Nick’s Picks | Parade Set for Super Bowl Champion Chiefs

The Chiefs did it.

Now it’s time to paint the town red. 

If you’re scared of big crowds, avoid downtown on Wednesday. 

That will be the epicenter of what is being officially called the “Chiefs Kingdom Champions Parade.” 

The last time the Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 2020, an estimated 800,000 to 1 million people came to watch. And that was on a bitterly cold day. With warmer temperatures expected this week, it’s likely that crowd will grow.  

Most area school districts have already canceled for the day. 

When and Where: The Kansas City Sports Commission has announced that the parade will start at noon on Wednesday, with a Union Station rally planned for 1:45 p.m.  

Details: You can get more details on the parade route and updates about what to expect here. 

Super Sick Monday 

It may not have a Hallmark card attached to it, but today is “Super Sick Monday.” 

A record 18.8 million employees are predicted to miss work today after indulging in Super Bowl parties. 

But according to a survey released by The Workforce Institute, it’s not just employees who will be calling in sick. An estimated 23% of managers also plan to ditch work today. 

Do you think the percentage will be even higher in Kansas City today? 

Don’t be surprised to see a lot of unexpected absences in the office and on the factory floor when you get in this morning. 

Police Officer Shot 

Super Bowl night partying left one Kansas City police officer hospitalized Sunday night. The Kansas City Police Department is now investigating how one of its own was “struck by gunfire” while working at the police headquarters building downtown. 

A department spokesperson say the officer was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. 

Betting Big on the Super Bowl 

The American Gaming Association says 50.4 million Americans bet on the Super Bowl, wagering $16 billion on the game. That’s more than double the $7 billion bet on last year’s matchup. 

Missouri’s slice of the action? Zero.  

Having blocked efforts to legalize sports betting in the past, Missouri lawmakers say they now want in. 

The Missouri Senate takes up a new sports gambling bill on Tuesday. The House held public hearings on three separate sports gaming measures last week. 

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Last Week, Reviewed

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Love in the Air 

If you needed a reminder, Tuesday is Valentine’s Day. 

It’s possible that Chiefs mania may have distracted you from remembering the other love of your life. 

Here’s the good news. It’s not too late to rush to the store for flowers, a box of candy, a card or all three. 

KCI Test Day  

How will you be celebrating Valentine’s Day this year? 

How about getting romantic with your partner by spending the day checking out the new bathrooms and parking garage at Kansas City International Airport?  

KCI officials have picked Valentine’s Day on Tuesday to launch their much-publicized “simulation test.” Nearly 12,000 people signed up to be “pretend passengers” for the day.  

Were you one of them?  

If you didn’t get selected, there’s an open house on Saturday where another 10,000 Kansas Citians can look at the new $1.5 billion terminal before its opening. 

If you haven’t signed up for the open house, it’s too late. Registration is closed. 

But you can still take a virtual tour for free on Saturday. 

The new KCI opens Feb. 28. 

Snow on the Way 

Wednesday may be a wonderful day for a parade, but the weather is about to change. 

The National Weather Service says prepare for snow showers late Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Up to an inch of snow is possible.  

With more precipitation on the way, Kansas City is now getting close to having one of the wettest Februarys in history. The Weather Service’s Kansas City office says this week’s snow and rain will put us in the top 10 in recorded history, with still half of February to go. 

Affordable Housing Fight 

There are a lot of cities around the metro that are now making affordable housing a priority.  

But for all the talk, it’s been remarkably difficult for local elected officials to make it happen. 

Efforts to change zoning laws have been met with fierce resistance from homeowners adamantly opposed to apartment complexes and multi-family homes in their neighborhoods. 

Prairie Village is finding that out the hard way.  

This week, after intense public pushback, the Prairie Village Council is set to walk back its ambitious plans for lower-cost housing. 

Instead elected leaders are scheduled to vote tonight on a measure that would wall off 90% of Prairie Village from the city’s affordable housing recommendations.  

Other News 

Politics: Nikki Haley, the Republican former governor of South Carolina, is expected to announce her 2024 presidential campaign on Wednesday. 

Entertainment: Quantumania hits America this week. Kansas City actor Paul Rudd reprises his role as Antman as “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” arrives at a movie theater near you on Friday. 

Sports: The Kansas City Royals start reporting for spring training. The team’s pitchers and catchers will arrive in Surprise, Arizona on Wednesday. 

It’s the week of motor-racing’s most prestigious event. The Daytona 500 is Sunday afternoon. 

Meanwhile, the biggest names in basketball will take part in the NBA All Star game on Sunday night. 

Help Wanted  

Worlds of Fun is celebrating a big birthday this year. It’s 50 years old.  

Now the company says it’s launching the biggest “hiring blitz” in its history. 

A week-long hiring event starts this weekend. Kansas City’s largest theme park is looking to recruit more than 3,000 seasonal employees.  

Want to run a rollercoaster? The gig pays up to $17 an hour. Hopefully, they can find more money for the poor soul who cleans up the vomit left behind on the rides. 

By the way, you also get free meals and free tickets to the park for you and your family members. 

Hiring week starts on Saturday at the Worlds of Fun main gate. 

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.