Nick’s Picks
Nick Haines shares the upcoming week’s biggest news stories, before they unfold.
Nick’s Picks | Verdict, Shutdown, Buc-ee’s and More …
Frank White Recall Election Voters will finally deliver their verdict this week on Jackson County Executive Frank White. A special recall election is set for Tuesday. Recall supporters are angry at White over his handling of property assessments. Opponents counter that the construction lobby is trying to clear the path for a “sweetheart stadium deal.”…
Nick’s Picks | Fall, Streetcar, Recall and More …
Good morning, it’s the First Day of Fall. And Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, starts tonight. Here are some of the local news and trends we’re tracking this week… New Missouri Map Awaits Governor’s Pen Missouri’s new congressional map is stuck in limbo, more than a week after lawmakers approved a rare mid-decade redistricting…
Nick’s Picks | Steak, Jail, Tower and More …
New Missouri Map Signing Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is promising to sign a new congressional map this week that would make it tougher for Kansas City Congressman Emanuel Cleaver to win reelection. Kehoe is also expected to sign a ballot reform measure that raises the bar for passing citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. If approved by voters…
Nick’s Picks | Gerrymandering, Brewing, Haunting and More …
Final Redistricting Vote Missouri lawmakers are expected to sign off this week on a new congressional map that could force out Kansas City Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. The full House is expected to vote on the measure today. If approved, some dramatic changes are on the way. Downtown Kansas City, the Plaza, and Brookside would all…
Nick’s Picks | Diapers, Troops, Fans and More …
It’s the last blast of summer for many Kansas Citians this week. Expect quiet commutes and empty desks as Labor Day’s three-day break has folks heading out early. Many area schools are also cutting the week short. Here are some other local stories we’re keeping tabs on this week… New Laws From Diapers to Marriage…
Nick’s Picks | Redistricting, Heat, Football and More …
Back to School Week Kansas students returned to the classroom last week, now it’s Back to School week for Missouri kids. Mayor Quinton Lucas was scheduled to greet students on the first day of class in the Kansas City school district today. In addition to the pain of getting up early, Missouri students will be…
Nick’s Picks | Buses, Schools, Eats and More …
Bus Service Shutdown? Money to run the bus service in Kansas City officially runs out on Friday, leaving thousands of riders worried about how they’ll get to work. The metro’s largest bus agency, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) has been struggling to keep the service afloat after federal pandemic money dried up and…
Nick’s Picks | USDA, LBJ, Streetcar and More …
Trump Set to Move Thousands of USDA Jobs to KC We are waiting to hear more details this week about a new plan by President Donald Trump to move thousands of federal agriculture department jobs to Kansas City. It is part of a new push by the White House to shift government offices closer to…
Nick’s Picks | White, Garner, Lucas and More …
Frank Decision Jackson County Executive Frank White has done something no one else has been able to accomplish over the past year. He’s managed to knock the stadium story off the front page. White’s fate has become Kansas City’s newest and biggest political drama. This week, we are waiting for a judge to rule on…
Nick’s Picks | Batteries, Recall, Butterflies and More …
Panasonic Plant Grand Opening Panasonic’s $4 billion Kansas battery plant finally begins operations this week. The company is hosting a grand opening ceremony today in De Soto with state and local leaders. The project is jam-packed with superlatives: At full capacity, the plant can churn out 66 lithium-ion batteries per second. But it’s unclear if…