Kansas City Week In Review

Nick Haines, Brian Ellison, Eric Wesson, Pete Mundo and Dave Helling discuss the long awaited announcement that the Royals will build a new stadium in Crown Center in partnership with Hallmark, the push in the Missouri legislature to eliminate income tax and Adam Hamilton delaying his decision on a run for U.S. Senate to challenge Roger Marshall.

Nick Haines convenes local policymakers, developers and environmental advocates to dig into the thorny issues raised in the Kansas City PBS documentary, The Politics of Trees. The public also weighs in, directly questioning decision-makers in a candid exchange about tree loss, extreme weather and the ongoing tug-of-war between rapid development and protecting Kansas City’s shrinking tree canopy.To view the documentary, visit The Politics of Trees at KansasCityPBS.org.

Nick Haines, Charlie Keegan, Eric Wesson, Brian Ellison and Dave Helling discuss details, questions and concerns related to moving Royals stadium to Washington Square Park, a push for a petition initiative to put stadium to a vote, Royals considering Crown Center purchase for entertainment district, World Cup security and lack of a temporary jail facility, the Kansas legislative session and more.

Nick Haines, Savannah Hawley-Bates, Kris Ketz, Eric Wesson and Dave Helling discuss the results of this week's election including KC earnings tax and mayors of Independence and Lee's Summit, a new update on Royals stadium relocation, KCMO City Hall's bias audit of local media, the pushback on new data centers, sports complex losing state funds, mini liquor bottle debate, 71 Highway future & more.

Nick Haines, Kacen Bayless, Savannah Hawley-Bates, Eric Wesson and Dave Helling discuss the retirement of Sam Graves, Chris Stigall and Nathan Willet jumping into race to fill Graves vacancy, the decision by Mayor Quinton Lucas to not challenge Mark Allford, Phil Levota's about-face on running for Jackson County Executive, the Rock Island Bridge opening, Oracle layoffs, gas tax and symphony venue.

Nick Haines, Charlie Keegan, David Hudnall, Eric Wesson and Patrick Tuohey discuss the vote to renew Kansas City's earning tax, the Missouri legislature push to eliminate income tax, the Missouri Supreme Court greenlighting a new congressional map, the ban on cell phones in Kansas schools, renaming Avenida César E Chávez, the latest on the midtown Costco, KCI security and empty Plaza storefronts.

Nick Haines, Lisa Rodriguez, Kacen Bayliss, Eric Wesson and Dave Helling discuss the stalled Royals stadium location decision, the Chiefs push for a sports authority in Kansas, the FBI investigation at City Hall and its implications for 2027 mayoral race, Darryl Forte considering run for mayor, Adam Hamilton eyeing Kansas Senate run, Jackson County jail capacity and symphony exploring Plaza venue.

Nick Haines, Savannah Hawley-Bates, Charlie Keegan, Kyle Palmer and Dave Helling discuss the first toll road in the metro area as 69 Highway in Overland Park opens, the restrictions in the Kansas bathroom bill, John Sherman expressing new urgency in the stadium decision, the Missouri redistricting battle, changes for KC Costco, arson attempt at potential ICE facility and data center resistance.

Nick Haines, Eric Wesson, Kris Ketz, Brian Ellison and Dave Helling discuss the last State of the City from Mayor Quinton Lucas and his top remaining priorities, KC ranking highest per capita of homeless among major cities, next year's mayoral race, Royals stadium talk stagnation, dollar hot dog night at the K, the launch of Amazon drone delivery, political math for Sharice Davids & minimum wage.

Nick Haines, Savannah Hawley-Bates, Brian Ellison, Eric Wesson and Dave Helling discuss the response from the public in Olathe and Wyandotte County on the Chiefs stadium deal , plans for an ICE detention center in Leavenworth, the push for ICE restrictions, KCMO budget problems, placing restrictions on some liquor sales, adding citizenship status to driver's license and England's World Cup team.

Nick Haines, Lisa Rodriguez, Eric Graves, Eric Wesson and Dave Helling discuss the Royals announcing the Aspira campus is no longer in consideration, the Chiefs narrowing search for architecture firm, the Kansas bathroom bill, the future for Sharice Davids, the latest on ICE detention center, Lucas joining lawsuit to block use of federal agents, reopening the city funded grocery store and more.

Nick Haines, Pete Mundo, Savannah Hawley-Bates, Yvette Walker and Dave Helling discuss concerns over locating an ICE detention center in the metro, the late decision by Mayor Lucas to change the location of the new city jail, the pushback on new data centers, a potential name change for Sporting KC's Children's Mercy Park, latest Chiefs stadium updates and World Cup teams picking KC for base camp.

Nick Haines, Kris Ketz, Brian Ellison, Charlie Keegan and Dave Helling discuss Kansas Governor Laura Kelly's final State of the State address, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe's State of the State address, legislative priorities including eliminating income tax in MO and capping property tax in KS, local response to rising tensions with ICE, new KCPD uniforms plus panelists answer viewer questions.

Nick Haines, Lisa Rodriguez, Dave Helling, Eric Wesson and Brian Ellison discuss a myriad of lingering questions about the Chiefs and Royals stadium decisions including financing, demolition of old stadiums and impact on the affected communities, abandoning redistricting efforts in Kansas, the push to eliminate state income taxes by Gov. Kehoe in Missouri, privatizing Plaza sidewalks and more.

Nick Haines, Dana Wright, Eric Wesson, Dave Helling and Brian Ellison reflect on 2025's most impactful stories, pick KC's Person of the Year, identify the biggest winners and losers and gaze into a crystal ball to make predictions for 2026.

Nick Haines, Savannah Hawley-Bates, Brian Ellison, Kyle Palmer and Dave Helling discuss pushback in Johnson County over stadium consideration at Aspira Campus and continued silence from team owners, the requests for tax incentives by new Plaza ownership, Lockton eyeing move to JOCO, KC's World Cup draw and new social media rules for visitors, MO and KS congressional maps, a JACO/KCMO split & more.

Nick Haines talks to Mayor Quinton Lucas as he begins his last year as mayor about some of the key issues the city must address including preparations for the biggest event in the city's history, budget issues and the future of the city's major league sports franchises. Plus, after her first year on the job, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson discusses key accomplishments and new approaches.

Nick Haines, Charlie Keegan, Brian Ellison, Eric Wesson and Dave Helling discuss new downward trending KCPD crime figures and the lingering perception contrary to the numbers, the out-of-state group paying signature gatherers in referendum effort to quit, how local reps voted on shutdown bill, a new stadium roof consideration, Jackson County assessor search, Kansas mail in ballot change and more.

Nick Haines, Yvette Walker, Brian Ellison, Pete Mundo and Kyle Palmer discuss the biggest winners and losers in this week's election, the lessons learned from voting trends on both sides of the state line, abandoning redistricting efforts in Kansas, the speculation around potential U.S. Senate runs by Sharice Davids or Laura Kelly, the survey of Royals fans, World Cup accommodations and more. 

For the first time in 20 years, the race for Mayor of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas will not feature an incumbent. Nick Haines moderates a debate of key issues like property taxes, housing, business development and consolidation itself as well as potential changes in the county and its government with candidates Rose Mulvany Henry and Christal Watson.