12-Year-Old Missing & Memorial Day Headlines

Added: 2026-05-28

[00:00:56]All right, welcome back into the KCTV 5 Plus streaming desk. Here is a live look out over the World War I Memorial on this Memorial Day. We're going to get into some of that coverage, but first want to take you over to the latest in the search for a missing 12year-old. So, police want you to be on the lookout for a 12-year-old boy who went missing just last night. So, Jeremiah Hernandez was last seen near Kids TLC. This is just off of South Rogers Road. This was last night around 700 p.m., so before dark.

[00:01:34]And he was wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt and black pants. And he's 5 foot six. And he is considered endangered. So if you know where he might be, please call tha police. That is 9139716363.

[00:01:54]And next up here, I want to take it over to a pretty shocking scene here in the metro. The driver of a tractor trailer unfortunately lost their life this morning after their vehicle caught fire and overturned. This was on Interstate 70 near Woods Chapel Road. So, Missouri State Highway Patrol stated that the semi veered off the interstate and caught fire at about 4:40 this morning.

[00:02:20]Due to the incident, officials closed westbound traffic as first responders worked to put the fire out and move it out of traffic. Again, very chaotic scene and so much damage to that vehicle after the shutdown of more than seven hours. Traffic was reopened just this afternoon. We learned about that on Westbound I70. And of course, today is Memorial Day. Many of you have the holiday off, but I want to give you guys a little bit of background about what this holiday means. Of course, it's to honor those who've died serving in the United States military.

[00:02:58]This day actually dates back to the Civil War when Americans sought to honor more than half a million soldiers killed in battle. So, it's later become a day to honor fallen soldiers in all United States wars and was designated as a federal holiday over 50 years ago now in 1971. So, many Americans observe Memorial Day by taking part in parades or laying wreaths or flowers at grave sites.

[00:03:22]It's also unofficially serves as a kickoff to summer with many of you gathering for pool parties and barbecue.

[00:03:30]I want to take it to a more local look at your Memorial Day. So, organizations in Kansas City, Kansas are honoring some of the most forgotten soldiers, the nearly 180,000 black men who fought for the Union during the Civil War. So, nearly 200 of them are from Wandot County. And KCTV 5 V's Maya Engel takes us to the Woodlon Cemetery where a long neglected monument is finally getting restoration and the recognition that it deserves.

[00:04:07]This monument was dedicated to the black soldiers and sailors who fought for freedom during the Civil War. On this Memorial Day, 121 years later, we do county is rededicating it, making sure no one forgets their service or sacrifice. This is one of the only monuments in the United States dedicated to the known and unknown soldiers of color who fought for the Union during the Civil War. It's always stood as a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring fight for freedom. Over the last century, weather and time took their toll, but there is no record of it ever being cleaned or restored until now. It's so important to recognize these individuals. And the fact that >> it's taken so long for them to get the beauty and the restoration they deserve is it warms your heart, but also breaks it at the same time that they were forgotten. Raylor says soldiers of color are often more forgotten than their white counterparts, not just in the Civil War, but throughout American history, and it continues today, and we have to work to preserve those histories and remember who they are. Otherwise, when we forget their names, they're truly forgotten.

[00:05:18]>> She says these monuments are sometimes the only lasting legacy people have. And she wants the Wok County community to know their history is everyone's history in Wok County. Maya Engel, KCTV 5 News.

[00:05:33]>> None of this >> William A. Comfort >> Fred Campo >> Francis Lester >> and it was a special Memorial Day as the National World War I Museum and Memorial reflected on 100 years this morning. The ceremony was a bit different than in years past as the museum again turns a century old and America turns 250 again. To honor the lives lost in World War I, namely Kansas cians, scouts laid 441 wreaths for each soldier who never made it home. Each of those wreaths were made in Scotland entirely of red poppies. And the ceremony welcomed multiple elected officials, including Governor Laura Kelly. You saw some of them on your screen just a second ago.

[00:06:21]And you can see Mayor Quinton Lucas now as well as Congressman Emanuel Clever.

[00:06:26]So the keynote speakers, General Richard Meyers was the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

[00:06:34]>> Messages from this morning focused on remembering and honoring the fallen, but more importantly how fragile our democracy is and how we must carry on the ideals our country was built on. 250 >> and in fact liberated 50 million people from desperates and >> 150,000 people gathered on that area behind me here to hear President Kulage dedicate the memorial which has been stewarded and cared for all these years by the people of Kansas City and it reminds us of the responsibility that we all have to be to be playing our part in creating a free and just society.

[00:07:14]>> Yeah. Such a critical message there. I want to take it next to police's search for a missing 12-year-old. So, this is Jeremiah Hernandez, and he went missing just last night. So, he was last seen near Kids TLC just off South Rogers Road. This was around 7:00 p.m. before dark, and he was wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt and black pants. He is 5 foot 6, so he is considered endangered. If you know where Hernandez might be or you think you might have some information, please, the THA police is asking you to call them at 913-971 63 63. And taking it next, this was a shocking discovery over the weekend.

[00:08:02]KCKPD is asking for volunteers and foster families after they responded to a home where 30 dogs were found abandoned. They were found without food and water. I mean, absolutely heartbreaking photos there on your screen. According to a Facebook post from the department, again, they're asking for these donations. And police did say that the dogs were left inside a home by renters who hadn't quote simply vanished. The department said it's unclear how long the dogs were alone, but it was long enough that the animals had begun chewing and eating parts of the home's walls. KCP KPD stressed the situation is a part of a broader problem tied to pet ownership, including people not spaying or neutering pets, as well as, of course, the obvious, abandoning their animals and assuming that someone else will step in to help. So, there are three ways that you can help right now.

[00:08:57]I know if you're like me, you might be an animal lover. When I saw this headline over the weekend, my heart absolutely broke. And many people watching this live stream might be encouraged or inspired to help out. So, you can volunteer. It's super easy. You just have to email animal services at kckpd.org.

[00:09:17]And officials ask people not to call because staff are just so busy. So, emailing is actually the quickest way to get a hold of them. You can foster, apply online at kckpd.org/anal-services.

[00:09:29]That's on our website. Or donate. You can send them Venmo to Friends of KCK Animal Services. And you can always go to our website link on this tragic story. I want to take it back to these photos of these dogs just one more time.

[00:09:43]I mean, absolutely heartbreaking. You have puppies, you have older dogs, and they just look absolutely so so sad. I I'm so glad they got saved before it was absolutely too late. And want to take it next here. One Kansas City couple remains separated after a routine immigration check led to deportation. So KCTV 5's Lauren Maggarino brings the story.

[00:10:13]>> Carlos, >> I'm a musician. I've been playing for like 25 years. and Christine.

[00:10:19]>> I play some songs for her uh in Spanish >> are learning how to keep the music playing after a sound they never wanted to hear.

[00:10:32]>> I could hear the chains being put on him through the wall.

[00:10:36]>> Ice detained her husband, undocumented, from Venezuela, at a routine monthly check-in with federal immigration authorities. In that moment, my life to be honest is just like fell down. I feel like everything was destroyed.

[00:10:52]>> And I said, "Well, can I give my husband a kiss and a hug?" And he said, "No, they already took him." And then he led me out of a side door. And um that was it.

[00:11:04]>> This Kansas City couple wanted to share their story with you to reveal how immigration enforcement and the law plays out. Speaking with us from Mexico, the video connection was not clear, but Carlos was when it came to his immigration journey. It started when he crossed the southern border in 2019.

[00:11:22]>> I was able to find a police and just like a, you know, hey, I'm here. I'm from Venezuela.

[00:11:28]>> KCTV 5 verified his journey through court documents. Carlos sought asylum at the border. An immigration judge later denied it, but agreed sending Carlos back to Venezuela would risk his life.

[00:11:41]So, the judge approved Carlos for what's called withholding of removal, a temporary status. As Kansas City immigration attorney Maya King explains, >> it was never supposed to be long-term in the US government's view, right? Like, we're withholding your removal until there is a material change in your situation or in your country's situation until we can send you back. He also received temporary protected status, again signaling unsafe conditions in Venezuela. In the meantime, the government granted Carlos work authorization and a social security number to pay taxes. Over the course of 6 years, he maintained a clean record.

[00:12:19]He worked, receiving top marks, as we see from this letter from his employer, and fell in love. All qualifications to pursue permanent legal status, which the couple took action on. But that pursuit isn't simple. It's a battle between long wait times and changing immigration policies.

[00:12:38]>> Does it really just become a race of what can get done first? Them conditions changing in my home country, >> you know, to get sent back versus an application getting approved.

[00:12:48]>> It's it's crazy because a lot of things is out of your control.

[00:12:51]>> Carlos and Christine are waiting on two applications that could lead to a green card. According to a USCIS processing calculator, one could take nearly 10 months to process, the other more than five years. Under the Trump administration's tougher immigration stance, Carlos is placed in the ISAP program, an alternative to detention in May of 2025. He wears an ankle monitor, reports to ICE, shows up every month. By the end of that year, the administration revokes temporary protected status for Venezuelans. January 3rd, 2026, the US captures Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. By January 28th, the part of the story, you know, ICE detains Carlos at his check-in. King does not represent Carlos, but says she's seeing the same story with some of her local clients.

[00:13:43]They think, "Oh, I'm safe. I'm just here. Uh, I've been checking for 10 years. Nothing's going to happen.

[00:13:48]Nothing will ever happen." But then all thing all of a sudden things changed, right? because policies changed, priorities changed.

[00:13:54]>> Carlos and Christine ran out of time in a process they can't control.

[00:14:00]>> I tried to explain them that uh we get married and we file the papers that I already have my biometrics uh appointment and they still saying the same thing. You will be deported regardless.

[00:14:15]>> Sending Christine, a full-time paramedic, caregiver, and mom on the road. Oh, I dropped everything the 29th and drove straight to Oklahoma with his bag.

[00:14:24]>> A day later, she says he was back in Kansas City, then in a detention center in Texas, followed by an airport in Mesa, Arizona for several days. It was on that tarmac Carlos says ICE rounded him up with other Venezuelans.

[00:14:39]>> And he said, "Oh, this flight go straight to Venezuela." And I said, "I you guys cannot send me back to Venezuela. I my life is in risk. I have a withholding of removal and I can not go back.

[00:14:53]>> 15 minutes later he says the ICE officer said this.

[00:14:57]>> So you will go to Cuba. And I said Cuba?

[00:15:01]What I will do in Cuba? I don't even know anybody there. I'm not Cuban. He laughed and he said like you are no Mexican and you will go to Mexico.

[00:15:08]>> At this point lost contact with Carlos.

[00:15:12]>> She says the government didn't help her find him. Airpods did. So I tracked him all the way down into Tapachula.

[00:15:20]>> Ipso's polling shows there is both broad support to enforce immigration law and support for undocumented immigrants with no criminal history to gain legal status. The law as it stands doesn't reconcile those two things. For Carlos and Christine, that gap has a cost.

[00:15:38]>> Plan A is we are remaining in faith that God will use the lawyer and open the right doors and Carlos will be back. But honestly, home is just where we're together. A house is just an object. So, plan B, if he can't come back, is we find a a suitable place for all of us to go and uh I will not be a first responder anymore.

[00:16:03]I'll be looking at completely uprooting my whole career to just start over >> just to keep the music playing.

[00:16:22]Wow. And you can check out Lauren's full special. It's 30 minutes diving into immigration under the Trump administration that is on kctv5.com under special reports and it's called Beyond the Border. All right guys, we will be going on a quick break. When we come back, going to be taking a closer look at how the city is honoring lives lost on Memorial Day. Until then, here's a live look out over the World War I Memorial and Museum. We'll be back here in a few.

[00:19:32]Welcome back into KCTV 5 Plus. I'm Katie Bird. It is 1:48 p.m. here on your Monday afternoon. Want to take it next to a seven-year-old's goodbye to her tutor. It's showing what one organization is really about here in our area. Taking it over to Betsy Webster with the heart of Kansas City.

[00:19:54]>> Hi Anna, how are you? How was school?

[00:19:57]>> After school at the learning club, it's about more than just learning. It's about relationships.

[00:20:02]>> You're doing such a good job.

[00:20:04]>> High school senior Ari and 7-year-old Anna have been working together one-on-one for 2 years.

[00:20:09]>> I'm so proud. So proud of her. And I'm really proud of myself, too. Um, just for sticking just for sticking with it and showing up for her. At Learning Club, the tutor sitting next to you might be a high schooler who was once the kid being tutored. Someone like Choo Choo.

[00:20:25]>> It taught me how to not knock myself down if I'm feeling like I can't do it.

[00:20:29]I just have to remember my tutor, Miss Peeps. She she's proud of me.

[00:20:34]>> The Learning Club got its start in 2002 with one site and 14 kids. Today, nearly 600 students are served every semester at 15 locations. In a increasingly disconnected world, um, this is a time and a moment and a space where you are looking someone in the eye and getting their undivided attention for a full hour. And if you look around, there's there's not as much of that happening.

[00:21:01]>> But here, >> what's your favorite thing about Mizari?

[00:21:05]>> That she's kind.

[00:21:07]>> Encouragement is contagious.

[00:21:09]>> Anna is so smart. She's the coolest kid ever. and she tries so hard and I'm always so proud of her.

[00:21:16]>> The message board says, "See you later."

[00:21:19]>> Cuz it's our last day.

[00:21:21]>> Oh, you're going to knock me over.

[00:21:23]>> Ari is heading to UMKC in the fall to become a teacher.

[00:21:26]>> I love you, Miss Ari.

[00:21:28]>> I don't want to cry. I'm trying really hard not to. It's my last day and I'm very emotional.

[00:21:33]>> She's pretty sure she'll check back in now and then.

[00:21:36]>> Learning club is a big part of who I am.

[00:21:39]Um, and kind of who I want her to be in the future, too. Betsy Webster, KCTV 5 News.

[00:21:47]>> Such a heartwarming just story there.

[00:21:50]Great job, Betsy. And love what the Learning Club is doing. And want to take it back back to a little more Memorial Day coverage. So, Kansas City Symphony actually performed its 22nd annual celebration at the station. This was at Union Station yesterday. I'm sure many of you were there. Want to take it now to Ali Espinosa for a breakdown of the night.

[00:22:14]Under an open sky, the Kansas City Symphony filled the air with something this city has come to count on every Memorial Day weekend. Music that means something. For the 22nd year of the celebration at the station brought the community together at Union Station.

[00:22:30]This year with even more to honor, the United States 250th anniversary.

[00:22:40]New LED screens stretch the experience across the crowd, making sure no one missed a moment.

[00:22:47]>> Why we're here is to recognize the service of those veterans and to display the power of music to unite people. And that's what we're really excited about.

[00:22:56]Even the fireworks found a new home this year, moving from the World War I Memorial to Union Station as construction for the FIFA World Cup FanFest reshapes the city nearby.

[00:23:06]>> Fanfest is a tremendous event for Kansas City and the footprint for that is obviously sprawling. Shooting off fireworks from the roof of Union Station is definitely an iconic activity. It's only happened a couple times in the history of this building.

[00:23:19]>> For brothers Mark and Mitchell, it was their first time here. They came not knowing quite what to expect and left with something they won't forget.

[00:23:28]>> This is our first trip down here for an event like this. And it's been very moving actually. And then to to cap it off with this get together and it's just brings everyone together for a for a good reason.

[00:23:40]>> On a night built around music and memory, it's moments like those that remind us what this weekend is really about. Well, just over the years, I mean, we've realized I mean, all of us at our age, I think just the just the value and and the how fragile it is for our freedoms.

[00:24:00]>> Reporting from Union Station, Alli Espinosa, KCTV 5 News.

[00:24:08]>> Wow, such an important event every year, taking it from Kansas City to New York City. So today, veterans, active duty service members, and local leaders gathered aboard New York's Intrepid Museum for a Memorial Day celebration honoring the nation's fallen. It included a wreath laying ceremony, the playing of taps, and a three volley rifle salute. So organizers say that this annual observance is meant to reflect on sacrifice, service, and remembrance. and want to take it back to our area. So, all summer long, Crown Center is going all in on the World Cup.

[00:24:50]Decorations are already up, including a giant soccer ball and flags to welcome the world. So, there is also a brand new soccer celebration mural. And take a look at all of those flags. I mean, they've got photo ops and soccer darts challenge to keep the kids busy. I've got a feeling Crown Center is going to be popping this summer. I'm definitely going to have to take a trip out there.

[00:25:17]And taking it from Crown Center to a lifesize dinosaur experience. It took over the Overland Park Convention Center this weekend, and it's not over yet.

[00:25:28]Really gave families a chance to step back in time. What you're looking at is Jurassic Quest. features full-scale dinosaurs, ancient oceans exhibit, and tons of activities for the kids, too.

[00:25:41]So, organizers say that it's actually designed just to help get families out of the house. You get to interact with dinosaurs. You get to learn how to train a dinosaur, meet baby dinosaurs. It's just a great experience for families.

[00:25:54]You kind of forget about how exciting these things can be, you know? It's like it's not just learning about paleontology. It's like, oh my gosh, these are dinosaurs.

[00:26:04]Yeah. And not only is it designed to help people get out of the house, it reminds kids and grown-ups how amazing these creatures are. And if you're ready to hang out with some dinosaurs, you got some time today. Today is the last day of the event. So, don't miss out on this. All right, guys. Want to take it next? Chew a health minute for your Monday. So, today actually marks what is called the start of the 100 deadliest days of summer. a time that stretches from Memorial Day all the way to Labor Day. And it's the number of fatal car crashes significantly spikes specifically for the teen drivers. In today's health minute, Mandy Gaither has more on how parents can help keep their kids and teens stay safe on the roads.

[00:26:53]It's never easy turning over the car keys to your child, but this time of year can be especially concerning as the next 100 days are considered the deadliest for teen drivers.

[00:27:05]>> That's when teens drive more. They have more free time and they're often driving in higher risk conditions. Jonathan Asani with John's Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health says any new driver, regardless of age, is more prone to car crashes. But inexperience is just a part of what makes driving riskier for teens >> because their brains are still developing and they have more difficulty calibrating risk, frankly.

[00:27:31]>> Teens between the ages of 16 and 19 have a fatal crash rate almost three times higher than drivers ages 20 and older per mile driven. While car crashes are a top cause of death among teens year round, they tend to spike in summer, rising by 30% between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Not using a seat belt, distracted driving, speeding, substance use, and having teenage or young adult passengers in the car are all factors that also raise a teen's driving risk.

[00:28:02]>> In addition, driving late at night, particularly between 900 p.m. and midnight, um, is associated with an elevated crash risk. To reduce risk, parents can monitor their teens driving.

[00:28:13]Set clear rules and expectations like always wearing a seatelt, not using the phone, and not driving with other young people in the car. Choosing a vehicle with safety features is also important.

[00:28:25]>> Crashes are predictable. They're painful, but they're preventable.

[00:28:29]>> For Health Minute, I'm Mandy Gaither.

[00:28:33]>> Yeah. And the CDC also has a form parents can print out and teens can sign. This puts a family's rules of the road in writing to clearly set some expectations and some limits. That's a great idea. So, for more info, you just have to go to cdc.gov and search for the parent and teen driving agreement. You know, this time of year, these are such avoidable accidents that everyone can get on board to help prevent. All right, guys. We're going to go on a quick break. We come back, I'm going to be breaking down top headlines with Jackson Valente. We'll be back here in a few.

[00:29:07]Until then, here's a live look out over the World War I Memorial.

[00:32:26]All right, welcome back into KCTV 5 Plus. I'm Katie Bird here now with Jackson Valente. Jackson, thanks for joining us on this Monday.

[00:32:33]>> Always happy to be here. Uh, and a lot going on as always >> as always. We're starting the week off strong, which is no surprise here. Yeah.

[00:32:41]Something that came in over the weekend, a Leewood police or police priest, excuse me, uh very opposite um was arrested for stealing from his own parish. Um our new uh updates of this story, this came in around um in the morning on Saturday. Our update today for you um is that Father Richard story is now out on bond um as he awaits a judge. Um but he's accused of stealing um allegedly $160,000 somewhere in that realm um from his own parish. Um we're not sure a lot of the details just yet. We don't know exactly what type of time frame this occurred.

[00:33:18]>> Um but we do know that this has been you know there's kind of been an investigation into this for a while. The reason I say that is because there was a separate criminal investigation into father story um in September of last year. um a criminal investigation between him and another adult. We don't know much of the details of that at this point other than that that investigation happened at the time it happened. Story resigned as pastor um and the cure of ours Catholic uh church. Um so he resigned. They kind of did a routine um financial check um kind of a routine audit after his resignation and we don't know exactly what they found just that they sent it over to the Leewood police.

[00:33:57]So presumably they found a lot of money was missing um after he resigned >> and that has led to uh him giving himself up to Leewood um police um this past weekend.

[00:34:10]>> Yeah. Wow. And I know that you just recently made a social media video on this topic. I want to go ahead and take it over there. I mean it's it's pretty riveting.

[00:34:20]>> Former Leewood priest was arrested after stealing around $160,000 from his own parish. Father Richard Story was the pastor at the Kira of Catholic Church. He turned himself into police over the weekend and he's now out on bond as he awaits to face a judge.

[00:34:35]Story resigned last fall as the pastor for the Kiraavar church after the Prairie Village police began a criminal investigation into him and another adult. That investigation is still ongoing. Former Leewood priest was arrested.

[00:34:47]>> So again, multiple things at play here.

[00:34:50]Pretty pretty crazy.

[00:34:51]>> Yeah, obviously a developing situation.

[00:34:53]And there's a lot we don't know uh yet.

[00:34:55]But what's interesting about situations like this uh you know since then the um the arch dascese and the church have made their own separate statements. Um >> you know the these situations are always tough because priests in particular obviously in their communities and especially in their parishes and with people that go to their churches uh are very wellrespected figures. Um they're innately trusted just as a nature of their role. um you know so to potentially be we we don't know it's you know it's obviously innocent until proven guilty. We don't 100% know this has happened but if these allegations are true you know to be kind of taking advantage of that of that position and potentially vulnerable people who are trusting you off the go um certainly is a substantial crime and something that will stick with that parish if it's true uh for for many years. I mean, that's not going to be something they forget.

[00:35:42]This, you know, priests like father story are very well-loved, highly respected figures. So, um, certainly, you know, news like this is something that shakes a community.

[00:35:52]>> Yeah, 100%. And I mean, like you said, they're so wellresected by such a large group of people. I mean, some of these people literally go to mass every single Sunday and have probably been a part of this congregation for years, potentially decades. So, I'm sure, again, like you said, shock waves through the community.

[00:36:10]I want to take it next to a pretty shocking photo. This happened earlier this morning in the metro, Jackson.

[00:36:18]Pretty devastating crash here.

[00:36:20]>> Yeah. Um I don't know, you also forgive me to correct me here. I'm not sure to what extent. We have updates on >> how the highway has kind of been opened back up since then.

[00:36:31]>> Um I know they've kind of been slowly trickling it back um and letting like one lane at a time for a while. Uh but yeah, I mean you could even see it just from that um that scout cam there. I mean kind of an an insane view from above there >> 100%. And it was near at 4:40 a.m. So sun I'm sure wasn't even up yet. And again, this driver of this tractor trailer unfortunately lost their life after the vehicle caught fire and overturned on I7 near Woods Chapel Road.

[00:37:02]Again, the shutdown lasted more than seven hours. pretty, you know, horrific scene, I'm sure, for the people that had to drive by that. And again, thinking of the the driver's family who lost their life.

[00:37:15]>> Really terrible to see that. And especially to see the amount of uh like you pointed out, just the amount of kind of damage and the, you know, 7 hours uh that we know that the highway was shut down. I mean, you can only imagine the amount of um you know, the amount of difficulty it was for first responders to kind of deal with this situation. And I mean, anytime you've got a vehicle this large, when it when it catches on fire, you know, uh it's so hard to put that out reasonably. Um it's so hard to be able to address that situation.

[00:37:45]>> Um so you have you have to feel for the driver, the driver's family, and and first responders in that situation who unfortunately have to deal with tragic situations like that. Um you know, frank frankly often it's part of their job.

[00:37:58]>> Yeah, 100%. It really is too bad. Want to take it next to another very, very heartbreaking scene in Kansas City, Kansas. These photos were released over the weekend by police on their social media. So, over 30 dogs were found starving in an abandoned home. Jackson, when I read this headline, saw this for the first time, my heart absolutely broke for these dogs.

[00:38:21]>> Yeah, re really sad for for these animals. Um, in a sense, you know, if if we can call it silver lining, happy that this whole thing was discovered. I mean, it could have been a theoretically much worse scene. Yeah.

[00:38:33]>> So, glad that authorities managed to figure out what was going on here um and get these dogs out of this house.

[00:38:40]>> Um, you know, from I mean, from the reading of what what this was, it sounds like these dogs had no way to escape and were essentially just it, you know, basically caged up in this home with no food. So, you know, horrible, >> terrible situation. Um, and really glad that we've got uh organizations out there who are able to take dogs in, you know, this amount of dogs in on a on a short notice. I mean, you know, you look at local organizations who are willing to do stuff like that. I mean, even a couple weeks ago, we had it was a less tragic situation, granted, but you know, the group that took in all those Dalmat or it was the Great D. Yeah. Great D. um you know to have groups be able to you know kind of uproot their entire I mean livelihoods and business for a little bit to be able to take dogs in certain situations and this is a more tragic one obviously.

[00:39:28]>> Yeah.

[00:39:28]>> Uh but to be able to have groups that can do that is we're we're lucky that we have those people >> 100%. I want to take it over to our social media coverage for these dogs now. Would you do if you opened a door to find 30 abandoned dogs chewing on walls of a house just to survive without food or water? KCK Animal Services says they responded to this house where 30 dogs were abandoned after the renters simply vanished. Police say that dogs were alone long enough that they started chewing and eating parts of the walls just to survive. Animal services is running with four officers and a staff of nine. and they say that the shelter is as full as it's ever been and they still took in these 30 dogs. So, they need help by donating, fostering, or volunteering. And you can find all of those details in the caption below.

[00:40:19]>> Wow.

[00:40:20]>> Again, yeah, I just want to emphasize that people can get involved. They can volunteer, foster, donate. I mean, there are a lot of shelters in our area. I'm thinking of KC Pet Project, KCKPD animal services. You've got wayside waves and then you've got, you know, local min municipalities helping up as well. And KC Prep Project also said that they're at capacity over the weekend. So, I mean, it's one of those times when people like you in the community are needed. You can volunteer by emailing them. That's on our website. You can foster, that's on their website. We've got a link to that. And then donations, Venmo, or you can send a check as well or cash. I mean, >> you make a great point, Katie. I mean, so rarely are any of those organizations that you just lifted listed off so rarely are they at an overabundance of resources. I mean, they're always in need.

[00:41:08]>> 100%.

[00:41:09]>> Uh because there's always so much work to do.

[00:41:11]>> 100%. You know, this is a good time maybe if you know you're on summer break or got some spare days coming up with the nice weather, you know, get out there, volunteer, do what you can. These dogs definitely need it 100%. Yeah. I want to take it next, Jackson, to a little bit of a gas price update because it is still making headlines. So, Memorial Day weekend gas prices are mostly holding steady, although they're still high. So, AAA says the national average of gas today is 450 gallons.

[00:41:44]That's the second highest price on record, topped only by 461 back in 2022.

[00:41:50]But, I mean, pretty comparable prices there, Jackson.

[00:41:52]>> Yeah, pretty close. Yeah. So, potential US Iran agreement could soon have gas costs taken down, although nothing set in stone. President Trump announced a couple days ago on Saturday that US and Iran were close to ending their conflict and the deal would include reopening the straight of Hormuz. I mean, that's been the story line all along. We're all waiting for the Straight of Hormuz to open. 20% of the world's oil exports go through that narrow waterway. And again, Key Waterway has effectively been closed since the start of the war in February.

[00:42:24]War has oil and gas skyrocketing over the past few months. I mean, I know some people have changed their plans even Memorial Day weekend, staying at home, staying closer. Nobody wants to face those high prices every day.

[00:42:37]>> Yeah. I mean, you know, you you say it there even with uh you know, I I I think it is worth cautioning um you all a little bit that even as there may be word that there's, you know, a deal is close or that the end of the to the war is close, it's just important to remember that in the grand scheme of things, war is a long costly process. So even if it is in the grand scheme of things close, that could mean weeks, that could mean months. Um you know, ideally it'd be sooner than that. Uh but we just you know we just don't know. Um war is a thing where often there are no winners. So uh you know obviously this is hurting us pretty badly. Um and we can just hope that really a deal um is nearing. But you know none of us here have a crystal ball. Certainly we aren't in the know of uh what's going on nationally. So we all we can do at this point is just hope and see. Uh a lot of people on Memorial Day we talked about it last week. probably, you know, maybe you guys at home are included in this, doing something a little bit different, whether that's packing differently, maybe eating out less, small cost-saving measures to try to kind of offset those gas costs because obviously Memorial Day weekend, huge >> uh fun time to travel. I mean, for us, we've got the Lake of the Ozarks nearby.

[00:43:49]>> Absolutely.

[00:43:50]>> You know, so >> lots of fun travel opportunities within our area. Um, but you know, it's going to cost cost us a bit more at this point.

[00:44:00]>> Absolutely. And then thinking back to a February attack, we have an interesting update regarding an Iranian leader, Jackson.

[00:44:09]>> Yeah. So, Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Moshtaba Kmeni, um, sustained what's called superficial or what they're calling superficial injuries to his face, head, and legs during the February air strike that killed his father. Uh Iran's health ministry said uh they see you know it seems like they're looking to downplay the impact on his health. Uh the younger Kmeni's uh limbs were not amputated, injuries not major and did not require special treatment. According to the Iran Health Ministry, um the New York Times has reported last month that Kmeni's face and lips had been severely burned, one leg had been operated on three times with the Ayatollah awaiting a prosthetic. Um, you know, obviously pretty substantial injuries as you can probably imagine.

[00:44:56]>> Um, since the war started, Iranian officials have insisted that he was in good health and overseeing talks with the US to end the war and blaming Iran's enemies for spreading rumors about his health. In fairness to them, they have an incentive to lie about his health.

[00:45:09]And we have, you know, we and maybe other people against Iran have incentive to lie about it as well. So, it's truly hard to say what the exact status of his injuries are. Um, but, you know, if it's being pretty widely reported now that he's awaiting a prosthetic, that he's got severe burns. Um, >> I mean, that's pretty believable given we know the extent and the scale to the February 28th strikes. Um, so, you know, it's hard to say exactly what's going on. And that may be a thing that ends up stalling out these talks more as we wait for him to improve on his health. it may be hard realistically to have those talks. Yeah. Um >> as that recovery process is happening.

[00:45:49]So, >> you know, it only adds a kind of even another wrinkle to this already incredibly complicated situation.

[00:45:56]>> Yeah. And I know just the other day, Jackson, we learned that cyber security is also potentially taking a hit. There are people in Iran who are, you know, trying to get into American businesses.

[00:46:08]is I mean you think about the war on the physical front but then there's also the technological front at play here. So you know there are just like you said so many elements so many wrinkles to this and we'll continue tracking it here at KCTV. That's that's a good callback you mentioned, you know, and it's just another one of those things that can points to the idea that there are no winners in war. You know, even as as we try to push for concessions, you know, even if we quote unquote are winning from a manpower and from a, you know, war powers perspective, they're still going to be able to do attacks on us that hurt us. And the straight up movies being closed is going to hurt us. Even if you win this war, I guess from a physical standpoint there, you know, it's just one of those things that it's so costly.

[00:46:52]>> 100% very costly and human lives on both sides have been lost unfortunately as well. Jackson, we're going to go on a quick break. When we come back, going to take a closer look at oil prices, well, some other pretty big headlines, including a beach stampede incident making national headlines. All right, we'll be back here in a few.

[00:51:10]All right, everyone. Welcome back into KCTV 5 Plus on this Memorial Day. I'm Katie Bird here with Jackson Valente.

[00:51:17]We're going to continue bringing a closer look at your afternoon headlines.

[00:51:22]Jackson, we've been talking all about the war and about oil prices as well and gas. But news that the US and Iran war could end soon sent oil prices tumbling down in early trading. This was yesterday. Brent crude, which is the international benchmark, fell nearly one and a half% to about $99 a barrel. And US crude dropped almost 5% to 92 a barrel. So Trump announced, you know, on Saturday that the US and Iran were close to ending their conflict. And again, Jackson, we mentioned no one does have a crystal ball, but things are looking more promising potentially than they were before.

[00:51:58]>> Yeah, certainly be good if it, you know, could end soon. Uh, but we, you know, like we said, we just can't know. So, >> yeah, 100%.

[00:52:05]>> But, but the news of it is at least optimistic for a lot of people.

[00:52:08]>> Oh, yeah. And so, again, big part of this agreement would include reopening the straight. This is kind of what everything has been relying on. The key waterway has been closed since the end of February. and 20% of the world's oil travels through it. That's why it's so crucial. And this is why oil and gas prices have skyrocketed at home. Again, not new information, but just kind of, you know, explaining that importance there. And again, gas yesterday was 451 a gallon. I believe today it's 450. 51% up since the start of the war. Wow. 51%.

[00:52:42]We are paying over half extra the amount of that we used to pay for gas.

[00:52:48]>> Yes. Uh it's a lot. Um it's certainly a lot if you're filling up you know your 16 you know 16 gallon tank.

[00:52:56]>> 100% you know probably equates to what I mean like 35 40 extra bucks depending on what where you're getting it. So >> Oh yeah.

[00:53:06]>> Um a lot of you know a lot of extra money especially if you're someone that needs to do a long commute to work. Yes.

[00:53:12]>> Um, and at the same time, we can understand people, white people are probably tired of hearing this news >> as it has felt like, frankly, for the past month that we hear, you know, we're close to a agreement to end the war and then it maybe falls apart and then we get close to it and we kind of have this whiplash where it's like seemingly every couple days or seemingly every week we hear at least maybe once or even multiple times that there's been a huge update to the war only for the war to keep on going uh as it obviously has.

[00:53:40]So, we understand that this is, you know, it's a lot of whiplash. Um, that realistically does not lower the price of gas very much for you and I. Um, even though it may loy, you know, even though Brent crude itself maybe um maybe that maybe the price is a bit cheaper than before. Regardless though, it's it's certainly been a lot of back and forth.

[00:54:01]It's been a kind of a roller coaster of emotions with this war um as it often is. So, you know, a lot to sit through >> 100%. And it's been interesting.

[00:54:10]Obviously, the Middle East and the United States as well as Israel are very heavily and directly impacted, but it's been interesting to kind of see the effects on European nations. Australia, I even have a friend from study abroad in Indonesia who's very concerned in their nation about the end of the war just because of the level of uncertainty. I mean, obviously the mental toll on that, but also the financial. And I think in Europe, they're seeing a decline in tourism. And so they're worried about how they're going to make ends meet a lot of times.

[00:54:41]And so again, it's interesting to zoom out and just see that point of view is really affecting us all in one way or another.

[00:54:47]>> Well, you make a really good point there and I think it's worth bringing up again uh and I believe we talked about it last week is that even though theoretically, you know, US gas uh we make a ton of uh we you know we drill a ton of oil. Y >> even though we do that because oil is such a uh in demand global commodity if it's much harder to get on the other side of the globe they're going to try to buy ours because ours is cheaper >> and then because there's so many more people trying to buy ours producers will make it more expensive to match their price or maybe be slightly undercutting it. Uh so that's how you get to where we are today. Um, if oil was not such a global commodity, we would not be so affected. But it is. Uh, so we are.

[00:55:29]>> It really is. You know, it'd be a lot easier if we're all driving electric vehicles and Teslas, but as a society, we are not there. We still need gas. We still need oil. All right, Jackson. Want to take it next to a pretty shocking scene in Myrtle Beach, a pretty popular destination.

[00:55:45]>> Yeah, this is this is kind of a crazy one. I mean, you know, you you sitting at home probably know of people who have gone to Myrtle Beach for vacation. I know I have. Yeah.

[00:55:53]>> Uh more than a dozen people were injured uh near Myrtle Beach Sunday morning in a stampede kind of in a crowdcrush situation. It happened about 1 in the morning during the Black Bike Weeks, Black Bike Week celebration uh in Atlantic Beach. Police say a few people started running near a stage area and caused a panic. Um nothing appears to have kind of spurred that. Um there were no reports of fights or weapons. Uh but first responders evaluated 19 people on the scene. Three were taken to the hospitals with injuries described as not life-threatening. Um so good on that front.

[00:56:27]>> Yeah.

[00:56:27]>> Uh but certainly, you know, um I mean when I think of crowd crush situations, frankly, I think of the Travis Scott Astroorld tour. If you remember that, that was a while ago at this point. That was several years ago.

[00:56:37]>> Which one did you say?

[00:56:38]>> Um the Travis Scott World Astro.

[00:56:42]>> Yeah. Uh I forget if that was in Houston. whatever the case. Um, you know, it's it's kind of shocking to ever hear scenes like that cuz it takes a perfectly normal maybe a concert environment. This wasn't a concert, but you you get the point. Any large group of people to think that that can, you know, a small thing like it, you know, even reading off this, it doesn't sound like there was any weapons in the area.

[00:57:04]It doesn't sound like, at least at this point, police are aware of anything that caused the panic.

[00:57:09]>> Yeah.

[00:57:09]>> Maybe someone shouted something. Maybe someone thought they heard something. Uh but I mean even something as small as that and I mean luckily no one has lost their life here and no one has been put with you know serious uh life-threatening injuries. But the idea that a small thing you know that you may in the crowd not even have heard or not even be aware of >> can cause people to kind of stampede from side to side or try to get out of there quickly. I mean it's the reason why you're not allowed to say fire in a theater, right? It's because everybody tries to rush out the exit at once and you can risk people getting hurt. Um, you know, crowd crush is a dangerous thing. It doesn't happen very often, but uh to think that something very small could cause that is is a, you know, it's it's certainly concerning.

[00:57:52]>> Yeah. And things at festivals and large outdoor gatherings, they can turn very quickly like you mentioned Astroorld concert. It was absolutely tragic. And there was also a documentary that really put into perspective kind of the science behind crowd crush because you know unless you're there I don't think people may even understand how serious it can be. I mean your lungs literally can't expand because there are so many people and you also can't easily escape because you are packed in quite literally like sardines. And I know many people probably prefer to go to a concert where there is designated seating rather than a festival where everyone's standing room only just because again things can change so quickly and people don't like to be claustrophobic. But then on the flip side, a lot of people like the social element and the excitement of it.

[00:58:44]So there really is all all aspects.

[00:58:47]>> Yeah, it draws huge crowds for a reason.

[00:58:48]So that's, you know, when when there's a huge crowd, there's a risk of something happening if proper safety measures are not in place. So um certainly that, you know, it it is concerning to ever hear news of something like that, especially in this case when there wasn't a huge concert going on.

[00:59:04]>> Um certainly there were celebrations and there were festivals and this is Memorial Day weekend. Um, you know, it's busier than them for normal, but regardless, um, for, you know, seemingly nothing obvious having caused it, I mean, it just goes to show the danger of situations like this.

[00:59:21]>> Yeah. And I just want to go back to those photos again of the aftermath of that. I mean, just from the look of all of those cans there, this was a very packed event. And again, we didn't get any reports of casualties, so hopefully that isn't the case. But things here can change very rapidly. Jackson, President Trump made a pretty big endorsement recently, a member of the Kansas legislature.

[00:59:43]>> Yeah. Um we we know that there's been several huge developments um in the Kansas uh governor's race. Um you know, there's been several developments honestly in all types of politics in Kansas. Uh I'm forgetting the pastor's name now, but the um the the pastor that jumped in a couple weeks ago, I forgive me at home.

[01:00:05]I don't know how I'm forgetting that right now. Um, but you know, ma major developments here. Um, we're kind of in >> Adam Hamilton.

[01:00:12]>> Yeah, there we go.

[01:00:14]>> I know he's like a super famous guy, so forgive me for forgetting his name. Any um >> so uh but but lots of major developments um in politics really all across the country. Um and Kansas is really just uh reflecting that more. Uh everything's heating up now. like it is the prime time for these big decisions to happen.

[01:00:35]You know, um it's kind of the last moment where maybe some bigname candidates like if you were thinking about running, they're probably announcing it now or in the past couple of weeks as we've seen. Um everybody's really starting to drill in on their advertising. You're probably going to see a lot more political advertising in the coming weeks and months. Um the certainly the primary season is heating up and regardless of which side of the political aisle you may be on a super crucial one as Democrats trying to flip the House and Senate, Republicans obviously trying to hold on um and maintain high sentiment as um you know whether or not you at home have certain opinions about it. At least the polling reflects that most people are blaming the administration for the Iran war. you know, whether or not that's true, come to your own conclusion, but at least the polling reflects that. Um, so certainly a crucial time for both parties, and that's I think why you're we're going to see this flurry of political activity um in the coming weeks.

[01:01:32]>> Yeah, 100%. I want to take it over to our social media coverage on this.

[01:01:39]>> President Donald Trump is officially endorsing Kansas Senate President Tai Masterson for governor, giving him an early boost as the race starts to form.

[01:01:48]Trump posted on Truth Social, calling Mastersonson a fantastic candidate and giving him his complete and total endorsement. He pointed to Masterson's background as a small business owner and his leadership in the Kansas Senate, saying that he would push to cut taxes and regulation, support agriculture, grow the economy, and boost manufacturing and energy. Trump also said that Mastersonson would prioritize border security, public safety, election security, and second amendment rights.

[01:02:16]President Donald Trump is >> Yeah. again. So, there you have it. And it might only be Memorial Day, but midterm elections will be creeping up on us. God, only maybe half a year, few months, not sure exactly.

[01:02:28]>> Certainly a candidate here who has a, you know, solid entrenched political background. Um, this is >> I mean, from a lot of people's perspectives, probably a somewhat safe uh endorsement. And I mean, realistically in Kansas, in a lot of ways, uh, just given that the state, uh, barring some massive shift, um, will likely have a Republican, uh, governor, uh, the primary in a lot of ways is is really the deciding factor of who's going to be the governor as opposed to the actual election.

[01:02:58]>> Uh, so for a lot of these races, the primary is a huge deal. Um and you know if the Trump endorsement is the thing that um you know takes him over the edge um to be able to win that primary for certain uh then certainly that endorsement is a big deal. Uh you can argue in swing states if Trump's endorsement is a good or bad thing. Um but certainly in a in a state like Kansas and in a in a primary particularly um that endorsement is probably I I would assume very meaningful. I don't have a crystal ball so I can't tell you for sure and I'm certainly not um you know I'm not the foremost expert uh in the world but um I would anticipate that that is that that is a fairly meaningful uh endorsement.

[01:03:37]>> Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. We'll continue to track the latest on all sorts of races, governor races and as well as local elections here. We always do big election night coverage here in Kansas City. All right, taking it next though to the Trump administration.

[01:03:52]>> So pretty big deal. I mean, it's been a big talker in recent weeks, the the White House ballroom. So, Trump is reaffirming what it says is a critical need for this ballroom after the shooting outside of the complex. So, this was on Saturday and according a court filing yesterday. The Justice Department argued the incident highlights the need for upgraded security to the East Wing expansion. So, investigators say Secret Service shot and killed a man after he approached a security checkpoint and opened fire. and President Trump was inside the White House, was not hurt, but the filing argues large events held in temporary tents on the south lawn are security risks. And the ballroom would be a part of a larger security complex with reinforced protective features. So, the project is also facing funding questions. And Trump has long said the ballroom would be privately funded, but White House recently sought more than two million 200 million for security features.

[01:04:49]Lawmakers in both parties later stripped that funding from a planned reconciliation bill. And I mean again after the White House correspondents dinner shooting that kind of raised another conversation for some maybe even a debate about the need for this ballroom. Again, Trump has been saying for since the very beginning that it is a necessity for the White House, but again this is just the latest example of why President Trump is arguing that it's needed.

[01:05:14]>> Yeah. you know, um, regardless of what your politics are, uh, Trump is very gung-ho, obviously, and getting this ballroom built and trying to get any support he can. Um, I mean, in the past couple weeks, we've now had two, um, kind of high police response incidents, uh, near the White House. not necessarily clear if either of these incidents over the past couple of weeks um like if the person was intending to actually get to the White House, but certainly anything I mean there there's going to be so much security near the White House there if something happens you know 10 blocks away uh that is a huge deal um and just just in the proximity alone um you know from what I've read it sounds like the man you know the the man was proclaiming himself to be Jesus and had shut himself off um from his family >> um So, you know, I don't know if we'll ever fully know if there was anything maybe tied to the White House, but certainly the proximity, um, you know, makes it a big deal. Um, but, you know, whether you or not you think that this is a thing that directly ties into the ballroom, uh, certainly come to your own conclusions. You know, President Trump has now mentioned it two times in the past couple of weeks. So, certainly he has told you, uh, you know, what he thinks about it.

[01:06:24]>> Absolutely. Absolutely. And I know that construction was underway for a while and then it was halted. Is that right, Jackson?

[01:06:31]>> Uh, I don't know if it was fully halted, but they, >> you know, I know that originally it was going to be a certain size and then Trump kind of maybe it got halted because Trump wanted to make it bigger than it was uh originally intended. I think he maybe doubled the size recently >> for uh I'm not sure if doubling is is exactly right. Um, but I know it's it has changed certainly uh the plans for it. Um, and as you read, you know, the recent attempt to kind of fit into a uh homeland security bill, um, $200 million in funding for security features, which ultimately got shut down, and that was pretty controversial when it happened. Yep.

[01:07:08]>> Um, but, you know, the whole plan around the ballroom has changed pretty substantially since the, you know, since that wing was torn down. Um, to put that in.

[01:07:16]>> Uh, and it's been a thing that has really divided the country in a lot of ways. uh frankly as one part of the country maybe sees these security flaws and sees that or sees you know the these supposed security flaws that Trump talks about and says you know hey this this is why it's needed another half of the country maybe sees you know the White House literally getting torn apart and see that as you know a thing as an affront to you know to to the institution of the White House and how long it's been around >> so you can understand this has been a thing that's divided a lot of people it's been really polarizing Um, so any news that comes out about it, I mean, when it seemingly these two incidents of, you know, high police responses within blocks of the White House, >> you can understand how this has led to a lot of polarization and probably a lot of people very angry online on both sides, honestly.

[01:08:07]>> Absolutely. Absolutely. Anytime a lot of money is involved, that tends to be the public's response. Jackson, we're going to go on a quick break. When we come back, going to be taking a look at some pretty big change considerations with the NCAA. Let's take it over to the downtown Kansas City skyline on this very sunny, summerlike Memorial Day. All right, we'll be back here in a couple.

[01:10:04]and is this the Memorial Day wreath lang.

[01:10:17]All right, it is Memorial Day. That was a live look out over the World War I Memorial and Museum. Jackson, I know we've done multiple different angles of Memorial Day coverage today and pretty big event out at this museum today.

[01:10:33]>> Yeah, we have a ton of reporters and different Memorial Day uh events, different types of coverage for for Memorial Day. Uh obviously a super meaningful holiday um to us here in America. So, uh, you know, the World War I was honoring, I believe it's 441, um, Kansasians who died in World War I, uh, with a, uh, wreath laying here.

[01:10:55]>> Yeah.

[01:10:56]>> Um, you know, very, very thoughtful event that they do. Um, I believe it also coincides with, uh, their 100redy year anniversary.

[01:11:04]>> It does. And America 250. So, again, monumental year as far as anniversaries go.

[01:11:10]>> Yeah, really big year for them. Um they had a lot of speakers out. Um one of our anchors, Sharon Chen, um was actually one of the name readers for for this wreath laying. Um one of the ones kind of reading out all these names as um I believe it's the Scouts of America actually if you can see them. Um giving these wreaths.

[01:11:28]>> Yeah, you can see Sharon right there.

[01:11:29]>> Uh yeah, I don't know if that's one of the Scouts of America there. That looks like a grown soldier. But uh I know the scouts were among the people that were laying down these red uh wreaths, which fun fact uh all of them were made in Scotland entirely from poppies.

[01:11:44]>> Wow.

[01:11:44]>> Um if you've ever been to the World War I uh museum before, you'll know that poppies are a really important symbolic um kind they have a really important symbolic meaning for World War I. Um that's really showcased well at the museum. I'm not going to go all into the details of everything behind it, but they have a very cool uh little showing of a poppy field in the museum. Uh highly, if you haven't been, I highly recommend absolutely going.

[01:12:11]>> It's one of those those things that you step into and you just have to take a second to really take it all in. But I want to take it over next to our Memorial Day vertical video coverage.

[01:12:21]441 Kansas cians who died in the Great War by laying 441 reads. Their names were memorialized in memory hall 100 years ago. And we give honor to all those service men and women whose lives were lost in service. Those families carry those wounds in their hearts sometimes for generations. We we want to be able to thank them and honor them for the service of their forebears.

[01:12:46]Democracy is fragile all around the world. It's under stress. And so on days like this, we remember those who gave themselves for the sake of democracy, as Woodro Wilson said, to help make the world safe. Today we're on >> and again that was the World War I memorial and museum president. And again, just a beautiful tribute to those people who fought for our freedom and lost their lives on this memorial day.

[01:13:12]>> And he makes a great point, too, that this is also for their families. Um, a lot of them, you know, um, certainly it's, uh, as as much as, you know, wreath lang, as much as medals and and honoring means, um, you know, being able to shine a light on these families who have who have ancestors who fought and gave their lives um, for this country.

[01:13:36]Um, I think it's really great to be able to give those people uh, really give those people some some some of the love, too.

[01:13:44]>> Yeah, 100%. Jackson, want to switch gears here just a little bit. The NCAA is considering a pretty big rule change.

[01:13:52]You want to break that down for us?

[01:13:53]>> Yeah, so this is something um I'm a big I'm not a huge sports guy as much as obviously our people that are hired for it are. Um but uh I'm I'm definitely a big sports guy and there's a lot to talk about with this one. So um as you probably know if you've watched college football might be the biggest uh I guess offender in this. There are a lot of people in college sports who are older than I am. Uh I'm 24. Um I've been out of college for a good three years now.

[01:14:22]Um and there are a lot of people who are what's usually called like sixth and even seventh year seniors who through a combination of like the COVID year or maybe having a red shirt year or an injury year um or a hardship year.

[01:14:36]There's all these different kind of exceptions that you can theoretically get in college athletics that allow you to be there an extra year beyond the obviously typical college uh path to the point where there are some people and I am going to um as a Missou fan uh give a little bit of hate to former Georgia quarterback Stson Bennett. um when Stson Bennett played the Missou Tigers uh a couple years ago um and when he ultimately won the national championship that year, he was 25. Um by the time I will get to his age, I will have had a full college worth four years >> out of college.

[01:15:15]>> So he essentially was in college for twice the amount of time that I was.

[01:15:19]>> Um so you know um basically there's a lot going on with age. There's a lot of 18, 19 year olds potentially playing against 25 year olds. And the NCAA is considering, they haven't fully decided yet, but they could consider as soon as this summer essentially changing the age eligibility to be a lot more consistent across all levels and to allow it to look a lot simpler where you don't have some people who go through in four and then some people who go through in seven or eight. Um what they would do is as soon as you graduate high school or you turn 19 uh whichever one happens to come first um as to give everybody kind of an equal playing field um your five years of eligibility starts. So you would still get a um I mean you kind of still get a red shirt year.

[01:16:07]>> Yeah.

[01:16:07]>> Um but essentially you get five years once you turn 19 or graduate high school and then when those five years are done you know that's it. If you come into the US maybe from a different country and you come in as a freshman but you're already 20, you're five years already started and then you'd effectively have less years uh because you came in late.

[01:16:25]Okay.

[01:16:26]>> Um I know we've seen some instances where maybe somebody comes in from another country and they're just starting college and maybe they're 21 already and they still have their four years. They can get all the way to, you know, 20, you know, 25 years old potentially. Um, any of that I guess would be equalized to be at a what I would consider probably a more fair playing field from an age perspective of everybody has the same rules. There's no weird exceptions or weird circumstances.

[01:16:52]>> You know, everybody's at a more equal perspective. Will this change happen?

[01:16:56]Who knows? We don't we don't know for sure. Um, >> but that'd be a really big deal for a lot of college athletics. I mean, if you look at um even look at look at last year Missou football um Keegan Trost uh would actually be ineligible. He was a year six um offensive tackle. So um this is a thing that would affect a lot of athletes. Um I think a lot of people, if I'm remembering correctly, would be grandfathered in to a certain point.

[01:17:23]Okay.

[01:17:23]>> I don't think it would just, you know, if they happen to pass it, I don't think a lot of people would just be like out of their athletics for the next year.

[01:17:29]Mhm.

[01:17:29]>> Um but going forward it would certainly change everything and just make it a bit more consistent across all levels, which um you know, not that I've not that I'm like chronically online looking for people's opinions about this type of thing. I haven't seen anyone that would be upset with that change.

[01:17:45]>> Okay. Yeah. You know, it really is interesting because if you think about it, you know, there is an 18-year-old who just started their freshman season versus a 25-year-old who people their age are playing in the NFL. I mean it is again big difference as far as age goes, as far as experience goes and then fairness like you mentioned. It really comes down to people's perception of that. I I want to take it next to a very interesting competition that could be controversial but you know the grounds of this are unlike anything the world has ever seen. Yeah, that's true. This is the athletes competing on per performance-enhancing drugs and it is actually the whole basis of this competition. Jackson, you want to walk us through this?

[01:18:31]>> Uh yeah, I mean this is the type of thing that you know when you think about like when you're watching the Olympics, maybe you're talking to your younger brother and you're just like uh randomly throwing ideas off each other and you're like what if there was a Olympics where people could use drugs, right? and just what's the human limit that I guess whoever made these you know whoever made this these games are uh that was their idea uh it is the enhanced games as it is called um you got competitions in track and field weightlifting uh and swimming that happened in Las Vegas of course it happened in Las Vegas uh yes >> that makes sense >> um not only were athletes not drug tested they were encouraged to take whatever supplement or performance-enhancing drugs that they wanted to organizers say they take drugs under medical guidance um instead of dangerous alternatives taken to evade testing.

[01:19:22]>> Um so I guess maybe there is some safety aspect in play uh here on that regard.

[01:19:28]>> Um and the organizers are supplying a million dollar pri excuse me who these organizers are they're supplying a million dollar prize uh might be a surprise. Uh among them is the PayPal founder Peter Teal who you're probably much more familiar with in the world of politics. He's very involved in the political and media landscape.

[01:19:46]>> Um, and 1798 Capital, which is run in part by, uh, Donald Trump Jr., >> okay?

[01:19:52]>> Uh, so I mean, just kind of a really wacky, frankly, group of people investing in these enhanced games. Um, you know, Katie, I'll be honest with you, it's it's something that I'm a bit torn on because from one perspective, it is theoretically cool to see, well, what if we get records that are broken that are, you know, that we've never broken before because people are taking drugs and that's making them better at certain events. Uh, on the flip side of it, it's, you know, the performance-enhancing drugs oftent times are have disastrous consequences on your heart health particularly. Exactly.

[01:20:27]There's a massive list of athletes uh and particularly bodybuilders over the year who have lost their lives very early and very young >> um for taking and abusing performance-enhancing drugs, >> right?

[01:20:37]>> At the same time, these are grown adults and they're choosing to do that. So, uh you know, I'm a bit torn. Uh as much as I know that it's detrimental for people's health, they're the ones choosing to do it. And uh you know, this this is America. Um, so >> yeah, Jackson, you bring up so many good points and I'm sure people who don't use performance-enhancing drugs and who do the normal sort of route to getting to the Olympics or another very prestigious competition. I'd be curious to see how they feel about this and it's raising questions. Is this the future? What will happen when records are broken? Will they be in their own category specifically for people using these enhancing drugs or will one day will it be combined because the lines will be so blurred? I mean this is just the tip of the iceberg. This is really just the start of competitions like these and and again people who really get into this side of athletics could go down an absolute rabbit hole. But this is the first time something like this has ever happened. The E+ games in Vegas is what they're called in case you want to do some research.

[01:21:42]I'm actually curious to see if there's any names I recognize in the competition in our coverage. It didn't have that specifically, but I'm going to do research after this just to see.

[01:21:51]>> One thing I'm like a little bit curious about too is that if you look at I mean look at people like Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt or Katy Leiddki. Um, I mean, these are people who have such unbelievable records anyway and they did it clean that I could very easily see a situation where people compete in these same events as, you know, a Usain Bolt or or or a Phelps or Leiddki and they cannot beat them anyway, even if they are enhanced. I mean, because they're just that good at it.

[01:22:20]>> Yes.

[01:22:20]>> Um, >> so I I don't know. I'm curious to see what happens. Are records going to be shattered that have never been broken before? Or are we going to be really is is it going to be proven just how impressive some of these extremely famous athletes how how impressive their their feats really are in the grand scheme of things? I mean, I don't think anyone's sitting here and saying, you know, any of those athletes I just mentioned are unimpressive. But if you're to go through years of athletes taking drugs in an attempt to beat them and they still can't beat them, I mean, that would be, you know, that that would even only, I think, further how good they are.

[01:22:56]>> Right. Right. I'm also going to be doing some scrolling on Tik Tok and Instagram just to kind of see what the community who who does participate in these really thinks of them. Yeah. Again, very riveting concept, Jackson, I've got to say. Well, thank you so much for sitting down on KCTV 5 Plus and we are going to go on a quick break. Until then, here is a live look out over the downtown Kansas City skyline. And again, it's almost 3:00 already. This day is flying by. All right, we'll be back here in a few.