Nick Haines

Executive Producer of Public Affairs at Kansas City PBS

Nick Haines leads KCPBS' news and public affairs television division and is the executive producer and host of Kansas City Week in Review.

Stories by Nick Haines

Leaders in Leavenworth, Kansas, are scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to reopen a former CoreCivic facility as a federal immigration detention center. (Morgan Chilson | Kansas Reflector)

Nick’s Picks | Sports, Immigration, Booze and More …

Big 12 Takes Over Downtown It’s that time of year when workplaces start clearing out early to chase a bouncing orange ball. The Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship rolls into town this week… the first sign that March Madness is on the way. K-State takes the court at T-Mobile Center on Tuesday. KU plays Thursday….

The raucous cheering section for Sporting KC known as "The Cauldron" pictured at a game in 2022. (Wikimedia Commons)

Nick’s Picks | Maps, Lawsuits, Sporting and More …

Missouri Map Throws Candidates Into Limbo It’s going to be a confusing political week in Missouri, as campaign season officially kicks off with a giant question mark. Candidates can start filing for Congress on Tuesday — but thanks to an unresolved court fight, they don’t know the exact boundaries of the districts they hope to…

A new toll road slated to open Saturday aims to reduce congestion on a busy stretch of U.S. Highway 69 in Overland Park. The opening ends three years of disruptive construction. (Courtesy 69Express)

Nick’s Picks | Roads, Bathrooms, Costco and More …

New Toll Road Opens Kansas City’s first toll road opens this week. Starting Saturday, you’ll pay up to $3.50 to travel the new express lanes on U.S. Highway 69 from 103rd to 151st streets in Overland Park. There are no toll booths — cameras scan your license plate, and a bill arrives by mail. KTAG…

This photo was taken at Surprise Stadium before a game in March 2023. Almost no one is on the field, but it is entirely visible, with a netting in the way.

Nick’s Picks | Baseball, Drones, Romance and More …

Royals Reveal Next week, the Kansas City Royals head to Arizona for Spring Training. And that’s the mayor’s self-imposed deadline to lock in a stadium deal. So, is this finally the week owner John Sherman steps to the plate and unveils where the Royals will build their next home? At last week’s council meeting, Mayor…

The famed weather predictor Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, which means we could see six more weeks of winter, at least according to Groundhog Day lore. This was the fifth time in the last six years that Phil has seen his shadow, according to The Weather Channel, and the 20th time since 2000. Thankfully, in our neck of the woods, temperatures are going make it feel like spring. (Facebook)

Nick’s Picks | Phil, ICE, KCPD and More …

Today is my favorite holiday of the year…Happy Groundhog Day! Apparently, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow earlier this morning, predicting six more weeks of winter. But around here it’s going to feel almost tropical. After weeks of teeth-chattering cold and snow, the deep freeze is backing off. No single-digit temps on the horizon — and…

A view looking north from the proposed Kansas City Royals stadium with the downtown skyline in the background.

Nick’s Picks | Stadium (Again), Fire, ICE and More …

Big questions loom as the week begins — from stadium drama to detention centers to a familiar cliffhanger: Are we heading for another government shutdown? Signs of a New Royals Stadium Deal? Could last week’s closed-door meeting between the governor, mayor, and county executive signal that a deal is finally ready to be made on…

The Kansas City Police Department is rolling out new uniforms this week. It's the first update in more than four decades. (Kansas City Police Department)

Nick’s Picks | Flu, Speeches, Protests and More …

Flu Surge Halts Surgeries Kansas City hospitals are cancelling hundreds of elective surgeries this week as they struggle to keep up with a surge of respiratory illnesses brought on by what the CDC is now calling the most brutal flu season in 25 years. The flood of hospitalizations is tied to a new influenza strain,…

Nick’s Picks | A 2026 Top 10 List

The first day back after a big holiday is never easy. Your inbox is overflowing, your brain hasn’t caught up yet, and coffee is doing all the heavy lifting. We’ve got you. To ease you back into reality, here’s a handy (and mildly entertaining) guide to the 10 biggest projects and cultural moments headed your…

Christal Watson will be sworn in the evening of Dec. 15, 2025, as the new mayor of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. (Carlos Moreno | KCUR 89.3)

Nick’s Picks | WyCo, High-Rises, Buses and More …

Kelce Retirement Announcement? What’s your big new distraction now that the Chiefs are out of the playoffs? It’s going to be a long winter for Chiefs fans after the team fails to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Now get ready for the questions: Will Travis Kelce announce his retirement this week?…

Scarves aloft, Ali Samaniego, at left, and Veronica Brewer celebrate at a regionwide watch party for the final draw. In the countdown to the FIFA World Cup, the event drew a crowd Friday morning to KC Live! in the Power & Light District. (Julie Denesha | KCUR 89.3)

Nick’s Picks | Soccer, Signatures, Supplements and More …

Reworking World Cup Plans  Now that we know which World Cup teams will be coming to Kansas City, are local officials about to redraw the game plan?   While a formal announcement could come later this week, the Kansas City World Cup Host Committee is dialing up its fan projections after drawing the reigning World Cup champions, Argentina and European soccer powerhouse,…

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