>>> IS THE PANDEMIC FINALLY OVER?

KANSAS JOINING JUST A HANDFUL OF STATES IN DROPPING ALL COVID EMERGENCY ORDERS.

ANOTHER SHOE DROPPING IN KANSAS CITY'S POLICE FUNDING DISPUTE FROM RESIGNATIONS TO A NEW COUNCIL RESOLUTION THAT SAYS OFFICERS SHOULD NO LONGER PRIORITIZE CATCHING CRIMINALS.

>> IF WE PREVENT CRIME, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CATCHING THE BAD PERSON.

>> OVERLAND PARK GETTING READY TO VOTE ON WHAT SOME ARE NOW CALLING LEXUS LANES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CHARGING TOLLS ON ONE OF THE CITY'S BUSIEST ROADWAYS?

>> LET THE PEOPLE VOTE FOR IT AND IF THEY SAY YES, GREAT, THEY DO IT, OR THEY SAY NO, WE'RE GOING TO LIVE WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

>> IT STRIKES ME KDOT'S ATTITUDE IS MORE OF AN IT'S MY WAY OR NO HIGHWAY.

>> THOSE STORIES AND THE REST OF THE WEEK'S BIG LOCAL HAPPENINGS STRAIGHT AHEAD ON WEEK IN REVIEW.

>> Announcer: WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF: 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.

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com >> HI, I'M NICK HAINES AND IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK.

AFTER BRINGING YOU THE CARPENTERS, THE BEEGEES AND ALL MANNER OF INSPIRATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT HELP IMPROVE YOUR BRAIN AND HEART HEALTH DURING OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I HOPE WE CAN IMPROVE YOUR HEART AND BRAIN HEALTH DURING THIS PROGRAM THIS WEEK AS WE TRACK THE MOST IMPACTFUL AND INSPIRING STORIES HAPPENING WHERE WE LIVE.

DON'T WORRY, THE KANSAS CITY STAR'S DAVE HELLING WON'T BE BELTING OUT A COUPLE OF BEEGEES TUNES DURING THE SHOW.

LISA RODRIGUEZ, NEWS DIRECTOR AT KCUR, IS PROBABLY WONDERING WHO ARE THE BEEGEES?

ALSO AROUND THE COZY CONFINES OF OUR VIRTUAL TABLE THIS WEEK, MICHEAL MAHONEY, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER AT KMBC 9 NEWS, AND ERIC WESSON, EDITOR OF THE CALL NEWSPAPER.

I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE ON THIS PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE A VIEWER IN KANSAS CALLED FRANK WHO REGULARLY EMAILS ME TO COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW MANY MINUTES WE SPEND ON THE PROGRAM TALKING ABOUT MISSOURI SIDE ISSUES AND HOW MANY MINUTES WE TALK ABOUT KANSAS.

SO FRANK, I AM GOING TO START WITH A KANSAS SIDE ISSUE.

CAN WE SAY THIS IS THE WEEK THAT THE PANDEMIC IS FINALLY OVER, AT LEAST IN KANSAS?

AFTER 15 MONTHS, ALL PANDEMIC EMERGENCY ORDERS IN THE STATE OFFICIALLY EXPIRED THIS WEEK.

GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY WANTED TO EXTEND THOSE EMERGENCY POWERS THROUGH THE END OF THE SUMMER, BUT SHE WAS OVERRULED THIS WEEK BY THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE PANEL THAT MAKES DECISIONS FOR LAWMAKERS WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN SESSION.

DAVE HELLING, IT SOUNDS LIKE A DRAMATIC MOVE, BUT WITH RESTAURANTS PACKED AND VERY FEW PEOPLE EVEN WEARING MASKS ANYMORE IN STORES AND OTHER PLACES, COULDN'T YOU ALREADY BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING THAT COVID IS ALREADY HISTORY IN THE STATE, SO WHAT DOES THIS DECISION REALLY MEAN?

>> WELL, IT SHOWS THE POLITICS OF THE COVID EMERGENCY HAVE SPOT GONE AWAY.

BY THE WAY, I STARTED A JOERK IT STARTED THE -- A JOE, IT STARTED THE WHOLE WORLD LAUGHING.

THAT'S MY BEE GEES CONTRIBUTION.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> THE REJALT IS, ANYONE WHO'S VENTURED OUTSIDE OF HIS OR HER FRONT DOOR IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS UNDERSTANDS THIS, NO ONE SEEMS WORRIED ABOUT COVID AT ALL ANYMORE.

THAT'S A COMBINATION OF VACCINATIONS AND OTHER STEPS PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN, SO AS A POLITICAL MATTER, EXTENDING THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION IN AN AGGRESSIVE WAY WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BE PROBLEMATIC.

PEOPLE ARE JUST TIRED OF IT.

IT'S THE SUMMER, THEY WANT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT THERE WAS ALSO A MESSAGE INVOLVED IN THE KANSAS STORY, NICK, BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T EVEN CONVENE A MEETING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST FOR A LIMITED EXTENSION OF COVID EMERGENCY BECAUSE THEY'VE JUST GROWN TIRED OF HER APPROACH TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> BUT LISA, IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE EMERGENCY ORDERS DID, ONE OF THEM, FOR INSTANCE, WAS ALLOW THE GOVERNOR TO BRING OUT THE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP ADMINISTER AND IMPLEMENT THOSE BIG VACCINATION CLINICS, BUT RIGHT NOW, THE STATE OF KANSAS IS EVEN TURNING AWAY VACCINES BECAUSE SO FEW PEOPLE WANT IT.

IS THERE ANY PRACTICAL DIFFERENCE THAT THIS MAKES?

>> I THINK FOR MOST OF US, WE PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO TELL FOR MOST KANSANS THAT AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION HAS ENDED.

REALLY WHAT IT DOES IS COMPLICATE LOGISTICS.

THE NATIONAL GUARD WAS HELPING WITH A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION OF SUPPLIES AND VACCINES AND NOW THAT WILL HAVE TO BE HANDED OVER TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

SOMETHING TO WATCH, THOUGH, AND SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAD SAID WAS THAT ENDING THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION COULD POTENTIALLY MEAN THAT UP TO 65,000 HOUSEHOLDS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP BENEFITS.

THOSE ARE FOOD STAMPS.

SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING TO WATCH GOING FORWARD AS WELL TO SEE HOW THAT -- IF THAT HAS ACTUALLY ANY PRACTICAL EFFECT IN KANSAS.

>> JUST BEFORE WE HEADED INTO OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE, A DECISION BY THE MAYOR TO PULL MORE THAN $42 MILLION FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET TOPPED OUR SHOW.

THERE WERE ACCUSATIONS HE WAS DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

HE CLAIMS HE'S JUST HOLDING THE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT GUESS WHAT?

AFTER WEEKS OF ACCUSATIONS, LAWSUITS AND THREATS, THE ISSUE IS STILL UNSETTLED AND IT'S STILL CAUSING ANGER AND RESENTMENT.

NOW THIS WEEK ONE OF THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE POLICE BOARD THAT FILED A SUIT AGAINST THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO HALT THE CASH GRAB HAS NOW RESIGNED, AND THE CITY COUNCIL IS DRAWING IRE FOR A NEW RESOLUTION THAT CALLS ON POLICE TO PRIORITIZE PREVENTING CRIME RATHER THAN CATCHING CRIMINALS.

>> AND SO IF WE PREVENT CRIME, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CATCHING THE BAD PERSON.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE REALLY FOCUSING ON IS FOCUSING ON PREVENTION.

>> THAT'S CITY COUNCILWOMAN MELISSA ROBINSON.

LOTS TO UNPACK HERE, ERIC WESSON, BUT I'M ALREADY GETTING A LOT OF EMAILS FROM VIEWERS SAYING THIS HAS TO STOP.

I DON'T THINK MANY FOLKS SEEM TO BELIEVE ON THE COUNCIL WHAT THE JOB OF POLICE IS, AND THAT IS TO CATCH CRIMINALS, ISN'T IT?

>> YES, BUT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, AND I THINK COUNCILWOMAN ROBIN'S POINT IS THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP PREVENT CRIME AS WELL.

AND EVEN GOING BACK TO THE DEMONSTRATIONS DURING THE GEORGE FLOYD MURDER, IT'S LIKE POLICE HAVE JUST GOTTEN HANDS OFF.

IT'S LIKE, LET THEM POLICE THEMSELVES.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE DIRECTIONS THAT SHE WAS GOING.

>> MICHEAL.

>> I'VE HEARD THE SAME THING THAT YOU HAVE.

AFTER WE DID THAT STORY, PEOPLE ARE GOING, WHAT?

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO CATCH THE BAD GUYS, BUT THERE'S AN ELEMENT OF POLICING THAT IS PREVENTATIVE AND IS TRYING TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY, AND I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES THAT SIMPLY LOCKING UP THE BAD GUYS IS NOT THE WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS IN A LONG-TERM FASHION.

>> YOU WERE ON THE PROGRAM, LISA RODRIGUEZ, LAST PROGRAM WE DID BEFORE OUR MEMBERSHIP DRIVE WHEN THIS FIRST SORT OF BLEW UP AND AT THAT TIME I ASKED YOU, WE TALK ABOUT THIS $42 MILLION AND IT WAS GOING TO GO INTO COMMUNITY-RELATED SERVICES.

WE DIDN'T KNOW AT THAT POINT IN TIME WHAT IT WAS GOING TO BE SPENT ON.

ARE WE ANY THE WISER THREE WEEKS LATER AS TO WHERE THE MONEY IS INTERESTING TO BE SPENT?

>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY MORE SPECIFICS THAN WE HAD THREE WEEKS AGO AND WHETHER THAT'S DUE TO ALL THIS BEING TANGLED UP IN A LAWSUIT AND NOT WANTING TO PLAN UNTIL YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SEE THIS PLAN THROUGH, BUT WE DON'T KNOW YET.

ALL WE KNOW ARE THE BROADER THINGS THAT MICHEAL SPOKE ABOUT, CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS, COMMUNITY POLICINGINGS MENTAL HEALTH, THE BROAD TOPICS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT WE'RE STILL SHORT ON SPECIFICSES.

>> WE HAD ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS RESIGN THIS WEEK, DAVE HELLING, ONE OF FIVE MEMBERS THERE, NATHAN GARRETT.

WHY HE DID DID HE RESIGN AND WHAT DIFFERENCE DID THIS MAKE ON THIS ISSUE?

>> HE LEFT AS ONE OF THE MEMBERS -- HE SAID BECAUSE HE'S MOVING OUT OF KANSAS CITY AND SO IS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE.

NOW, IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT IS A VERY FEW REPORTS DID, THAT HIS TERM EXPIRED BACK IN MARCH, SO HE NEEDED TO LEAVE ANYWAY UNLESS REAPPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

UNDER STATE LAW, HE COULD STAY UNTIL THE NEW APPOINTMENT IS MADE, BUT HIS TERM HAS EXPIRED.

THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING HERE.

WHO WILL GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON APPOINT TO REPLACE NATHAN GARRETT.

WILL HE CONSULT WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS OR WILL HE GO FOR SOMEONE NORTH OF THE RIVER?

THERE'S REAL AGITATION THAT SOMEONE ON THE BOARD SHOULD BE -- COME FROM NORTH OF THE MISSOURI RIVER, SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DECISION AND SHOULD BE MADE RELATIVELY QUICKLY, WE ASSUME IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY TO DETERMINE HOW THIS DISPUTE CONTINUES.

>> WHEN GOVERNOR PARSON APPOINTS SOMEONE, IT IS GOING TO BE SOMEBODY PHILOSOPHICALLY VERY CLOSE TO PARSON'S POINT OF VIEW ON THIS DISPUTE AND NATHAN GARRETT AND PARSON HAS ACTUALLY USED THE PHRASE THAT HE BELIEVES WHAT KANSAS CITY IS DOING IS DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

SO IT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT PERSON, BUT BY AND LARGE, IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME SILL LO -- PHILOSOPHICAL APPROACH.

>> I THINK THE POINT IS GOING TO COME WITH THE LAWSUIT THAT GRANT FILED ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS AND TAXPAYERS OF KANSAS CITY, AND I BELIEVE IF THAT LAWSUIT GETS PASSED THROUGH THE LINE, WHEN IT GETS INTO FEDERAL COURT, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME CONVERSATION AND I MEAN SOME VERY LEGAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT LOCAL CONTROL OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WHETHER OR NOT IT'S LEGAL FOR THEM TO MAINTAIN THAT CONTROL EVEN TODAY.

I THINK THAT LAWSUIT IS GOING TO OPEN A LOT OF DOORS.

THAT WAS VERY STRATEGIC, BUT I THINK THAT LAWSUIT WILL DETERMINE.

EQUAL PROTECTION IS IN THERE, TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION IS IN THERE.

>> DAVE HELLING, CAN I SAY THAT THE HEAD OF THE POLICE UNION IS ALREADY SAYING BECAUSE OF ALL OF THIS, IT IS HAVING A DISSPIRITING EFFECT ON OFFICERS.

THEY'RE ALREADY NOW LOOKING TO MOVE TO OTHER PLACES, GET OUT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ENTIRELY, BUT IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER THAT EVEN REMOVING THE 42 MILLION FOR A COMMUNITY FUND WOULD MEAN LESS OFFICERS IN KANSAS CITY THAN WE HAVE TODAY?

>> THERE WERE SPECIFIC LINE ITEMS CUT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET BY THE CITY COUNCIL IN THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION THAT AT LEAST SOME MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARGUED WOULD BE A REDUCTION IN FORCE OF 3- OR 400 OFFICERS.

THAT'S UNDER SOME DISPUTE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF CLAIRE CERTIFICATIONS THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT.

FIRST, GWEN GRANTS LAWSUIT WAS NOT A LAWSUIT.

IT WAS A MOTION TO INTERVENE IN THE EXISTING LAWSUIT BETWEEN THE BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS IN KANSAS CITY AND THAT'S IN STATE COURT AND AS ERIC POINTS OUT, SHE RAISED THE EQUAL PROTECTION ARGUMENT, BUT SHE ALSO RAISED A FASCINATING ARGUMENT THAT I WRITE ABOUT FOR THIS WEEKEND'S NEWSPAPER CONCERNING THE HANCOCK AMENDMENT IN MISSOURI WHICH PROHIBITS UNFUNDED STATE MANDATES, AND IF YOU FOLLOW THE LOGIC OF THE HANCOCK AMENDMENT, IT MAY BE ILLEGAL FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE THAN 20% OF THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THAT WAS IN PLACE WHEN THE HANCOCK AMENDMENT PASSED.

THAT'S A FASCINATING ARGUMENT.

IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER.

THAT WOULD NOT, WE BELIEVE, INTO TO FEDERAL COURT.

THAT WOULD STAY IN STATE COURT AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO KEEP OUR EYES ON.

>> SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME, NOT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE WRAP UP IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

>> BUT ONE OTHER POINT AND YOU ASKED ABOUT MOVESES LEAVING.

I -- ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS LEAVING.

I THINK IT'S MORE THAN JUST A BUDGET.

WE HAD A TOWN HALL MEETING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SAID WAS THE POLICE BUDGET HAS ENOUGH MONEY IN RESERVE TO PAY POLICE OFFICERS THROUGH 2022.

SO WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT THEY'RE LOSING OFFICERS, THEY'RE DOING THIS AND THAT, I WONDER IF THAT'S MORE POLITICS TO GET PUBLIC SUPPORT AND SYMPATHY THAN THE ACTUALITY OF WHAT MONEY THAT THEY HAVE ON HAND AND WHETHER OR NOT POLICE OFFICERS ARE LEAVING FOR THAT REASON.

>> IT WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST TIME THAT THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT THREATENED A CUTBACK OF COPS ON THE STREET BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY A BUDGET WAS GOING.

>> YOU HEAR ABOUT CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENTS BETWEEN RIVAL FACTIONS IN WAR-TORN COUNTRIES, BUT WHAT ABOUT HERE?

A GROUP OF KANSAS CITY MINISTERS AND ANTI-CRIME GROUPS ARE CALLING FOR A 21-DAY CEASE-FIRE TO PREVENT HOMICIDES, STARTING THIS WEEK.

>> 21 DAYS!

OF NO VIOLENCE.

NO HOMICIDES, NO KILLING IN KANSAS CITY.

THIS IS WHAT WE ARE CALLING FOR.

>> THE CALL FOR A CEASE-FIRE COMES AFTER A PARTICULARLY VIOLENT DAY IN KANSAS CITY WHERE THREE PEOPLE WERE SHOT DEAD IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN A ONE-HOUR TIME SPAN.

BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU BEG PEOPLE TO STOP, WILL THEY, LISA RODRIGUEZ?

>> SADLY AND UNFORTUNATELY, NO.

I THINK WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THE ASK FOR A CEASE-FIRE, KANSAS CITY SAW ANOTHER HOMICIDE.

I THINK THE EFFORTS OF THIS GROUP ARE MEANINGFUL AND NOTED AND GETTING OUT ON THE STREET AND KNOCKING ON DOORS AND REALLY JUST ASKING PEOPLE TO STOP THE VIOLENCE CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN REALLY TARGETED AREAS, BUT THE SAD FACT IS THAT WE NEED EFFORTS GREATER THAN THAT.

WE NEED INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT AND POLICIES THAT BACK THINGS LIKE THIS UP, AND IT'S JUST -- IT'S A DIFFICULT THING TO TALK ABOUT IN THIS HUGE PROBLEM.

>> I WAS AMAZED LOOKING AT POLICE DEPARTMENT STATISTICS, ERIC WESSON, ACTUALLY THE MURDERS, THOUGH OBVIOUSLY UNACCEPTABLE WHEN WE'RE HOVERING AROUND 70 MURDERS THIS YEAR, IS ACTUALLY SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE OVER 80 AT THIS POINT IN TIME LAST YEAR.

DOES THAT SAY THAT SOMETHING IS WORKING, WE ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT?

>> NO, THAT DOESN'T SAY THAT AT ALL.

I WANT JUST THAT BAD GUYS HAVEN'T STARTED KILLING AS MANY PEOPLE THIS EARLY IN THE YEAR AND WE STILL GOT THE SUMMER TO GO THROUGH.

BUT LET ME JUST SAY THIS ABOUT -- AND I AGREE WITH LISA.

THEIR EFFORTS ARE NOBLE, BUT TO PUT A 21-DAY ON IT, PROBABLY LET'S JUST GET THROUGH THE DAY.

DON'T GIVE ME A BOUNDARY OF 21 DAYS.

LET'S JUST GET THROUGH TODAY WITHOUT AN ACT OF VIOLENCE AND MURDER, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN GOING OUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TELLING PEOPLE TO CALL THIS NUMBER.

I BELIEVE, JUST ME PERSONALLY, KNOWING HOW THINGS GO IN THE INNER CITY, I WOULD SET UP TENTS OR BOOTHS IN EACH NEIGHBORHOOD AND LET PEOPLE COME TO ME THERE RATHER THAN WALK UP TO A YOUNG GUY THAT'S KIND OF DISTRAUGHT AND GIVE HIM A PHONE NUMBER AND TELL HIM TO CALL THIS NUMBER TO GET CONNECTED TO THIS SERVICE.

BRING THOSE SERVICES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND LET PEOPLE CONNECT TO THEM ONE-ON-ONE, EYE-TO-EYE, RATHER THAN CALLING PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

>> THAT WAS ACTUALLY MY VIEW ON THE VACCINE AS WELL, BY THE WAY, ERIC, BRINGING THE VACCINE TO PEOPLE RATHER THAN EXPECTING PEOPLE TO GO TO OTHER PLACES.

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT BEFORE WE MOVE ON?

>> JUST QUICKLY, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN TRIED BEFORE.

CAROL COE ORGANIZED A MURDER-FREE AUGUST YEARS AGO AND THEY STRUGGLED TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT THINGS TO PULL OFF.

THE KIDS INVOLVED IN THIS KIND OF VIOLENCE AREN'T LISTENING TO THE MINISTERS AND THEY WEREN'T LISTENING BACK THEN.

>> LOOK AT THESE HOMICIDE STATISTICS AND REALLY WHAT WE NEED TO SEE IS A SUSTAINED TREND YEAR OVER YEAR TO KNOW THAT ANYTHING IS ACTUALLY WORKING.

I REMEMBER EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO, WE WERE CELEBRATING A YEAR WHERE HOMICIDES HAD DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY AND WE TURN AROUND THE NEXT YEAR AND THEY SPIKE AGAIN.

IT REALLY IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME AND A TRULY SUSTAINED PROLONGED LOWERING OF THESE NUMBERS FOR US TO KNOW THAT ANYTHING IS WORKING.

>> IN OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK, THE BIGGEST TRAVELING EXHIBITION IN UNION STATION HISTORY OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.

THE AUSCHWITZ EXHIBIT FEATURES MORE THAN 700 ARTIFACTS CHRONICLING LIFE INSIDE THE NAZI'S MOST NOTORIOUS CONCENTRATION CAMP.

WITH 80,000 ADVANCED TICKETS SOLD, THIS COULD BE UNION STATION'S MOST ATTENDED EXHIBITION.

DO YOU PLAN TO GO?

IT'S GOING TO BE OF GREAT INTEREST TO AN OLDER GENERATION OF KANSAS CITIANS, BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE?

DO THEY EVEN KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT?

WE TOOK A COUPLE OF KANSAS CITY MISSOURI SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENTS TO THE EXHIBIT THIS WEEK TO GAUGE THEIR REACTION.

>> I'M SAVANNAH, I'M IN SIXTH GRADE.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE HOLOCAUST IS.

>> I'M 13 YEARS OLD AND I'M GOING TO EIGHTH GRADE.

DIDN'T ACTUALLY LEARN ABOUT IT IN SCHOOL.

I LEARNED ABOUT IT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS ON THE INTERNET.

>> IT MADE ME FEEL SYMPATHY, PUT ME IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF OTHER PEOPLE.

>> IT DOESN'T FEEL LONG AGO NOR FAR AWAY, BUT IT DOES FEEL ABSTRACT BECAUSE THERE'S NO REAL WAY TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND SOMETHING UNLESS YOU GO THROUGH IT FIRST HAND.

>> JUST SOME OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S REACTIONS TO THE AUSCHWITZ EXHIBIT.

IT RUNS THROUGH THE END OF JANUARY AT UNION STATION.

IT'S HARD TO TRANSITION FROM THE HOLOCAUST TO OTHER ISSUES BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS LESS PRESSING AND PETTY, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF NEWS DEVELOPMENTS GETTING PEOPLE HOT UNDER THE COLLAR IN OUR METRO THIS WEEK.

IS JOHNSON COUNTY'S LARGEST CITY ABOUT TO HIT THE GO BUTTON ON WHAT'S BEEN DUBBED LEXUS LANES?

THOUGH PERHAPS THEY COULD JUST AS EASILY BE CALLED LAMBORGHINI LANES.

WHAT I'M REFERRING TO ARE PLANS IN OVERLAND PARK TO BUILD AN EXPRESS LANE ON ITS BUSIEST, MOST CONGESTED STRETCH OF ROADWAY.

CITIZENS PACKED THE SEATS INSIDE OVERLAND PARK'S CITY HALL THIS WEEK AS KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS WENT THROUGH PUBLIC OPINION POLL NUMBERS THAT CLAIMED LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE FAVORABLE TO THE IDEA OF CHARGING TOLLS ON 69 HIGHWAY IN ORDER TO FUND AN EXPANSION OF THE ROADWAY.

>> THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT IMPROVEMENT OF U.S. 69 IS AN INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.

>> IT'S A USER FEE.

IT'S A VOLUNTARY CHOICE.

YOU CAN GET IN THOSE EXPRESS LANES OR STAY OUT OF THE EXPRESS LANE IT.

>> STRIKES ME THAT KDOT'S ATTITUDE IS MORE OF AN IT'S MY WAY OR NO HIGHWAY.

>> THOSE IN THE LOWER INCOME STRATA WILL BE IN THE TWO FREE LANES, TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED, AND HAVING TO WATCH THE VEHICLES OF THOSE WITH HIGHER INCOMES ZIP BY.

THIS WILL ONLY REINFORCE THE PERCEPTION OF OVERLAND PARK AS BEING A CITY OF HAVES.

>> THE FINAL DECISION ON THAT, DAVE HELLING, IS COMING UP NEXT WEEK.

LET'S BE CLEAR.

YOU'D ONLY PAY A FEE IF YOU USE THE NEW FAST LANE.

IS IT FAIR TO USE THAT SOCIAL JUSTICE ARGUMENT THAT WE'RE CREATING A NEW SYSTEM OF HAVES AND HAVE NOTS?

>> IF YOU CREATE A HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN WHICH YOU CHARGE PEOPLE TO GET MORE CONVENIENCE, YOU DO RISK HAVING A, YOU KNOW, A BIFURCATED TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM WHERE THE RICH PEOPLE GET TO GO QUICKLY AND POOR PEOPLE DON'T, SO THAT'S ALWAYS AN ISSUE WITH TOLL ROADS.

THEN THERE'S THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN, NICK, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD THIS TALKED ABOUT A LOT, BUT THE IDEA OF BUILDING YET MORE, YOU KNOW, INTERSTATE HIGHWAY LANE MILES WILL CONCERN SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE THE IDEA OF AIDING SPRAWL IN OUR COMMUNITY IS PROBABLY NOT THE BEST APPROACH, ACCORDING TO SOME, SO THAT MAY BECOME A NICHE THIS DISCUSSION.

-- A NICHE THIS DISCUSSION.

>> IT ALSO MAKES ME THINK, LISA, ABOUT THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW THIS WILL WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO WORK FROM HOME.

YOU COULD BE PAYING UP TO $15.75 A WEEK IF YOU GO THE ENTIRE LENGTH BACK AND FORTH EVERY WEEK.

THAT COULD BE A HUGE IMPEDIMENT TO PEOPLE AND THEY PREFER NOT TO GO TO WORK AT ALL AND WORK REMOTELY.

>> WHETHER YOU HAVE TO PAY A TOLL TO GET TO WORK OR NOT, I'M HEARING PEOPLE MAKE THAT ARGUMENT THAT THEY'RE ENJOYING WORKING FROM HOME, BUT I WILL SAY SOMETHING I LEARN IN THE LAST YEAR ESPECIALLY IS THAT IF YOU HAVE MEANS, PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR CONVENIENCE.

WE SEE THAT IN FOOD DELIVERY, IN GROCERY DELIVERY, HAVING SOMEONE ELSE DO THAT.

IF YOU CAN PAY, IF YOU CAN AFFORD 17 BUCKS A WEEK TO GET TO WORK AND SAVE YOURSELF 10 TO 15 MINUTES IN THE MORNING, PEOPLE WILL PAY IT.

>> WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY, THOUGH, MICHEAL?

I'VE BEEN AMAZED, WE HAVE ALL THIS MONEY AWASH RIGHT NOW FOR INFRASTRUCTURE GOING AROUND WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW, WHY COULDN'T YOU PUT THAT IN THE BILL AND HAVE IT FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

>> I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND NO LESS THAN SENATOR ROGER MARSHALL, A BIG CRITIC OF VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING BIDEN THESE DAYS, SAYS THIS PROJECT MIGHT BE THE STATE'S BIGGEST PRIORITY AND HE THINKS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE FUND WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR IT.

>> ON THE MISSOURI SIDE, BY THE WAY, KANSAS CITY CONGRESSMAN EMANUEL CLEAVER HAS BEEN ABLE TO SHOEHORN INTO A NEW INFRASTRUCTURE BILL $6 MILLION IN FUNDING TO PEDESTRIANIZE THE 18th AND VINE JAZZ DISTRICT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BLOCKING OFF THE MAIN DRAG TO VEHICLES.

SO WHAT DIFFERENCE WOULD THAT MAKE TO THE 18th AND VINE JAZZ DISTRICT, ERIC WESSON?

>> WE'D HAVE EVEN LESS PARKING SPACES DOWN HERE.

I LOOKED AT THIS BEFORE WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING THIS.

IT'S BEEN A PROJECT OF ALI GATES FOR A LONG TIME.

HE WANTS TO PUT -- YOU HAVE NO PLACE TO WALK THROUGH, ONE RESTAURANT, THE JAZZ MUSEUM, BUT THERE'S NO PLACE AND THOSE CITIES THEY'RE TRYING TO MODEL THEM AFTER, THEIR STREETS ARE WIDER.

>> AND HERE'S A CAUTIONARY TALE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK TO ANOTHER CITY, JUST LOOK ACROSS THE RIVER TO KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

YEARS AGO IN THE '70s WHEN THE PEDESTRIAN WAVE FIRST STARTED, KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, TOOK SEVERAL BLOCKS OF THEIR DOWNTOWN AREA ON MINNESOTA AREA AND TURNED IT INTO A PEDESTRIAN MILE, AND IT KILLED ALMOST EVERY BUSINESS DOWN THERE.

>> IT EMMANUEL CLEAVER SEEMS TO TAKE A DIFFERENT VIEW, LISA.

I HEARD ONE OF THE QUOTES, EVERYONE IN KANSAS CITY WOULD WANT TO GO DOWN THERE AND TAKE PURSE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SUCH A -- TAKE FIRST BECAUSE IT WOULD BE SUCH A TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECT.

>> I THINK HE'S ENVISIONING A PLAZA FULL OF PEDESTRIANS OR FARMERS MARKETS THAT POP UP ON THE WEEKEND THAT ARE EXTREMELY POPULAR, BUT I THINK WHAT ERIC AND MICHEAL BRING UP ARE VERY REAL CONCERNS.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT VISIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING HERE AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THAT PLAY OUT.

I THINK THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S HIGH RISK, I GUESS.

>> IF YOU HAVE $6 MILLION, DAVE HELLING, TO SPEND ON IMPROVING THE 18th AND VINE JAZZ DISTRICT, WOULD THIS BE THE WAY YOU'D SPEND IT?

>> IT MAY BE THE $6 MILLION CAN ONLY BE EXPENDED IN THIS WAY, SO IT'S A BIT OF A FALSE CHOICE, BUT HAVING SAID THAT, WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY AT 18th AND VINE AND WE HAVE NOT YET DISCOVERED THE FORMULA THAT WILL MAKE THAT DISTRICT BE WHAT EVERYONE WANTS IT TO BE 25 YEARS AGO WHEN THE IMPROVEMENTS FIRST STARTED.

THE NEGRO LEAGUES MUSEUM REMAINS AN IMPORTANT ANCHOR OF THAT COMMUNITY, THE JAZZ MUSEUM IS SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF COMING BACK, BUT IT ISN'T CLEAR ANOTHER $6 MILLION IS GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE, SINCE I'M DOWN HERE, IS, ONE, AN AFFORDABLE SANDWICH SHOP, SOMETHING THAT CREATES FOOT TRAFFIC, A HAT STORE, A SHOE STORE.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE STORES AND SHOPS THAT CREATE FOOT TRAFFIC, YOU'RE JUST WASTING CONCRETE.

>> WE HAVE PUBLIC TELEVISION VIEWERS ALL ACROSS OUR METRO SAYING YES, ABSOLUTELY, ERIC, I WOULD GO DOWN THERE IF THEY HAD A HAT STORE.

A NUMBER OF THEM, 7%, SAID THEY'D GO DOWN THERE IF THERE WAS A CREVAT STORE AS WELL.

>> HOW MANY BLACK WOMEN BUY A HAT AND WEAR THEM TO CHURCH?

>> WITH JUST 30 MINUTES WE CAN'T GET TO EVERY STORY MAKING THE HEADLINES.

WHAT WAS THE BIG LOCAL STORY WE MISSED?

LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND SCORES OF BUSINESSES CLOSED TO OBSERVE JUNETEENTH.

FIRST IT WAS LIFE CARDS IN SHORT SUPPLY, NOW IT'S RIDE OPERATORS.

THE OWNERS OF LEEWARD'S TOWN CENTER PLAZA SHOPPING CENTER FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY.

HOW MANY SOCCER FIELD ZP THIS METRO NEED?

KANSAS CITY BREAKING GROUND THIS WEEK ON A NEW $36 MILLION NORTHLAND SOCCER COMPLEX.

>> GIVES OUR YOUNG PEOPLE A PLACE TO GO.

GIVE OUR TAX BASE A HUGE BOOST.

>> WE HAVE SO MANY SOCCER COMPLEXES THAT WE CAN ACCESS AND THAT $36 MILLION COULD HAVE SUCH A LARGER IMPACT ON SO MANY MORE KANSAS CITYANS.

>> AND ONE OF THE MOST PRIZED PLACES TO DEVELOP IN KANSAS CITY RIGHT NOW IS ALONG THE EXPANDING STREETCAR LINE, SO SHOULD THE CITY BE GIVING AWAY MILLIONS IN TAX BREAKS FOR BUILDERS WHO WANT TO BUILD BESIDE IT.

AND TURNING THE FORMER CAPS DRUGSTORE TO LUXURY APARTMENTS NOW SPARKING TENSION IN THE LONG-RUNNING SAGA OVER TAX INCENTIVES.

LISA RODRIGUEZ, DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE STORY OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

>> I DID.

I THINK THE DEBATE OVER THE CAPS BUILDING IS FASCINATING AND I THINK GIVING INCENTIVES TO A REDEVELOPMENT ALONG THE STREETCAR LINE, THE STREETCAR ALREADY BEING AN AMENITY ITSELF SETTING AN INTERESTING PRECEDENT FOR OTHER DEVELOPERS WHO ALSO WANT TO GET STACKS BREAKS ALONG THAT LINE.

I THINK IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO WHAT ARE TAX BREAKS FOR?

ARE THEY FOR AREAS THAT ARE BLIGHTED, AND IS MAIN STREET WITH A STREETCAR AND ALL THOSE AMENITIES, DOES IT FALL INTO THAT CATEGORY?

>> MICHEAL.

>> MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON SIGNS A BILL THAT SAYS MISSOURI COPS DO NOT HAVE TO ENFORCE FEDERAL GUN LAWS AND BOOM, LICKETY-SPLIT, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SAYS NO YOU'RE VIOLATING THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

>> ERIC WESSON.

>> I WOULD SAY THE VIDEO RELEASES THAT DEALT WITH THE MURDER OF MALCOLM JOHNSON AT THE GAS STATION ON 63rd.

FROM WHAT THE POLICE INITIALLY REPORTED TO THE VIDEOS THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED AND WHAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY SAW, LOOKED LIKE TWO DIFFERENT EVENTS.

>> DAVE HELLING.

>> SPEAKING OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, THE SUPREME COURT ON THURSDAY UPHELD THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BY A VOTE OF 7-2.

KANSAS AND MISSOURI WERE ON THE LOSING SIDE OF THAT CASE.

BOTH ERIC SCHMITT AND DEREK SUBMIT FILED BRIEFS SUPPORTING THE IDEA OF THROWING OUT OBAMACARE.

BOTH MEN ARE SEEKING HIGHER OFFICE.

WE SHOULD KEEP THEIR LEGAL ACUMEN IN MIND MAKING OUR DECISION.

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

THANK YOU, KCUR'S LISA RODRIGUEZ, THE STAR'S DAVE HELLING, MICHEAL MAHONEY FROM KMBC 9 NEWS, AND ALWAYS ON CALL FROM THE KANSAS CITY CALL, ERIC WESSON.

AND I'M NICK HAINES.

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