>> Nick: NEW PRESSURE FOR
CHANGE IN THE KANSAS CITY
POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND A
RECALL EFFORT TO REMOVE THE
MAYOR.
PLUS, WASHINGTON CUTTING A BIG
CHECK TO EXTEND THE STREETCAR
LINE.
BUT IS IT ENOUGH TO START
LAYING DOWN THE TRACK?
THE PARK BOARD FIND A NEW
STREET TO HONOR DR. KING, BUT
WHERE AND WHY?
AND IT'S BACK TO CAMPUS,
CLASSROOMS, AND CROWDS?
THE LESSONS FROM OUR METRO'S
BIGGEST REOPENING EXPERIMENT.
>> Nick: PEOPLE ASK ME WHAT
ARE WE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ON
THIS WEEK'S SHOW.
I SAY IT'S QUICKER TO TELL YOU
WHAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO TALK
ABOUT.
HELLO, I'M NICK HANGS.
SO MUCH IS HAPPENING, IT IS
HARD TO KEEP TRACK.
captionassociates.com
TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL
FOR US THIS WEEK IS KANSAS
CITY STAR, MR. UP TO DATE ON
KCUR FM STEVE KRASKE KCUR'S
CITY HALL REPORTER LISA
RODRIGUEZ, THE MANAGING EDITOR
OF THE PITCH, ERIC WESSON,
FROM THE PAGES OF YOUR KANSAS
CITY STAR, DAVE HELLING, AND
MR. UP TO DATE ON KCUR, STEVE
KRASKE.
THESE ARE THE SCENES CAPTURING
NATIONAL ATTENTION THIS WEEK
AFTER ANOTHER SHOOTING OF A
BLACK MAN BY A WHITE POLICE
OFFICER.
THIS IS WISCONSIN, AND THE
RESPONSE IS STILL BEING FELT
AS ONE MAJOR SPORTS TEAM AFTER
ANOTHER IS ANOTHER REFUSING TO
PLAY IN ORDER TO CALL
ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY SAY IS
RACIAL INJUSTICE AT THE HANDS
OF POLICE.
HERE AT HOME, MAYOR QUINTON
LUCAS DEMANDING CHANGE AND
CALLING FOR A NEW SERIES OF
MEASURES WHO TOLD KANSAS CITY
ACCOUNTABLE.
THE MOVE COMES AFTER THE
JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR
FILES FELONY ASSAULT CHARGES
AGAINST A KANSAS CITY POLICE
SERGEANT.
MATTHEW NEAL ACCUSED OF
PLANTING HIS KNEE ON THE NECK
OF A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY AND
FORCING HIS HEAD INTO THE
PAVEMENT.
>> THE VICTIM CAN BE HEARD
SAYING
"I CAN'T BREATHE."
THOSE I REALIZE ARE NOW PRETTY
INFAMOUS WORDS.
>> Nick: WHAT'S EVEN MORE
REMARKABLE IS THAT THIS
INCIDENT HAPPENED BACK IN
NOVEMBER.
WHY IS IT NOW, THEN, MAKING
THE HEADLINES, LISA, NINE
MONTHS LATER?
>> WELL, JACKSON COUNTY
PROSECUTOR SAID SHE WAS ONLY
MADE AWARE OF THIS INCIDENT BY
THE 15-YEAR-OLD'S ATTORNEY
THIS SPRING, WHICH SPEAKS TO
THE CHALLENGE THAT SHE'S HAD
IN GOING AFTER THESE CASES
THAT SHE'S NOT BEING NOTIFIED
BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SHE'S COMING UP AGAINST
HURDLES WHEN SHE'S REQUESTING
INFORMATION, AND SO BECAUSE OF
THINGS LIKE THAT, IT TAKES
SOMETHING LIKE NINE MONTHS FOR
SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO COME TO
LIGHT.
>> Nick: ALLEGEDLY, THEN, YOU
HAVE A WHITE POLICE OFFICER
HAVING HIS KNEE IN THE NECK OF
A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY, SAYING HE
CAN'T BREATHE.
WHY IS IT, ERIC WESSON, THAT
WE DIDN'T SEE SPORTING KANSAS
CITY SAYING THIS WEEK WE ARE
NOT GOING TO PLAY A GAME, THE
KANSAS CITY ROYALS SAYING THEY
ARE NOT GOING TO PLAY A GAME,
YET IN WISCONSIN, A PERSON IS
SHOT BY POLICE, AND IT'S
REALLY WREAKED HAVOC, AND
CANCELLING SEASONS IN MAJOR
SPORTS.
>> WELL, THE ANSWER, THEN, IN
WISCONSIN STARTED WITH THE
MILWAUKEE BUCKS WHO PLAY
THERE, SO THAT WAS PROBABLY
ONE OF THE THINGS, AND IT MADE
NATIONAL HEADLINES.
THIS INCIDENT DIDN'T MAKE
LOCAL HEADLINES UNTIL RECENTLY
WHEN SHE FILED THE CHARGES.
>> Nick: IS THE DIFFERENCE,
THOUGH, THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS
NO VIDEO IN THIS CASE?
>> THAT PROBABLY WAS THE
DIFFERENCE.
AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT
TOOK BEFORE IT CAME PUBLIC, IN
WISCONSIN IT WAS PUBLIC ALMOST
IMMEDIATELY.
HERE IN KANSAS CITY IT TOOK
NINE MONTHS BEFORE WE FINALLY
FOUND OUT THAT THE INCIDENT
EVEN HAPPENED.
>> Nick: SO THE MAYOR IS NOW
PROPOSING NEW CHANGES TO HOLD
THE POLICE ACCOUNTABLE, DAVE
HELLING, EVERYTHING FROM
REQUIRING OFFICERS TO
INTERVENE IF THEY WITNESS
EXCESSIVE FORCE.
THE OTHER WOULD CREATE AN
INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF
COMMUNITY COMPLAINTS.
I THOUGHT THOSE CHANGES HAD
ALREADY TAKEN PLACE.
>> WELL, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND THE POLICE BOARD WILL TELL
YOU THAT SOME OF THE THINGS
THE MAY YOUR WANTS IT DO --
MAYOR WANTS TO DO ARE ALREADY
PART OF POLICY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S
PROPOSED, MAYOR LUCAS
PROPOSED, IS A DUTY TO
INTERVENE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE
BIG QUESTIONS IN THE MATT NEAL
CASE, BECAUSE THERE WERE AT
LEAST A DOZEN OFFICERS ON THE
SCENE THAT NIGHT, WHY DIDN'T
ANY OF THEM INTERVENE TO STOP
THIS ALLEGED BEATING.
THAT REMAINS AN OPEN QUESTION,
AND I THINK THE MAYOR WANTS TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE POLICY OF
THE BOARD MAKES THAT EXPLICIT.
>> NICK, WHAT STRAKS ME AS
AMAZING -- STRIKES ME AS
AMAZING ABOUT THIS MOMENT IS
JUST WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT,
WHY ISN'T THIS STORY GETTING
MORE ATTENTION?
WHY ISN'T -- WHY AREN'T THE
ACTIONS OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT GETTING MORE
ATTENTION RIGHT NOW.
THE STAR'S EDITORIAL BOARD IS
TAKING THEM ON.
LOTS OF PEOPLE IN TOWN ARE
UPSET.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MAYBE THE
ONLY THING SAVING THE CHIEF
AND SAVING THE DEPARTMENT FROM
REALLY HARSH CONDEMNATION
RIGHT NOW MIGHT BE COVID-19,
BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IS SO
DISTRACTED RIGHT NOW WITH
OTHER THINGS GOING ON, I THINK
IN ANY OTHER MOMENT OF TIME
THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
ITS ACTIONS IN THIS CASE WOULD
BE FRONT AND CENTER ON
EVERYONE'S MIND.
>> Nick: SO WHAT IS THIS
DOING, THEN, ERIC WESSON, TO
THE POLICE CHIEF'S STANDING.
IS IT RENEWING CALLS,
EXPANDING CALLS FOR HIS
RESIGNATION?
>> I THINK THAT IT IS
EXPANDING THE CALLS, AND
GIVING PEOPLE MORE EVIDENCE TO
SAY THAT.
BUT I THINK WHAT'S -- AND
STEVE HAD MENTIONED THE COVID
PROTECT THE CHIEF.
I THINK WHAT'S PROTECTING THE
CHIEF IS THE BOARD OF POLICE
COMMISSIONERS.
I BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE TOLD,
AND I CAN'T REVEAL SOURCES,
THEY WERE TOLD BY THE CHIEF TO
NOT PROCESS THE COMPLAINT.
SO I THINK THE CHIEF HAS A LOT
OF THINGS GOING ON, AND I
THINK HE REALLY NEEDS TO BE
REPLACED.
WE NEED TO HAVE A SERIOUS
CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
>> Nick: YOU SAY HE'S BEING
PROTECTED BY THE POLICE BOARD,
BUT, LISA, ISN'T HE ALSO STILL
GOT THE SUPPORT OF MAYOR
QUINTON LUCAS?
>> HE DOES.
I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN MAYOR
QUINTON LUCAS PROPOSE THESE
REFORMS, BUT WE HAVE YET TO
HEAR HIM OUTRIGHT CONDEMN THE
CHIEF FOR ANY OF THESE
ACTIONS, AND THEN EVEN IN THE
LAST FEW WEEKS WE SAW THE
MAYOR PUT ON PAUSE THIS MOVE,
THIS ELECTION REFERENDUM ON
LOCAL CONTROL.
AND SO WE'RE STILL OPERATING
UNDER THE SAME SYSTEM, WHEREBY
THE POLICE IS GOVERNED BY A
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THAT IS
NOT ACCOUNTABLE TO THE MAYOR,
TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND TO THE
RESIDENTS OF KANSAS CITY.
>> Nick: THERE'S ALSO, BY THE
WAY, AN EFFORT TO RECALL MAYOR
LUCAS.
YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN THE
SIGNATURE GATHERERS AROUND
TOWN.
WHO IS BEHIND THE EFFORT, DAVE
HELLING, AND HOW MUCH CHANCE
OF SUCCESS DOES IT HAVE?
>> THERE'S A SAYING IN KANSAS
CITY POLITICS, NICK, IF YOU
ARE THE MAYOR AND SOMEONE
ISN'T SEEKING TO RECALL YOU,
YOU ARE NOT DOING IT RIGHT.
I MEAN, EVERY MAYOR IS SUBJECT
TO THIS.
AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR
THIS COMMITTEE OF PETITIONERS
TO GO FORWARD.
I DO WANT TO BACK UP JUST A
LITTLE BIT AND TALK ABOUT THE
POLICE BOARD IN THIS RESPECT.
THE URBAN LEAGUE AND OTHER
GROUPS RELEASED AN OPEN LETTER
TODAY AS WE TAPE THIS, TO
MAYOR LUCAS, CALLING ON THE
MAYOR TO ASK FOR THE CHIEF'S
RESIGNATION IN THE NEXT
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF POLICE
COMMISSIONERS, AND TO IN FACT
MOVE TO REMOVE HIM, AND TO SEE
WHERE THE VOTES ARE.
>> LISA?
>> I THINK BACK ON THE RECALL
EFFORT, I THINK THAT IS DRIVEN
LESS BY THE MAYOR'S STANCE ON
POLICE ISSUES AND MORE BY
GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO JUST
VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE HIS ACTIONS
ON THE CORONAVIRUS.
THIS IS THE ISSUE OF MASKS HAS
BECOME JUST THIS FLASH POINT
THAT HAS REALLY IMPASSIONED
PEOPLE, AND THOSE ARE THE
POLICIES THAT THEY ARE
OBJECTING TO.
I SPOKE TO THE MAYOR ABOUT IT
LAST WEEK.
HE SAYS HE'S NOT WORRIED IN
THE SLIGHTEST, AND IF A
REFERENDUM WERE TO HAPPEN, IT
WOULD BE ON HIS ACTIONS DURING
THIS PANDEMIC, AND HE FEELS
THAT EASY HE WOULD HAVE
OVERWHELMING SUPPORT.
>> STEVE?
>> THERE ARE MORE THAN 10,000
SIGNATURES ALREADY ON A
PETITION.
YOU CAN GET THOUSANDS OF
SIGNATURES ON ANY PETITION.
I THINK LISA IS EXACTLY RIGHT.
I DON'T THINK THE MAYOR HAS
ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
THAT SAID, VOTERS MIGHT HAVE A
SAY IN THIS GOING FORWARD.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT
BRIEFLY, NICK, THAT THE GROUP
THAT STARTED THE RECALL OF
QUINTON LUCAS FACEBOOK PAGE,
THAT HAPPENED THE SAME NIGHT
THAT THE MAYOR EXTENDED THE
MASK MANDATE.
THE GROUP SAYS THERE'S NO
CONNECTION, BUT YOU CAN'T HELP
BUT WONDER.
>> Nick: DR. MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR. IS BACK IN THE
HEADLINES IN KANSAS CITY THIS
WEEK, AS THE PARK'S BOARD
CONSIDERS A NEW PROPOSAL TO
NAME A STREET AFTER THE CIVIL
RIGHTS LEADER.
WHAT HAVE THEY PROPOSED, ERIC?
>> SWALE PARKWAY,
INTERSECTION, VOLKER
INTERSECTION, BLUE PARKWAY, 50
HIGHWAY.
CAN WE JUST DO SOMETHING TO
GET THIS OVER WITH SO THAT WE
CAN MOVE ON?
MOST YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
WHO MARTIN LUTHER KING IS
UNTIL IT IS HIS HOLIDAY
WEEKEND OR DURING BLACK
HISTORY MONTH.
I JUST WANT US TO DO SOMETHING
SO WE CAN MOVE ON.
LET'S MOVE ON SO WE CAN FRY
BIGGER FISH.
>> Nick: THE PARKS BOARD,
LISA, SAID THEY WILL HOLD TWO
PUBLIC HEARINGS.
IS IT SOMETHING THE PARKS
BOARD CAN NOW JUST SAY WE ARE
GOING TO RENAME THOSE STREETS,
THOSE INTERSECTIONS AFTER
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, OR
DOES IT HAVE TO GO TO THE
BALLOT BOX FOR VOTERS TO
APPROVE?
>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO TO
THE BALLOT BOX.
THE PARKS BOARD CAN MAKE THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS, EVEN WHEN
PASEO WAS RENAMED, THAT
HAPPENED THROUGH CITY COUNCIL
ACTION.
IT ONLY CAME IT A PUBLIC VOTE
WHEN CITIZENS, YOU KNOW,
GATHERED ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO
PUSH IT THERE.
I THINK THIS CAN HAPPEN.
I DON'T THINK EXPECT IT TO
COME TO A PUBLIC VOTE.
I THINK, LIKE ERIC, PEOPLE ARE
READY TO JUST SEE THIS HAPPEN
IN KANSAS CITY.
>> Nick: STEVE?
>> I AGREE.
I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING
TO SEE HOW THE PARK BOARD
REACTS TO THE BLACK MINISTERS,
NICK.
THIS IS THE SAME GROUP, OF
COURSE, THAT PUSHED THE NAME
CHANGE FOR THE PASEO SO HARD
AND SAW THAT EFFORT BACKLASH
AGAINST THEM.
THAT TOOK A LITTLE CHUNK OF
THE POLITICAL CLOUT OUT OF THE
BACK SIDES OF THE MINISTERS.
WE'LL SEE HOW THEY FARE THIS
TIME.
>> Nick: DAVE, ONE OF THE
THINGS ABOUT NAMING SOMETHING
AFTER DR. KING, THERE WAS AN
EFFORT THAT SAYS LET'S HAVE
SOMETHING THAT GOES FROM THE
BLACK COMMUNITY AND BRIDGES
INTO THE WHITE COMMUNITY.
THE STREETS WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THERE THAT WOULD BE
RENAMED GO FROM VOLKER TO BLUE
PARKWAY, WOULD ALL BE ON THE
EAST SIDE.
>> RIGHT.
ALTHOUGH THE PASEO WAS ON THE
EAST SIDE AS WELL.
YOU KNOW, NICK, IT WOULD BE
EASY TO PICK APART ANY STREET
RENAMING IN KANSAS CITY AND
FIND PROBLEMS WITH IT.
BUT I DO THINK THIS IS A
PRETTY INTERESTING AND
IMPORTANT COMPROMISE.
AND IT'S HELPED BY THE FACT
THAT THERE AREN'T A LOT OF
RESIDENCES ALONG THESE
STRETCHES OF ROAD.
THERE ARE SOME, BUT NOT A LOT.
THAT'S HELPFUL BECAUSE YOU
DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN
HOUSES WHO ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CHANGING
THEIR ADDRESSES, OR, YOU KNOW,
DEEDS OR THAT TYPE OF THING.
SO THERE MAY BE LESS CITIZEN
OPPOSITION.
YET IT STILL BRINGS SOME
VISIBLE PRESENCE TO THE EAST
SIDE.
I THINK IT WILL GO FORWARD.
>> Nick: TWO YEARS AFTER
VOTERS APPROVED EXPANDING THE
STREETCAR LINE FROM UNION
STATION DOWN TO THE PLAZA AND
UMKC IS THE PROJECT FINALLY
NOW HAPPENING?
KANSAS CITY STREETCAR LEADERS
SAY YES AFTER THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT CUTS A LONG AWAITED
CHECK FOR $50 MILLION FOR THE
PROJECT.
THERE WERE LOTS OF JUBILANT
NEWS RELEASES AND SOCIAL MEDIA
POSTS, BUT DOES THIS REALLY
MEAN THAT CREWS CAN START
TEARING UP MAIN STREET AND
LAYING DOWN THE TRACKS?
LISA?
>> I MEAN, IT DOES.
IT MEANS THAT UTILITY WORK CAN
START.
THEY CAN START MOVING SEWER
LINES, REPOSITIONING THINGS,
RECONFIGURING THE WATER LINES.
HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL AN ASK
FOR MORE FEDERAL MONEY.
THERE'S STILL -- THEY ARE
STILL EXPECTING, YOU KNOW, TO
THE TUNE OF $120 MILLION IN
FEDERAL FUNDING TO MAKE IT
HAPPEN, AND WE WON'T SEE
TRACKS OR OVERHEAD WIRES OR
ANYTHING THERE UNTIL AT LEAST
2022.
SO WE MAY START SEEING
ACTIVITY ALONG MAIN STREET,
BUT IT'S NOT A STREETCAR YET.
>> Nick: I DID SEE, WHEN THIS
PROJECT FIRST STARTED, STEVE,
IT WAS GOING TO BE A $350
MILLION PROJECT.
THAT'S 50 MILLION FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WHERE DOES THE OTHER MONEY
COME FROM?
>> RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES
ALONG THE ROUTE.
THERE IS A MECHANISM IN KANSAS
CITY CALLED THE TRANSPORTATION
DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT THAT
VOTERS APPROVED.
IT IS A ONE CENT SALES TAX
WITHIN THAT DISTRICT.
THAT WOULD COME UP WITH A LOT
OF THIS MONEY.
LET'S NOT SELL SHORT WHAT A
SIGNIFICANT MOMENT THIS IS FOR
THE STREETCAR SYSTEM AND MORE
LARGELY FOR KANSAS CITY.
THIS IS GOING TO TRANSFORM HOW
FAR THE CITY USES MASS
TRANSIT.
WE HAVE A CIRCULATOR SYSTEM
RIGHT NOW.
THIS WILL TAKE IT OUT TO UMKC,
TAKE IT OUT TO THE PLAZA.
IT IS A BIG DEVELOPMENT.
AND IT IS AN EXCITING DAY.
>> Nick: DAVE, THERE WERE
FEWER PEOPLE CURRENTLY RIDING
TRANSIT.
THE STREETCAR RIDERSHIP IS WAY
DOWN, SO ARE CITY COFFERS.
FURLOUGHS, WE TOLD THERE WILL
BE FEWER STAFF MEMBERS
INVOLVED IN MAINTENANCE.
DOES THIS COMPROMISE EFFORTS
TO EXPAND THIS AND HAVE THE
WORKFORCE THERE TO MAKE THIS
HAPPEN?
>> NO.
IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF WHAT
STEVE JUST TALKED ABOUT.
THERE IS A DEDICATED FUNDING
STREAM FOR THIS LOCALLY.
IT DOESN'T REALLY -- IT IS NOT
REALLY SUBJECT TO THE GENERAL
FUND, OR SOME CONCERNS THAT
MIGHT HOFF INVOLVE THE GENERAL
FUND AT CITY HALL.
THERE MAY BE SOME PRESSURE TO
BACK AWAY FROM THIS BECAUSE OF
COVID AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAD
ON MASS TRANSIT IN THE WEEKS
AND MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD,
BUT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
PLANNING FOR THIS EXTENSION OF
THE STREETCAR, IT IS A PRETTY
BIG MOMENT, AND SUGGESTS THAT
THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO GO
FORWARD AT SOME DISTANCE IN
THE FUTURE.
>> Nick: THE ORIGINAL PLAN, WE
WOULD BE RIDING THIS IN 2025.
IS THAT STILL THE PLAN, ERIC
WESSON?
>> HOPEFULLY, IT IS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING
TO MAKE IT WITH THE COVID, BUT
THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
AND I THINK THEY WILL COME
CLOSE.
IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN 2025,
PROBABLY 2026 OR 2027.
WE SHOULD BE RIDING THE
STREETCAR THROUGH THAT AREA.
>> Nick: IT WAS THE FIRST WEEK
OF CLASS FOR MOST OF OUR AREA
UNIVERSITIES, UMKC, KU, MIZZOU
AND K-STATE ALL BEGAN
IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION THIS
WEEK, THOUGH MANY STUDENTS ARE
FINDING THIS AFTER MOVING INTO
THEIR DORMS, ALL OF THEIR
CLASSES HAVE SHIFTED ONLINE.
HOW LONG, THOUGH, CAN THEY
STAY OPEN AT KU AT LEAST TEN
FRAT HOUSES NOW IN QUARANTINE.
IS THAT PROMPTING
ADMINISTRATORS TO SAY LET'S
SHUT THIS THING DOWN, STEVE?
>> WELL, I THINK IT IS, NICK.
I THINK THIS IS AN ONGOING
CONVERSATION THAT EVERY
UNIVERSITY, NOT ONLY IN OUR
NECK OF THE WOODS IS HAVING,
BUT MORE BROADLY ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE THING
REALLY BLEW UP AT KU, THE
STUDENT NEWSPAPER THERE, THE
DAILY KANSAN CALLED OUT THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR HAVING ANY
IN-PERSON CLASSES, AND SAID
THE ADMINISTRATION HAD LIED TO
THE STUDENT BODY ABOUT THIS
WHOLE SITUATION.
A LOT OF TENSION OVER THERE, A
LOT OF BAD FEELINGS.
I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE
SOME OF THAT REPLICATED AT
LOTS OF OTHER UNIVERSITIES
THIS FALL.
>> Nick: MORE THAN 150 CASES
WERE REPORTED OF CAM NEWTON ON
THE FIRST DAY OF -- --
COVID-19 AT MU.
MORE THAN 200 AT KU.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR OUR
UNIVERSITIES TO HALT IN-PERSON
INSTRUCTION.
IS IT 500 CASES, A DEATH?
>> WELL, A DEATH WOULD BE AN
ENORMOUS DEVELOPMENT, NICK,
AND MY GUESS IS IT WOULD CAUSE
THE IMMEDIATE SHUTDOWN OF ANY
UNIVERSITY WHEN SOMEONE DIES
OF COVID.
BUT THESE ILLNESSES ARE A
GREAT CONCERN, NOW, WHERE THE
THRESHOLD IS, WHO KNOWS.
250, 300?
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO
THAT.
I AM NOT SURE COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES KNOW THE ANSWER,
BUT WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT
THIS IS AN EPIDEMIC THIS IS A
TRANSFERRABLE, TRANSMITTABLE
DISEASE, AND SO IF THE KIDS IN
THE FRAT HOUSE HAVE IT, OTHER
KIDS WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE
FRAT HOUSE ARE GOING TO GET
IT.
THAT'S VERY CLEAR.
MY GUESS IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING
TO SEE IS A LOT OF STOPPING
AND STARTING, QUARANTINES, TWO
WEEKS OFF, EARLY DISMISSAL.
SOME EFFORT BY ALL COLLEGES
AND UNIVERSITIES TO DEAL WITH
IT ON THE FLY.
THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN
OVERARCHING STRATEGY TO KEEP
THESE SCHOOLS OPERATING, AS
THEY USED TO OPERATE.
>> Nick: STEVE, YOU ACTUALLY
HAVE ANOTHER HAT, YOU ARE A
JOURNALISM PROFESSOR AT UMKC.
DID YOU DO IN-PERSON CLSS THIS
WEEK?
>> I -- CLASSES?
>> I WANT TO WELCOME YOU, IF
YOU WANT TO TAKE MY CLASS,
NICK, YOU WOULD BE WELCOME TO
STEP INSIDE.
NO, I'M TEACHING STRICTLY
ONLINE.
LIKE SO MANY PROFESSORS HERE,
NICK, IT IS NOT MY PREFERRED
CHOICE.
I REALLY LIKE INTERACTING WITH
STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.
BUT GIVEN MY AGE AND GIVEN
WHAT THEY JUST SAID ABOUT HOW
TRANSFERRABLE THIS THING IS, I
DIDN'T FEEL I HAD ANY CHOICE.
AND THE ADMINISTRATION HERE
GAVE ME THAT CHOICE.
SO IT WAS A GOOD THING.
>> CAN I SAY QUICKLY, NICK, IF
YOU CAKE CRESS KI'S COURSE, HE
IS -- CRESKE'S COURSE, HE IS
AN EASY A.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> TRY ME.
>> STUDENTS DOING IT ONLINE,
DO THEY HAVE TO PAY SOME OF --
DOES THE UNIVERSITY GIVE THEM
SOME OF THEIR TUITION MONEY
BACK?
THAT'S A LEGITIMATE ARGUMENT.
>> WELL, IT IS A LEGITIMATE
ARGUMENT, BUT SO FAR THE
ANSWER IS NO, ERIC.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE
EXPENSE OF PUTTING ON AN
ONLINE CLASS ISN'T THAT MUCH
DIFFERENT THAN DOING IT IN
PERSON.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE
ADMINISTRATION IS TOGGLING
WITH.
SOME STUDENTS POINT OUT WHAT
YOU POINT TO HERE, AND HAVE
SOME CONCERNS ABOUT IT, BUT,
YOU KNOW, THE EXPENSES OF
RUNNING THE PLACE GO ON IN
PERSON OR NOT.
>> Nick: WHAT ABOUT IN OUR
AREA SCHOOLS, WHERE MOST OF
OUR AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS
DECIDED TO DELAY THE START OF
SCHOOL AND PUSH BACK IN-PERSON
LEARNING INDEFINITELY.
IT WAS BACK TO SCHOOL IN
INDEPENDENCE, NOT VIRTUALLY,
THEY WERE SITTING IN ACTUAL
CHAIRS IN REAL PHYSICAL
CLASSROOMS.
IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING
WITHOUT INCIDENT.
WAS THERE ANY PROBLEMS, LISA?
>> NOT THAT WE'VE HEARD ABOUT
YET, AND THE INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BASED
THEIR DECISION TO OPEN
IN-PERSON BASED ON THE FACT
THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE
OUTBREAKS DURING THE SUMMER
SCHOOL SESSION.
THEY SAY THEY ARE KEEPING
THEIR CLASS SIZES SMALL,
TAKING ALL THESE PRECAUTIONS.
BUT, AGAIN, WE'RE JUST IN THAT
FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL RIGHT
NOW, AND I THINK IT'S TOO
EARLY TO TELL IF THIS IS TRULY
THE BEST PLAN FOR REOPENING.
>> Nick: WE HAVE A LOT OF
SCHOOL DISTRICTS REVERSING
COURSE, DAVE HELLING, LEE
SUMMIT, SOME STUDENTS WILL BE
COMING BACK TO CLASS, IN
DESOTO, SOME STUDENTS COMING
BACK TO CLASS IN PERSON, AND
IN BLUE VALLEY ALSO, SOME
STUDENTS WILL BE COMING BACK
TO CLASS, AT LEAST PART-TIME
IN PERSON.
IS THAT SAYING THAT THEY THINK
THAT HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE
BEEN OVERLY CAUTIOUS?
>> I THINK THERE HAS BEEN SOME
PUSH-BACK AGAINST THE
SO-CALLED GATING CRITERIA
BEING USED BY THE COUNTY AND
BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, NICK.
BUT WE SHOULD MAKE ABSOLUTELY
NO MISTAKE, THE KANSAS CITY
REGION REMAINS A HOT SPOT FOR
COVID-19.
CASES ARE STILL TROUBLINGLY
HIGH, AND SCHOOLS, COLLEGES,
K-12, THEY ARE ALL GOING TO
HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
IN FACT, I'M TOLD HOSPITALS IN
THE REGION ARE HAVING A
MEETING WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE
WEEKS TO TALK ABOUT THE SPREAD
IN OUR AREA, AND WAYS TO
MITIGATE IT, BECAUSE IT IS
STILL A PROBLEM IN THE
HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY, STILL A
PROBLEM FOR THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY.
IT HAS NOT GONE AWAY.
>> I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WILL
THERE BE AN UPTICK EVEN
GREATER AFTER THE LABOR DAY
WEEKEND WHEN EVERYBODY IS OUT
HAVING BARBECUES AND HAVING
EVENTS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO
WHERE PEOPLE AREN'T WEARING
MASKS, THERE'S NO SOCIAL
DISTANCING.
WILL THERE BE AN UPSWING IN
REPORTED CASES.
>> Nick: AND WILL THERE BE AN
UPTICK FROM PEOPLE IN OUR AREA
GOING TO SPORTS GAMES FOR THE
FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC
BEGAN.
SPORT IN KANSAS CITY INVITED
FRIENDS BACK TO CHILDREN'S
MERCY PARK.
2500 FANS WERE ALLOWED IN TO
SEE THE TEAM TAKE ON HOUSTON.
SOME EYEBROWS WERE RAISED
ABOUT THE WISDOM OF HOLDING A
GAME WITH A REDUCED NUMBER OF
FANS.
STATED YUM IS IN THE METRO
AREA COUNTY THAT'S BEEN
HARDEST HIT BY COVID-19.
WHY DID HEALTH OFFICIALS IN
WYANDOTTE COUNTY SIGN OFF ON
IT, THEN, STEVE?
>> I THINK THERE'S SOME SENSE
THAT THEY DID, BUT, YOU KNOW,
WHETHER THE SPORTING IS GOING
ALONG WITH EXACTLY WHAT THEY
SAID IS A DIFFERENT MATTER.
THE CLUB IS ALLOWING 14% OF
THE CITY'S CAPACITY TO BE USED
HERE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A VERY
SMALL NUMBER.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT HEALTH
OFFICIALS SIGNED OFF ON, BUT
THEY ARE VERY MUCH IN DANGER
HERE, THE HEALTH OFFICIALS
ARE, OF BEING SEEN AS WANTING
TO HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.
>> Nick: THIS OF COURSE IS A
FRACTION OF THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE GOING TO ARROWHEAD
STADIUM SOON, ERIC WESSON, TO
SEE THE CHIEFS PLAY, WHERE YOU
CAN HAVE, YOU KNOW, 20,000
FANS IN THE STADIUM.
>> IT'S ABOUT MONEY.
THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
LET'S MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS WE
CAN.
PUBLIC SAFETY, IT SEEMS LIKE
IT'S ON THE BACK BURNER.
>> QUICKLY, THESE DECISIONS BY
THE SPORTS FRANCHISES MAKE
THINGS VERY DIFFICULT FOR
COMMUNITY LEADERS LIKE QUINTON
LUCAS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHO FACES
RECALL, BECAUSE OF HIS MASK
ORDERS, AND BUSINESSES ARE
RIGHTLY ASKING WHY CAN YOU
HAVE FANS AT A CHIEFS GAME, OR
HOW CAN YOU ACCEPT FANS AT A
SPORTING KC GAME WHEN I HAVE
TO LIMIT MY RESTAURANT OR KEEP
MY DOORS OR REQUIRE MASKS.
>> IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT
BALANCING ACT AND WE HAVE NOT
ACHIEVED A GOOD BALANCE YET.
>> Nick: TALKING ABOUT
BALANCE, I MENTIONED THE
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
LAST WEEK.
THIS WEEK IT WAS THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
GETTING UNDERWAY, AND THERE
WERE PLENTY OF PRIMETIME
SPEAKING SLOTS FOR A NUMBER OF
KANSAS AND MISSOURI NAMES,
INCLUDING THE MAN SOME PEOPLE
BEGGED TO RUN IN THE SENATE
RACE.
>> WELCOME TO THE 2020
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION.
TONIGHT CELEBRATING AMERICA AS
THE LAND OF PROMISE.
>> I'M MIKE POMPEO.
I'M SPEAKING TO YOU FROM
BEAUTIFUL JERUSALEM.
>> GOOD EVENING, AMERICA.
WE ARE MARK AND PATTY
McCLOSKEY, WHO ARE SPEAKING TO
YOU TONIGHT FROM ST. LOUIS,
MISSOURI, WHERE JUST WEEKS AGO
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN US DEFENDING
OUR HOME AS A MOB OF
PROTESTORS DESCENDED ON OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WHAT YOU SAW HAPPEN TO US
COULD JUST AS EASILY HAPPEN TO
ANY OF YOU WHO ARE WATCHING
FROM QUIET NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> Nick: ALSO SPEAKING, ANN
DORN, WIDOW OF A RETIRED
MISSOURI POLICE OFFICER, WHO
WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY LOOTERS
AMID A NIGHT OF UNREST IN ST.
LOUIS FOLLOWING THE GEORGE
FLOYD PROTESTS.
THERE WERE TONS OF LOCAL
CANDIDATES IN OTHER PARTS OF
THE COUNTRY FEATURED, FROM
HOUSE RACES IN MARYLAND AND
PENNSYLVANIA, SO WHY NOT FROM
HERE, STEVE KRASKE?
WITH WHY WASN'T THERE ROOM FOR
A ROGER MARSHALL NOW RUNNING
FOR THE SENATE?
>> I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED,
TOO, NICK.
CERTAINLY ROGER MARSHALL IN A
VERY COMPETITIVE RACE FOR THE
U.S. SENATE IN KANSAS AND AN
APPEARANCE THERE MIGHT HAVE
HELPED.
BUT NOT TO OVERPLAY THIS TOO
MUCH, AN APPEARANCE AT THIS
CONVENTION NOT DURING
PRIMETIME ISN'T GOING TO SWING
A RACE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
>> Nick: WERE THERE ANY
LESSONS FOR US IN KANSAS AND
MISSOURI AS A RESULT OF THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
THIS WEEK, DAVE?
>> WELL, I THINK YOU JUST
FEATURED OR TALKED ABOUT THE
McCLOSKEY'S APPEARANCE, HOW
THEY DEFENDED THEIR HOME WITH
A GUN AGAINST THE BLACK LIVES
MATTER PROTEST.
NICK, THIS WEEK A 17-YEAR-OLD
ALLEGEDLY WENT TO KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN AND SHOT TWO PEOPLE
DEAD IN A PROTEST RELATED TO A
POLICE INCIDENT IN THAT
COMMUNITY.
I THINK OVER TIME THE THINGS
THAT THE McCLOSKEY'S TALKED
ABOUT WILL BE SEEN AS NOT
HELPFUL AT ALL.
>> Nick: WHEN YOU PUT A
PROGRAM LIKE THIS TOGETHER
EVERY WEEK, YOU CAN'T GET TO
EVERY MAJOR STORY MAKING
HEADLINES.
WHAT WAS THE BIG STORY WE
MISSED?
LAYING TO REST A MAYOR.
FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MIKE
COPELAND, WHO LED OLATHE FOR
THE PAST 19 YEARS.
HE DIED UNEXPECTEDLY AT THE
AGE OF 58.
IT WAS THE HORRIFYING STORY
THAT ROCKED OUR CITY 20 YEARS
AGO.
A TEN-YEAR-OLD ABDUCTED IN
PLAIN SIGHT WHILE ROLLER
BLADING OUTSIDE HER HOME IN
KCK.
NOW JUSTICE FOR HER, THE MAN
EXECUTED THIS WEEK IN A
FEDERAL PRISON IN INDIANA.
HE IS ON THE BALLOT IN A
GROWING NUMBER OF STATES.
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE KANYE
WEST DENIED A PLACE ON THE
KANSAS AND MISSOURI BALLOTS.
WAS IT JUST A JOKE?
>> LET ME GET MY MASK ON.
HOLD ON.
>> AN MU PROFESSOR RELIEVED OF
TEACHING DUTIES AFTER SAYING
HE NEEDED TO COVER HIS FACE
AFTER FINDING OUT ONE OF HIS
STUDENTS IN AN ONLINE CLASS
WAS FROM WUHAN CHINA.
A LOCAL ARTIST GOING VIRAL FOR
HIS POLITICALLY INSPIRED CROP
ART IN A FIELD NEAR LAWRENCE.
NO WORD YET ON WHETHER HE
PLANS TO UNVEIL CROP CIRCLES
OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND MIKE
PENCE.
AND REMEMBERING ONE OF KANSAS
CITY'S MOST FAMOUS SONS THIS
WEEKEND WITH MARK JAZZ LEND
LEGEND CHARLIE PARKERS'S 100TH
BIRTHDAY.
A DOCUMENTARY OF HIS LIFE
SATURDAY AT 7:00.
LISA, DID YOU PICK ONE OF
THOSE STORIES OR SOMETHING
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?
>> I WENT WITH SOMETHING MAYBE
A LITTLE LESS SPLASHY, BUT
EQUALLY IMPORTANT, IS THAT
NURSING HOMES ALL ACROSS
KANSAS ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO
BE ABLE TO GET RAPID TESTING
FOR COVID-19, WHICH MEANS THAT
WHEN AN EMPLOYEE HAS SYMPTOMS,
THEY'VE GOT TO STAY HOME FOR
DAYS, MEANING OTHER WORKERS
HAVE TO WORK LONGER HOURS,
PUTTING AT RISK NOT ONLY THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING AT
NURSING HOMES, BUT ALSO, YOU
KNOW, OUR ELDERLY FAMILY
MEMBERS WHO ARE THERE, AND THE
FACT THAT THIS LONG INTO A
PANDEMIC WE STILL HAVEN'T
FIGURED OUT TESTING IS
ASTONISHING.
>> DAVE?
>> SECRETARY OF STATE JAY
ASHCROFT TO TALK TO VOTERS
THIS WEEK AND SAID INCREDIBLY,
THAT IF IT WERE UP TO HIM, NO
ONE WOULD VOTE BY MAIL, OR
WORDS TO THAT EFFECT.
THAT'S AN AMAZING THING FOR
THE TOP ELECTIONS OFFICER IN
MISSOURI TO SAY.
THE DEBATE, NICK, OVER VOTING
BY MAIL AND ABSENTEE IN
MISSOURI WILL REALLY
ACCELERATE BETWEEN NOW AND
NOVEMBER 3RD.
>> Nick: ERIC?
>> YOU MEAN I'M NOT GOING TO
GET TO VOTE FOR KANYE WEST?
I GOT TO WRITE HIS NAME IN?
I'M JUST KIDDING.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT
WE MISSED THIS WEEK WAS THIS
WEEK OVER THE NEXT WEEK THEY
ARE GOING TO START DOING THE
MURALS IN THE STREET FOR BLACK
LIVES MATTER.
A COUPLE BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE
CALLED THE NEWSPAPER AND SAID
THEY REALLY DON'T WANT IT IN
FRONT OF THEIR BUSINESS, AND
IS THERE GOING TO BE A
COMMUNITY HEARING, SO THAT
PEOPLE CAN DETERMINE WHERE TO
PUT THESE SIGNS.
I THINK THAT'S A VERY
INTERESTING TOPIC.
>> Nick: STEVE?
>> I THINK THE 100TH
ANNIVERSARY OF CHARLIE PARK
ARE'S BIRTH, D.PARKER'S BIRTH,
A MUSICAL PIONEER FROM OUR
NECK OF THE WOODS.
A VERY BIG DEAL.
HE CHANGED MUSIC.
HIS LEGACY IS BEING CELEBRATED
ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE THIS
WEEK.
>> Nick: I KNOW YOU WERE A
HUGE JAZZ FAN, SO THAT MAKES
SENSE COMING FROM YOU.
>> I AM.
>> BORN IN KANSAS CITY, KANSAS
BEFORE MOVING TO THE STATE
LINE INTO THE WESTPORT AREA
THEN ATTENDING LINCOLN HIGH
SCHOOL.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> ON THAT WE WILL SAY OUR
WEEK HAS BEEN REVIEWED.
LISA RODRIGUEZ FROM KCUR NEWS,
THANKS FOR CHECKING IN WITH,
THE CALL'S ERIC WESSON, AND
DAVE HELLING, KEEPING UP TO
DATE ON KCUR FM STEVE KRASKE.
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.
KCUR, STEVE KRASKE.Captioning
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