>>> I WILL NOT BE INVOLVED IN THIS.

>> NICK: IT'S A WEEK OF WALKOUTS AND RACIALLY OFFENSIVE SIGNS.

>> IGNORING THIS PROBLEM IS NOT GOING TO MAKE IT GO AWAY.

>> NICK: MASKS GO ON TRIAL THIS WEEK, AND WE GET OUR FIRST SNAPSHOT AT WHAT NO JAB, NO JOB POLICIES MEAN FOR AREA EMPLOYERS.

AND GET READY TO PAY MORE AT THE PUMP AS MISSOURI'S NEW GAS TAX FINALLY KICKS IN.

>> I TRAVEL QUITE A BIT FOR WORK, SO I THINK THE ADDED MONEY I'M GOING TO BE SPENDING PER WEEK IS GOING TO BE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

>> NICK: 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 MARLEY SCORELY, THE COURTNEY S. TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST, JOHN A. MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA NA, COTRUSTEES, AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> NICK: WELCOME.

I'M NICK HAINES.

WE'RE TAKING YOU AROUND THE METRO OVER THE NEXT 30 MINUTES POKING OUR HEADS THROUGH THE CORRIDORS OF POWER AND THE HALLWAYS OF SCHOOLS AND THE CORRIDORS OF OUR LOCAL HOSPITALS.

WITH A COMPASS IN HANDS AND HIKING BOOTS ON, READY FOR THE JOURNEY IS DIA WALL, KSHB ANCHOR, REPORTER AND AUTHOR.

WE'LL GET-GO THAT LATER.

DAVE HELLING HAS WRITTEN ENOUGH TO FILL A LIBRARY.

HE'S WITH THE KANSAS CITY STAR.

CAL PALMER, REPORTER AND MANAGING EDITOR OF THE SHAWNEE MISSION POST, AND ALWAYS ON CALL FROM THE CALL NEWSPAPER, REPORTER AND EDITOR, ERIC WESSON.

IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THOSE REALLY TIRING WEEKS WHERE MANY OF US MAY JUST WANTS TO REACH FOR A DRINK.

THAT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT I HAD IN MIND, BUT LET'S ROLL WITH IT.

IT IS NOW OCTOBER, AFTER ALL, AND WHAT MIGHT BE A FIRST FOR AN OUTDOOR EVENT IN KANSAS CITY, ORGANIZERS OF THIS WEEK'S OKTOBERFEST AT CROWN CENTER ARE REQUIRING PROOF OF VACCINATION OR A NEGATIVE COVID TEST TO GET IN.

WHAT'S CURIOUS IS THAT THERE WERE CLOSE TO 80,000 CHIEFS FANS AS ARROWHEAD STADIUM SUNDAY, AND NO MASKS OR VACCINES WERE REQUIRED.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE, DIA WALL?

>> LEADERSHIP, OWNERSHIP, WHO WANTS TO MAKE THE CALL.

I KNOW TONS OF SEASON TICKET HOLDERS WHO HAVE DECIDED THEY MAY SIT THE SEASON OUT JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TAKE THE CHANCE.

YOU CAN IF YOU CHOOSE TO, BUT NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO.

THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY DIFFERENCE.

>> NICK: I DID SEE, ERIC WESSON, THE ORGANIZERS OF OKTOBERFEST SAID, QUOTE, WE'RE DOING THIS BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE KEEPING WITH THE WELLNESS CONCERNS OF OUR STAFF, OUR VOLUNTEERS AND OUR VENDORS.

SO DOES THAT MEAN THE CHIEFS ARE NOT AS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DISPENSING THE BEER AND THE FOOD AND THE HOT DOGS OVER AT ARROWHEAD STADIUM?

>> I WOULDN'T GO THAT FAR, BUT IT IS KIND OF CONFUSING.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MASK TO GO IN A RESTAURANT IN JACKSON COUNTY, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE A MASK TO GO TAILGATING OR GO OUT TO THE STADIUM.

>> NICK: THIS WEEK WAS THE DEADLINE TO GET VACCINATED IF YOU WANTED TO KEEP YOUR JOB AT TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER.

TRUMAN IS THE FIRST BIG EMPLOYER IN OUR METRO TO REQUIRE THE JAB AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.

WHAT HAPPENED?

WE NOW KNOW THAT RATHER THAN LIFT UP SHIRT SLEEVES, 39 EMPLOYEES CHOSE TO RESIGN, BUT WITH MORE THAN 4,000 EMPLOYEES AT THE TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER SYSTEM, WERE ADMINISTRATORS RELIEVED THEY DIDN'T LOSE A LOT MORE THAN THAT, DAVE?

>> MOTH HEALTH CARE COMPANIES, HOSPITALS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR RATES OF COMPLIANCE WITH ONE OR TWO EXCEPTIONS.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, FOR PRIVATE COMPANIES, COMPLIANCE WITH THE VACCINE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN PRETTY HIGH.

THE BIGGEST PUSHBACK HAS COME FROM PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, THIS AGAIN ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> WELL, TRUMAN, THAT 39 EMPLOYEES IS RIGHT AT OR JUST UNDER 1% OF THEIR STAFF.

LOOK, I THINK PEOPLE KNEW THIS WAS COMING.

I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE HAD TIME TO KIND OF WRAP THEIR MINDS AROUND, OKAY, IF I WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE EMPLOYED IN A HOSPITAL OR MAYBE SOME OF THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET THE VACCINE.

BUT I DO THINK DAVE IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

WE HAVE HAD NO CALLS FROM A PRIVATE COMPANY OUT THERE SAYING THAT THEY HAVE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF EMPLOYEES TRYING TO WALK OUT BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> NICK: I DID SEE OVER IN KANSAS THE SHAWNEE MISSION SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN TOYING WITH THIS VACCINATION REQUIREMENT FOR ALL STAFF, BUT THIS WEEK THE DISTRICT ANNOUNCED NOW IS NOT THE TIME.

WHY?

ARE THEY WORRIED EVERYONE IS GOING TO LEAVE?

>> THE NOW IS NOT THE TIME QUOTE YOU REFERENCED, THAT WAS FROM A BOARD MEMBER AT MONDAY NIGHT'S MEETING.

THEY EXPRESSED WORRIES THAT MAKING A VACCINE REQUIRED MIGHT DRIVE SOME TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AWAY FROM THE DISTRICT, AND ALSO CLASSIFIED STAFF AS WELL.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LUNCH WORKERS, CUSTODIANS, THAT SORT OF THING.

>> NICK: I SAW ONE OF THE STORIES YOU HAD, 25% OF SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS WERE VACCINATED IN THE DISTRICT AND ONLY 12% OF BUS DRIVERS ARE VACCINATED.

WAS THAT A PRINTING ERROR?

>> THAT IS A DISTRESSING NUMBER, CONSIDERING THESE INDIVIDUALS DO INTERACT WITH STUDENTS ON A DAILY BASIS.

I THINK THE BROADER POINT ABOUT STAFFING SHORTAGES THAT YOU'RE MAKING, THOUGH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SMSD AND ALL OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.

IN SHAWNEE MISSION, THERE IS JUST A HISTORIC WAVE OF EARLY RETIREMENTS AND TEACHERS QUITTING LAST FALL, AND THE DISTRICT HAS NOT FULLY RECOVERED FROM THAT, SO I THINK LEADERS AT THIS TIME ARE MAKING THE CALCULATION THAT IF THEY IMPOSE A VACCINE MANDATE, THAT COULD BE ANOTHER PRESSURE POINT FOR STAFF MEMBERS TO WALK AWAY.

>> NICK: WHILE VACCINE REQUIREMENTS CONTINUE TO BE A FLASHPOINT, WE CAN'T FORGET WE HAVEN'T STOPPED ARGUING OVER MASKS EITHER.

SHOULD YOUR CHILD OR GRANDCHILD BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK WHILE AT SCHOOL.

IT WAS A QUESTION TESTED IN THE MISSOURI COURTROOM THIS WEEK.

A CIRCUMSTANCE COURT JUDGE WAS HEARING ARGUMENTS FILED BY THE MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL.

DID MASKS WIN OR DID THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, DAVE?

>> WELL, IT WAS A LIMITED HEARING, NICK, BUT IN ESSENCE, WHAT THE COURT TOLD ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC SCHMIDT IS THEY COULD NOT DECLARE A CLASS ACTION IN WHICH YOU COULD IN ESSENCE SUE EVERY DISTRICT IN THE STATE TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T REQUIRE MASKS.

THE COURT SAID, NO, NO, NO, FOR THE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE REQUIRED THEM, YOU NEED TO SUE THEM INDIVIDUALLY, BECAUSE EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT.

DISTRICTS HAVE DIFFERENT RULES, DIFFERENT TRIGGERING MECHANISMS.

NOT EVERY DISTRICT IN MISSOURI, IN FACT, A VAST MAJORITY DO NOT HAVE MASK MANDATES.

SO IT WAS A SETBACK, BUT NOT A LAWSUIT, AND ERIC SCHMIDT WENT RIGHT BACK TO COURT TO SUE THE COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT GOING FORWARD.

KYLE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALL THE RETIREMENTS IN AT LEAST ONE DISTRICT, THE SHAWNEE MISSION DISTRICT.

THAT'S HAPPENING ALL ACROSS THE STATES AND THE COUNTRY, IN PART BECAUSE OLDER TEACHERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING COVID AND THINK, HEY, MAYBE IT'S NOT WORTH STICKING AROUND FOR ANOTHER 2 OR 3 YEARS OF TEACHING, WHEN I COULD BE POTENTIALLY EXPOSED TO STUDENTS.

REMEMBER, AS OF NOW, ANYONE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO GET ANY VACCINE, AND THAT MAY BE PLAYING A ROLE AS WELL.

>> TO DAVE'S POINT, I WILL ALSO JUMP IN AND SAY THAT MY MOM IS A RETIRED TEACHER, AND THAT'S A CALCULATION A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD TO MAKE PRIVATELY.

SHE SAID, I PROBABLY HAD 3 TO 5 MORE YEARS, BUT I DON'T WANT TO RISK GETTING SICK.

>> THIS LAWSUIT FILED IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, OF COURSE, AFFECTS THOSE CHILDREN THERE.

THEY WILL STILL HAVE MASKS ON, BUT IT'S ALSO PLAYING OUT ON THE KANSAS SIDE TOO.

THERE WAS A PARENT IN THE BLUE VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT WHO FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE JOHNSTON COUNTY MASK MANDATE THAT REQUIRED STUDENTS TO WEAR MASKS, AND YET THEY WITHDREW THAT.

DID THEY NOT FEEL THEY COULD WIN IN COURT?

>> THE LAWYER REPRESENTING THE FAMILY SAID THEIR REASON FOR WITHDRAWING THE LAWSUIT WAS -- AND I QUOTE HERE BECAUSE THE CHILD WAS BEING SUBJECTED TO VITRIOL, RUMORS AND INNUENDO FROM BAD ACTORS, END QUOTE, SO THEY FELT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PUT THE CHILD THROUGH IT.

I WILL SAY JUST MORE BROADLY SPEAKING, LEGAL CHALLENGES AGAINST SCHOOL MASK RULES AND OTHER COVID MITIGATION MEASURES IN OTHER JOHNSON COUNTY SCHOOLS HAVE GENERALLY NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE LAWSUITS IN MULTIPLE DISTRICTS AND SO FAR THEY'VE REMAINED IN PLACE.

>> NICK: ONE THING I DON'T LIKE DOING ON THIS PROGRAM IS REPEATING THE SAME TOPIC WEEK AFTER WEEK, BUT WHEN TWO MEMBERS OF THE KANSAS CITY COUNCIL WALK OUT OVER THE VOTE TO GIVE A CANADIAN FIRM THE RIGHT TO CONCESSIONS AT THE KCI AIRPORT.

>> THE NONTRANSPARENCY, ALL OF THE SECRETS, BACK ROOM MEETINGS, AGAIN, AND THIS IS A BILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT.

>> AND THE RESPONSE FROM COUNCILWOMAN WAS, QUOTE, THAT'S TOTALLY CRAP, END QUOTE.

WHICH IS IT, DAVE?

>> AS ALWAYS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

IT WAS INEVITABLE THIS WOULD HAPPEN, NICK, AFTER THE SELECTION COMMITTEE AT THE AIRPORT MADE ITS CHOICE FOR A CONCESSION VENDOR BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH MONEY AT STAKE, AND ALL OF THE BIDDERS HAVE LINED UP DIFFERENT SUPPORTERS, AND THEY'RE ALL LOBBYING THE CITY COUNCIL.

IT DOES LOOK LIKE THE VANTAGE AIRPORT GROUP PROPOSAL WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL NEXT WEEK.

THEY NEED 7 VOTES TO PUT THIS DEAL INTO PLACE, AND WE'LL SEE IF THEY HAVE.

>> NICK: SOME FOLKS RIGHT HERE IN OUR BUILDING AND IN OUR VIEWERS WHO ARE -- WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST VOTE NO?

WHY DID THEY HAVE TO WALK OUT?

COULD THEY JUST MAKE THEIR VOTE NO?

>> YES, THEY COULD HAVE.

SO THE OSCAR GOES TO TERESA FOR THE PEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ELECTED OFFICIAL ON A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.

THEY DID THE SAME RFP PROCESS WITH BARNEY ALICE PLAZA.

NOBODY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

>> FROM A VIEWER POINT OF VIEW, DIA, WE CAN LOOK AT THIS PROCESS, AND IN FACT, LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM USED THE WORD RUBRIC FOR THE FIRST TIME.

OUTWARDLY, DON'T WE ONLY WANT TO SEE THIS REALLY COOL AIRPORT WITH LOTS OF SELECTIONS OF RESTAURANTS AND SHOPS.

HOW MUCH DOES THE PUBLIC CARE ABOUT THE SAUSAGE BEING MADE HERE?

>> THE PUBLIC DOESN'T CARE WHERE THE SAUSAGE IS MADE BUT THE PUBLIC DOES CARE THAT LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE REPRESENTED.

THE PUBLIC DOES CARE THAT THE CITY IS DOING RIGHT BY THEM AND THEIR TAX MONEY.

WE'RE KIND OF IN THAT CLIMATE WHERE RAISING THE QUESTION DOES CREATE THIS CLOUD OF, OH, THEY MUST BE DOING SOMETHING SHADY, RIGHT?

WE'VE SEEN THE SAME THING HAPPEN WITH VACCINES.

WE'VE SEEN THE SAME THING HAPPEN WITH MASKING MANDATES.

THE MINUTE SOMEBODY RAISES A FLAG AND SAYS -- EVEN IF THEIR LOGIC ISN'T 100% ACCURATE OR FAIR, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS UNDER SCRUTINY.

>> NICK: DON'T WE WANT OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS WHEN THEY'RE IN A DELIBERATIVE BODY, DAVE?

>> WE DO.

NOW, WEATHER TERESA LOWER OR KATHERYN SHIELDS ARE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS IS A MATTER OF DEBATE.

THEY WALKED AWAY TRYING TO DENY THE COMMITTEE OF QUORUM TO DO BUSINESS BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO POSTPONE CONSIDERATION.

THAT'S WHY THEY LEFT.

HAD THEY SIMPLY VOTED NO, THEY WOULD HAVE LOST THE VOTE, AND THEY KNEW THAT.

THAT'S WHY THEY WALKED OUT.

>> NICK: HOUSING WAS ALSO ON THE AGENDA, DEMANDING AN AUDIT OF THE CITY'S RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, BUT ALSO ASKING THE CITY TO IMPOSE A 2% CAP ON RENT INCREASES.

A STUDY EARLIER THIS YEAR REVEALED THAT RENT OF ONE BEDROOM APARTMENTS IN KANSAS CITY JUMPED 33%, THE HIGHEST OF ANY LARGE CITY IN AMERICA.

I TOOK A LOOK AND DISCOVERED THERE ARE CLOSE TO 200 CITIES WITH SOME FORM OF RENT CONTROLS IN PLACE, INCLUDING NEW YORK CITY.

SO WHY NOT HERE, DIA WALL?

>> NEW YORK IS NOT KANSAS CITY.

REALLY AND TRULY, WE NEED TO LOOK AT MORE COMPARABLE SIZE CITIES.

TALK ABOUT CINCINNATI OR MAYBE EVEN A DENVER.

>> NICK: WHAT WOULD YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN, ERIC, IF WE DID IMPOSE A 2% CAP ON INCREASING RENTAL IN KANSAS CITY?

>> THEN YOU WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT INVEST IN BUILDING HOUSING, BECAUSE THEY -- IN THEIR PLAN, THEY PRESENT A PERCENTAGE OF PROFIT.

LET ME SAY THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS AND ONE OF THE BACK STORIES BEHIND KC TENANTS IS THEY THINK THEIR RENT SHOULD BE FREE.

THEIR THEME IS PEOPLE OVER PROFITS.

SO AS A LANDLORD OR A PROPERTY OWNER, I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO MAKE ANY MONEY OFF OF BUILDING A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.

I'M SUPPOSED TO BREAK EVEN AND RIDE OFF INTO THE SUNSET, BUT THAT'S NOT HOW SOCIETY WORKS, AND THAT'S NOT HOW BUSINESSES WORK.

SO IF THEY WERE TO DO THAT, YOU WOULD PROBABLY SEE A LOT MORE HOUSING ISSUES IN KANSAS CITY THAN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

>> NICK: AND WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT THIS, OF COURSE, AS A KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI PROBLEM, BUT KYLE PALMER AND THE SHAWNEE MISSION POST, YOU REPORTED MORE THAN ONE IN TEN RENTERS NOW IN JOHNSON COUNTY ARE BEHIND ON THEIR RENT PAYMENTS, SO THIS IS SOMETHING HAPPENING THERE TOO.

>> THE NUMBERS COME FROM A STUDY BY A NONPROFIT LINKED TO THE HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY STARK.

MORE THAN 8,000 RENTING HOUSEHOLDS IN JOHNSON COUNTY, MAKING UP ABOUT 10%, MAYBE 12% OF THE TOTAL IN THE COUNTY, OWE A COLLECTIVE $32 MILLION IN UNPAID RENT.

THAT IS STACKED UP OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

I WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, LINKING IT TO THE CONVERSATION ABOUT KANSAS CITY, THERE IS NO KC TENANTS VERSION IN JOHNSON COUNTY.

THOUGH I WILL SAY KC TENANTS HAS RALLIED AND PROTESTED IN JOHNSON COUNTY BECAUSE SOME OF THE LANDLORDS WHOSE PROPERTIES THEY WANT IMPROVED IN KANSAS CITY LIVE IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND PLACES LIKE MISSION HILLS.

SO THEY HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

BUT THERE IS NOT AN ORGANIZING FORCE IN JOHNSON COUNTY HERE TO REPRESENT THE VOICES OF RENT IRS, AND OF COURSE, JOHNSON COUNTY HAS FOR DECADES KIND OF BEEN BUILT ON THIS NOTION, THE BEDROCK OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOME MOVING OUT TO THE SUBURBS.

THAT IS CREATING VERY CLEAR TENSIONS IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES IN JOHNSON COUNTY AS THERE IS MORE OF A PUSH TO FIND AN AFFORDABLE, MORE DIVERSE HOUSING, LIKE APARTMENTS, DUPLEXES, CONDOS, SO THAT IS KIND OF CHALLENGING THE NOTION OF WHAT MANY PEOPLE THINK MADE JOHNSON COUNTY WHAT IT IS.

>> SO NO JOHNSON COUNTY TENANTS CHAINING THEMSELVES TO COURTROOM DOORS IN JOHNSON COUNTY THEN.

>> NOT YET.

>> LOOK FORWARD TO KC TENANTS BEING PRAIRIE VILLAGE TENANTS ASSOCIATION.

>> IT'S NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY.

>> THEY GOT A SEAT AT THE TABLE AT CITY HALL.

THE MAYOR PAYS TENSION TO THEM.

THEY WERE VERY AGGRESSIVE IN THEIR APPROACH, AND THEY GET A LOT OF PUBLICITY WITH IT.

>> JUST QUICKLY, NICK, THE REASON YOU SEE MORE ACTIVITY ON THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI SIDE IS MORE PEOPLE RENT IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

HALF OF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN KANSAS CITY RENT THEIR HOUSING.

THAT ISN'T QUITE THE CASE IN JOHNSON COUNTY, IF IT EVER GOT TO THAT POINT, I THINK YOU WOULD SEE MORE ACTIVITY HERE.

>> NICK: LAST WEEK, PARK HILL HIGH SCHOOL WAS MAKING NATIONAL NEWS AFTER A STUDENT LAUNCHES AN ONLINE PETITION CALLING FOR THE RETURN OF SLAVERY.

THIS WEEK, IT'S TWO SCHOOLS IN JOHNSON COUNTY HITTING THE HEADLINES OVER A POST OVER A HOMECOMING DANCE.

A STUDENT OF OLATHE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL ASKS OUT AT GIRL AT ST. JAMES ACADEMY SAYING IF I WAS BLACK, I WOULD BE PICKING COTTON, BUT I'M WHITE, SO I'M PICKING YOU FOR HOCO.

IT IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT RATHER THAN REMOVING RACE FROMMED INDICATION, WE NEED CRITICALLY TO EMPOWER OUR STUDENTS TO FIGHT AND CALL OUT RACISM, FROM QUINTON LUCAS.

>> THESE WERE BOTH KANSAS STUDENTS HERE.

DID ELECTED LEADERS IN JOHNSON COUNTY NOT FEEL LIKE IT WAS THEIR PLACE TO SPEAK OUT?

>> I WILL SAY I DID NOT SEE ANY OF THEM SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS.

THIS IS VERY MUCH AN ISSUE IN SOME OF THE CAMPAIGNS WE'RE COVERING RIGHT NOW.

LAST NIGHT WHILE TAPING THIS, WE DID A CANDIDATE FORUM IN THE DE SOTO SCHOOL DISTRICT.

SOME CANDIDATES THINK THE DISTRICT DOES NEED TO CONFRONT THESE ISSUES LIKE RACE AND WHITE PRIVILEGE AND WHITE SUPREMACY MORE DIRECTLY, AND OTHER CANDIDATES TRYING TO WALK THIS LINE OF SAYING, YES, WE AGREE WITH DIVERSITY.

LET'S ALL GET ALONG AND BE UNIFIED, BUT WE DON'T WANT ANY CRIM CURRICULUM THAT IS DIVIDING OUR STUDENTS.

>> NICK: LOTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA CONDEMNATIONS, DIA WALL, BUT IS THERE ANY POLICY CHANGES BEING PROPOSED, OR ARE SCHOOLS GOOD ENOUGH ON THEIR PLATES?

WE'VE GONE THROUGH A PANDEMIC YEAR OF COVID LEARNING LOSS, CAN'T EVEN GET FOOD SERVICE WORKERS, CAN'T FEED THE KIDS, CAN'T GET THE KIDS TO SCHOOL WITH BUSES.

NOW A RACIAL COMPONENT ON TOP OF THAT.

HOW MUCH CAN SCHOOLS ACTUALLY DO?

>> THEY CAN DO MORE THAN THEY'RE DOING NOW.

WE GOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK, OLATHE IS HIRING AN EXPERT ON RACISM.

IT'S 2021.

SO THE ISSUE -- AND Y'ALL ARE GOING TO HEAR ME FOR A MINUTE ON THIS.

OKAY?

I'M A MOTHER OF TWO BLACK CHILDREN, WIFE TO A BLACK HUSBAND.

MY CHILDREN DESERVE THE SAME SAFETY, THE SAME OPEN, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT THAT EVERY OTHER CHILD HAS.

THE PROBLEM IS, WE KEEP WANTING TO FIND SOME CUSHY, COZY, COMFORTABLE WAY TO ADDRESS RACE.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND UNTIL WE HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE TOWARD RACISM, TEACHERS DROPPING RACIAL SLURS.

WE GOT A NEW ONE JUST LAST NIGHT.

UNTIL WE HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE ABOUT THAT THAT WE DO OTHER FORMS OF HARM, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN, BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS, WHEN WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS WHO THINK IT'S FUNNY TO WRITE ABOUT, IF I WAS BLACK, I WOULD BE PICKING COTTON ON A HOMECOMING SIGN, WHEN WE THINK THIS ISN'T GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING -- I WANT TO COMPEL THE COMMUNITY TO BUCKLE UP.

TREAT THIS THE WAY YOU TREAT ALL KINDS OF HARM TO ALL CHILDREN, BECAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT, DEEPLY HURTFUL, AND I'M TIRED OF IT.

>> NICK: DO YOU THINK, THOUGH, ERIC WESSON, THESE STUDENTS IN OLATHE, THE HIGH SCHOOL THERE, OLATHE SOUTH, IS THAT SOMETHING THEY LEARNED AT SCHOOL OR SOMETHING YOU LEARN AT HOME AND ARE WE TAKING THE PARENTS OFF THE HOOK HERE AND PUTTING TOO MUCH ONUS ON THE SCHOOLS THEMSELVES TO FIX.

>> I AGREE 100% WITH YOU, NICK.

I THINK THAT IT STARTS AT HOME, AND THEN IT FILTERS OUT FROM THERE, BECAUSE IF THEY -- AND I'M JUST THINKING I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY MADE THE SIGN AT.

BUT AS A PARENT, MY CHILD HAS GOT A WRITING PAD AND A BOARD, AND HE'S WRITING SOMETHING AND GLUING SOMETHING ON IT.

AS A PARENT, I WANT TO SEE WHAT THAT IS.

AND THEN TO COME OUT AND HAVE IT GO VIRAL AT THAT, AND IT JUST GOES BACK TO HOW DIVIDED WE'VE BECOME OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS OVER RACE RELATIONS IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

NOBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT.

LET'S SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG, AND HOPE THAT IT TAKES CARE OF ITSELF AND GOES AWAY.

>> NICK: AREN'T OUR SCHOOLS, THOUGH, FEELING THE SQUEEZE FROM OUR STATE LAWMAKERS ON THIS QUESTION WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THIS PROGRAM VERY RECENTLY, THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND A RENEWED SCRUTINY ON SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOT TO GET ENGAGED ON ISSUES OF RACE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

>> THEY OPPOSE ANY MENTION OF RACE IN THE CLASSROOM.

IT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO JUST WITH A THEORY OR JUST WITH WHAT HAPPENED, AND I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I'VE WRITTEN ABOUT IT, AND I'VE GOTTEN CALLS AND E-MAILS FROM PEOPLE SAYING, NO, WE SHOULDN'T EVEN BRING UP SLAVERY IN OUR CLASSROOMS, BECAUSE IT'S DIVISIVE.

I WROTE A COLUMN ABOUT THOMAS JEFFERSON WHO OWNED SLAVES, AND HE, OF COURSE, WROTE THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.

WELL, I GOT ALL KINDS OF PUSHBACK FROM DEREK SCHMIDT, WHO IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF KANSAS WHO WANTED TO RUN AN OP-ED IN THE STAR SAYING, OH, NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT'S INVOLVED AT ALL.

PUSHING BACK ON THAT NONCONTROVERSIAL FACT THAT THOMAS JEFFERSON WAS A SLAVE OWNER, AND SO IT'S ALL CAUGHT UP ON ALL OF THAT, AND THAT'S WHY WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK ISN'T A SURPRISE.

>> NICK: IF YOU BUY GAS IN MISSOURI, YOU MAY NOTICE A BUMP IN PRICES AT THE PUMP.

A NEW HIKE IN THE GAS TAX HAS KICKED IN.

LAWMAKERS DECIDED TO PHASE IN THE INCREASE.

THIS WEEK, AN EXTRA TWO AND A HALF CENTS A GALLON.

THERE IS A WAY TO AVOID PAYING IT ALTOGETHER.

UNDER THE NEW LAW, YOU CAN GET A 100 PERCENT REBATE IF YOU KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS.

I TRIED TO LOOK THAT UP, AND I DIDN'T FIND ANYPLACE WHERE I COULD SUBMIT MY RECEIPTS FROM THE STATE.

HAVE THEY NOT COME UP WITH THAT FORM YET, AND ARE THEY JUST BANKING ON THE FACT THAT MOST PEOPLE WON'T BOTHER TO DO THIS, ERIC, IS THAT THE DEAL?

>> THAT IS DEFINITELY THE DEAL.

WHO WANTS TO RIDE AROUND IN A CAR FULL OF RECEIPTS?

YOU VACUUM THEM UP WHEN YOU'RE CLEANING OUT YOUR CAR AND SAY, OH, WHAT THE HECK.

YEAH, THAT'S THEIR THEORY.

>> FOR ABOUT 20 BUCKS, RIGHT, ERIC?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

WHO WANTS TO DO THAT?

>> NICK: I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE KANSAS SIDE GO OVER TO MISSOURI TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHEAP GAS TAX PRICES, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SECOND LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY AFTER ALASKA, SO PEOPLE LIKE TO FILL UP ON THE MISSOURI SIDE.

BY THE WAY, KANSANS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS REBATE PROGRAM.

BUT BY THE TIME THIS TAX INCREASE GOES FULLY INTO EFFECT BY 2025, KANSAS WILL ACTUALLY BE A LOT CHEAPER THAN MISSOURI.

>> I WILL SAY AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES RIGHT ON THE BORDER, I CAN VERY ROOTED IN WHERE I GET GAS.

I GO TO THE SAME PLACE, DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE PRICES.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DO.

I'M NOT SURE THIS HAS TOO MUCH OF AN EFFECT.

>> NICK: REMEMBERING WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, $500 MILLION A YEAR IS WHAT THEY WANT, DAVE HELLING TO, FIX OUR ROADS AND BRIDGES, SO HOWEVER PAINFUL IT IS TO PAY MORE AT THE PUMP, DON'T WE LIKE SMOOTHER AND BETTER ROADS?

>> THAT'S THE ARGUMENT MIKE PARSONS HAS MAYBE, THE CHAMBER AND OTHER PEOPLE IN MISSOURI, THAT WE NEED TO FIX ROADS AND BRIDGES PRIMARILY IN RURAL AREAS, I MUST SAY, WHERE THE TAX BASE IS SMALLER.

THERE IS AN ISSUE, NICK, AND I'LL JUST THROW THIS IN QUICKLY, ABOUT DRIVING ACROSS STATE LINE STILL TO PURCHASE FOOD IN MISSOURI.

KANSAS FULLY IMPOSES A SALES TAX ON FOOD, AND MISSOURI DOES NOT, AND IT CAN MEAN SAVINGS OVER A YEAR FOR SOME PEOPLE OF A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS.

THAT MAY BE WORTH THE TRIP.

BUT FOR THE GAS TAX, PROBABLY NOT.

>> NICK: NOW, WHEN YOU PUT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS TOGETHER EVERY WEEK, YOU CAN'T GET TO EVERY BIG STORY MAKING THE HEADLINES.

WHAT WAS THE BIG STORY WE MISSED?

IT'S A WEEK THAT SEES THE CHIEF DROP TO LAST PLACE AND HEALTH WORRIES OVER ANDY REID.

LAST CHANCE TO SEE THE ROYALS THIS YEAR.

AFTER MONTHS OF DELAYS, MISSOURI MEDICAID FINELY EXPANDS.

SIGNUPS THIS WEEK.

SOME HOSPITALS IN MISSOURI HITTING PANIC BUTTONS TO MEDICAL STAFF AFTER A SURGE IN VIOLENT ATTACKS.

MONEY MAGAZINE NAMES OVERLAND PARK THE 7th BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN AMERICA.

SURELY NOT, COSTCO AND A NUMBER OF OTHER STORES LIMITING TOILET PAPER AGAIN.

DIA WALL, DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

>> I PICKED SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

SO I AM A MEMBER OF THE BOARD FOR THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF KANSAS CITY.

HOLIDAY MART STARTED TODAY.

IT'S A GREAT TIME.

KICKOFF THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND SUPPORT SOME OF THE GREAT WORK THE JUNIOR LEAGUE DOES.

>> NICK: ERIC WESSON.

>> THE CHIEFS LOSING.

THAT WAS PRETTY SHOCKING TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN, AND THEN ANDY REID.

I GUESS THEY PLAYED SO BAD, HE GOT SICK, HAD TO TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL, ALL OF THOSE INTERCEPTIONS THAT WERE THROWN.

SO I SAID THE CHIEFS.

>> NICK: DAVE HELLING.

>> ONE OF THE NOTABLE PEOPLE IN OUR REGION PASSED AWAY.

LUMAS, POLITICAL SIGN PROFESSOR, ASTONISHING GOOD GUY, KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR FOUR DECADES.

HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED, AND JIM MATTHEWSON, THE FORMER STATE SENATOR IN MISSOURI WHO WAS A LEADER AT A DIFFERENT TIME AND APPROACHED LEGISLATION IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

LET'S PAUSE TO NOTE THE PASSING OF BOTH OF THOSE.

>> NICK: THANK YOU FOR THAT.

KYLE PALMER.

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SPOTLIGHT A STORY FROM LAST WEEK.

WE'VE GOT ELDERLY RESIDENTS FEELING PUSHED OUT BY OWNERS WHO LAUNCHED A MAJOR RENOVATION IN THEIR COMPLEX, PEOPLE IN THEIR 70s AND 80s WHO FELT LIKE THEY CAN'T FIND A NEW HOME IN THAT QUICK OF A TIME.

SINCE PUBLISHING THAT, WE'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL MORE TIPS FROM RESIDENTS AT OTHER COMPLEXES WHO SAY SIMILAR THINGS WERE HAPPENING THERE, SO GOING BACK TO OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT HOUSING AND AFFORDABILITY, COULD BE JUST A TIP OF ANOTHER STORY.

>> WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRACK THAT.

I'M SURPRISED DIA WALL THAT YOU DIDN'T MENTION ONE OF THE BIG STORIES WE MISSED WAS YOUR BOOK, BECAUSE IT'S INTERESTING YOU HAD A BIG FORUM AT THE LIBRARY ABOUT THIS.

I DIDN'T KNOW BEING AN AUTHOR WAS A BIG PART OF THE VISION YOU HAD FOR YOUR FUTURE.

>> WELL, SORT OF AND SORT OF.

IT'S CALLED THE UNHAPPIEST ONE.

IT'S FINDING JOY IN MY JOURNEY TO PURPOSE.

I CALL IT A SORT OF MEMOIR, BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY THAT.

IT'S JUST 15 PEOPLE, PLACES AND EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE TAUGHT ME MEANINGFUL LESSONS ABOUT JOY AND FULFILLMENT.

YOU CAN GET IT ANYWHERE.

>> NICK: PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU AND THINK YOU'RE LIVING THE DREAM, AND RATHER THAN CALLING IT WHAT YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE CALLED IT THE CHOSEN ONE.

YOU'RE A SUCCESSFUL TV ANCHOR.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> THE TRUTH OF IS, IF WE'VE LEARNED NOTHING, PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH A LOT OF PRIVATE BATTLES IN THEIR LIFE, AND I'VE EXPERIENCED QUITE A BIT OF THOSE THINGS, YOU KNOW, MY FATHER'S ADDICTION, SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WHEN I WAS YOUNG, ENTHUSIASTIC AND NOT AS INFORMED JOURNALIST.

IT'S MY HIGHLIGHTS, MY LOW LIGHTS, AND REALLY MY LOVE LETTER TO FOLKS GOING THROUGH A TOUGH TIME.

>> NICK: WHY IS IT THAT DIA WALL IS THE ONLY AUTHOR ON THIS PANEL?

YOU'RE ALL WRITING FOR A LIVING HERE.

WHERE ARE THESE OTHER BOOKS?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE COULD GO THROUGH, AND I'M SURE DAVE AND KYLE, WE COULD GO THROUGH SOME OF OUR NOTES AND WRITE THREE OR FOUR BOOKS, BUT AFTER YOU WRITE SO MUCH ALL DAY, THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS GO HOME AND WRITE SOME MORE.

>> I'VE GOT A TITLE FOR MY MEMOIR, NICK.

AND THE TITLE IS NEVER DRINK IN A BAR CALLED THE DONE LINEAR WITH A GUY CALLED MAHONEY.

YOU WOULD READ THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> NICK: THE BOOK IS THE UNHAPPIEST ONE.

YOU CAN GET IT AT ONLINE BOOK RETAILERS.

DIA WALL, THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS WITH US ON WEEK IN REVIEW, AND OUR THANKS TO OUR OTHER PANELIST WHO IS SHARE THEIR TALENTS WITH US EACH WEEK.

SOME PEOPLE ASK ME HUNDRED PERCENT THEY GET PAID.

HOW ABOUT ZERO DOLLARS.

THANK YOU DAVE HELLING, KYLE PALMER, AND ERIC WESSON.

AND I'M NICK HAINES.

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

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC WWW.CAPTIONASSOCIATES.COM