[♪♪] [♪♪] [♪♪] >> WE'RE BACK.

>> SHAME ON YOU.

>> THE MASKS ARE A JOKE.

>> WYANDOTTE COUNTY, YOU MADE THIS HAPPEN.

>> WE CONNECT THE DOTS ON SOME OF THE BIG NEWS WE MISSED WHILE WE WERE RAISING CASH DURING OUR WINTER FUNDRAISING DRIVE.

IT'S THREE WEEKS IN REVIEW FOR THE PRICE OF ONE.

>> WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU.

>> HELLO I'M NICK HAINES.

THRILLS TO BITS YOU'RE BACK WITH US.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING US BACK INTO YOUR HOMES TO LIFT THE NEWS ON SOME OF THE BIGGEST HEADLINES AND TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF THOSE STORIES WE WERE TOLD ARE IMPORTANT BUT SEEM BORING.

GOING, GOING, BUT NOT GONE FROM CHANNEL 9, MICHEAL MAHONEY.

FROM KCUR NEWS LISA RODRIGUEZ.

TRACKING BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT STORIES AT CITY SCENE KC KEVIN COLLISON.

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

REMEMBER, WE HAVEN'T HAD A SHOW FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT ALL HELL WAS BREAKING LOOSE AT KANSAS CITY HEADQUARTERS.

ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT CHIEF RICK SMITH, WHERE WAS HE GOING TO GO?

AFTER THE BUDGET?

NEVER?

THE BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSION MET.

DID EVERYTHING CALM DOWN?

>> RICK SMITH SHOULD BE WALKED OUT OF THIS BUILDING RIGHT NOW.

[CHEERING] >> SHAME ON YOU.

>> PERHAPS NOT, BUT WE DID WE GET CLARITY ON HIS FUTURE?

DID WE GET A DATE ON WHEN HE IS GETTING TO THE PART OR IS THERE STILL A PUSH TO GET HIM OUT RIGHT AWAY?

>> WE DON'T HAVE A DATE.

I SUSPECT THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT THE CITY HALL AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT USES AT THE END OF THE BUDGET CYCLE, ON THE BUDGET CYCLE ENDS ON MAY 1st WHEN THE NEW BUDGET IS ADOPTED.

THE BUDGET CYCLE WRAPPED UP EARLIER THAN THAT, SOME TIME IN MARCH OR EARLY APRIL.

SO THAT MAY BE THE DATE.

AS FAR AS A COORDINATED PUSH TO REMOVE HIM BEFORE THEN, I DON'T THINK THERE ARE VOTES.

>> CHIEF RICK SMITH IS ON HIS WAY OUT, THE MAYOR VOTED FOR $2.6 MILLION IN POLICE OFFICER PAY RAISES.

SOME PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THAT SAYING IS THIS ABOUT GETTING THE POLICE CHIEF OUT?

IT REALLY WASN'T ABOUT THE MONEY?

>> NO, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY NICK.

IN FACT, THAT'S WHY CHIEF SMITH IS STICKING AROUND UNTIL THE END OF THE BUDGET CYCLE BECAUSE THERE IS GOING TO BE AN ENORMOUS PUSH NEXT YEAR FROM SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LIMIT POLICE SPENDING TO 20% OF THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND, WHICH IS THE LANGUAGE IN THE STATE LAW AND THEN ANYTHING ABOVE THAT 20% TO BE NEGOTIATED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO THAT BATTLE IS GOING TO BE JOINED IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY AND THAT'S WHY RICK SMITH WANTS TO STICK AROUND.

>> AND TO ADD ON TO THIS, THERE IS ANOTHER DYNAMIC IN THIS.

IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THE STATE SENATOR FROM PLATTE COUNTY AND THE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE ARE PREFILING BILLS SO THEY CAN TAKE UP THE MEASURE OF INCREASING THE OBLIGATION FROM THE CITY TO THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM 20% TO 25%, WITH AN AIM OF TRYING TO GET IT SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR SO EARLY THAT IT WOULD BE IN EFFECT BEFORE THE BUDGET -- BEFORE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SETTLED FOR 2022.

THAT'S ANOTHER ELEMENT.

>> IS THERE A BIGGER CLASH LISA?

WHO ARE WE GOING TO PICK NOW AS THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF?

I WAS INTERESTED IN SEVERAL BLACK MINISTERS HAVE COME OUT WITH A CHECKLIST.

THE NEXT CHIEF MUST COME FROM OUT-OF-STATE, INCLUDING KANSAS.

EVERY RESUME WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE REJECTED.

THEY WANT THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF WHO DOESN'T TAKE A GUNS AND HANDCUFFS APPROACH.

IS ANYONE GOING TO BE ACCEPTABLE?

>> I THINK THERE IS AN EXTREMELY HIGH BAR FOR WHOEVER COMES IN AS THE NEXT HEAD OF THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ULTIMATELY, THE GROUP THAT DECIDES THAT IS THE BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS.

THE GROUP THAT DECIDES HOW THE PROCESS WILL GO IS THAT POLICE FORCE.

I ASSUME THERE WILL BE A NATIONAL SEARCH.

I ASSUME THERE MAY BE SOME INTERNAL CANDIDATES AS WELL AND FOR AN INTERNAL CANDIDATE, THAT BAR, THAT THRESHOLD WILL BE HIGHER.

AMIDST ALL OF THIS BACK AND FORTH OVER THE POLICE BUDGET, THE FIGHT FOR THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF IS ALSO GOING TO GET A LOT OF ATTENTION, A LOT OF VOICES WILL BE WEIGHING IN HERE AND ULTIMATELY THE DECISION RESTS WITH THE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE, FOUR OF WHICH ARE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

>> AND IF THERE IS CONFLICT OVER THE CURRENT POLICE CHIEF AND THE MONEY, CAN YOU IMAGINE KEVIN COLLISON WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY PICK AN INTERNAL CANDIDATE WITH ALL THIS PRESSURE TO FIND AN OUTSIDER?

>> NICK, IT WOULD BE A HUGE INDICATION OF WHAT A CRAZY SYSTEM THAT KANSAS CITY IS UNDER.

OUR CITIZENS DON'T HAVE CONTROL THROUGH THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY'RE DROPPING A QUARTER BILLION DOLLARS AND MORE A YEAR IN TAXES FOR.

WE HAVE LEGISLATORS FROM PARKVILLE TALKING ABOUT HOW KANSAS CITY SHOULD RUN THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HOW THE FOLKS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES WOULD FEEL IF THE KANSAS CITY COUNCIL DECIDED TO DICTATE HOW THEY SPEND THEIR MONEY AND HOW THEY USE IT.

THIS ALL GOES BACK TO HOW COMPLETELY UNDEMOCRATIC AND UNDER REPRESENTED ON HOW OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OPERATES IN KANSAS CITY.

>> AND JUST A QUICK STATEMENT.

LISA IS RIGHT, FOUR MEMBERS OF THE FIVE PERSON BOARD IS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

ONE OF THE MEMBERS IS SERVING ON AN EXPIRED TERM AND ANOTHER MEMBER HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE STATE SENATE YET.

THAT FURTHER COMPLICATES THIS ISSUE.

>> AROUND HOLIDAY TIME, A LOT OF DECISIONS ARE MADE WHEN PEOPLE AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION.

OUR ELECT LEADERS SNEAK IN VOTES WHEN THE PUBLIC HAS THEIR FOCUS ELSEWHERE.

AS WE WERE TRYING TO RAISE SOME GREEN LAST WEEK, THE COUNCIL WAS GREEN LIGHTING TAX INCENTIVES FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY TO BUILD A SPLASH SHE OFFICE TOWER.

KEVIN COLLISON, THERE WERE GASPS OF OUTRAGE THAT THE CITY COULD POSSIBLY DOLE OUT MONEY TO A WEALTHY COMPANY ALREADY LOCATED IN THE CITY.

WHY THIS YES VOTE FOR $7 MILLION FOR FIDELITY SECURITY LIFE TO GO TO ONE OF THE BEST AREAS OF THE CITY NOW?

>> NICK, I'M GOING TO BE A CONTRARYIAN HERE.

I DO UNDERSTAND THE PUBLIC OUTRAGE, BUT IF BUILT, IT WILL GENERATE $8 MILLION MORE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THAN IF THE SITE WAS LEFT UNTOUCHED.

I UNDERSTAND THE OPTICS OF A FIRM THAT IS LOCATED ONLY A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM HERE, GETTING OFFERED HELP TO MOVE TO WHAT LOOKS PRETTY MUCH A GREENFIELD SITE.

I MEAN THIS IS PART OF THE CROWN CENTER MASTER PLAN.

THAT LAND HAD BEEN SITTING THERE FOR 30 YEARS.

IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE GENERALLY INCENTIVES ARE OFFERED TO HELP WITH MUCH MORE DIFFICULT SITES.

IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION AND IT'S RIGHTFULLY POINTED OUT BY CRITICS THAT A LOT OF THE INCENTIVES WILL GO TO A PARKING GARAGE.

I'M NOT SURE WHO OF THE OPPONENTS, BUT IT WAS PICKED UP BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND THEY FOUND OUT THERE IS AN AWFUL LOT OF EMPTY PARKING SPOTS IN EXISTING GARAGES AT CROWN CENTER.

THERE ARE ARGUMENTS TO BE MADE BUT THE INCENTIVE THINGS GETS DISTORTED BY THE WAY PEOPLE DISCUSS IT.

>> WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR CANDIDATE, QUINTON SAID WE NEED TO LIMIT THE INCENTIVES AVAILABLE DOWNTOWN.

THE GREATEST INCENTIVE SHOULD ONLY BE AVAILABLE IN THE EAST SIDE OR SEVERELY ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED PARTS OF THE CITY.

SO HOW MOVING TO CROWN CENTER THE FIT THAT CRITERIA?

>> I WOULD ARGUE THAT IT DOESN'T FIT THE CRITERIA THAT THE CANDIDATE SAID WHEN HE GAVE THAT INTERVIEW.

I REMEMBER THOSE COMMENTS VERY WELL.

WE SEEN THE CITY COUNCIL.

WE SEEN THE MAYOR AND LEADERSHIP AT CITY HALL TALK ABOUT CURVING THE USE OF TAX INCENTIVES DOWNTOWN, BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT IN ACTION YET.

YOU KNOW, KEVIN TALKED ABOUT EMPTY PARKING GARAGES IN THE AREA.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF EMPTY OFFICE SPACES DOWNTOWN AS WELL.

>> EXCELLENT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BEAUTIFUL NEW BUILDING, THEY DECIDED NOT TO DO IT, THEY WERE BOUGHT BY AN AUSTRALIAN FIRM.

WHY WOULDN'T FIDELITY SECURITY LIFE MOVE THERE?

>> IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, BUT LET'S CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THIS REBUILDING WAS CUSTOM BUILT FOR THAT COMPANY, WHICH EVENTUALLY GOT BOUGHT BY AN AUSTRALIAN COMPANY.

IT'S ON THE MARKET FOR WHATEVER REASONS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE MINDS OF FIDELITY SECURITY LIFE INSURANCE ABOUT WHAT THEIR HEADQUARTER NEEDS WERE.

THAT'S NOT A PIECE OF REAL ESTATE THEY WERE INTERESTED IN.

>> DAVE, WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE MAJOR CORPORATIONS THAT ARE OFF LOADING THEIR REAL ESTATE, THEY'RE OFF LOADING THEIR OFFICE BUILDINGS, INCLUDING CERNA HERE IN TOWN.

WE'RE BUILDING A HUGE BUILDING DURING THIS TIME WHEN MANY COMPANIES ARE DECIDING THAT EMPLOYEES CAN WORK FROM HOME.

>> THE WHOLE NATURE OF OFFICE WORK IS CHANGING DRAMATICALLY.

NICK, SO SOME PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO RETHINK THESE DECISIONS.

LET ME BE HONEST.

I COVERED CITY COUNCIL FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, MEMBERS ALWAYS HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME VOTING AGAINST THESE DEALS.

THEY DO.

THERE ARE ONE OR TWO THEY REJECTED.

THE NEW HOTEL NEAR THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, THEY SAID NO TO THAT.

BY AND LARGE, ENDORSING BIG CORPORATE DEALS LIKE THIS IS ROUTINE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AT A TIME, AS THE STAR POINTED OUT THIS WEEK, HOUSING ON THE EAST SIDE REMAINS A MAJOR CHALLENGE.

THE OPTICS IS SOME OF OUR PANELISTS SUGGESTED HERE ARE POOR INDEED.

>> WE'RE IN A METROPOLITAN AREA WHERE THIS COMPANY COULD HAVE EASILY MOVED TO JOHNSON COUNTY AND LEE BARNES, THE COUNCILMAN THAT HEAD IT IS COMMITTEE TALKED ABOUT LOSING AN 300-EMPLOYEE COMPANY.

YOU HAVE TO GO I-435 AND SEE ALL THE NEW OFFICE DEVELOPMENT GOING ON TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF COMPETITION STILL IN THE CITY FOR GOOD JOBS.

>> NO LOCAL PRESIDENTIAL VISITS TO REPORT ON THIS WEEK BUT THERE WAS AN INAUGURATION IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY AS TYRONE GARNER WAS SWORN IN.

>> I LOVE WYANDOTTE COUNTY BUT I VALUE PEOPLE EVEN MORE.

I'M COMMITTED TO ALWAYS PUTTING YOU, THE PEOPLE OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY FIRST, THAT'S MY JOB.

>> ALL RIGHT MICHEAL WHAT ARE THE THINGS HE WANTS TO CHANGE?

>> NOT REALLY EXPLAINED.

HE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THE SAME THEMES HE CAMPAIGNED ON.

HE WANTS A TOP TO BOTTOM LOOK, A REVIEW OF HOW THE UNIFIED GOVERNMENT WORK.

HE WANT AS TOP TO BOTTOM REVIEW OF HOW THE BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES WORKS.

HE WANTS TO ENGAGE MORE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF KCK AND WYANDOTTE COUNTY AND HE WANTS TO SEE WHAT HE CAN DO IN TERMS OF SOME ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION ON THE CITY'S NORTHEAST SIDE.

THOSE ARE THINGS HE CAMPAIGNED ON.

>> DID YOU GET A SENSE DAVE WHAT HE WOULD DO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT DAVID DID?

>> THEY'RE ALREADY TAKING A LOOK NICK AT THE MASK MANDATES IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY AND THE WHOLE COVID RESPONSE PROTOCOLS OVER THERE.

THAT'S A CHANGE FROM DAVID.

I DO THINK THAT THE PRESSURE FOR TYRONE GARNER TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL ONLY GROW.

THE GRAND JURY IS STILL LOOKING AT THINGS OVER THERE.

THE F.B.I., HE'S A FORMER MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT.

I THINK THAT WILL BE JOB ONE AND THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE PRESSURE WILL BE IN THE EARLY DAYS OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> WHILE WE WERE OFF THE AIR RAISING CASH THE LAST FEW WEEKS, BUCK O'NEILL WOULD WIN ENTRY TO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME.

THE MAYOR SAID THIS IS THE EQUIVALENT OF A LOCAL TEAM WINNING THE WORLD SERIES IN A SUPER BOWL.

SO A NEW WAY TO HONOR O'NEILL HAS SURFACED.

HOW ABOUT HALTING PLANS TO DEMOLISH THE BRIDGE.

KEVIN, YOU SAID THE PROPOSAL IS CONSIDERED A TOP PRIORITY AT CITY HALL, BUT IS IT HIGHER ON THE LIST THAN EXPANDING THE STREETCAR EAST TO WEST, HIGHER THAN FINDING AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR PEOPLE?

>> NICK, IT WAS AN INTERESTING THING LAST WEEK.

THE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT HELD A VIRTUAL LUNCH MEETING TO 75 PEOPLE AND AT WHICH ERIC SAID THIS IS A TOP PRIORITY BY THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR, SO IT KIND OF CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD.

IT IS AN ENORMOUSLY EXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR.

IT'S A GREAT IDEA, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS.

BODOT IS LEAVING THAT BRIDGE BEHIND.

THEY WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH OWNING OR OPERATING IT.

TO BUILD THAT PARK, IT'S AT LEAST A $50 MILLION PRICE TICKET ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES.

THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE WHO WOULD OWN AND OPERATE THIS THING.

>> THURSDAY, ON THE UP TO DATE SHOW, BRIAN PLATTE WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT QUOTE THAT KEVIN JUST REFERRED TO.

IT'S A TOP PRIORITY.

PLATTE SAID I TOOK NOTES ON IT.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES.

NOW WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO HONOR BUCK O'NEILL BEYOND THE BRIDGE THEY'RE BUILDING, I'M NOT SURE IT IS.

I'M SURE THAT THE LURE OF THIS IS THE FACT THAT THERE ARE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS LITERALLY COMING TO MISSOURI FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT AND REPAIRS.

THE LURE OF THE MONEY MAY BE AS IMPORTANT HERE AS HONORING BUCK O'NEILL, WHOSE INDUCTION TO THE HALL OF FAME WAS WAY OVERDUE.

>> BUT YOU CAN PUT A STATUE OF HIM OUTSIDE CITY HALL FOR A FEW THOUSAND.

CAN WE DO IT MORE CHEAPLY?

>> IT'S HARD FOR ME TO ASSIGN A MONETARY VALUE FOR BUCK O'NEILL.

THE LURE OF THESE FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS HAS CITY LEADERS DREAMING UP THESE BIG PROJECTS, BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, I THINK THERE WILL BE A MIX OF ONE OR TWO FLASHY PROJECTS.

>> IT'S NOT JUST TURNING THE BUCK O'NEILL BRIDGE TO A PARK, KCK SAYING THEY WANTED TO PUT A GONDOLA.

IS THIS WHAT CONGRESS HAD IN MIND WHEN THEY GREEN LIGHTED ALL THESE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY.

IS THERE GOING TO BE BACKLASH TO THIS?

>> OF COURSE THERE WILL BE BACKLASH.

THIS IS NOT WHAT THEY HAD IN MIND.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THE HEADLINES ACROSS THE NATION IF KANSAS CITY SPENDS A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY TO PUT A PARK OVER A BRIDGE OR TO COVER THE DOWNTOWN LOOP, EITHER ON THE NORTH SIDE OR THE SOUTH SIDE.

THAT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT IN TERMS OF FEDERAL MONEY AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT YOU'LL HEAR IF YOU TALK TO ENOUGH PEOPLE AT CITY HALL IS LOOK, LET'S KEEP OUR EYE ON THE BALL TO QUOTE SOMETHING THAT BUCK O'NEILL MAY SAY AND MAKE SURE WE SPEND THIS MONEY FOR NEEDED PROJECTS AND NOT FOR THINGS THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE, BUT ARE NOT ESSENTIALS IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> I DIDN'T START THE SHOW TALKING ABOUT COVID.

I KNOW A CROSS SECTION OF OUR AUDIENCE HAS GROWN WEARY OF THE TOPIC.

WITH SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ENDING THE FALL SEMESTER EARLY BECAUSE OF DEATHS AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ON THE RISE, CAN WE EXPECT ANOTHER WAVE OF COVID RESTRICTIONS?

WE GOT AN ANSWER WHERE WHITE VOTED TO STOP THE MASK MANDATE.

IT WAS VOTED DOWN.

>> THE MASKS ARE A JOKE.

>> WE CROSSED THE LINE OF BEING HELPFUL.

WE GONE INTO THE ELEMENT WHERE THEY TRY TO CONTROL OUR LIVES.

THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT PEOPLE ARE OPPOSING AGAINST TODAY.

>> JACKSON COUNTY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST COVID CAUTIOUS PARTS OF THE METRO.

WILL IT BE HARD TO REINSTATE COVID RESTRICTIONS ANYWHERE IN THE METRO MICHEAL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THEY TRIED TO DO IT.

THE WHITE ADMINISTRATION, THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TRIED TO SET THE TABLE.

THEY PRESENTED THE FACTS.

IT SHOWS AN INCREASE IN THE GROWTH OF COVID IN THE AREA JUST IN THE LAST FIVE TO SIX WEEKS.

THEY TRIED TO SET THE TABLE AND SAY THIS IS NECESSARY THROUGH JANUARY 12TH.

THERE WAS SIMPLY NOT THE APPETITE TO DO THAT, EVEN THOUGH FRANK WHITE SAID THAT WE NEED TO HONOR THE SCIENCE.

THIS IS NOT POLITICS.

POLITICS IS ALWAYS A FACTOR AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE VOTE.

>> IT WAS POLITICS.

YOU HAD THE ATTORNEY GENERAL LISA THREATENING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COUNTY IF THEY MOVED FORWARD WITH THIS.

WE HAD CITIES AND SOME ELECTED LEADERS SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO FOLLOW THE MASK MANDATE IF THIS PASSES.

THERE WERE A LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS THERE TOO.

>> WHILE THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATOR DIDN'T SAY THE FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT A MASK MANDATE WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF THESE LAWSUITS BEING THREATENED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, CERTAINLY THAT HAS THROWN THINGS INTO THE MIX.

THAT HAS EMPOWERED SMALLER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ALSO TO SAY YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE'RE NOT GOING TO -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO FOLLOW YOUR MASK MANDATE AND WE HAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO BACK US UP ON THAT.

IT HAS JUST CREATED CHAOS AMONG HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BECAUSE WHEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CRITICS THAT SAY HE'S NOT WITHIN HIS RIGHTS TO SEND ALL THESE LETTERS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

HE ARGUES THAT THE LAW IS ON HIS SIDE.

WHEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ISSUES A LETTER, THAT IS SCARY.

THAT IS SOMETHING, IF YOU'RE A SMALL TOWN, IF YOU'RE A SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICT, YOU TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY.

>> THE POINT THAT LISA HAS MADE ON THIS ABOUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC SCHMIDT IN MISSOURI WHO IS RUNNING FOR THE SENATE AND SAID REPEATEDLY DURING HIS CAMPAIGN STOPS THAT HE IS WILLING TO SUE JOE BIDEN EVERYDAY, ALL DAY.

LISA'S POINT ABOUT A SMALL TOWN OR A SMALL SCHOOL DISTRICT CONFRONTING THE OBVIOUS WILLINGNESS BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SUE THEM OVER SOMETHING WITH THIS WITHOUT QUESTION HAS A CHILLING EFFECT.

HE HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT HE WILL DROP A LAWSUIT ON ANYBODY AT ANY TIME.

>> ANOTHER BIG KANSAS CITY COMPANY HAS DISAPPEARED, KC SOUTHERN, THE 130-YEAR-OLD RAILROAD COMPANY HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP BY A CANADIAN FIRM.

IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN SHAREHOLDERS APPROVED A MERGER.

REMARKABLY A HEADLINE STORY, CLAIMING THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR KANSAS CITY.

HOW CAN THAT BE LISA?

>> I MAY NOT HAVE THE PROPER AMOUNT OF NOSTALGIA FOR KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN.

IT'S BEEN PART OF THE INDUSTRY FOR A LONG TIME, BUT WHAT WE LEARNED IS THAT THE NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR THE COMBINED RAILROADS WILL REMAIN IN DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY.

SO THERE IS POTENTIAL THAT THIS COULD HAVE SOME JOB GROWTH THERE, NOT TO MENTION THE MERGER OF THE RAILROADS DOES CREATE THE FIRST TRANSNATIONAL RAILROAD, I MEAN FOR THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SHIPPING AND MANUFACTURING, THERE MAY BE BENEFITS THERE.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, THERE IS POSSIBILITY OF PASSENGER RAIL THAT MAY COME ALONG WITH THIS MERGER AS WELL, INCLUDING THE, YOU KNOW, THE RENEWED ROUTE FROM KANSAS CITY TO NEW ORLEANS.

>> THE NEW NAME OF THE COMPANY IS CANADIAN PACIFIC KANSAS CITY LIMITED.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MOUTH FULL.

>> YEAH, HERE'S THE THING.

I THINK ONE OF THE LESSER KNOWN FACTS ABOUT KANSAS CITY IS THAT WE ARE THE SECOND LARGEST RAILROAD HUB IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE'RE SECOND ONLY TO CHICAGO.

THIS MERGER WILL RATIFY THAT.

>> KEVIN.

>> THERE ARE JOBS IN MINNEAPOLIS THAT CANADIAN PACIFIC WILL MOVE DOWN HERE AS PART OF THE MERGER.

I DO THINK THE LABOR FORCE WILL IMPROVE.

AGAIN, VERY SAD, KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN, MARCH COMPANY, IT'S BEEN A HUGE PART OF THE ECONOMY, PARTICULARLY DOWNTOWN.

>> NICK, I ALSO LIKE TO THROW IN QUICKLY THAT THROUGH THE MINDS OF KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN KANSAS CITY CONTINUE TO SHRINK AND CONTRACT.

WE'RE LOSING THOSE COMPANIES LEFT, RIGHT, AND CENTER.

THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT SAD STORY.

>> WITH KC SOUTHERN GONE, IS CERNA NEXT?

IT'S AN ACQUISITION TARGET SOON WITH AMAZON, GOOGLE, MICROSOFT, ALL CONSIDERED PLAUSIBLE BUYERS.

WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE ON THE CITY?

>> THEIR LOSS FROM AN EMPLOYMENT POINT OF VIEW WOULD BE HORRIFIC, UNLESS SOMEBODY SAID WE'RE GOING TO KEEP EVERYTHING HERE, WHICH WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE SPRINT DEAL AND HOW MANY JOBS ARE LEFT THERE.

AS FAR AS THE CIVIC LEADERSHIP SUPPLIED BY COMPANIES LIKE HALLMARK, KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN, SERNA HAS NEVER BEEN IN THAT BALLPARK.

IT'S A DISAPPOINTING FACT OF OUR CORPORATE WORLD HERE IN KANSAS CITY THAT THE KIND OF LEADERS WE HAD IN THE LATE 20th CENTURY DIDN'T COME FROM THE LARGE FIRMS THAT WE REALLY BENEFITTED FROM AS A CITY FOR SO MANY YEARS.

>> WHEN YOU PUT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS TOGETHER EVERY WEEK, WE CAN'T GET TO EVERY STORY.

WHAT WAS THE BIG STORY WE MISSED?

>> AFTER A TRIBUTE OF MEMORIAL SERVICES, THE BODY OF BOB DOLE MAKES IT TO ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.

>> THOUSANDS ARE LEFT WITHOUT POWER AND CLEAN UP IS UNDERWAY AFTER A WIND STORM WHIPS THROUGH THE METRO.

>> THE MARIJUANA LAW IS ON TRIAL, THE SUPREME COURT HEARING ABOUT THE CONFIDENTIALITY CLAUSE.

>> TOP KANSAS CITY STAR SPORTS COLUMNISTS ARE HEADING TO THE EXIT.

SAM IS NOW THE HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS.

>> AND MICHAEL MAHONEY TAKING RETIREMENT.

HE WILL STILL GO TO BIG POLITICAL EVENTS AND HE WILL STILL BE AROUND TO SHARE HIS INCITES ON THIS PROGRAM AND ARE YOU READY FOR KANSAS CITY TO BE IN THE SUPER BOWL?

THEY'RE PUTTING UP TICKETS THIS WEEK.

>>> ALL RIGHT LISA, DID YOU PICK THAT STORY OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD STORIES THERE.

I PICKED THE STORY THAT CAME UP THIS WEEK OF A JACKSON COUNTY JURY AWARDED A $4 MILLION SETTLEMENT TO A TRANSGENDER STUDENT WHO HAD BEEN REFUSED ACCESS TO THE BOYS RESTROOM.

IT'S THOUGHT TO BE ONE OF THE LARGEST SETTLEMENT FOR A TRANSGENDER BATHROOM CASE.

I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO MICHEAL MAHONEY.

I SAW HIM AT A ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE AND HE COMPLEMENTED MY COVERAGE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU MICHAEL AND I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT YOU WILL BE WITH US AGAIN.

>> ON A SERIOUS NOTE, THE COUNCIL WILL DRAW NEW DISTRICTS THIS WEEK AND THAT'S A HUGELY IMPORTANT DECISION.

THE NORTHLAND HAS BEEN ANGRY ABOUT THE MAP, SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT HAPPENS.

LET ME TIP MY CAP TO MY GOOD FRIEND MICHEAL MAHONEY WHO IS GOING INTO SEMI RETIREMENT.

HE'S ONE OF THE GREATEST REPORTERS IN KANSAS CITY HISTORY.

HE WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED.

HE'S MY FRIEND, DON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST HIM KANSAS CITY.

GOOD LUCK TO MIKE AND GOOD FORTUNE AHEAD.

IF YOU CAN GET SOMEONE NAMED RODRIGUEZ TO PERFORM THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE, IT'S A MIRACLE.

MIKE DOES THAT.

>> I WILL SALUTE MY FELLOW IRISHMAN MICHEAL MAHONEY, A WONDERFUL MAN AND GREAT JOURNALIST.

THE STAR HAD A STORY YESTERDAY THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY ATTENTION ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE KCPD SAID 630 GUNS WERE STOLEN FROM CARS IN THE LAST YEAR, 100 IN THE WESTPORT AREA.

IT JUST ABSOLUTELY ENCAPSULEALIZES THE LIEU CRAZINESS OF PEOPLE STICKING A GUN IN A CAR THAT IS NOT SECURED AND CRIMINALS STEALING THOSE GUNS THAT COMMITS MORE CRIME, WHICH CONVINCES PEOPLE TO BUY MORE GUNS TO PUT IN THEIR CARS.

>> AND THE FINAL WORD FOR YOU MICHEAL MAHONEY.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS, PROBABLY NOT DESERVED.

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

THANKS TO CHANNEL 9'S MICHEAL MAHONEY, LISA RODRIGUEZ FROM KCUR NEWS, KEVIN COLLISON FROM CITYSCENEKC AND DAVE HELLING OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR.

AND I'M NICK HAINES, FROM ALL OF HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS BE WELL, KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.

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