Nick’s Picks | Map, Recall, Trial and More …

We flip the calendar to September on Tuesday, but Mother Nature apparently missed the memo. Forget crisp days: 100-degree temperatures are expected through Thursday, then settle into the upper 90s for the rest of the week. And there’s no rain in sight.

It’s also going to be a short week for many Kansas Citians, ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend. Many workers will be skipping work early to take advantage of the last big break of summer.

But while the workweek may be short, the news week is anything but.

Final Call on the Missouri Map

The Missouri Supreme Court gets the final word Wednesday on the state’s newly drawn congressional map.

The question before the justices: Should Missouri voters get the chance to approve or reject the map in a November referendum?

At stake, is Kansas City Congressman Emanuel Cleaver’s political future. The new map dramatically reshapes his district, cutting out much of Kansas City west of Troost while adding large parts of rural Missouri, up to the city limits of Columbia and Jefferson City.

The justices are also being asked to decide whether Amendment 6 makes the November ballot.

That citizen initiative would make it harder for lawmakers to change Missouri’s century-old initiative petition process — including requiring an 80% vote of both legislative chambers to undo ballot measures already approved by voters.

The clock is ticking.

By Missouri law, next Tuesday, Sept. 8 is the last day the courts can order changes to the November ballot.

Last Week, Reviewed

Date Center ‘Election’

Tuesday is Election Day — at least if you live in Independence.

The only issue on the ballot: whether to recall City Councilman John Perkins, who voted to approve a mega-sized data center in the city.

Voters in April rejected two other councilmembers who backed tax incentives for the project.

The recall is the latest sign of growing public backlash over data centers, AI development and the massive infrastructure needed to power them.

More Decisions to Watch This Week …

• Royals Vote Deadline: The push for a public vote on the new Royals ballpark remains in limbo. Today is the deadline for Kansas City to act on a citizen petition seeking to put the stadium project before voters.
• New Councilmember: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is expected to pick a new City Council member this week to fill the seat vacated by Andrea Bough. Lucas just appointed Bough to lead the EDC, the city’s top economic development agency.
• Furor Over Property Taxes: The Johnson County Commission is scheduled to cast a final vote Thursday on next year’s $1.9 billion budget. But expect plenty of pushback. Hundreds of homeowners have been turning out to protest what they say will be significant increases in their property tax bills.

Long-Delayed ‘Serial Killer’ Trial Begins

Nearly a decade after a serial killer stalked middle-aged white men on the Indian Creek trail, the man charged in those crimes is finally standing trial this week.

Fredrick Scott is accused of killing five people along the south Kansas City walking path over a two-year span, starting in 2016. He was 22 when he was arrested. Among the victims was Mike Darby, the owner of the popular Coach’s Bar and Grill.

The trial has been years in the making, delayed by a lengthy legal battle over whether Scott was mentally competent to stand trial.

Jury selection is slated to start today, with opening arguments on Thursday.

Trader Joe’s Opens in Merriam

Set your alarm, grab your reusable bags, and get that shopping list ready.

For some people, the opening of Kansas City’s third Trader Joe’s will be the biggest story of the week.

The specialty grocery store with a cult-like following opens its doors Wednesday at 9 a.m. in Merriam right across from IKEA.

The opening is also a big deal for Merriam for another reason: It’s the city’s first grocery store in a decade.

College Football is Back

It’s that time of the year, when your lucky shirt comes out of the closet, the grill gets fired up and the tailgate starts early … the new college football season is officially underway.  

• Mizzou takes on Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Thursday night in Columbia ( 7 p.m.)
• KU plays Long Island University at home in Lawrence on Friday (7 p.m.)
• And K-State hosts Nicholls State on Saturday in Manhattan ( 6 p.m.)

One big change you’ll notice: your favorite college players are beginning to resemble racecar drivers. New revenue agreements mean team jerseys will bear multiple advertising patches for everything from energy drinks to cryptocurrency companies.

Freddie Turns 80

In pop culture news…

The remaining members of the rock band Queen have announced a big birthday bash on Saturday for what would’ve been frontman Freddie Mercury’s 80th birthday.

London’s Victoria and Albert Museum is paying tribute with a special exhibition of Mercury’s famously flamboyant stage costumes.

The birthday comes as the music world also marks 35 years since Mercury’s death. He died of AIDS in 1991 at age 45.

Big Changes to Labor Day Festival

The Labor Day holiday marks the height of Kansas City’s festival season. But this year, there’s a twist.

The big Santa-Cali-Gon Days festival in Independence now comes with a parental warning.

After large crowds of disruptive teens shut down Downtown Days in Lee’s Summit, the city of Independence has unanimously voted to approve a curfew for people under 18 at the four-day festival, which starts on Friday.

No minors will be permitted after 6 p.m. unless accompanied by an adult.

This weekend also marks what could be the last Kansas City Irish Fest at Crown Center. That’s because this time next year the festival site will be in the middle of the city’s largest construction zone as work will likely be underway on a new Royals ballpark and entertainment district.

Also on the weekend calendar:

• Huzzah! The Kansas City Renaissance Festival returns to Bonner Springs for its 50^th season, starting Saturday.
• And Saturday night, the Grandview Amphitheater hosts the For the Love of R&B Festival.
• And Kansas City’s big concert venues have a busy week with Josh Groban, Jack Johnson and Benson Boone all taking the stage.

Nick Haines picks apart the most impactful, confusing and downright head-scratching local news stories on Week in Review, Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. on Kansas City PBS.