Nick’s Picks | Super Letdown, ICE Raids, Trump Effects and More … Preparing you for the week ahead, before it happens…

Super Sick Monday

So, there’ll be no victory parade after all.

No “Three-Peat” after the Chiefs fall to the Eagles on football’s biggest stage.

That was tough to watch, wasn’t it?

And the questions have already begun: Was that Kelce’s final game for the Chiefs?

You might be experiencing a record level of absences at the office today.

More than four in 10 Americans expected to skip work this morning on what has been dubbed “Super Sick Monday.”

More Snow on the Way?

Is winter going to last forever?

Disruptions to travel and school routines are possible as a pair of winter storms target Kansas City.

According to the National Weather Service, the snow will start falling late Tuesday night.

Our TV meteorologists are forecasting snow amounts of 5-10 inches across the region with wind chills between 0 and -10 Wednesday and Thursday.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s another chance for a wintry mix on Saturday.

Last Week, Reviewed

Local Elected Leader Goes Undercover

Amid rising concerns over immigration raids in the metro, a Jackson County lawmaker says he’ll go undercover this week to see whether federal agents are acting legally.

Manny Abarca, one of our metro’s highest-ranking Hispanic elected leaders, says he will ditch his suit and tie and work in the kitchens of several area Mexican restaurants.

He says he will donate his pay and tips to local families detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Some social media users criticized Abarca’s announcement as a “publicity stunt” and “progressive theatrics.”

Thousands of KC Federal Workers Awaiting Judge’s Ruling

The future of thousands of federal workers in Kansas City hangs in the balance this week as a judge decides whether the president can force them to take a buyout or be immediately fired.

President Donald Trump is trying to slim down the size of the federal workforce. According to the Associated Press, more than 60,000 federal employees have already accepted Trump’s offer. It’s unclear how many of them were from the Kansas City area.

A federal judge is expected to rule later today on the legality of Trump’s executive order.

State Lawmakers Copy Trump

Kansas and Missouri lawmakers are now trying to copy Trump and his quest to slash the size and cost of government.

They may not have Elon Musk helping them find places to save, but both states have now set up their own “Department(s) of Government Efficiency,” or DOGE, as they’ve come to be known.

Kansas just launched a new online site for the public to identify cuts. But the website crashed after being overwhelmed with responses.

Missouri’s new DOGE portal launched last week. It’s already received more than a thousand ideas from residents on how to cut the scope and size of Missouri government.

Missouri Bill Would Ban Red Light Cameras and License Plate Readers

Just months after Kansas City greenlighted the return of red-light cameras, Missouri lawmakers are now debating a bill to ban them.

The measure being considered this week in Jefferson City would also outlaw license plate readers.

Supporters say it protects privacy rights and prevents government overreach. Opponents argue it weakens traffic enforcement and public safety.

Kansas City Gets “MESSI”

Last week, basketball phenom Caitlin Clark was in town. Is another sporting superstar on the way?

Soccer legend Lionel Messi is expected to play in Kansas City next week as Inter Miami takes on Sporting KC in the first round of the Concacaf Champions Cup.

In advance of that matchup, Sporting KC is hosting a season kickoff party Sunday at KC Live in the Power & Light District. You can meet the team and score free merch. The free event starts at 2 p.m.

Some Other News You Can Use…

• ​Ending war in Ukraine: The leader of Ukraine says he’s now “ready to make a deal” with Trump on ending his country’s three-year war with Russia. Trump says he will likely meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later this week in Washington.

• Fewer faces at Facebook: Facebook parent company, Meta, will notify thousands of employees today that they’re no longer wanted. The social media giant is cutting 5% of its workforce, that’s roughly 3,600 jobs.

• Big Name Change: The Boy Scouts of America is rolling out a big name change across the country this week. The 115-year-old organization is ditching its branding to be more “gender-neutral.” It will now officially be called “Scouting America.”

• Most Romantic Day of the Year: Friday is Valentine’s Day. If you haven’t yet bought anything for your “main squeeze, let this be your Cupid emergency alert.