>>> MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON NOW THROWING MONEY AT YOU TO GET VACCINATED.

>> A SHOT AT WINNING $10,000.

>> NICK: THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PUT YOUR MASK BACK ON WEEK, BUT DID ANYONE LISTEN?

IT'S HARD FOR US TO MANDATE 1,000 CUSTOMERS COMING OUT ON A FRIDAY WHEN THE CITY ISN'T MANDATING.

>> AND THERE ARE SCHOOLS REVERSING COURSE.

>> THE CDC IS NOT THE LAW.

>> ALSO THIS WEEK THE TENTS ARE BACK, AND A FIGHT ON BOTH SIDES OF STATE LINE OVER WHAT'S TAUGHT ABOUT RACISM IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> JUST BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT CRITICAL RACE THEORY TAUGHT TO MY CHILDREN IN SCHOOL DOES NOT MEAN I'M A RACIST.

>> A THREE YEARS AFTER THE DUCK BOAT TRAGEDY AND A COUNTRY WANTING TO BRING IT BACK.

>> NICK: HELLO, EVERYONE.

I'M NICK HAINES.

OUR REPORTERS ARE BACK THIS WEEK AS WE DISSECT THE MOST COMPACTFUL AND CONFUSING AND BEFUDDLING STORIES.

WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE MR.

UP-TO-DATE, STEVE KRASKE WITH US, FROM KCUR NEWS.

ALSO ON THE BIG SCREEN, THE EDITOR OF THE CALL NEWSPAPER, ERIC WESSON.

FROM THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR, DAVE HELLING, AND FROM 41 NEWS, REPORTER, SARAH.

I AM ASSUME, SARAH, AS YOU ARE OUR OLYMPIC STATION, YOU ARE COMING TO US VIA TOKYO, AND THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE SPORTS VENUES BEHIND US, RIGHT?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S JUST A BACKDROP OF UNION STATION.

I WISH.

>> NICK: SO YOU'RE ONE OF THE FEW REPORTERS AT THE STATION WHO THAT IS TO STAY HERE AND TRY TO COVER THE NEWS FOR US, AND WE ARE APPRECIATIVE.

>> RIGHT.

SOMEONE HAS GOT TO DO IT.

>> WE'VE GOT SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK.

EVERYONE LIKES MONEY, DON'T THEY?

HOW ABOUT $10,000 IN HARD CASH?

THAT'S WHAT THE GOVERNOR OF MISSOURI IS NOW OFFERING TO GET YOU VACCINATED.

>> THE MISSOURI V.I.P.

CAMPAIGN WILL GIVE VACCINATED MISSOURIANS A SHOT AT WINNING $10,000.

IT'S THE ONES THAT REALLY BUBBLE.

MABEL THE ONES TRYING TO FIGURE -- MAYBE THE ONES TRYING TO FIGURE OUTDO I OR DO NOT NOT.

>> AND HOW ABOUT $10,000 FOR 900 PEOPLE?

THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE GIVEN AWAY BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER, AND PERHAPS JUST AS SIGNIFICANT, THE STATE IS GIVING LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS $2,500 IN CASH WHEN YOU COME IN FOR A SHOT.

>> NICK, YOU HAVE TO WONDER HOW EFFECTIVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE, THIS V.I.P.

PROGRAM THAT THE GOVERNOR IS PLOTTING OUT.

FOLKS WHO HAVE GONE THIS FAR AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN VACCINATED, YOU WONDER WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET THEM THROUGH THE DOOR TO GET THE JAB.

I'M NOT CONVINCED THAT 10,000 BUCKS IS GOING TO DO IT.

IT MIGHT ENCOURAGE A FEW PEOPLE.

AFTER ALL, DOWN IN SPRINGFIELD A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE TALKED ON THE SHOW, THEY WERE GIVING AWAY FREE BEER, AND THAT DIDN'T CONVINCE VERY MANY PEOPLE TO COME IN THE DOOR.

SO I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE EITHER.

>> IT'S CERTAINLY BETTER THAN WHAT HAPPENED IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY, SARAH, WHERE THEY'RE GIVING AWAY SPORTING KC SCARVES TO GET YOU VACCINATED.

>> WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT VACCINATION SATURATION.

HOW DO YOU GET TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DECIDED IN THEIR HEAD IT'S NOT WORTH MY TIME, I CAN'T BOTHER TO GO GET VACCINATED.

WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE -- WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS OR MAY BE WORKING THREE DIFFERENT JOBS, MAYBE GETTING A VACCINE IS FURTHER DOWN ON THEIR LIST TO GET A VACCINE EVERY DAY.

>> NICK: PEOPLE DO LIKE MONEY, AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T JUST WANT THE 10,000-DOLLAR CHANCE TO WIN THAT PRIZE, HAVING $25 IN CASH TO GO AND GET THAT JOB, ISN'T THAT ATTRACTIVE TO SOME PEOPLE?

>> NO.

AND I TELL YOU FOR THOSE OF US THAT GOT OUR VACCINES EARLY ON, IT'S KIND OF A SLAP IN THE FACE, BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE ACTION AT THAT 10,000.

>> NICK: YOU CAN STILL SIGN UP.

>> SAMUEL ROGERS THIS WEEK STARTED GOING DOOR TO DOOR IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AROUND THEIR HOSPITAL AREA THERE, GOING DOOR TO DOOR TO GET PEOPLE TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

>> NICK: THAT WAS SOMETHING, DAVE HELLING, THAT MIKE PARSON, THE GOVERNOR, WASN'T KEEN ON HAVING FEDERAL HEALTH OFFICIALS DO.

I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW WHERE THE MONEY WAS COMING FROM FOR THESE 10,000-DOLLAR PRIZES TIMES 900, PLUS $25 IN CASH.

DID THEY HAVE THAT MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS?

>> YES.

THERE IS SOME ABILITY TO OFFER INCENTIVES PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT'S NOT A LOT OF MONEY, NICK.

THE BIG QUESTION, OF COURSE, IS WHETHER IT WILL DO ANYTHING TO RAISE THE RATE IN MISSOURI, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS.

THAT'S WHERE THE REAL CHALLENGE IS.

AT SOME POINT, IT DOESN'T ABOUT THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES.

IT'S ABOUT RESISTANCE TO THE VACCINE, FEAR OF HEALTH CONSEQUENCES, AND JUST A STUBBORN ANTI-VACCINE ATTITUDE THAT EXISTS IN SOME PLACES.

AND IT ISN'T CLEAR TO ME HOW THE GOVERNOR OR ANY GOVERNOR CAN OVERCOME THAT, PARTICULARLY WHEN MIKE PARSON IS LUKEWARM AT BEST ABOUT URGING PEOPLE TO GET THE SHOT.

>> NICK: SO EVEN IF IT WAS $50,000 GOING INTO PEOPLE'S POCKETS, THEY STILL WOULDN'T COME THEN, STEVE.

>> I DON'T THINK SO, NICK.

REX ARCHER WAS ON UP-TO-DATE YESTERDAY.

HE'S THE HEALTH DIRECTOR OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, SAYING SEPTEMBER IS GOING TO BE ARMAGEDDON.

IT'S GOING TO BE AN AWFUL MONTH BECAUSE KIDS ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL WITHOUT MASKS.

THEY'RE GOING TO CATCH IT.

PARENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STAY HOME AGAIN.

NICK, WE'RE REGRESSING.

WE'RE GOING BACKWARDS IN TIME AS OPPOSED TO MOVING FORWARD WHEN IT COMES TO THIS PANDEMIC.

>> NICK: LET'S TALK A LITTLE BITS MORE THEN ABOUT MASKS.

THIS WAS ALSO, BY THE WAY, SUPPOSED TO BE PUT YOUR MASK BACK ON WEEK IN OUR METRO.

11 KANSAS CITY AREA HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TEAMING UP TO ISSUE A JOINT ADVISORY RECOMMENDING UNVACCINATED RESIDENTS WEAR FACE COVERINGS.

IT WASN'T THE DRAMATIC ANNOUNCEMENT WE SAW A YEAR AGO WHEN EVERY PROMINENT LEADER GATHERED AT UNION STATION, SO DID ANYONE LISTEN THIS WEEK?

AFTER ALL, THIS IS JUST A RECOMMENDATION, NOT A MANDATE.

BUT IF THE SITUATION IS AS BAD AS WE ARE TOLD, WHY ARE THEY NOT REQUIRING IT THEN, ERIC?

IS IT BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE REX ARCHER AND THE HEALTH LEADERS IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND WYANDOTTE COUNTY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CLOUT ANY LONGER?

>> IT WAS DIFFICULT TO HAVE THEM PUT ON MASK ON IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THEN YOU LET THEM TAKE IT OFF.

NOW YOU'RE TELLING THEM TO PUT IT BACK ON AGAIN.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST TIRED OF IT.

>> NICK: WE HAD ACTUALLY REX ARCHER ON THIS PROGRAM LAST WEEK AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER HEALTH DIRECTORS, AND THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T HATCHING ANY PLANS BEHIND THE SCENES RIGHT NOW FOR ANY NEW BUSINESS RESTRICTION, FOR ANY NEW MASK MANDATES.

IS THAT IMPOSSIBLE AT THIS POINT THEN, DAVE.

>> IMPOSSIBLE IS A STRONG WORD, BUT THE IDEA THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN FORCE A WIDESPREAD USE OF MASKS OR, BY THE WAY THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN DO THAT OR GO BACK TO REMOTE LEARN, VERY TOUGH POLITICALLY.

>> NICK: THE STATE OF KANSAS NOW WORKING ON A NEW STATEWIDE ADVISORY RECOMMENDING MASK WEARING AND PUTTING PRESSURE ON OUR SCHOOLS, AS STEVE KRASKE MENTIONED.

THE HEAD OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN JOHNSON COUNTY WAS ON HERE LAST WEEK CALLING FOR SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS TO REVERSE COURSE AND PUT MASK MANDATES BACK IN PLACE.

>> THE CDC IS NOT THE LAW.

NEITHER IS THE -- >> I JUST DON'T SEE HOW A SOILED ROUND, BLACK, WET MASK ON ALL DAY EVERY DAY FOR A YOUNG CHILD IS AN IMPROVEMENT IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> NICK: THE NAY-SAYERS WINNING THE DAY IN THE BLUE VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IN FACT EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN JOHNSON COUNTY HOLDING FIRM, NO MASKS, SARAH, EXCEPT FOR SHAWNEE MISSION, WHICH WILL DECIDE THIS ON MONDAY.

>> RIGHT, AND ALSO KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, THEY'RE GOING TO REQUIRE MASKS FOR ALL THE STUDENTS, STAFF, PARENTS AND VISITORS IN THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR.

>> NICK: SO KANSAS CITY, KANSAS AND KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI ARE THE ONLY ONES AT THIS POINT SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO WEAR MASKS.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE THERE?

IS IT BECAUSE, ERIC, THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARENTS CALLING NIGHT AND DAY, CALLING THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK.

>> NO.

I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE A DEMOCRATIC AREA VERSUS A REPUBLICAN AREA.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT RAYTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT IS GOING TO DO.

MY KIDS ARE IN THAT DISTRICT, SO I DEFINITELY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN IT.

BUT MY KIDS WENT TO SUMMER SCHOOL, AND THEY HAD TO WEAR MASKS DURING SCHOOL, DURING CLASS, AND THEY HAD TO WEAR A MASK TO GET ON THE SCHOOL BUS, SO I THINK SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE STILL TAKING A VERY SERIOUSLY.

>> AND WE SHOULD THROW IN, NICK, AND VERSUS IMPORTANT TO NOTE, WYANDOTTE COUNTY HAS ONE OF THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATES IN THE STATE OF KANSAS.

YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT RURAL AREAS STRUGGLING, BUT SOME URBAN AREAS, TOO, AND THE LAST TIME I LOOKED, 35% OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY IS FULLY VACCINATED, AT LEAST FOR THOSE ELIGIBLE.

AND REMEMBER, THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS KIDS AGES 5 THROUGH 12 ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE VACCINE, NONE OF THE KIDS THAT WOULD BE IN ESSENCE, IN GRADE SCHOOL, CAN GET A SHOT, SO THAT'S PLAYING INTO SOME OF THIS DISCUSSION AS WELL.

>> NICK: BEFORE WE MOVE ON, PERHAPS THE BIGGEST LOCAL COVID STORY OF THE WEEK WAS PLAYING OUT A HALF WORLD AWAY IN TOKYO WHERE KANSAS CITY AREA GYMNAST CARA AKER BECAME THE FIRST OLYMPIC ATHLETE TO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.

THIS WAS AN ATHLETE WHO WAS FULLY VACCINATED AND SUBJECTED TO VIGOROUS HEALTH RESTRICTIONS, AND YET SHE STILL GOT THE VIRUS.

>> THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET UPDATES ON EVERY DAY.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR HER, IT'S KIND OF A WAIT AND SEE THING.

IF THE 10 DAYS PASS, SHE COULD GET OUT AND MAYBE BE ABLE TO COMPETE, PROBABLY NOT.

THEY'RE TRAPPED ESSENTIALLY IN THEIR HOTEL ROOMS.

A WORLD AWAY, NOT REALLY SURE WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> NICK: ALSO A DAY AFTER KANSAS CITY OFFICIALLY ENDED ITS HOMELESS HOTEL PROGRAM, THE TENTS ARE BACK, MORE THAN A DOZEN TENTS COULD BE SEEN NEAR A BUSY INTERSECTION IN WESTPORT EARLIER IN THE WEEK.

THEY HAVE SINCE BEEN MOVED BY THE CITY.

THEY HAVE NOW BEEN RELOCATED NEAR THE SCOUT STATUE IN PENN VALLEY PARK.

KANSAS CITY EARMARKED NEARLY $3 MILLION TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS IN HOTEL ROOMS TO REMOVE THE HOMELESS FROM CITY STREETS UNTIL A MORE PERMANENT FIX COULD BE FOUND.

THAT HAS BEEN COVERED IN CONTROVERSY.

IF THERE WAS NO SOLUTION ON THE WAY, WHY DID THE CITY END THE HOTEL PROGRAM?

DID THEY SIMPLY RUN OUT OF MONEY?

>> NOT ALL OF THE HOTELS RECEIVED THEIR MONEY YET.

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

BACK ON THE STREETS.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW.

>> NICK: BUT SOME PEOPLE WERE HELPED DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, DURING THAT 90 DAYS?

>> ABOUT 50 PEOPLE GOT EMPLOYED.

THE PROBLEM IS A LOT WERE BUSSED OUT TO WORLDS OF FUN, SO THEY WERE ABLE TO GET JOBS OUT THERE, WHILE IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR HOTEL, WHERE DO THEY STAY?

MAYBE THEY'RE FROM BACK THIS WAY.

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO COMMUTE.

A LOT OF PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE FACING.

>> THERE IS ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY.

THE POLICE OFFICERS TOOK THEM TO THE PARK.

WHEN THEY GOT TO PENN VALLEY PARK, THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD ON TUESDAY THEY GOT TO BE OUT OF THERE BY WEDNESDAY BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE IN THAT PARK EITHER.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S THE SOLUTION TO THIS, BUT THE HOTEL THING SEEMED TO WORK TO GET THEM OFF THE STREET, BUT IT WASN'T GETTING THEM JOBS AND GETTING THEM PREPARED, WORKING ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, WORKING ON THOSE ISSUES THAT WOULD MAINTAIN THEM IN HAVING A HOUSE.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DID GET CONNECTED TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S THE STABILITY FACTOR.

IF YOU'VE GOT A STABLE PLACE TO GO AT THE END OF THE DAY AND NOW THAT'S GONE, ARE YOU GOING TO CONTINUE THOSE MENTAL HEALTH STEPS TO GET YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AND ALL YOUR ISSUES IN ORDER?

>> BUT IF I GOT A REAL SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM, A 15-MINUTE CONSULTATION IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE MY PROBLEM.

>> NICK, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ONCE AGAIN ON THIS PROGRAM FOR ONE VERY BASIC REASON, OR TWO.

IT'S VERY COMPLICATED, MORE COMPLICATED THAN IT SEEMS, AND 2, IT'S EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE.

THE WHOLE THING WITH THE HOTELS WAS TO BUY THE CITY A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIGURED OUT.

WHAT THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE ARE THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO REALLY ADEQUATELY DEAL WITH A PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

>> DAVE, YOU'VE SAID, THOUGH, ON THIS PROGRAM THAT MONEY WASN'T AN ISSUE ANYMORE AT CITY HALL.

THEY HAVE ALL OF THIS MONEY AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND THE RELIEF FUNDING.

WHY WAS IT SO COMPLICATED TO GET THIS TINY HOMES VILLAGE PASSED?

DIDN'T THAT SEEM LIKE AN ELEGANT SOLUTION, PROVIDING SMALL UNITS FOR THE HOMELESS.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, MONEY, AT LEAST IN THE NEAR TERM IS AVAILABLE, BUT IN THE LONG-TERM, IT'S A PROBLEM, AND THE TINY VILLAGE IDEA, TINY HOME VILLAGE, IS VERY DIFFICULT POLITICALLY.

NOBODY WANTS THAT IN THEIR DISTRICT.

NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS ARE FIGHTING IT.

I THINK WE ARE LEARNING, NICK, A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND STEVE TOUCHED ON THEM.

FIRST, THIS IS A VERY LABOR INTENSIVE PROBLEM.

YOU ALMOST HAVE TO GO PERSON BY PERSON AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE BEST THING FOR THAT PERSON?

IS IT THE CITY UNION MISSION?

A TINY HOME?

IS IT A TENT IN THE PARK.

AND THEN CONTINUE THAT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS.

THE IDEA THAT THERE'S ONE -- LET'S PUT THEM ALL IN HOTELS.

OH, THAT'S OVER.

OKAY.

LET'S PUT THEM ALL IN TINY HOMES.

I THINK WE'RE LEARNING AND CITY HALL IS LEARNING THAT THAT'S NEVER GOING TO WORK.

>> SARAH.

>> VERY WELL SAID.

>> WELL, YESTERDAY WE HAD THREE MEASURES IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND ALL OF THEM WERE HELD.

IT'S BEEN HELD AND REFERRED SIX TIMES NOW AND THE CITY COUNCIL GOES ON VACATION NEXT WEEK.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY UPSET IN THAT MEETING KNOWING THAT IT'S ON HOLD AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

>> THE PALLET HOME SITUATION IS KIND OF COMPLEX IN THAT YOU DON'T HAVE SHOWERS IN THERE.

YOU DON'T HAVE REST ROOMS IN THERE, SO THEY HAVE TO PUT PORT-A-POTTIES OUTSIDE FOR PEOPLE TO USE.

A LOT OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS DON'T AGREE WITH THAT AS SOLVING A PROBLEM.

THAT JUST GETS THEM OUT OF THE WAY, BUT HOW COULD THEY GET UP AND GO TO WORK THE NEXT DAY WITHOUT TAKING A SHOWER OR BEING ABLE TO WASH THEIR FACE AND BRUSH THEIR TEETH?

>> AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ONE ISSUE, OF COURSE.

HEALTH CARE A BIG ISSUE IN OUR METRO TOO.

WE WANT TO UPDATE YOU ON A COUPLE IMPORTANT LEGAL BATTLES WITH HUGE IMPLICATIONS IN OUR AREA.

WE ARE AWAITING A RULING FROM THE MISSOURI SUPREME COURT ON THE LEGAL SPAT OVER MEDICAID EXPANSION.

THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT HEARD ORAL ARGUMENTS LAST WEEK, AND A QUICK DECISION MAY BE ON THE WAY.

LAST MONTH, A JUDGE RULED MISSOURI'S VOTER APPROVED MEASURE WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE THE BALLOT QUESTION DIDN'T INCLUDE A FUNDING MECHANISM TO PAY FOR IT, LEAVING 270,000 MISSOURIANS IN LIMBO.

SO WHAT HAPPENS, SARAH, IF THE SUPREME COURT AGREES THAT THE BALLOT MEASURE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL?

ARE PETITIONERS GOING TO HAVE TO COLLECT MORE SIGNATURES AGAIN AND PUT IT BACK ON THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR?

>> THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE WONDERING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THE STATE HAS REALLY EVER BEEN IN THIS POSITION THAT MANY TIMES.

WE'RE WAITING ON THE STATE TO DECIDE.

>> NICK: WHAT HAPPENS, THOUGH, IF THE SUPREME COURT ACTUALLY CHANGES ITS DECISION FROM THE LOWER COURT AND SAYS, NO, THIS IS CONSTITUTIONAL, BUT THE STATE OF MISSOURI SAYS IT HAS NO MONEY AND CERTAINLY NOW IS GIVING A LOT OF THAT MONEY TO THESE VACCINE INCENTIVES, STEVE.

>> GOOD QUESTION, BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT THE STATE OF MISSOURI HAD MONEY A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN GOVERNOR PARSON PROPOSED HIS BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.

HE INCLUDED MEDICAID EXPANSION IN HIS INITIAL BUDGET, $130 MILLION OUT OF THE STATE GENERAL FUND.

SO YOU HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THERE'S A WAY TO GET THIS DONE, EVEN IF IT'S ANOTHER YEAR DOWN THE ROAD NEXT JANUARY WHEN THE GOVERNOR PROPOSES HIS EFFECT BUDGET NICK.

>> NICK: AS WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT LAWSUITS, DON'T EXPECT A SWIFT RULING IN THAT CLASH BETWEEN THE CITY AND BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS OVER POLICE FUNDING.

THAT COURTROOM SHOWDOWN WON'T HAPPEN NOW UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1st.

SO THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE ANY RESOLUTION TO THIS SPAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME YET, DAVE?

>> THE HEARING IS SEPTEMBER 1st.

PATRICK CAMPBELL IS THE JUDGE.

IT MIGHT TAKE THREE TO FOUR WEEKS AT BEST FOR HIM TO REACH A DECISION ON THIS CASE, AND THEN ALMOST CERTAINLY THE LOSING SIDE WILL APPEAL, AND THAT WILL TAKE WEEKS, IF NOT MONTHS.

THAT MEANS THAT A LEGAL RESOLUTION OF THIS DISPUTE MIGHT NOT COME UNTIL CLOSE TO THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> BY THE WAY, LAST WEEK, ERIC, WHEN WE HAD OUR HEALTH DIRECTORS ON THE PROGRAM, YOU'LL RECALL THAT WE HAD ALL OF THE TOP BUSINESS AND CIVIC GROUPS IN KANSAS CITY, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CIVIC COUNCIL COMING FORWARD WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW THIS SHOULD GO WITH POLICE FUNDING, AND ONE OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IS DON'T HAVE A LAWSUIT, LET'S TALK WITH ONE ANOTHER, HAVE DIALOGUE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> NO, AND I THINK IT'S BEYOND THAT POINT.

I THINK IF THEY WERE GOING TO COME UP WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MONTHS BEFORE THE FINAL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT TO DO, BUT THAT'S NOT GETTING READY TO HAPPEN.

>> MAYOR LUCAS DID TELL ME THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME LOW LEVEL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A SETTLEMENT.

THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY.

THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS, IF THIS CASE IS NOT FINALLY DECIDED UNTIL NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER, THAT'S PRECISELY THE TIME THE CITY WILL ENTER ITS NEW BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, BECAUSE IT PASSES A BUDGET IN MARCH OF 2022.

IF THE CITY LOSES THE CASE, THEN YOU CAN ALMOST BE CERTAIN THAT THE NEW BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR WILL RESTRICT THE POLICE TO JUST 20% OF THE GENERAL FUND, AND THAT WILL BE A REAL BATTLE THAT WILL STAY CLEAR OF THE COURTS.

IT WILL BE MUCH MORE ABOUT POLITICS.

>> NICK: WHILE WE FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE POLICE FUNDING, OF COURSE, MANY PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH VIOLENT CRIME, HOW ARE WE SOLVING CRIMES.

WE'RE COMING UP TO THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY TO THE FATAL FIRST FRIDAY SHOOTING.

25-YEAR-OLD WAS KILLED.

THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A CHANGING POINT FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHEN WE FINALLY GOT SERIOUS ABOUT CRIME IN KANSAS CITY.

SARAH, DID WE JUST SIMPLY FORGET ABOUT IT AND MOVE ON?

>> IT SEEMS THAT WAY.

WE HEAR ABOUT THESE TERRIBLE, HORRIFIC INCIDENTS ALMOST EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK.

BUT THERE'S STILL A FIGHT AS TO WHO GETS A GUN, WHO SHOULD HAVE A GUN AND SHOULD WE LIMIT GUNS AT ALL, AND I THINK WE HAVE NOT MADE ANY STEPS IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> STEVE.

>> IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT.

THIS COMMUNITY REMAINS STALLED ON THE IDEA OF DEALING WITH VIOLENT CRIME.

HER TRAGIC DEATH AND SO MANY OTHERS ARE WASHING AWAY AND WE MUDDLE FORWARD.

>> KANSAS IS ONE OF ONLY THREE STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS YET TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN ANY FORM.

EVEN IF YOU HAVE A CHRONIC CONDITION THERE, IT'S ILLEGAL TO USE MARIJUANA IN.

MISSOURI IS MOVING FORWARD TO LEGALIZE POT EVEN FURTHER.

SARAH, I FIND THIS REALLY INTERESTING.

HAVEN'T WE ONLY HEARD ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM THEY CURRENT HAVE IN MISSOURI, ABOUT WHO GOT THOSE LICENSES, ONE LAWSUIT AFTER ANOTHER?

>> YEAH, THE MARKET WAS REALLY TIGHT, AND YOU LOOK OVER AT A PLACE LIKE OKLAHOMA, AND IT'S BOOMING WITH DISPENSARIES.

I THINK NOT ONLY DO PEOPLE WANT RECREATIONAL CANNABIS HERE IN MISSOURI, BUT THEY WANT A MORE OPEN MARKET.

SO SOME OF THESE PETITIONS ARE HOPING TO ACHIEVE THAT AND NOT ENACT KIND OF THOSE CAPS ON LICENSES THAT WE SAW WITH THE MEDICINAL PROCESS.

>> I SAW IN AN EDITORIAL THIS WEEK, DAVE HELLING, YOU DID NOT THINK IT WAS A SLAM-DUNK THAT THE EDITORIAL BOARD WOULD APPROVE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA MEASURE ON THE BALLOT.

>> WE'LL HAVE TO SEE THE LANGUAGE.

I WROTE THAT EDITORIAL.

BUT LET'S BE CLEAR.

JUST LIKE THEY DID ON RIVER BOAT GAMING, MISSOURI SET UP A SCHEME AROUND MEDICAL MARIJUANA THAT RESTRICTS COMPETITION, JUST FULL STOP.

IT PROTECTS THE LICENSE HOLDERS, PROHIBITS OTHER PEOPLE FROM SELLING MARIJUANA OR DISPENSARIES OR EVEN GROWING THE MATERIAL FOR WIDESPREAD SALE.

MISSOURI IS FOND OF TALKING ABOUT THE FREE MARKET AND THEN NOT FOLLOWING IT, AND THAT'S WHY PRIMARILY THE FOLKS BEHIND RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ARE GOING TO THE VOTERS BECAUSE THEY WANT DISPENSARIES TO BE OPEN ACROSS THE STATE AND NOT JUST LIMITED AS IT IS NOW FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

>> NICK: IS THIS GOING TO PUSH KANSAS, THOUGH, TO DO SOMETHING AT THIS POINT?

STEVE?

YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD NO.

>> NO.

MISSOURI HAS A PROCESS FOR CITIZENS TO PETITION THEIR GOVERNMENT TO MAKE CHANGES.

KANSAS DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING REMOTELY SIMILAR TO THAT, NICK.

I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING IN KANSAS FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.

>> NICK: WELL, THERE ARE THREE WORDS YOU SEE PEPPERED IN A LOT OF NEWS STORIES AROUND OUR METRO THESE DAYS.

THEY ARE CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

A STATE LAWMAKER IN KANSAS IS TRYING TO BAN IT BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.

THIS WEEK MISSOURI HELD A HEARING AT THE CAPITOL ON THE MATTER, THOUGH THERE WERE COMPLAINTS ABOUT WHO GOT TO TESTIFY.

NOT ONE BLACK EDUCATOR, BLACK PARENT OR BLACK STUDENT GOT A CHANCE TO SPEAK.

>> WHAT WE SEE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS TODAY IS WE ARE PITTING BLACK KIDS AGAINST WHITE KIDS.

>> WHAT EXACTLY IS CRITICAL RACE THEORY?

WE TURNED TO JOHN GREENBERG FOR A 20 SECOND ANSWER.

>> CRITICAL RACE THEORY TOOK SHAPE IN THE 1980S WHEN BLACK LEGAL SCHOLARS ASKED WHY THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE OF COLOR HADN'T CHANGED DESPITE ALL THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS AND THE COURT RULINGS AND THE DECADES BEFORE.

THEIR ANSWER?

RACIST IMPACTS ARE WOVEN INTO LAWS AND PRACTICES AND SHOW UP IN HOW SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED, WHO GOES TO PRISON, THE SORT OF HOME LOANS PEOPLE ARE OFFERED AND OTHER FACETS OF LIFE, LARGE AND SMALL.

>> BUT SHOULD WE BE TEACHING THAT TO OUR KIDS?

IT'S LED TO SOME FIERY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF STATE LINE.

>> IT'S BASICALLY WHITE -- THAT'S BASICALLY A RACIST VIEWPOINT.

>> TO ME, THIS IS CHILD ABUSE.

>> JUST BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT CRITICAL RACE THEORY TAUGHT TO MY CHILDREN IN SCHOOL DOES NOT MEAN THAT I AM A RACIST,.

>> NICK: A SNAPSHOT OF VIEWS FROM THE ROCKLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT IN EUREKA, GIVEN SUCH HUGE ISSUES TO STILL MASK, VACCINATIONS, ONLINE LEARNING.

WHY IS THIS GETTING SO MUCH ATTENTION, ERIC WESSON?

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN SCHOOL, BASICALLY YOU LEARN ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE BEING SLAVES.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF SPRINKLING OF MARTIN LUTHER KING IN THERE FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, BUT THEN AFTER THAT IT GOES BACK TO COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AN OCCUPIED LAND.

SO PEOPLE WANT TO BROADEN THAT CONVERSATION, AND PEOPLE ARE JUST RESISTANT OF THE BROADENING OF THAT CONVERSATION.

>> THIS IS REALLY GETTING RESIDENTS IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE DEFUND THE POLICE ISSUE WAS GETTING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DAVE.

>> YES, AND THE REALITY IS THAT RACE IS AT THE BOTTOM OF ALL OF IT.

YOU KNOW, THIS CONCERN AFTER GEORGE FLOYD THAT THE UNITED STATES SOMEHOW IS HAVING A REASSESSMENT WITH ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY PRIMARILY HAS UPSET A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THOSE PEOPLE VOTE, AND REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS ARE PREPARED TO APPEAL TO THEIR EMOTIONS BY CRITICIZING SOMETHING THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DEFINE, ISN'T REALLY BEING TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND YET HE EMOTIONAL ENOUGH TO GET PEOPLE ANGRY.

>> TO DAVE'S POINT, IT'S ANOTHER WEDGE ISSUE, JUST LIKE ABORTION HAS BEEN A WEDGE ISSUE, JUST HOW GUY RIGHTS HAS BEEN.

>> COMMON CORE WAS SOME TIME AGO, RIGHT, STEVE?

EVOLUTION, REMEMBER THE TEACHING OF EVOLUTION WAS A BIG DEAL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS A TOUGH TOPIC.

PROPONENTS THINK IT NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE INCREDIBLE IMPACT OF RACISM IN AMERICA, BUT AS ERIC POINTS OUT, IT'S A TOUGH CONVERSATION TO HAVE, AND PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF IT.

>> NICK: BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS WEEK, LAST WEEK KANSAS CITY MARKED THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HYATT HOTEL DISASTER.

THIS HE CAN WOULD, WE MARK ANOTHER TRAGIC ANNIVERSARY.

THREE YEARS AGO ON THIS PROGRAM THE TOP STORY WAS OF AN UNFATHOMABLE DISASTER IN BRANSON AS A DUCK BOAT CAPSIZES, KILLING 17 PEOPLE ON TABLE ROCK LAKE.

NOW CRIMINAL CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST THREE MEN, INCLUDING THE BOAT'S CAPTAIN, AND JUST AS REMARKABLY, THERE'S NEWS THAT ANOTHER COMPANY IS READY TO RELAUNCH THE DUCK BOATS IN BRANSON.

ERIC WESSON, YOU HAD JUST RIDDEN THE DUCK BOATS IN BRANSON WHEN THE DISASTER HAPPENED AND APPEARED ON THIS PROGRAM.

NOW, THAT WE HAVE THIS COMING WANTING TO BRING THEM BACK, WOULD YOU RIDE THEM?

>> NO.

NO, I'M THROUGH WITH THE DUCK BOATS.

DUCK BOATS, GEESE BOATS, WHATEVER BOATS, NO.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF SAFETY ISSUES WITH THAT, AND NO, I WOULDN'T BE GETTING ON ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE.

>> BUT WASN'T THERE LOTS OF STATE INQUIRIES, CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRIES ON THIS, AND DOESN'T THAT IMPROVE THAT ENTIRE INDUSTRY?

SO PERHAPS THIS IS A MUCH SAFER PLACE TO BE, A MUCH SAFER ATTRACTION NOW, DAVE.

>> I'M SURE THE NEW OWNERS AND THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES TO BE SURE WILL INSIST ON SAFETY MEASURES THAT WERE CLEARLY NOT IN PLACE WHEN THE DUCK BOAT TRAGEDY TOOK PLACE, BUT NICK, THIS STORY IS TIMELESS IN OUR AREA.

EVERYONE THINKS THAT REGULATIONS ARE BAD, THAT THEY HURT US, UNTIL THERE IS A TRAGEDY.

SAME THING AT SCHLITTERBAHN.

THERE IS AN ASSUMPTION THAT SOMEHOW THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT WILL PREVENT THINGS LIKE THIS, AND IT JUST ISN'T THE CASE, SO ERIC'S SKEPTICISM IS, I'M SURE, MORE COMMON THAN NOT AND UNDERSTANDABLE.

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

OUR THANKS TO THIS WEEK'S NECESSARY REVIEWERS, FROM 41 NEWS, SARAH PLAKE, FROM THE CALL ERIC WESSON, AND FROM THE STAR DAVE HELLING AND KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE WEEKDAYS AT 9 ON KCUR F.M.

STEVE KRASKE.

NEXT WE CAN WE DISSECT THE RACE FOR MAYOR IN OVERLAND PARK AND DAVID ALVEY'S FIGHT FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS AS MAYOR OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY.

JOIN US THEN.

I'M NICK HAINES.

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

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