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 afte r drawing the reigning World Cup champions, Argentina and European soccer powerhouse, The Netherlands. Both have rabid fan bases known to travel anywhere their teams play.  Here are some other take homes from this weekend’s FIFA World Cup draw:  Geographic Confusion: Despite the best efforts of VisitKC, one Dutch news site reports that the Netherlands national team will be playing in “Kansas.”  Heat Warning: The European press said fans should prepare for extreme heat if they come to Kansas City. FIFA officials may have already responded to that concern by scheduling matches later in the evening, including an Austria vs. Algeria game that won’t start at Arrowhead until 9 p.m. But that brings a new set of problems.  Fans Slam Crazy World Cup kick-off times: That was the headline in the British newspaper, The Sun which complained you’d have to be an insomniac to watch many of the tournament’s biggest matchups. Scotland’s opening game won’t start until 2 a.m. British time. And some matches won’t begin until 5 a.m. (UK time), leaving the British tabloid to declare that the only people watching, “will be the unemployed.”   Ripple Effects: Kansas City’s World Cup games are also starting to have an impact on other big events in Kansas City. The celebrity Big Slick weekend will no longer feature a star-filled softball game at Kauffman Stadium, after the Royals switch out homestands to avoid conflicting with World Cup preparations.  Chiefs on ‘Life Support’  If you see lots of frowns around town today, blame it on the Chiefs.   For the first time in a decade, the team is in danger of missing the playoffs after losing to the Texans on Sunday night.  The Chiefs defeat drops their playoff chances to 12%, according to ESPN.  In other words, they have to win every one of their last four games, and hope some other teams perform really badly to have any hope of another Super Bowl run.  The Chiefs are back at Arrowhead on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Kick-off is at noon.  Deadline for Repealing Missouri Map  Missourians wanting to block the state’s newly drawn congressional map have until this Thursday to submit 106,000 valid signatures if they hope to put the issue to a public vote.   The group People Not Politicians has reportedly collected 200,000 signatures to get the measure on the 2026 ballot. But many of those signatures are being challenged in court.  Missouri’s new congressional map was redrawn by lawmakers to squeeze out longtime Kansas City Democrat, Emanuel Cleaver.  ‘Gas Station Drugs’ Ban  About a month ago, a viewer reached out to me to say how her son had become addicted to a natural supplement sold at a Kansas City gas station and almost died.   Now Kansas City is banning so-called “gas station drugs,” the colorful tablets, gummies and liquid shots designed to look like candy, that some studies say can be more powerful than morphine, and even more addictive.  The measure introduced by Mayor Quinton Lucas will get a hearing before the council’s Public Safety Committee on Tuesday.  If passed, the ordinance would slap fines of $750 to $1,000 per day on business owners who continue to sell the products, sold under names like “7-OH,” that are often labeled “herbal” or “natural” supplements but are totally unregulated. Lucas says further violations could result in the business having its operating license revoked.  World’s First Mile-Deep Nuclear Reactor Coming to Kansas  Kansas will be home to the world’s first mile-deep nuclear reactor, and the groundbreaking is this week.   A California-based company called Deep Fission has secured the rights to build the facility in the southeast Kansas town of Parsons. It is one of nine test projects approved by the Trump administration to meet the explosive demand for power from artificial intelligence.  While some activists are ringing the alarm bells over public safety and groundwater contamination, the project has the approval of local and state leaders, including Gov. Laura Kelly.  Deep Fission says the nuclear reactors will be installed through 30-inch bore holes drilled 1-mile deep and will be “naturally shielded by billions of tons of Kansas dirt.”  Top state officials are expected at Tuesday’s groundbreaking. The company hopes to begin operating, “before the Fourth of July next year.”  Time to Go Bowl-Ing  The college football Bowl Season starts this week.   But many of our area’s biggest teams will be missing in action.  For the second straight year, KU failed to qualify.   Meanwhile, K-State has rejected its bowl invitation after the abrupt retirement of head coach Chris Kleiman. It’s an expensive decision for the Wildcats. The Big 12 has fined K-State $500,000 for “failing to fulfill its contractual obligations to its bowl partners.”  It’s a different picture on the Missouri side…  Mizzou is heading to the Gator Bowl for the first time since 1968. The Tigers have a showdown with Virginia on Dec. 27.  And Missouri State is making its first ever bowl appearance in the inaugural Xbox bowl. The Bears are set to take on the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Dec. 18.    First Night of Hanukkah  The eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah begins Sunday night with menorah lighting ceremonies planned around the Kansas City metro area.  WWE In Town  The wrestling superstars of the WWE muscle their way into town tonight for “Monday Night Raw” at T-Mobile Center. Lucas says he’ll be in attendance.  Though it’s not clear whether he’s there to watch or get in the ring!  Plaza Launches New Holiday Market  Stung by negative headlines over its new development plans, the Country Club Plaza is trying to win over fans with its first-ever Holiday Market.   In addition to special store promotions and live entertainment, you can shop artisan vendors, get free hot chocolate, food tastings, and snapshots with Santa and live reindeer.   It’s from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.  45th Anniversary of Lennon Death  Today marks the 45th anniversary of John Lennon’s assassination. The former member of The Beatles was shot and killed outside his apartment building in New York City by a deranged fan.   T-Mobile Center Hosts National Volleyball Championship  The top collegiate volleyball teams in the nation are in Kansas City this week for the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship. The semi-finals are Thursday at T-Mobile Center. The national championship title game is Sunday.  Largest Indoor Golf Course Opens  The metro’s largest indoor golf course opens this week on the former site of the Metcalf South Shopping Center in Overland Park.   Tap Ins at the Greenhouse boasts two 18-hole mini-golf courses, one inside a climate-controlled greenhouse, plus multiple bars, a restaurant and an ice cream shop.  It opens Tuesday at 95th and Metcalf.   Nick Haines  tracks Kansas City’s most impactful, confusing, and downright head-scratching local news stories on Week in Review, Fridays at 7:30 p.m. on Kansas City PBS. 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