Nick Haines

Executive Producer of Public Affairs at Kansas City PBS

Nick Haines leads KCPBS' news and public affairs television division and is the executive producer and host of Kansas City Week in Review.

Stories by Nick Haines

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is trading stadium talks for the Bloomberg CityLab in Madrid, Spain, this week. (Wikimedia Commons)

Nick’s Picks | Downtown, Spain, Jackson County, and More …

Next Steps on New Royals Ballpark Who’s got the toughest assignment in Kansas City right now? Try City Manager Mario Vasquez who’s been tasked this week with turning a new Royals stadium plan into something resembling an actual deal. Despite all the smiles and celebrations last week, many of the details are fuzzy and some…

With Earth Day this week, downtown Kansas City at dusk is a reminder of how beautiful nature can be even in an urban environment. (Wikimedia Commons)

Nick’s Picks | Baseball, Education, Conservation and More …

Stadium: What’s Next The push for a new downtown ballpark heads to Jefferson City this week. Kansas City leaders are looking for a number: How much is the state willing to put toward a new home for the Kansas City Royals at Washington Square Park? Right now, there are more questions than answers around the…

Lawrence High School students and residents protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 27, 2026, at 19th and Louisiana Street across from the high school. (Photo by Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)

Nick’s Picks | Sports, Liquor, Bans and More …

New Royals Ballpark Two years after a failed stadium vote, Kansas City leaders are trying to get a new Royals ballpark plan across the finish line this week. The city council’s finance committee takes its first swing Tuesday at the $1.9 billion proposal, with a full council vote expected on Thursday. Mayor Quinton Lucas unveiled…

Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota is reconsidering his initial pledge not to seek a full term in the position. The filing deadline is Tuesday at 5 p.m. (Josh Merchant | The Beacon)

Nick’s Picks | Filings, Openings, Holidays and More …

Political Filing Frenzy Get ready for a major reshuffling of Kansas City’s political decks this week. Tuesday at 5 p.m. is the deadline for Missouri candidates to file for office in this year’s midterm elections. And with a new congressional map now in play, it’s triggering a frantic last-minute political scramble. Here’s the breakdown of…

Opponents of a proposed new data center in Independence, Missouri, were unable to derail City Council approval. They are hoping a judge will OK their legal fight. (Savannah Hawley-Bates | KCUR 89.3)

Nick’s Picks | Taxes, Elections, AI and More …

Royals Return Baseball is back…and earlier than ever. Opening Day lands Wednesday, the earliest start in MLB history. The Kansas City Royals will begin the season on the road, with a Friday opener in Atlanta. And what about that much-hyped Royals new stadium reveal in time for “Opening Day?” Yeah, right. Consider it stuck in…

A basketball arena filled with fans.

Nick’s Picks | March Madness, Jail Opens, St. Paddy’s & More

The Madness Begins ‘Tis the season for buzzer beaters, broken brackets and according to HR experts, plummeting productivity. Welcome to March Madness! The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships tip off this week. KU and Mizzou play their first games late Friday night in the men’s tournament. Missouri State is the only local team to…

Leaders in Leavenworth, Kansas, are scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to reopen a former CoreCivic facility as a federal immigration detention center. (Morgan Chilson | Kansas Reflector)

Nick’s Picks | Sports, Immigration, Booze and More …

Big 12 Takes Over Downtown It’s that time of year when workplaces start clearing out early to chase a bouncing orange ball. The Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship rolls into town this week… the first sign that March Madness is on the way. K-State takes the court at T-Mobile Center on Tuesday. KU plays Thursday….

The raucous cheering section for Sporting KC known as "The Cauldron" pictured at a game in 2022. (Wikimedia Commons)

Nick’s Picks | Maps, Lawsuits, Sporting and More …

Missouri Map Throws Candidates Into Limbo It’s going to be a confusing political week in Missouri, as campaign season officially kicks off with a giant question mark. Candidates can start filing for Congress on Tuesday — but thanks to an unresolved court fight, they don’t know the exact boundaries of the districts they hope to…

A new toll road slated to open Saturday aims to reduce congestion on a busy stretch of U.S. Highway 69 in Overland Park. The opening ends three years of disruptive construction. (Courtesy 69Express)

Nick’s Picks | Roads, Bathrooms, Costco and More …

New Toll Road Opens Kansas City’s first toll road opens this week. Starting Saturday, you’ll pay up to $3.50 to travel the new express lanes on U.S. Highway 69 from 103rd to 151st streets in Overland Park. There are no toll booths — cameras scan your license plate, and a bill arrives by mail. KTAG…

This photo was taken at Surprise Stadium before a game in March 2023. Almost no one is on the field, but it is entirely visible, with a netting in the way.

Nick’s Picks | Baseball, Drones, Romance and More …

Royals Reveal Next week, the Kansas City Royals head to Arizona for Spring Training. And that’s the mayor’s self-imposed deadline to lock in a stadium deal. So, is this finally the week owner John Sherman steps to the plate and unveils where the Royals will build their next home? At last week’s council meeting, Mayor…

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