: BUT HE HAS WON BEFORE, TWICE.

>> RIGHT, AND I'M SURE PETE IS RIGHT THAT HE HOPES THE R BY HIS NAME FOR HE'S THE NOMINEE WILL BE ENOUGH.

WHAT'S EQUALLY INTERESTING IS WHETHER REPUBLICANS GENERALLY ARE WORRIED ABOUT KOBACH ON THE BALLOT IN 2022 WHEN THEY WANT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE SO BADLY AND WHETHER HE MIGHT BE A DRAG ON WHOEVER THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE IS AGAINST LAURA KELLY.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF THREE DIMENSIONAL CHESS UNDERWAY.

I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVER BE COMPLETELY RID OF KRIS KOBACH, NOT ANY TIME SOON.

>> HE HAS A VERY DEDICATED FOLLOWING.

WHEN THEY DON'T GO ANYWHERE -- THEY DON'T GO ANYWHERE.

IT'S ABOUT 25% OF KANSAS ELECTORATE THAT WILL VOTE FOR HIM NO MATTER WHAT, VERY DEDICATED FOLLOWERS.

WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A MIDTERM ELECTION, MIDTERM RACE.

THEY'RE ONES WHO ARE REALLY GOING TO START PUSHING THE NARRATIVE AND CARRYING THOSE RACES.

WE TEND TO SEE THE MIDTERM RACES GO THAT DIRECTION.

>> I AGREE WITH PILAR.

BUT IF HE'S IN A ONE ON ONE, HE'S BEHIND THE 8 BALL.

>> FUNERAL SERVICES WERE THIS WEEK FOR TWO BROTHERS GUNNED DOWN AFTER LEAVING RAMADAN SERVICES AT THEIR MOSQUE IN NORTHEAST KANSAS CITY.

THAT'S ON TOP OF AT LEAST 3 MORE MURDERS IN JUST 10 HOURS THIS WEEK.

NOW MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS IS PLEADING WITH STATE LAWMAKERS TO REMOVE A LAW THAT BLOCKS LOCAL CITIES FROM ENACTING THEIR OWN GUN POLICIES.

WHILE LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN DEBATING A RANGE OF BILLS THAT ADDRESS VIOLENCE, INCLUDING A MEASURE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR LIFETIME RESTRAINING ORDERS FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS, THERE HAVE BEEN NO LAWS IN EITHER STATE AIMED AT GUNS.

IN FACT, IN MISSOURI, I THEY'VE BEEN DEBATING A BILL THAT WOULD PROHIBIT LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM ENACTING ANY NEW GUN LAWS.

IN KANSAS THIS HE CAN WOULD, LAWMAKERS OVERTURNED THE GOVERNOR TO LOWER THE AGE TO CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON FROM 21 TO 18 YEARS OLD.

WHAT PROBLEM DID KANSAS LAWMAKERS BELIEVE THEY WERE SOLVING BY MAKING THAT CHANGE?

>> IF SOMEBODY CAN GO IN AND CARRY IT WITHOUT TRAINING, WHY SHOULD THEY BE BANNED FROM GETTING THE TRAINING?

THE OTHER ONE IS RECIPROCITY IN STATES.

MOST STATES RECOGNIZE OTHER STATES' CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS.

OTHER STATES IS AS LOW AS 18.

SO KANSAS DIDN'T RECOGNIZE 18 TO 21 YEARS OLDS EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE PERMITTED IN OTHER STATES.

THAT'S A BIG ISSUE.

>> NICK: AND A BIG ISSUE FOR MAYOR LUCAS ON THE MISSOURI SIDE.

BUT WHAT DOES HE WANT TO DO, SAYOC, CITIES CAN LOOK AT THEIR OWN GUN LAWS?

WHAT WOULD HE WANT TO DO?

>> PROBABLY START OUT WITH ELIMINATING THE CONCEALED CARRY.

A LOT OF TIMES AND A LOT OF POLICE OFFICERS THAT I'VE TALKED TO ARE, LIKE, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO THESE YOUNG GUYS THAT ARE HAVING THESE GUNS.

SO THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE WOULD WANT TO DO AWAY WITH.

AND I REMEMBER YEARS AGO WHEN THEY PASSED IT, ALVIN BROOKS WAS ADAMANT ABOUT IT WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM AND THAT PROBLEM IS WHAT WE SEE TODAY.

IF POLICE PULL THEM OVER, THEY'VE GOT A GUN IN THE CAR, THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.

SO I THINK CONCEAL AND CARRY WOULD BE ONE OF THE TOP THINGS HE WOULD WANT TO CHANGE.

>> THAT'S WHAT MAYOR LUCAS WANTS, PETE MUNDO.

WHAT ARE LAWMAKERS GOING TO SAY BACK TO QUINTON LUCAS AND INCLUDING GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON?

>> THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SAY ANYTHING, BUT ERIC IS RIGHT IN TERMS OF HEARING FROM PEOPLE, EVEN IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHO AGREE, AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY MAY POLITICALLY NOT BE ON THE SAME PAGE AS MUCH OF CITY LEADERSHIP, BUT EVEN THEY WOULD ADMIT WHERE THEY'RE PULLING THESE KIDS OFTENTIMES OVER, THERE'S A GUN IN THE CAR, AND THERE'S JUST NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.

IT'S A TOUGH SPOT FOR THEM.

DOWN IN JEFF CITY, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A PROBLEM IN THE MAJORITY OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.

THEY DON'T SEE THAT OBVIOUSLY IN MORE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE PROBLEMS.

SO IT'S UNLIKELY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO ACQUIESCE TO WHAT KANSAS CITY AND ST. LOUIS MAY WANT.

>> ANOTHER THING HE WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO CHANGE, TOO, IS THE GUN SHOWS AND THE PROCESS IN WHICH PEOPLE HAVE TO GET CLEARED FOR THE GUN SHOWS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GUN SHOWS IN KANSAS CITY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT BE SELLING GUNS OUT OF THE TRUNK OF THEIR CAR IN A PARKING LOT RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH THE NORMAL PROCESS.

>> AND THAT'S WHAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO DO TOO, BUT I DO SEE THERE IS A BILL IN MISSOURI THAT WOULD BLOCK ANY FEDERAL NEW GUN LAWS FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> THAT'S CALLED UNCONSTITUTIONAL ON ITS FACE.

SO THE IDEA THAT YOU CAN NULLIFY FEDERAL LAWS, THAT WAS -- THAT QUESTION WAS ASKED AND ANSWERED MANY, MANY DECADES AGO.

>> SO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WON'T BE ABLE TO JUST SAY, WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING THOSE RULES?

WHICH IS WHAT THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE WANTS.

>> NO.

THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE WANTS TO FORCE PEOPLE TO IGNORE FEDERAL LAWS.

YOU CAN'T DO IT.

>> NICK: WELL, LAST WEEK, KANSAS GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY MADE FAST WORK OF VETOING PRETTY MUCH EVERY MAJOR MEASURE LAWMAKERS SENT TO HER DESK.

THIS WEEK YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS GOT A CHANCE TO RESPOND, OVERTURNING ALMOST EVERYTHING KELLY HAD OBJECTED TO WITH WHAT BIG EXCEPTION.

WHO SAYS ONE VOTE DOESN'T MATTER?

LAWMAKERS CAME JUST ONE VOTE SHORT OF OVERTURNING THE GOVERNOR ENACTING A BAN ON TRANSGENDER ATHLETES COMPETING IN GIRLS' SPORTS.

WHEN THOSE SAME LAWMAKERS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM OVERTURNING THE GOVERNOR ON TAX CUTS, ELECTION RULE CHANGES, EASING GUN RULES, WHAT WAS THE DIFFERENCE ABOUT THIS, ISSUE?

>> IT COMES DOWN TO DAVID HEELY ON THAT SWING VOTE.

IT WAS A CASE WHERE BOTH SIDES, HE SAID, HAD WELL REASONED ARGUMENTS.

HE UNDERSTOOD THE CONCERNS OF THOSE PUSHING FOR THIS BILL, BUT HE ALSO UNDERSTOOD THE CONCERNS OF THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES, BULLYING, ET CETERA, AND THE FACT THAT THIS BILL WOULD ONLY HAVE AFFECTED ABOUT FIVE STUDENTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE OF KANSAS.

>> BUT I DID SEE THAT DAVID HAILEY WAS THE WYANDOTTE DEMOCRAT.

HIS CASE CAME DOWN TO, HE SAID, THE ECONOMICS OF THIS AND THE THREATS OF BOYCOTTS FROM SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS RATHER THAN WEIGHING IN ON THE FAIRNESS ISSUE.

>> WELL, YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT HAILEY, BUT YOU CAN GO OUT TO WESTERN KANSAS WHERE IN TERMS OF ONE VOTE, JOHN DOLL, A REPUBLICAN OUT OF GARDEN CITY, ALSO WENT AGAINST THIS, AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY A BIG SURPRISE.

YOU GO OUT TO GARDEN CITY IN THAT DISTRICT IN KANSAS, IT'S PROBABLY A 4 TO 5 TO 1 ISSUE.

THE OTHER WAY THAT HE VOTED.

SO THAT'S A BIT OF A SURPRISE THAT A LAWMAKER IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS DECIDED TO NOT GO ALONG WITH OVERRIDING THIS VETO, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT AND SAY, OKAY, IS THAT GUY REPRESENTING HIS CONSTITUENTS?

I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA THAT IT'S ONLY FIVE OR SIX KIDS, BUT MOST PEOPLE WOULD TALK ABOUT IT BEING A MORAL ISSUE AS MUCH AS ANYTHING ELSE AND SIMPLY WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS FAIR IN TERMS OF BEING PRO-WOMEN'S SPORTS, NOT BEING ANTI-TRANSGENDER SPORTS.

>> NICK: WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THESE LAWS?

LET'S START WITH THE TAX BILL THAT NOW WILL BECOME LAW.

IS THAT JUST TAX CUTS TO HELP BIG BUSINESS OR WILL THE REST OF US SEE A BREAK?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL MOSTLY EFFECT THOSE WHO ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY IN THE BANK.

IT WON'T REALLY AFFECT MOST OF US WHO WORK PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

>> NICK: IN OTHER WORDS, REPORTERS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, NOT THE NETWORK FOLKS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> NICK: WHAT ABOUT THE ELECTION LAW CHANGES?

AT ONE POINT ARGUMENTS WERE BEING MADE THAT WE MAY FACE BOYCOTTS JUST LIKE GEORGIA IF KANSAS WERE TO MAKE THESE CHANGES, BUT AREN'T THESE MUCH MORE MODEST IN SIZE?

WHO WINS AND WHO LOSES AS A RESULT OF THESE ELECTION LAW CHANGES?

>> IT IS A SIGNAL TO PEOPLE THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, PARTICULARLY, WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO VOTE NEXT TIME THAN IT WAS LAST TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS INVOLVED HERE.

LET'S MAKE NO MISTAKE.

THIS WAS A BAD, BAD WEEK FOR LAURA KELLY.

SHE WAS OVERRIDDEN TIME AFTER TIME AGAIN.

IT WASN'T PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT FOR THOSE OVERRIDES.

THEY HAPPENED ON AN HOURLY BASIS.

SHE JUST HAD A REAL TOUGH WEEK DOWN IN TOPEKA.

>> I'M STILL HALF EXPECTING HER TO SHOW UP BEHIND PILAR AND OFFER HER CASE.

FIRST, IT WAS PUTTING THE HOMELESS UP AT BARTLE HALL.

THEN IT WAS PUTTING THEM IN HOTELS.

NOW KANSAS CITY HAS A NEW SOLUTION, CREATING A TINY HOMES VILLAGE FOR THEM.

THE PLAN IS TO BUILD UP TO 150 CABINS USING FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY.

BUT THERE'S NO WORD YET ON WHERE THE VILLAGE WILL BE LOCATED OR HOW LONG RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE IN THE 64-FOOT SQUARE UNITS.

THEY'RE PAYING FOR THIS WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT STIMULUS MONEY.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT RUNS OUT?

>> I GUESS WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AT SQUARE ONE.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT IS IT THOSE HOUSES AREN'T VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, PLUMBING UP TO THEM, MIGHT BE A LITTLE EXPENSIVE.

I GUESS WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO AND PLAY IT BY EAR.

WHAT ARE THEY SPENDING, LIKE, $2 MILLION TO HAVE THEM IN A HOTEL NOW?

IT'S JUST A LOT OF MONEY.

I KNOW HOMELESS PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WILL BE SAYING, LET'S GO TO KANSAS CITY.

>> THIS IS NOT JUST A KANSAS CITY PROBLEM, OF COURSE.

AND I KNOW EVEN WICHITA IS ALSO PUTTING HOMELESS INTO HOTELS, TOO.

DID THAT FIX THE PROBLEM THERE?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT FIXED THE PROBLEM.

IT CERTAINLY HELPED.

THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE POPULOUS, USUALLY BECAUSE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, ET CETERA, THAT ARE GOING TO BE OUT THERE.

>> AS YOU SEE YOU IN THE STATEHOUSE, I AM REMINDED THAT WE DO HAVE ANOTHER STATE, OF COURSE, AND WE DON'T HAVE A JEFFERSON CITY CORRESPONDENT WITH US.

BUT THE WHOLE MEDICAID EXPANSION ISSUE AND FUNDING IS THAT BIG ISSUE IN MISSOURI.

BUT I WAS INTERESTING IN SOMETHING THAT DID HAPPEN THIS WEEK, AND THAT WAS GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON SAID REGARDLESS AT THIS POINT IF THE LEGISLATURE FINDS THE MONEY OR NOT IT IS GOING TO END UP IN COURT.

>> IF THAT TURNS OUT TO BE THE CASE, MY GUESS IS THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL SESSION IN MISSOURI THIS FALL TO TAKE A LOOK AT WAYS TO DO THAT.

THERE IS A DEFINITE CLASH BETWEEN WHAT'S IN THE STATE, NOT A STATUTE, IT'S IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT PEOPLE UP TO 133 PERCENT OF THE POVERTY LEVEL SHOULD QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI.

ON JULY 1st, THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT.

>> NICK: THAT'S THE.

>> THAT'S THE PUSHBACK.

IF YOU WANT TO DO IT, WE'VE GOT TO FIND THE MONEY.

IF IT'S COMING FROM EDUCATION, WHERE IS IT COMING FROM, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THEY HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT, AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, ANY MAJOR NEW REVENUE SOURCE, NOT THAT SPORTS BETTING WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR REVENUE SOURCE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT AN EASY BIPARTISAN THING TO DO TO RAISE SOME MONEY FOR BOTH STATES.

>> NICK: THAT SOUNDS SO EASY, BUT PILAR, IN KANSAS, WHICH ALSO HASN'T PASSED ANY MEDICAID EXPANSION WHATSOEVER, ONE OF THE FEW STATES HAVE HAVEN'T, BUT THERE WAS A PLAN BY GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY TO ACTUALLY FUND THAT WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA, BUT YET THAT ALSO SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT?

DID THAT GET KILLED OFF BY THE LEGISLATURE TOO?

>> PRETTY MUCH.

IT WAS DEAD ON ARRIVAL.

NO AMOUNT OF MEDICAL INTERVENTION WAS GOING TO HELP IT, BECAUSE THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT IN THE LAST ELECTION, THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE SWUNG FURTHER TO THE RIGHT, AND THEY ARE ADAMANTLY OPPOSED TO MEDICAID EXPANSION.

THEY HAVE THE VOTES TO PREVENT IT FROM EVEN COMING UP FOR DEBATE.

>> QUICKLY, NICK, THIS IS NOT ABOUT MONEY.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS WRITING CHECKS FASTER THAN THE INK CAN DRY TO PAY THE COSTS NOT ONLY OF THEIR SHARE BUT THE STATE'S SHARE.

THIS IS ABOUT A FUNDAMENTAL BELIEF AMONG SOME REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES IN BOTH STATES THAT MEDICAID SHOULD NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE TO WHAT THEY CALL THE WORKING POOR.

IT'S A FUNNELEDMENTAL POLITICAL ISSUE.

IT ISN'T ABOUT MONEY.

>> NICK: BEFORE WE END OUR TIME THIS WEEK, A QUIZ QUESTION FOR YOU TO TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ALL THINGS KANSAS CITY.

CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE YOU MIGHT SEE THIS STATUE IN KANSAS CITY AND WHO IS THIS?

ANY IDEA?

GIVE UP?

ALL RIGHTY.

FOR THE ANSWER, WE TURN TO THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, NEW KANSAS SENATOR ROGER MARSHALL.

>> THE STATUE BEHIND ME COMMEMORATING EWING KAUFFMAN AND HIS WIFE MARIANNE, JUST GREAT FIXTURES IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT REALLY PUT THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS ON THE MAP.

>> NICK: SENATOR MARSHAL HAS SINCE PULLED DOWN THIS VIDEO OF HIS STOP AT THE WINSTON CHURCHILL STATUE ON THE COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA.

DOESN'T EVERYBODY MAKE MISTAKES OR IS THIS GOING TO HURT HIM FOR A WHILE?

>> THAT WAS A BLUNDER RIGHT THERE.

THAT WASN'T JUST A MISTAKE.

IF I WAS HIM, I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THAT DOWN TOO.

>> NICK: HE DID TAKE IT DOWN.

BUT IS THIS JUST A MINOR BLIP OR A PROBLEM FOR HIM GOING FORWARD?

>> IT'S FUNNY.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE REELS THAT HIS DISSENTERS WILL BE WATCHING FOR A LONG TIME, BUT IT MEANS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

>> NICK, WE WILL FIGHT THEM ON THE BEACHES.

WE WILL FIGHT THEM IN THE BULLPEN.

WE WILL FIGHT THEM WHEREVER WE NEED TO GO.

>> I WOULD HAVE ALSO THOUGHT THAT THE BRITISH FLAG, WHICH YOU DIDN'T SEE IN THE PICK, WHICH FLIES ABOVE THE STATUE, WOULD HAVE BEEN OF HELP TO HIM.

>> THIS IS HILARIOUS FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW POLITICS, OF COURSE.

IT'S DEFINITELY A BLUNDER, BUT AS WE MANY OTHER THINGS, HE'S THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT IN KANSAS.

HE'S NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH REELECTION.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO HURT HIM AT ALL IN KANSAS.

>> NICK: THANK YOU FOR THAT PERSPECTIVE.

WHEN WE PUT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS TOGETHER EVERY WEEK, WE CAN'T GET TO EVERY BIG LOCAL STORY MAKING THE HEADLINES.

WHAT WAS THE BIG STORY WE MISSED?

THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER SHOOTINGS IN OVERLAND PARK HAS DIED.

HE WAS 80 YEARS OLD.

HE WAS BEING HELD AT THE EL DORADO STATE PRISON JUST OUTSIDE OF WICHITA.

IT'S BELIEVED HE DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES.

KANSAS CITY'S LARGEST PRIVATE EMPLOYER LOOKING FOR A NEW LEADER, ANNOUNCING THE DEPARTURE AFTER THREE YEARS AT THE TOP SLOT.

IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN APPLYING, IT PAYS WELL.

TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE IN 2019 WAS MORE THAN $12 MILLION.

AMID THE CONTROVERSY OVER SPORTING MASCOTS, SHAWNEE MISSION NORTH OFFICIALLY GETTING A NEW NAME.

GONE ARE THE INDIANS.

THEY'RE NOW THE BISON.

THE PANDEMIC HAS CLAIMED ANOTHER VICTIM.

THE MUSIC HAMILTON NO LONGER COMING TO KANSAS CITY THIS FALL.

LOTS TO CELEBRATE THIS WEEK FROM CINCO DE MAYO TO OUR TEACHERS AS WE MARK NATIONAL TEACHER AWARENESS WEEK, AND A SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF OUR MOMS JUST AHEAD OF MOTHER'S DAY.

IF YOU'RE STILL LOOKING FOR A GIFT, WHAT ABOUT JOSH HAWLEY'S NEW BOOK, THE TYRANNY OF BIG TECH.

THE MISSOURI SENATOR TAKING A RIPPING FOR USING BIG TECH TO SELL AND PROMOTE THE BOOK.

AFTER A SHUTDOWN, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR CHILDREN'S ATTRACTIONS REOPENS AND THE NELSON DEBUTS ITS OUTDOOR CINEMA, BUT DON'T GO LOOKING FOR A TICKET FOR THIS WEEKEND'S NIGHT OF THE MUSEUM MOVIE OR ANY FLICK, EVERY SHOW SOLD OUT THROUGH THE END OF JULY.

>> NICK: ERIC WESSON, DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

>> SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF VIOLENT ISSUES ON 18th AND VINE, SO THIS WEEK THEY STARTED A MOVEMENT, A NO GUN ZONE, GUN-FREE ZONES DOWN HERE.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT KIND OF RESONATES IN THE BACK OF PEOPLE'S MINDS AFTER GARY TAYLOR, WHO WAS VERY POPULAR GUY DOWN HERE, WAS KILLED LAST WEEKEND.

SO I WOULD SAY 18th AND VINE'S NO GUN ZONE.

>> NICK: PETE MUNDO.

>> WELL, I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON THE KANSAS FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.

THEY ARE DEBATING MEDICAL MARIJUANA THIS WEEK.

OBVIOUSLY THE FINAL DAYS OF SESSION.

MIGHT BE A CHANCE TO SEE IF SOMETHING BIPARTISAN DOES HAPPEN IN TOPEKA.

>> I'VE GOT TO AGREE.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS THE ISSUE IN KANSAS ESPECIALLY HERE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

>> DAVE HELLING.

>> I'M TEMPTING TO DING JOSH HAWLEY WHO IS SELLING HIS BOOK AGAINST BIG TECH ON TWITTER AND AMAZON.

BUT THE BIG STORY TO ME IS THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE IS THIS CLOSE TO FULLY FUNDING THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE, ADDING MORE THAN FOUR DOZEN NEW PUBLIC DEFENDERS, GETTING RID OF WAIT LISTS.

WE'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS, AS YOU KNOW, IN THE STAR FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

IT'S A GOOD THING THE LEGISLATURE IS DOING, AND THAT BILL COULD PASS AS EARLY AS THIS WEEK.

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

OUR THANKS TO PETE MUNDO, 6 TO 10 WEEKDAYS ON KCMO TALK RADIO, FROM TOPEKA, THANKS TO PILAR PEDRAZA FROM KAKE TV, AND FROM THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR, DAVE HELLING, AND ALSO ON CALL FROM THE KANSAS CITY CALL, ERIC WESSON.

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

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