K-12 Education

What the first day of school looked like at one Shawnee Mission elementary

Juliana Garcia -

It’s back-to-school time, Johnson County. Students across most of Johnson County are already back in classrooms, including in the Shawnee Mission School District. Shawnee Mission students in grades 1-7 and 9 went back on Wednesday, Aug. 12, with grades 8 and 10-12 following on Thursday, Aug. 13. Finally, pre-school and kindergarten students...

Johnson County DA says deputies justified in fatal shooting of man who stabbed Panasonic plant worker

Girls flag football is now an official Kansas high school sport, and these JoCo players are ready to compete

Flower Child healthy-eating chain opens first Johnson County location in Prairie Village

A message from our community partners

The Latest

Developer eyes site near OP’s Bluhawk for homes, apartments and big-box stores

Local obituaries from Aug. 7-13

8 months after Chiefs announced Kansas move, here’s where the $300M Olathe project stands

FEATURED STORIES

Kansas’ new cellphone ban is now in effect. Here’s how each JoCo district is handling it

As students prepare to enter school this fall, they’ll likely add a new routine to their mornings — turning off their phones and storing...

After fatal PV dog attack, we asked about JoCo cities’ leash rules

For Sara Swanson, the lead behavioral specialist at Lenexa-based dog training company Sit Now Stay, leashing dogs is a must. When she was a child,...

‘It will change some kids’ lives’ — Spring Hill breaks ground on career tech expansion

As students filter into Spring Hill High School next week, the front of the building will look the same as it did last year,...

Prairie Village family seeks answers after off-leash dog attack kills beloved Yorkie

This story was updated Saturday, Aug. 8. The Prairie Village Police Department announced via Facebook that the owner of the dog contacted the department on...

Taylor-Made Team Real Estate Spotlight

FOOD & DRINK

Chick-fil-A wants to take over former On the Border site near Oak Park Mall

Rock & Brews, restaurant with ties to band KISS, closes in Overland Park

Co-owner of Leawood eatery Rye will unveil new sweets shop this week

Local boba tea shop owner is bringing her concept closer to her Overland Park home

LOCAL BUSINESS

Cosmetics shop Miss A opening new Oak Park Mall store

New pet shop in Overland Park grooms dogs one at a time, no kennels

Black Friday Outlet, ‘treasure’ trove for discount enthusiasts, opens in Shawnee

L.L. Bean returning to Johnson County with new store planned in Overland Park

J. Higgins, longtime Lenexa bagpipe and kilt shop, moves into new Old Town storefront

Community Calendar 🗓️

Best bets for fun and engagement in Johnson County and (slightly) beyond!

Johnson County News by City 🏘️

OVERLAND PARK NEWS

Kansas Highway Patrol seeks witnesses to deadly Overland Park crash

Kansas City may be in ‘flyover country’, but 1,000 Jewish athletes came from around the globe anyway

Oak Park Mall owner proposes apartments, hotel and theatre in major rezoning bid

SHAWNEE NEWS

Shawnee man on sex offender registry sentenced for 2nd child pornography case

Smoke in the streets, litter in yards, stress on vets and pets — Shawnee has had enough of fireworks

Shawnee fixes zoning for a site planned for a shopping center that was never built

LENEXA NEWS

Lenexa city manager announces retirement after nearly 30 years of service to the city

Lenexa OKS incentive package for $200 million Solera project off K-7 and Prairie Star

Lenexa’s old city hall fountain — once dyed for local festivals — broke down and is being torn out

OLATHE NEWS

Olathe OKs townhomes intended to address the ‘missing middle’ housing gap

Olathe Police say man killed in head-on crash with dump truck on 159th Street

ICE activity in Olathe surged this summer — then went quiet after U.S. citizen’s detention

LEAWOOD NEWS

Leawood is building apartments ‘left and right’ on 135th — including long-planned project now redesigned

Aqua Penny’s, seafood concept from local restaurateurs, closes in Leawood

Locally owned brunch spot AR’s debuts third location in Leawood

PRAIRIE VILLAGE NEWS

Owner of dog that killed Yorkshire terrier in Prairie Village attack comes forward, police say

Mi Ranchito’s owner now pouring his heart into new cantina in Prairie Village

Prairie Village widow pleads guilty to collecting $96K in Social Security benefits

NORTHEAST JOCO NEWS

Woman gets life sentence for Fairway Officer Jonah Oswald’s murder

Westwood’s Joe D. Dennis Park earns second-ever Variety KC Ten Parks Project grant

More than a year after Unleashed left, its old Mission space is still empty — and still complicated

Latest Obituaries

Margrit Theresia Vetsch

Edward D. Steinbrugge, Jr.

Elaine Corporon Bengtson

Dahl Brougham Metters

William Michael (Mike) Rooney

K-12 EDUCATION

4 JoCo school districts hire law firm as fight over special education funding ramps up

Blue Valley’s newest middle school opens this fall — and students helped design it

Shawnee Mission’s new student phone policy is official ahead of new school year

Expanding JoCo K-12 education coverage — here’s what we’re keeping an eye on

Kansas considers form that invites people to report students who organize walkout protests