>> NICK: IF LAST WEEK WAS A MISERABLE WEEK, CAN THIS WEEK BE DESCRIBED AS MERCILESS?

>> PEOPLE HAVE TO STAY WARM N TEMPERATURES LIKE THIS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

>> NICK: BRUTAL COLD SHUTS DOWN MUCH OF THE CITY AND ROLING BLACKOUTS PROMPTS SCORES OF QUESTIONS.

>> I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED A LITTLE MORE INFO.

>> I HAVE NO DOUBT THERE WILL BE MUCH TIME FOR INVESTIGATION, LITIGATION IN THE FUTURE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WRONG HERE.

>> ALSO THIS WEEK, NEW FRUSTRATIONS OVER THE VACCINE ROLLOUT.

>> I'M ON THE LIST EVERYWHERE, AND NOBODY CAN HELP ME.

>> WE'RE ON THEIR LIST.

WE'RE ON EVERY LIST THAT YOU CAN BE ON.

>> NICK: AND FOR A SECOND YEAR, CANCELING THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE.

>> THIS IS THE GREATEST DAY OF THE ENTIRE YEAR.

THIS IS BETTER THAN CHRISTMAS.

>> NICK: 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, HAAS AND WILKERSON INSURANCE, JOHN H. MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA, NA, COTRUSTEES, AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> NICK: HELLO.

I'M NICK HAINES, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

LIKE YOU, WE'RE JUST GETTING THE FEELING BACK IN OUR FINGERS AND TOES AFTER A BONE CHILLING WEEK THAT PRETTY MUCH DISRUPTED ALL OF OUR LIVES.

BUT OUR FOUR NEW REVIEWERS THIS WEEK SURVIVED TO TELL THE TALE.

CHECKING IN WITH US ON THE BIG SCREEN, FROM 41 ACTION NEWS, ANCHOR DIA WELL, AND FROM KMBC 9 NEWS, CHIEF SPLITAL REPORTER MICHEAL MAHONEY.

ON CALL FROM THE KANSAS CITY CALL, EDITOR, ERIC WESSON, AND FROM THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR, DAVE HELLING.

IN ADDITION TO LIVING THROUGH A PANDEMIC, KANSAS CITY EXPERIENCE ADD NEW LEVEL OF SUFFERING THIS WEEK AS A RECORD BREAKING COLD SNAP DESCENDED ON KC, AND THE MERCILESS WEATHER BROUGHT WITH IT A NEW TERM TO ADD TO OUR LEXI CON, ROLING BLACKOUTS.

>> WE'RE GOING TO PRETTY MUCH FIVE HOURS NOW, AND THAT'S A LONG TIME.

>> SOMEBODY WAS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH ALONG THE WAY.

>> THE FOLKS THAT ARE PAYING THE BILLS, THEY DESERVE SOME ANSWERS RATHER THAN, LET'S JUST TURN YOUR POWER OFF FOR 30 MINUTES AND CALL IT A DAY KIND OF THING.

>> NICK: SOME PEOPLE COMPLAINING THEY WERE NOT INFORMED THAT THE POWER COMPANY WAS GOING TO CUT THEIR ELECTRICITY OFF.

WHAT COULD HAVE THEY DONE DIFFERENTLY WHEN EVER GY'S MAIN MODE OF COMMUNICATION WITH CUSTOMERS IS THROUGH A MONTHLY BILL THROUGH THE MAIL?

>> THEY SAY THEY HAVE A LIST THAT THEY TRY TO KEEP TO MAKE SURE VULNERABLE PEOPLE AREN'T SHUT OFF.

THOSE SYSTEMS AREN'T FAIL PROVE.

SOME LOST IT FOR 30 TO 90 MINUTES, OTHERS FOR HOURS.

IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT.

>> MICHEAL MAHONEY, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT MORE PEOPLE WERE USING UTILITIES DURING THE COURSE OF THIS RECORD COLD SNAP, WHAT OTHER REASONS EXPLAIN WHY WE HAD THIS BLACKOUT?

>> THE EQUATION BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND GOT OUT OF WHACK.

THEY WERE HAVING TERRIBLE ISSUES WITH TRYING TO GET ENOUGH NATURAL GAS BECAUSE THE PIPES AND THE SYSTEMS DOWN IN THE SOUTH WERE NOT WORKING, AND THEN EVEN IN KANSAS, THE WIND TURBINES, THE HYDRAULICS FROZE, SO THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY GENERATED BY THE WIND WAS DOWN, AND THE COAL PILES FROZE, AND WHEN THEY TRY TO BURN COAL, IT DOESN'T BURN AS HOT WHEN IT'S COLD LIKE THAT.

SO THERE WERE ENERGY GENERATION ISSUES HERE AS WELL.

>> NICK: SO WITH ALL OF THOSE PROBLEMS, ERIC WESSON, THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD HAVE ROLING BLACKOUTS FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES OR SO, OR SO THEY CLAIMED, SEEMED TO BE A VERY FAIRWAY OF DOING IT.

WAS IT?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT IT REALLY AFFECTED PEOPLE IF THEY DID THE 30 MINUTES.

I THINK AFTER THAT, THE FOUR HOURS, FIVE HOURS, I THINK THAT AFFECTED PEOPLE MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

LOOK FOR YOUR UTILITY BILLS TO GO UP.

>> IF THE PANDEMIC SHOWED THE LIMITATIONS OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM, WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT THE POWER SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY AND OUR AREA RESULT OF THESE BLACKOUTS?

>> FIRST, IT'S FRAGILE, WHICH HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME.

THE ELECTRIC GRID IN OUR COUNTRY IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS, NICK, NOT JUST IN OUR REGION BUT ACROSS THE NATION.

YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR LAWMAKERS TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS, AND THAT WILL BE PART OF IT GOING FORWARD.

THE OTHER THING WE LEARNED IS IT'S VERY INTERCONNECTED.

PEOPLE THINK IT'S JUST ABOUT.

VERGY OR JUST ABOUT TEXAS.

IT'S INTERCONNECTED, AND SUSCEPTIBLE WHEN TEMPERATURES EITHER PLUNGE OR GO UP DRAMATICALLY, WHICH AS THE CLIMATE CHANGES WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE COMMON.

THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WILL DOMINATE POLITICAL DISCUSSION.

>> THE PRICE OF NATURAL GAS EXPLODED OVER THE LAST WEEK, AND THE UTILITIES ARE PERMITTED TO PASS THE COST OF ENERGY, RAW ENERGY, ALONG TO CUSTOMERS.

NOW, WILL THEY DO IT OVER TIME?

WILL THEY LET IT DRAG OUT FOR A YEAR?

WILL THEY GET IT ALL IN ONE BILL?

THAT WILL BE A DISCUSSION TOPIC FOR CORPORATION COMMISSIONS IN BOTH STATE, BUT YOUR BILLS ARE GOING TO GO UP BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT.

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE AN INVESTIGATION IN KANSAS FOR SURE ABOUT THIS.

I'LL BET YOU THERE IS ONE IN MISSOURI AS WELL.

>> NICK: BONE CHILLING TEMPERATURES THIS WEEK SHUT DOWN STATE OFFICES IN MISSOURI, CLOSED COURTS IN KANSAS CITY AND LED TO THE CANCELLATION OF CLASSES IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

IT ALSO DELAYED VACCINE SHIPMENTS AND SCHOOLS WITH MASS VACCINATION EVENTS IN OUR REGION.

WITH ANXIETY AND FRUSTRATION LEVELS ALREADY HIGH, DID WE REALLY NEED ANOTHER SLOWDOWN IN GETTING SHOTS INTO PEOPLE'S ARMS, DIA.

>> NO, NO, AND NO.

WE NEED TO GET THE SCHOOLS OPEN.

WE NEED TO GET FRONTLINE WORKERS, ALL FRONTLINE WORKERS VACCINATED.

THE STRUGGLE HERE IS THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOUR COUNTIES, YOUR CITIES, YOUR STATES, ARE IMPLEMENTING YOUR VACCINE ROLLOUT.

IT'S ALL MIXED UP.

>> NICK: AND BECAUSE OF THAT DIA, OUR VIEWERS ARE INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATED AND FEELING RESENTFUL OVER THIS.

WE'RE HEARING FROM A NUMBER OF VIEWERS.

RICHARD WRITES TO US ABOUT WHAT HE SAYS IS THE INEQUITY IN 65 AND OVER VACCINATIONS.

HE SAYS IN JOHNSON COUNTY, HEALTH SYSTEMS ARE DOING MUCH OF THE VACCINATIONS AND THEY ARE INSURING THEIR PATIENTS ARE FIRST IN LINE.

IF YOU'RE UNAFFILIATED, YOU'RE LEFT OUT S THAT REALLY HAPPENING, DAVE?

>> YES.

THE RULES ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHAT PART OF THE STATE YOU LIVE IN, NOT JUST IN KANSAS BUT IN MISSOURI.

I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE FRUSTRATION.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN KANSAS, THEY ANNOUNCED, HEY, IF YOU'RE OVER THE AGE OF 65 YOU'RE ELIGIBLE, BUT BEING ELIGIBLE IS A VERY DIFFERENT THING FROM ACTUALLY GETTING THE VACCINATION, AND I CAN SPEAK WITH SOME PERSONAL EXPERIENCE SINCE I QUALIFY, BEING OLDER THAN 65.

YOU PUT YOUR NAME ON LISTS, YOU HEAR NOTHING.

YOU CHECK BACK.

YOU STILL HEAR NOTHING, AND THAT'S JUST A RECIPE, NICK, FOR CONCERN, FRUSTRATION, ANGER.

AGAIN, IT'S MUCH LIKE THE ELECTRICITY PROBLEM.

THERE ARE EXPLANATIONS, BUT AS A POLITICAL MATTER, PEOPLE ARE JUST FED UP WITH THE INABILITY OF AUTHORITIES TO DELIVER WHAT THEY THINK THEY OUGHT TO HE ABOUT DELIVERING TO THE PUBLIC.

>> SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LAST SUMMER.

REMEMBER THIS.

BANKS WERE MAKING SURE THAT THEIR CUSTOMERS GOT TAKEN CARE OF RATHER THAN SOMEBODY THAT MAY NOT HAVE HAD A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP TO THEM.

SO IT'S ALL ABOUT CONNECTIONS, AND IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

IT'S VERY DISAPPOINTING, AND IT NEEDS ADDRESSED.

RIGHT NOW, I DON'T SEE ANY REAL STRONG SOLUTIONS.

>> NICK: WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM GROCERY WORKERS THIS WEEK WHO ARE ALSO FEELING LEFT OUT.

ALICE IN ROELAND PARK WRITES, I THOUGHT WE WERE CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL, FRONTLINE WORKERS.

HOW COME WE'RE NOT CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL WHEN IT COMES TO THE VACCINE, ERIC?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, BECAUSE THEY'RE COMING IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE OFF THE STREET CONSTANTLY THEY MIGHT NOT BE IN THE SAME PROXIMITY AS A NURSE OR A DOCTOR, BUT THEY'RE STILL IN A POSITION WHERE THEY'RE COMING IN CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC AS WELL.

I DO WANT TO APPLAUD THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, VA SYSTEM.

THEY SENT OUT A ROBO BLAST LAST WEEK TELLING VETERANS THAT THEY HAD EXTRA SHOTS.

THEY ALLOWED THEM TO COME IN AND THEY PROMISE SERVICED ABOUT 400 VETERANS LAST WEEK.

I GOT ONE AND I'M NOT AS OLD AS MICHEAL MAHONEY.

>> NOBODY IS.

>> BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET A SHOT, AND A LOT OF YOUNGER PEOPLE UNDER THAT AGE WERE ABLE TO GET ONE.

>> THE VA OPERATES ON A LIST BASE SYSTEM, RIGHT?

YOU ALREADY HAVE TO BE WITHIN THE VA SYSTEM FOR THEM TO NOTIFY YOU.

WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD MECHANISM TO NOTIFY EVERYBODY IN ANY COUNTY.

I MEAN, I COMPLETELY RELATE.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY CALLS I'VE GOTTEN, NOT ONLY FROM OUR GROCERY STORE WORKERS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR BUS DRIVERS, THE VERY PEOPLE WHO KEPT THIS COMMUNITY RUNNING AND ON ITS FEET THIS ENTIRE PANDEMIC, WHEN WE WERE ALL SHUTTING DOWN, NOW ASKING FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THAT.

THEY SHOWED UP FOR US, AND WE NEED TO SHOW UP FOR THEM.

>> NICK: IT'S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS.

I SAW AN INTERESTING STORY IN THE TOPEKA JOURNAL ABOUT CORRECTIONS WORKERS.

70% OF SHAWNEE COUNTY CORRECTIONS WORKERS REFUSING TO GET THE VACCINE.

IS THAT JUST GOING TO SLOW DOWN OUR RETURN TO NORMAL?

>> THE LATEST NEWS ON THIS IS THE RELUCTANCE TO THIS SEEMS TO BE REDUCING RIGHT NOW.

SOME OF IT IS PEOPLE LEGITIMATELY SAYING, HEY, THIS THING CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SAFE.

IT'S TROUBLING, ESPECIALLY FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING IN JOBS WHERE THEY'RE WITH INDIVIDUALS ALL THE TIME, A LOT OF THE TIME THAT THEY'RE RELUCTANT TO DO IT, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO SLOW DOWN THE VACCINATION PROGRESS.

>> NICK: AS WE MOVE ON IN OUR WEEK IN REVIEW, FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR, THERE WILL NOT BE A ST. PATRICK'S PARADE IN KANSAS CITY.

ORGANIZERS ANSWERING IT WILL BE CANCELED.

WITH DAILY COVID CASES WAY DOWN AND A BIG REDUCTION IN HOSPITALIZATIONS, WHAT PROMPTED THE DECISION, DIA, TO CANCEL AN EVENT TAKING PLACE A MONTH FROM NOW?

>> NO, I NICK HAINES -- NOW, NICK HAINES, WE'RE STILL IN A PANDEMIC, MY FRIEND.

NOT TO MAKE LIGHT, BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING.

YES, THE NUMBER OF INFECTION RATES ARE GOING DOWN, BUT WE ARE BEING ENCOURAGED BY OUR COUNTY, CITY, EXPERTS TO SOCIAL DISTANCE TO, CONTINUE TO WEAR MASKS.

I WAS IN TAMPA AT THE SUPER BOWL, PEOPLE ARE NOT OUT THERE WEARING MASKS IN THESE CROWDS.

YES, WE LOVE ST. PATTY'S, IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARADES TO BE PART OF OR EXPERIENCE, BUT HAVING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED, MAYBE DRINKING, PARTAKING, IT'S JUST NOT A GOOD IDEA.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST A RECIPE TO HAVE COMMUNITY SPREAD.

>> NICK: MICHEAL MAHONEY, WHEN IT CAME TO THE SUPER BOWL PARADE, A POTENTIAL ONE IF THE CHIEFS WON, THERE WAS A CONCERN, WELL, WE CAN DELAY THAT, HAVE IT LATER, TO HAVE THAT CELEBRATION.

ANY INTEREST IN HAVING A DELAYED ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE, PERHAPS IN JUNE OR JULY?

>> NONE WHATSOEVER, AND FULL DISCLOSURE, AS MANY VIEWERS KNOW, I USED TO BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR THE ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE AND WAS A BOARD MEMBER FOR A LONG TIME AND REMAIN ACTIVE IN IT.

THIS DECISION TO CANCEL THE 2021 PARADE HAS -- WASN'T A SURPRISE TO ME AT ALL.

I HAD BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS FROM THE CURRENT PARADE ORGANIZER FOR A WHILE NOW, AND IT'S FOR ALL THE REASONS DEE A JUST EXPLAINED.

IT'S A BAD IDEA RIGHT NOW TO ENCOURAGE CROWDS TO DO ANYTHING.

>> IF IT'S SUCH A BAD IDEA, THEN WHY IS IT THE WEEK BEFORE THE BIG 12 BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP IS COMING TO KANSAS CITY AT THE T MOBILE CENTER.

SHOULD THAT BE CANCELED TOO?

>> THEY PROBABLY WILL LET THEM PLAY THE TOURNAMENT WITHOUT A CROWD OR A VERY, VERY LIMITED CROWD.

IT WON'T BE ALL THE THINGS WE'RE SEEING DOWN IN THE POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT WHERE THEY CLOSE THE STREETS OFF AND HAVE STREET VENDORS AND PLAYING BASKETBALL OUT THERE.

IF THEY DO HAVE IT, I BELIEVE IT WILL BE VERY, VERY LIMITED AND VERY, VERY CLOSED.

>> NICK, WE'LL SEE A LOT OF CHANGES AND DISCUSSION IN THE WEEKS AHEAD ABOUT THE BIG EVENTS LIKE THIS.

THE ROYALS OPENING GAME IS SCHEDULED FOR, I THINK, APRIL, LATE MARCH, EARLY APRIL.

>> (LAUGHTER).

>> YEAH, I GOT A CAT THAT DECIDED TO JUMP ON MY DESK.

SORRY.

SORRY FOR THAT.

>> IS THAT CAT IN THE UNION?

>> I SEE THIS AS A POTENTIAL RATINGS WINNER FOR US.

THANK YOU, DAVE.

>> I GUESS.

I GUESS.

ANYWAY, SHE WANTS TO BE WITH HUMANS, I GUESS.

>> (LAUGHTER).

>> SO THE ROYALS HAVE SOME DECISIONS TO MAKE.

OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DECISIONS TO MAKE.

HERE'S THE IMPORTANT POINT FROM MY POINT OF VIEW.

WE ARE VERY CLOSE, NOT TO GETTING BACK TO NORMAL CERTAINLY, BUT AT LEAST SOMETHING THAT'S RECOGNIZABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH VACCINES, THE RATE OF INFECTION HAS DECLINED.

DEATHS ARE GOING DOWN IN HOSPITALS.

WE'RE CLOSE, BUT WE'RE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH, AND TO DO A THING LIKE A PARADE OR HAVE A BIG 18,000 PEOPLE AT THE BIG 12 TOURNAMENT THREATENS THAT RECOVERY AND COULD PUT US RIGHT BACK AGAIN.

IT SEEMS IMPORTANT THAT THE PARADE IS SENDING US A SIGNAL, HEY, WE NEED TO REALLY, REALLY PAY ATTENTION NOW SO THAT BY JUNE AND JULY WE CAN GET BACK TO SOME SEMBLANCE OF NORMALCY.

>> QUICKLY, HEADS UP.

DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE THERE IS SOME CHANGE IN TERMS OF CAPACITY IN THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI COVID RESTRICTIONS.

>> MICHAEL, YOU CAN'T REVEAL THAT AND NOT SAY MORE ABOUT IT.

SO ARE WE ABOUT TO REMOVING MASKS, SOCIAL DISTANCING, ALLOWING CROWDS ANYWHERE INDOORS AND OUTDOORS?

>> WELL, WHAT I'LL TELL YOU IS THAT WHEN MAYOR LUCAS SPOKE ABOUT THE LATEST VERSION OF THE EMERGENCY RECORDS, AND THAT WAS BACK IN JANUARY, MID-JANUARY, ABOUT THIS TIME, HE ALSO SAID, LOOK, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO REVISIT THIS FOUR WEEKS LATER.

WELL, IT'S NOW FOUR WEEKS LATER.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, IF NOT TODAY, THIS WEEKEND, WE LEARN ABOUT SOME CAPACITY CHANGES.

>> NICK: ALL RIGHTY.

SINCE THE LAST TIME WE GATHERED AROUND THIS TABLE, ALL FOUR KANSAS CITY AREA SENATORS VOTED TO ACQUIT PRESIDENT TRUMP IN A SECOND IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

HERE'S NEW KANSAS SENATOR ROGER MARSHALL EXPLAINING HIS VOTE.

>> I'M GOING TO JUST TALK ABOUT THE PRECEDENT THAT THIS SETS.

DOES THIS MEAN THAT WE SHOULD GO BACK OR HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO BACK AND IMPEACH PAST PRESIDENTS?

IMPEACH PRESIDENT WASHINGTON AND PRESIDENT JEFFERSON FOR OWNING SLAVES?

>> NICK: ERIC WESSON, I DON'T WANT TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THIS.

AS WE TALKED ABOUT SO MANY TIMES THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, BUT SHOULD WE BE AT ALL SURPRISE THAT ALL FOUR SENATORS IN OUR METRO SAID NO TO CONVICTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT SURPRISED.

DON'T KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO HAVE THEM CHANGE THEIR VOTE, BUT I'M NOT SURPRISED BY ANY OF IT AT ALL.

>> NICK: NOW THE ATTENTION TURNS TO WHAT OUR SENATORS WILL DO ON A NEW COVID RELIEF BILL, WHICH IS NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA OF CONGRESS.

THIS COULD INCLUDE 1,400-DOLLAR CHECKS FOR MOST AMERICANS, AND SOME EXPERTS BY THE WAY SAY THAT MONEY COULD BE YOUR BANK ACCOUNT BY THE WEEK OF MARCH 8th.

WE'RE ALSO LEARNING THIS WEEK THAT KANSAS AND MISSOURI WILL GET A BIG CHUNK OF CHANGE FROM WHAT LOOKS MORE LIKELY TO BE A DEMOCRAT ONLY COVID RELIEF BILL.

HOW ABOUT $1.6 BILLION IN AID TO THE STATE OF KANSAS?

MISSOURI WOULD GET A $2.8 BILLION PAYDAY, AND MONEY FOR OUR LOCAL CITIES.

KANSAS CITY IS SLATED TO RECEIVE $181 MILLION.

DOES THAT SOLVE MAYOR LUCAS' 70 MILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET PROBLEM, DAVE HELLING, AND ALL THE CUTS HE'S TRYING TO MAKE TO BALANCE THE BOOKS?

>> IT WOULD HELP, BECAUSE THIS MONEY, UNLIKE THE MONEY THAT CAME TO KANSAS CITY IN THE FIRST ROUND OF COVID RELIEF THROUGH THE COUNTIES, THAT HAD TO BE SPEND ON COVID EXPENSES.

ONE ASSUMES THIS MONEY COULD BE USED FOR BUDGET SHORTFALLS.

WE DID AN INTERVIEW YESTERDAY WITH KATHERYN SHIELDS, HEAD OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.

SHE THINKS KANSAS CITY IS IN MUCH WORSE SHAPE FINANCIALLY THAN EVEN THE NEW BUDGET SUGGESTS.

YEAH, THAT MONEY WOULD BE IMPORTANT, BUT DON'T EXPECT ANY HELP FROM ROY BLUNT OR ROGER MARSHALL OR EVEN JERRY MORAN AND JOSH HAWLEY.

THEY ALL HAVE SAID IN VARIOUS WAYS THAT THIS 1.9 TRILLION DOLLAR PACKAGE PUSHED BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS NOT SOMETHING THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN SUPPORT.

>> NICK: AS NEW KANSAS CONGRESSMAN TURNER SAYS, THIS WOULD BE A BAILOUT FOR BLUE STATES, BUT IS HE WILLING TO VOTE NO ON BRINGING $1.6 BILLION TO STATE GOVERNMENT IN KANSAS?

>> WELL, WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT, BUT HE CERTAINLY SEEMS DETERMINED BY HIS REMARKS ON THAT, AND MORAN ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS NOT ENAMORED WITH THE IDEA OF MONEY TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND PART OF IT WAS THE DEMOCRAT BLUE CITY, BLUE STATE ARGUMENT AS WELL.

>> NICK: THE ISSUE OF GIVING TAX INCENTIVES OF COMPANIES CONTINUES TO DIVIDE CITIES AROUND OUR METRO.

LAST WEEK, OVERLAND PARK MAYOR CARL GERLACH ANNOUNCED HE WOULD NOT SEEK REELECTION.

HE WAS BEING CHALLENGED FOR THE JOB BY A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS MADE OPPOSITION TO TAX GIVEAWAYS AS ONE HALLMARK OF HIS CAMPAIGN.

NOW KANSAS CITY IS WORKING YET AGAIN TO LIMIT INCENTIVES TO GIVE TO BUSINESSES.

MAYOR LUCAS HAS PROPOSED ELIMINATING SEVEN DIFFERENT PANELS THAT AWARD TAX BREAKS AND REPLACING THEM.

SOME PEOPLE MAY ASK WHY ARE THERE SEVEN DIFFERENT GROUPS DOING THIS NOW?

>> IT WOULD STREAMLINE ONE GROUP SAYING IT'S OKAY TO DO IT, ANOTHER GROUP SAYING IT'S NOT OKAY TO DO IT.

IT WOULD JUST ELIMINATE A LOT OF BUREAUCRACY.

I WAS DOWN YESTERDAY LISTENING TO THE CONVERSATIONS WITH SOCCER STADIUM THAT THEY'RE WANTING TO DO UP IN THE NORTHLAND, AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING IN LOOKING AT THE PROPOSAL WAS THE CREATIVE AVENUES THEY HAVE IN WHICH TO HELP FUND IT.

I THINK THAT THESE INCENTIVES, EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY THEY WANT TO CUT THEM, THERE'S A LOT OF LOOPHOLES THAT MAKE IT ELIGIBLE FOR THEM TO GO AND GET MONEY FROM THE CITY.

>> DAVE.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS THE MAYOR IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, NICK, IS THAT DEVELOPERS DO SHOPPING, INCENTIVES SHOPPING IN THE CITY WHEN THEY GO TO ONE AGENCY, THE TIF COMMISSION, AND SAY HEY, WE NEED THIS KIND OF HELP, AND THE TIF COMMISSION SAYS NO.

THE DEVELOPER WILL JUST PICK UP HIS OR HER BAGS AND GO TO THE PORT AUTHORITY AND SAY, WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME?

EXPECT A FIERCE PUSHBACK FROM THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF LIMITING ACCESS TO THESE GOODIES.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE AT STAKE.

THEY WILL BE VERY ACTIVE TRYING TO KILL THIS PROPOSAL.

>> I THINK THE MAYOR IS ALSO UNDER PRESSURE.

YOU ASK YOUR CITIZENS TO TIGHTEN YOUR BELT STRAPS.

YOU'RE ASKING EVERYBODY TO BE GOOD STEWARDS, AND TIME AND SOMETIME AGAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS COME UP AS AN ISSUE IN THIS CITY, PEOPLE NOT HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THERE'S NO MONEY IS ALWAYS THE ANSWER, BUT INCENTIVES CONTINUE TO BE APPROVED AND GREEN LIT BY ANY ONE OF THESE ALPHABET SOUP OF AGENCIES.

>> NICK: BUT DEVELOPERS ALSO, THOUGH, CAN SHOP AROUND AND GO TO OTHER CITIES AROUND OUR METRO IF THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IN KANSAS CITY, RIGHT?

>> I DO THINK TRYING TO STREAMLINE THE RIVER FLOW ON THIS WOULD REDUCE SOME OF THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI INDENTIVE SHOPPING, BUT NOT NECESSARILY METRO WIDE.

>> NICK: IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BUT THE POLICE ARE BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK.

FIRST OFF, SHOULD POLICE OFFICERS HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY IN WHICH THEY SERVE?

THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT'S NOW FRONT AND CENTER IN THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE.

LAWMAKERS MAKING A NEW PUSH TO END THE REQUIREMENT THAT KANSAS CITY POLICE OFFICERS LIVE WHERE THEY WORK.

ANOTHER BILL LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING ON IS A POLICE OFFICER'S BILL OF RIGHTS THAT WOULD GIVE OFFICERS GREATER LEGAL PROTECTIONS IN USE OF FORCE CASES.

WHAT DO SUPPORTERS THINK WILL HAPPEN IF POLICE ARE ALLOWED TO LIVE WHEREVER THEY WANT?

DO THEY BELIEVE CRIME WILL GO DOWN, MORE PEOPLE WILL WANT TO SIGN UP?

>> NOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE WHERE I TAKE MY MICHEAL MAHONEY MOMENT.

NO, I DO NOT THINK IT IS AN IDEA THAT'S GOING TO BRING TRUST TO THE COMMUNITY.

I'M JUST GOING TO BE STRAIGHT UP, FLAT OUT.

NOT A SINGLE PERSON I'VE TALKED TO IN THE COMMUNITY ACTIVE ON THIS ISSUE OR CONCERNED SAYS, OH, THIS IS A GREAT IDEA.

WHEN THERE IS A LACK OF TRUST BETWEEN A POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LARGE SWATHS OF THE COMMUNITY, SEPARATING THEM EVEN FURTHER IS PROBLEMATIC.

NO.

2, KANSAS CITY POLICE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, AND AGAIN, I'M ONE PERSON, SO THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT HERE, HAS NOT YET TOLD ME OR ANYBODY AT OUR STATION THAT THEY'VE HAD AN ISSUE WITH GETTING FULL RECRUITMENT CLASSES.

IN FACT, THEY'VE HAD TO CANCEL CLASSES FOR RECRUITS.

I THINK THAT'S THE FEEDBACK THAT I HEAR, AND WHAT MAKES THIS A POSSIBLE TINDER BOX MOVING FORWARD.

>> RESIDENCY GIVES POLICE OFFICERS CONNECTEDNESS AND OWNERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE MORE SO THAN IF THEY LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE, COME IN HERE, DO A JOB AND THEN GO BACK AND TAKE THEIR TAX MONEY BACK.

>> DAVE HELLING, IS IT GOING TO BE HARDER FOR LAWMAKERS TO VOTE NO ON THIS WHEN IT IS CONNECTED TO OTHER POLICE REFORM MEASURES, LIKE BANNING CHOKEHOLDS, WHICH MANY DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS APPROVE OF?

ARE THEY GOING TO HOLD THEIR NOSES AND SAY WE'LL DITCH THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS SO WE CAN HAVE THOSE REFORMS?

>> RIGHT.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, NICK, BECAUSE THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE HAS MADE RESIDENCY A TOP PRIORITY.

THEY REALLY WANT THEIR MEMBERS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE OUTSIDE KANSAS CITY, SO THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS TECHNIQUES, ATTACKING IT TO -- ATTACHING IT TO ANOTHER BILL, STAND ALONE, THEY'RE TRYING VERY HARD TO GET THIS ADOPTED.

A REMINDER, THE CHIEF OF POLICE OPPOSES THIS.

THE BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS IS ALSO CONCERNED.

THE MAYOR DOESN'T LIKE IT.

JEFFERSON CITY IS DIFFERENT.

THE POLICE FORCE HAS 7 LOBBYISTS IN JEFF CITY, 7.

SO THEIR VOICE IS HEARD, AND IT MAY INDEED COME OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE.

ST. LOUIS WON THIS BATTLE A COUPLE YEARS AGO OR AT LEAST ENDED RESIDENCY PURSUING A SIMILAR TRACK.

>> AND IT RADICALLY CHANGED THE NATURE OF CLIMB IN ST. LOUIS BECAUSE THEY DID THAT, MICHAEL?

>> NO, IT DIDN'T.

THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS IS MUCH SMALLER THAN THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AND YOU CAN BE A KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI RESIDENT AS A POLICE OFFICER AND LIVE UP BY SMITHVILLE, OR YOU CAN BE A COP AND LIVE DOWN BY GRANDVIEW, AND YOU'RE STILL IN THE CITY LIMITS.

THERE'S A LOT OF VARIETY.

THIS IS NOT ORDERING THE COPS ALL TO LIVE IN DOWNTOWN LOFTS OR AT WESTPORT OR AT 39th AND TROOST.

THERE'S A LOT OF VARIETY ALREADY.

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

WHAT WAS THE BIG STORY WE MISSED?

SHE'S COME OUT OF OO COMA.

5-YEAR-OLD AERIAL YOUNG AWAKE AFTER THAT YASH THAT ALMOST TOOK HER LIFE.

LAYING TO REST CAROL COLE.

RUSH LIMBAUGH, HE WORKED FOR SEVERAL KANSAS CITY STATIONS EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND SPEND FIVE YEARS WITH THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS IN GROUP TICKET SALES.

>> I WAS MISERABLE.

AFTER FIVE YEARS THERE, I WAS MAKING $18,000 A YEAR.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF MONEY THAT SOUNDS LIKE TO YOU, BUT BELIEVE ME, IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AT AGE 32, IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT IF YOU TAKE YOURSELF SERIOUSLY.

>> BOTH KANSAS AND MISSOURI NOW MOVING ON BILLS THAT WOULD BAN TRANSGENDER STUDENTS FROM COMPETING IN GIRLS AND WOMEN SPORTS.

IS RECYCLING ABOUT TO TAKE A BIG HIT?

THE METRO'S TRASH HAULER WANTS TO DO AWAY WITH WEEKLY RECYCLING PICKUP.

RISING COSTS ARE TO BLAME.

DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL WARMER?

THE ROYALS RETURN TO SPRING TRAINING IN SUNNY SUNRISE, ARIZONA.

AND THE DEEP FREEZE FINALLY COMING TO AN END.

ARE WE REALLY ABOUT TO HIT 50 ON MONDAY.

>> NICK: OKAY DIA WELL, WAS IT ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

>> DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE.

5-YEAR-OLD ARIEL WAKING UP IS SIGNIFICANT.

STILL A VERY LONG ROAD FOR HER AND HER FAMILY, THINKING ABOUT THEM, PRAYING FOR THEM.

I DON'T THINK WE CAN TAKE OUR EYES OFF THIS.

>> ERIC WESSON.

>> CAROL COLE PASSING, TREMENDOUS ADVOCATE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

I DID THE STORY ABOUT HER, AND I LEARNED SO MUCH MORE THAN I DIDN'T KNOW, HOW ACTUALLY CULTURED SHE WAS IN GOING TO THE WHITE HOUSE, EATING WITH THE REAGAN WHITE HOUSE WHEN HER FRIEND ALVIN AILY GOT THE KENNEDY CENTER AWARD.

>> SHE WAS VERY COMPLICATED.

BUT HER INFLUENCES UNDENIABLE.

I THINK CAROL COLE'S PASSING MARKS A REAL, REAL MOMENT FOR KANSAS CITY TO THINK ABOUT HER CONCRETE AND HER LEGACY.

>> THE DEATH OF RUSH LIMBAUGH, THE CONSERVATIVE ICON IN PARTICULAR, EVEN THOUGH SOME PEOPLE WILL LOATHE HIM AND OTHERS WILL LIKE HIM, HE HAD DISTINCTIVE KANSAS CITY CONNECTIONS, WORKS AT KMBZ, WORKED AT THE PROMOTIONS DEPARTMENT AT THE ROYALS, AND REGARDLESS OF POLITICS, A BIG PART OF IT, HE HAD AN AMAZING CAREER AS A BROADCASTER, STARTING AS A HIGH SCHOOL D.J.

DOWN IN CAPE GIRARDEAU AND ENDS UP A BILLIONAIRE BROADCASTER AND PROBABLY REVIVING A.M. RADIO.

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

OUR THANKS FOR DIA WELL FROM 41 ACTION NEWS, AND MICHEAL MAHONEY FROM KMBC 9 NEWS.

FROM THE CALL NEWSPAPER, ERIC WESSON AND FROM THE STAR DAVE HELLING.

YOU WON'T SEE ME NEXT WEEK.

WE'RE MOVING INTO OUR FUND RAISING DRIVE.

IT'S WHAT PEACE THE BILLS AROUND HERE.

UNTIL THEN, KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.

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