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Public Vote on Ballpark in Limbo

Activist groups say they’ve collected enough valid signatures to put the issue before voters. But so far, the City Council hasn’t taken up the petition.

The deadline to act is Aug. 31, making Thursday’s council meeting the last scheduled opportunity. Except that the mayor has canceled this week’s regular session, adding another twist to an already complicated story.

A city spokesperson says if the council fails to act by the deadline, petitioners could ask the city clerk to send the measure directly to voters.

But don’t expect a November election. The city charter’s notice requirements could push any public vote all the way to April.

And then there’s the even bigger question: What exactly would voters be voting on?

Could a referendum undo the city’s newly approved $600 million commitment to the ballpark? Or would it apply only to future actions — such as additional taxes, fees or bonds needed to move the project forward?

In other words, as one of my guests put it on our Week in Review program Friday, “it’s a mess.”

And before this is over, a judge may have to sort it out.

There’s another uncertainty, too: Even if voters do get their say, would they reject this Royals plan, just as they rejected the last stadium proposal two years ago?

A lot has changed since then. Most notably, the Chiefs’ decision to move to Kansas has added new urgency to the effort to keep the Royals in Missouri.

Wyandotte County Still in the Dark

Nearly 2,000 homes remain without power in Wyandotte County this morning, almost a week after powerful storms tore through the area.

Roofs were ripped away. Trees and electric lines came crashing down. Homes, businesses, churches and critical utility infrastructure were damaged across the county.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has declared Wyandotte County a disaster area.

The storm has also reignited questions about why outdoor warning sirens never sounded.

County policy limits the use of those sirens to tornado warnings — not severe straight-line winds or downbursts, even when those winds can cause widespread destruction.

That has some residents asking whether the policy needs to change.

Meanwhile, the Board of Public Utilities says it has dramatically expanded its response, bringing in crews from six other cities and 26 contractors while quadrupling its normal workforce.

Kansas City, Kansas Mayor Christal Watson says workers have canceled vacations and are putting in 16-hour shifts to get the lights back on.

Last Week, Reviewed

Remembering Kassebaum

Tributes continue to pour in for Nancy Kassebaum, the trailblazing former U.S. senator from Kansas.

Kassebaum died Friday at her home in the Flint Hills. She was 94.

Her election in 1978 made her the first woman to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate. At the time, she was also the only woman serving in the chamber.

In a rare show of bipartisan unity, tributes have poured in from across the political spectrum, praising Kassebaum’s humility, independence and willingness to put principle ahead of party.

Her family says there will be no public funeral. A private memorial service is planned for a later date.

Back to School, Part 2

Kansas students have already been back in class for nearly two weeks.

Now it’s Missouri’s turn.

School districts across the state welcome students back this week.

Today is also the first day of classes at our area universities, from UMKC and KU.

Last Preseason Game: Will Mahomes Play?

The Kansas City Chiefs host the Seattle Seahawks Friday in their final preseason game.

The big question: Will Patrick Mahomes finally see the field?

He hasn’t played in any of the pre-season matchups, as Coach Andy Reid has taken an abundance-of-caution approach following Mahomes’ knee surgery after suffering a season-ending torn ACL in December.

If he doesn’t get the green light Friday, Mahomes still expects to be ready when the Chiefs open the regular season Sept. 14 against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.

10 Years of ‘Taking The Knee’

Wednesday marks 10 years since Colin Kaepernick chose not to stand during the national anthem, setting off one of the biggest sports and political firestorms of the past decade.

His protest against racial injustice sparked a national debate over patriotism, policing and the role of athletes in political protest.

It also marked the beginning of the end of his NFL career. After leaving the San Francisco 49ers, no other team signed him.

Today, Kaepernick describes himself as a civil rights activist and entrepreneur. Next month, he releases a new book reflecting on the experience that changed his life, and the national conversation.

See, Watch and Do in KC

It’s a big week for classic rock fans in Kansas City.

Chicago, Santana, The Doobie Brothers, Toto and Christopher Cross are all scheduled to take the stage at the new Morton Amphitheater.

And Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill performs Thursday night at the Midland.

Not a bad week for anyone whose concert T-shirt collection is older than their children.

Also, this week…

The Full Tilt Film Festival makes its Kansas City debut Friday, with events at Union Station and 18th & Vine.

It’s a rare two-day film fest devoted entirely to sports storytelling on the big screen.

The lineup includes film premieres, classic sports movies and athlete-led projects, along with conversations featuring filmmakers, sports figures and industry executives from ESPN and NFL Films. Also making an appearance: the cast from the NBC sports drama series Friday Night Lights.