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 $1.9 billion proposal.

The state’s share? Unclear.

Jackson County’s contribution? Also unclear.

That uncertainty may explain the Royals’ careful tone—encouraging, but not firmly committing.

Meanwhile, pressure is building. Some groups want the governor to rule out any state funding without a public vote. And the chair of the Jackson County Legislature is drawing a similar line: no county money without voters weighing in.

Last Week Reviewed

Worst Record in Baseball?

As the Kansas City Royals make their case for public dollars on a new stadium, they’re undercutting the pitch with what’s happening on the field.

Kansas City is on a seven-game losing streak and now tied with the New York Mets for the worst record in baseball at 7–15.

There is a chance to reset tonight. The Royals return to Kauffman Stadium to open a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. First pitch: 6:40 p.m.

The Draft Begins

The Kansas City Chiefs go shopping for their next big star this week as the NFL Draft kicks off in Pittsburgh.

Thursday puts Kansas City in unfamiliar territory—picking in the top 10 for the first time since 2013.

Explosions, Helicopters and Emergency Sirens

Explosions. Low-flying helicopters. A chorus of sirens. If it feels like something’s gone terribly wrong Tuesday, it hasn’t.

It’s a full-scale security drill ahead of the FIFA World Cup—with federal, state and local agencies turning the grounds around Liberty Memorial into a real-time test of worst-case scenarios.

You’ll see a heavy law enforcement presence—and people who appear injured. They’re not.

Volunteers, splattered in fake blood, are helping first responders prepare for what everyone hopes never happens.

Stripping Local Schools of Federal Funding

Four Kansas school districts could be stripped of their federal funding this week, after a U.S. Education Department probe claimed they allowed “gender ideology” to “run amok” in their classrooms.

After a seven-month investigation, the department’s Office for Civil Rights determined the Olathe, Shawnee Mission, Kansas City, Kansas, and Topeka districts violated federal law by “allowing male students to use female restrooms and locker rooms.”

A spokesperson from the Olathe School District disputed the findings and blasted the report as “political theater.”

What’s at stake is significant. Federal dollars account for roughly 16% to 17% of the districts’ budgets, a loss that would be hard to absorb.

Hamilton Decision?

Is he in or is he out?

All eyes are on Adam Hamilton this week as he weighs a leap from the pulpit to politics.

Since floating a February bid to challenge Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, the question hasn’t let up.

His self-imposed decision deadline has come and gone—but a final call is expected this week.

Hamilton is one of Kansas City’s best-known ministers and founder of the nation’s largest Methodist congregation, the Church of the Resurrection, which is based in Leawood.

Kansas Congresswoman Sharice Davids has also not ruled out a run, adding another layer of intrigue to the race.

The Politics of Trees

How many trees will Kansas City cut down to make way for a new Royals ballpark at Washington Square Park?

Plans to wipe out the urban green space for new development isn’t sitting well with environmental groups.

It’s part of an ongoing push and pull between city leaders and residents. Despite decades of ordinances and pledges to protect them, trees are routinely lost to development, road widening, power lines, and city maintenance projects.

It’s the subject of our latest Kansas City PBS documentary, The Politics of Trees.

Before it hits the air, be the first to see the new film at a special screening at the Kansas City Plaza Library, Tuesday at 6 pm.

They’ve got a terrific host for the event… me!

The Week Ahead: Days to Know

Tuesday marks 10 years since the death of Prince—the seven-time Grammy winner who died of an accidental overdose at his home in 2016. A wave of tributes is planned, from new books and TV biopics to an anniversary concert and a special edition of Time magazine.

Wednesday is the 56th celebration of Earth Day.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump returns to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, ending a more than decade-long boycott of the event.

And Sunday, the U.S. Postal Service rolls out a first: an 8% fuel surcharge on packages, citing rising costs tied to the Iran conflict. The fee will apply to Priority Mail, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select—and is expected to stay in place through January.

Nick Haines tracks the metro’s most impactful, confusing and downright head-scratching local news stories on Week in Review, Friday at 7:30 p.m. on Kansas City PBS.