SO KANSAS CITY IS GETTING A DOWNTOWN STADIUM AFTER ALL BUT IT'S NOT FOR THE ROYALS JUST DAYS AFTER TRYING TO WIN OVER ORGANIZERS OF THE WORLD CUP KANSAS CITY NOW BIDDING FOR THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION TUESDAY IS ELECTION DAY WE LOOK AT WHY EVEN LOW BALLOT SCOREBOARD RACES ARE GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION PLUS THE REST OF THE WEEK'S MOST IMPACTFUL STORIES AND NEWSMAKERS WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF AARP KANSAS CITY 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 WELCOME EVERYONE I'M NICK HAINES IT'S BEEN A REMARKABLE WEEK OF NEWS HERE IN OUR METRO AND HERE TO DISSECT THE MOST IMPACTFUL AND CONFUSING STORIES ON BOTH SIDES OF OUR STATE LINE AND MR UP TO DATE ON KCUR FM STEVE KRASKE FROM THE ANCHOR DESK AT 41 NEWS DEAR WALL IS WITH US KEEPING TRACK OF KANSAS NEWS FROM THE SHAWNEE MISSION POST REPORTER AND EDITOR KYLE PALMER AND WITH A LASER BEAM FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT CITY SCENE KC REPORTER KEVIN COLLISON JUST DAYS AFTER KANSAS CITY TRIES TO WIN OVER ORGANIZERS OF THE 2026 WORLD CUP KANSAS CITY IS NOW TRYING TO BRING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION TO TOWN THIS WOULD BE THE 2024 CONVENTION IT'S ABOUT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY IT'S ABOUT DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR KANSAS CITY WHICH AS WE SAW LAST WEEK WITH A WORLD CUP BID IS A WORLD-CLASS CITY THAT CAN HOST ANY NUMBER OF EVENTS MAYOR LUKE IS CLEARLY ENTHUSIASTIC BUT HAS KANSAS CITY NOT LEARNED ANY OF THE LESSONS FROM THE LAST REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN CHARLOTTE WHICH ACCORDING TO NEWS ACCOUNTS LOST 200 MILLION DOLLARS AFTER THE PANDEMIC TURNED THE CONVENTION INTO A ONE-DAY SHOW WITH FEWER THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE IN A IN ATTENDANCE DEAR WALL THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T EVEN GIVE HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH IN CHARLOTTE HE DID IT FROM THE BALCONY OF THE WHITE HOUSE NICK WE HAVE TO BE FAIR THE COUNTRY WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC RIGHT SO THERE WAS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH THERE WAS FRUSTRATION ABOUT THE POLITICS ARE THEY GOING TO LET US DO WHAT WE WANT PACK OUT THE STADIUM SO CHARLOTTE REALLY DID GET SHORT SHRIFT THERE IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT 2016 CLEVELAND HOSTED THE CONVENTION THAT'S THE CITY THAT ACTUALLY WAS THE ONE SELECTED BEFORE WHEN KANSAS CITY HAD BID FOR THE RNC DIDN'T GET IT BECAUSE OF INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES FAST FORWARD TO 2021 YOU LOOK AT HOW MUCH THE CITY HAS TRANSFORMED PARTICULARLY DOWNTOWN HOTEL SPACE IS UP THAT WAS A BIG CONCERN BEFORE THERE'S A REALLY BEAUTIFUL UH CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL THAT'S NOW DOWNTOWN A NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL IS COMING AND KANSAS CITY REALLY FEELS LIKE THEY CAN PULL THIS OFF WOW WITH ALL OF THAT KEVIN COLLISON WHAT ARE OUR LIABILITIES AT THIS POINT WE SHOULD THEY SHOULD JUST BE COMING HERE WELL YOU KNOW I THINK ONE OF THE LIABILITIES WHICH WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT WITH OUR CITY IS UH TRANSIT ACCESS ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE A STREETCAR ROUTE NOW THAT DEFINITELY CAN LINK A VARIETY OF HOTELS INCLUDING THE LOWS INCLUDING THE HOTELS AT CROWN CENTER WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER UH YOU KNOW I THINK ONE OF THE ISSUES AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH KANSAS CITY IS GOING TO BE THE POLITICS OF 2024 WITH TRUMP POTENTIALLY BEING THE NOMINEE OR AT LEAST HIS FOLLOWERS CHALLENGING THE NOMINEES AND A LOT OF SECURITY ISSUES THAT I'M FRANKLY CURIOUS AND MILDLY SKEPTICAL OUR COMMUNITY IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING YOU KNOW THAT IS CERTAINLY AN ISSUE THERE WILL BE SECURITY CHALLENGES AND PARTICULARLY IF UH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS BACK ON THE BALLOT IN 2024 WHY WHY DOES THE CITY EVEN WANT TO WORRY ABOUT ALL OF THIS STEVE WELL BECAUSE IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY YOU KNOW IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR NATIONAL EXPOSURE NICK AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO FILL UP A LOT OF HOTEL ROOMS THAT HAVE BEEN UH UNDERPERFORMING BECAUSE OF COVET FOR SO MANY MONTHS YOU WONDER SOMETIMES HOW THE NEW LOWE'S CONVENTION HOTEL IS EVEN YOU KNOW KEEPING ON GIVING ALL THE TRIALS OF KOBAD SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CITY I THINK THERE'S ONE PROBLEM THAT KANSAS CITY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT AND THAT'S THE POLITICS OF 2024.

THESE CONVENTIONS TYPICALLY GO TO CITIES IN STATES THAT ARE SWING STATES THAT COULD GO EITHER WAY AND KANSAS CITY MISSOURI IS GOING TO GO RED IN 2024 SO IS KANSAS NICK AND IF THERE'S ANY ONE BIG DRAWBACK TO OUR BID THAT'S PROBABLY IT BECAUSE WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT MORE GOING FOR US RIGHT NOW THAN WE DID EVEN FOUR OR EIGHT YEARS AGO BUT AS YOU POINTED OUT THE MAYOR IS TRYING TO RESUSCITATE A UH DECLINING HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY PARTICULARLY HOTELS AS YOU MENTIONED AND THE CONVENTION BUSINESS AND PEOPLE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOTEL ROOMS UH KYLE WILL HAVE TO COME TO OTHER COMMUNITIES INCLUDING INTO OVERLAND PARK AND PRAIRIE VILLAGE AND TO ALL OF THE HOTELS IN JOHNSON COUNTY ARE THEY FEELING GLEEFUL ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN A UH NATIONAL CONVENTION I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME AIRBNB OWNERS IN PRAIRIE VILLAGE WHO ARE SALIVATING AT THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO JACK UP THEIR RATES UM BUT I THINK YOU KNOW TRUE I MEAN THERE'S A VERY DIRE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY ACROSS THE REGION THE CLEAREST EXAMPLE OF THAT IN JOHNSON COUNTY HAS BEEN THE EFFECT ON THE OVERLAND PARK CONVENTION CENTER CITY OFFICIALS THERE SAID THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN CRUSHING UH FOR THE OVERLAND PARK CONVENTION CENTER IT'S ESTIMATED THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE NEARLY 5 MILLION BETWEEN THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC SO YEAH A BIG EVENT LIKE A POLITICAL CONVENTION OR A WORLD CUP WOULD BE MUSIC TO THE EARS OF OF ANYONE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY OF COURSE I WOULD JUST LEAVE YOU WITH ONE MORE POTENTIAL CHALLENGE FOR THE 2024 RNC PEOPLE HAVE MAYBE FORGOTTEN THAT KANSAS CITY IS HOSTING THE NFL DRAFT IN 2023 PUTTING IN A BID TO HOST THE WORLD CUP IN 2026 YOU KNOW WHAT ALL THESE THINGS TAKE CASH AND A LOT OF IT AND SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHOSE PURSE STRINGS YOU'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO TUG ON FOR THESE EVENTS WHEN I TALKED TO FORMER MAYOR SLY JAMES HE SAID YOU DON'T WANT TO ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL IN ESSENCE WE CAN'T GO TO THE SAME DONORS TO PULL ALL OF THESE EVENTS OFF THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE CAN WE RAISE THE 75 TO 80 MILLION THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED FOR THE RNC IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER THINGS THAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO WIN HERE'S ONE OF THE OTHER BIG LOCAL STORIES OF THE WEEK SO KANSAS CITY IS GETTING A DOWNTOWN STADIUM AFTER ALL BUT IT'S NOT FOR THE ROYALS INSTEAD PREPARE FOR THE WORLD'S FIRST STADIUM APPARENTLY BUILT FOR A WOMAN'S SPORTS TEAM AND IT'S COMING TO THE KANSAS CITY RIVERFRONT IT JUST TRULY SENDS A SIGNAL THAT KANSAS CITY IS A SOCCER CAPITAL OF AMERICA DEAR WALL FIRST OF ALL BEFORE WE PICK APART THE PROS AND CONS OF THIS YOU RESPONDED TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT ON TWITTER WITH ONE WORD WOW OKAY SO WHAT IN YOUR VIEW IS SO GREAT ABOUT THIS ONE YOU CANNOT LOOK AT THOSE RENDERINGS AND NOT BE EXCITED ABOUT HOW GORGEOUS IT IS HOW BEAUTIFUL I'M OBVIOUSLY A TRANSPLANT HERE TO KANSAS CITY AND I'VE LONG THOUGHT THAT THE RIVER WAS UNDERDEVELOPED AND UNDERUTILIZED NUMBER TWO IT'S HISTORIC THERE HAS NOT BEEN A STADIUM IN THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY BUILT FOR A WOMEN'S SPORTS SOCCER TEAM LIKE THAT'S INCREDIBLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF SOMETHING HERE IN THE METRO I THINK IS GREAT NUMBER THREE ZERO PUBLIC DOLLARS THEY DIDN'T COME TO YOU AND ME TO PAY FOR IT THEY PONIED UP THE CASH THEMSELVES AND ACCORDING TO MY MAN KEVIN HERE THERE'S GOING TO BE A BAR OVERLOOKING THE WATER IT'S ALL GOOD FOR ME OKAY ALL RIGHTY KEVIN UM IF IT IS SO GREAT UM WE KNOW THE OWNERSHIP GROUP SAYS YES WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR ALL OF THIS UH IS THERE ANY COST TO US THEN AS TAXPAYERS WELL I DON'T REALLY THINK SO NICK AT LEAST THE WAY THEY'VE LAID IT OUT UH IT'S GOING TO BE ACCESSIBLE BY STREET CAR IT'S ANOTHER IMPORTANT MAGNET TO ATTRACT MORE INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT TO THE RIVERFRONT UH YOU KNOW THERE'S REALLY NOT A LOT TO NOT LIKE ABOUT IN FACT I CAN'T THINK OF ANY DOWNSIDE BY THE WAY IT'S THE OWNERS OF A LOCAL HEDGE FUND PLUS UH BRITTANY MATTHEWS THE UH FIANCE OF PATRICK MAHOMES WHO ARE THE OWNERSHIP GROUP FOR THIS WE'RE SAYING WE'RE JUST GONNA BANKROLL THE WHOLE THING WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY SO IF I I DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT A WOMEN'S SOCKET I'D NEVER GO BUT IF THEY WANT TO PAY FOR IT WHY SHOULD I CARE STEVE WELL YOU SHOULD CARE A WHOLE LOT BECAUSE I THINK JUST TO UNDERSCORE POINTS FROM DIA AND KEVIN THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE GAME CHANGER FOR KANSAS CITY NICK THIS IS REINTRODUCING OUR CITY TO THE RIVERFRONT WHICH HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN LITTLE FITS AND STARTS BUT NOT IN ANY KIND OF AGGRESSIVE WAY THIS CHANGES ALL OF THAT THIS BRINGS LOTS OF KANSAS CITIES DOWN TO THE MISSOURI RIVER IN A WAY THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN DECADES IN THIS TOWN AND TO DIA'S POINT IT'S ABOUT TIME OKAY FOR DECADES KEVIN IT HAS BEEN STATED THAT YES WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH OUR RIVERFRONT OTHER CITIES YOU GO TO AND YOU LOVE BEING THERE THERE'S LOTS OF DEVELOPMENT THINGS TO DO WE HAVE NOTHING AT OUR RIVERFRONT OTHER THAN A CASINO IS THIS REALLY THE CATALYST FOR THE RIVER AS WAS POINTED OUT IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE OUR RIVERFRONT WAS WHERE WE DUMPED THE RUBBLE OF THE KEMPER ARENA ROOF COLLAPSE BACK IN THE 70S WHATEVER IT WAS JUST FORGOTTEN IT TOOK A LONG TIME AND A LOT OF MONEY TO CLEAN IT UP THERE WAS A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND STEADILY OVER THE PAST FIVE SIX YEARS WE'VE GOT ONE MAJOR APARTMENT DEAL THAT'S ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED WITH ALMOST 400 APARTMENTS ANOTHER ONE'S GOING UP WITH 300 YOU'VE GOT BAR K WHICH IS A REALLY FUN PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR DOGS SO THINGS ARE STARTING TO HAPPEN BUT AS STEVE POINTED OUT THIS IS GOING TO ELEVATE IT TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL IT'S GOING TO BECOME A DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST AREN'T TAKING THEIR DOGS TO THE DOG PARK OR LIVING IN ONE OF THE APARTMENTS I DO WONDER THOUGH WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE DOWNTOWN BALLPARK FOR THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS DEAR WAR BECAUSE IF BRITTANY MATTHEWS AND THE LONGS OF THE HEDGE FUND THAT ARE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND DOING IT ALL WITH THEIR OWN MONEY WHY CAN'T THE ROYALS DO THAT WHY CAN'T JOHN SHERMAN DO THAT ALL FOR FREE AND NOT ASK FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEND A DIME ON A DOWNTOWN BALLPARK DON'T GET ME IN TROUBLE ON THIS WEEKEND REVIEW BUT I WILL SAY THIS RIGHT UM LEAVE IT TO THE WOMEN'S TEAM IN TOWN TO UP THE ANTE BECAUSE WHAT IT HAS SHOWN US IS THAT THERE CAN BE PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN SOME OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS WE ALREADY KNOW KANSAS CITY GENERALLY DOES NOT HAVE AN APPETITE FOR TAX INCREASES FOR MORE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS FOR MORE PUBLIC FUNDS TO BUILD UP BUILDINGS IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER FOR THE ROYALS ISN'T IT STEVE OR NOT NICK MAYBE ON SOME LEVEL IT MAKES IT EASIER BECAUSE THERE'S A PSYCHOLOGICAL COMPONENT HERE IF THE WOMEN CAN PLAY SOCCER IN A DOWNTOWN STADIUM CERTAINLY THE ROYALS CAN PLAY BASEBALL IN A DOWNTOWN STADIUM AND YOU GOT TO REMEMBER THIS IS A MAGNITUDE OF A FRACTION OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO DO A BALLPARK I MEAN TWO YEARS AGO THE ESTIMATE WAS 800 MILLION DOLLARS THAT'S MORE THAN 10 TIMES WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR THIS SOCCER VENUE THE BIG STICKING POINT REALLY IS OUR CITY HAS TO DEAL WITH TWO PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISES SIMULTANEOUSLY SO WHATEVER THE ROYALS GET THE CHIEFS WILL GET AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME VERY CREATIVE THINKING I THINK AS STEVE POINTS OUT YOU KNOW THE FACT THAT MAJOR INVESTMENTS ARE BEING MADE IN ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS VENUES DOWNTOWN WILL SHOW PEOPLE WHO ARE SKEPTICAL THAT DOWNTOWN IS A PLACE TO COME TO UH WHICH IS GOING TO BE A GENERATIONAL CHANGE FOR SOME FOLKS WHO'VE NOT BEEN DOWNTOWN IN A LONG TIME IF YOU'RE HEADED TO THE AIRPORT THIS WEEK YOU MAY NOTICE ONE BIG CHANGE NO KANSAS CITY POLICE CHIEF RICK SMITH OPTING TO REASSIGN OFFICERS FROM KCI AS PART OF WHAT HE CALLS AN ONGOING STAFFING SHORTAGE THIS IS ON TOP OF A DECISION LAST WEEK TO ELIMINATE THE DOWNTOWN FOOT PATROL UNIT WHICH ANCHORED BUSINESS OWNERS MANY VIEWERS MAY RAISE AN EYEBROW BUT WHAT DIFFERENCE WILL THIS MAKE KCI STILL HAS ITS OWN SEPARATE AIRPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND AS FOR DOWNTOWN WON'T POLICE CARS STILL BE MAKING RANDOM CHECKS LIKE THEY DO IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT DOING IT ONLY ON TWO LEGS DEAR YES THE GREATER QUESTION HERE AND WHAT THIS FIGHT IS ALL ABOUT IS THERE'S NO SECRET NUMBERS ARE DOWN AS FAR AS BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN TERMS OF KANSAS CITY POLICE OFFICERS BUT I THINK FROM THE CITY'S POINT THE MONEY IS THERE YOU'VE GOTTEN THE MONEY THEY WON THAT 42 MILLION BACK THE BUDGET HASN'T BEEN CUT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM MISSOURI STATE LAW HAS BEEN CHANGED SO NOW YOU CAN RECRUIT FROM OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS RIGHT EVERY ACCOMMODATION THAT KANSAS CITY POLICE HAVE REQUESTED THEY'VE GOTTEN AND RECRUITMENT IS STILL NOT GOING UP AND SO NOW IT'S A MATTER OF MOVING RESOURCES AROUND THAT'S AT THE POLICE CHIEF'S DISCRETION AND SO I THINK THE GREATER ISSUE IS GOING TO BE WHO GETS WHAT WHEN WHERE AND HOW BUT IT SEEMS TO ME STEVE THIS IS MAKING A BIGGER PUBLIC POINT HERE A POLITICAL POINT BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO SHOW YOU WHAT OUR PROBLEMS ARE AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HIGH PROFILE THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET BENT OUT OF SHAPE ABOUT INCLUDING PEOPLE OF MONEYED INTEREST IN THIS COMMUNITY LIKE JULIA IRENE KAUFMAN AND SHIRLEY HALSBERG WHO PUT THEIR NAMES TO A LETTER SAYING UH DON'T GET RID OF THESE FOOT PATROLS DOWNTOWN WE'LL PROBABLY HEAR THINGS ABOUT THE AIRPORT TOO I DON'T WANT TO MAKE MAKE THIS TOO BIG OF A DEAL THIS DOWNTOWN FOOT PATROL NICK FOUR OFFICERS FOUR PEOPLE YOU KNOW IT'S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OF INFLUENCE DOWNTOWN WHO WERE UPSET UH KEVIN WELL YOU KNOW I I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH STEVE I MEAN HAVING LIVED AND WORKED AND COVERED DOWNTOWN FOR 20 YEARS I CAN RARELY IF EVER REMEMBER SEEING A FOOT PATROL OFFICER SO I THINK THIS IS KIND OF A POTEMKIN ISSUE AND THE FOLKS THAT SIGN THAT LETTER GOD BLESS THEM THEIR CIVIC LEADERS BUT THEY'RE NOT THE PEOPLE ON THE STREET DOWNTOWN BUT THE BIGGER THING IS MOST OF THE SECURITY IF NOT ALL THESE DAYS HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY THE DOWNTOWN COUNCIL'S AMBASSADORS THE GUYS YOU SEE IN THE BLACK AND YELLOW JACKETS AND IF THEY RUN INTO A PROBLEM THEY CALL A POLICE OFFICER AND AN EVEN BIGGER POINT BEYOND THE FACT THAT THE FOOT PATROL HAS BEEN INVISIBLE IS THAT I'VE HAD MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS TELLING ME PEOPLE GET BURGLARIZED THEY SEE THEIR CARS BEING BROKEN TOO AND THERE MAY BE ONE KC POLICE CRUISER IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT THAT CAN RESPOND TO THE CALL I HAVE TO SAY YOU KNOW THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A KANSAS CITY MISSOURI ISSUE THOUGH EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT CRIME IT SEEMS TO BE ABOUT KANSAS CITY MISSOURI BUT I DID SEE KYLE EARLIER THIS SUMMER THE IN THE OVERLAND PARK CHAMBER DID A SURVEY AND THEY ASKED RESIDENTS WHAT WAS THE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IN OVERLAND PARK WE TALKED ABOUT IT LAST WEEK ACTUALLY AND IT WAS CRIME AND DRUGS GIVEN ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS GOING ON THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN THERE IT IS AN ISSUE IN THE MAYORAL RACE WHICH I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET TO ELECTIONS BUT YOU KNOW MIKE SINEKE THE NEWCOMER THE FORMER BUSINESS EXECUTIVE HE'S EMPHASIZED IT SAYS VOTERS HE TALKS TO CARE ABOUT IT BUT HIS OPPONENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER CURT SKOOG UM SAYS THAT SENECA IS BASICALLY TRYING TO SCARE MONGER INFLATE AND EXAGGERATE NUMBERS AND PAINTING A PICTURE THAT IS GENERALLY GRIMMER THAN REALITY WELL I SHOULD POINT OUT DID YOU ACTUALLY KNOW THERE WAS EVEN AN ELECTION ON TUESDAY FIRST OF ALL VOTERS IN MISSOURI FROM INDEPENDENCE TO PARKVILLE RAYTOWN TO LONE JACK WILL BE VOTING ON A VARIETY OF LOCAL TAX ISSUES BUT MOST OF THE ACTION IS TAKING PLACE ON THE KANSAS SIDE TWO BIG LEADERSHIP CONTESTS UNDERWAY THERE LAST WEEK WE HOSTED BACK-TO-BACK DEBATES BETWEEN THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES IN OVERLAND PARK AND WYANDOTTE COUNTY YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE POWERFUL PRIVILEGED CONNECTED OR WEALTHY ANYWHERE IN WAIANAE COUNTY TO GET THINGS DONE THE VERY THINGS THAT MR GARNER IS SAYING ARE WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS ALL OF MY CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE COME FROM RESIDENTS IF YOU LOOK AT KURTZ OVER 60 PERCENT OF HIS CAMPAIGN FINANCING CAME FROM COMMERCIAL DEVELOPERS YOU KNOW THE REASON THAT I GET THE SUPPORT IS BECAUSE MIKE HAS SCARED ALL DEVELOPMENT AWAY FROM THE CITY IF YOU MISSED THAT SHOW YOU CAN SEE THE CANDIDATES AGAIN ON THE KANSAS CITY PBS YOUTUBE CHANNEL OR ON THE KANSAS CITY WEEKEND REVIEW PODCAST YES THERE IS AN AUDIO VERSION OF THE SHOW CHECK IT OUT WHEREVER YOU NORMALLY GET YOUR PODCASTS WHILE THE MAYORAL RACES ARE DOMINATING NEWS COVERAGE WHAT HAS OFTEN BEEN CONSIDERED LOW-KEY BOTTOM OF THE BALLOT RACES FOR SCHOOL BOARD ARE PICKING UP SOME NATIONAL ATTENTION SURPRISINGLY THERE'S EVEN A LOT OF MONEY COMING IN FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY TO POWER SOME OF THESE CAMPAIGNS KYLE NORMALLY FEW PEOPLE PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO RACES FOR SCHOOL BOARD WHY IS THIS YEAR DIFFERENT OH WELL THIS IS MY HUNCH I MEAN I THINK IT'S JUST A REFLECTION OF HOW EVERY ELECTION CYCLE NOW SEEMS TO BE A PITCH BATTLE OVER THE SOUL OF OUR COUNTRY OR THE SOUL OF OUR COMMUNITIES MOST OF THE RHETORIC IN THE CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN HEAVILY TINGED WITH NATIONAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE PANDEMIC MASKS VACCINATIONS DIVERSITY AND RACE POLICING AND THE TREATMENT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT LOCAL ISSUES FOR SURE LIKE PROPERTY TAXES AND HOUSING AND THE LIKE BUT IT OFTEN FEELS LIKE CANDIDATES AND VOTERS ARE LOOKING AT THESE RACES THROUGH A NATIONAL LENS AND IT'S REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE YES I EXPECTED MASKS TO BE THE BIG ISSUE STEVE BUT WE SEE ON A LOT OF THESE CAMPAIGN MAILINGS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH MY DOOR KEEPING CRITICAL RACE THEORY OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS THAT'S A COMMON THEME THAT WE'RE SEEING FROM CANDIDATES IS THIS ELECTION GOING TO BE THE FIRST TEST OF HOW MUCH RESONANCE THAT ISSUE HAS WITH ACTUAL VOTERS OH I THINK THAT'S TRUE NICK AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT SOME CANDIDATES ARE USING TO SCARE PEOPLE AND WE'VE LEARNED IN RECENT ELECTION CYCLES THAT WHEN YOU SCARE PEOPLE YOU GET THEM TO REACT AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT NICK THERE'S NO QUESTION I CAN SEE YOU REACTING TO THAT DEAR THE PROBLEM FOR ME IS YOU'RE OKAY IT'S IT'S LIKE JUST AN INNOCENT MISTAKE THAT KIDS ARE CIRCULATING PETITIONS ABOUT BRINGING BACK SLAVERY OR THAT BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS HAVE TEACHERS DROPPING THE N-WORD IN THE CLASSROOM THAT'S OKAY THAT'S JUST AN INNOCENT LITTLE MISTAKE RIGHT BUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IF ONLY WE WERE AS MAD ABOUT THE VERY REAL RACISM AND VERY REAL CONSEQUENCES THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN ARE SUBJECT TO IN THESE CLASSROOMS AND IN THESE SCHOOLS THEN MAYBE WE CAN MAKE SOME PROGRESS WHAT I TAKE ISSUE WITH MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE UM GENERALLY PEOPLE RUN FOR SCHOOL BOARD BECAUSE THEY WANT ALL CHILDREN NOT JUST THEIR OWN TO GET A QUALITY EDUCATION WITH EMPATHY AND HEART AND MIND AND NOW WE ARE LISTENING TO PEOPLE TROT OUT THESE HORRIBLE TALKING POINTS FROM CABLE NEWS BECAUSE THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY'RE GOING TO GET PEOPLE TO SHOW UP TO THE POLLS AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING AND IT'S SAD AND IT'S REALLY GOING TO AFFECT OUR CHILDREN MOVING FORWARD NOBODY LIKES TO GO INTO THE BALLOT BOX KYLE AND BE SURPRISED WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT NOW THESE SCHOOL BOARD RACES AND THESE MAYORAL RACES WHAT ELSE MIGHT PUZZLE PEOPLE WHEN THEY HEAD TO THE POLLS ON TUESDAY OH I CAN USE MY MOTHER-IN-LAW ON PRAIRIE VILLAGE AS AN EXAMPLE SHE BROUGHT HER BALLOT TO ME BECAUSE SHE KNOWS BECAUSE SHE READS THE SHAWNEE MISSION POST SHE SHE ORDERED AN EARLY BALLOT THROUGH THE MAIL AND SHE BROUGHT IT TO ME AND SHE SHE KNEW SCHOOL BOARD SHE KNEW CITY COUNCIL SHE KNEW WHO SHE WAS GOING TO VOTE FOR THERE BUT WE GOT DOWN TO JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HE GOT DOWN TO WATER ONE BOARD AND SHE WAS LIKE WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE SO I WOULD JUST SAY SHAMELESS PLUG UM YOU KNOW I TOLD HER BARB THERE'S A REALLY EASY SOLUTION YOU CAN JUST GO TO SHAWNEEMISSIONPOST.COM AND SEARCH FOR OUR ELECTION PRIMERS FOR ALL OF THESE RACES THAT ARE GOING TO BE ON YOUR BALLOT BUT YEAH I MEAN OF COURSE THERE YOU GET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BALLOT IN A MIDTERM OFF YOUR ELECTION UM YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK IF YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE OF COURSE I'M BY THE WAY DEAR WAR DON'T WORRY KYLE'S MOTHER ALSO LISTENS TO 41 ACTION NEWS SO YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT THERE NEXT UP HE DROVE FOR MILES THE WRONG WAY ON I-70 AT SPEEDS CLOSE TO 100 MILES AN HOUR HE WAS DRUNK AND WHEN A STATE TROOPER EVENTUALLY PULLED HIM OVER HE THREATENED TO FIGHT THE OFFICER AND CALLED HIM A DONUT BOY HE ALSO HAPPENS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL POLITICIANS IN THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE AND THIS WEEK HE APPEARED IN COURT AND WAS HANDED A SENTENCE OF TWO DAYS IN JAIL WE ARE CONCERNED I CERTAINLY AM I'VE HEARD FROM MANY CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE SAID THAT THERE SHOULDN'T BE TWO STANDARDS THAT'S STATE SENATOR DAVID HALEY FROM WYANDOTTE COUNTY THE ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACKING HAS ALREADY BEGUN OF COURSE BUT WAS FORMER KANSAS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GENE SULLENTROP GIVEN SPECIAL TREATMENT OR TYPICAL TREATMENT WOULD A PLUMBER FROM OLATHE HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME SENTENCE KYLE FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HANDLE CASES LIKE THIS AND YOU TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE DIVERSION AND OTHER THINGS THAT THAT HE DID GET WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS RESONATES WITH THE NORMAL FOLKS AND VOTERS OF JOHNSON COUNTY AND OTHER AREAS I DO ALSO THINK IT JUST KIND OF FALLS ALONG THE THE TYPICAL PARTISAN IDEOLOGICAL LINES DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT'S AN RD NEXT TO HIS NAME WHETHER THEY THINK HE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN WORSE OR BETTER I I COULDN'T FAIL TO NOTICE UH KEVIN CARLSON THAT ON YOUR TWITTER FEED THAT YOU MADE A VERY SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THIS STORY AND WE'RE FEELING HA THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A TOUGH SENTENCE OH NO YOU'RE OUTING ME ON MY TWIT TWEETS UH I WOULD THINK THAT UH IF IF IF IT WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN DRIVER PROCEEDING LIKE THAT IN TOPEKA HE MIGHT HAVE ENDED UP DEAD I MEAN YOU KNOW IT'S JUST IT DOES SMELL OF A DOUBLE STANDARD SO I OUTED YOU AND I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT KEVIN UH AM I GONNA OUT TO DEAR WALL TOO YOU KNOW I'M I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO SAY UM IT'S NO SECRET EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US HAVE SEEN MUCH WORSE HAPPEN TO BLACK MEN IN PARTICULAR IN THIS COUNTRY AND SO FOR ME TO JUSTIFY AND SAY WELL THIS IS JUST NORMAL PAR FOR THE COURSE FOR A PROMINENT LAWMAKER IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT IF IT'S MY HUSBAND FOR EXAMPLE THEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE RESPECTFUL TO THE OFFICER AND LAW AND ORDER I THINK IT'S A POINT OF REFLECTION FOR ALL OF US AND STEVE BY THE WAY HE DID STEP DOWN AS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER BUT HE'S STILL IN THIS IN THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE HE IS STILL A STATE SENATOR SO WHEN YOU ARE CONVICTED OR EVEN A DUI THAT DOESN'T STOP YOU FROM SERVING THAT'S RIGHT NICK UH THIS IS EYE-OPENING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE PROSECUTORS DROPPED A FELONY CHARGE OF FLEEING AND ELUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE IN THE PLEA BARGAIN PROCESS THIS IS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE I THINK THAT THIS GUY IS STILL IN OFFICE AND UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IT'S PRETTY AMAZING SPEAKING OF HIGH PROFILE PEOPLE IS THERE LIFE AFTER THE ANCHOR DESK A NEW JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REPORT SAYS THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ALLOWED OPIOID MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE MORE PILLS EVEN AS OVERDOSE RATES ROSE 20 YEARS HOSTING THE FOX 4 MORNING NEWS MARK ALFORD HAS ANNOUNCED HE'S RUNNING FOR CONGRESS HE WANTS TO REPLACE VICKI HARTZLER IN THE MISSOURI FOURTH DISTRICT WHICH GOES FROM BELTON TO RAYMORE WARRENSBURG TO COLOMBIA IT'S GOING TO BE AN OPEN SEAT HARTZLER IS RUNNING FOR THE U.S SENATE MARK SAYS HE WANTS TO BE A CONSERVATIVE VOICE IN WASHINGTON BUT THERE ARE AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN SELF-DESCRIBED CONSERVATIVES EITHER RUNNING OR PREPARING TO RUN ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE STEVE DOES BEING A HIGH-PROFILE TV ANCHOR IN KANSAS CITY HELP HIM YOU BET IT DOES AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR DIA WALL TO ANNOUNCE FOR THE U.S SENATE YOU KNOW MIKE THOMPSON FROM THE SAME STATION AS MARK HALFORD IS IN THE STATE SENATE ON THE KANSAS SIDE BECAUSE HE WAS A WELL-KNOWN WEATHERMAN IN TOWN NAME RECOGNITION IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN THOSE DOWN BALLOT RACES NICK AND AND MARK HAS A LOT OF IT I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH RECOGNITION HE HAS IN COLOMBIA WHICH IS PROBABLY OUTSIDE OF OUR REGULAR BROADCAST AREA BUT DEAR WALL YOU WERE MENTIONED THERE YOU JUST DID A BOOK TRANSCENDING THE UH ANCHOR DESK CAN A CAREER IN POLITICS BE NEXT I VALUE MY MARRIAGE AND MY KIDS OKAY LOOK IT'S GOTTEN SO BAD OF LATE THAT I MIGHT RUN NO LET ME STOP I WILL NEVER ROLL I WILL NEVER RUN AND AS STEVE MENTIONED KYLE YOU KNOW ONE OF HIS UH COLLEAGUES UH METEOROLOGIST WELL-KNOWN METEOROLOGIST MIKE THOMPSON DID GO INTO THE IN THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE AND HE'S NOW IN IN TOPEKA SERVING YEAH HE REPRESENTS AN AREA OF WESTERN SHAWNEE I MEAN I THINK IF IF MR ALFORD DECIDES TO FOLLOW IN HIS FORMER COLLEAGUES FOOTSTEPS AND AND FOLLOW HIS PLAYBOOK THEN HE COULD BECOME A FAIRLY POLARIZING FIGURE IN MISSOURI BECAUSE SENATOR THOMPSON IS A PRETTY POLARIZING PERSON IN HIS OWN RIGHT HE HAS SOME VERY STRIDENT AND OUTSPOKEN OPINIONS ABOUT THINGS LIKE COVET 19 AND CLIMATE CHANGE BUT HIS BASE ABSOLUTELY LOVES HIM AND I THINK HIS NAME RECOGNITION AND HIS TIME ON THE AIR PLAY INTO THAT AND BY THE WAY YOU KNOW MARK WAS ON THIS PROGRAM MANY MANY TIMES AND I SPOKE WITH HIM ACTUALLY YESTERDAY AND HE SAID HE ACTUALLY DOESN'T EVEN LIVE IN THE DISTRICT RIGHT NOW HE'S HOPING THAT REDISTRICTING THAT TAKES PLACE WILL ACTUALLY SHIFT HIM INTO THAT DISTRICT BUT HE IS LOOKING TO BUY A HOUSE THERE OTHERWISE IF THAT DOES NOT TAKE PLACE IF I WERE HIM FOR AT THE SAME PACE HERE HE BETTER GET A HOUSE IN THE DISTRICT PRETTY SOON NOW WHEN YOU PUT A PROGRAM LIKE THIS TOGETHER EVERY WEEK YOU CAN'T GET TO EVERY LOCAL STORY GRABBING THE HEADLINES WHAT WAS THE BIG STORY WE MISSED YOU'RE EMBARRASSED I MEAN YOU JUST GOT GOT SPANKED PRETTY GOOD MORE ANGST THAN SOUL SEARCHING AT ONE ARROWHEAD DRIVE IS IT ARC FOR THE INSTAGRAM GENERATION VAN GOGH COMES ALIVE AT STARLIGHT THEATER THE CITY CAN'T FIND THE CASH NOW THE ZOO ASKING FOR YOUR HELP AS IT TRIES TO COMPLETE ITS 75 MILLION DOLLAR AQUARIUM PROJECT GOT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS HANGING AROUND TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF PUBLIC MONEY OR QUITE A BIT OF PUBLIC MONEY AND QUITE A BIT OF PRIVATE MONEY TO MAKE A DREAM LIKE THIS COME TRUE IT'S SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN THE SUMMER OF 2023.

IN OTHER NEWS CERNER ANNOUNCES A NEW ROUND OF LAYOFFS AND A NEW KANSAS LAW GIVING PARENTS THE RIGHT TO CHALLENGE SCHOOL COVERT RULES GOES BEFORE THE STATE SUPREME COURT AND TRICK-OR-TREATING RETURNS AND WHO SAYS HALLOWEEN IS ONLY FOR KIDS LAMAR'S GIVING AWAY A FREE DONUT TO ANYONE IN COSTUME ALRIGHTY DEAR WALL DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR DID YOU PICK SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THIS WEEK SO I PICKED SOMETHING ELSE BUT I MUST SAY THE GLAZED DONUTS AT LAMAR'S THEY'RE EXCELLENT OKAY SO MY UH BIG STORY THAT WE MISSED THE BARSTOW YOUNG WOMEN'S TENNIS TEAM BROUGHT HOME THE TRIPLE CROWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY SO SHOUT OUT TO THOSE LADIES KEEP DOING US PROUD KYLE PALMER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ELECTIONS THIS YEAR BUT THERE COULD BE SOME BREWING COMPETITION FOR A BIG JOB IN JOHNSON COUNTY NEXT NOVEMBER 2022 THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FILED FOR THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY COMMISSION THAT'S THE COMMISSION'S TOP JOB IT'S AN OPEN SEAT CURRENT CHAIRMAN ED EILERT WHO'S 85 UM 86 YEARS OLD FORMER MAYOR OF OVERLAND PARK HASN'T OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED WHAT HE PLANS TO DO WHETHER HE WANTS TO RUN FOR REELECTION SO THAT COULD BE INTERESTING NEXT YEAR KEVIN COLLISON I AM ALWAYS VERY ALERT TO WHAT'S GOING ON WITH CERNER THEY HAVE SHUT DOWN THEIR OFFICES OUT IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY UH THEY'RE CONSOLIDATING UH AND THE CAMPUS IN BANNISTER THERE'S BEEN RUMBLES FOR A LONG TIME THAT THEY COULD BE RIPE FOR A TAKEOVER UH UNFORTUNATELY OUR CITY AND OUR REGION HAS A TERRIBLE HISTORY OF LOSING HOMEGROWN COMPANIES SO WHEN UH CERNER HICCUPS THE REST OF THE TOWN SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT A MAJOR STOMACH ACHE BECAUSE IT'S A HUGE HUGE EMPLOYER AND IT WOULD BE REALLY DIFFICULT ON OUR LOCAL ECONOMY TO LOSE A FIRM LIKE THAT STEVE KANSAS CITY MISSOURI POLICE WANT US A BUDGET THAT'S SIX PERCENT HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY'VE HAD THIS YEAR WE'RE ONCE AGAIN AT AN IMPORTANT INFLECTION POINT WITH THIS DEPARTMENT WHAT KIND OF FORCE DO WE WANT WHAT CAN THIS CITY AFFORD ALL THOSE QUESTIONS I THINK ARE ON THE TABLE NOW IN THE WAKE OF THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL AND ON THAT WE WILL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED KEEPING YOU UP TO DATE WEEKDAYS AT 9 ON KCU RFM STEVE KRASKE FROM THE ANCHOR DESK AT 41 NEWS DEAR WALL THE SHAWNEE MISSION POSTS CARL PALMER AND KEVIN COLLISON FROM CITY SCENE KC AND I'M NICK HAINES FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS BE WELL KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON