Nick’s Picks | Election Season and Weather Heat Up Republican National Convention Opens Following Assassination Attempt

The Republican National Convention gets underway today in Milwaukee, less than 48 hours after a gunman tried to assassinate the party’s presumptive nominee Donald Trump.

One person is dead, and two others remain in critical condition after the shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The former president was grazed by a bullet but reportedly is doing fine. He is expected to accept his party’s nomination for president on Thursday night. 

What you need to know: 

• The Trump campaign says heightened security procedures will greet delegates today as they arrive at the convention site. The four-day political event is taking place at Fiserv Forum, the home arena of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA team. 

• Prior to this weekend’s shooting, Trump’s choice of running mate was expected to be the convention’s biggest news story. Most political analysts believe Ohio Senator J.D. Vance will get the vice-presidential nod. At age 39, the marine combat veteran would be the first millennial on a presidential ticket.  

• Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt has snagged a top speaking spot at the GOP convention. So has former Kansas congressman and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. They are the only local politicians scheduled to appear on the GOP event stage this week. 

• Here’s another local tie-in: It could have all been happening here.  

In 2021, Kansas City leaders announced plans to bid on the 2024 GOP convention. Mayor Quinton Lucas said it would be the ideal event to showcase Kansas City’s new airport and the city’s growing attractions. But a month later, the city would drop its bid. Lucas said it would be too “significant a commitment” with the NFL Draft on the way and ongoing efforts to host the World Cup.   

Biden Hits Pause Button 

We’re also watching what President Joe Biden will do this week. Following Saturday’s shooting, Biden has temporarily hit the pause button on his campaign. 

The president has pulled all political ads and has postponed a planned trip to Texas today. He was scheduled to speak at the LBJ Library in Austin to mark the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. 

While in Texas, Biden was also scheduled to take part in an extended one-on-one interview with NBC news anchor Lester Holt. The TV network says that interview will still take place, but it’s been moved to the White House. It’s scheduled to air tonight at 8 p.m. on NBC. 

Last Week, Reviewed

Hot Weather 

If you’ve felt like you’ve been living in the Sahara Desert over the last few days, you should know it’s about to get even hotter.  

Kansas City may have its first official 100-degree day of the year today. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory through 8 p.m. tonight.  

The good news is that a cooldown is on the way. It will drop into the 80s by Wednesday. 

First Primary Votes Cast 

That crept up on us quickly. 

The first votes in the Kansas and Missouri election primaries will be cast this week. 

Early in-person voting begins in Kansas on Saturday. That’s more than two weeks before the Aug. 6 election. 

In-person advance voting begins in Missouri next Tuesday. 

Want to know about what’s on the ballot? Check out the KC Media Collective’s new 2024 KC Voter Guide that navigates you through all the races on the ballot.  

All-Star Game 

The Kansas City Royals get an extended break this week as major league baseball hits the pause button for its annual All-Star Game. 

Four Royals players have been selected to play in the MLB’s annual showcase event on Tuesday night. 

Catcher Salvador Perez; pitchers Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans; and shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. all suit up for the 94th Midsummer Classic at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. 

Witt will also take part in tonight’s Home Run Derby featuring the league’s top sluggers. 

In other sports news… 

The WNBA All-Star Game is this Saturday in Phoenix. 

And the Tour de France ends Sunday. It’s the last big global sporting event before the Summer Olympics begin in Paris next week. 

Stamp Prices Rise 

If you’re headed to your local post office today, be prepared to hand over more cash.  

Starting this week, a first-class stamp will now cost you 73 cents.  

The five-cent hike is the sixth price increase in three years, and the second since January. 

Despite the increases, USPS (United States Postal Service) maintains that its “prices remain among the most affordable in the world.” 

Andy Reid Makes Movie Debut 

Andy Reid is set to make his movie debut this week as filming on a that Chiefs-themed Hallmark movie shifts to Arrowhead Stadium.  

It’s not certain what role the Chiefs coach will play in the holiday film, but he’d better get his lines down quickly. There’s no time for retakes. The Hallmark Channel production crew is up against a tight deadline. The Chiefs are packing up for training camp in St. Joseph this week. Rookies report to camp on Tuesday. The rest of the team will arrive on Saturday. 

Redbox Shuts Down Kiosks 

When’s the last time you rented a movie from Redbox? 

I thought so.  

Redbox is now going the way of Blockbuster.  

Starting this week, the company is shutting down its 24,000 movie rental kiosks as it declares bankruptcy. 

Streaming services are being blamed for killing off the business. 

Pop Culture News 

• SpongeBob SquarePants turns 25 this week. The show premiered on July 17, 1999 

• Saturday marks the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.  

Rolling Stones Show 

How far are you willing to drive to see a concert?  

This week might be your last chance to see one of the world’s most iconic rock bands, The Rolling Stones. 

But Mick Jagger and Keith Richards aren’t making it easy for you.  

The last stop on the band’s 15-city tour is the newly opened Thunder Ridge Outdoor Amphitheater. 

If you aren’t familiar with the venue, it’s three hours down the road, just outside Branson. 

Built by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, it’s being billed as the Ozarks answer to Red Rocks. 

The Rolling Stones take the stage at Thunder Ridge on Sunday night. 

If you don’t want to travel that far, you can head to Starlight Theatre where Jason Mraz, Train and   Niall Horan all take the stage this week. 

Festival Season Events 

The Festival of Butterflies returns to Powell Gardens on Thursday. 

The KC Fringe Festival continues in more than a dozen venues around town.  

Head to Atchison for the two-day Amelia Earhart Festival beginning Friday. 

And it’s the Kansas City Lawn Party this weekend on the grounds of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Think music, food trucks, arts activities and lawn games. The free event runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. 

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