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

Nick’s Picks | Steak, Jail, Tower and More …

New Missouri Map Signing Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is promising to sign a new congressional map this week that would make it tougher for Kansas City Congressman Emanuel Cleaver to win reelection. Kehoe is also expected to sign a ballot reform measure that raises the bar for passing citizen-initiated constitutional amendments. If approved by voters…

Amber Arnett-Bequeaith, also known as The Queen of Haunts, poses on the steps of The Beast haunted house.

Nick’s Picks | Gerrymandering, Brewing, Haunting and More …

Final Redistricting Vote Missouri lawmakers are expected to sign off this week on a new congressional map that could force out Kansas City Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. The full House is expected to vote on the measure today. If approved, some dramatic changes are on the way. Downtown Kansas City, the Plaza, and Brookside would all…

Missouri Capitol Building in Jefferson City

Nick’s Picks | Diapers, Troops, Fans and More …

It’s the last blast of summer for many Kansas Citians this week. Expect quiet commutes and empty desks as Labor Day’s three-day break has folks heading out early.  Many area schools are also cutting the week short. Here are some other local stories we’re keeping tabs on this week… New Laws From Diapers to Marriage…

University of Kansas football fans will get their first look at the school's renovated stadium when the team takes on Fresno State on Saturday. Phase 1 overhauled the southwest, west and north sides of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. KU will complete a second phase at a later date. (KU rendering)

Nick’s Picks | Redistricting, Heat, Football and More …

Back to School Week Kansas students returned to the classroom last week, now it’s Back to School week for Missouri kids. Mayor Quinton Lucas was scheduled to greet students on the first day of class in the Kansas City school district today. In addition to the pain of getting up early, Missouri students will be…

Nick’s Picks | Buses, Schools, Eats and More …

Bus Service Shutdown? Money to run the bus service in Kansas City officially runs out on Friday, leaving thousands of riders worried about how they’ll get to work. The metro’s largest bus agency, the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) has been struggling to keep the service afloat after federal pandemic money dried up and…

A view of work on a streetcar extension looking south from about 43rd and Main streets.

Nick’s Picks | USDA, LBJ, Streetcar and More …

Trump Set to Move Thousands of USDA Jobs to KC We are waiting to hear more details this week about a new plan by President Donald Trump to move thousands of federal agriculture department jobs to Kansas City. It is part of a new push by the White House to shift government offices closer to…

Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. when he was named to the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame.

Nick’s Picks | White, Garner, Lucas and More …

Frank Decision Jackson County Executive Frank White has done something no one else has been able to accomplish over the past year. He’s managed to knock the stadium story off the front page. White’s fate has become Kansas City’s newest and biggest political drama. This week, we are waiting for a judge to rule on…

Monarch butterflies rest on branches.

Nick’s Picks | Batteries, Recall, Butterflies and More …

Panasonic Plant Grand Opening Panasonic’s $4 billion Kansas battery plant finally begins operations this week. The company is hosting a grand opening ceremony today in De Soto with state and local leaders. The project is jam-packed with superlatives: At full capacity, the plant can churn out 66 lithium-ion batteries per second. But it’s unclear if…

Gas might not be as cheap as it was when these pumps operated, but AAA is reporting that gas is about 24 cents a gallon cheaper than it was a year ago in the lead-up to the Fourth of July. (Mike_Birdy | Freerange Stock)

Nick’s Picks | Travel, Fireworks, Lacrosse and More …

Kicking the Can Down the Road on Stadiums A Kansas deal to fund up to 70% of the costs of new stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals expires tonight. But it looks like the teams and our political leaders have decided to kick the can down the road, yet again. Both teams have asked Kansas…

Welcome to summer. Temperatures are expected to remain in the 90s all week. (Pexels)

Nick’s Picks | Stadiums, Heat, Concerts and More …

Pressure Mounts on Chiefs, Royals to Decide A deadline is forcing the owners of the Chiefs and Royals to finally pick a side: Kansas or Missouri? A Kansas offer that would pay up to 70% of the construction costs for building new stadiums for the teams expires at the end of the week. Kansas legislative…

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