Nick’s Picks | Stadium Redux, KCK Mayor, Pride and more …

Special Session on Stadiums Starts

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has told state lawmakers to cancel family vacations and head back to Jefferson City today for a last-ditch effort to save the Chiefs and Royals.

The special session begins at noon.

It comes just days after the Royals acknowledged buying the mortgage on the old Sprint campus in Overland Park.

The governor’s plan would provide bonds and other state aid that would pay up to half the cost of new or improved stadiums for the two teams.

Kehoe has set no deadline for the session’s end.

Last Week, Reviewed

Flashing Blue Lights

What happened to that crime turnaround Kansas City leaders promised?

With homicides and public anxiety up, the City Council is now scrambling to respond. And sometimes, in unexpected ways.

The city now wants police patrol cars to keep their flashing lights on “all day long” to increase visibility and hopefully deter criminals. Will it work?

The mayor and council will take up the measure on Tuesday.

Help Wanted: New Wyandotte County Mayor

The help wanted sign is out for mayor of Wyandotte County.

Mayor Tyrone Garner stunned many residents back in November when he announced he would not seek reelection to the $132,000 a year post.

Today is the deadline for candidates to file for the office.

As of this morning, six people were in the running to succeed Garner in the upcoming August primary election, including County Commissioner Tom Burroughs and former state Sen. Mark Gilstrap.

In Sports News …

It’s a big week in the two major league sports where Kansas City doesn’t field a team.

On Wednesday, the NHL’s Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers face off in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals.

And the NBA finals start Thursday between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers.

It’s also the final race of the Triple Crown. The 157^th running of the Belmont Stakes is on Saturday.

And the Tony Goes to …

The Tony Awards are on Sunday night, celebrating what has been a record-breaking year for Broadway.

This past season is expected to be the highest grossing in the theater district’s history. Expected to be a highlight of this year’s Tony Awards ceremony: The original cast of Hamilton reunites for the show’s 10th anniversary.

Big Happenings Closer to Home …

How many hot dogs can you eat in one sitting?

Two? What about three?

How about 50 hot dogs in 10 minutes?

If that’s a challenge you’d like to try, head on over to Shawnee for a qualifying event for the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

It’s part of Old Shawnee Days on Saturday. The eating competition is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

The top male and female winners will qualify to compete in the televised Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4th in Coney Island, New York.

By the way, the record is 76 hot dogs and buns, set by Joey Chestnut in 2021.

In other events around town…

• Kansas City’s three-day Pride Fest starts Friday night at Theis Park, across from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
• Mayor Quinton Lucas will march in Kansas City’s Juneteenth Cultural Parade Saturday. It starts at noon and will wind through the 18^th & Vine entertainment district.
• And pack up the kids Friday evening for the free Meadowbrook Park Festival in Prairie Village. The family-friendly celebration includes food and drink, craft vendors and live entertainment, including a visit from Mr. Stinky Feet.

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