SO YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS ONLY ONE STORY WORTH TALKING ABOUT IN KANSAS CITY THIS WEEK WE'VE GOT ALL THE OTHER NEWS YOU MISSED AS PRETTY MUCH EVERY LOCAL REPORTER HEADED TO NEW ORLEANS OR LAWRENCE WE TRACK THE RESULTS OF THIS WEEK'S LOCAL ELECTIONS GROUNDBREAKING ON THE NEW STREETCAR EXTENSION AND KANSAS LAWMAKERS RAISING THE STAKES ON THEIR QUEST TO LURE THE CHIEFS ACROSS THE STATE LINE PLUS JUST AS OUR TWO GOVERNORS DECLARE THE COVET EMERGENCY OVER WIRE MASKS NOW BACK IN SHAWNEE MISSION SCHOOLS AND WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS FROM THE BIG KANSAS MYSTERY COMPANY TO A RENAMING OF KCI THOSE STORIES AND THE REST OF THE WEEK'S NEWS STRAIGHT AHEAD 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 HI I'M NICK HAINES AND IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US ON OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE WEEK'S MOST IMPACTFUL CONFUSING AND BEFUDDLING LOCAL NEWS STORIES HOPPING ON BOARD THE WEEK IN REVIEW BUS THIS WEEK HE IS MR UP TO DATE ON KCUR FM STEVE KRASKE EDITOR REPORTER FOR CITY SCENE KC KEVIN COLLISON FROM THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR DAVE HELLING AND WITH SO MANY STORIES PERCOLATING ON THE KANSAS SIDE THIS WEEK WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE STATE HOUSE REPORTER REBECCA CHUNG JOINING US FROM TOPEKA SHE'S POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR KSNT TV IN OUR KANSAS CAPITAL STEVE KRASKE BEFORE WE GET GOING CAN I ASK YOU IF YOU WERE A LOCAL POLITICIAN RIGHT NOW WOULD THIS MEAN A GREAT WAY TO DO SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS AND GET SOMETHING PAST THE PUBLIC IN A WEEK THAT THERE WERE NO REPORTERS AVAILABLE TO COVER IT YEAH AND I MEAN NO KIDDING WITH ALL THE SPORTS COVERAGE OVER IN UH LAWRENCE RIGHT NOW BUT I JUST WAS THINKING THAT THIS IS THIS IS KIND OF A GOLDEN ERA FOR KANSAS CITY SPORTS JUST THINK IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS WE'VE HAD A WORLD SERIES CHAMP A SUPER BOWL CHAMP AND NOW A NATIONAL NCAA CHAMPION WE'RE THE SPORTS CAPITAL OF AMERICA RIGHT NOW NICK IT'S A GOOD TIME TO BE A KANSAS CITY BUT YOU KNOW COLLEGE HOOPS THOUGH KEVIN IS SO TRIBAL WHEN I CAME IN YESTERDAY TO TRY AND PUT A LOT OF THE SHOW TOGETHER MOST OF OUR PRODUCTION CREW NEVER EVEN WATCHED THE GAME THEY WERE PEOPLE FROM MISSOURI THEY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT KANSAS THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN SAY THE ROYALS OR THE CHIEFS I'M ALWAYS GLAD TO SEE OUR LOCAL NBA FRANCHISE DO WELL HEY BY THE WAY REBECCA I DID SEE THAT THE GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY WAS ALSO IN NEW ORLEANS TRYING TO EVEN DO HYPE RALLIES AND THINGS ARE WE ALL GOING TO GET A DAY OFF WORK IF YOU LIVE IN KANSAS AS A RESULT OF THIS THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION I ACTUALLY THOUGHT YOU COULD LOOK AT THIS IN TWO WAYS YOU COULD LOOK AT THIS AS YOU KNOW THE GOVERNOR RALLYING AROUND HER CONSTITUENTS YOU KNOW TRYING TO SHOW HER SUPPORT FOR KANSAS BUT YOU COULD ALSO VERY EASILY LOOK AT THIS AS YOU KNOW TED CRUZ GOING ON VACATION DURING HIS STORM WELL BASKETBALL WAS BIG THIS WEEK BUT AN OVAL SHAPED BALL IS ALSO DOMINATING OUR NEWS CYCLE LAST WEEK WE DISCUSSED HOW THE CHIEFS WERE NOW SCOOPING OUT SCOUTING OUT RATHER NEW STADIUM SITES IN KANSAS THIS WEEK THE STAKES HAVE BEEN RAISED BILLS HERE BY DECLARED PAST KANSAS IS NOW MOVING FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING AND WHERE WILL THE PROCEEDS GO LISTEN TO THIS THE ATTRACTING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TO KANSAS FUND IT'S A NEW POOL OF INCENTIVE MONEY DESIGNED TO LURE THE CHIEFS ACROSS THE STATE LINE HOW IS THIS CHANGING DAVE HELLING THE SPEED SCOPE AND SIZE OF THIS STADIUM DEBATE WELL WE'RE VERY EARLY IN THIS DISCUSSION NICK AND BY THE WAY THERE'S NO TRUTH TO THE RUMOR THAT IF THE CHIEFS MOVED TO KANSAS MIKE PARSON IS TRYING TO GET THE JAYHAWKS TO MOVE TO MISSOURI THAT THAT IS A STORY WE'VE HEARD THAT'S NOT TRUE SETTING ASIDE GAMBLING MONEY FOR WHATEVER PURPOSE IT CAN BE USED FOR FOR NEW FACILITIES IS IMPORTANT BUT IT'S NOT THE BE-ALL AND END-ALL A NEW STADIUM IS GOING TO COST A BILLION DOLLARS OR MORE SO IT MOVES THE NEEDLE A LITTLE BIT IT MAY FORCE THE HAND OF THE PEOPLE IN MISSOURI BUT IT'S NOT A DEFINITIVE UH MOMENT IF YOU WILL IN THIS DISCUSSION DAVE SAYS REBECCA THAT IT'S A DROP IN THE BUCKET SPORTS BETTING IN KANSAS THAT BILL WOULD BRING ABOUT 10 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR THAT'S NOT GOING TO BUILD YOU MUCH OF A STADIUM IS IT I DEFINITELY THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO AT LEAST YOU KNOW LEAVE A TRAIL OR YOU KNOW PUT CERTAIN THINGS IN PLACE SO WE'RE IN A GOOD POSITION THAT IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN DOWN THE LINE YOU KNOW SOMETHING CAN COME OUR WAY MOST STATES IN THE COUNTRY HAVE ALREADY APPROVED SPORTS BANNING REBECCA WHY IS IT AFTER YEARS OF SAYING NO DID THE LAWMAKERS AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AND TO TIE IT TO TRY TO BRING IN A SPORTS FRANCHISE TOO WELL IT COULD BE A LOT OF THINGS AND I THINK IT COULD BE YOU KNOW MAYBE THE PANDEMIC SHIFTING THAT MINDSET THINKING YOU KNOW KIND OF LIKE LIGHTING A FIRE UNDER THEIR SEAT A LITTLE BIT AND SAYING WELL YOU KNOW NOW IS THE TIME THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION WE NEED MORE MONEY COMING INTO THE STATE WE NEED TO BE SECURE IN TIMES WHERE WE MAY BE UNSURE UM AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO IT BUT IT I THINK IT ALSO JUST COMES AT THE TIME SEEING THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION AND KANSAS ALSO MAYBE NEEDS TO YOU KNOW TAKE THOSE STEPS AND SOME OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING HERE UM I THINK IT ALSO GOES BACK TO YOUR SECOND QUESTION UH IN REGARD TO YOU KNOW ADDING THIS ATTRACTING PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAMS TO KANSAS FUND I THINK THAT ALSO COMES WITH YOU KNOW JUST MAYBE THE NEWS OF THE CHIEFS POSSIBLY MOVING AND HEARING THAT I THINK IT KIND OF ALSO TELLS THEM WELL YOU KNOW MAYBE WE SHOULD ADD SOMETHING LIKE THIS MAYBE WE SHOULD INCENTIVIZE SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND YOU KNOW CASH IN ON THE MOMENT MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS STEVE SAYS ABSOLUTELY NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON SAYING THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT THIS WE'LL BE COMPETITIVE WITH ANY STATE DOES THAT MEAN THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF MONEY THEY'RE GOING TO THROW EVERYTHING THEY HAVE AT THE CHIEFS GIVE THEM AWAY THEIR WALLETS FROM THE STATE OF MISSOURI TO MAKE SURE THAT UH THE ARROWHEAD STAYS IN MISSOURI WELL THEY MAY HAVE TO HERE NICK AND I THINK THE CHIEFS ARE BEING VERY SMART HERE THEY HAVE PUT THEMSELVES INTO THE STADIUM CONVERSATION VERY AGGRESSIVELY AFTER ALL THE FOCUS HAVE BEEN ON THE ROYALS AND THIS DOWNTOWN STADIUM YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO'S APPLIED FOR A JOB NICK YOU GET A JOB OFFER YOU HAVE A NICE JOB YOU GET A JOB OFFER FROM SOMEBODY ELSE SUDDENLY YOUR EMPLOYER WANTS TO PAY YOU MORE MONEY TO KEEP YOU THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON HERE RIGHT NOW WITH THE CHIEFS YOU HAVE TWO STATES VYING FOR THIS TEAM AND UH WILLING TO PAY BIG MONEY TO KEEP THEM SMART MOVE BY THE CHIEFS BY THE WAY UH KEVIN LISTEN CLOSELY TO THE DEBATE ON THIS IN THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE AND IT'S CLEAR THERE IS MORE TO THIS THE KANSAS SIDE IS THINKING BIG LAWMAKERS SAY THIS NEW FUND COULD ALSO BE USED TO TRY AND ATTRACT AN NBA TEAM YOU KNOW OTHER STATES DO THIS KANSAS DOES NOT PRESENTLY WE MAY BE ABLE TO ATTRACT A PROFESSIONAL TEAM BASKETBALL TEAM SO COULD YOU IMAGINE THAT MISSOURI KEEPS THE CHIEFS AND KANSAS GETS A NEW PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM YOU WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE THAT AT THE POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT KEVIN I REALLY DON'T KNOW A HECK OF A LOT ABOUT THE NBA EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS HAS ALWAYS BEEN IS THERE AN OWNERSHIP GROUP HERE THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO PUT UP THE HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO BRING A TEAM HERE BUT I'D LIKE TO GET BACK ON THE SPORTS DISCUSSION BECAUSE I'VE WRITTEN A LOT ABOUT THIS AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT YOU KNOW THE WHOLE THE EGG IS BEING BROKEN WITH THE TRUMAN SPORTS COMPLEX UH JOHN SHERMAN HAS BEEN CLEAR FROM THE GET-GO HE WANTS TO DO A DOWNTOWN BALLPARK SO THE WHOLE ARRANGEMENT THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN THE EARLY 1970S TO HAVE BOTH TEAMS MARRIED TO ONE ANOTHER OUT THERE AT UH 70 AND I-435 THAT'S THAT'S OFF WHICH IS OPENING UP ALL THESE INTERESTING POSSIBILITIES NOW THE CHIEFS SAY THAT THEY ARE BEING PITCHED BY KANSAS DEVELOPERS THEY WERE VERY LOW-KEY ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING AND IT DOES RAISE THE REAL POSSIBILITY THAT AS ST EVE MENTIONED YOU'LL GET THE RESOURCES OF AN ENTIRE STATE INVOLVED THAT MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN THE CASE AS IN THE WORDS OF THE GODFATHER GIVE THEM AN OFFER THEY CAN'T REFUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY TOUGH AND IT IS GOING TO UP THE ANTE FOR MISSOURI TO TRY TO MATCH WHAT KANSAS WOULD BE PREPARED TO DO AND THEY'VE GOT STAR BONDS AND A LOT OF STUFF OUT THERE THAT THEY COULD THROW AT THE CHIEFS DAVE THE IDEA OF A CHIEFS MOVING TO KANSAS IS VERY OLD IN PART BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A WAY FOR KANSAS AND UH KANSAS AND KANSAS UH TO HELP SUPPORT THIS REGIONAL AMENITY THAT NOW IS ON THE BACKS PRIMARILY OF JACKSON COUNTY TAXPAYERS THE IDEA IS KANSAS YOU BUILD FOR THE CHIEFS MISSOURI YOU BUILD FOR THE ROYALS AND EVERYONE WILL BE UH YOU KNOW PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE DAVE HELLING MAKES A GREAT POINT HERE AND IF THIS IS A TIME THE TIME FOR US TO HAVE A COMMUNITY-WIDE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO FUNDS THESE STADIUMS IS IT STILL GOING TO BE ON THE SHOULDERS OF JACKSON COUNTY TAXPAYERS TO PAY FOR BOTH THE CHIEFS AND THE ROYALS OR BECAUSE WE ARE ONE METROPOLITAN AREA THAT HAPPENS TO BE DIVIDED BY STATE LINE IS A TIME FOR US TO HAVE AN ADULT CONVERSATION ABOUT MAYBE ONE SIDE OF THE STATE LINE TAKES ONE TEAM AND THE OTHER KEEPS THE OTHER THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE THE LOAD HAS BEEN TOO HEAVY ON JACKSON COUNTY TAXPAYERS FOR WAY TOO LONG LURING THE CHIEFS TO KANSAS ISN'T THE ONLY ISSUE ON GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY'S MIND THIS WEEK AS LAWMAKERS SEND TO HER DESK AN AVALANCHE OF CONTENTIOUS BILLS WILL SHE SIGN THEM OR VETO THEM MOST CLOSELY WATCHED IS A BAN ON TRANSGENDER ATHLETES COMPETING IN GIRLS SPORTS THE SECOND BILL BLOCKS SO-CALLED SANCTUARY CITIES IT FOLLOWS A RECENT DECISION IN WYDOCK COUNTY TO APPROVE MUNICIPAL ID CARDS TO UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS IT ALSO INSTRUCTS POLICE NOT TO COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENTS AND LAWMAKERS HAVE ALSO SENT TO GOVERNOR TO KELLY'S DESK A PARENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS REQUIRING SCHOOLS TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO PARENTS EVERY LESSON PLAN TEST BOOK LIST OR HANDOUT THE TEACHERS PROVIDE THEIR STUDENTS SUPPORTERS SAY IT'S ABOUT TRANSPARENCY GOVERNOR KELLY CALLS IT THE TEACHER DEMORALIZATION ACT IN THE PAST WE MAY BE ABLE TO READ WHICH WAY KELLY WOULD CITE ON THESE BILLS BUT THIS IS NO ORDINARY TIME WILL ELECTION YEAR POLITICS REBECCA PUSH THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR INTO MAKING SOME UNCOMFORTABLE DECISIONS SO WE LOOK AT THE PARENTS OR RIGHTS AND THE TRANS UM YOU KNOW ATHLETE BILL I THINK WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THAT THAT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR WE MAY SEE HER KIND OF DO WITH YOU KNOW THE TRANS ATHLETE BILL WHAT SHE DID IN THE PAST WHICH IS VETO THE BILL UH AND THEN WE MAY ALSO SEE A VETO OVERRIDE COMING HOWEVER I THINK WITH THE IMMIGRATION BILL OR THE SANCTUARY CITY BAN WE NEED TO START THINKING WELL THIS IS A VERY BIG REPUBLICAN ISSUE THIS IS A VERY BIG PARTY ISSUE THE BORDER ISSUE THE GOVERNORS HASN'T SPOKEN ABOUT THIS PUBLICLY WILL SHE NOW TAKE A STANCE THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING INTERESTING THAT I THINK IS COMING DOWN THE LINE ESPECIALLY AS WE GET INTO DEBATES UH FURTHER INTO THE ELECTION WHAT IS SHE GOING TO SAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE WHAT IS SHE GOING TO COME OUT AND SAY WHAT WOULD BE HER REBUTTAL IF THIS WOULD BE BROUGHT UP ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE SO WE'RE DEFINITELY YOU KNOW IT'S A BIT MORE IFFY ON THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE WH AT MAY HAPPEN AND IF SHE DOES TAKE A HARD STANCE WHERE THAT COULD LAND HER IN THE ELECTION NOW IF YOU WERE WATCHING KU ON TV THIS PAST WEEK YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN SANDWICH BETWEEN ALL THE ADS FOR SNACK FOODS AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THE FIRST RE-ELECTION AD FOR GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY AND GUESS WHO HAS A CAMEO ROLE IN IT YES DONALD TRUMP WHO KELLY CLAIMS SHE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH AND WHEN ADVERSITY HIT SHE WORKED WITH BOTH SIDES ALWAYS PUTTING WHAT'S BEST FOR KANSAS AHEAD OF PARTY POLITICS GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY GETTING KANSAS BACK ON TRACK ALRIGHTY THE AD IS RELEASED AT THE SAME TIME KELLY JOINS MISSOURI'S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN DECLARING THAT IT'S TIME TO MOVE PAST THE PANDEMIC AND START TREATING KOVID UH LIKE THE FLU WITH A TOUGH RE-ELECTION AGAINST KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL DEREK SCHMIDT CAN WE EXPECT KELLY TO SHIFT ON SOME OTHER BIG ISSUES STEVE YOU KNOW I THERE'S AN OLD SAYING IN POLITICS NICK AS YOU KNOW THAT POLITICS MAKES FOR STRANGE BED FELLOWS AND WE'RE CERTAINLY SEEING THAT UH IN THIS AD WITH DONALD TRUMP IT'S REMARKABLE BUT THIS IS THE SEASON NICK I'LL BE REAL SIMPLE HERE IF IT'S NORMAL POLITICAL TIMES GOVERNOR KELLY WOULD VETO ALL THREE OF THESE BILLS UH THEY'RE RIGHT IN HER WHEELHOUSE THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT'S WHAT SHE WOULD DO BUT TO REBECCA'S POINT WILL SHE GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S POLITICAL SEASON WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE I DO WONDER NICK ABOUT USING THE IMAGE OF LAURA KELLY WITH DONALD TRUMP IN THAT FIRST AD BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT TRUMP'S SUPPORTERS IN KANSAS ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT AND THINK OH SHE WORKED WITH DONALD TRUMP THE TRUMP I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR LAURA KELLY THAT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN SHE NEEDS TO APPEAL I THINK TO INDEPENDENTS MODERATES AND OTHERS IN PLACES LIKE JOHNSON COUNTY AND WYANDOTTE COUNTY AND MAYBE THE IMAGE OF TRUMP IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE IN THAT WAY YOU KNOW AS WE'RE MENTIONING COVET IF YOU THOUGHT WE'D DONE AWAY WITH ALL OF THOSE PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS THINK AGAIN THE SHAWNEE MISSION SCHOOL DISTRICT REIMPOSING MASS MANDATES THIS WEEK AT LEAST AT SIX ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITH SO MANY KIDS ARE NOW OUT SICK IS THIS THE PROVERBIAL CANARY IN THE COAL MINE STEVE THAT MORE COVERED TROUBLE IS AHEAD OR IS THERE MORE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SHAWNEE MISSION THIS WEEK OH I THINK THERE'S MORE COVER TROUBLE AHEAD NICK WE ARE ALL SO DESPERATE TO SEE THIS PANDEMIC IN OUR REARVIEW MIRRORS IT'S IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THAT AND WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THERE YET WE WANT TO BE THERE YET UH AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO BE CAREFUL I JUST GOT MY FOURTH SHOT LAST FRIDAY AND I THINK IT WAS A GOOD IDEA FOR ME AND NICK JUST TO POINT OUT HERE UH SPEAKING OF GOVERNOR KELLY THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MOMENT IF SHE GETS THAT FOUR BILLION DOLLAR PANASONIC BATTERY PLAN YOU KNOW IF THE CHIEFS CONTINUE TO SHOW INTEREST IN COMING TO KANSAS AND IF SHE CAN GET THAT UH A BIG FOOD SALES TAX CUT AND THEN SHE TOPS IT OFF WITH AN NBA FRANCHISE SHE'S GOOD TO GO FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS I THINK NICK REBECCA STEVE MENTIONS THAT BIG KANSAS MYSTERY PROJECT WHICH WE WERE TOLD MAYBE PANASONIC WE WERE TOLD ALSO WE WERE GONNA HAVE A FINAL DECISION BY MID-MARCH IS NOW WE'RE ENTERING ALMOST THE SECOND WEEK OF APRIL WE'VE HEARD NOTHING IS THERE SOME BAD NEWS BEHIND THE SCENES WE'RE NOT HEARING IT'S BEEN RADIO SILENCE BECAUSE WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ABOUT THIS WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET OUR ANSWERS AS WELL AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT IT USED TO BE THIS REALLY BIG THING A SECRET PROJECT THEY'RE WORKING ON AND NOW IT'S KIND OF JUST FALLEN YOU KNOW AT THE AT THE END AND WE DON'T SEE WE DON'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT IT SO MY MY THING OR MY GUESS WOULD BE YOU KNOW IS THERE EVEN A PROJECT THAT IS NOW IN PLACE HAVE WE LOST THAT OPPORTUNITY KEVIN THAT MIGHT BE WHY SHE'S PUSHING THE CHIEFS NOW INSTEAD OF THIS MYSTERY COMPANY I GUESS I WOULD ARGUE THAT IF WE HAVEN'T HEARD AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM ANYWHERE ELSE THAT THIS THING IS STILL IN PLAY BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE OTHER RIVAL WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OKLAHOMA UH AND SO RIGHT NOW YOU KNOW THESE DEALS IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU LEARN WHEN YOU WRITE ABOUT DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THE TIMETABLES THAT ARE OFTEN LAID OUT ARE NOT REAL I MEAN IT TAKES MUCH LONGER BUT IF WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM ANYWHERE ELSE I THINK WE'RE STILL IN THE HUNT HERE'S AN UPDATE ON LAST WEEK'S STUNNING NEWS DEVELOPMENT THAT NORDSTROM WAS BACKING OFF ITS PLANS TO NOW MOVE TO THE PLAZA CITY SCENE KC REPORTING THAT DILLARD'S IS NOW NEGOTIATING FOR THE SPACE WOULD MOST KANSAS CITIES PREFER DILLARDS OR NORDSTROM ON THE PLAZA AND WOULD DILLARDS JUST CLOSE ONE OF ITS OTHER STORES POSSIBLY AT OAK PARK MALL KEVIN TO MOVE THERE UH YOU KNOW I CAN'T REALLY SPECULATE ON WHAT DILLARD'S GRAND PLAN IS FOR THE METRO BUT I DO KNOW THAT YOU KNOW RIGHT NOW THE OWNERS OF THE PLAZA UH IT SEEMS VERY UH IT LOOKS VERY LIKELY THIS NORDSTROM DEAL HAS DISAPPEARED SO I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PRETTY WIRED AND THEY WERE TELLING ME THAT YES INDEED THEY ARE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH DILLARD'S DILLARDS IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY OF ALL THE DEPARTMENT STORE CHAINS DOING MUCH BETTER THAN THEIR PEERS INCLUDING NORDSTROM UH AND I THINK IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE SOMETHING THAT THEY'D BE INTERESTED IN NOW WHETHER THEY'D WANT TO CLOSE THE STORE I WOULD IF I'M SPECULATING ON DILLARD SAYING WE WANT TO IF WE DO OPEN ANOTHER STORE AND WE SHUT ANOTHER ONE DOWN I WOULD SAY THE INDEPENDENT CENTER WOULD BE THE MORE LIKELY CHOICE WE HEARD A LOT FROM OUR VIEWERS ABOUT THIS STORY KYLE SAYS HE'LL SUPPORT WHICHEVER ONE COMMITS TO ACTUALLY BUILDING AND GETTING RID OF AN AWFUL EMPTY LOT THAT'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR THREE YEARS HARMING SUCH AN ICONIC PART OF OUR CITY STEVE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE IMPLICATIONS OF HAVING THIS HUGE HOLE IN THE GROUND FOR THE BETTER PART OF THREE YEARS ON THE PLAZA WELL IT'S BEEN A MESS AND THE NEWS THAT NORDSTROM'S IS PROBABLY LIKELY NOT COMING TO THE PLAZA IS ONLY MORE BAD NEWS BEING HEAPED ON THE PLAZA RIGHT NOW BUT HEY YOU KNOW IF KEVIN'S STORY HAS SOME LEGS AND DILLARDS DOES WIND UP MOVING TO THE PLAZA THAT WOULD BE A NICE REBOUND FOR OUR OUR OUR KEY SHOPPING DISTRICT IN THIS CITY BECAUSE DILLARD'S NOT QUITE AS UPSCALE MIGHT ATTRACT A BROADER CLIENTELE TO PEOPLE TO THE PLAZA THAN WE SEE RIGHT NOW AND UH IF THEY CAN PULL THAT OFF THAT WOULD BE A NICE REBOUND FOR A GROUP THAT NEEDS A REBOUND RIGHT NOW NOW LAST WEEK DAVE HELLING SUGGESTED ENTERTAINMENT NOT RETAIL HAD TO BE THE FUTURE FOR THE PLAZA IS THAT WHY THE FORMER NIKE STORE ON THE PLAZA HAS NOW BEEN TURNED INTO KANSAS CITY'S LATEST ART EXHIBIT AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL AND WHY COMING SOON TO THE FORMER JACK HENRY SPACE IS A NEW INDOOR MINI GOLF EXPERIENCE KEVIN WELL THOSE ARE TWO PRETTY DIFFERENT ANIMALS NICK I MEAN THE GOLF THE PUTTERY GOLF THING IS ACTUALLY A PERMANENT TENANT THAT'S GOING TO PROVIDE THIS KIND OF ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION THAT THE DEVELOPER OF THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT BELIEVES THE PLAZA NEEDS MORE OF ON THE FLIP SIDE THE MICHELANGELO SHOW IS ANOTHER REMINDER OF HOW THE PLAZA IS STRUGGLING AND THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO FILL EMPTY SPACE WITH WHATEVER THEY CAN UNTIL THEY CAN GET A MORE PERMANENT USE IT WAS ELECTION DAY THIS WEEK IN MANY PARTS OF THE METRO YOU MEAN YOU DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS ONE ON TUESDAY VOTERS IN KANSAS CITY WERE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE UPGRADES TO THE SEWER SYSTEM AMBULANCES WERE ALSO ON THE BALLOT AS VOTERS WERE ASKED TO RENEW THE CITY HEALTH CARE LEVY BOTH PASSED WITH MASSIVE MAJORITIES IN INDEPENDENCE EILEEN WEIR IS OUT AS MAYOR OF THE CITY 58 PERCENT OF VOTERS PICKING STATE LAWMAKER RORY ROWLAND TO LEAD THE CITY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND THIS MAN MAKING THE HEADLINES ANTHONY MUNDANE BECOMING THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO EVER BE ELECTED TO THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL BOARD STEVE WERE YOU ROCKED OUT OF YOUR SEAT STUNNED INTO SILENCE BY ANY OF THE RESULTS THIS WEEK LITTLE SURPRISE NICK BY THE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS AND THE PUSH TOWARDS CANDIDATES VOTERS BACKING CANDIDATES WHO FAVOR DIVERSITY UH IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BEING SUPPORTIVE TO STUDENTS OF ALL STRIPES IN OUR COMMUNITIES THESE DAYS UH WE SAW THOSE EFFORTS IN PARK HILL IN NORTH KANSAS CITY AND IN INDEPENDENCE ONLY IN LEE'S SUMMIT DID WE SEE MORE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TO NEWCOMERS GOING ON THE BOARD THERE SO THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE TO ME GIVEN THE FERVOR THAT THIS UH THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION UH HAS GOTTEN IN RECENT MONTHS HOW ABOUT YOU DAVE WERE YOU SHOCKED HORRIFIED THAT 80 PERCENT OF VOTERS MIGHT SAY YES TO SEWERS AND THAT EILEEN WEIR WOULD BE ON THE WAY OUT IN INDEPENDENCE NO I DON'T THINK THERE WERE ANY GREAT SURPRISES THE HEALTH LEVY PASSED WITH HEALTHY MARGINS IT HAS FOR YEARS HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS CITY SO THAT WASN'T A BIG SURPRISE I'D ECHO WHAT STEVE SAID THAT AFTER ALL THE SHOUTING AND SCREAMING AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS THIS WINTER THAT CANDIDATES WHO BELIEVE IN MORE DIVERSE APPROACHES TO EDUCATION ACTUALLY WON IN THE MAJORITY OF DISTRICTS IN OUR AREA SO THAT'S INTERESTING NEWS DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE WARFARE OVER WHAT'S TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS WILL END BUT IT MAY CHANGE THE TENOR OF THAT DISCUSSION THIS WEEK WE WERE MARKING THE OFFICIAL GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE NEW STREETCAR EXTENSION LINE THE HEAD OF THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION WAS JOINING THE MAYOR FOR A CEREMONIAL RAIL SIGNING ON THE MAIN STREET ROUTE MORE THAN THREE MILES OF NEW TRACK IS BEING LAID TO EXTEND THE STREETCAR DOWN TO THE COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA AND UMKC BUT DON'T EXPECT TO BE RIDING THE NEW EXTENSION ANYTIME SOON THERE'S STILL MORE THAN TWO AND A HALF YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION WORK AHEAD IT WON'T OPEN TO PASSENGERS UNTIL 2025 KEVIN THEY SAY GROUND IS BEING BROKEN THIS WEEK BUT IF YOU'VE BEEN ANYWHERE NEAR MAIN STREET OVER THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR WOULD YOU BE SAYING TO YOURSELF THAT'S OLD NEWS IT'S ONE BIG HOLE AND DIVERSION AFTER ANOTHER ALREADY LITTLE DO WE KNOW THE COMPLEXITY THAT LIES BENEATH THE SURFACE OF OUR STREETS UH YOU KNOW THIS HAS ALL BEEN RELOCATING UH PIPES AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S BEEN THERE AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE SHOW FOR A LONG TIME UH THIS IS ALL THE PRELIMINARY WORK TO THE ACTUAL LAYING OF THE RAILS YOU KNOW WE'RE ALREADY SEEING SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF THIS STREETCAR EXPANSION DOWN MAIN STREET WE'VE SEEN SOME SUBSTANTIAL REINVESTMENT THERE'S BEEN A COUPLE OF OLDER BUILDINGS RENOVATED THERE'S A COUPLE OF MAJOR PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE WORKS SO IT'S ALREADY STARTING TO YIELD BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS JUST ATTRACTING DEVELOPMENT ON THAT CORRIDOR EVEN THOUGH YOU AND I AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO RIDE TO THAT DOWNTOWN BALLPARK FOR A WHILE YET KEVIN MENTIONS THE UPSIDES HAS THERE BEEN A DOWNSIDE WE DIDN'T EXPECT STEVE ANYBODY WHO'S TRIED TO DRIVE DOWN MAIN STREET IN RECENT MONTHS IS TAKING HIS OR HER LIFE IN THEIR HANDS IT IS REALLY A TOUGH SLOG RIGHT NOW PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT TRYING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT BARRICADES AND THAT KIND OF THING THAT'S BEEN THE BIG DOWNSIDE BUT HEY THAT'S THE PRICE OF PROGRESS AND UH I FOR ONE I CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT NEW STREETCAR TO COME UP TO OUR CAMPUS HERE IT'S GOING TO CHANGE A LOT OF LIVES HERE AND CHANGE AND SAVE A LOT OF MONEY FOR STUDENTS WHO WON'T HAVE TO YOU KNOW BUY PARKING PASSES AND PAY FOR CAR MAINTENANCE TO HAVE THAT AVAILABLE AS WE'RE UPDATING PROJECTS LET'S UPDATE THE BIGGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN OUR METRO THE NEW LOOK KCI AIRPORT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM HAS ANNOUNCED IT'S NOW 80 COMPLETE KANSAS CITY PBS VIEWER RICHARD IN GRAND VIEW WANTS TO KNOW WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THOSE PLANS TO RENAME THE AIRPORT IS THAT STILL HAPPENING WELL I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY MAJOR DISCUSSION OF THAT AT ALL NICK IT MAY BE HAPPENING IN PLACES I DON'T KNOW ABOUT BUT BY AND LARGE THE IDEA OF A BIG SPLASHY NAME FOR THE NEW AIRPORT SEEMS TO BE ON THE BACK BURNER IT IS A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT TO RENAME AIRPORTS THAN OTHER PUBLIC AMENITIES BECAUSE THE FAA GETS INVOLVED AND THERE ARE SOME RULES THAT THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANYTHING I CHECKED WITH THE CITY YESTERDAY NOTHING GOING ON NOTHING AT LEAST FROM CITY HALL WHETHER SOMEBODY ELSE IS PUSHING AN EFFORT NICK I'M NOT AWARE OF IT EITHER HOW ABOUT AT CITY SEAS KC ARE YOU FINDING OUT REVELATIONS THAT IT MAY BE THE SLY JAMES INTERNATIONAL THE BUCCANEER AIRPORT KEVIN UH THE CITY SCENE IS IN NEGOTIATIONS TO BUY THE NAMING RIGHTS SO IT'LL BE CITY SCENE INTERNATIONAL I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING UH YOU KNOW THERE MAY BE TO BE HONESTLY ALL JOKING ASIDE THERE MAY BE SOME NAMING RIGHTS THINGS THAT THEY'LL PURSUE TO HELP UH PUT A LITTLE MORE MONEY INTO THE CONFERENCE OF IT BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING AND JUST QUICKLY NICK ALL JOKING ASIDE THE KANSAS CITY COUNCIL WENT THROUGH A TWO-YEAR NIGHTMARE RENAMING PASEO OR NOT RENAMING PASEO OR THE ENTIRE MARTIN LUTHER KING DEBACLE WHICH REALLY I THINK YOU KNOW IMPRESSED ON THE COUNCIL HOW DIFFICULT THESE CHANGES CAN BE AND ONCE YOU PICK ONE NAME EVERYONE ELSE GETS MAD I DON'T GET THE SENSE THAT THERE'S A TASTE FOR A BIG BATTLE RIGHT IN THE AIRPORT NOW WHEN YOU PUT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS TOGETHER EVERY WEEK YOU CAN'T GET TO EVERY STORY GRABBING THE HEADLINES WHAT WAS THE BIG LOCAL STORY WE MISSED KANSAS COMPLETES THE BIGGEST CHAMPIONSHIP COMEBACK KU LIFTING THE NATIONAL TROPHY DOMINATED THE LOCAL NEWS CYCLE BUT IT WAS ALSO THE WEEK THAT SAW THE FIRST COURT TRIAL CONTESTING KANSAS'S NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP THERE WERE MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS TO GATHER FEEDBACK ON A NEW POLICE CHIEF AND A LARGE GROUP OF CLERGY TOOK OVER THE STEPS OF CITY HALL TO DEMAND THE NEXT CHIEF BE FROM OUTSIDE THE DEPARTMENT OVERLAND PARK DEBATED SHORT-TERM RENTALS BUT STOPPED SHORT OF BANNING COMPANIES LIKE AIRBNB SHE MAY BE THE FIRST BLACK JUSTICE ON THE SUPREME COURT BUT ALL FOUR LOCAL SENATORS VOTING NO MISSOURI MAY HAVE EXPANDED ITS MEDICAID PROGRAM BUT THERE ARE REPORTS OF FIVE-MONTH WAITS TO ENROLL THE CITY BLAMES STAFF SHORTAGES AND ITS OPENING DAY FOR THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS AFTER A PESKY LOCKOUT DELAYS THE START OF THE SEASON ALRIGHTY STEVE KRASKE DO YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT YOU KNOW I PICK ONE OF THOSE NICK ALL FOUR OF OUR U.S SENATORS IN THE AREA COMING OUT AGAINST THE SUPREME COURT NOMINEE LISTEN UH DEMOCRATS PLAY THIS GAME TOO THIS IS PAYBACK FOR DEMOCRATIC OBJECTIONS UH UNDER DONALD TRUMP BUT HAVING SAID THAT THIS IS AFTER ALL THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO BE NOMINATED FOR THIS COURT THIS FEELS LIKE A MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO ME REBECCA CHUNG WELL I'D HAVE TO SAY MAYBE THOSE REDISTRICTING TRIALS GOING UNDERWAY DEFINITELY WOULD BE ONE OF THE BIG STORIES UM I THINK WHEN WE SOME OF THE EVIDENCE THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT OF COURSE IS THAT SUSAN WEIGEL VIDEO THAT CAME OUT KIND OF EXPLICITLY KIND OF TALKING OR HINTING AT GERRYMANDERING I KNOW WHEN WE TALKED TO HER WHEN THAT VIDEO CAME OUT SHE WAS SAYING SHE WAS TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT SHE CAN UH TO GET REPUBLICANS ELECTED AND I THINK THAT SORT OF YOU KNOW COULD BE TAKEN IN THE WRONG WAY BY SOME AND UM I THINK THIS COULD BE SOMETHING THAT DEFINITELY PLAYS A MAJOR FACTOR IN TRYING TO GET THESE MAPS UM OVERTURNED UH THE REDISTRICTING MAPS THAT DID COME OUT A LOT OF DEMOCRATS DID NOT LIKE THEM A LOT OF REPUBLICANS SAID WELL THIS IS HOW WE'RE DRAWING THEM IN REGARD TO EVENING OUT THE POPULATION THIS YEAR SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT IN COURT KEVIN UH YOU KNOW I'M GOING TO GO WITH THE POLICE CHIEF STORY AND THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT IS TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH ATTENTION ABOUT HOW WHOEVER TAKES OVER THAT DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO CREATE A CULTURE THAT'S MORE RESPECTFUL OF PEOPLE'S RIGHTS IT'S MORE SENSITIVE BUT A HUGE QUESTION THAT'S NOT BEING TALKED ABOUT IS SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO TURN THAT DEPARTMENT INTO A MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE CRIME FIGHTING OPERATION BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE HORRIFIC HOMICIDES IN THIS TOWN QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES LIKE DRAG RACING AND STUNT DRIVING ARE JUST DRIVING PEOPLE IN THE CITY CRAZY BURGLARIES ARE UP WE NEED TO ALSO TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE NEED A MORE EFFECTIVE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT THE NEW CHIEF WILL DO TO TRY TO DO A BETTER JOB OF REDUCING CRIME IN THE CITY AND DAVE WELL FIRST OF ALL TIP OF THE CAP TO REBECCA SHE'S EXACTLY RIGHT THAT TRIAL ON THE KANSAS SIDE IS FASCINATING AND I WOULD SAY THE OVERLOOKED STORY ON THE MISSOURI SIDE IS REDISTRICTING AS WELL THEY STILL DON'T HAVE CONGRESSIONAL MAPS IN MISSOURI AND THERE'S SOME TALK ABOUT REOPENING THE FILING DEADLINE ONCE THEY GET THE NEW MAPS BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS WHETHER THEY LIVE IN THE DISTRICTS THEY WANT TO REPRESENT OR NOT WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT AND ON THAT WE WILL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED THANKS TO THE STARS DAVE HELLING KEVIN COLLISON FROM CITY SCENE KC JOINING US FROM KSNT TV TOPEKA STATE HOUSE REPORTER REBECCA CHUNG AND KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE WEEKDAYS AT 9 ON KCRFM STEVE KRASKE AND I'M NICK HAINES FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS BE WELL KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON