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 way in 2026. But first, let’s take a quick lap through the local headlines and trends lighting up our radar this week… Missouri Legislative Session Begins Missouri lawmakers head back to Jefferson City on Wednesday. And they have revenge on their minds. Some legislators are itching to punish the Kansas City Chiefs for ghosting Missouri and announcing a shiny new stadium in Kansas. Others are crossing their fingers, hoping the deal falls apart so they can keep the team right where it is. Governor Mike Kehoe says he will continue negotiating with the Chiefs, “until the moving trucks arrive” at Arrowhead. Kehoe’s other big goal this session: The total elimination of state income taxes. Yes, really. It would be a huge shakeup, though details on how Missouri would replace that missing revenue are… TBD. Still, nine states have already ditched income tax, from New Hampshire and South Dakota to Tennessee, Florida, and Texas. Also dragging themselves back to work this week: Your members of Congress. As you might expect, Venezuela tops the agenda, where the U.S.’s next move is already fueling debate. Meanwhile, captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro pled not guilty today in his first appearance in a New York City courthouse on drug-trafficking charges. Paycheck Bump Kicks In This week, thousands of low-wage workers will see a bump in their paychecks as the Missouri minimum wage rises to $15 an hour. That’s a $1.25 increase. Missouri voters approved the wage hike in November 2024. But Republican lawmakers quickly reversed many of its provisions, including sick leave guarantees and a requirement that the wage automatically rise with inflation. Still, the Missouri minimum wage is now double that of Kansas, which is stuck at $7.25. New Plaza Plan Would Privatize Sidewalks A new year brings another round of complaints about what’s happening on the Country Club Plaza. With plans for a row of high-rise towers currently on pause, the Plaza’s new owners are floating another idea: privatizing the shopping district’s sidewalks. The proposal goes before the City Planning Commission on Wednesday. Plaza leaders say private ownership would mean more public art, benches and faster repairs.  Critics aren’t buying it. They say it’s a move to ban protesters, street musicians, and panhandlers from the shopping district. Last Year, Reviewed Will He or Won’t He? That is the question this week. Now that the Chiefs season is officially over, Kansas City waits on the ultimate offseason cliffhanger: Is Travis Kelce calling it a career, or gearing up for one more run? KC Restaurant Week Begins It’s the annual slow season for restaurants. To get you off the couch and into a booth, KC Restaurant Week kicks off Friday with seriously discounted, multi-course meals at more than 240 restaurants on both sides of state line. Think fancy food at friendly prices and zero guilt about ordering dessert. The feast now runs a full 10 days, wrapping up Jan. 18. So pace yourself and bring your stretchiest pants. A portion of the proceeds goes to local charities. And the Golden Globe Goes To … Award Season is officially underway. The Golden Globes airs Sunday on CBS. Comedian and KU grad Nikki Glaser is hosting. What’s Coming, What’s Changing: 10 for 2026 Cranes, crowds, and culture. These are the 10 biggest projects and events landing in 2026. World Cup: We’re putting on the biggest event in Kansas City history. The entire metro will be buzzing as the FIFA World Cup comes to town in June. Kansas City will host six matches, starting June 16, when reigning champs Argentina face Algeria. And yes, it’s going to be a madhouse. KC Streetcar Rolls North: The Kansas City Streetcar line is growing again. This spring, the riverfront extension opens, connecting the streetcar to Berkley Riverfront Park and within steps of CPKC stadium. Morton Amphitheater Opens: Kansas City’s big concert venues have a new rival. The 16,000-seat Morton Amphitheater opens in Riverside this June, with a canopy over most seats — saving concertgoers from the elements and Kansas City’s legendary summer heat. Guns N’ Roses and Rod Stewart are already on the calendar, and Weird Al Yankovic gets the honor of opening the place June 19. New Toll Road Opens: The metro’s first toll road officially opens in 2026. The U.S. 69 Expressway in Overland Park will charge drivers from $0.30 to $1.75 depending on the length of the trip and time of day. The city’s website says the new paid lanes could be up and running within the next few weeks. Liberty Memorial Turns 100: It’s a big birthday for one of Kansas City’s most famous landmarks. The Liberty Memorial turns 100 this year. The monument to the fallen of World War I was officially dedicated on November 11, 1926, by President Calvin Coolidge. America250: Our country has an even bigger birthday to celebrate. Its America’s semiquincentennial, marking 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. In addition to a UFC fight on the White House lawn, there’ll be a second ball drop at Times Square, a “mega state fair” on the National Mall and the “the largest fireworks display in the world.” President Donald Trump also recently announced the first “Patriot Games,” an “unprecedented four-day athletic event” featuring the greatest high school athletes. The Big Vote: It’s a make-or-break election year that will decide who runs Congress. But the ballot closer to home is just as busy. In August, Kansas voters will weigh in on whether to directly elect state Supreme Court justices. In November, Missouri voters will decide whether to reimpose abortion restrictions. Throw in a Kansas governor’s race and a U.S. Senate contest, and suddenly “just another election year” goes from busy to blockbuster. Rock Island Bridge Finally Opens (We Think): After blowing past more deadlines than rush hour traffic, the long-awaited Rock Island Bridge is finally set to open. The abandoned span linking Kansas and Missouri in the West Bottoms is being billed as America’s first entertainment district over a river, complete with restaurants, bars, and yes, a zipline over the water. The big question now: will it actually be open in time for World Cup visitors in June… or just almost open? Overland Park Opens New Indoor-Outdoor Farmers Market: After years of talk, planning and bathroom debates,Overland Park finally opens its new indoor-outdoor Farmers Market. Yes, it has restrooms — a true luxury. Vendors and visitors are expected to start rolling in this summer. And the Royals are moving to… Saving the juiciest for last — could 2026 finally be the year the Royals spill the beans on their new stadium? After the Chiefs’ big “holiday surprise,” an official announcement could drop any minute. Grab your popcorn, KC. Nick Haines tracks the region’s most impactful, confusing and downright head-scratching local news stories on Week in Review, Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. on Kansas City PBS. The post Nick’s Picks | A 2026 Top 10 List first appeared on Flatland. ...read more read less