Nick’s Picks | Anniversaries, Legislative Drama and Concerts

Kansas will be in the national spotlight this week. This Friday marks the 70^th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka, Kansas. 

The ruling would legally end racial segregation of America’s public schools.  

Some view it as the most important and consequential Supreme Court decision of the 20^th century.  

The Topeka school at the center of the case is now a historic site run by the National Park Service.  

This Saturday, more than a hundred of its former students and teachers will return for a homecoming celebration to commemorate the 1954 ruling. Several panels of education leaders will also reflect on how much real change has taken place in schools since the court’s decision.  

Missouri Lawmakers 

Missouri lawmakers see the finish line in sight. This year’s legislative session ends on Friday. 

Look for a last-minute scramble to get things done before the session ends. 

Panicked over the prospect that voters might overturn the state’s abortion ban this November, lawmakers continue to work on a plan to make it tougher to pass constitutional amendments at the ballot box.  

The problem: They still can’t reach consensus on how best to do it.  

It remains the biggest unresolved issue of the session.  

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Last Week, Reviewed

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Parson Says Ciao 

As Missouri lawmakers wind down for the year, Gov. Mike Parson is off to Italy.  

He begins a week-long trade mission to Rome and Milan on Saturday. 

According to the governor’s office, Italy is a key trade partner for Missouri with more than $169 million in exports last year.  

A release from Parson’s staff says taxpayers won’t be paying for the trip. It’s being funded by the Hawthorn Foundation, a Missouri nonprofit focused on boosting economic development in the state. 

Waiting on Kelly 

Will she, or won’t she?  

We’re still waiting to see if Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly orders lawmakers back to work to approve tax cuts and possibly a new plan to lure the Chiefs and Royals to the Sunflower State. 

An announcement on a special session is expected this week. 

Royals to Honor 2014 Team  

Nearly 20 of the biggest names in Royals history will be in Kansas City this week to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of their 2014 World Series appearance. They would go on to win it all a year later. 

Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain, Wade Davis, Mike Moustakas and coach Ned Yost will be among those honored during four-days of celebrations, starting Thursday night at Union Station.  

The players will make special appearances in on-field ceremonies at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as the Royals take on the Oakland Athletics. 

Wide World of Sports 

The NFL will unveil 2024 schedule on Wednesday night.  

The Chiefs already know who their first opponent will be. The NFL announced this morning that the defending Super Bowl champions will open the season against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 5 at Arrowhead Stadium. 

• The NBA and NHL playoffs continue this week. 
• The PGA Championship begins Thursday. 
• And the Caitlin Clark era begins in the WNBA on Tuesday night as Indiana takes on Connecticut. 

‘Kelce Jam’ 

The Chiefs may be in the off-season. But some of the team’s top players will be joining Travis Kelce this weekend for the second annual “Kelce Jam” music festival at Azura Amphitheater.  

Rappers Lil Wayne, Diplo and 2Chainz are this year’s headliners. 

Just in case your decision to go rests on whether Taylor Swift will be there, she won’t be! 

Swift will be in Stockholm, Sweden, on Saturday continuing her Eras Tour. 

Cheap Concert Tickets 

If you’ve been to a concert recently, you know the price of tickets can be astonishing. 

Here’s your chance to take the sting out of seeing some of your favorite bands. 

As part of Live Nation Concert Week, you can score $25 tickets to dozens of Kansas City shows from Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire at Starlight Theater, to country stars Tim McGraw and Luke Bryan at T-Mobile Center.  

But you must act fast. The $25 tickets are only available through midnight on Tuesday. 

Click here for a full list of included shows. 

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