>>> CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.

>> NICK: IS IT REALLY A DONE DEAL?

THE NEW PLAN TO FINALLY HONOR DR. KING IN KANSAS CITY.

WILL BIG SPORTS AND BIG BUSINESS BOYCOTT KANSAS OVER NEW ELECTION AND TRANSGENDER RESTRICTIONS.

>> JUST ONE MORE LAYER OF DISRESPECT, OF INSULTS.

>> NICK: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MONTHS NO TENTS AND TARPS OUTSIDE CITY HALL AND WEST BOARD.

IS THE PROBLEM FINALLY FIXED?

MISSOURI MOVING FORWARD WITH PLANS TO BAN BUSINESSES FROM REQUIRING PROOF OF VACCINATIONS.

AND FIRST IT WAS TOILET PAPER.

NOW A SHORTAGE OF A TINY CHIP DEVASTATING KANSAS CITY'S AUTO INDUSTRY.

THOSE STORIES AND THE REST OF THE WEEK'S NEWS STRAIGHT AHEAD ON WEEK IN REVIEW.

>> WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS, BOB AND MARLEY SCORELY, 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.

I'M NICK HAINES, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS JOURNEY THROUGH THE NEWS OF OUR WEEK.

CONNECTING THE DOTS ON THE WEEK'S MOST IMPACTFUL LOCAL NEWS STORIES.

LISA RODRIGUEZ, FORMER CITY HALL REPORTER NOW NEWS DIRECTOR AT KCUR F.M.

FROM KMBC 9 NEWS, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER MICHEAL MAHONEY.

THE EDITOR OF THE CALL NEWSPAPER, ERIC WESSON.

AND FROM THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR, DAVE HELLING.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR BOULEVARD TIMELY RETURNING TO KANSAS CITY 18 MONTHS AFTER VOTERS STRIPPED THE NAME OF THE SLAIN CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER FROM A KANSAS CITY STREET.

>> ALL VOTES IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

OPPOSED, SAME SIGN.

THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.

(APPLAUSE).

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.

>> ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS CITY, I THINK WE SEE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARDS WE HAVE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> THE BOULEVARD MAYOR LUCAS IS TALKING ABOUT IS A WINDING 5-MILE STRETCH OF ROAD THAT GOES FROM BROOKSIDE TO I-435 ON KANSAS CITY'S EAST SIDE AND CONFUSINGLY BEARS THREE NAMES AT DIFFERENT POINTS ALONG THE WAY.

VOLKER BOULEVARD, SWOPE PARKWAY AND BLUE PARKWAY.

THERE WAS AGREEMENT BEFORE ON THIS, ON RENAMING THE PASEO AFTER DR. KING, IF YOU REMEMBER, AT LEAST UNTIL VOTERS REJECTED THE NAME CHANGE AT THE BALLOT BOX.

CAN WE EXPECT A VOTER CHALLENGE TO THIS CHANGE TOO, LISA?

>> I DON'T ANTICIPATE A VOTER CHALLENGE TO THIS CHANGE AS WELL.

THE PROCESS IN THIS SCENARIO WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST TIME THAT WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO BYPASS ASKING RESIDENTS WHO LIVED ON THE PASEO WHETHER THEY WANTED THIS CHANGE.

I THINK THAT THIS THOROUGHFARE IS DIFFERENT.

THEY TOOK THEIR TIME.

THEY HAD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS, AND THEN ANOTHER KEY POINT IS THERE'S NOT QUITE AS MANY RESIDENTIAL AREAS ALONG THIS STRETCH, SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THEIR ADDRESS AND ALL OF THESE OTHER KIND OF PAPERWORK THINGS.

I THINK -- I HAVE A FEELING THIS IDEA WILL BE WELCOMED AND EMBRACED.

>> NICK: BUT ERIC, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT CHANGING JUST ONE NAME.

IT'S THREE STREETS, EVEN MORE COMPLICATED, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED, AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE REBRANDING OF THE SHOPS ON BREW PARKWAY NOW TO THE SHOPS ON MLK AND WHAT EFFECT THAT WILL HAVE ON THOSE BUSINESSES.

I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MOST PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GLAD THIS IS FINALLY OVER WITH, CAN WE MOVE ON.

53 YEARS LATER.

SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE IT.

>> NICK: IS IT FINALLY OVER, MICHAEL?

>> YEAH, I AGREE WITH LISA ON THIS.

I BELIEVE IT IS.

MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE WAS ALWAYS 63rd STREET, BUT THERE WERE HEARINGS FROM THE PARK BOARD.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES.

THE FIRST TIME AROUND, THERE WASN'T CITIZEN INPUT.

I THINK THIS PROBABLY RESOLVES IT.

>> NICK: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY CHANGE WE MIGHT BE SEEING, DAVE HELLING.

6 MONTHS AGO, THE PARKS BOARD WAS CHARGED BY MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS TO ALSO COME UP WITH A LIST OF ANY STREET NAME OR MONUMENT IN KANSAS CITY THAT WOULD HAVE ANY CONNECTION TO SLAVERY OR PEOPLE WHO WERE DEMEANING OTHERS THROUGH RACISM.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT PROCESS, NICK, IS STILL UNDERWAY AS FAR AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, AND THERE WILL BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER DISCUSSIONS FOR NAME CHANGES THAT MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE 21st CENTURY.

IN THIS CASE, I HAVE HEARD A LITTLE BIT OF GRUMBLING THAT THE NEW MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD REACHES THE EDGE OF THE PLAZA BASICALLY, AND THEN SORT OF PETERS OUT.

THERE IS SOME CONCERN, AND I THINK MIKE JUST TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE THE WHOLE IDEA OF 63rd STREET, IT SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE STATE LINE TO THE RIVER.

HAD THEY CHOSEN THAT ROUTE, BUT THEY DID NOT.

SO I THINK I AGREE WITH THE PANEL THAT FOR THE MOST PART THE DISCUSSION OF THIS HAS COME TO AN END AFTER THREE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT YEARS.

>> NICK: I WANT TO DO A FLASH BACK ON ANOTHER STORY, BECAUSE SOME STORIES KEEP COMING UP AGAIN.

REMEMBER THIS SCENE FROM SIX MONTHS AGO WHEN THE MAYOR AND TOP LEADERS DRAMATICALLY CONVERGED ON THE STEPS OF CITY HALL TO SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND THERE'S A BRAND NEW PLAN TO PREVENT ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN KANSAS CITY.

>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

>> VIOLENCE IN KANSAS CITY IS A PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIC.

>> WE ALL WANT THIS TO CHANGE.

WE DO NOT WANT THE SHOOTERS IN OUR CITY BEING AS ACTIVE AS THEY ARE.

I MEAN, IT'S NIGHT AFTER NIGHT.

>> WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE CAN NO LONGER OPERATE IN SILOS AND THAT WE'RE TAKING THIS CONVERSATION DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> SO FOR THOSE KEEPING SCORE, THAT WAS 6 MONTHS AGO, AND YOU WERE THERE SIX MONTHS AGO WATCHING THAT, REPORTING ON THAT, LISA RODRIGUEZ, AS YOU WERE THE CITY HALL REPORTER.

WHAT HAPPENED?

DID ANYTHING CHANGE?

WERE YOU EXPECTING MORE PROGRESS THAN WE'VE SEEN?

>> I THINK IT'S FUNNY THAT FOR THE AMOUNT OF FANFARE THAT THAT ANNOUNCEMENT HAD AT ITS ROLLOUT, WE HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH FANFARE OF KIND OF MARKERS OF PROGRESS THERE AND CLEARLY WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING WITH VIOLENT CRIME IN THE CITY.

NO ONE EXPECTED IT TO BE RESOLVED IN SIX MONTHS, AND I THINK ON SOME OF THE FRONTS EARLY ON, THE CITY COUNCIL DID TAKE STEPS TO KIND OF CHANGE SOME GOVERNMENTAL PROCESS, MAKE SMALL TWEAKS TO THE CODE, BUT A LOT OF THESE ISSUE REMAIN.

WE'RE STILL SEEING TENSION BETWEEN THE PROSECUTOR AND THE POLICE CHIEF IN CASES.

WE'RE STILL SEEING HIGH HOMICIDE RATES.

SO THE JURY IS STILL OUT.

AND IF THEY ARE CONTINUING TO DO THIS AND THIS WORK, IT'S BEEN DONE A LOT MORE QUIETLY.

>> NICK: DID ANYTHING CHANGE, ERIC?

>> NO, NOTHING REALLY CHANGED.

I JUST FINISHED MY EDITORIAL FOR THIS WEEK, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I RESEARCHED WAS WE'VE HAD VIOLENT CRIME COMMISSION PANELS, AND THEN WE HAD ANOTHER ONE THAT HAD -- THAT MAYOR JAMES HAD PUT INTO PLACE, AND THEN WE HAD A VIOLENT CRIME COMMISSION THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THIS GROUP GOING TO DO THAT NONE OF THE OTHER GROUPS HAVE?

YOU HAVE THE SAME PLAYERS.

AND THIS ONE HAS A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC IN IT AND THEN IT HAS THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND PROSECUTOR THAT DON'T REALLY LIKE EACH OTHER, NEVER IMPLEMENTED ANY OF THE THINGS THAT THAT OTHER TASK FORCE BROUGHT FORWARD OTHER THAN I THINK, LIKE, ONE OR TWO PEOPLE WERE HIRED.

BUT AS FAR AS IMPLEMENTING ANYTHING, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE.

>> THE QUICK ANSWER WOULD BE, WELL, THIS IS A COMPLEX PROBLEM, AND THIS IS LIKE TURNING AN OCEAN LINER THAT IT HAD TO BE GRADUAL.

ERIC JUST LAID OUT THE TIMELINE FOR US.

IT'S QUITE CLEAR THAT THEY HAVE HAD DISCUSSION AFTER DISCUSSION AND COMMISSION AFTER COMMISSION AND ANOTHER COMMITTEE AND THEN ANOTHER COMMITTEE.

NOTHING IS GETTING DONE, AND SO PEOPLE ARE JUSTIFIABLY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS, AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO GROW.

>> NICK: MY CONCERN ALSO IS, DAVE, EVEN WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME, IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE ITS ISSUES -- IF THERE ARE ANY FIXES, IT'S ABOUT HOW POLICE ARE HIRED, CAN THEY LIVE IN THE CITY, WE'VE GOT TO GET RID OF THE POLICE CHIEF.

IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE NIBBLING AROUND THE EDGES OR CHANGE TO THE POLICE BOARD RATHER THAN ACTUALLY REDUCING HOMICIDES.

>> WELL, THAT'S TRUE, AND I THINK IN PART, NICK, THAT'S BECAUSE EVERYONE IS GRASPING FOR A SOLUTION, ANY SOLUTION THAT MIGHT BRING THE HOMICIDE RATE DOWN.

AS LISA AND MICHAEL AND ERIC EXPLAINED, THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO, AND THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF IMPORTANT INTELLIGENT PEOPLE STUDYING IT FOR YEARS, AND THEY HAVEN'T COME UP WITH A SOLUTION YET.

NOW IN 2014, MURDERS IN KANSAS CITY DROPPED DRAMATICALLY, AND I'M NOT SURE WE COMPLETELY UNDER WHY.

AND SO I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING, AND GOING BACK TO 2014 AND TAKING A LOOK, DARYL FORTE WAS THE CHIEF, AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT TOOK PLACE THAT YEAR THAT HASN'T TAKEN PLACE IN, SAY, 2020 OR 2021 AND MAYBE APPLY WHATEVER LESSONS WE LEARNED IN 2014 TO THE CURRENT DAY.

>> THE QUESTION REMAINS IS THIS: WHY IS THE CHIEF STILL THERE AS THE CHIEF?

THE HOMICIDE RATES IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY ARE OUTLANDISH, AND ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, I BELIEVE THAT SOMEBODY WOULD BE CALLING FOR A NEW CHIEF OF POLICE, BUT THE BOARD, FOR SOME REASON -- I WAS WATCHING ONE OF THE BOARD MEETINGS.

THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT FORD EXPLORERS.

YOU'VE GOT 173 HOMICIDES, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHERE TO BUY CARS.

IT'S JUST SO INSENSITIVE.

>> NICK: MICHAEL, THAT KEEPS COMING UP, BUT IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE TODAY TO SUGGEST THAT THE RICK SMITH, THE POLICE CHIEF, IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO DEPARTING POLICE HEADQUARTERS?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS, ALTHOUGH TO ERIC'S POINT HERE, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE CALLING AT ONE POINT OR OTHER SEEMS TO BE GROWING, NOT A LOT, BUT SOME.

RIGHT NOW THE MAYOR DOES NOT HAVE THE POLITICAL CLOUT ON THE BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS TO WIN THAT VOTE TO FORCE A RESIGNATION, AND THERE IS NO SIGN THAT RICK SMITH IS GOING TO RESIGN.

>> I THINK HE WOULD GET SUPPORT IF HE JUST CALLED FOR A VOTE.

IF IT GETS DEFEATED, OKAY, BUT YOU'RE AT LEAST EXPOSING WHO IS SUPPORTING HIM.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, ERIC, LUCAS IS GOING TO GET PROBABLY ONE ATTEMPT AT THIS, AND IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THEN HE'S GOING TO BE OUT OF LUCK ON IT.

HE'S A GOOD POLITICIAN.

HE KNOWS HOW TO COUNT NOSES, AND THE VOTES AREN'T THERE.

>> NICK: LOTS OF OTHER NEWS HAPPENING THIS WEEK.

FORMER KANSAS CITY CHIEFS ASSISTANT COACH BRITT REID WAS CHARGED WITH FELONY DRUNK DRIVING CHARGE THIS WEEK, MORE THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER HIS TRUCK PLOWED INTO TWO VEHICLES ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP TO I-435.

THE COLLISION LEFT 5-YEAR-OLD ARIEL YOUNG IN A COMA.

THE FAMILY'S ATTORNEY SAYS SHE HAS PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE.

IN EARLY POLICE REPORT, REID CONFESSED TO HAVING TWO OR THREE DRINKS BEFORE LEAVING THE SPORTS STADIUM AND HE WAS TAKING THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADDERALL.

SUNS THEN FEW DETAILS HAVE BEEN CHARGED.

MANY ASKING WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG?

DID HE WE GET A CLEAR ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION THIS WEEK?

>> THE PROSECUTOR SAID SHE JUST RECEIVED LAST WEEK THE INFORMATION SHE NEEDED FROM KANSAS CITY POLICE TO MAKE THIS CHARGE.

SHE ALLUDED TO MISSOURI LAW FROM PREVENTING HER FROM GOING AFTER A HIGHER CHARGE IN THIS CASE, BUT WE DO HAVE A LOT MORE OF THE DETAILS THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE.

WE KNOW ABOUT BRITT REID'S BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL.

WE KNOW HOW FAST HE WAS DRIVING JUST SECONDS BEFORE THE CRASH, SOMEWHERE AT 83, 84 MILES AN HOUR.

WE DO HAVE A LOT MORE INFORMATION NOW THAN WE DID A WEEK AGO.

>> WE HEARD A LOT FROM VIEWERS ABOUT THIS THIS WEEK.

I HAD AN E-MAIL FROM LINDA WHO SAYS, DID MONEY CONNECTIONS AND ACCESS TO ONE OF THE METRO'S BEST DEFENSE ATTORNEYS CHANGE THE WAY THIS CASE WAS HANDLED?

IN ESSENCE, DAVE HELLING, IF IT WAS A PLUMBER IN RAYTOWN INVOLVED IN THE SAME SITUATION, WOULD THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SYSTEM THE SAME WAY?

>> MAYBE.

I MEAN, THE PROSECUTOR IN CASES LIKE THIS, IN ALL CASES, WANTS TO TAKE HIS OR HER TIME TO MAKE SURE THE FACTS ARE UNDERSTOOD AND THAT THE EVIDENCE IS AVAILABLE.

CERTAINLY HE HAS NOT ESCAPED WHATEVER SCRUTINY A COURT WILL BRING TO HIS CASE.

AT SOME POINT MAYBE THERE IS SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT WITH THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.

BUT THERE WILL BE MORE ATTENTION PAID TO THIS CASE, NICK, JUST LIKE THERE IS MORE ATTENTION PAID TO THE TRIAL IN TOPEKA BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE DEFENDANT.

AND SO THE IDEA THAT MAYBE HE'LL GET OFF OR THAT GENE WILL GET OFF BECOMES MORE PROBLEMATIC IN LARGE PART BECAUSE PEOPLE, LIKE LISA RODRIGUEZ, MICHEAL MAHONEY, AND ERIC WESSON ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE OUTCOME, AND SO IT'S MORE DIFFICULT FOR PROSECUTORS TO SORT OF BACK AWAY.

>> MICHAEL.

>> SAM HAD A VERY INSIGHTFUL PIECE ON THIS, AND HE NOTED IN IT THAT HE BELIEVED THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS RESPONSE TO THIS WAS RATHER EMPTY.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT APPARENTLY THERE'S A RULE IN THE NFL THAT YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE ALCOHOL ON THE PREMISES OF THE TRAINING CAMPS AND THEIR FACILITIES, AND THAT HASN'T BEEN ADDRESSED YET.

>> ERIC, THE HIGHEST SENTENCE AND THE CURRENT CHARGE IS 7 YEARS, BUT IT COULD BE AS LOW AS PROBATION, NO JAIL TIME WHATSOEVER.

>> RIGHT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT HIS CASE WAS HANDLED THE SAME WAY THAT THEY WOULD HAVE HANDLED JOE CITIZEN'S CASE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION.

THIS ISN'T HIS FIRST OFFENSE.

HE'S NOT A FIRST TIME OFFENDER.

HE'S GOT A HISTORY OF THIS THING, DRINKING AND DRIVING AND DRUGS AND GUNS AND EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT.

>> BECAUSE THIS MAN HAS A PRIOR RECORD AND THE RECORD DEALS WITH THESE SORTS OF ISSUES, I THINK JAIL TIME IS QUITE POSSIBLE.

>> NICK: WILL BIG SPORTS AND BIG BUSINESS BOYCOTT THE STATE OF KANSAS OVER NEW ELECTION LAW CHANGES AND RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSGENDER ATHLETES?

BOTH BILLS ARRIVED ON KANSAS GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY'S DESK THIS WEEK.

THE ACLU IS THREATENING TO SUE THE STATE IF THE TRANSGENDER ATHLETE BAN IS ENACTED, AND THERE ARE THREATS THAT THE MEASURES WILL SCUTTLE NCAA TOURNAMENTS AND KANSAS CITY'S BID TO HOST WORLD CUP SOCCER GAMES IN 2026.

BUT ARE BUSINESSES AND SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS GOING TO FIND THEMSELVES RUNNING OUT OF PLACES TO HOLD EVENTS WHEN DOZENS OF STATES ARE NOW ENACTING SIMILAR POLICIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, LISA?

>> I THINK THE MOVE FROM THE NCAA THIS WEEK IS ABSOLUTELY SIGNIFICANT.

I THINK IF WE RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN LEGISLATORS WERE TRYING TO PASS BATHROOM BILLS THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED TRANS PEOPLE FROM USING THE BATHROOM THAT CORRELATES WITH THEIR GENDER IDENTITY, WHEN THE NCAA AND WHEN THESE BUSINESSES COME OUT AGAINST THAT, THAT DOES MAKE PEOPLE SHAKE IN THEIR SHOES A LITTLE BIT, AND I THINK ON THE KANSAS SIDE, GOVERNOR KELLY HAS BEEN VERY FORCEFUL IN DENOUNCING THESE BILLS.

>> DAVE.

>> I HAD A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THE GOVERNOR ABOUT THIS SUBJECT LAST WEEK, NICK, AND I THINK WHILE SHE IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE NCAA MAY OR MAY NOT DO OR WHAT MAIM LEAGUE BASEBALL OR THE WORLD CUP MIGHT DO, SHE SEEMS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PERMANENT LOSS OF POTENTIAL COMPANIES COMING TO KANSAS BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER KANSAS TO BE BACKWARD OR DON'T WANT TO RELOCATE HERE.

SHE SAYS, WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD TO GET BUSINESSES TO MOVE THEIR FACTORIES AND OFFICES TO THE STATE ON A PERMANENT BASIS, AND IF KANSAS GETS THE REPUTATION AS BEING BEHIND THE TIME ON THINGS LIKE TRANSGENDER SPORTS, THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM, AND IF SHE VETOES THAT BILL, WHICH I THINK IS HIGHLY LIKELY, THAT WILL BE THE REASON SHE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

>> MICHAEL, SO THE LEGISLATURE IN KANSAS IS OVERWHELMINGLY REPUBLICAN.

SAY THE GOVERNOR DOES VETO THOSE BILLS OR ONE OF THEM, CAN THE LEGISLATURE OVERTURN HER?

>> IF THEY'VE GOT THE VOTE AND IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THEY DO HAVE THE VOTES.

BACK TO THE QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THE NATION WOULD RUN OUT OF SPOTS TO HOLD THESE EVENTS, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY MAY NOT BE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN WICHITA OR REGIONAL MEN'S BASKETBALL FINALS IN KANSAS CITY, WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS, ALL OF THAT SORT OF STUFF.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER STATES THAT ARE NOT DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES IN THE SAME WAY THAT ARE MORE THAN ACCEPTABLE TO THE COLLEGE SPORTS INDUSTRY AND THEY'LL GO.

THEY'LL GO THERE IN A HEARTBEAT.

>> NICK: LATE LAST WEEK, THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI COUNCIL APPROVED AN EMERGENCY MESH THAT YOUR WOULD ALLOW UP TO 500 HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN TO LEAVE THE STREETS AND STAY IN SEVERAL BUDGET HOTELS FOR UP TO 90 DAYS.

THE DEAL WAS INTENDED TO FINALLY END TWO LARGE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS THAT HAD SPRUNG UP ON THE LAWN OUTSIDE OF CITY HALL AND ACROSS FROM THE STREET FROM THE WESTPORT ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

WE'RE TOLD THAT THE TENTS ARE NOW GONE.

BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS, WHAT HAPPENS IN 90 DAYS WHEN THE MONEY RUNS OUT?

>> I'M SURE THEY'LL GET MORE FUNDING FOR IT OUT OF THE 100 MILLION -- OR 90 MILLION THAT THEY'LL GET FROM THE GOVERNMENT BEGINNING THIS YEAR.

HERE'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH, AND THAT'S THE LAND BANK PROPERTIES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO CONVINCE FOR PROFIT AND NONFOR PROFIT PEOPLE TO GET INTO TO -- NOT FOR PROFIT PEOPLE TO GET INTO TO RENOVATE HOUSING FOR THE HOME LESS.

WHAT COMPANIES ARE GOING TO PUT 50 OR $60,000 INTO RENOVATING A PROPERTY THAT THEY WON'T GET THEIR MONEY BACK OUT OF.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A 2 BY 4 IS NOW 18 BUCKS.

>> SO ERIC IS TALKING ABOUT THE MONEY THEN COMING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, A LOT OF IT GOING FROM THE U.S. HOUSING DEPARTMENT, LISA.

WE ACTUALLY HEARD A LOT FROM VIEWERS SAYING, NO WONDER KANSAS CITY CAN'T FILL ITS POTHOLES, AND WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CITY RESPONDING TO ISSUES, BECAUSE THEY'RE PAYING ALL OF THIS MONEY TO PUT HOMELESS INTO HOTELS.

>> I THINK THE INABILITY TO FILL HOT HOLES OR TO TURN OFF THE FOUNTAINS HAS MORE TO DO WITH BUDGET ISSUES IN KANSAS CITY'S EXISTING BUDGET AND HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS KIND OF DEPLETED SOME OF THOSE RESERVES.

THE MONEY FOR HOMELESS TO RELOCATE HOMELESS PEOPLE EVEN TEMPORARILY, THE MAYOR HAS SAID THAT THAT'S FEDERAL MONEY, THAT IT'S DIFFERENT.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S A SOURCE OF MONEY THAT'S NOT ONGOING, AND IF THE CITY REALLY WANTS TO TACKLE THE ISSUE OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE LONG-TERM, THEY NEED MORE THAN A ONE-TIME INFUSION OF CASH TO DO IT.

IT HAS TO BE A DEDICATED SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR YEARS.

>> NICK: AND THE CITY THIS WEEK WANTS A DEDICATED HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

RIGHT NOW THERE IS A NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES AND HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD THAT MAKE IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, AND AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS A HIRING FREEZE AT CITY HALL.

WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO HIRE MORE ADMINISTRATORS AND ADD ANOTHER AGENCY AT A TIME OF BUDGET PROBLEMS?

>> WELL, OF COURSE, A, THEY DON'T HAVE BUDGET PROBLEMS THIS YEAR, NICK, BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LADLING CASH ON CITY HALL, AND THE IDEA OF HAVING A HOUSING CZAR OR A HOMELESSNESS CZAR MAY MAKE SOME SENSE, BUT LET'S BE REAL.

THE PROBLEM OF HOMELESSNESS IN KANSAS CITY IS AS OLD AS I AM OR HAS BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN AROUND IN KANSAS CITY.

IT IS MUCH LIKE VIOLENT CRIME.

IF THE ANSWERS WERE EASY, WE WOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THEM LONG AGO.

THEY ARE NOT, WHETHER IT'S USING LAND BANK PROPERTIES, PUTTING THE HOMELESS IN HOTELS, HAVING OTHER STRUCTURES -- YOU KNOW, BARTLE HALL.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF TEMPORARY PATCHES, BUT A PERMANENT SOLUTION, VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE, AND IT ISN'T CLEAR WHAT THE END GAME IN THIS CASE WILL BE.

>> NICK: FIRST IT WAS A SHORTAGE OF TOILET PAPER DURING THE PANDEMIC.

NOW, IN ANOTHER REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT, KANSAS CITY'S FORD PLANT IS SHUTTING DOWN MOST OF THE PRODUCTION LINE THIS WEEK AMID A GROWING WORLDWIDE SHORTAGE OF COMPUTER CHIPS.

IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE SUCH A TINY COMPONENT OF A VEHICLE WOULD CAUSE SO MUCH DISRUPTION, BUT IT'S DEVASTATING THE AUTO INDUSTRY.

KANSAS CITY'S GENERAL MOTOR'S FAIRFAX PLANT HAS HALTED PRODUCTION UNTIL THE WEEK OF MAY 10th.

THE PLANT IN KCK MAKES THE CHEVY MALIBU SEDAN AND THE CADILLAC SUV.

HOW CAN SOMETHING SO MAUL BE SO DEVASTATING TO WHAT IS ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR BIGGEST EMPLOYEES IN KANSAS CITY?

>> IT IS SUPPLY AND DEMAND, NICK, AND IT'S A FASCINATING STORY IN THE SENSE THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RECESSION THAT INVOLVED THE VIRUS, THERE WAS AN ASSUMPTION THAT THE CAR INDUSTRY WAS GOING TO GO SOUTH, AND SO THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THESE COMPUTER CHIPS DECIDED WE'RE NOT GOING TO NEED AS MANY OF THEM, AND SO THEY SHIFTED THEIR PRODUCTION GEAR, AND THEY WENT INTO GAMING CONSOLE CHIPS.

THEY WENT INTO COMPUTER CHIPS, AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE RECESSION ON AUTOMOBILE AND VEHICLE SALES WAS NOT AS DEEP AS THEY EXPECTED, AND THEY HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES SHORT ON THIS, AND NOW THEY'RE SELLING CARS THAT DON'T HAVE ALL THE PARTS ON IT.

IT'S A SUPPLY AND DEMAND STORY THAT IS JUST REALLY FASCINATING.

WHILE A LOT OF THESE WORKERS ON THE LINE ARE GETTING THREE QUARTERS OF THEIR PAY, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY'RE STILL NOT ON THE JOB FULL TIME.

IT'S A REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING EFFECT OF WHAT'S BEEN TAKING PLACE.

>> AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME THEN, LISA RODRIGUEZ?

DOES THAT MEAN IT'S ALSO GOING TO BE HARDER FOR ME TO GET A VEHICLE.

IT'S GOING TO COST ME A LOT MORE TO GET ONE.

>> THIS HAS SLOWED PRODUCTION OF AUTOMOBILES, NOT JUST IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI AND IN OUR AREA, BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND I THINK THAT WILL RESULT IN HIGHER PRICES FOR THE CARS.

>> NICK: WHILE THERE'S BEEN TALK FOR MONTHS ABOUT COMPANIES NOW REQUIRING WORKERS TO BE VACCINATED IN ORDER TO COME BACK TO THE WORKPLACE, IS A BILL GAINING MOMENTUM IN THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE GOING TO DISRUPT THOSE PLANS?

THIS WEEK, THE MISSOURI HOUSE ADVANCED A BILL THAT WOULD BAN PRIVATE BUSINESSES FROM REQUIRING PROOF OF VACCINATION FROM EITHER EMPLOYEES OR CUSTOMERS.

SO WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR SPORTS STADIUMS, COMPANIES, AND CONCERT VENUES IN KANSAS CITY IF THIS IS ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED, DAVE HELLING?

>> WELL, IT MEANS THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE SOME REAL JUDGMENTS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN OPEN FULLY TO THE PUBLIC, NICK.

IF YOU TELL BASEBALL CLUBS, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN'T REQUIRE VACCINES, MAYBE YOU ONLY LET 10,000 PEOPLE AND NOT 20 OR 25,000 FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE.

THE FASCINATING THING IN THIS CASE WILL BE WHETHER GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON DECIDES TO VETO A BILL THAT WOULD GIVE BUSINESSES THIS POWER.

YOU REMEMBER LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

PARSON SAID I DON'T CARE IF BUSINESSES WANT TO BAN PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED, AND THE LEGISLATURE IS TRYING TO TAKE IT A ACCEPT FURT -- STEP FURTHER AND ISOLATE THOSE BUSINESSES.

>> NICK: SMALL BUSINESS, NOW THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY AT THE FRONT DOOR OF EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS?

DOESN'T THAT IMPOSE MORE COSTS ON BUSINESSES ALREADY STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE NOW THAT THEY HAVE SOMEBODY POLICING THE VACCINATIONS?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, NOT IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, NOT IN THE STATE OF KANSAS.

THIS IS THE SAME GROUND THAT SAYS, LET'S NOT HAVE THE GOVERNMENT PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> NICK: 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 LOCAL STORY WE MISSED?

SPORTING KANSAS CITY LAUNCHING A NEW SEASON, AND IT'S HISTORIC.

THIS WEEK MARKS 25 YEARS SINCE ITS FIRST GAME.

LAST YEAR IT WAS THE WHIZ AND THEN WIZARDS.

IT'S A WEEK THAT SEES MORE PARENT CHALLENGES OVER MASK MANDATES.

MUSLIMS AROUND THE WORLD MARKING A SOCIALLY DISTANCE RAMADAN.

ANOTHER POLICE SHOOTING SPARKS ANOTHER PLAZA PROTEST, AND TRADITIONAL, WE WOULD BE CELEBRATING FOUNTAIN DAY THIS WEEK.

THAT'S WHEN KANSAS CITY TURNS ON ALL ITS FAMOUS FOUNTAINS, NOT THIS YEAR.

THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SAYS BUDGET CUTS HAS FORCED THE AGENCY TO SAVE MONEY.

THE CITY HOPES TO TURN SOME FOUNTAINS BACK ON LATER THIS SPRING OR SUMMER.

OKAY.

LISA RODRIGUEZ, WAS IT ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

>> YOU KNOW, THE LATEST POLICE SHOOTING IN MINNESOTA BROUGHT SOME SMALL PROTESTS OUT IN KANSAS CITY, BUT I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE TO WATCH.

I THINK THAT THE PAIN AND THE ANGER OVER THAT IS ONLY GROWING AND WE ALSO HAVE THE ONGOING TRIAL OF DERRICK CHAUVIN, THE POLICE OFFICER WHO KNELT ON THE NECK OF GEORGE FLOYD ALMOST A YEAR AGO, STILL ONGOING.

I THINK TENSIONS THERE ARE SIMMERING AND PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THAT CLOSELY.

THAT WAS MY PICK FOR THIS WEEK.

>> NICK: ERIC WESSON.

>> I AGREE WITH LISA.

THAT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO ESCALATE AS THE BLACK LIVES MOVEMENT COMESBACK LIVE AGAIN.

>> MICHAEL MAHONEY.

>> THE BID TO GET LIVE MUSIC AND ART GOING ONCE AGAIN HAS BEEN DERAILED, AND IT'S BEEN DERAILED BECAUSE OF AN OBAMACARE STYLE SCREW-UP BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THIS SAVE OUR SHUTTERED VENUES GRANTS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE OPEN WHEN THEY OPENED THAT PORTAL, THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO APPLIED, IT COLLAPSED, AND SO THE ABILITY TO HAVE MUSIC AND CONCERTS AND LIVE EVENTS IS ON THE SIDELINES NOW UNTIL THAT GETS RESOLVED.

IT'S GOING TO BE A BIT.

>> NICK: DAVE.

>> RICK RABER, THE MISSOURI REPUBLICAN IN THE HOUSE RESIGNED THIS WEEK.

LAST FALL HIS ADULT CHILDREN ACCUSED HIM OF ABUSE, PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL, WHEN THEY WERE KIDS.

HE DENIED IT.

HE SAID THE ETHICS COMMITTEE IN THE WOULD VINDICATE HIM.

INSTEAD THE ETHICS COMMITTEE THIS WEEK CALLED HIS BEHAVIOR HEINOUS, PROMISED A FULL REPORT AND SAID HE WAS NOT FIT TO SERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND HE DECIDED TO RESIGN.

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

OUR THANKS TO KCUR'S LISA RODRIGUEZ AND CHANNEL 9'S MICHEAL MAHONEY, THE STAR DAVE HELLING, AND ALWAYS ON CALL FROM THE KANSAS CITY CALL, ERIC WESSON.

I'M NICK HAINES.

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

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