AGP Executive Report

Tribute Weekend: Somerville Theatre is sending off Catherine O’Hara with a three-day 35mm retrospective (Beetlejuice, Waiting for Guffman, After Hours, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind) plus an immersive afterparty in her honor. Music Release: Canadian country star Josh Ross drops “Kicked Out Of Bars,” a high-energy single built for singalongs after back-to-back radio No. 1s. Local Arts Talk: Missouri History Museum’s “Bridging Worlds Through Art” continues Aug. 20 with Cbabi Bayoc and Dr. Amber Howlett Bayoc discussing how St. Louis shapes their creative partnership. Film Festival Buzz: Woody Harrelson arrives in Sarajevo for the Sarajevo Film Festival, where Welcome to Sarajevo screens and he hosts a masterclass. Sports & Community: Royals’ stadium proposal work moves forward with a Community Impact Partnership Agreement; Sporting KC hosts Saint Louis City SC amid a skid. Outdoor/Family Fun: FOMNRR invites Missourians to National Park Week events along the Missouri National Recreational River, Aug. 22–30.

College Sports Buzz: Ohio State starts the 2026 season at No. 1 in the AP preseason Top 25, with Oregon at No. 2—Big Ten bragging rights for the top two spots. Missouri Spotlight: Missouri lands at No. 25 in the preseason AP poll. Local Arts & Outdoors: Missouri’s Runge Nature Center is rolling out fall programs, including fly-fishing basics, nature art, and virtual duck ID sessions. Sports Business in KC: A proposed Royals stadium lease would route 5% of net profits from non-baseball events to Kansas City, with the city also getting free event rights and tickets. Arkansas Baseball: Dave Van Horn signs an extension through 2031, boosting pay to $2.1 million and adding incentives tied to championships. Entertainment & Travel: The Lake of the Ozarks Air Show says it will feature a B-2 Stealth Bomber in September. AI & Mental Health: New research warns AI chatbots can leave users lonelier, even when the conversations feel enjoyable.

NFL & Pop Culture: Travis Kelce is back at Chiefs camp after his Taylor Swift wedding, calling camp his “sanctuary” as he looks to bounce back from a down 2025. Sports Spotlight (Missouri): UFC 330 in Philadelphia saw Springfield’s Mackenzie Dern defend her strawweight title, while the event also featured big knockout wins from Jalin Turner and Esteban Ribovics. Local Museums & Arts: Kirkwood Museum digs into its own story with “Origins,” tied to the National Museum of Transportation’s history. Community & Inclusion: Kirkwood’s Alex Sondhaus helped Missouri earn silver at the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, and Missouri-Southern Iowa’s Art Guild opens a new exhibit at Pickler Memorial Library. Family-Friendly Events: Springfield Metro’s entertainment calendar runs Aug. 16-22 with library storytimes, fused glass, bellydance, open mic nights, and more. Road Safety: Missouri Highway Patrol urges drivers to watch for school buses and teen drivers as classes resume. Music Moment: Noah Kahan brought out Chappell Roan for “California” at the Rose Bowl, with the Missouri-to-California theme landing hard. Sports Media: ESPN layoffs hit longtime Little League World Series voice Karl Ravech, but he says he’ll still work the annual showcase.

WNBA & Pop Culture: Indiana Fever celebrated Missouri native Sophie Cunningham’s 30th birthday with a special team message, while her SI Swimsuit spotlight continues to fuel debate online. Music: Noah Kahan brought out Chappell Roan for a surprise “California” duet at Rose Bowl Stadium, a nod to Roan’s Missouri-to-LA journey. NFL & Local Sports Buzz: Travis Kelce returned to Chiefs camp after his Taylor Swift wedding, and the Rams’ preseason win over KC featured Ty Simpson’s standout debut. College Football Rankings: Florida is projected to land at No. 22 in the first AP Top 25 of 2026, with Missouri slotted nearby at No. 23. Missouri Campus Life: Missouri State University is rolling out Week of Welcome plus Student Success Coaches to support first-year, especially first-generation, students. Family & Community Events: West Central Missouri has a full slate of kids and family happenings Aug. 16-22, including art shows and story hours. Sports Media: ESPN castoff Karl Ravech says he’s still set to work the Little League World Series despite the network layoffs.

Local Arts & Community: Jefferson City’s new river market is set for a Sept. 3 ribbon cutting, with a pavilion, food-truck hookups, and plans for weekly public events. Inclusive Recreation: Special Olympics Missouri is hosting “Camp Beyond,” a six-week inclusive summer camp at its Training for Life campus in Jefferson City. Back-to-School Relief: Trinity Lutheran Church and Building Community Bridges held free school supply giveaways in Jefferson City, easing costs for families before classes resume. Books & Pop Culture: Robinne Lee returns with “Crash Into Me,” her follow-up to “The Idea of You,” exploring race, status, and power in a messy romance. Music Spotlight: Noah Kahan brought out Chappell Roan for “California” at the Rose Bowl, a nod to Roan’s Missouri-to-LOS ANGELES story. Sports (Missouri): Clark Traders rallied to reach the Class B state amateur title game for the first time in 41 years. Entertainment/Tech: Kansas City telehealth provider OmniRx Health topped 10,000 subscribers and expanded virtual primary care to 44 states.

NFL Preseason in KC: The Chiefs host the Rams at Arrowhead today (4 p.m. ET), with Justin Fields starting and Patrick Mahomes sitting out as Kansas City looks at depth and roster spots. Local Sports Buzz: Missouri native Travis Kelce is back at camp calling it his “sanctuary,” and the matchup has fans streaming and tuning in across local TV and NFL+ options. Entertainment & Pop Culture: Ted Lasso’s Season 4 premiere leans hard into Kansas City references and landmarks, turning the city into part of the story. WNBA Spotlight: Sophie Cunningham surprised Fever fans by hopping on a bar stage after a win to sing Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.” Arts/Media Watch: Nine PBS in St. Louis says a cloud storage vendor cut off access to about 50 terabytes of historic footage, now headed to court. Community Events: De Soto Farmers Market’s Farm to Table dinner fundraiser returns Sept. 12 with live music, a silent auction, and patriotic-themed food. Sports Tech/College Life: A back-to-school tech roundup highlights dorm essentials like white-noise earbuds and surge protection.

NFL Preseason Spotlight: Travis Kelce is back for his 14th Chiefs season as Patrick Mahomes sits out (knee rehab), and Ty Simpson is expected to play for the Rams in Saturday’s Chiefs vs. Rams matchup on NFL Network and local KSHB 41/KCBS 2. Local Arts & Community: Kirksville is getting a new downtown mural, funded by a $15,000 AARP grant, as artist Gracie Blickhan paints “Welcome to Downtown Kirksville.” Missouri Sports Playoffs: Hartford/Humboldt Wood Ducks punched their first Class B state amateur semifinal berth, and Clark’s Zach Toben delivered a walk-off homer to send the Traders to the next round. Music Release: Little Big Town and Kelsea Ballerini team up on “Closing Time,” a duet previewing their upcoming album It’s A Dying Art (Aug. 28). Education Recognition: Benedict College professor Michael Vosburg won an AEJMC teaching award for excellence in visual communications instruction. State Fair Twist: Missouri State Fair canceled a sea lion show after a crash involving the animals.

NFL & Pop-Culture: Travis Kelce opened up at Chiefs camp about his “sanctuary” routine after his Taylor Swift wedding, calling it “the best night of my life.” Missouri Sports Legal Drama: A Louisville judge is weighing a 5th-year eligibility fight that could affect Missouri forward Mark Mitchell’s push to reopen the transfer portal. Local Radio Shakeup: KFRU in Columbia laid off long-running hosts Simon Rose and David Gaines, ending decades of local morning and drive-time voices. State Fair Entertainment Hit: The Missouri State Fair canceled the Sea Lion Splash after a sea lion truck crash on I-70; the animals were checked and deemed healthy. Family Fun in Branson: Silver Dollar City announced “Miner’s Mountain Express,” a Marvel Cave-themed family coaster opening spring 2027. Arts & Community: Springfield Regional Arts Council unveiled a 10-year cultural roadmap for the Ozarks. Tech for Everyday Life: Missouri launched a Flood and Drought app with simple, public-friendly alerts and forecasts. Business/Logistics: TTi Logistics expanded St. Louis operations with a second 110,000-square-foot Earth City warehouse.

NFL & Local Sports: Travis Kelce says Chiefs camp is his “sanctuary” after his Taylor Swift wedding, while WKU soccer opened with a 0-0 draw vs. Missouri and Missouri S&T welcomed Edwardsville volleyball standout Colin Donaldson. Missouri State Fair: Gov. Kehoe kicked off the 2026 Missouri State Fair in Sedalia with a “Show-Me Stars & Stripes” theme, plus ribbon-cuttings for the new Parson Arena and an upgraded fire station. Community & Service: A Kirksville downtown street project starts overnight work, and in Northeast Missouri a “Serve Those Who Serve” hog roast is set for Aug. 15 to thank veterans and first responders. Arts & Entertainment Business: Springfield’s The Acoustic Shoppe landed on Inc. 5000’s fastest-growing list, and Nine PBS won a court ruling to regain access to long-lost cultural archive data. Human Interest: A Gary Sinise Foundation home was delivered to Hermann officer Adam Sullentrup as he continues recovery after being shot in the line of duty. Food & Fun: Comfort Foodies opened in Missouri City, and Buc-ee’s Benton is slated to open Aug. 17 at 6 a.m.

NFL Pop Culture: Travis Kelce opened up at Chiefs camp, calling his Taylor Swift wedding at Madison Square Garden “the best night of my life” and saying it fulfilled a childhood dream. Local Sports Spotlight: Missouri Western State University is in the spotlight for NFL camp “sanctuary” vibes, while Fort Hays State previews show how Missouri-area college football is shaping up. Baseball in St. Louis: The Cardinals and Phillies keep trading pitchers at Busch Stadium, with Andre Pallante and Cristopher Sánchez set for another matchup after a tense, late-inning Cardinals win. Media Industry: Hearst Television promoted Derek Schnell to vice president of news, expanding oversight across its 27-market newsroom footprint. Food Safety: Whole Foods expanded a salmonella recall tied to jalapeños, with illnesses reported across multiple states. Missouri Fair Season: Governor Kehoe kicked off the 2026 Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, with daily themes including Mizzou Day. Community & Wellness: A Marshfield spa blends physical and mental recovery, turning powerlifting and healing into a local mission.

Missouri State Fair Guide: The 2026 Missouri State Fair runs Aug. 13-23 with daily gates 7:20 a.m.-10 p.m., carnival hours starting at noon (weekdays) and 11 a.m. (weekends), and wristbands priced at $37 (Mon-Fri) and $47 (Sat-Sun), plus concerts across three stages. Music Spotlight: Atlanta metal band Mastodon previews “In The Ruins,” a Hurricane Helene-inspired track from the upcoming album Marrow Deep. Local Art: The Red Dot Gallery in Nevada City hosts 3D artist Wendy Spratt through Sept. 6 with wall paintings, woodwork, and repurposed burned bowls. Community Back-to-School: Columbia’s Powerhouse Community Development Corporation holds a free Community Back-to-School Bash Friday (noon-6) with backpacks and supplies for students. Sports-Entertainment Crossover: Travis Kelce calls his Taylor Swift wedding at Madison Square Garden “the best night of my life,” sharing the venue choice at Chiefs camp in Missouri. Lottery Buzz: A Powerball ticket sold in Illinois wins a $1.040 billion jackpot (cash value $450.5 million). More Missouri Sports Notes: Chiefs camp also welcomed offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy back after a family shooting incident, with coach Andy Reid emphasizing Mia Bieniemy’s stability.

NFL & Pop-Culture Crossover: Travis Kelce broke his silence at Chiefs camp, calling his Taylor Swift wedding at Madison Square Garden “the best night of my life” while quickly steering back to football. Local Music Spotlight: Sheryl Crow—an Mizzou alum—will sing the national anthem at the Tigers’ Sept. 3 season opener in Columbia. Campus Arts/Expression: The University of Missouri says it earned a top “green light” rating for free expression protections, despite recent campus controversy. St. Louis Business & Community: Elevator Co-Warehousing will hold a free public grand opening and ribbon cutting Aug. 20 in the city. Health & Safety Recall: Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Grip Extra Strong Mousse is being voluntarily recalled in Missouri and 11 other states due to a packaging issue that could cause leaking and explosion risk. Sports Betting Promo: Fanatics is offering new bettors up to $1,000 matched in FanCash with promo code NYPOST26 for Tempo vs. Wings. Powerball: The jackpot climbed to $1 billion for Wednesday’s drawing.

Heartland Sports & Training Camp: Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy returned to camp Monday after his wife was shot in Virginia, with coach Andy Reid saying Mia Bieniemy is stable and doing well. Local Football Watch: Fort Hays State is leaning on a deep, versatile backfield for 2026, while also sorting out offensive line replacements after losing three starters. Missouri High School Football: Helias’ Chris Hentges announced he’ll step down after the 2026 season, ending a long family run at the school. Pro Sports Spotlight: Rashee Rice says he’s “100% locked in” after serving 30 days in jail for a probation violation tied to a 2024 crash. Golf & Events in Missouri: The Sinquefield Cup continues in Missouri with GM Praggnanandhaa moving into the early lead, and the Pine to Palm Golf Tournament in Detroit Lakes advanced its Mid-Am medalists. Music/Pop Culture: Rod Stewart canceled the rest of his U.S. tour after heart surgery, including Missouri-area dates. Weather: Kansas City heat and humidity stay high through Saturday, with heat-index values near 110 at times.

Music & Film: Sedalia “Smokey and the Bandit” superfan Larry Parham is set to make his TV debut in the Netflix prequel “Sheriff Justice - The Series,” playing the mayor of Montague County. New Releases: Shabazz Palaces announced its October album It’s a Style Sport and dropped the single “Ahh World (I Won The Alpha Bet).” Live Music: Dave Matthews Band is planning a fall U.S. arena tour in November. Local Spotlight: Sheryl Crow will sing the national anthem at Mizzou’s Sept. 3 season opener vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Community & Arts: Missouri State Theatre and Dance is gearing up for fall shows including Back Story, Company, a Fall Dance Concert, and Tartuffe. Sports-Entertainment Crossover: The Kansas City Chiefs’ Eric Bieniemy returned to camp for practice after his wife’s shooting, with the team holding a steady focus on football. Family-Friendly Events: A Safe Haven Baby Box ribbon-cutting is scheduled Aug. 19 in Camdenton.

Local Arts & Culture: Lauritzen Gardens is hosting a pressed-floral exhibit by Omaha artist Holly Lukasiewicz, inspired by Missouri River plants and running Aug. 8–Sept. 13. Music: Chris Stapleton joined Guns N’ Roses in Toronto for a surprise run of Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door.” Sports (Missouri): The Kansas City Chiefs welcomed Eric Bieniemy back to camp for his first practice since his wife was shot in Virginia; meanwhile, Missouri football practice kicked off early for the Jackson Indians. Community & Entertainment Events: Springfield’s Route 66 Festival birthplace is back on the calendar, and there’s a full week of entertainment listings in the Springfield metro. Controversy Watch: Spring Hill parents are pushing back on a yearbook pronoun policy requiring they/them usage. Public Life: A Missouri data-center regulation hearing was canceled and replaced by a Capitol rally on the same date.

Local Music & Theater: Liverpool Legends, the Grammy-nominated “Complete Beatles Experience,” is set for a Capitol stage date in Missouri on Aug. 13, bringing Beatles hits to local fans. Campus Life: Missouri State’s “Bear-Chella” homecoming theme is rolling out Nov. 8–14 with a festival-style lineup, including chalk art, a block party, Rockstar singing competition, and Mo State Live. Arts in St. Louis: MoBOT has extended its HYBYCOZO “Patterns in Nature” exhibition through Sept. 26, adding evening showings plus select live music nights. Sports & Community: Missouri’s Ron Snodgrass has been named the NCAA national coordinator of football officials, a big leadership step for the Springfield native. NFL Training Camp: Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy returned to practice after his wife was shot in Virginia; the couple’s son was arrested. Injury Update: Bears WR Luther Burden III is expected to miss close to a month with a groin injury as Chicago’s season opener nears. Food Safety: CDC/FDA investigations continue into Salmonella-linked jalapeños, with Taylor Fresh Foods recalling multiple products distributed across Missouri and many other states. Back-to-School Savings: Missouri shoppers can take advantage of sales tax holiday deals on eligible items, including tech in participating states.