COMING UP WOULD YOU WAIT FIVE HOURS FOR A BURGER IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH IT'S PATRICK MAHOMES FAVORITE BURGER WE LOVE HIM ALSO THIS HALF HOUR GUEST WHO IS AT THE WHITE HOUSE THIS WEEK ROLLING IN REVENUE OUR LOCAL LEADERS NOW WORKING ON WAYS TO SPEND AN INFRASTRUCTURE WINDFALL FROM GONDOLAS TO SOLAR FARMS TURNING HIGHWAYS INTO PARKS AND THINKING BIG ABOUT THE STREETCAR COULD THIS BE YOUR NEW RIDE TO TAKE YOU TO THE GAME I'M EXCITED YEAH GO TO THE GO TO THE ROYALS THE CHIEFS NOT HAVE TO DRIVE PLUS FIGHTING BACK ON VACCINE MANDATES IN KANSAS WE HAVE TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S PERSONAL LIBERTIES AND WE HAVE TO PROTECT THEIR JOBS THOSE ARE THE TWO KEYS RIGHT NOW AND TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE 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 HELLO AND WELCOME I'M NICK HAINES GOOD OF YOU TO JOIN US ON OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE NEWS OF OUR WEEK POURING THROUGH THE METRO'S MOST IMPACTFUL AND BEFUDDLING HEADLINES FROM KCUR NEWS LISA RODRIGUEZ IS WITH US BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT REPORTER KEVIN COLLISON FROM CITY SCENE KC ALWAYS ON CALL FROM THE KANSAS CITY CALL ERIC WESSON AND DAVE HELLING OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR GUESS WHO WAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE THIS WEEK HOW ABOUT KANSAS CITY MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS HE WAS INVITED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN TO BE AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW 1.2 TRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE BILL WE DON'T SEE HIM IN THE CROWD CHARTS BUT HE SAYS HE WAS IN THE SECOND ROW WE KNOW THE 14 BILLION DOLLARS IS HEADING TO KANSAS AND MISSOURI TO IMPROVE THINGS LIKE ROADS AND BRIDGES BUT DID YOU SEE WHAT SOME OF OUR LOCAL CITIES NOW WANT TO DO WITH THE MONEY IN KANSAS CITY SOME OFFICIALS SALIVATING OVER THE IDEA OF USING THE CASH TO HELP JUMP START A NEW EAST-WEST STREETCAR LINE THAT COULD TAKE YOU ALL THE WAY TO THE SPORTS COMPLEX CAN YOU IMAGINE LISA RODRIGUEZ DITCHING YOUR CAR AND TAKING THE STREET CAR TO WATCH THE CHIEFS PLAY I WOULD I WOULD LOVE TO DITCH MY CAR JUST IN IN GENERAL BUT THAT'S JUST ME I I DO THINK THAT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE STREET CAR THERE IS THERE IS MOMENTUM THERE WITH THE EXTENT THE NORTH-SOUTH EXTENSION IS ALREADY UNDERWAY THERE IS PUBLIC BUY-IN WE'VE SEEN THE STARTER THE STARTER LINE GENERATE DEVELOPMENT WE'VE SEEN IT BECOME A VERY POPULAR ATTRACTION SO I DO THINK I THINK THAT THERE IS THE THE BUY-IN THERE FOR EAST WEST I THINK THAT THAT MAKES THE STREETCAR ACCESSIBLE TO MORE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY NOW COULD ONE OF THE OBSTACLES THOUGH TO THIS HAPPENING BE A DEMOCRAT BY THE NAME OF KANSAS CITY CONGRESSMAN EMMANUEL CLEAVER WE'RE GOING TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS I WANT PEOPLE WHO DESPERATELY NEED UH JOBS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE SYSTEM AND TO GO AND GET THOSE JOBS DOES THAT MAKE IT THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT NOW ERIC NO NOT REALLY IT DEPENDS ON BASICALLY WHAT HIS RELATIONSHIP IS IN THIS PROCESS UH IF THEY'RE JUST GONNA TURN THE MONEY OVER TO CITIES AND LET THEM NAVIGATE HOW THAT MONEY IS SPENT I THINK THAT KIND OF TAKES HIM OUT OF THE EQUATION DAVE WELL A COUPLE OF THINGS FIRST OF ALL EXTENDING THE STREETCAR FROM SAY THE KU HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER AREA EAST AND WEST ALL THE WAY TO THE TRUMAN SPORTS COMPLEX NICK WOULD COST A LOT OF MONEY EASILY BY THE TIME IT'S BUILT IT WOULD EASILY COST A BILLION DOLLARS AND UNLIKE THE NORTH SOUTH STREET CAR YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT I'LL PUT IT THAT WAY TO TAX THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ALONG THE STREETCAR TO PAY SOME OF THE COST BECAUSE THE TAX BASE IS JUST MUCH LESS AVAILABLE ON THE EAST SIDE THAN IT WOULD BE SAY UP AND DOWN MAIN STREET OR INTO DOWNTOWN SO THE FINANCING IS AN ISSUE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S INVOLVEMENT IS INTERESTING BUT NOT ASSURED UH AND ONE OF THE THINGS AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS ON THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE LIST ONE OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL FOR IS THAT THIS MONEY IS SPENT ON IMPORTANT INFRASTRUCTURE AND NOT ON THINGS LIKE THE GONDOLAS OR OTHER SORT OF FROU-FROU PROJECTS BECAUSE CRITICISM WILL JUST MOUNT BECAUSE OF THAT SO THIS IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN I THINK PEOPLE KNOW BUT AS UH DAVE HELLING POINTS OUT THOUGH KEVIN THIS WOULD ACTUALLY GO ON TO THE CANCER SIDE TOO THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HOSPITAL SAYS THEY WOULD HELP PAY FOR IT TO MAKE THAT LINE WORK THAT'S JOBS TOO YOU CONNECTING PEOPLE TO A WORKPLACE AND WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET MEDICAL CARE WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE WELL YEAH AND I I THINK YOU HIT ON A GOOD POINT THERE THE PROBABLY THE MOST APPEALING EXTENSION WOULD BE THE ONE TO THE WEST UH BECAUSE IT WOULD GO DOWN 39TH STREET FROM MAIN STREET CONNECTING WITH THE NEW NORTH SOUTH ROUTE AND WOULD LINK A PRETTY STRONG JOB CENTER AND ALSO THE SYMBOLISM OF ACTUALLY CROSSING THE BORDER INTO KANSAS IS BIG BUT DAVE MAKES A VERY GOOD POINT AND WE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE HOW WE FUND OUR STREETCAR IF WE WERE TO TAKE IT EAST OF MAINE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S BASED ON WHAT THEY CALL THESE TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS THAT'S WHERE THE LOCAL FUNDING COMES FROM AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY VALUES TO MAKE THAT WORK AND ALSO SUBSTANTIAL SHOPPING BECAUSE THE SALES TAX IS PART OF THAT AND YOU JUST DON'T SEE THAT REVENUE SOURCE WHEN YOU MOVE EAST AND CHIEFS FANS ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP TAILGATING THEY'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING OUT THERE TO THAT GAME PARKING IN THE PARKING LOT DRINKING BARBECUING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH A STREETCAR ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ON BOTH SIDES OF STATE LINE ARE NOW DREAMING BIG THINKING OF NEW WAYS TO SPEND THIS MONEY DID YOU SEE WYANDOTTE COUNTY HAS ITS OWN IDEAS THE COUNTY'S PLANNING DIRECTOR HAS PROPOSED AN AERIAL GONDOLA THAT WOULD CONNECT DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY KANSAS WITH DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY MISSOURI EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE WANTING TO BRIDGE DIVIDES THESE DAYS ISN'T THIS A GREAT WAY LISA OF USING FEDERAL MONEY TO CONNECT TWO CITIES THAT ARE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER BUT FEEL LIKE LIGHT YEARS APART IF WE THINK AN EAST-WEST STREETCAR EXTENSION IS IS OUT OF THE REALM FOR FOR THIS STUFF I THINK GONDOLAS FROM DOWNTOWN KCK TO KANSAS CITY MISSOURI IS IS REALLY JUST THAT IT'S IT'S IT'S A DREAM IT SOUNDS FUN BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF HURDLES THERE I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT SOUNDS REALISTIC RIGHT NOW AND THAT PEOPLE ONCE WANT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THIS MONEY SPENT I THINK THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS MUCH MORE BASIC NEEDS THAT PEOPLE WANT AND I DON'T KNOW THAT NOW IS THE TIME FOR FOR AN IDEA QUITE LIKE THIS WE JUST SAW THAT VIDEO THERE THOUGH KEVIN THAT WAS PORTLAND OTHER CITIES DO THESE THINGS THIS PROPOSAL ALSO WAS NOT THROWN OUT THERE IN ANTICIPATION OF GETTING IMMEDIATE FUNDING FROM THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL BUT I DO CREDIT PEOPLE FOR THINKING BIG UH YOU KNOW I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD THING TO TALK ABOUT IT IT YOU KNOW IT'S CERTAINLY ONE ELEMENT THAT ALSO PEOPLE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IS IT WOULD ALSO HELP THE WEST BOTTOMS BECAUSE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A POTENTIAL OF A COUPLE OF STATIONS THERE AND OF COURSE THAT AREA IS REALLY STARTING TO TAKE OFF AND IT'S VERY CUT OFF FROM THE DOWNTOWN BUT UM YOU KNOW I YOU KNOW I'D LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE THINK BIG THIS IS JUST A CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW AND IT'S A MUCH MORE LOGICAL IDEA THAN WHAT CLAY CHASTAIN WAS THROWING OUT YEAH YOU MENTIONED CLAY CHASTAIN BECAUSE DAVE HELLING ISN'T THAT TRUE IN IN 2006 TUCKED INTO HIS LIGHT RAIL PLAN THAT WOULD HAVE CONNECTED LIGHT RAIL FROM DOWNTOWN TO THE AIRPORT THERE WAS A A GONDOLA PLANT THAT WOULD TAKE PEOPLE ON A RIDE AERIAL RIDE AROUND PENN VALLEY PARK THAT PROPOSAL PASSED WITH 53 PERCENT OF THE VOTE IT'S JUST THE CITY COUNCIL SAID NO TO THAT AND IMPLEMENTING IT RIGHT CLAY'S PLAN ALWAYS HAD IN HIS UH ARTWORK ALWAYS SHOWED THE BIG GONDOLA UP AND DOWN PENN VALLEY PARK UH THROUGH UNION STATION UM YOU KNOW KEVIN IS RIGHT IT'S GOOD TO THINK BIG BUT THE PRICE TAG FOR ALL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS IS HUGE NICK AND ONE OF THE POINTS I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A FEW MOMENTS AGO IS THE EYES OF THE COUNTRY WILL BE ON CITIES AND HOW THEY SPEND THIS INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY WILL IT GO FOR IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS TO HIGHWAYS AND DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS AND RURAL BROADBAND OR WILL IT BE SPENT ON SORT OF GAUDY PROJECTS ONE-TIME PROJECTS IF THAT HAPPENS I THINK ENTHUSIASM FOR ANOTHER PACKAGE OF FEDERAL SPENDING WILL DROP ERIC GOVERNOR KELLY WAS TALKING ABOUT SHOVEL-READY PROJECTS FOR THE STATE OF KANSAS AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT FOR ALL CITIES IS WHAT PROJECTS DO WE HAVE THAT ARE READY TO GO COULD ONE OF THOSE SHOVEL-READY PROD PROJECTS BY THE WAY BE PUTTING A LID OVER THE HIGHWAY THAT DISSECTS DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY DID YOU SEE THAT PROPOSAL BEING REIGNITED THIS WEEK THAT'S THE DECK OVER THE I-67 HIGHWAY SEVERAL CITIES INCLUDING CHICAGO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BUILT OVER HIGHWAYS AND INSTALLED PARKS AND OTHER PUBLIC AMENITIES OVER THE TOP IT DOES SEEM AN EXPENSIVE ARCHITECTURAL FEAT GIVEN ALL THE THINGS THIS MONEY COULD BE USED FOR KEVIN COLLISON WHY IS THIS CONSIDERED A PRIORITY PROJECT IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR AT LEAST 10 12 YEARS IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED UH THEY'VE GOT IT TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD COVER ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS ROUGH ROUGHLY 160 MILLION DOLLARS PEOPLE BEHIND IT SAY IT WOULD INCREASE DRAMATICALLY PROPERTY VALUES UH IT WOULD MEND A WRENCHING WOUND THAT OCCURRED BACK IN THE 60S WHEN THIS DOWNTOWN FREEWAY LOOP BASICALLY CUT OFF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT FROM THE SURROUNDING AREAS UH YOU'VE GOT SOME PRIVATE MONEY THAT HAS EXPRESSED INTEREST TO PEOPLE WHO OWN LOWE'S CORDISH AND OTHER DEVELOPERS WHO WOULD SEE HOW THIS WOULD IMPROVE BOTH THE APPEAL AND THE ATTRACT YOU KNOW AND THE UH AND THE RENTS ETC THEY COULD GET BUT HEY I ALSO WANT TO JUST THROW ONE LAST THOUGHT THEN BEFORE WE GET AWAY FROM INFRASTRUCTURE YOU KNOW UM WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY PROJECTS THE STREETCAR POTENTIAL GONDOLA THESE THINGS BUT YOU KNOW OVERLAND PARK IS ABOUT READY TO SPEND MORE THAN 300 MILLION DOLLARS TO WIDEN US 69 TO SIX LANES FROM UH FROM 103RD STREET TO 151ST STREET THAT'S ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THE STREETCAR THAT'S BEING EXTENDED FROM DOWNTOWN TO UMKC SO LET'S REMEMBER THAT YOU KNOW IF WE'RE THINKING SERIOUSLY ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE ABOUT IN YOU KNOW MAKING A MORE DENSE ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CONSUME LESS ENERGY AND MOVING AWAY FROM SPRAWL LET'S TALK ABOUT DROPPING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO WIDEN HIGHWAYS THAT ARE JUST GOING TO SPREAD THIS AREA OUT EVEN MORE JUST TO WANT TO THROW THAT OUT AS A THOUGHT YOU KNOW THERE IS A PUSH OF COURSE TO HAVE MUCH MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PROJECTS MAY LUCAS IS EYEING BUILDING THE LARGEST SOLAR FARM IN THE COUNTRY ON LAND RIGHT NEXT TO THE KCI AIRPORT TERMINAL WITH THIS MONEY ACCORDING TO THE CITY MANAGER IT WOULD PRODUCE ENOUGH ENERGY TO POWER EVERY HOME IN THE CITY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO POWER MOST OR ALL OF THE HOMES AND BUSINESSES IN ALL OF KANSAS CITY FIRST I THOUGHT THE AIRLINES PUSHED BACK AGAINST SOLAR PANELS AT THE AIRPORT BECAUSE IT CAUSED TOO MUCH GLARE AND IT COULD BE A HAZARD TO PILOTS ERIC THEY'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE THAT SAME PROBLEM BECAUSE ON THE KIND OF DRAWINGS OR SKETCHINGS THEY'RE RIGHT THERE NEXT TO THE RUNWAY SO WHEN THEIR PLANES ARE LANDING AT CERTAIN TIMES IN A DAY IT WOULD HAVE A TREMENDOUS GLARE YOU KNOW THAT'S A THAT'S KIND OF A LOFTY PROJECT TO ME BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE AND WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE GEO BONDS THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR STREETS IN KANSAS CITY ARE STILL PRETTY BAD AND EVEN THOUGH THEY LOOK LIKE SOME THINGS ARE BEING DONE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF POTHOLES IN AREAS THAT UM MATTER OF FACT RIGHT NOW MY CAR'S IN THE SHOP GETTING THE RIM FIXED BUT IF UNLIKE SAY THE STREETCAR UNLIKE THE GONDOLA IF YOU DON'T RIDE THIS YOU YOU MAY NOT SEE THE BENEFIT BUT WITH THIS PROJECT THE SOLAR PANELS WOULDN'T WE SEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE OUR ELECTRIC BILLS GO DOWN LISA I THINK THIS THE IDEA OF THIS LARGE ELECTRIC FARM AND AN ABILITY TO POWER THE WHOLE CITY COULD BE POTENTIALLY TRANSFORMATIVE WHEN I WHEN YOU THINK OF A PROJECT THAT THAT BENEFITS THE ENTIRE CITY RATHER THAN ONE PORTION OF THE CITY I THINK THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE HUGE THAT SAID IT'S EXTREMELY COMPLICATED YOU'RE BRINGING IN ONCE YOU'RE ON AN AIRPORT YOU YOU'VE GOT FEDERAL AVIATION AUTHORITIES TO DEAL WITH YOU DO HAVE THAT AIR TRAFFIC TO DEAL WITH IT IS YOU KNOW IT'S THERE ARE A LOT OF HURDLES TO GET THROUGH HERE BUT THE POTENTIAL OF IT AND THE POTENTIAL FOR KANSAS CITY TRULY TO BE A LEADER NATIONWIDE FOR FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IS THAT IS THAT IS TEMPTING DOES IT HAVE A DOWNSIDE KEVIN WELL I MEAN YOU MENTIONED THE GLARE FACTOR WHICH IS SOMETHING THEY'D HAVE TO WORK OUT I I KNOW IN INDIANAPOLIS I'VE FLOWN INTO THEIR AIRPORT BEFORE THEY HAVE AN ARRAY OF SOLAR PANELS SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DOABLE UM AND YOU KNOW AGAIN GETTING BACK INTO THINKING BOLDLY AND THINKING ABOUT THE 21ST CENTURY AND WHERE WE WANT KANSAS CITY TO BE I THINK IT'S YOU KNOW FANTASTIC IDEA TO EXPLORE FURTHER I REALLY DO NICK AND I APPLAUD THE CITY MANAGER AND OTHERS FOR PUSHING IT IN OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK IS THERE ANYTHING SO IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO WAIT MORE THAN FIVE HOURS IN LINE TO GET IT WOULD YOU WAIT FIVE HOURS TO GET A BURGER AND SOME FRIES MANY OF YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS DID THIS WEEK AS THE FIRST WHATABURGER OPENED ITS DOORS IN LEE'S SUMMIT I ARRIVED JUST BEFORE 6 A.M AND I I JUST LOVE THE TASTE 16 YEARS I WAITED FOR THIS MAN UNTIL YOU HAVE IT I CAN'T I CAN'T SHARE THE SECRET YOU HAVEN'T TASTED NOTHING YET IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO WHATABURGER CAN YOU HELP EXPLAIN WHY THE SAN ANTONIO-BASED RESTAURANT CHAIN IS CAUSING MAYHEM IN KANSAS CITY THIS WEEK ERIC IS IT BECAUSE IT'S PATRICK MAHOMES FAVORITE BURGER OR IS THERE MORE TO IT THAN THAT I GUESS SO AND IT'S SOMETHING NEW AND DIFFERENT AND PATRICK MAHOMES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT I WISH HE'D COME DOWN HERE ON 18TH AND STREET 18TH STREET AND SAY HEY DEVELOPERS AREA AND LET'S SEE HOW FAST WE GET ROLLING DOWN HERE WAS THE HELLING FAMILY STATION WAGON ONE OF THOSE CARS WE SAW IN LINE IN LEE SUMMIT THIS WEEK DAVE NO NO THE LAST THING I NEED IS YET ANOTHER HAMBURGER OPTION I'LL JUST GIVE IT TO YOU THAT WAY DIDN'T WE GO THROUGH THE SAME THING ON THE PLAZA FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO WITH ANOTHER BURGER CHAIN WAS IT IN AND OUT BURGER OR SOMETHING SHAKE SHACK YEAH SAYING I'M SORRY BY THE WAY THE PR OFFICER FOR SHAKE SHACK ON THE PLAZA JUST RESIGNED BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE BRANDING WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH THAT YOU COULDN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT STORE IT WAS BUT CAN YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW IS WHY THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL THIS WEEK LISA WHATABURGER'S ALWAYS HAD THIS CULT FOLLOWING I I LIVED IN I WENT TO SCHOOL IN IN TEXAS I'VE BEEN TO WHATABURGER I THIS MAY BE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL THING I'VE EVER SAID ON THIS SHOW IT DIDN'T IT DIDN'T YOU KNOW BLOW MY MIND BUT I BUT I GET IT AND YOU KNOW WHAT IN IN THIS CLIMATE WITH WITH YOU KNOW TWO YEARS INTO A PANDEMIC MAYBE IT JUST FEELS LIKE YOU WANT COMMUNITY YOU WANT TO GET EXCITED ABOUT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO TAKE THE DAY OFF WORK TO GET YOURSELF A DANG BURGER AND BE PART OF THIS ZEITGEIST TO BE PART OF THE PATRICK HOLMES FAMILY OF WHATABURGER FANS I THAT'S THAT'S THE ONLY EXPLANATION I CAN COME UP WITH BECAUSE TO ME IT WASN'T THE BURGER ITSELF BY THE WAY WHATABURGER WILL BE A SPONSOR ON THIS PROGRAM IN THE NEW YEAR SO WE'LL BE EDITING OUT LISA'S COMMENTS RELATING TO WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE CHANGE KEVIN HOW IS THIS REALLY DIFFERENT WE HAD IKEA COME TO TOWN WE HAD TRADER JOE'S THEY WERE BIG DEALS TOO IS THIS BIGGER OR ABOUT THE SAME WE'VE JUST FORGOTTEN UH YEAH I THINK IT'S ABOUT THE SAME I MEAN YOU KNOW I REMEMBER WHEN KRISPY KREME WAS A PHENOMENON AND PEOPLE LINED UP TO GET INTO THE KRISPY KREME THEN THEY EXPANDED SO YOU COULD BUY A KRISPY KREME AT EVERY TRUCK STOP IN AMERICA NOBODY CARED ANYMORE NOW WE IN THE MEDIA OF COURSE LOVE TO MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT THE LATEST THING BUT SHOULDN'T WE ALSO CELEBRATE OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE THRIVED AGAINST THE ODDS AND ARE MARKING MONUMENTAL MILESTONES HERE'S THREE BIG HEADLINES TO CELEBRATE THIS WEEK THIS MONTH MARKS 100 YEARS SINCE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON LIBERTY MEMORIAL AND HERE'S ANOTHER BIG HEADLINE THIS WEEK MARKS THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF THE ARABIA STEAMBOAT MUSEUM WHEN IT OPENED IN THE RIVER MARKET IT WAS TOUTED AS THE LARGEST SINGLE COLLECTION OF PRE-CIVIL WAR ARTIFACTS IN THE WORLD BUT HOW MUCH LONGER WILL IT BE HERE I WOULD ALMOST ASSURE YOU THAT COME NOVEMBER OF 2026 THE MUSEUM DOORS WILL CLOSE THIS MONTH ALSO MARKS THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BI-STATE TAX ELECTION TO REOPEN AND RESTORE UNION STATION IT'S HARD FOR US TO REMEMBER NOW BUT AT THE TIME OF THAT VOTE UNION STATION HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AMTRAK HAD MOVED OUT OF THE DECAYING BUILDING AND ITS ONLY VISITORS WERE PIGEONS AND THE HOMELESS GIVEN THE POLITICAL DIVISION WE HAVE TODAY DOESN'T IT SEEM REMARKABLE THIS COULD EVEN HAVE HAPPENED DAVE BY AND LARGE THERE WAS UNIVERSAL BIPARTISAN BY STATE AGREEMENT THAT THERE NEEDED TO BE SOME MECHANISM TO REPAIR THE STATION ALTHOUGH REMEMBER IT WAS A LIMITED TAX IT WAS SIX YEARS AN EIGHTH OF A CENT THAT HELPED PEOPLE SUPPORT IT HERE'S THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER NICK THE BI-STATE COMMISSION WHICH OVERSAW THAT EFFORT STILL EXISTS STILL MEETS STILL HAS A BUDGET AND IS STILL UNDER LAW ABLE TO THROUGH PETITION PUT A BALLOT MEASURE OR A MEASURE ON THE BALLOT THAT WOULD PAY FOR A SPORTS STADIUM AND THERE'S ALREADY YAK ABOUT USING THAT MECHANISM TO TRY AND GET BOTH STATES TO SUPPORT DOWNTOWN BASEBALL IF IT HAPPENS TO SOME SORT OF SALES TAX SO THE THE MECHANISM IS STILL AROUND AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT OVER THE NEXT DECADE KEVIN IS THAT THE ONLY PROJECT BEING CONSIDERED FOR A POTENTIAL BI-STATE TAX AND IF THAT WERE TO BE ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN BALLPARK WOULDN'T KANSAS WANT SOMETHING TO ON THEIR SIDE OF THE STATE LINE AS PART OF THAT TAX ACTUALLY NICK IT'S YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT YOU KNOW THEY TRIED TO COME UP WITH A BI-STATE UH 15 YEARS AGO I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT RENOVATING THE TRUMAN SPORTS COMPLEX AND UH THEY ALSO TRIED TO PAIR IT WITH SOMETHING THAT I THINK DID HAVE A LOT OF MERIT WHICH WAS A JOINT FUNDING FOR OUR MAJOR CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN KANSAS CITY THE NELSON UH YOU KNOW THE SYMPHONY ALL THESE MAJOR REGIONAL CULTURAL AMENITIES BUT AS YOU MENTIONED THOUGH THAT TAX EFFORT DID FAIL CAN YOU SEE ANY PROJECT THAT WOULD GAIN ANY SUCCESS ERIC I THINK A DOWNTOWN STADIUM WOULD EVENTUALLY ONCE THEY ROLL IT OUT BUT THE SOCCER PEOPLE THEY'RE USING THEIR OWN MONEY SO I DON'T KNOW IF RIGHT NOW IS A CLIMATE TO TAX PEOPLE I ALWAYS SAY WE NEED TO PUT A DOME ON TOP OF ARROWHEAD STADIUM SO WE CAN GET A SUPER BOWL IN HERE AND POSSIBLY UH INCREASE REVENUE IN THE KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA YOU MAKE THE POINT THOUGH ABOUT THE THE NEW SOCCER TEAM THIS WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM BUILDING THEIR STADIUM ON THE RIVERFRONT THERE WITH THEIR OWN MONEY LISA UH DOESN'T THAT TAKE A WIND OUT OF THE SALES OF FOLKS WHO ARE WANTING TO SPEND PUBLIC DOLLARS ON A SPORTS UH STADIUM SEEING THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT BIG ASKS FOR UM FOR INCENTIVES OR TAX BREAKS UM SHOWS THAT IT IT CAN BE DONE BUT WE'LL SEE I DON'T I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA SLOW PEOPLE FROM ASKING THERE'S PROBABLY A DIFFERENT PRICE TAG THAN BUILDING A SOCCER STADIUM DOWN ON THE RIVERFRONT THAN IT IS A BASEBALL OR FOOTBALL STADIUM SO THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL IN THE HEADLINES WE JUST SHOW WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE STEAMBOAT ARABIA MUSEUM KEVIN AND WE SAW THE OWNER OF THE STEAMBOAT ARABIA DAVID HAWLEY SAYING YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO BE GONE FROM KANSAS CITY IN 2026 WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE ANYMORE IS THAT JUST A THREAT TO GET THE CITY TO YOU KNOW THROW IN SOME MORE MONEY TO KEEP THEM THERE OR IS THAT LIKELY TO HAPPEN IT'S A GREAT GREAT CULTURAL AMENITY SOME PEOPLE TELL ME IT'S ONE OF THE YOU KNOW TOP FIVE THINGS THEY RECOMMEND OUT OF THE TOWNERS TO CHECK OUT WHEN THEY'RE IN TOWN YOU KNOW I I THINK ITS CURRENT HOME IN THE CITY MARKET IS IS DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE THERE IN WHENEVER THEIR LEASE EXPIRES I MEAN THERE ARE OTHER USES FOR THAT SPACE THAT I THINK THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE AND I THINK HE REFERRED TO IT YOU KNOW THEY WANT TO PUT IN SOME MORE RESTAURANTS MORE VENDORS ETC BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY YOU CAN'T FIND A WAY TO FIND A NEW HOME I KNOW THERE WAS AN IDEA KICKED AROUND A FEW YEARS AGO OF SEEING IF THEY COULD GET THEM OVER INTO UNION STATION THAT NEVER WENT ANYWHERE BUT I'M FRANKLY SURPRISED THAT KANSAS HASN'T TRIED A STAR BOND OPTION TO UH TO TO ACTUALLY USE THAT AS A CULTURAL AMENITY THAT WOULD DRAW PEOPLE FROM OTHER PLACES AND HELP SOME DEVELOPER UH DO A LARGER PROJECT OUT THERE YOU KNOW THEY TRIED IT WITH PRAIRIE FIRE AND THAT MUSEUM REALLY NEVER UH TOOK OFF FROM EVERYTHING I KNOW BUT THE STEAMBOAT ARABIA IS A GENUINE ATTRACTION SO I WOULDN'T RULE IT OUT NOT FINDING A NEW HOME SOMEWHERE IN THE METRO BUT I SEE KANSAS WASN'T LISTED AS ONE OF THE POTENTIAL HOMES AND IN FACT IT WAS ST JOSEPH JEFFERSON CITY AND PENNSYLVANIA WHICH WAS WHERE THE STEAMBOAT ARABIA WAS ACTUALLY BUILT AND CAME FROM AS IT MADE ITS WAY UH TOWARDS MISSOURI I DIDN'T WANT TO START THE PROGRAM TALKING ABOUT COVID BUT THERE WERE SOME SIGNIFICANT STORIES WORTH POINTING OUT THIS WEEK THE JACKSON COUNTY LEGISLATURE VOTED TO END ITS MASS MANDATE TEN DAYS EARLY WITHIN HOURS SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM BLUE SPRINGS TO GRAIN VALLEY DROP THEIR FACE COVERING REQUIREMENTS ENROLLMENT PARK THE ONLY JOHNSON COUNTY CITY REQUIRING YOU TO WEAR A MASK IN STORES BARS AND RESTAURANTS DROPPED ITS MANDATE ON MONDAY WILL WE LOOK BACK ON THIS WEEK LISA AS THE WEEK OUR METRO FINALLY GAVE UP ON MASKS THIS THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE WHERE VIRTUALLY NO NO MUNICIPALITIES AND NO JURISDICTIONS ARE REQUIRING MASKS ANYMORE BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE SEEING COVID CASES CREEP UP AGAIN WE ARE GETTING TO A POINT WHERE THE WEATHER IS GETTING COOLER AND PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK INDOORS I'M NOT CONFIDENT ENOUGH TO SAY THAT WE WON'T SEE MASKS AGAIN NOW ON MONDAY KANSAS LAWMAKERS WILL HEAD BACK TO TOPEKA TO LAUNCH A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE TO WORK ON WAYS TO LIMIT THE IMPACT OF NEW BIDEN ADMINISTRATION VACCINE MANDATES THIS IS SIMPLY A QUESTION OF RIGHT VERSUS WRONG GOOD VERSUS EVIL EITHER YOU STAND AGAINST BIDEN OR YOU STAND WITH HIM WE HAVE TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S PERSONAL LIBERTIES AND WE HAVE TO PROTECT THEIR JOBS THOSE ARE THE TWO KEYS RIGHT NOW AND TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE ONE PROPOSAL WOULD ENSURE THOSE FIRED FOR REFUSING THE VACCINE ARE GIVEN STATE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THE SECOND WOULD BLOCK EMPLOYERS FROM PROBING WORKERS ABOUT THEIR BELIEFS IF THEY SEEK A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION BY THE WAY DAVE WE DO SEE OSHA NOW SAYING THEY WILL NOT ENFORCE THE CURRENT BIDEN VACCINATION MANDATES ON BUSINESSES OVER 100 EMPLOYEES DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE CANCER SESSION WILL BE CANCELLED NOT ACCORDING TO EVERYTHING WE KNOW AS WE TAKE THIS PROGRAM NICK NOW THERE MAY BE SOME DISCUSSION OF THAT LATER BUT MY GUESS IS LAWMAKERS WILL GATHER ANYWAY PUT THIS STUFF INTO STATE LAW DEAR LAURA KELLY TO VETO IT WHICH SHE WILL LIKELY NOT DO SHE'S ALREADY BEEN AS WE KNOW CRITICAL A LITTLE BIT OF THE OSHA RULES AND SHE MAY JUST SORT OF UH YOU KNOW MEET THE LEGISLATURE AT WHERE ITS DISCUSSION IS BY SIGNING THOSE BILLS SO WE'LL SEE THE BROADER QUESTION WHICH I THINK IS VERY INTERESTING IS THE LACK OF ENTHUSIASM IN THE PUBLIC FOR FURTHER COVERT RESTRICTIONS OR REGULATIONS PEOPLE ARE JUST VERY VERY TIRED OF IT AND I THINK POLITICIANS HAVE A SENSE OF THAT 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 LOCAL STORY WE MISSED IT WAS A TOPSY-TURVY WEEK IN SPORTS K.U BEATS TEXAS ITS FIRST ROAD WIN IN 13 YEARS AND COULD THIS BE RIGHT UMKC BEATS MIZZOU A PUBLIC MEMORIAL THIS WEEK FOR PHILANTHROPIST AND FINANCIER KENNETH BAUM AND LARGE CROWDS GATHER AT JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO REMEMBER FORMER CONGRESSMAN DENNIS MOORE THE WAIT CONTINUES FOR A JUDGE'S RULING IN THE KEVIN STRICKLAND INNOCENCE CASE AND REMEMBER THAT PETITION TO BRING BACK SLAVERY WELL JUST A SILLY JOKE BETWEEN A BLACK AND A MIXED RACE STUDENT THAT ACCORDING TO A LAWSUIT FILED BY THE BOY'S PARENTS INCENSED BY THE DISCIPLINE THEY RECEIVED FROM THE PARK HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT THE AUSCHWITZ EXHIBIT HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNION STATION SAYS ATTENDANCE HAS ALREADY OUTPACED NEW YORK IT WILL STAY IN KANSAS CITY UNTIL MARCH NETFLIX SPOTLIGHTS KANSAS CITY THIS WEEK AS IT PREMIERES A NEW FILM ABOUT SEX ABUSE IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THE DOCUMENTARY IS CALLED PROCESSION AND BAR HAMBURG KOVID TOOK THE SHOW ONLINE LAST YEAR NOW A CHRISTMAS CAROL MAKES ITS BIG RETURN THIS WEEK AT THE KANSAS CITY REP ALRIGHTY LISA DID YOU PICK ONE OF THOSE STORIES OR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THERE WERE THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD ONES IN THERE I I'M GONNA GO WITH WITH YOU KNOW STILL WAITING FOR FOR THE KEVIN STRICKLAND VERDICT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WATCHING FOR FOR MONTHS NOW PEOPLE UM HAVE BEEN WAITING AND WATCHING EVERY TWIST AND TURN UM BOTH SIDES ARE SCHEDULED TO HAVE BRIEFS TO TO THE JUDGE BY MONDAY WHICH MEANS THAT EARLY NEXT WEEK POTENTIALLY WE COULD HAVE A DECISION THERE SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON STILL ERIC I AGREE WITH LISA AND WHAT SHE SAID AND WISHING EVERYBODY A HAPPY THANKSGIVING THANK YOU THANK YOU ERIC DAVE A NEW POLL RELEASED THURSDAY BY MORNING CONSOLE HAS GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON AT 51 APPROVAL IN MISSOURI THAT'S ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD BUT LAURA KELLY THE GOVERNOR OF KANSAS IS AT 54 FAVORABLE THAT'S A VERY STRONG POSITION FOR A DEMOCRAT IN KANSAS PUTS HER IN A STRONG POSITION AS SHE HEADS INTO THE ELECTION YEAR IN 2022 AND KEVIN I THINK THE EXTENSION OF THE AUSCHWITZ EXHIBIT AT UNION STATION IS IS PROBABLY POWERFUL IN A SYMBOLIC WAY PARTICULARLY BECAUSE IN THE CONTEXT OF THESE DAYS WHEN YOU HAVE SO MANY HISTORY ILLITERATES WEARING STARS OF DAVID TO HEARINGS ON THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE TO WEAR A MASK YOU KNOW FOR PEOPLE TO WANT TO INFORM THEMSELVES AND FOR THAT AUSCHWITZ EXHIBIT TO CONTINUE AND MORE PEOPLE GOING IN THERE AND LEARNING ABOUT TRUE HISTORY AND NOT JUST MINOR INCONVENIENCES UH IT'S I THINK THAT'S A VERY NEWSWORTHY AND VERY SYMBOLIC AND ON THAT WE WILL SAY OUR WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED THANKS TO KCUR'S LISA RODRIGUEZ THE COLE'S ERIC WESSON KEVIN COLLISON FROM CITY SCENE KC AND DAVE HELLING OF YOUR KANSAS CITY STAR NEXT WEEK WE HAVE NO SHOW WE'RE HEADING INTO OUR WINTER MEMBERSHIP DRIVE WHICH PROVIDES THE FUEL FOR US TO PRODUCE THE SHOW ALL YEAR LONG AS TRUCKERS LIKE TO SAY WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE FLIP SIDE FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND DON'T FORGET BE WELL KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON