AGP Executive Report

Youth Arts Funding: Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art announced a $1 million gift from the Stanley J. Bushman Foundation to create the Stanley J. Bushman Fund for Youth Education, expanding teen-focused programming and access to contemporary art in Kansas City. Big 12 Baseball Buzz: Kansas shortstop Tyson LeBlanc and K-State shortstop Dee Kennedy were named NCBWA District 6 Co-Players of the Year, capping standout seasons that helped KU reach historic NCAA Super Regionals. Super Regional Spotlight (Lawrence): KU and Oklahoma meet in the NCAA Super Regionals with Omaha on the line, and Lawrence is gearing up for a loud Hoglund Ballpark atmosphere. Pop Culture + Kansas City: Reports say Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding will be in “middle of Manhattan” on July 3, with major economic hype following the Chiefs star’s offseason spotlight. World Cup Warm-Up in KC: Kansas City’s soccer community is seeing record youth turnout as World Cup momentum builds ahead of the tournament’s kickoff. Community Sports Story: A Kansas City, Kansas lemonade stand got a surprise boost when police and firefighters showed up as customers instead of shutting it down.

World Cup Buzz (Kansas City): Argentina’s World Cup title defense is in full swing as Lionel Messi and La Albiceleste arrive in Kansas City ahead of the June 11 kickoff, with fans already packing the Berkley Riverfront and local watch-party energy building fast. Pop Culture & Music: Taylor Swift is now a $2B billionaire, and her Toy Story 5 track “I Knew It, I Knew You” is the headline in this week’s New Music Friday guide—plus Niall Horan and Tinashe are also dropping new music. Sports Spotlight (KC Royals): Josh Rojas’ pinch-hit, two-run single in the ninth lifts the Royals over the Twins 8-6 in the series opener. Arts & Community (Wichita State): WSU’s Ulrich Museum of Art re-unveils its iconic Miro mosaic and launches an Adopt-a-Sculpture campaign to keep the artwork thriving. Local Sports Tech: The Good Game partners with KU Athletics to bring a new app for youth lessons, camps, and clinics. Health & Safety (NWSL): The American Heart Association and NWSL roll out the 2026 CPR education ambassador class, including Kansas City Current’s Lo’eau LaBonta.

College Hoops: Iowa State sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic is headed to Kentucky, committing to the Wildcats after a 48.7% 3-point season—an offseason swing that could reshape Mark Pope’s roster. NFL (Kansas City): The Chiefs are reportedly considering a reunion with cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who spent four years in KC before legal trouble in Tennessee; his charges were dropped after being reduced from aggravated assault. NFL (Pittsburgh): The Steelers added former Packers TE Robert Tonyan and LB Jamin Davis on one-year deals, continuing a busy veteran push. Sports Business: MLB’s trade deadline is looming with Tarik Skubal potentially available, but labor and possible salary-cap changes could make deals more complicated. World Cup Culture (Kansas City): The 18th & Vine Jazz District is rolling out upgrades for World Cup visitors, including a new parking garage and pedestrian mall. Faith & Community (Kansas): Chase Kear’s recovery story ties to Father Emil Kapaun’s sainthood cause, with a possible next miracle step ahead.

World Cup Buzz in Kansas City: Argentina’s World Cup champions are already turning heads at the Origin Hotel and training at Sporting KC’s Compass Minerals National Performance Center, with local residents and journalists noting the city is calm—just brace for the fan surge. Local Sports Spotlight: The Kansas City Royals beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-2 on Wednesday, clinching their first road series win of the season. Baseball Labor Watch: MLB commissioner Rob Manfred says an owners’ salary cap proposal could trigger a repeat of the 1994-95 strike, warning players are vowing to fight it. Music Release: Role Model dropped “High Hopes 3000,” premiering a new video and teasing his upcoming album Chuck Timely & The Hourglass (Aug. 7). Arts & Culture: A review of the Kansas City-set film Power Ballad highlights its standout songwriting and sing-along moments. Community Note: A Kansas adoption profile spotlights Kamien, 10, who loves crafting, puzzles, and family movie nights.

World Cup Economics: Inflation and ICE-related worries are already threatening to blunt the U.S. tourism boost from the 2026 World Cup, with higher costs expected to keep some fans and hotel demand down. World Cup Preview: Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni is downplaying “favourites” talk, saying the title race will be crowded with “10 or 12” serious contenders and that many factors—not just dominance—have to click. England Training Watch: England’s lead physical performance coach Dr. Ben Rosenblatt says the biggest edge will come from meticulous prep and staying level-headed through travel, time-zone shifts, and brutal heat in Florida. Tech & Streaming Life: Starlink is openly warning customers that heavy use can trigger dropped connections once 1,200 active sessions are reached—an issue that could hit VoIP, video calls, gaming, and VPNs. Women’s Soccer: The NWSL Championship is headed back to Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field on Nov. 21, with CBS airing the match and Paramount+ streaming it. NFL Pop Culture: Caleb Williams becomes the first Bears player to land the Madden NFL 27 cover, reviving “Madden curse” chatter as the league’s preseason slate and ad spending continue to ramp up.

World Cup in Kansas City: The Netherlands is set to arrive in Kansas City June 9 for FIFA World Cup 2026, using the KC Current/UH Health System training facility as its base camp, with Argentina already in town and Algeria expected in Lawrence June 7 and England arriving June 13. Local sports buzz: Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District is rolling out new private security patrols funded by a 0.5% sales tax, aiming to keep the creative neighborhood feeling safe. Music + pop culture: Taylor Swift’s Chiefs tie-in keeps growing—Patrick Mahomes shared her news that she recorded an original song for “Toy Story 5,” due June 5. Arts spotlight: Kansas-based composer Ingrid Stölzel is out with “Three Silent Things,” a vocal chamber album built around poems by women writers, released by Navona. MLB roundup: The Reds completed a 10th-inning comeback for a walk-off 4-3 win over the Royals.

World Cup in Kansas City: The Kansas City Symphony is set to play “Taylor Swift: The Symphony Era” at Helzberg Hall on June 11-12, pairing orchestral arrangements with a live band and vocalists—an easy pre-tournament arts pick for music lovers. World Cup Heat & Travel: Miami is warning fans to plan for summer-style temperatures during World Cup games, with highs mostly in the 80s and 90s. Local Soccer Buzz: Parisi Coffee’s “Soccer Capital of America” World Cup blend (with Sporting KC) sold out in just 14 days, with no restock announced. NCAA Baseball Road to Omaha: Super regional matchups are locked in, including Kansas vs. Oklahoma in Lawrence and a West Virginia vs. Cal Poly series—winners head to Omaha starting June 12. Iowa Hoops Schedule: Iowa women’s basketball added Vanderbilt to its 2026-27 slate, with a Nov. 15 game in Sioux City. Youth Sports Safety: A youth baseball coach in Oklahoma received a lifetime ban after an incident involving his son and the opposing dugout, renewing calls for stricter oversight.

World Cup in Kansas City: Argentina’s World Cup champions arrived at the Origin Hotel and hit their first closed training session at Sporting KC’s Compass Minerals facility, with fans packing the area for Messi sightings and a taste of match-week energy. NFL Blockbuster: The Cleveland Browns traded two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse plus major draft capital, a move that instantly reshapes Super Bowl talk. College Hoops Transfer News: Former Iowa State sharpshooter Milan Momcilovic committed to Kentucky, giving the Wildcats a major late offseason boost. NCAA Baseball: Kansas punched its ticket to Super Regionals with a win over Arkansas, setting up a Lawrence matchup vs. Oklahoma, while the full Super Regional field was finalized after Monday’s winner-take-all games. Local Arts & Community: Lawrence’s Free State Brewing is set to get a new mural along the Burroughs Creek Trail after FLAT secured grants. Film Buzz: Steven Spielberg’s UFO thriller “Disclosure Day” gets early attention ahead of its June release.

Community Fundraiser: United Way of Central Kansas is selling tickets for “Keys for Change” (Aug. 1, Columbus Club in Great Bend), featuring Colorado Keys entertainment plus dinner, auctions, and a 50/50 raffle to support local youth and family programs. Kids Outdoors: KWEC’s 2026 Summer Explorer Guide is out, with hands-on wetland challenges at Cheyenne Bottoms and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, plus library tie-ins for summer reading. Local Sports Honors: Two Lady Panthers earned All-NCKL softball spots as the league released its 2026 All-League teams. Championship Moment: Johnson County Community College baseball capped a historic run by winning the 2026 NJCAA D1 national title, finishing 5-0 in the JUCO World Series. Classroom Grants: Credit Union of America awarded more than $50,000 in TGIF grants to Kansas educators, including three Derby teachers. Music & Culture: Goose announced a fall tour with Kansas City dates at The Midland, and the American Jazz Museum’s Jazz Academy is keeping Kansas City’s 18th & Vine legacy alive. World Cup Watch in Kansas City: Argentina’s arrival in KC kicks off the World Cup build-up, with base camp teams and fan activity ramping up.

World Cup Arrival Buzz: Lionel Messi touched down in Kansas City as Argentina’s World Cup base camp gears up at Sporting KC’s training facility, with the defending champs set to open June 16 vs. Algeria. Kansas Baseball Glory: Kansas erased a 5-0 hole to beat Arkansas 13-10 in the Lawrence NCAA regional final, punching the program’s first-ever trip to the super regional. Reds-Royals Interleague Setup: Cincinnati and Kansas City kick off a 3-game series in Ohio after the Reds snapped a skid, while Royals look to end a rough stretch. Injury Watch (MLB): Elly De La Cruz exited with right hamstring tightness and is scheduled for an MRI, adding uncertainty to Cincinnati’s lineup. Local Sports Culture: Festa Italiana rolled through Zona Rosa with food, music, and scholarships for Kansas City students—another big community moment as World Cup excitement builds. TV Access Fight: Scripps pulled 54 local stations from DirecTV amid retransmission-rate disputes, leaving some markets dark just as major sports and elections ramp up.

World Cup Arrival Buzz: Argentina landed in Kansas City ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Lionel Messi and the defending champs set to use Sporting Kansas City’s Kansas City, Kansas, facilities as their base camp before opening at Arrowhead. Film & Streaming: Apple TV’s Cape Fear remake leads this week’s must-watch list, while Emily Blunt says she’s “terrified” of AI and refused to use it for a key alien-language scene in Spielberg’s Disclosure Day. Local Arts: Sue Ross Arts Center keeps the creative momentum going through June 30 with two shows—Catherine Mahoney’s travel-inspired paintings and Danielle Yakle’s “Ill Fitting is Still Fitting” installation. Music & Live Shows: Johnny Clueless is bringing its St. Cloud return back for a fall date (Oct. 3), and Minneapolis is kicking off a Prince Celebration with citywide “Purple Path” tributes and performances. Sports Tech Safety: World Cup venues plan to deploy first-aid drones carrying defibrillators and epipens to speed emergency response.

AI in Hollywood: Emily Blunt says she’s “terrified” of AI and avoided it for a key “Disclosure Day” scene, creating the alien-language sounds with the sound team instead. College Sports Business: The Big 12 became the first Power Four conference to get all members to sign the College Sports Commission participation agreement, with Kansas State’s president calling it a unanimous board move. Local Health & Tech: Clay County Medical Center in Kansas won a $2.5M state grant to expand surgical care, including buying a da Vinci 5 robotic system. Kansas City Charity & Entertainment: Big Slick Weekend returns with celebrity guests and a big variety-show lineup benefiting Children’s Mercy. Sports Pop Culture: Travis Kelce is fueling “Toy Story” wedding chatter on his podcast with a Randy Newman reference. Baseball on the Field: Royals visit the Rangers Saturday (4:05 p.m. ET) with Seth Lugo vs. Kumar Rocker, and betting previews lean toward an under in a matchup of struggling offenses. Youth Sports Safety: A youth baseball coach in Oklahoma faces a lifetime ban after an alleged incident involving a ball thrown toward an opposing dugout.

Kansas Pride in Salina: The Smoky Hill Equality Coalition brings back a two-day Pride celebration June 5-6, starting with an adult-only drag night and then a free, family-friendly festival with vendors, community resources, and performances. World Cup buzz in Kansas City: Kansas City, Kansas kicks off the first annual One World Wyandotte Festival at Memorial Hall, with music, dance, and culture ahead of World Cup watch parties. KU baseball spotlight: Brady Ballinger returns from injury and helps Kansas beat Northeastern 6-3 in the Jayhawks’ first-ever NCAA regional action at Hoglund Ballpark. Community arts, still thriving: A look at why community theater keeps pulling audiences in—because it’s live, shared, and hard to replace at home. Sports culture, local: Riverfest in Wichita marks 54 years, with organizers pushing to keep the festival affordable for families as costs rise. Youth sports fallout: A viral youth baseball incident leads to a lifetime suspension for an Oklahoma coach and a five-year suspension for his son.

Community Grants: Credit Union of America handed out $50,100 in TGIF grants to 54 Kansas educators, funding classroom projects in literacy, STEM, music, art, career readiness and more. Local Sports & Health: North Central Kansas Medical Center’s Family Care Center is offering free sports physicals in Concordia, Clyde and Jamestown from June 22 to Aug. 21, with appointments required. Live Music Calendar: Beaver Dam’s free “Sounds on 2nd” series returns Fridays (6:30–9:30 p.m.) through September, bringing food vendors and local businesses to downtown. World Cup Culture (Kansas City): A new guide highlights the best World Cup experiences happening beyond stadium gates—especially in Kansas City, where fans are turning neighborhoods into watch-party hubs. Pro Sports Business: MLB owners proposed a 2027 salary cap ($245.3M) and payroll floor ($171.2M), setting up a major fight with the players’ union. Music Tour: Hollywood Undead and In This Moment announce co-headlining Taste of Chaos 2026, with new songs dropping May 29.

World Cup buzz in Kansas City: Argentina named its 26-man FIFA World Cup 2026 squad with Lionel Messi leading despite a left-hamstring fatigue scare, and the team is expected to base in Kansas City ahead of the June 11 tournament. Local soccer culture: Riverside, Missouri is painting the town “oranje” for the Netherlands’ World Cup arrival, while Springfield bars are pitching themselves as community hubs for watching matches together. Chiefs offseason headlines: Andy Reid said Rashee Rice is learning “life lessons” while serving a 30-day jail sentence, and Patrick Mahomes continues OTAs work as he rehabs. Sports entertainment on the move: FOX Sports extended The Basketball Tournament for two years, including a $2 million prize, with Kansas alumni in the bracket. Arts & civic programming: KU’s Dole Institute announced summer events for America’s 250th anniversary, including historian talks and Kansas-focused programming. Community reading push: Teachers are urging families not to let summer derail reading gains.

Chiefs OTAs: Patrick Mahomes took another step in his knee recovery, doing individual work and 7-on-7 drills in voluntary workouts while wearing a black brace, with a Week 1 return still the target. World Cup in Kansas City: Argentina is set to arrive in KC ahead of its June 16 opener, and construction is moving on the FIFA Fan Festival at the National WWI Museum, with a heart-shaped entrance, big screens, and lots of local food vendors. Local arts & community: Great Bend Public Library kicks off summer reading Friday with games, fossils, live alpacas, and a dino-themed program; plus, Final Friday Art Walk listings highlight galleries and open houses across Lawrence. Sports headlines with Kansas ties: K-State released early 2026 kickoff times and TV designations for its first three games under the Collin Klein era. Food scene: Overland Park’s Harp BBQ is closing this weekend after rising beef costs squeezed the business. Public safety: A stabbing at an American Legion in Caney is under investigation, and officials are asking people not to spread false claims online.