COULD WE BE VOTING IN NOVEMBER ON A NEW DOWNTOWN BALLPARK AND WILL IT GO HERE OR HERE THE KANSAS SUPREME COURT MAKES ITS DECISION IS IT THE FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN FOR SHARICE DAVIDS NO MORE TOUCH SCREEN VOTING MACHINES NO MORE BALLOT DROP BOXES WHILE YOUR NEXT TRIP TO THE BALLOT BOX MAY BE A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT PLUS THE JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR GRABBING THE HEADLINES IF THERE'S A CHANGE IN ABORTION OR SHE'S REFUSING TO PROSECUTE CASES THOSE STORIES AND THE REST OF THE WEEK'S BIG LOCAL HEADLINES NEXT WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF AARP KANSAS CITY RSM 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 I'M NICK HAINES AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON OUR WEEKLY JOURNEY THROUGH THE WEEK'S MOST IMPACTFUL CONFUSING AND BEFUDDLING LOCAL NEWS STORIES ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES TO CONNECT THE DOTS ON THE NEWS OF OUR WEEK OUR OWN SENIOR REPORTER MARY SANCHEZ AND FROM THE CALL NEWSPAPER ERIC WESSON WHO'S JUST COMING BACK FROM A FAMILY VACATION IN ORLANDO THANK YOU BY THE WAY FOR REMOVING THE MICKEY MOUSE EARS FOR THE SHOW YOU'RE WELCOME FROM KCMO TALK RADIO PETE MUNDO IS WITH US THIS WEEK AND FROM THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR DAVE HELLING YOU KNOW WE'VE ALL KNOWN THIS IS GOING TO BE A CONSEQUENTIAL MIDTERM ELECTION YEAR BUT COULD WE BE VOTING ON A NEW DOWNTOWN BALLPARK THIS FALL TOO THIS WEEK THE KANSAS CITY STAR REPORTS THAT A NOVEMBER VOTE ON A NEW HOME FOR THE ROYALS IS STILL IN THE CARDS AND IN A COMPREHENSIVE EXPOSE OUR CITY'S BIGGEST NEWSPAPER REVEALS IT'S NOW A BATTLE BETWEEN TWO SITES A PLOT OF LAND JUST WEST OF THE 18TH AND VINE JAZZ DISTRICT AND A DOWNTOWN LOCATION JUST EAST OF CITY HALL IN FAIRNESS THE STAR REPORTS THAT THE VOTE COULD COME IN NOVEMBER OR NEXT SPRING BUT WHEN THE LEASES ON THE STADIUMS DON'T COME UP UNTIL THE END OF 2031 DAVE HELLING WHAT IS THE RUSH IT'S BEING DRIVEN BY THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS FOR REASONS THAT THE TEAM UNDERSTANDS BUT HAVE NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC NICK THEY WANT TO GO QUICKLY TRY TO GET INTO A NEW STADIUM BY 2026 BUT IF YOU TALK TO COUNTY OFFICIALS OR CITY OFFICIALS THEY ARE EXTRAORDINARILY SKEPTICAL NICK ABOUT A NOVEMBER VOTE IT IT WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ENVISION THAT THE TEAMS AND REMEMBER THIS WOULD INVOLVE THE CHIEFS AND THE ROYALS COULD RENEGOTIATE CONTRACT AGREEMENTS FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS BY THE END OF AUGUST WHICH IS THE DEADLINE FOR PUTTING SOMETHING ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT IT'S JUST HARD TO SEE THAT GETTING DONE AND WITHOUT THAT THEY JUST WON'T PUT IT ON THE BALLOT SO THE EARLIEST I THINK PEOPLE COULD VOTE WOULD BE 2023 YOU COULD STILL DESIGN IN 2023 IF YOU VOTE EARLY ENOUGH UH BUILD IN 24 AND 25 AND OPEN IN 26 WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE ROYALS GOAL IF NOT THE CHIEF DOESN'T SEEM ROTTEN TIMING THOUGH PETE FOR THINKING ABOUT A TAX INCREASE FOR A DOWNTOWN STADIUM AT THE VERY SAME TIME OF COURSE WE HAVE GAS PRICES NOW CRACKING MORE THAN FOUR DOLLARS WE HAVE PARENTS IN OUR METRO WHO CAN'T EVEN FIND BABY FORMULA YEAH YOU KNOW NICK THE OTHER PART OF THIS TOO UH IS I THINK IT BENEFITS THE ROYALS TO PUSH OFF THIS VOTE UNTIL NEXT YEAR WHEN YOU GET A LOWER VOTER TURNOUT THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT PEOPLE ON DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE AGREE ON I THINK THIS ISSUE OF BIG TAX BREAKS FOR BASEBALL STADIUMS IS KIND OF SOMETHING THAT'S TAKEN OVER THE POPULIST LEFT AND RIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE THEY DON'T NECESSARILY SUPPORT IT SO FROM THE PURE POLITICAL ANGLE KNOWING YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG TURNOUT DURING A BIG MIDTERM ELECTION YEAR THE ROYALS WOULD BE BETTER OFF PUSHING THIS THING TO A LOW VOTER TURNOUT CYCLE IN 2023 AND THEN TRYING TO GET THEIR VOTERS OUT IN FAVOR OF IT THEN I I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO SEE SOME OF THE SITES THAT WERE UH ON THE TABLE AND IT'S JUST GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THE WH ERE THEY'LL FINALLY DECIDE TO PUT THEM IN THE STATE EMMANUEL CLEAVER ERIC HAS SAID YOU KNOW IT REALLY HAS TO BE RIGHT THERE NEXT TO THE 18TH AND VINE JAZZ MUSEUM HE'S BEING VERY PUSHING ALL OF THAT IN THE 18TH OF MAY JAZZ DISTRICT BUT HOW IMPORTANT IS HIS VOTE TO ALL OF THIS WELL IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE HE'S UH EMMANUEL CLEAVER AND IT WOULD BE A GOOD CONNECTION WITH THE UH ACADEMY THAT THEY HAVE OVER THERE BUT THIS AREA IS PRETTY LANDLOCKED AND YOU HAVE TO RELOCATE SOME PEOPLE UNLESS YOU WENT IN PARADE PARK AND IT'S KIND OF TOSSED UP ON WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THAT I'M MARY YOU KNOW THAT SITE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT THERE WEST OF THE 18TH AND VINE JAZZ DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY THE SITE OF A MAJOR KCATA OPERATIONS CENTER YOU'VE GOT THE MANUAL KOREA TECH CENTER THERE WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WELL THEY'D HAVE TO SHIFT AND THAT'S PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS THAT NEED TO OCCUR AND THAT IS ACTUALLY HOW CLEAVER GETS BACK INTO THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE THERE'S LONG BEEN THE PLAN TO EXTEND THE BUS SYSTEM ACROSS THE STATE LINE FROM KANSAS CITY KANSAS MAKE IT A CONNECTION INTO KCMO THIS COULD ACTUALLY POTENTIALLY HELP THAT DAVE HELLING THE MAYOR WAS ON THIS PROGRAM JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO AND SAID YOU KNOW HE WAS HE WOULD SUPPORT A DOWNTOWN BALLPARK BUT HE WANTED TO SEE A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT THAT WE COULD HAVE OTHER METROPOLITAN WIDE AREAS AND COUNTIES GETTING ENGAGED IN FUNDING THAT BUT WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE THAT HE'S BEEN REACHING OUT TO SAY THE HEAD OF JOHNSON COUNTY GOVERNMENT THE MAYOR OF OVERLAND PARK WYANDOTTE COUNTY OFFICIALS TO GET THEIR BUY-IN TO HAVE A BI-STATE VOTE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN WELL WELL THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF THAT NICK IN FACT THE CONTRARY IS CLEAR IF YOU WENT TO THE VOTERS THIS YEAR OR NEXT THEN YOU WOULD BY NECESSITY EXCLUDE A BI-STATE TAX BECAUSE BI-STATE TAXES CAN ONLY BE CONSIDERED IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS THAT WOULD PUT IT IN 2024.

SO JOHNSON COUNTY WOULD BE OFF THE HOOK WYANDOTTE COUNTY OTHER COMMUNITIES AND I AM TOLD THAT THE ROYALS ANYWAY HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE A JACKSON COUNTY EFFORT ONLY JUST LIKE IT WAS IN 2006.

AND IF THAT HAPPENS NICK YOU ARE GOING TO FIND OPPOSITION TO A DOWNTOWN STADIUM FROM THE PEOPLE IN LEE'S SUMMIT AND INDEPENDENCE AND GRANDVIEW WHO HAVE A SHORT COMMUTE TO THE STADIUMS NOW BUT WOULD HAVE TO COME ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN IF THE ROYALS MOVE NOT TO MENTION WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CHIEFS THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARILY COMPLICATED MATTER THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE IT IN THE NEXT 60 DAYS THE ROYALS HAVE TO BE WINNING WE GOT TO BE WINNING WILL BUY INTO IT IF THEY'RE WINNING WELL THE ONLY OTHER THING TOO IS I WOULD WANT SOME OF THIS CONVERSATION TO BE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE STADIUM SITES NOW NO ONE WANTS TO SEE A BLANK SPACE OUT THERE WITHOUT ANY SORT OF REDEVELOPMENT FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE NOW NEAR THE STADIUM IS THERE ANY PROPOSAL FOR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO WHERE THE KAUFFMAN STADIUM IS NOW I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY DAVE WELL WELL I THINK THE IDEA NICK AT LEAST ONE OF THE IDEAS UNDER DISCUSSION IS THAT THE ROYALS WOULD LEAVE MOVE DOWNTOWN AND THE CHIEFS THEN WOULD HAVE THE ENTIRE TRUMAN SPORTS COMPLEX TO EITHER BUILD NEW ON THE EXISTING FOOTPRINT OF KAUFMAN OR TO TEAR DOWN KAUFMAN USE IT FOR OTHER AMENITIES OR OTHER EVENTS THAT THE CHIEFS COULD USE AND STAY AT ARROWHEAD SO THOSE IDEAS ARE ON THE TABLE NOW MARY'S EXACTLY RIGHT WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENS TO THE COMPLEX IS YET ANOTHER PIECE OF THIS VERY COMPLICATED PUZZLE THAT AGAIN WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT IN THE NEXT 90 DAYS AFTER MONTHS OF OUTRAGE PROTESTS AND LAWSUITS THE KANSAS SUPREME COURT WEIGHS IN THIS WEEK ON A NEW KANSAS CONGRESSIONAL MAP DID IT UNFAIRLY TARGET THE SOLD DEMOCRAT IN THE KANSAS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION DID IT UNLAWFULLY DILUTE THE MINORITY VOTE BY SLICING IN HALF WYANDOTTE COUNTY APPARENTLY NOT THE JUSTICES RULING THE MAP PASSED BY LAWMAKERS IS CONSTITUTIONAL SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN WAS THIS THE FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN FOR SHARICE DAVID'S PETE MUNDO I THINK IT WAS I MEAN IT WAS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR HER TO WIN REELECTION IF YOU KNOW THE OLD MAP WHICH COULD NEVER HAVE STAYED IN PLACE HAD STAYED IN PLACE RIGHT ALL WYANDOTTE ALL OF JOHNSON AND PART OF MIAMI BUT NOW YOU GET HER INTO A DISTRICT THAT BY THE WAY SHE WOULD HAVE WON BASED ON THE NUMBERS IN 2020 THAT WAS NOTED WHEN THIS MAP FIRST CAME OUT BUT YOU LOOK AT UH HOW THESE SWING DISTRICTS ARE TRENDING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SHE'S IN ONE RIGHT NOW WE ALL KNOW THAT UH IT IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR HER TO WIN RE-ELECTION ESPECIALLY WITHOUT ANY REAL ANSWERS ON INFLATION I THOUGHT YOU KNOW DAVE ASTRON ON HIS SHOW FOUR STAR A PRETTY SIMPLE QUESTION A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO IF THIS INFLATION DOES NOT EASE UP DON'T YOU SEE THIS BEING A PROBLEM FOR YOU AND I WAS STUNNED THERE WAS NO ANSWER THERE IT'S IT'S LIKE IT HADN'T EVEN CROSSED HER MIND UM AND AND THE VOTERS ARE FEELING IT WE'RE OVER FOUR DOLLARS A GALLON ACROSS THE METRO ON AVERAGE AND AND THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE DISTRICT WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE WAS GOING TO MAKE HER AND GIVE HER A VERY VERY SIGNIFICANT UPHILL CLIMB COULD REPUBLICAN OVERREACH THOUGH UM MARY ON ISSUES LIKE ABORTION BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY GIVE HER AN OPPORTUNITY TO SALVAGE THIS SEAT WELL I MEAN ALL THE POLITICAL EXPERTS ARE SAYING THAT IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A TOSS-UP UM THAN WHAT MIGHT BE FIRST IMPLICATED OF JUST CHANGING THE BOUNDARIES SHE'S FAIRLY WELL-LIKED AND NO ONE HAS THE ANSWERS TO INFLATION AND FRANKLY A LOT OF THE THINGS PEOPLE WHO CLAIM THAT THEY DO DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT HALF THE TIME WHAT ARE THE OTHER IMPLICATIONS OF THE SUPREME COURT RULING IN KANSAS THIS WEEK ON THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP DAVE WELL I THINK THE MORE INTERESTING THING THAN THE THIRD DISTRICT TO ME NICK HAS ALWAYS BEEN PUTTING LAWRENCE IN THE FIRST DISTRICT THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING THE FIRST DISTRICT IN KANSAS THE BIG FIRST STRETCHES ALL THE WAY TO THE COLORADO BORDER FROM NEBRASKA TO OKLAHOMA ON THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE AND NOW LAWRENCE WHICH IS ARGUABLY THE MOST LIBERAL CITY IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF KANSAS IS NOW PART OF THAT DISTRICT AND THAT'S GOT TO BE VERY FRUSTRATING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THAT COMMUNITY AND WAS BEHIND BY THE WAY THE THE LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE DISTRICTS LET ME JUST WEIGH IN QUICKLY ON SHARICE DAVIDS I THINK SHE DOES HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN NICK IN PART BECAUSE SHE IS JUST NOT VERY GOOD IN FORUMS LIKE THE ONE WE HAD ON FOUR-STAR POLITICS SHE JUST DOESN'T HAVE THAT SORT OF PATTERN THAT MOST POLITICIANS HAVE ON THE OTHER HAND A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THAT AND SHE DID WIN BY 10 POINTS AGAINST AMANDA ADKINS HER LIKELY OPPONENT IN 2020 BUT SHE WON THEN WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS STILL IN THE WHITE HOUSE THOUGH SHE DOESN'T HAVE THAT THIS TIME AROUND CORRECT CORRECT CORRECT ALL OF THAT IS VERY TRUE SO APPLES TO APPLES IS VERY DIFFICULT BUT BUT SHE IS NOT A GONER I MEAN PEOPLE THINK OH WELL SHE THIS NEW MAP SHE HAS NO CHANCE THAT'S NOT TRUE BUT IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH MUCH MORE DIFFICULT BUT I WAS REALLY KIND OF SURPRISED BY THE KANSAS SUPREME COURT RULING AND I THINK WHAT THEY DID AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WOULD TALK ABOUT IS BEING DONE IS HOW IT DELUDED THE FOLK THEY TOOK WYANDOTTE COUNTY AND CUT IT UP VERSUS CUTTING UP JOHNSON COUNTY WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THIS WAS A MAJOR POLITICAL DECISION ON THE PART OF THE SUPREME COURT NOT ABOUT THE LAW OF MARY BUT AREN'T A MAJORITY OF THE JUSTICES ON THE KANSAS SUPREME COURT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR APPOINTEES I MEAN FRANKLY I THINK THOUGH WE NEED INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONS UM RIGHT THAT WOULD SOLVE THIS BECAUSE ANYONE WHO SAYS WELL THE OTHER SIDE DOES IT TOO DEMOCRATS DO IT TOO THAT'S JUST MAKING THE POINT OF WE ARE SO HYPER PARTISAN NOW THAT THESE THINGS ARE NOT BEING DECIDED ALONG WHAT IS GOOD WHAT IS VOTING RIGHTS FOR EVERYONE WHAT IS FAIRNESS WELL MEANWHILE IN MISSOURI A NEWLY APPROVED CONGRESSIONAL MAP IS SIGNED INTO LAW THIS WEEK BY GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON IT WAS ONE OF THE LAST ACTS OF MISSOURI LAWMAKERS BEFORE WRAPPING UP THEIR BUSINESS FOR THE YEAR IT WASN'T PRETTY THE JOB IS OVER WE GOT IT DONE WE UNNECESSARILY ARE GOING TO BE SENDING ANOTHER ANOTHER DEMOCRAT MEMBER TO CONGRESS HE'S TALKING ABOUT KANSAS CITY CONGRESSMAN EMMANUEL CLEAVER MEMBERS OF THE CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS IN THE SENATE HAD SPENT MONTHS TRYING TO CARVE UP CLEAVER'S DISTRICT TO CREATE ONE MORE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL SEAT IN MISSOURI KANSAS LAWMAKERS DIDN'T THINK TWICE ABOUT DOING THAT WHY ULTIMATELY PETE WERE MISSOURI REPUBLICANS RELUCTANT TO DO SO WELL THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN THAT IF YOU GO 7-1 IT COULD IN A BAD CYCLE AS THINGS OFTEN TIMES TEND TO DO NOT GO IN FAVOR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN SOME OF THESE DISTRICTS AND IT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FAR MORE OF A OF A CARVE UP THAN SAY WHAT HAPPENED IN KANSAS WHERE AS I NOTED EARLIER HE STILL GAVE US CHERISE DAVID'S A DISTRICT THAT SHE WOULD HAVE THEORETICALLY WON IN 2020.

AND UH YOU KNOW NO ONE'S HAPPY NO ONE'S COMPLETELY SATISFIED BUT I THINK THEY REALIZED THEY HAD TO GET THIS THING DONE BECAUSE IT DRAGGED ON WAY TOO LONG THERE WAS FAR TOO MUCH INFIGHTING AMONGST REPUBLICANS AND THEY LEFT A LOT OF UH STUFF ON THE TABLE BECAUSE OF THAT AS A RESULT AND EMANUEL CLEAVER ERIC WESSON KEEPS MOST OF HIS DISTRICT BUT HE DOES LOSE A BIG PART OF UM JACKSON COUNTY AND SO WE AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME VOTERS NOW IN KANSAS CITY BASED ON THIS MAP WHO ARE NOW GOING TO BE IN A DISTRICT THAT STRETCHES TO THE ILLINOIS BORDER VERY MUCH THE SAME KIND OF SITUATION AS UH DAVE HELLING WAS TALKING ABOUT IN LAWRENCE HERE UH WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THAT CHANGE THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR HIM BECAUSE NOW HE DOESN'T HAVE TO SPREAD HIS CAMPAIGN OUT AS FAR AND IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT WHICH IS VICKI HARTZLER'S SEAT WE HAD SOME CANDIDATES EVEN DROP OUT OF THAT RACE BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER EVEN IN THE DISTRICT THEY WERE RUNNING FOR DAVE THAT'S RIGHT SARAH WALSH WHO HAD CONNECTIONS TO HARTZLER DECIDED THIS WEEK THAT SHE WOULD ABANDON HER CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE VICKI HARTZLER IN THE IN THE CONGRESS IN THE U.S HOUSE NOW LET'S PAUSE HERE JUST BRIEFLY NICK TO NOTE THE WEIRDNESS THOUGH OF WHAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT THE FIFTH DISTRICT WHICH SPLITS JACKSON COUNTY INTO IT PUTS THE EASTERN HALF OF JACKSON COUNTY IN SAM GRAVES DISTRICT WHICH STRETCHES AS YOU KNOW TO THE BORDER BUT PUTS PART OF THE NORTHLAND WHICH USED TO BE WITH GRAVES INTO THE CLEAVER DISTRICT IT JUST SHOWS YOU HOW ARBITRARY THESE DECISIONS CAN BE AND ARE WHEN THEY REDISTRICT HOW POLITICAL THE PROCESS IS AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IS BEHIND WHAT THE KANSAS SUPREME COURT SAID WHICH IS THIS IS INHERENTLY POLITICAL IT ALWAYS GETS CRAZY AT THE END IT DID IN MISSOURI AND KANSAS AND THE U.S SUPREME COURT FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE HAS SAID REPEATEDLY KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF THIS THIS IS A POLITICAL DECISION NOW THE FINAL ACT OF MISSOURI LAWMAKERS BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY HEADED FOR HOME WAS TO DEMAND THAT KANSAS CITY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IT SPENDS ON ITS POLICE IT WAS A LAST MINUTE MOVE THAT EVEN CAUGHT MAY QUENTIN LUCAS OFF GUARD WOULD TURN OVER TO MAYOR LUCAS THANK YOU SO MUCH THANK YOU SO MUCH AND IT'S AN HONOR TO BE WITH YO U ALL TODAY LUCAS WAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE WHEN MISSOURI LAWMAKERS PASSED A MEASURE REQUIRING THAT THE CITY DEDICATE 25 OF ITS FUNDING TO THE KCPD UP FROM THE 20 REQUIRED NOW WITH EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON IN JEFFERSON CITY THIS YEAR THEN PETE WHY WAS THAT SO IMPORTANT TO LAWMAKERS TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENED JUST AT THAT LAST MOMENT IN THE LEGISLATURE WELL I DO BELIEVE THAT UH POLITICS PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS OF COURSE TONY LUKE DEMIRE ONE OF OUR LOCAL STATE SENATORS SPEARHEADED THIS UM AND HE GOT THIS THING HELPED GET THIS THING ACROSS THE FINISH LINE ON THE LAST DAY WHICH WAS A SURPRISE TO MANY OF US I THOUGHT THE THING WAS DEAD AS OF MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AND THEN IT KIND OF MAKES THIS COMEBACK AND ALSO YOU KNOW THERE WAS A LOT OF LOBBYING GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES FROM THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT FOLKS AND THEY GOT THIS THING DONE AND UM YOU KNOW YOU JUST THINK ABOUT THE LAST YEAR THOUGH FOR MAYOR LUCAS SINCE THAT 42 MILLION DOLLAR DIVERSION OF FUNDS UH HE LOST IN COURT AND AND YOU KNOW YOU THINK ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH UH RESIDENCY AND NOW THIS I THIS THAT DECISION APPEARS TO HAVE BACKFIRED ON HIM IN A MAJOR WAY A COUPLE OF THINGS TO NOTE UH QUICKLY NICK UH THE 25 THRESHOLD HAS ALREADY BEEN MET BY THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY THEY SPEND MORE THAN 25 OF THE BUDGET HOWEVER YOU FIGURE THIS ON THE POLICE IN FACT THERE COULD BE AN ACTUAL REDUCTION IN POLICE FUNDING GOING FORWARD BECAUSE I THINK IF THEY'RE AT 28 OR 29 NOW AND CUT BACK TO THE STATUTORY MINIMUM IT'S ACTUALLY A REDUCTION WE'LL SEE IF THAT HAPPENS GOING FORWARD IT DOES NEED STATEWIDE APPROVAL BECAUSE THE BILL AS IT PASSED VIOLATES THE HANCOCK AMENDMENT WHICH REQUIRES THE STATE TO PAY FOR ANY INITIATIVES THAT THEY IMPOSE ON CITIES OR COUNTIES SO IT DOES HAVE TO GO TO A STATEWIDE VOTE IT WAS HIGHLY POLITICAL HIGHLY POLITICAL IT WAS MEANT TO EMBARRASS AND HUMILIATE KANSAS CITY AND IT ACCOMPLISHED THAT GOAL WITH ANOTHER WAVE OF ABORTION PROTESTS IN KANSAS CITY THIS WEEK JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR GENE PETERS BAKER IS MAKING NEWS SHE SAYS IF THE SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS ROE VERSUS WADE SHE WILL NOT PROSECUTE ANY ABORTION CASES EITHER BROUGHT AGAINST DOCTORS OR WOMEN WHEN MISSOURI LAWMAKERS PASSED A BILL SAYING NO LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS COULD ENFORCE FEDERAL GUN LAWS OR WORK WITH FEDERAL AGENTS ON FIREARM CASES THEY WERE ROUNDLY CONDEMNED SO WHAT MAKES BAKER'S POSITION ANY DIFFERENT MARY WELL IT REALLY DOESN'T I MEAN THERE'S PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION THAT IS USED ALL THE TIME WHEN THEY DECIDE WHICH CASES TO FOCUS ON HERE IN KANSAS CITY YOU KNOW THE JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR HAS SAID REPEATEDLY THAT WHAT SHE WANTS TO FOCUS IN ON IS VIOLENT CRIME CAN A LOCAL PROSECUTOR THEN JUST DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO ENFORCE AND WHAT THEY DON'T WANT TO ERIC YES THEY HAVE BROAD RANGE OF DISCRETION ON WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND HOW THEY WANT TO DO IT SO YEAH SHE CAN DECIDE ON WHETHER OR NOT SHE WANTS TO PROSECUTE THE CASE OR NOT ABSOLUTELY WELL IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT ACROSS THE STATE THOUGH WITH DIFFERENT PROSECUTORS IF WE END UP GETTING A SYSTEM WHERE SOME PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GO AFTER DOCTORS ONCE IF ROE V WADE IS TURNED OVER AND IF SOMEONE YOU HAVE ONE COUNTY PROSECUTOR THAT'S TRYING TO GO AFTER EITHER DOCTORS OR SOMEONE WHO SAY DROVE A WOMAN TO A CLINIC OR YOU KNOW IT'LL BE FASCINATING TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT THERE ARE INDICATIONS NICK AND I'VE BEEN READY TO BELIEVE LED TO BELIEVE THAT MISSOURI STATUTES WOULD ALLOW THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PROSECUTE ABORTION CASES IN JACKSON COUNTY IF GENE PETERS BAKER OR ANY PROSECUTOR DECLINES TO PROSECUTE THEM WITH THERE BEING NO ABORTION CLINICS THOUGH IN JACKSON COUNTY MARY IS THIS REALLY JUST A SYMBOLIC MOVE THE ONLY ABORTION CLINIC THAT IS IN MISSOURI IS IN SAINT LOUIS SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S SOME OPTIONS IN KANSAS WHERE PEOPLE I THINK YOU KNOW DO CROSS THE STATE LINE BUT SO MUCH OF THE BOTTOM LINE CONVERSATION ISN'T HAD WHAT WILL BE THE REAL IMPACT WHO IS GOING TO STILL BE ABLE TO FIND CARE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE FINANCES TO DO SO AND WHO CAN'T DO WE EVEN HAVE A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT CAN MANAGE MORE BIRTHS THAT'S EVEN COME UP IN CONVERSATIONS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY SAY NO WE ACTUALLY DON'T IN OT HER NEWS THIS WEEK KANSAS LAWMAKERS HEAD BACK TO TOPEKA ON MONDAY TO WRAP UP THEIR SESSION MISSOURI LAWMAKERS AS WE'VE MENTIONED ARE NOW COMPLETELY DONE GETTING LESS ATTENTION IN MISSOURI IS A BIG CHANGE TO ELECTIONS WE GUTTED ELECTIONS IN MISSOURI YESTERDAY MOST CERTAINLY DID EXACTLY THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT ELECTION FRAUD BUT THE FACT IS WHAT THEY'RE REALLY DOING IS TRYING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR FOLKS TO VOTE IN THE LAST MOMENTS OF THE LEGISLATURE LAWMAKERS PASSED A BILL ABOLISHING TOUCH SCREEN VOTING MACHINES IT'S BACK TO OLD SCHOOL PAPER BALLOTS ALSO GONE ARE BALLOT DROP BOXES AND YOU WILL HAVE TO SHOW A PHOTO ID TO CAST YOUR VOTE STARTING IN 2024 IS THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES WE'LL NOTICE ERIC WESTON AS A RESULT OF THIS SESSION IN MISSOURI NO ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES I FOUND WAS NOW THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE CAN PURGE THE VOTING ROLLS AT HIS OR HER OWN DISCRETION WHICH REMINDS US OF GEORGIA WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE UH PURGED 500 000 VOTERS OFF THE ROLLS UH IN ONE DAY SO THAT WAS THE THING THAT I THOUGHT WAS THE MOST STARTLING IS GIVING SECRETARIES OF STATE THAT MUCH POWER WAS THE ELECTION CHANGES THE BIGGEST CHANGE IN MISSOURI THIS SESSION DAVE OR WAS THERE SOMETHING ELSE WELL IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DECISIONS THE LEGISLATURE MADE OTHER THAN THE BUDGET OF COURSE AND THEY DID SOME THINGS NICK LIKE TO ADD TO TEACHERS SALARIES THEY FULLY FUNDED MEDICAID EXPANSION WHICH THERE WAS SOME QUESTION ABOUT THEY DID NOT REPEAL INITIATIVE RIGHTS THEY DIDN'T PASS A PARENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS THEY DIDN'T DO TRANSGENDER ATHLETES THEY DIDN'T DO GAMBLING UH THEY DIDN'T DO CRITICAL RACE THEORY SO THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THEY DIDN'T DO THIS WAS ONE OF THE BIGGER THINGS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH AS I THINK WE ALL KNOW MISSOURI AND KANSAS ARE JUST HOTBEDS OF ELECTION FRAUD AND THERE WAS AN ABSOLUTE NEED FOR BOTH STATES TO DO THIS I'M BEING SARCASTIC OF COURSE BECAUSE THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF FRAUD IN EITHER STATES THIS IS PURELY POLITICAL ON THE ON THE BEHALF OF BOTH LEGISLATURES UH AND THE MISSOURI BILL WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE CHALLENGED IN COURT WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHANGE IN MISSOURI FOR YOU UH MARY SANCHEZ WE CAN'T ALL CONCENTRATE OF COURSE ON EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING AT OUR STATE HOUSES ON BOTH SIDES OF STATE LINE BUT UH WHAT WAS WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHANGE WELL FOR ME HONESTLY IT'S WHAT THEY DIDN'T DO IT'S UM FOR ALL THAT CONVERSATION ALL THAT THROWING THEIR HANDS UP IN THE AIR ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY ON TRANSGENDER YOU KNOW CHILDREN ON YOU KNOW TRYING TO SAVE WOMEN SPORTS AND I'M SORRY I WAS A HI GH SCHOOL ATHLETE THEY DON'T NEED SAVING UM I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED THAT THEY FINALLY LET THAT GO THAT IS INTERESTING YOU KNOW CRITICAL RACE THEORY TRANSGENDER SPORTS ON THE KANSAS SIDE NOTHING HAPPENED ON THAT EITHER PETE YOU KNOW YES THEY PASSED SPORTS BETTING YES THEY ELIMINATED THE FOOD SALES TAX OVER TIME UH BUT WHY IF THAT WAS SUCH A HUGE ISSUE FOR THESE REPUBLICAN-LED LEGISLATURES IN BOTH STATES WHY WASN'T THERE ANY ACTION FOR INSTANCE ON THE TRANSGENDER SPORTS YOU KNOW IT'S INTERESTING IN KANSAS THERE WERE SOME KEY UM HOUSE MEMBERS AND SENATORS OUT IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE BELIEVE IT OR NOT THAT WERE NOT REALLY ON BOARD WITH IT UM JUST KIND OF STRANGE YOU WOULD THINK BASED ON THE POLITICAL MAKEUP SO THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTES TO TO GET IT DONE YOU KNOW SOME MORE MODERATES AS WELL MAYBE NOT AS UH AS INTERESTED IN GOING DOWN THAT ROAD AND MAYBE HAVING THAT VOTE ON THEIR RECORD COME REELECTION TIME SO I I MEAN IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT UH MAKES FOR GOOD FODDER I THINK TO MANY IT IS IMPORTANT AS WELL TO PROTECT WOMEN'S SPORTS UH AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MEN BUT IN MISSOURI THEY WERE TOO BUSY INFIGHTING AND IT JUST DIDN'T GET DONE THERE 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 AN ALARMING NEW CRIME WAVE GRABS THE HEADLINES IN JOHNSON COUNTY A MAN SHOT TO DEATH IN A PUBLIC PARK TWO THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLDS AND FOUR FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLDS CHARGED WITH HIS MURDER AND TWO MEN SHOT TO DEATH IN A HYVEE PARKING LOT IN LAWRENCE MEMORIAL DAY COMES EARLY AS A REPLICA OF THE VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL IN WASHINGTON ARRIVES IN KANSAS CITY YOU CAN VISIT A DAY OR NIGHT ON THE SOUTH LAWN OF THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR ONE MUSEUM UNION STATION POSTPONING ITS LATEST BIG EXHIBIT AFTER RED TAPE BLOCKS MORE THAN 300 ANCIENT ARTIFACTS FROM BEING SHIPPED HERE FROM GUATEMALA IT'S PART OF A NEW EXHIBIT ON THE MAYAN CULTURE IT WILL NOW OPEN IN MID-JULY OVERLAND PARK POLICE PUTTING FOUR OFFICERS ON LEAVE AMID A PROBE INTO MISUSED FUNDS AN HISTORIC SWEARING-IN ROBIN RANSOM OFFICIALLY TAKING HER SEAT AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN ON THE MISSOURI SUPREME COURT PAINFUL LOSSES PROMPTING A BIG SHAKE UP THE ROYALS FIRING ITS HITTING COACH AND KICKOFF THIS WEEK FOR THAT NEW STUDY ON AN EAST-WEST STREETCAR LINE IT WOULD TAKE RIDERS FROM KU HOSPITAL THROUGH TO THE TRUMAN SPORTS COMPLEX MARY DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THE STORY OF THE SHOOTING DEATH OF THE 19 YEAR OLD IN OLATHE IN THE PARK THE IDEA OF HAVING MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ARRESTED AND CHARGED AS ADULTS THE IDEA OF THAT A GROUP OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WERE INVOLVED IN SHOOTING AND KILLING SOMEONE THAT OUGHT TO JUST CAUSE EVERYONE'S YOU KNOW HEADS TO SPIN AROUND BUT IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY OVER A BAG OF POT ERIC UH INTERIM CHIEF MAYBE AND WHAT'S THE PLAN GOT A LOT OF VIOLENCE GOING ON UNDER YOUR WATCH ALREADY WHAT'S THE PLAN WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING ABOUT THE HOMICIDES PETE GO TO LEE'S SUMMIT WEST A LOT OF CONTROVERSY OUT THERE WITH A GROUP TRYING TO START A CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATION SOME PROTESTS TOOK PLACE AND SOME THINGS WENT HAYWIRE THERE'S SOME SCHOOL BO ARD MEETINGS THIS WEEK THAT'LL BE FOLLOWING THAT KEEPING TABS ON THAT BUT UH CERTAINLY A STORY THAT'S PICKED UP STEAM HERE LOCALLY HAS GOTTEN SOME NATIONAL ATTENTION AS WELL AND IS JUST WORTH FOLLOWING DAVE THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE IN ITS FINAL HOURS DID APPROVE EXTRA STATE SUPPORT FOR THE WORLD CUP BID IN KANSAS CITY PROVIDING EXTRA MONEY FOR TO BRING INTERNATIONAL SOCCER HERE I'M TOLD THAT THAT BILL ALMOST FAILED BECAUSE IT GOT TANGLED UP IN RESIDENCY FOR KANSAS CITY POLICE AND WHEN THAT ENTANGLING HAPPENED THERE WAS A THREAT TO KILL THE WORLD CUP MONEY IF POLICE OFFICERS WERE NOT ALLOWED TO LIVE IN KANSAS IT ALL GOT SORTED OUT AND BY THE WAY THAT WORLD CUP BID FINAL DECISION COMING IN JUNE APPARENTLY AND ON THAT WE WILL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED THANKS TO MARY SANCHEZ FROM OUR DIGITAL NEWSROOM FLATLAND KC FROM THE CALL NEWSPAPER ERIC WESSON FROM THE KANSAS CITY STAR DAVE HELLING AND SIX TO TEN WEEKDAYS ON KCMO TALK RADIO PETE MUNDO AND I'M NICK HAINES NEXT WEEK AS WE HEAD INTO A HOLIDAY WEEKEND IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK AROUND HERE AS WE GET READY TO BRING YOU THE BANK OF AMERICA CELEBRATION AT THE STATION YES WITH CANNONS FIREWORKS AND THE KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY WILL BE TAKING A BREAK OVER THE HOLIDAY BUT DON'T WORRY WE'LL BE BACK BRIGHT-EYED BUSHY-TAILED AND REFRESHED READY TO PICK APART OUR METRO'S MOST IMPORTANT HAPPENINGS UNTIL THEN FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS BE WELL KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON