Nick’s Picks | Funeral for Policeman, Big Primary Push The Week Ahead in KC News
Published July 25th, 2022 at 10:03 AM
Above image credit: "Kansas City Week in Review" host Nick Haines. (John McGrath | Flatland)Large crowds are expected this week at the funeral of Daniel Vasquez.
The North Kansas City police officer was gunned down after pulling over a driver for an expired tag.
Vasquez was 32 years old and graduated from the police academy last year.
He is the first North Kansas City police officer killed in the line of duty.
A public visitation is scheduled for Tuesday evening at Vineyard Church.
We’re told that members of the public can also show their support by lining a procession route following his funeral at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
A parade of police vehicles will escort the slain officer’s body along Armour Road, from Vineyard Church to the White Chapel Memorial Gardens cemetery.
Police are warning drivers to expect traffic delays in the area.
Break in the Weather
After sweltering in triple-digit “feel like” temperatures we’ll finally get some relief this week.
It’s going to be a soggy but remarkably pleasant 76 degrees today.
Highs will remain in the 80s for the remainder of the week, with multiple rain chances and scattered thunderstorms through Sunday.
Catching Up
Campaign Season
Final campaigning is underway on both sides of the state line ahead of next week’s primary elections.
With a growing number of Americans claiming they’re concerned about election integrity, Johnson County officials are hosting a rare event.
They’re inviting the public to come in and watch them test the voting machines.
The Johnson County Election Commissioner says anyone interested in seeing how the process and the equipment works should show up at the Johnson County Election Office at 2101 E. Kansas City Road in Olathe, at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
Abortion on the Ballot
Join the KC Media Collective at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26, for a community conversation about the economic, legal and human implications of the recent Roe v. Wade ruling on Kansas. The event is hosted by American Public Square.
Trump Wildcard
With $13 million spent on advertising “for and against” next week’s abortion amendment in Kansas, there may be few wavering voters left to persuade. But could there still be a substantial shift in voter support this week in Missouri’s top election race?
The leading Republican candidates for Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat are still hoping former President Donald Trump will make a last-minute endorsement.
Trump has already announced he won’t support U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler. But will he choose to put his thumb on the scale in favor of Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens or even U.S. Rep. Billy Long?
That’s the biggest wildcard political story of the week.
Flatland on Kansas City PBS
Honoring Buck
The celebration of all things Buck O’Neil continues this week.
After being inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, the Kansas City Monarchs are retiring O’Neil’s number.
That ceremony will take place on Wednesday night as the team, formerly known as the T-Bones, take on Sioux Falls.
O’Neil spent nearly two decades with the original Kansas City Monarchs, leading the Negro American League in hitting in 1946.
He would later become the first black coach in major league history when he joined the Chicago Cubs in 1962.
King of Country
Move over Patrick Mahomes, a new star is taking over Arrowhead Stadium this week.
Country music legend George Strait is heading to Kansas City for a rare one-night-only concert event.
Dubbed the “King of Country,” Strait announced he was retiring from touring back in 2012.
He will be joined on the Arrowhead stage by Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town.
The late Saturday afternoon concert doesn’t come cheap. Tickets close to the stage are selling for nearly $3,000. But at last check, you can still snag a nosebleed seat for about $115.
There are some other big music names you might bump into around town this week.
Big Time Rush is at T-Mobile Center Saturday night and the Goo Goo Dolls play Starlight on Sunday.
The ‘Wurst’ News
Kansas City celebrates baseball’s favorite food this week.
Whether you prefer brats, wieners or franks, you can build your creations at “The Heart of America Hot Dog Festival.”
Throw on some grilled onions, pickled relish and perhaps some sauerkraut and you can feel good that you’re also benefitting the Negro League’s Baseball Museum.
Saturday’s event starts at 3 p.m. across from the 18th & Vine Jazz District.
In addition to a meaty protein hit, there are multiple lives bands, mascots, games and autograph sessions, along with admission to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
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.