Ruckus - April 18, 2 - 13

Captioning provided by Caption Associates, LLC www.captionassociates.com   >>> PRODUCTION UNDERWRITING FOR RUCKUS HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE GENEROUS   CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FRED AND LOU HARTWIG AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.   THANK YOU.   GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO RUCKUS, OUR WEEKLY FOOD-FOR-THOUGHT FIGHT OVER THE   NEWS OF THE DAY AND THE TRENDS OF THE TIMES. I'M MIKE SHANIN JOINED BY THE   RUCKETTES, EDITORIAL WRITER YAEL ABOUHALKAH, URBAN LEAGUE CEO GWEN GRANT, MEDIA CONSULTANT   MARY O'HALLORAN, AND MAKING HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE PROGRAM, JOHN LANCE BERG OF BOTTOM LINE   COMMUNICATION, HOME OF THE POPULAR WEBSITE BOTTOM LINE COM DOT COM.   GOOD LUCK, JOHN. >>> FOR A PROGRAM THAT TALKS A LOT ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S NEVER   TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT ELECTION, EVEN IF IT IS TWO YEARS AGO.   WE'RE HELPED BY YAEL'S RECENT COLUMN FOCUSED ON THE REELECTION CHANCES OF KANSAS CITY MAYOR SLY   JAMES. THE CHANCES ARE GOOD RIGHT NOW, SAYS YAEL, BUT THEN HE ADDS THE   TWO-WORD REMINDER THAT INCUMBENT KANSAS CITY POLITICIANS NEVER WANT TO HEAR, MARK FUNKHOUSER.   JAMES HAS NOTCHED SEVERAL ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE FIRST HALF OF HIS FIRST TERM, BUT THERE ARE   CHALLENGES REMAINING. SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR ONES?   >> OH, I THINK REALLY -- I WAS TALKING TO A COUPLE PEOPLE ABOUT IT THIS WEEK, KCI.   HE'S GOING TO BASICALLY HAVE TO TACKLE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AT KCI IN THE NEXT COUPLERS USE,   ESPECIALLY IF THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO COME BEGGING FOR MONEY FROM KANSAS   CITY TAXPAYERS. AND RIGHT NOW, JUST BASED ON ALL THE NEGATIVE REACTION THAT   SINGLE TERMINAL PLANT HAS RECEIVED, YOU WOULD KIND OF SAY IT'S AN UPHILL FIGHT.   >> AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT ON THE PROGRAM. >> YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT HE   IS GOING TO BE PROMOTING ISSUES THAT MAYBE AREN'T THAT POPULAR, BUT YOU COULD ALSO CERTAINLY   QUICKLY LOOK AT, WELL, HELL, LAST YEAR HE GOT A HALF CENT SALES TAX APPROVED, AND GETTING   THE SALES TAX APPROVED IN A TIME LIKE THIS IS PRETTY DIFFICULT. I THINK THE OTHER THING, OF   COURSE, AND YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY MENTION EVERY COLUMN, BUT THE UNEXPECTED,   WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE UNEXPECTED. I MEAN, MARK FUNKHOUSER'S REGIME   WAS UNEXPECTED WHEN SOMEONE HE APPOINTS TO THE PARK BOARD GETS IN THE NEWS EVERY DAY FOR DOING   SOMETHING STUPID. WELL, THAT WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE THE BEGINNING, THE END AND THE   WIFE AND ALL OF THAT STUFF. WELL, JAMES DOESN'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM.   HE HAS HIS SON AND LEGAL PROBLEMS, BUT THAT'S NOT HIS POLITICAL PROBLEM.   I THINK HE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THERE IS A POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR HIM.   JUST LIKE KAY BARNES DURING HER TERM, HE IS THE NO. 1, 2, AND 3 POLITICAL FORCE FOR CITY HALL   RIGHT NOW. >> LET ME ASK YOU, HOW ABOUT THE WAY JAMES HAS BEEN TREATED BY   THE KANSAS CITY MEDIA? >> I THINK THE KANSAS CITY NEWS MEDIA LOVES HIM, AND IT'S   COMPLETELY CHANGED FROM MARK FUNKHOUSER, OBVIOUSLY, BUT A LOT OF IT PROSECUTE A PR STANDPOINT,   I'D LOVE TO HAVE A -- A LOT OF IT, FROM A PR STANDPOINT, I'VE NEVER MET A CAMERA THAT DIDN'T   LIKE SLY CHAMS. SLY JAMES. I THINK HE DID A TERRIFIC JOB.   HE CALMS PEOPLE. HE SPEAKS WELL. I MEAN, EVEN WHEN HE'S DOING A   PRESS CONFERENCE AND A GUY JUMPS UP, HIS POSSIBLE OPPONENT. IF HE'S LUCKY, THAT WILL BE HIS   POSSIBLE OPPONENT. AND HE DIDN'T EVEN BREAK A SWEAT.   IT WAS JUST LIKE, OKAY, HAUL HIM AWAY. >> MAYBE HE'LL CALL YOU AFTER   TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. GWEN, DO YOU HEAR ANY NAMES, SERIOUS PEOPLE?   >> NO, NO. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHO WOULD STEP UP TO OPPOSE MAYOR JAMES AT THIS   POINT, AND YOU KNOW, TO YAEL'S POINT ABOUT THE AIRPORT BEING A POTENTIAL ISSUE FOR HIM, I THINK   IF THERE IS ANYBODY YOU WANT OUT IN FRONT OF THAT ISSUE, IT WOULD BE SLY JAMES.   >> THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE YOU DON'T WANT, AS WE DISCUSSED BEFORE.   >> I THINK IT BEARS REPEATING, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, GWEN, THAT KANSAS CITY HAS HAD GREAT   MAYORS, BUT MARK FUNKHOUSER WAS AN ABERRATION, ONE THAT WE WILL WANT TO REFER TO FOR YEARS TO   COME. >> MARY, HE WAS MUCH ADMIRED AND RESPECTED AS HE WENT INTO   OFFICE. HIS YEARS AS AUDITOR, PEOPLE SAID HE WAS ONE OF THE TOP   PROFESSIONALS IN THE COUNTRY, WON OUTSTANDING ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS.   HE WAS A COMPETENT GUY THAT JUST HAD TROUBLE. >> COMPETENCY ONLY TAKES YOU SO   FAR. COMPETENT IN WHAT? HE NEVER KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT   POLITICS. HERE IS WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT SLY JAMES.   HE'S CONFIDENT AS A HUMAN BEING IN THE JOB. IT'S CLEAR THAT HE LOVES THE   JOB. HE'S AN EXCELLENT COMMUNICATOR, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO GIVE HIM A   LESS THAN A PLUS ON ONE MEDIA EVENT, AND DANNY RODER, DON'T GET UPSET WITH ME, BUT I DID NOT   LIKE HIS RESPONSE THE NIGHT OF THE JJ EXPLOSION. >> RIGHT.   >> THANK YOU, YAEL. I THINK THAT HE WAS WONDERFUL ON NATIONAL TELEVISION, JOHN, AS   YOU MENTIONED. HE REPRESENTED THE CITY SO WELL. BUT IF THAT MOMENT WHEN   NEWSPAPER REPORTERS OF THE LIKES OF LYNN HORSLEY AND THE REALLY GOOD ONES, YOU KNOW, ARE   STANDING THERE SAYING, OKAY, MAYOR. WE JUST WANT TO ASK SOME   QUESTIONS, HE GOT DEFENSIVE, AND HE REALLY DID EQUATE REPORTERS ASKING QUESTIONS WITH PLAYING   THE BLAME GAME, AND I THINK IT WAS A MISS STEP. IT'S NOT THE BLAME GAME.   THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE DESERVE WHEN A TRAGEDY HAPPENS LIKE WE SAW IN BOSTON.   >> HE DOES GET DEFENSIVE AT TIMES. >> THE STORIES, OF COURSE, THAT   HE HAS A FIERY TEMPER BEHIND THE SCENES. ONE OF THE QUICK THINGS IS THAT   YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN OFFICE, AND CERTAINLY HE'S HAD SOME, BUT I'M   STILL WAITING FOR -- I'LL CONTINUE TO MENTION IT. HE HAS THIS GROUP THAT LOOKED AT   PENSIONS. A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, NOT DONE.   HE HAD A COMMITTEE ON LOCAL CONTROL OF POLICE, OBVIOUSLY JUST STARTED, BUT IN OCTOBER OF   THIS YEAR, CERTAINLY NEXT YEAR, WE NEED TO GET THAT DONE. SO THERE ARE MARKERS HE'S PUT   OUT THERE FOR STUFF, STUFF THAT I'M GOING TO GET DONE, THAT'S NOT DONE YET.   >>> WE TALKED A LOT LAST WEEK AND A LITTLE BIT THUS FAR THIS WEEK ABOUT KCI.   I GOT A NOTE FROM THE FIRST TIME RUCKUS WATCHER WHO SAID THE DISCUSSION LAST WEEK HELPED HIM   MAKE UP HIS MIND. HE'S NOW OPPOSED TO CHANGING THE AIRPORT FROM THREE TERMINALS TO   ONE. APPARENTLY HE'S NOT ALONE IN THAT OPPOSITION.   STILL THE CITY COUNCIL HAS MOVED AHEAD WITH PLANS TO AUTHORIZE FURTHER STUDY.   THE CITY'S AVIATION DIRECTOR SAYS THE CHANGE IN INEVITABLE, BUT HOW DOES HE TURN PUBLIC   OPINION AROUND? CHANGE PEOPLE MINDS ABOUT CHANGING KCI?   APPARENTLY THE CITY LEADERSHIP THINGS ONE WAY, NOT PRICINGLY, IS TO SPEND MONEY, $117,000 FOR   A PR FIRM TO SELL THE CONCEPT, BUT MARY, WON'T THIS BE KIND OF A HARD SELL?   >> YES. THAT'S WHY THEY HIRED A COMPANY FOR $117,000.   YOU JUST ANSWERED YOUR OWN QUESTION. FIRST OF ALL, I THINK YOU SAID   SOMETHING ABOUT DO THEY HAVE PR PEOPLE IN CITY HALL? THEY USED TO.   THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF VERY TALENTED PUBLIC RELATIONS   PEOPLE, BUT THE CUTBACKS HAVE TAKEN A TOLL. SO HERE COMES THESE MAJOR   EVENTS, AND YOU NEED TO HAVE PUBLIC RELATIONS PEOPLE WHO WILL HELP THESE MISERABLY   UNCOMMUNICATIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO PROMOTE THIS NEW AIRPORT THING.   SO THE QUESTION ARISES, WHAT'S GOOD PR? WHY DO YOU DO THIS?   WELL, THEY'VE HIRED GLOBAL PRAIRIE AND ST. PETER'S, WELL KNOWN AROUND THIS TOWN AND   RESPECTED. BUT THE IDEA HERE IS THAT PEOPLE OF THE CITY GET A HONEST,   FACT-BASED PREPR CAMPAIGN. EVERY CAMPAIGN IS A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN LIKE ANY OTHER.   BUT THEY NEED TO DO SOME WORK UP FRONT. WHEN YOU WATCH MIKE MAHONEY   CHASING RUSS, WHAT WORSE -- SECONDLY, MARK, AS YAEL MENTIONED LAST WEEK, REALLY   NEEDS HELP. >> THE AVIATION DIRECTOR. >> THE AVIATION DIRECTOR.   HAVE THERE BEEN DEALS STRUCK TO GET THIS THING AS FAR AS IT IS? TROY SCHULTE SAID, NO, THERE   AREN'T ANY DEALS STRUCK. EXPLAIN THAT TO THE PEOPLE. >> GIVE ME A LITTLE BIT OF AN   IDEA ABOUT WHAT A PR FIRM WILL DO TO PROMOTE ACCEPTANCE OF THE ONE TERMINAL CONCEPT.   DO THEY HAVE MEETINGS FOR THE PUBLIC? >> WELL, I THINK THE FIRST THING   THEY WILL DO IS ASSESS THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO THIS IDEA BY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT   SKILLED AT COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC. THIS IS A DEMOCRACY, AND SO YOU   HAVE TELL PEOPLE THE TRUTH, AND IF THEY TRY TO DO PROPAGANDA, IT WON'T WORK.   YOU'VE GOT TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK THE FACTS ARE.   NOW, MAYOR, I HOPE THE MAYOR DOESN'T GO ANY FURTHER WITH THIS EMOTION VERSUS FACTS THING.   THE ATTACHMENT THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO THAT AIRPORT IS NOT ENTIRELY BASED ON EMOTION.   IT'S BASED ON EXPERIENCE, AND THE EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE WITH THEIR CLIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES,   IN A FUNCTIONING FACILITY THAT THEY JUST LOVE. >> JOHN, IF YOU GOT $117,000 TO   MAKE THIS HAPPEN, YOU WOULDN'T TURN DOWN THE MONEY, WOULD YOU? >> NO.   I'M ALL FOR HIRING PR FIRMS. >> WHAT KINDS OF THINGS MIGHT A PR FIRM DO ON BEHALF OF THIS   IDEA? >> THEY'RE GOING TO DO SOME FOCUS GROUPS PROBABLY, A LITTLE   BIT OF FOCUS GROUPS. AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT, OKAY, YAEL, LAST   WEEK'S SHOW WE AGREED WHO SHOULDN'T BE THE SPOKESPERSON, SO WE'RE EITHER GOING TO MEDIA   TRAIN SOMEBODY NEW THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FUN PERSON FOR THIS AND TRY TO GET THAT PERSON OUT   IN FRONT OF THE NEWS MEDIA. I DO AGREE WITH MARY. IT'S AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE.   YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WHETHER WE'LL GET MORE FLIGHTS IN, BUT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT OUR   AIRPORT AS, I CAN PARK, GET TO MY GATE IN 15 MINUTES. NOW, I DON'T CARE IF FLIGHTS ARE   COMING IN FROM CANADA OR JAPAN, BUT FOR ME, IT REALLY WORKS WELL, AND SO THAT'S A TOUGH   ISSUE TO TRY TO SAY, WELL, WE WANT A SINGLE TERMINAL. >> SO THEY'RE OVER HERE TRYING   TO PLAY ON OUR EMOTIONS AS VOTERS, BUT YOU'RE THERE AT THE STAR TRYING TO GET AT THE FACTS   BEYOND THE EMOTIONS. >> YEAH. I SAID THIS, BECAUSE I WAS   TALKING TO PEOPLE TODAY, WORKING ON A CALL FOR NEXT WEEK OR SO, BUT I'M OPEN TO THE SINGLE   TERMINAL, DEFINITELY. I JUST WANT MORE FACTS ABOUT THIS.   I UNDERSTAND THE EMOTIONAL ISSUE. YES, THERE HAS TO BE SOMEBODY   NEW LEADING IT. IT NEEDS TO BE MAYOR JAMES. QUITE FRANKLY, WE CAN'T HAVE THE   PR DO IT. JOE MCBRIDE IS THE PR PERSON FOR KCI, VERY GOOD ONE.   WHEN I MADE A CALL THE OTHER DAY, I WAS REROUTED TO THE NEW PR FIRM WHO GOT ME IN TOUCH WITH   A PERSON THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY GOOD TO TALK TO. THAT'S ALL FINE FOR MY JOB.   MY JOB IS JUST TO GET SOME INFORMATION. YEAH, THE OTHER FOCUS GROUPS   WILL BE SHOWING WHERE THINGS ARE, HOW YOU CAN STILL WALK FROM HERE AND GET THERE JUST AS   QUICKLY, WHICH GETS TO A LITTLE BIT OF THE EMOTION ISSUE BUT ALSO PRACTICALAL.   >> GWEN, ARE YOU PERSUADABLE? >> I'M OPEN. THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS I WOULD   LIKE TO HAVE THAT WE DON'T HAVE, AND I DO USE THE AIRPORT QUITE FREQUENTLY.   BUT I THINK WITH REGARD TO THE ISSUE OF EMOTION, IT'S IMPORTANT FROM A PR MESSAGING STANDPOINT   TO ADDRESS THE FACTOR WHAT ARE WE LOSING. EVEN TIMES PEOPLE TRY TO SHIFT   YOU WITH WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GAIN, BUT WE'RE FAR MORE EMOTIONALLY CONNECTED TO WHAT WE   STAND TO LOSE THAN WHAT WE STAND TO GAIN. THEY REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THAT   ISSUE. >> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE MOVING AHEAD.   IT IS NOT BREAKING NEWS THAT THE BUSINESS OF TELEVISION NEWS IS CHANGING RAPIDLY, AND FORMER   NETWORK NEWSMAN AND EMMY AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST ED RABEL SAYS LOCAL TELEVISION NEWS   ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS A WASTE OF YOUR TIME. RABEL CLAIMS NEWS COVERAGE IS   NOTHING MORE THAN A DAILY DIGEST OF HOUSE FIRES, FENDER BENDERS AND HIGH SCHOOL REUNIONS   COMBINED WITH TOO FREQUENT AND FREQUENTLY UNNECESSARY WEATHER UPDATES.   THE RABEL LABEL FOR LOCAL NEWSCASTERS: THOSE WHO MUMBLE THE MUNDANE, TO WHICH HE ADDS,   MANNEQUINS OF MEN A -- MENDACITY. RABEL WAS NOT, AS FAR AS WE   KNOW, TALKING ABOUT KANSAS CITY'S LOCAL NEWS, BUT DO HIS DESCRIPTIONS SORT OF FIT, JOHN?   >> WELL, I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE LOCAL MEDIA REGULARLY, SO I INITIALLY WOULD LIKE TO   DISAGREE, BUT TRUTHFULLY, HE WAS PRETTY MUCH ON TARGET WITH WHAT HE SAID.   LOCAL TV NOW IS BASICALLY CONSULTANT DRIVEN. BASICALLY IT'S COOKIE CUTTER.   THEY KNOW THE VIEWERS LIKE LIVE SHOTS, SO WE'LL SEE A LIVE SHOT AT 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT OUTSIDE   OF A SCHOOL WHERE SOMETHING HAPPENED AT 2 O'CLOCK AT THAT SCHOOL, AND THEY'LL SAY WE'RE   OUT HERE LIVE. THE SCHOOL IS DARK. WHAT ARE YOU STANDING OUT THERE   FOR? SO YOU RUN INTO THAT, BUT CONSUL P SUL -- CONSULTANTS TELL THEM   THIS IS WHAT PEOPLE LIKE. THEY LIKE BREAKING NEWS. YOU GET THEM HOOKED EARLY.   YOU DO A COUPLE OF STORIES, AND YOU BRING A WEATHER GUY ON. HE SAYS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE   WEATHER TOMORROW. STAY TUNED, AND THEN THEY GO BACK TO A COUPLE MORE STORIES.   IT SEEMS TO WORK, BUT IT DOES LEAD ITSELF TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID.   >> JOHN, ON YOUR WEBSITE A FEW WEEKS AGO, YOU HAD A VERY FUNNY LINK TO A PARODY NEWSCAST OF HOW   LOCAL NEWS IS DONE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND BEER GOING TO SHOW YOU JUST   A FEW SECONDS OF IT. THE TWO ANCHORS ARE HUGH CARES AND AMY DU-PLEASE.   >> GOOD EKE. THIS IS -- EVENING. THIS IS A NEWSCAST FOLKS FOCUSED   ON YOU. >> TEXT US. TWEET US.   >> WE'LL BE READING YOUR RESPONSES ALL THROUGHOUT THE SHOW.   >> ALL YOUR RESPONSES. >> DO YOU KNOW WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT?   I DON'T. BUT YOU DO. >> MAIL US, TEXT US, TWEET US.   >> MAIL US, TEXT US, TWEET US. THERE IS AN EFFORT, IS THERE NOT, MARY, AN EFFORT TO GET THE   VIEWER MORE INVOLVED WITH THE NEWSCASTERS, THE NEWS PEOPLE, NOT NECESSARILY THE NEWS.   >> WELL, THAT'S ONE WAY TO PUT IT. IT'S ALSO AN EFFORT TO GET THE   DEMOGRAPHIC THAT THEY'RE TARGET, WHICH IS 18 TO PROBABLY, WHAT, JOHN, 35.   >> AT THE MOST. >> AT THE MOST. MAYBE 18 TO 28 TO WATCH TV NEWS.   FOR WHAT? ONE NIGHT I SAW THE LAW NEWS WHERE THE CAMERA WAS ON A BIG   SCREEN TV, ANOTHER TV, AND INSIDE THAT TV WAS A PICTURE OF A LAPTOP WITH INFORMATION ON IT.   I MEAN, WE WERE LOOKING THROUGH FIVE DIFFERENT SOURCES OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION.   SO I AM WATCHING IT LESS AND LESS. I WANT THE ROYALS SCORE.   I WANT TO KNOW WHAT GARY LEZAK THINKS ABOUT THE WEATHER AND ALL THE OTHER WEATHER PEOPLE, TOO.   YOU'RE WONDERFUL. >> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT GARY LEZAK THINKS ABOUT THE WEATHER.   THERE IS ALWAYS A STORM ON THE WAY. GWEN.   >> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAID THAT THE CONSULTANTS TELL THEM THAT WE WANT TO SEE A LOT OF LIVE   SHOTS AND SO WE HAVE THIS BREAKING NEWS, BUT YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO BE DUPED WITH   THESE -- WHERE WE'VE GOT BREAKING NEWS, AND THEN WHEN YOU GET THERE, IT'S REALLY NOTHING.   OR IT'S WRONG. YOU BROKE THE NEWS TOO SOON, AND SO THEREFORE, IT'S INACCURATE   NEWS, AND WE DON'T WANT THAT EITHER. >> YAEL, THERE ARE SOME VERY   GOOD TELEVISION NEWS REPORTERS IN KANSAS CITY. >> ACTUALLY I WAS JUST GOING TO   PANDER TO THAT POINT. DAVE HELLING, WHEN HE WAS ON TV, I WOULD WATCH DAVE HELLING   STUFF. >> MIKE MAHONEY. >> MIKE MAHONEY.   >> CHRIS KETZ. >> THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SERIOUS STUFF.   IT'S KIND OF LIKE -- I LOOK AT IT, SORRY, STAR, AS MY RULE AT THE STAR, WHERE I READ ALL THE   SERIOUS STUFF, AND MEANWHILE WHAT GETS ALL THE CLICKS ARE THE STUPID LITTLE CAT VIDEOS AND ALL   THIS CRAP WE PUT ON THE WEB, BUT PEOPLE LOVE IT. OKAY, GREAT.   BUT I'M WRITING A STORY ON THE MAYOR AND DECISION MAKERS AND HOPEFULLY TRYING TO -- AND THEN   YOU STUMBLE ACROSS SOMETHING LIKE KCI THAT PEOPLE REALLY DO CARE ABOUT.   I'M GLAD WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS SERIOUS AND KNOWS SOMETHING ABOUT IT.   THAT'S A RULE. >> I MAY ADD IN, CONTRAST TO WHAT YOU MAY SEE ON SOME OF THE   COMMERCIAL STATIONS, KCPT IS EXPANDING, AND YOU WROTE ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT, JOHN, ON YOUR   WEBSITE. THERE IS NOW A DESK THAT IS FOCUSED ON HEALTH CARE ISSUES.   THERE IS A DESK DEVOTED TO SUCH THINGS AS EDUCATION AND LIFE SCIENCES, NEW PEOPLE HAVE BEEN   PUT ON BOARD, AND THERE ARE SOME VERY GOOD PEOPLE WORKING ON SOME IN DEPTH REPORTING, SO THAT IS   WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR KCPT AND PUBLIC TELEVISION. >> PULITZER PRIZES WERE GIVEN   OUT ON NEWS ON MONDAY, AND THERE IS A TREND WE NEED TO WATCH. THAT IS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN   THE HISTORY OF THESE VERY PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS AND JOURNALISM, THEY GAVE A NATIONAL   REPORTING AWARD TO AN ONLINE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING JOURNALIST AT SOMETHING CALLED   INSIDE CLIMATE NEWS, WHICH DOES IN-DEPTH -- AND I WENT TO THEIR WEBSITE.   IT'S FABULOUS. THEY WON THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR JOURNALISTIC   INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO, BECAUSE THE   LOCAL STATIONS CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE INVESTIGATORS. >> THEY CAN AFFORD IT.   THEY JUST WON'T SPEND THE MONEY. >> SPEAKING OF WHICH, WHEN DO WE START GETTING PAID ON RUCKUS   AGAIN? I LIKE THAT COMMENT. >>> KANSAS CITY PARENTS, MISSING   IN ACTION. THE POPULAR WEBSITE TONY'S KANSAS CITY REPORTS LAST WEEKEND   THAT POLICE GUIDED DOZENS OF UNSUPERVISED TEENS AWAY FROM THE PLAZA EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.   SAYS THE AUTHOR, THE SIGHT WAS ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC I'VE SEEN IN QUITE SOME TIME BECAUSE THERE   WAS NOT AN ADULT IN SIGHT, AND THESE KIDS WERE HEADED TOWARDS TROOST WITH ABSOLUTELY NO   PARENTAL SUPERVISION. PARENTS ALSO GOT A STRONG REBUKE FROM GWEN LAST WEEK ON RUCKUS.   >> AS PARENTS, YOU HAVE THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR KNOWING WHERE   YOUR CHILDREN ARE, AND IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE TO READ IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT SOMEONE 7 YEARS   OLD IS ON THE PLAZA, INVOLVED IN A MELEE AND THEIR PARENTS ARE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.   >> HOW DO YOU THING YOU LOOKED THERE, GWEN? >> I THINK I LOOKED A BIT   IRRITATED. >> WHY ARE THE PARENTS MISSING IN ACTION?   YOU. >> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, MIKE.   THERE ARE PARENTS WHO HAVE TO WORK AND HAVE MANY CHALLENGES WITH REGARD TO THE CARE OF THEIR   CHILDREN. YOU HAVE SOME SYMPATHY FOR THAT OR SOME UNDERSTANDING OF THAT,   BUT I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER. I DON'T THINK THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING ALL OF   THE ANSWERS EITHER IN TERMS OF WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE. IF YOU'RE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 OR   THE AGE OF 16 AND WE HAVE A CURFEW AND YOU'RE OUT WITHOUT PARENTAL SUPERVISION, I DON'T   KNOW THE ANSWER TO WHY THESE PARENTS AREN'T THERE. I KNOW FOR SOME THERE ARE   ECONOMIC ISSUES. I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE, BECAUSE OF THE   WORK THAT WE DO AT MY ORGANIZATION, WHO REALLY ARE RAISING THEMSELVES, FOR WHATEVER   THE REASONS ARE, AND THAT'S VERY, VERY UNFORTUNATE, WHICH MEANS THAT THE STATE MAYBE NEEDS   TO INTERVENE SO THAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN BE PLACED IN THE APPROPRIATE LIVING CONDITIONS,   BUT WHEN IT COMES TO -- I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A 7-YEAR-OLD OR 14-YEAR-OLD -- NOT ONLY ON THE   PLAZA, ANYWHERE IN THE CITY IS OUT AFTER A CERTAIN HOUR AND THEIR PARENTS DON'T KNOW WHERE   THEY ARE. NOW, I BELIEVE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE   OF THE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS IN THE CITY AND, YOU KNOW, BE THERE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME   IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A RACE ISSUE HERE WHEN YOU SEE LOTS OF BLACK   CHILDREN GATHERED IN ONE LOCATION. THAT CAUSES CONCERN FOR FOLKS,   AND WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THAT AND DEAL WITH THAT, AS WELL. >> YAEL, YOU THINK ALL OF THIS   IS BEING EXAGGERATED, DON'T YOU? YOU DON'T THINK IT'S AS BIG A CONCERN AS IT'S BEING MADE OUT   TO BE, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THE PLAZA. >> I THINK IT'S A CONCERN.   MY POINT IN THE COLUMN TODAY WAS, I DON'T THINK THESE KINDS OF INCIDENTS ARE GOING TO   DESTROY THE PLAZA, WHICH IS WHAT TOO MANY PEOPLE THINK. OH, THE BLACK KIDS ARE THERE,   AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO THERE ANYMORE, A VERY, VERY POPULAR PLACE.   I THINK YOU HIT MOST OF THE HIGH POINTS. THERE ARE SOME PARENTS WHERE THE   KIDS RUN THE HOUSEHOLD. SO THEY'RE GOING TO GO WHERE THEY WANT TO.   THERE ARE SOME PARENTS, AS YOU SAID, THEY'RE WORKING TWO JOBS TO TRY TO HOLD DOWN, A SINGLE   PARENT. OKAY. THAT'S MORE EXCUSABLE.   BUT AS I WROTE THIS MORNING, IT'S NOT THE CITY'S JOB TO DO. IT CANNOT BE THE PARENTS OF ALL   OF THESE KIDS. WE CAN PROVIDE, THE CITY CAN PROVIDE SOME OF THE LATE NIGHT   ACTIVITIES. >> LET ME SAY THIS, PLEASE. THE FACT IS THAT THERE NUMEROUS   YOUTH PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WE START   HEARING THAT THERE'S NOTHING FOR THESE KIDS TO DO. THERE'S BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.   THERE'S PROGRAM AFTER PROGRAM. >> WE HAVE TO GET ROLLING HERE, BECAUSE WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF   TIME. BUT TONY ON HIS WEBSITE POINTS OUT, A LOT OF THESE KIDS AREN'T   GOING TO GO TO CITY-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES. THEY DON'T CARE ANYTHING ABOUT   THEM. >> NO. WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE   HUNG OUT. SO THE QUESTION IS WHERE DO THEY HANG AND SO ON.   I'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF FRIENDS OF MINE WHO HAVE TEENAGE KIDS AND WHO LIVE NEAR THE PLAZA   AND SO ON. NOBODY HAS ANY GOOD IDEAS THAT I'VE TALKED TO.   THE ONLY ONE THAT I THINK I HAVE -- THE ONLY THING I THINK I WOULD HAVE TO OFFER IS I THINK   THE POLICE DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE MORE PROACTIVE IN THE WAY THEY RELATE TO THE   CROWDS ON THE PLAZA. GET A LITTLE MORE ASSERTIVE. I THINK THEY ARE A LITTLE   PASSIVE IN THEIR ATTITUDE. >> AND WE'LL GET THE ANSWER TO JOHN ABOUT HOW TO SOLVE THIS   PROBLEM THE NEXT TIME HE'S ON THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE NOW WE MOVE TO ROASTS AND TOASTS WHERE THE   RUCKETTES SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT ABOUT PEOPLE AND EVENTS IN THE NEWS STARTING TONIGHT WITH MARY.   >> WELL, I'M GOING TO TOAST CHANNEL 41 KSHB TELEVISION, BECAUSE THEY ALONE, AMONG LOCAL   TELEVISION STATIONS, AS LONG AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEDIA TODAY, PUT ON AN HOUR SHOW A COUPLE   WEEKS AGO ABOUT THE TRAGEDY AT JJ'S RESTAURANT AND THE EXPLOSION ON THE PLAZA AND THE   REALLY INEXPLICABLE NATURE OF THIS TRAGEDY THAT KILLED ONE AND INJURED SO MANY.   AND I WANT TO TOAST MELISSA GREEN STEIN AND THE REPORTERS -- SHE'S THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF   SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS WHO DESIGNED THIS HOUR,. WHAT THEY CAME UP WITH IS THE   UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT STILL REMAIN. WHY WERE PEOPLE NOT EVACUATED?   WHY DID IT HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE? WHY WASN'T THE GAS TURNED OFF?   AND WHY DID THE FIREFIGHTERS LEAVE AFTER 13 MINUTES? KUDOS TO KSHB AND THEIR STAFF.   >>> WELL, IN LIGHT OF THE EVENTS IN BOSTON TODAY, AND GIVEN MY INTEREST IN THE RUNNING   COMMUNITY, THIS IS, OF COURSE, A TOAST TO ALL OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS IN BOSTON WHO HELPED   SO MANY PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THAT. AND GETTING BACK TO KANSAS CITY, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE   SEVERAL DIFFERENT RUNNING EVENTS THAT ARE GOING TO COMMEMORATE THAT, THE GARMIN MARATHON THIS   WEEK IS GOING TO ALLOW SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE UNABLE TO FINISH THE BOSTON MARATHON TO   ACTUALLY RUN THE LAST MILE OR SO OF THE GARMIN MARATHON THIS WEEKEND AND GET A LITTLE   CONGRATULATIONS FOR DOING THAT. I GUESS IN THE END, THOUGH, WE DON'T OVERREACT BY MAKING   RUNNING EVENTS THESE TIGHTLY CONTROLLED THINGS. THEY REALLY ARE SPONTANEOUS   EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING BEING IN GOOD HEALTH.   >>> WELL, EARLY ON IN THE SHOW, WE TALKED ABOUT LOCAL TV, AND I DID TAKE A FEW POKES AT SOME OF   THEM. BUT I AGREE WITH MARY ABOUT KSHB.   I WOULD LIKE TO TOAST KCPT'S VERY OWN LOCAL SHOW WHICH ACTUALLY TAKES THE TIME TO DEAL   WITH ISSUES IN DEPTH. LOCAL TV, 30 SECONDS A LONG TIME.   THE LOCAL SHOW ON KCPT COMES ON EVERY WEEK, IS ABLE TO LOOK AT ISSUES 10, 15 MINUTES, WHICH IS   ISN'T AN ETERNITY, BUT THAT'S WHAT TV SHOULD DO, AND I SALUTE KCPT.   >> I TOAST THE KC NOVA PROJECT. CHIEF DARRELL DARYL FORTE AND TE PROSECUTOR FOR THEIR RECENT   EFFORTS TO PULL INDIVIDUALS OFF THE STREET THAT THEY BELIEVE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE   VIOLENT CRIMES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CEASE AND DESIST WITH THEIR   BEHAVIOR AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PROGRAMS. AND IF THEY CHOOSE THE OPPOSITE,   THEY GUARANTEE THEY WILL GO AT THEM WITH THE FULL WEIGHT OF THE LAW BEHIND THEM.   THOSE ARE GREAT EFFORTS TO PREVENT CRIME IN KANSAS CITY, AND WE SALUTE YOU FOR THAT.   >>> AND FINALLY, APRIL IS JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH, AND LOCAL JAZZ ARTISTS ARE BEING   CELEBRATED, BUT I'M SURE THE ARTISTS WOULD AGREE THAT FANS, PATRONS AND BENEFACTORS ALSO   DESERVE APPRECIATION AND A NOTE OF THANKS. THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHO SUPPORT   JAZZ EVENTS LIKE THE KANSAS CITY JAZZ ORCHESTRA PROGRAMS AND SEARCH OUT THE RELATIVELY FEW   VENUES WHERE LIVE JAZZ IS STILL PLAYED. FROM MY EXPERIENCE, I WOULD SAY   THE ONLY FLAW WITH KANSAS CITY JAZZ FANS IS THERE ARE JUST TOO FEW OF THEM.   AND THAT'S RUCKUS FOR THIS WEEK. FOR MORE LOCAL COVERAGE, JOIN NICK HAINES FOR KANSAS CITY WEEK   IN REVIEW FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:30. WE'RE OFF NEXT WEEK, BACK ON   MAY 2nd WITH GUEST RUCKETTE CROSBY KEMPER. NOW ON BEHALF OF THE RUCKUS CREW   AND RUCKUS STAFF, I'M MIKE SHANIN. THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND GOOD   Captioning provided by Caption Associates, LLC www.captionassociates.com