>>> ARE YOU READY TO CELEBRATE JUST AHEAD OF THE BIG 4th OF JULY HOLIDAY?

WE TRACK OUR METRO'S MOST EXPLOSIVE AND IMPACTFUL STORIES.

AND MURDER ON THE PLAZA SPARKS RENEWED DEBATE OVER CRIME AND THE ROLE OF POLICE.

THE TRUMAN LIBRARY FINALLY REOPENS AFTER A TWO-YEAR SHUTDOWN.

IS THAT STALEMATE OVER MEDICAID FUNDING FINALLY OVER?

AND LIKE A DEAD FIREWORK, IS THE VACCINE CAMPAIGN FIZZLING OUT?

>> WE ARE BEGGING YOU TO COME.

DON'T TAKE THAT CHANCE.

PLEASE DON'T TAKE THE CHANCE.

>> IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED, THE VARIANTS ARE HERE.

TROUBLE IS AT YOUR DOORSTEP.

>>> WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS, BOB AND MARLEY SCORELY, THE COURTNEY S. TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST, JOHN H. MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA NA, COTRUSTEES, AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> NICK: HELLO.

I'M NICK HAINES, AND I AM THRILLED YOU'RE WITH US.

I KNOW WITH THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND AHEAD YOU'VE GOT LOTS OF OTHER OPTIONS, SO THANK YOU.

BUT WITH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ELSE TO DO THIS WEEKEND ARE THIS WEEK'S NEWS REVIEWERS.

FROM KCUR NEWS, STEVE KRASKE.

FROM 41 ACTION NEWS, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, CAT REID.

FROM THE CALL NEWSPAPER, ERIC WESSON.

AND KMBC 9 CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER MICHEAL MAHONEY.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF NEGATIVE HEADLINES TO DISSECT, BUT AS IT'S A HOLIDAY, LET'S START WITH SOMETHING MORE UPLIFTING THIS WEEK.

AFTER A YEAR OF LOCKDOWN, IT LOOKS LIKE MANY ARE PREPARING TO MARK AMERICA'S INDEPENDENCE FROM THE BRITISH WITH A BIG BAYNE WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS.

MOST TRADITIONAL FIREWORKS SHOWS AND PARADES ARE BACK, AND JUST AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY, THE TRUMAN MUSEUM IS REOPENING.

IT'S BEEN SHATTERED FOR THE BETTER PART OF TWO YEARS.

IT'S BEEN UNDERGOING THE LARGEST RENOVATION PROJECT IN HISTORY.

$29 MILLION HAS BOUGHT THE INDEPENDENCE MUSEUM A COMPLETELY NEW LOOK INSIDE AND OUT.

BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US?

IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE MUSEUM BEFORE, WHAT ON EARTH, STEVE KRASKE, WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO THERE NOW?

>> WELL, IT'S WORTH GOING TO NOW, NICK.

IT WAS WORTH GOING TO BEFORE, BUT IT IS A SPECTACULAR REDO, $29 MILLION.

NICK, I'M GOING TO SOUND LIKE A PR AGENT FOR THE TRUMAN LIBRARY.

IT IS INTERACTIVE.

IT'S SHINY.

IT'S INTERESTING.

THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY TO ENGAGE IN.

YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN A LOT ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY WHILE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU'RE LEARNING BASICALLY, AND I CAN'T RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH.

>> IS IT ENOUGH TO CONVINCE YOU TO GO, MICHAEL?

>> OH, WITHOUT QUESTION.

I HAVE GONE TO THE TRUMAN LIBRARY A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND WHAT I AM ALWAYS ASTONISHED ABOUT ABOUT HARRY TRUMAN IS I THINK YOU'RE HARD PRESSED TO FIND ANY AMERICAN PRESIDENT THAT HAD TO MAKE SO MUCH CONSEQUENTIAL DECISIONS WITHIN DAYS AND CERTAINLY MONTHS OF BEING IN OFFICE.

HE ENDED THE WAR IN EUROPE.

HE WAS THERE FOR THE START OF THE UNITED NATIONS.

HE WAS THERE FOR MAKING THE DECISION ABOUT DROPPING THE ATOMIC BOMB.

THE END OF THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN, AND THEN EVERYTHING THAT FOLLOWED THAT, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLICY OF CONTAINMENT AGAINST THE SOVIET UNION, THE BERLIN AIRLIFT, THE KOREAN WAR.

HE HAD TO DEAL WITH A STRUGGLING ECONOMY, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, ESPECIALLY HIS FIRST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS IN OFFICE MAY BE THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL SET OF DECISIONS EVER MADE BY AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT.

I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE HOW THEY DISPLAY THAT, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY DO A BANG-UP JOB ON IT.

>> BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE TRUMAN LIBRARY, BECAUSE MAHONEY JUST GAVE US EVERYTHING WE NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NICK: WE HAVE TWO PR PEOPLE FOR THE MUSEUM ON THE SHOW ALREADY.

CAT, COME ON.

WOULD YOU BE HEADING OVER THERE?

>> I'M EXCITED BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO BEFORE IT CLOSED, SO THIS WILL BE MY FIRST TIME WITH FRESH EYES SEEING IT, AND I THINK WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS THAT THE MUSEUM'S DIRECTOR TALKS ABOUT THIS NOT BEING A JUST REGURGITATION OF FACTS.

IT'S REALLY A REIMAGINING, RETELLING, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE CRITICAL AT TIMES OF THE TRUMAN PRESIDENCY AND REALLY ENCOURAGING VISITORS TO ASK SOME HARD QUESTIONS.

SO I THINK THAT IS REALLY INTERESTING, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IT.

>> NICK: AS WE HEAD INTO INDEPENDENCE DAY, AN EXPLOSIVE FACT FOR THE 4th OF JULY.

ACCORDING TO A NEW NATIONAL SURVEY, MISSOURI RANKS NO.

1 IN THE NATION IN PER CAPITA FIREWORKS SALES.

I SAW THAT ON CHANNEL 9.

WITH MISSOURIANS SNAPPING UP $42 MILLION IN ROCKETS AND SPINNERS AND SPARKLERS, THERE ARE ENOUGH FIREWORKS BOUGHT IN MISSOURI TO SHOOT OFF NEARLY 7 PER PERSON.

BY THE WAY, KANSAS ISN'T FAR BEHIND.

IT COMES IN AT NO.

3.

BUT YOU KNOW WHERE ELSE MISSOURI IS NO.

1?

IT'S NOT FLATTERING.

IT'S IN THE PERCENTAGE OF ITS RESIDENTS HOSPITALIZED FOR COVID-19.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AS WE HEAD INTO THIS 4th OF JULY WEEKEND.

>> ON JULY 4th, WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM THE VIRUS AS WE CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE OF OUR NATION.

>> NICK: BACK IN MAY, THE PRESIDENT SETTING A GOAL OF GETTING COVID SHOTS IN THE ARMS OF 70% OF AMERICANS BY THE 4th OF JULY.

THE WHITE HOUSE NOW PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE'RE AT ABOUT 66% OF AMERICAN ADULTS WITH ONE DOSE OF THE COVID SHOT.

SO WHAT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING LOCALLY?

WHILE SOME ZIP CODES IN JOHNSON COUNT TOPPED THE 70% MARK, WE'RE LARGELY BELOW THAT NATIONAL AVERAGE.

TODAY 62% OF KANSANS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE DOSE.

THAT'S 28th IN THE NATION.

IT'S LOWER IN MISSOURI WHERE ONLY 55% ARE PARTLY VACCINATED.

THAT RANKS MISSOURI 40th IN THE COUNTRY.

IN BUCHANAN COUNTY, HOME OF ST. JOSEPH, JUST 20% OF THE RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

WITH ALMOST EVERYTHING NOW OPEN, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE?

>> THE PROBLEM IS THE SPREAD OF THE DELTA VARIANT.

PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED ARE AT MUCH GREATER RISK OF THAT AND THEY'RE ALSO PASSING THAT MORE QUICKLY.

SO WE'RE SEEING NUMBERS RISE.

FOR INSTANCE, IN THE SPRINGFIELD AREA, COX HEALTH SYSTEM, THEY'RE HAVING TO DIVERT PATIENTS TO OTHER HOSPITALS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF CURRENTLY.

SO IT'S PUTTING A STRAIN ON OUR HEALTH SYSTEM YET AGAIN.

>> NICK: WHAT DO WE ACTUALLY DO ABOUT THIS?

THIS WEEK THE ROYALS BEGAN ITS BIG VACCINATION PUSH, GIVING TWO FREE GAME TICKETS TO KANSAS CITIANS WHO VISITED LOCAL PRICE CHOPPER STORES TO GET THE SHOT.

LAST WEEK, WYANDOTTE COUNTY BEGAN DANGLING A NEW ROUND OF INCENTIVES FOR RESIDENTS.

DAILY DRAWINGS FOR SEASON PASSES AT WORLDS OF FUN AND 500-DOLLAR GIFT CARDS.

BUT IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE THESE KINDS OF INCENTIVES ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, ERIC WESSON?

>> NO, THERE'S NO EVIDENCE HERE LOCALLY WHERE IT'S DRIVING PEOPLE TO GO OUT TO GET THE VACCINATION.

>> ANOTHER THING BROUGHT UP ABOUT INCENTIVES IS THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE VACCINE HAVE SAID THEY'RE CONCERNED FOR SAFETY REASONS, AND OFFERING THEM A 25-DOLLAR GIFT CARD IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MIND.

WHAT COULD CHANGE THEIR MIND IS SEEING MORE FAMILY MEMBERS AND LOVED ONES GET THE VACCINE OR HEARING INFORMATION FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE, LIKE A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

AT THIS POINT, WE'VE HIT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING THE VACCINE, AND NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE SAYING HARD NO AND GETTING THESE PERKS WON'T CHANGE THEIR MINDS.

>> NICK: BY THE WAY, MICHAEL, YOU WERE INTERVIEWING GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY THIS WEEK.

SHE'S PART OF A NEW CAMPAIGN TO GET PEOPLE TO GET THE SHOT ALONG WITH SHARICE DAVIDS.

I WAS LOOKING AT THOSE SPOTS THIS WEEK.

>> AS THE 4th OF JULY APPROACHES, CELEBRATING OUR INDEPENDENCE FEELS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER, BUT AS WE GATHER, PLEASE REMEMBER, COVID ISN'T OVER YET.

>> A NEW MORE CONTAGIOUS STRAIN OF COVID IS RAPIDLY SPREADING IN NEIGHBORING STATES.

>> THE BEST WAY TO STAY HEALTHY IS TO GET VACCINATED TODAY.

>> IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO BE VACCINATED, PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE AROUND OTHERS.

>> AND IF YOU FEEL SICK, GET TESTED.

>> HAVE A SAFE AND HEALTHY INDEPENDENCE DAY.

>> NICK: BUT IS THAT GOING TO HAVE ANY -- MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE JUST TO SEE LAURA KELLY IN FRONT OF A CAMERA WITH VERY LOW PRODUCTION VALUES AND SHARICE DAVIDS DOING THE SAME?

IS THAT GOING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET THE SHOT?

>> NO.

WE ARE AT A STAGE NOW WHERE THE VACCINATION DRIVE IS UP AGAINST A PRETTY STIFF AND FORMIDABLE WALL OF PEOPLE WHO SIMPLY DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY NEED TO GET THE SHOT, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO GET THE SHOT.

IF IT'S PERSONAL REASONS, RELIGIOUS REASONS, POLITICAL REASONS.

THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED.

AND INCENTIVES ARE NOT GOING TO DRAG THESE PEOPLE ACROSS THE VACCINATION LINE.

I'M NOT SURE THAT ANYTHING WILL.

PERHAPS EVEN GETTING SICK WITH IT.

>> NICK, THEY WERE EVEN GIVING AWAY FREE BEER IN SPRINGFIELD TO DRIVE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATIONS.

THAT DIDN'T HAVE MUCH IMPACT, AND TO MICHEAL MAHONEY'S POINT, NICK, YOU KNOW, IF THE FEAR OF CONTRACTING COVID THROUGH THIS DELTA VARIANT ISN'T GOING TO GET PEOPLE TO GET A SHOT, AN AD FROM LAURA KELLY CERTAINLY ISN'T GOING TO GET THAT JOB DONE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEAR PEOPLE TELL ME WHY THEY'RE NOT GETTING IT IS IT MUST NOT BE THAT BAD NOW BECAUSE THEY'VE RELEASED SOME OF THE MEASURES THAT THEY HAD, LIKE, WEARING A MASK.

PEOPLE DON'T TALK ABOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING AS MUCH, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS, AND PEOPLE WERE LIKE, WELL, WE MUST BE OVER IT OR WE'VE GOTTEN PAST THE DANGEROUS PART, BECAUSE THEY'RE RELAXING SO MANY RESTRICTIONS.

I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST MESSAGE THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

>> NICK: ISN'T THERE TRUTH TO THAT, THOUGH?

I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME THAT WE WILL SEE ANY CITY IN THIS METROPOLITAN AREA GO BACK TO MORE RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES OR TO IMPOSE NEW MASK MANDATES.

IS THAT CORRECT, STEVE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THE PSYCHOLOGY HERE IS FASCINATING, BECAUSE AS THIS DELTA VARIANT SPREADS, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS MAY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BEGIN TO RECOMMEND THAT, BUT ARE THE CITIZENRY FOLKS READY TO GO BACK AND DON MASKS AGAIN AFTER THAT LAST YEAR AND A HALF?

THE ANSWER IS NO, BUT AT SOME POINT YOU BEGIN TO WONDER IF WE'LL HAVE ANY CHOICE IF THIS THING RUNS WILD.

>> NICK: I DID NOTICE THAT THE NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION SAYS MOST STATES ARE OFFERING SOME MAJOR INCENTIVES TO RESIDENTS TO GET VACCINATED FROM OHIO THAT HAS MILLION DOLLAR LOTTERY PRIZES AND TO ARKANSAS, CAT REID, THAT IS OFFERING A FISHING LICENSE.

FOR INSTANCE, IN NEW JERSEY, YOU CAN HAVE A DINNER WITH THE GOVERNOR THERE AS AN INCENTIVE.

YOU WERE SPEAKING WITH THE GOVERNOR IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, MIKE PARSON.

IS HE GOING TO BE OFFERING A DINNER WITH MIKE PARSON AND HIS WIFE AS AN INCENTIVE TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED?

>> NOT THAT I KNOW OF.

I DO KNOW THE KANSAS LOTTERY COMMISSION HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WORKING ON A SIMILAR, LIKE, LOTTO SETUP, NOT AS BIG AS OHIO, BUT SOMETHING.

OF COURSE, I AM NOT SURE THAT ANYTHING CAME OUT OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

THAT WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO.

>> NICK: WE MENTIONED STATES AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING WITH THESE COVID VACCINE LOTTERIES.

DID YOU SEE THIS NEWS THIS WEEK?

>> I GOT MY PURSE AND MY $2.

I'M HOPING THIS IS A WINNING TICKET.

>> NICK: MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON SIGNING INTO LAW THIS WEEK A MEASURE THAT FOR FIRST TIME WILL KEEP CONFIDENTIAL THE NAMES OF ANYONE WHO WINS THE LOTTERY IN MISSOURI.

KANSAS ALREADY DOES THAT.

IT COULD BE A BIG DEAL TO YOU.

IT IS FOR WEEK IN REVIEW WATCHER SCOTT WHO E-MAILED ME THIS WEEK, I GO OVER TO KANSAS TWICE A WEEK TO GET MY POWERBALL AND MEGA MILLION TICKETS.

IS MISSOURI ABOUT TO GET A HUGE WINDFALL IN NEW LOTTERY MONEY AS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ABANDON BUYING TICKETS IN KANSAS?

>> I THINK WHEN THE POWERBALL GETS TO BE ABOUT 5, 6, 700 MILLION, I SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE LINING UP AS YOU GO TO CONVENIENCE STORES.

PEOPLE DON'T BUY THEM BASED UPON WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISCLOSED.

I THINK IT'S THE AMOUNT OF THE POT OF MONEY.

WHEN THAT POT OF MONEY GETS BIG ENOUGH, PEOPLE DON'T CARE.

THEY'RE GOING OUT BUYING THOSE TICKETS.

>> NICK: YOU DON'T KNOW MISSOURI RESIDENTS GO OVER TO KANSAS TO BUY THOSE TICKETS SO THEY CAN BE CONFIDENTIAL AND ANONYMOUS, STEVE?

>> I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO IS GOING TO DO THAT, NICK.

I AGREE WITH ERIC.

I THINK IT'S THE MANY OF THE FLUX THERE.

THERE ARE 10 STATES ROUGHLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE THIS ANONYMITY NOW.

I'M NOT SURE IT'S A DRIVER OF ANYTHING.

>> NICK: THE IMPASSE OVER MEDICAID FUNDING IN MISSOURI HAS NOW BEEN BROKING.

MISSOURI LAWMAKERS INKING A DEAL TO RENEW CRITICAL TAX ON HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, PHARMACIES AND AMBULANCES THAT PAYS FOR A LARGE PART OF THE EXISTING MEDICAID PROGRAM.

THE MEASURE HAD BEEN HELD UP BY CONSERVATIVES WHO HAD TIED RENEWAL OF THE TAX TO NEW RESTRICTIONS ON SOME CONTRACEPTIVES AND REMOVAL OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD AS A MEDICAL PROVIDER.

I'M CURIOUS.

WHEN WE HAVE A GOVERNOR WHO TELLS US FREQUENTLY HE IS PRO-LIFE AND SO MANY OF OUR ELECTED LEADERS TELLING US THEY HAVE 100% PRO-LIFE RECORDS IN THEIR CAMPAIGN ADS, WHY DID THEY GIVE?

>> HE SAID THERE WAS A CONCERN OF THE BALANCE OF BEING PRO-LIFE WHILE ALSO STAYING IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL MEDICAID LAW.

HE BROUGHT THAT UP AND SAID THE FRA RENEWAL IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN MESS AROUND WITH.

THIS WOULD BE A HUGE, HUGE DEVASTATING REVENUE LOSS, AND HE SAID WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN DO SOME THINGS ON THE STATE LEVEL ON THE PRO-LIFE FRONT.

SO I THINK HE WAS WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON THAT WITH THE PROMISE THAT THEY WILL BE WORKING ON LETTER LEGISLATION ON THE STATE LEVEL LATER ON.

>> GOVERNOR PARSON WAS TELLING LAWMAKERS, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO EXTEND THIS THING, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE ME ANY CHOICE BUT TO CUT THE BUDGET BY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AS A NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS.

THAT LEVEL OF CHAOS PROVED SIMPLY TOO MUCH POLITICALLY EVEN AGAINST THE STRONG ANTI-LIFE CROWD IN THE STATE AND LAWMAKERS SIGNED ON TO THIS EFFORT.

>> NICK: JUST TO BE CLEAR, MICHEAL MAHONEY, THIS HAD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT EXPANSION OF MEDICAID THAT WAS PASSED BY VOTERS IN MISSOURI LAST YEAR.

THAT WAS RECENTLY RULED BY A JUDGE AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

ARE WE ANY WISER THIS WEEK ON WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

>> WELL, WITH RESPECT TO MEDICAID EXPANSION, THAT'S GOING TO BE BEFORE THE STATE SUPREME COURT, NOT THIS COMING WEEK BUT THE FOLLOWING WEEK, TWO BIG MEDICAID STORIES.

ONE OF THEM NOW CEMENTS RESOLVED.

EXPANSION IS IN THE COURTS.

>> NICK: A POPULAR COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA HOTEL WAS IN LOCKDOWN THIS WEEK AND SOME STREETS IN AND OUT OF THE SHOPPING DISTRICT WERE SHUT DOWN.

WHAT WAS HAPPENING?

ANOTHER MURDER, THIS TIME INSIDE THE SHERATON SUITES, A FEW FEET FROM THE GAP AND BARNES & NOBLE, 75th HOMICIDE.

GIVEN ALL THE COVERAGE CRIME GETS IN THE MEDIA, YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT MURDERS ARE WAY DOWN.

THIS TIME IN 2020, WE WERE RECORDING MORE THAN 90 HOMICIDES.

WEEK IN REVIEW WATCHER DR. ERNEST EVANS WHO IS A LOCAL PROFESSOR IN CRIME EXPERT WRITES, KCMO IS ONE OF THE ONLY LARGE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY WHERE HOMICIDES ARE LOWER IN 2021 THAN IN 2020.

THE CITY IS CLEARLY DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

ERIC WESSON, TWO WEEKS AGO ON THE PROGRAM, YOU SAID THE OPPOSITE.

ARE YOU READY TO CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE NOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THE TREND SEEMS TO BE UP DOWN, UP DOWN.

THERE IS NOTHING CONSISTENT TO LEVEL IT OFF, AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DOWN IN HOMICIDES, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE CITY IS DOING.

JUST BAD GUYS AREN'T SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER.

AND IF THEY ARE SHOOTING EACH OTHER, THEY'RE NOT SHOOTING EACH OTHER FATALLY.

ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS THAT I GOT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT YESTERDAY WAS SHOOTINGS ARE DOWN 35%, BUT IF YOU WATCH THE BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONER MEETING, THEY'RE NOT SAYING ANYTHING THAT THEY'RE DOING DIFFERENTLY.

>> NICK, SOME PERSPECTIVE IS NEEDED HERE.

THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES IS DOWN COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, BUT AS OF THIS MORNING, WE'RE AT 75, NICK.

THAT'S MORE THAN 2019.

THAT'S MORE THAN 2018.

IT'S MORE THAN 2017 AS WELL.

WE'RE STILL ON PACE FOR 150, 160 HOMICIDES THIS YEAR.

THAT'S NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT.

>> NICK: WELL, THE CRIME ISSUE IS PLAYING OUT AMID TWO NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT RELATE TO GUN POLICY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STATE LINE.

STARTING ON THURSDAY OF THIS WEEK, A NEW LAW OFFICIALLY WENT INTO EFFECT IN KANSAS THAT DROPS THE AGE TO CARRY A CONCEALED WEAPON FROM 21 TO 18 YEARS OLD.

IN MISSOURI, THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS HAS GONE TO COURT TO TRY AND BLOCK A NEW STATE LAW THAT BANS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM ENFORCING FEDERAL GUN LAWS.

KANSAS CITY AND JACKSON COUNTY LEADERS SAY THEY'RE CONSIDERING JOINING THE LAWSUIT.

SINCE LAWMAKERS PASSED THAT MEASURE, A SUBURBAN POLICE CHIEF HAS RESIGNED IN DISCUSS, AND IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, THE POLICE CHIEF PULLED HIS OFFICERS FROM PARTICIPATING IN FEDERAL CRIME TASK FORCE AT LEAST TEMPORARILY.

BUT WHAT ABOUT HERE?

HAS KANSAS CITY POLICE CHANGED THE WAY THEY ARE POLICING AS A RESULT OF THIS NEW MEASURE?

>> I THINK THE IMPORTANT POINT TO POINT OUT HERE IS NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT IS ALLOWED UNDER THIS LEGISLATION.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP AS I WAS TALKING TO GOVERNOR PARSON.

I ASKED HIM, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, FEDERAL LAW TRUMPS STATE LAW, AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A STATEMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING AS THE STATE OF MISSOURI TO PROTECT THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND THE CONSTITUTION TRUMPS ALL.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAT SAID THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THERE WAS THAT THE U.S. CONSTITUTION AND ITS SUPREMACY CLAUSES WILL TRUMP MISSOURI LAW.

SO WHAT THIS MEANS IN BLUNT TERMS IS THIS SECOND AMENDMENT PROTECTION ACT IN MISSOURI IS NOTHING MORE THAN WINDOW DRESSING, AND A STATEMENT TO SORT OF BOLSTER THE FOLKS THAT BELIEVE THAT THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS UNDER SOME SORT OF THREAT IN MISSOURI.

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE UPHELD WHEN IT'S CHALLENGED IN THE COURTS.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE VERY LITTLE PRACTICAL EFFECT.

IT'S A POLITICAL DEMONSTRATION.

>> STEVE.

>> NICK, EVEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS MISSOURI, SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE COME OUT AGAINST THIS LAW, WHICH BEGINS TO EXPLAIN THE POWER OF THE NRA IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

BOTH THESE LAW CHANGES THAT YOU'VE CITED ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF PRESSURE AND INPUT FROM THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION TO CHANGE LAWS IN MISSOURI.

LAWMAKERS, EVEN REPUBLICANS, GOING AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT, HAVE PASSED THESE LAWS.

THAT BEGINS TO TELL YOU A WHOLE LOT ABOUT JUST HOW POWERFUL THE NRA CONTINUES TO BE IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD.

>> NICK: SO MUCH HAPPENING IN TERMS OF CRIME, AND ALSO I THINK ABOUT OUR POLICE OFFICERS, TOO, DURING THIS WHOLE EFFORT, NOT ONLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH HOMICIDES, BUT WHAT SOME VIEW AS AN EFFORT BY THE CITY OF KANSAS CITY TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

A NEW SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING THIS WEEK FROM THE KANSAS CITY POLICE UNION ANNOUNCES THAT ANOTHER OFFICER SIGNED RETIREMENT PAPERWORK TODAY, 64 WORN OFFICERS HAVE NOW TURNED IN THEIR PAPERWORK TO LEAVE THIS YEAR, OVER DOUBLE ANY PREVIOUS YEAR ON RECORD.

INTENTIONAL DEFUNDING BY THE COUNCIL COMBINED WITH ASSOCIATED MORALE ISSUES HAVE CREATED A CRISIS THAT WILL TAKE AT LEAST A DECADE TO FIX, SAYS THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE.

WHAT IS THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL'S RESPONSE TO THAT?

ARE THEY GETTING WORRIED, CAT?

>> NOT THAT I'VE HEARD.

I DO THINK THEY WOULD COUNTER THAT AGAIN BY SAYING WHAT THEY HAVE SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THAT IT'S NOT A DEFUNDING.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT STILL HAS THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AVAILABLE, JUST MOVED INTO A DIFFERENT POT.

>> I'VE TALKED TO QUITE A FEW POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE I RESPONDED TO SOMETHING ON BRAD LEMON'S FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> NICK: HE'S THE HEAD OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE UNION.

>> AND SOME OF THE OFFICERS WERE TELLING ME THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY A LOT OF THEM ARE LEAVING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEFUNDING.

IT'S WHEN THEY MAKE A DECISION TO DO SOMETHING THAT THEY FEEL IS THE ORDER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THEN THEY HAVE THE PROSECUTOR COME BACK AND SAY THAT THEY VIOLATED A LAW AND THEN CHARGED THEM.

A LOT OF THEM ARE RELUCTANT AND SCARE OF THAT.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEFUNDING, AND THAT'S JUST A SCARE POLITICAL TACTIC THEY'RE TRYING TO USE TO GET MORE MONEY FROM THE CITY.

>> AND INTERESTINGLY, AT THE TAIL END OF THIS WEEK, THE LAWSUIT, AGAIN, FROM THE POLICE BOARD AGAINST CITY HALL, THE POLICE BOARD IS SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT?

BRING IT ON.

WE'VE GOT PRETTY PLAIN LANGUAGE IN A MISSOURI STATUTE THAT SAYS WE HAVE EXCLUSIVE CONTROL OVER THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THEY'RE READY TO TAKE THIS THING TO TRIAL RIGHT NOW.

THEY WANT TO GO.

WE'LL SEE, ERIC.

WE'LL SEE.

THEY'RE EAGER.

>> AND HERE'S THE THING THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE.

TAXPAYERS ARE FUNDING A LEGAL QUARTERBACKEL BETWEEN THE BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS AND THE CITY AND OUR INTEREST.

WE'RE PAYING FOR THE LAWYERS FOR THE BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS AND THE LAWYERS FOR THE CITY.

WE'RE THE ONES PAYING FOR IT ALL IN THE END, AND IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.

IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.

>> NICK: WHILE THIS 4th OF JULY WEEKEND IS A CHANCE FOR US TO STEP BACK FROM WORK, MANY OF OUR AREA EMPLOYERS ARE VEXING OVER HOW THEY CAN EVEN FIND WORKERS.

A BIG JOB FAIR AT MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM LAST WEEK SAW SO FEW PEOPLE SHOW UP, RECRUITERS OUTNUMBERED APPLICANTS.

NEW YORK TIMES IS ALSO REPORTING THAT A RECENT DECISION IN MISSOURI TO RESCIND FEDERAL JOB BENEFITS AS AN INCENTIVE TO GET MORE PEOPLE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE HASN'T BEEN A BOON TO EMPLOYERS.

THE TIMES QUOTES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS WHO SAY THEY HAVE SEEN VIRTUALLY NO UPTICK IN APPLICANTS, SINCE THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT.

SO IS THAT WHY NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THEY ARE HIKING THEIR MINIMUM WAGE TO $18 AN HOUR AND THE SHAWNEE MISSION SCHOOL DISTRICT JUST ANNOUNCED THEY'RE PAYING THEIR EXISTING TEACHERS AND STAFF $600 RETENTION BONUS IF THEY DON'T QUIT BEFORE THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS?

>> THE PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED THIS.

THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO PUT UP WITH STUFF THEY'VE PUT UP WITH IN THE PAST.

SOME WANT TO STAY HOME, LOOK AFTER THE KIDS.

THEY LIKE THE LIFESTYLE THEY ADOPTED SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, AND THAT'S PUT A WHOLE NEW CRUSH ON EMPLOYERS, WHO AS YOU POINT OUT HAVE TO DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO GET WORKERS TO COME TO WORK AND DOT JOBS.

>> NICK: NORTH KC CHIEF WRITING ON TWITTER, CAT REID, HAS A VERY DIFFERENT THEORY.

HE ARGUES, COVID HAS CHANGED WORKING FOREVER.

PEOPLE GOT USED TO WORKING AT HOME, NOT WORKING, AND ADJUSTED THEIR LIFE ACCORDING.

MANY WON'T GO BACK TO THE OLD NORMAL S THAT PART OF THE PROBLEM?

>> YEAH, I THINK PEOPLE HAD TIME TO THINK OVER THE PAST YEAR WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THEIR LIVES, HOW THEY WANT TO WORK, MAYBE WORKING REMOTELY.

ALSO, I THINK, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RAISING PAY, OFFERING INCENTIVES TO BRING PEOPLE BACK TO THE WORKFORCE, YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT EVEN HAVING A SLIGHTLY HIGHER PAY, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN YOU CAN FIND CHILD CARE.

THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN YOU CAN AFFORD CHILD CARE.

THAT IS A HUGE THING WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY WOMEN LEAVE THE WORKFORCE BECAUSE OF THAT.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S A COMPLEX SITUATION WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS INFLUENCING THESE DECISIONS.

>> I WAS AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT YESTERDAY, AND I WAS GOING THROUGH THE DRIVE-THROUGH, AND THEY HAD A SIGN UP AND IT SAID, YOU WORK TODAY, YOU GET PAID TOMORROW.

SO THEIR INCENTIVE WAS, YOU KNOW, YOU COME TO WORK, YOU WOULD DAY, YOU GET PAID TOMORROW.

SO EVERY OTHER DAY, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A PAYCHECK IF YOU COME IN AND WORK.

SO THOSE TYPE OF INCENTIVES TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK, AND HE SAID HE'S GETTING 14 APPLICATIONS TODAY FROM PEOPLE WANTING TO WORK UNDER THAT GUISE.

>> WE'RE IN A POSITION HERE THAT I DON'T THINK MANY OF US HAVE SEEN MUCH OF IN OUR ENTIRE CAREERS OR OUR LIVES, WHERE WORKERS ARE PRETTY MUCH IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN MANY RESPECTS ON THIS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THIS PLAYS OUT.

WORKERS, ESPECIALLY LOWER PAID WORKERS WHO DON'T WANT TO WORK FOR MINIMUM WAGE AND ARE EXPECTING A LIVEABLE WAGE OF SOME SORT, ARE CALLING SOME SHOTS.

>> NICK: ONE INTERESTING DEFEND STORY THAT CAUGHT MY EYE WAS THE 64-YEAR-OLD RETIREE FROM LAWRENCE WHO JUST SIGNED UP TO BECOME A LIFEGUARD.

WE HAVE THE VIEW THAT THESE ARE THE KINDS OF SUMMER JOBS FILLED BY TEENAGERS.

STEVE, IS THIS GIVING US ALL A CHANCE TO REINVENT OURSELVES REGARDLESS OF OUR AGE?

>> I THINK ABSOLUTELY, NICK.

IT'S A NEW PLAYING FIELD OUT THERE AS MIKE JUST POINTED OUT.

WORKERS ARE IN CHARGE HERE AND HAVE NEW AUTHORITY, NEW FREEDOM, I GUESS, TO PURSUE WHAT THEY WANT TO PURSUE.

MAYBE I'LL BECOME A LIFEGUARD ONCE I RETIRE HERE.

>> NICK: SPEAKING OF JOBS, I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THIS PROGRAM THIS WEEK WITHOUT MENTIONING, DID YOU SEE THAT ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS ON THE KANSAS SIDE OF OUR STATE LINE IS GOING TO BE SHUT DOWN NOW UNTIL AUGUST.

THE GM FAIRFAX PLANT STOPPED MAKING CARS IN FEBRUARY DUE TO THE GLOBAL COMPUTER CHIP SHORTAGE.

NOW WORKERS AT THE PLANT SAY THAT SHUTDOWN HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH AUGUST 16th.

CAN YOU THINK OF ANY OTHER TIME THAT A LARGE EMPLOYER WAS FORCED TO CLOSE IN A CITY FOR SO LONG, MICHAEL?

>> NOT UNLESS IT WAS A LABOR STRIKE.

IT'S VERY, VERY INTERESTING THAT THIS IS UNDERWAY.

THE PLAN WAS TO HAVE BOTH FAIRFAX AND GM REOPEN AND FIRE UP ALL THEIR LINES THIS COMING WEEK, AFTER JULY 5th.

NOW OBVIOUSLY THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE COMPUTER CHIP SHORTAGE IS LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT, AND THIS, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE CHANGING DYNAMICS IN THE WORKPLACE AND IN OUR ECONOMICS, IS NOW RIPPLING THROUGH THE AUTO INDUSTRY IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> NICK: AND OBVIOUSLY HAS HUGE IMPLICATIONS, JUST AS IT DID FOR MY DAUGHTER, THIS WEEK, CAT REID, WHO WENT TO THE MOLLE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WANTING TO GET A RAV-4, AND THEY HAD NO CARS.

>> YEAH, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAD THE PAUSE IN PRODUCTION LINES THAT IMPACTED NEW CARS, AND THEN USED CAR DEMAND IS JUST INSANE RIGHT NOW.

I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT TIME TO SELL A USED CAR.

OF COURSE, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO BUY A CAR, AND THE SUPPLY IS DOWN.

IT HAS HAD JUST A HUGE IMPACT ON THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.

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

THANK YOU TO THE CALL'S ERIC WESSON, CAT REID FROM 41 ACTION NEWS AND CHANNEL 9'S MICHEAL MAHONEY, AND KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE WEEKDAYS ON KCUR F.M., STEVE KRASKE.

AND I'M NICK HAINES, AND I ARRIVED ON SHE'S SHORES, BY THE WAY, 30 -- ON THESE SHORES, BY THE WAY, 30 YEARS ASSIST THIS YEAR.

WHO SAYS I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CELEBRATE THE 4th OF JULY.

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

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