Nick’s Picks | Lawmaking, Homicide, Drones and More …

Now that there’s a new pope and Kansas City has picked a new city manager, what’s left to report on this week? Here are some newsworthy stories to watch…

Missouri Legislative Session Ends

Missouri lawmakers are on a sprint to the finish line this week. The legislative session officially ends on Friday. And lawmakers still have a lot of unfinished business. Here are three big questions that remain unresolved:

1. Stadiums: Will lawmakers finally ink a deal to settle the ongoing stadium saga? They have just five days to work out an arrangement with the Royals and the Chiefs, amid concerns the teams could play elsewhere. Closest to passage is a measure offering state cash to bring a new Royals ballpark to Clay County.
2. Abortion: Will lawmakers walk back Missouri’s new voter-approved abortion rights amendment? Some legislators say Missourians didn’t know what they voted for when they approved Amendment 3 in November. None of the multiple proposals put forth this session to put a new question before voters have passed.
3. Paid Sick Leave: Will Missouri lawmakers roll back another voter-approved measure… paid sick leave? It was the second component of the $15 minimum wage hike that passed at the ballot box in November. Missouri’s biggest business groups say it will force small businesses to close. Missouri lawmakers have debated multiple proposals to kill the mandatory paid sick leave requirement. But none have made it to the governor’s desk.

Crime Turnaround

We don’t seem to be experiencing the crime turnaround that Kansas City leaders promised.

A killing outside of a convenience store over the weekend has pushed the city’s homicide count to 55. That’s up 17% on this time last year.

A year before we host the FIFA World Cup, Kansas City’s crime problem is now getting international attention. Last week, Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper described Kansas City as a place where “surging crime and a diminishing police presence” have left “locals afraid to step outside after dark.”

Last Week, Reviewed

In National News You Can Use …

Trump departs for Middle East: President Donald Trump flies to the Middle East today for the first major international trip of his second term. Over the next four days, Trump will roll through the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.

During his visit, the president is expected to accept a luxury $400 million Boeing plane, known as the “palace in the sky,” from Qatar’s royal family. It would be temporarily used as Air Force One, as Boeing struggles to meet its deadline to deliver a new presidential plane. Democrats say the arrangement raises legal and ethical questions over bribes.

Trump’s tariffs: The little-known Court of International Trade will be in the spotlight on Tuesday, when a three-judge panel will hear arguments on whether Trump has the legal authority to impose tariffs.

Supreme Court takes up Birthright Citizenship: Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship heads to the Supreme Court this week. On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order blocking automatic citizenship for children born on U.S. soil to noncitizens. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Thursday.

Chiefs Heading to Brazil?

The NFL schedule will be released on Wednesday night. And it looks like the Kansas City Chiefs will be taking a nearly 13-hour flight to play their opening week game. They’re headed to Brazil.

Front Office Sports is reporting that the Chiefs will take on the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo on September 5.

The NFL is trying to grow the game overseas.

Over the past decade, the Chiefs have played in the UK, Germany, and Mexico City. But this will be the furthest the team has traveled.

The NFL matchup would also be a collaboration with YouTube, which will offer the game for free.

Amazon Drones Circling KC

Are delivery drones finally coming to Kansas City?

Amazon is seeking approval from Wyandotte County officials today to add drone delivery to its fulfillment center in Kansas City, Kansas.

Last week, Amazon confirmed it was working with Kansas City, Missouri, on a similar project.  

We would be the biggest city in America to get them; they’re currently being used in a couple of smaller towns in Arizona and Texas.

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can get “same-day shipping” on many items now. Would you pay an extra $9.99 for delivery in an hour?

Harry, Ike and Quilting Inmates

If you’re looking for some new shows to add to your TV watchlist, two big documentaries with strong local ties drop this week.

As the world marks the 80^th anniversary of the end of World War II, Kansas City PBS tracks the relationship between two area leaders who were decisive in ending the conflict, General Dwight D. Eisenhower from Abilene, Kansas, and President Harry S. Truman of Independence, Missouri.

Winning the War has its broadcast premiere Thursday at 7 p.m. on Kansas City PBS.

And a Missouri prison gets the Netflix treatment.

Inmates in the maximum security South Central Correctional Center in Licking, Missouri, have a surprising hobby … they quilt. Yep, these hardened criminals have discovered the joy of being in a “quilting circle.”

They work in a special sewing room where they make quilts for foster children in the surrounding counties.

“The Quilters” has been sewing up film festival awards. It premieres Friday on Netflix.

Nick Haines tracks the week’s most impactful local news stories on Week in Review, Friday nights at 7:30 pm on Kansas City PBS.