Nick’s Picks | Mourning the Queen, Celebrating the Chiefs Busy Week Ahead in Kansas City
Published September 12th, 2022 at 9:45 AM
Above image credit: "Kansas City Week in Review" host Nick Haines. (John McGrath | Flatland)It’s been more than 240 years since Americans declared their independence from a “tyrannical” English king, but has fascination with the British royal family ever been higher?
As a former Brit and BBC news reporter, I’ve been taken aback by the insatiable appetite for every detail. And I’ve never been in more demand.
Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, I have appeared on six local radio and TV shows to discuss everything from the line of succession to the inner workings of the monarchy. And I have three more interviews lined up with media and community groups today and tomorrow.
So while this may be a story playing out on a small island more than 4,000 miles away, it’s going to continue to dominate national and local news coverage for at least another week.
Today, the first members of the public will have a chance to pay respects to Britain’s longest serving monarch as her coffin lies at rest in one of the most prominent cathedrals in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh.
Her body will then make its final journey to London. Starting on Wednesday, the queen will lie in state at Westminster Hall inside the British Houses of Parliament, until her funeral next Monday.
If you were in Britain would you make the trip to London to pay your respects? For five days the public will be able to file past the queen’s coffin 24 hours a day. But prepare for long lines. Officials are already warning mourners to expect up to three-mile long queues and 12-hour wait times.
As the world continues to mourn the queen, more attention is now being paid to her eldest son Charles, who is now the new king.
And that’s where you’ll find a genuine local story.
In 2011 the man now known as King Charles III helped open the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City.
A longtime friend of the Kauffman family, he recorded a video address at the opening gala night event.
And guess who was picked to be the “voice of God” announcer to introduce him?
Yes, it was me.
Catching Up
Chiefs Home Opener
If you wore the only piece of red clothing in your closet over the weekend, get it washed quickly.
Having handed the Cardinals their lunch Sunday, the Chiefs have little time to prepare for their next game.
This Thursday night is the team’s home opener against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Game time is 7:15 p.m.
If a seat at Arrowhead is too pricey for your budget, you can get what they’re calling the “Gameday Experience” for free in the Power & Light District. The largest outdoor big screen in the city will be broadcasting the game and offering a free family-friendly watch party.
Public Memorial for Len Dawson
Services are this week for former Chiefs quarterback and sports broadcaster Len Dawson.
The public is invited to attend the memorial at Country Club Christian Church at 61st Street and Ward Parkway.
The service is set for Friday at 11 a.m.
Dawson led the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl win back in 1969. He died in hospice care last month at the age of 87.
Britt Reid to Plead Guilty
Former Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid is back in the news.
He’s scheduled to appear in a Jackson County courtroom today to change his plea to guilty in that 2021 crash that left a 5-year-old child brain damaged.
Police said Reid was intoxicated and speeding when he hit two parked cars on an entrance ramp near Arrowhead Stadium.
Reid is the 37-year-old son of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. He could face up to seven years in prison.
Jungerman Trial Begins
It was one of the most shocking local stories of 2017. A young attorney was gunned down outside his Brookside home, just minutes after walking his kids to school. Now five years later, David Jungerman is finally scheduled to go on trial this week for his murder.
Prosecutors argue the 84-year-old businessman from Raytown killed Tom Pickert out of revenge. Pickert had just won a $5 million civil lawsuit against him.
The criminal trial starts today.
Special Session Starts
Missouri lawmakers head back to Jefferson City this week.
This Wednesday starts the legislature’s annual veto session, and to elevate the stakes, the governor has tacked on a special session to pass what he hopes is the largest income tax cut in Missouri history.
Gov. Mike Parson claims everyone will see a cash boost. But before you run out and buy a new car or an in-ground swimming pool, please note there’s still lots of disagreement among lawmakers and it’s possible Parson will come away empty handed.
The governor says state revenues are up 20% over last year and that it’s time to return “hard-earned dollars back to working Missourians.” Currently, the state is sitting on the biggest cash surplus in its history, with $4.2 billion in the bank.
A Fight for More Officers
There could be some tense moments at this week’s Johnson County Commission meeting.
Sheriff Calvin Hayden is asking county leaders for a multi-million dollar budget boost to hire dozens of new deputies.
He says his office is down 60 officers and it’s challenging his ability to adequately staff the county jail and respond to 911 emergency calls.
But Hayden has gotten crossways with several county commission members who are upset by his ongoing investigations into election fraud.
Last week, Hayden pledged to deploy his deputies to block what he called “Biden’s new army of IRS agents” from investigating Johnson County residents.
913 Day
Last month we celebrated 816 Day, the totally made-up local holiday named after the Kansas City area code.
This week, break out the balloons and champagne, its 913 Day, an even newer holiday designed to honor the best of what’s happening on the Kansas side of our state line.
If you’re still scratching your head, 913 matches up with the date – as in Sept. 13. That’s Tuesday.
So now you know, are you ready to party?
In Wyandotte County, local restaurants are banding together on Tuesday to offer $9.13 meal specials.
On Tuesday evening there’s a 913 Day Family Festival in downtown Kansas City, Kansas.
King Tut Exhibit
Why go to an art museum to see a painting by Van Gogh or Monet when you can instead get the ticketed “immersive” experience that will give you far better “selfies?”
Have you noticed these immersive shows using projected images and sounds are taking over Kansas City?
This week, one of the world’s most famous rulers gets the immersive treatment.
If you can’t afford a trip to Egypt, you can experience the “Immersive King Tut” in the exhibition space at Zona Rosa.
This November marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the Egyptian pharaoh’s tomb. Now you can discover King Tutankhamun’s treasures for yourself, just as archeologist Howard Carter did a century ago.
“Immersive King Tut: Boy, King, Hero” begins Friday in the Lighthouse ArtSpace at Zona Rosa. The exhibit runs through December 30.
10 Days of Free Movies
A couple of weeks ago, area movie theaters were giving away $3 tickets as part of a National Cinema Day promotion.
I’ve got one better for you.
How about free tickets?
The Kansas City Underground Film Festival starts this week and for 10 days every ticket is free.
The Underground Film Fest celebrates underseen and underappreciated independent movies.
You can snag a seat, including to its special horror film night by going to kcundergroundfilmfest.com.
All films are screened at the Charlotte Street Foundation at 3333 Wyoming St. in Kansas City.
Halloween Comes Early
I know you can already find Halloween candy and costumes in metro area stores, but can we officially say the spooky season begins this week when Kansas City’s haunted houses swing open their cobwebbed doors?
The Beast and the Edge of Hell welcome their first victims this Friday night.
You can experience these local emporiums of horror in the West Bottoms through Nov. 5h.
I also notice they’re still looking for “scarers.” Could that be you?
According to their Facebook page, you earn $13 an hour, plus meals before your shift and some “fun surprises.” Some people may think the pay is too low to be worth the effort. But I’m convinced there has to be more than a few Kansas Citians who would work for free just for the thrill of scaring people out of their pants and hearing their blood curdling screams.
If that’s you, apply at EdgeofHell.com.
Emmy Night
While we will be showing back-to-back episodes of “Antiques Roadshow” tonight on Kansas City PBS, it is my news duty to also let you know that this is Emmy night.
Saturday Night Live veteran Kenan Thompson will host the 74th Emmy Awards from the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
“Succession” is the most nominated show and HBO and Netflix are expected to rack up the most awards.
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.