Nick’s Picks | Dolly Parton in KC, Stadium Tax Revisited and More…

It’s been more than four months since voters rejected funding for a new Royals ballpark and improvements at Arrowhead Stadium. Now Jackson County lawmakers are one step away from putting the issue back on the ballot. But this time with a big twist.

ANOTHER STADIUM SALES TAX VOTE

Later today, county lawmakers will vote on adding a Chiefs-only sales tax to the November ballot.

The language calls for a ¼ cent sales tax for 20 years. Missing is any funding for the Royals.

It looks like Jackson County is letting Mayor Quinton Lucas sort that out.

The Kansas City Mayor says he’s been working on a plan for a new downtown ballpark that would bypass a public vote by using a “creative mix” of tax incentives to pay for the project. The Royals have yet to comment on the plan, which frustrates Governor Mike Parson. He says the team must decide on a path forward soon if it expects any financial help from the state.

5 BIG DECISIONS & NEWS DEVELOPMENTS TO WATCH

• AGING IN PLACE TAX: In addition to the stadium tax, Jackson County lawmakers will decide today whether to place a second question on the November ballot to fund senior services. Proponents say the slight property tax increase will allow older residents to “age in place” with better transportation, Meals on Wheels and home repair programs. Opponents say it’s the wrong time to ask county voters to increase their property tax bills.

• HOMICIDES HIT 100: Kansas City hit a grim milestone over the weekend. We start the week with more than 100 homicides on the books. While murders are down from last year, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says the city is “running out of excuses.”

• SHELTER IN JEOPARDY:  Plans for Johnson County’s first permanent homeless shelter could be killed off today. The Lenexa Planning Commission meets this evening and is expected to reject a permit to turn a La Quinta Inn and Suites in Lenexa into a year-round bed space for up to 50 unhoused families.

• TAKING A TOLL:  Construction on Johnson County’s first toll road is expected to cause a lot more disruption for drivers this week.  In both directions, all ramps on the busy 119th St exit of 69 Highway have been shut down. It will be fully closed to traffic for two months. Restaurants and stores on 119^th Street say it’s killing their business.
  
• RUFFLING FEATHERS: A new Missouri law is ruffling feathers this week. Beginning on Wednesday, Missouri homeowner associations can no longer ban backyard chickens. State lawmakers say the skyrocketing cost of eggs pushed them to make the change. The new law permits Missouri homeowners to pasture up to six chickens. Several homeowners’ associations have threatened to sue.

Also taking effect this week… A new ban on celebratory gunfire in Missouri. The law prohibits recklessly discharging a firearm within city limits. Also called Blair’s Law, it’s named after an 11-year-old Kansas City girl who was killed by a stray bullet in 2011.

ABORTION AMENDMENT SEES NEW LEGAL CHALLENGE

In addition to picking a new president, voters in Missouri are set to vote on a statewide abortion amendment in November. But could a new legal clash keep the question off the ballot?

Two Missouri Republican lawmakers and an anti-abortion activist are suing to block the amendment because it fails to specify what other state laws could be repealed if the measure passes, including a current ban on some forms of stem cell research.

Time is running out for a judge to rule in the case. While the election may be in November, Missouri election officials will start printing ballots in about three weeks.

It’s not the only ballot measure facing a last-minute legal challenge.

There is also a lawsuit aiming to block the sports betting question from showing up on the November ballot.

A judge could rule on the case this week.

DOLLY PARTON IN KC

Taylor Swift is now reportedly in town, hanging out with main squeeze Travis Kelce at his Leawood Mansion.

But heads up… Guess who else is here this week? Dolly Parton.

The country music legend is not going to be singing but announcing the expansion of her free children’s book program in Missouri. Parton will appear with Governor Mike Parson at a downtown event on Tuesday.

Can you go see her? The short answer is no. It’s a private event with hand-selected attendees from the world of early-childhood education.

But you can watch the event live online. We’re partnering with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to livestream the special event.

Visit kansascitypbs.org/dolly for more information.

You can also register your children and grandchildren in Parton’s free Imagination Library program. They’ll send free children’s books to your home.

DOWNTOWN MUSEUM SHUTS ITS DOORS

The Historic Garment District Museum at 8^th and Broadway will permanently shut its doors on Friday.

Opened in 2002, it chronicled the powerhouse role Kansas City once played in the clothing industry.

At one time, Kansas City made over 25% of the clothing in the United States and its garment district was the second largest in the country, after New York.

After this week, the museum’s collection will be stored in the basement of Union Station.

In the future, some of its 350 exhibits could be displayed at the refurbished Kansas City Museum.

CHILDREN’S MERCY PARK WELCOMES “NEW TEAM”

It’s going to get a little crowded around Children’s Mercy Park this week.

Starting on Thursday, the home of Sporting KC will also be the new home for KU Football, at least temporarily.

As renovations continue at its stadium in Lawrence, the University of Kansas must find somewhere else to play.

KU Football will host its home opener against Lindenwood at Children’s Mercy Park on Thursday night.

The venue will have less than 48 hours to transform its soccer pitch into a football field. That’s because Sporting also has a big game this week. It takes on Indianapolis in the U.S. Open Cup Semifinal on Tuesday evening.

In other sports news…

• College football is back on both sides of the state line. Mizzou plays Murray State in its season home opener on Thursday.
• The K-State Wildcats host Tennessee-Martin at Bill Snyder Stadium in Manhattan on Saturday.
• America’s most prestigious tennis tournament, the U.S. Open, officially begins today.
• The Paralympic Games begin Wednesday in Paris.

MEGA FESTIVAL WEEKEND

It may be a short week for some Kansas Citians as they take advantage of the extended Labor Day Holiday weekend.  But for those of us sticking around, we’re about to experience the granddaddy of all festival weekends.

Kansas City Irish Fest returns to Crown Center on Friday.  

And Huzzah! Break out the turkey legs and put on a British accent for the first weekend of the Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs.

And the three-day SantaCaliGon Days begins Friday in Independence. Started 84 years ago, it celebrates the starting point of the Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails. Today it celebrates funnel cakes, carnival rides and all-day music entertainment.