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

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)

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…

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

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.

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…

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

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)

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…

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

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

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…

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

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)

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,…

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