It’s almost the weekend, Shawnee Mission!
☀️ Today’s forecast: Sunny and breezy. High: 61. Low: 34.
? One thing to know today
The Kansas Department of Agriculture has withdrawn its emergency order on Unleashed Pet Rescue, which now means the Mission animal shelter can continue to take in animals.
A spokesperson for the state department told the Post in an email Tuesday that the Secretary of Agriculture has determined that the emergency order to prevent Unleashed from taking in new animals should be withdrawn.
“During the hearing to appeal the emergency order, the respondent (Unleashed Pet Rescue) provided new information that supported their position that there was not sufficient justification for an emergency order based on the statutory authority of the KDA Animal Facilities Inspection program,” wrote Heather Lansdowne, director of communications for the state agriculture department.
Video from local news crews showed Unleashed was still taking in animals while the emergency order was in place.
Lansdowne noted that the decision only applies to the emergency order. The state department is still pursuing an order to revoke Unleashed’s license to operate. Unleashed has appealed the decision. Lansdowne said the revocation order is still pending and will be considered by the Office of Administrative Hearings.
? Weekend things to do
- Thai New Year Celebration at Park Place, Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. [More info]
- Earth Day celebrations around Johnson County all day Saturday [More info]
- Art in the Park in Ironwoods Park on Saturday and Sunday [More info]
- Noah’s Bandage Run on Sunday morning [More info]
- “Vilna: A Resistance Story” (tickets still available Sunday evening [More info]
? Post’s top Thursday stories
- JoCo Notes: Overland Park family mourns son killed in overseas hiking accident
- No major injuries after trash truck tips over and crashes in Shawnee
- Checking in on JoCo’s biggest redevelopment projects: Part 1
- Texas Roadhouse opening soon at former Sears site in Overland Park
- Lenexa OKs Kiewit Engineering’s expansion at edge of City Center
? Other local news
- A former Olathe Northwest High teacher admitted in Johnson County District Court Thursday morning to having sex with a 17-year-old student. [Kansas City Star]
- Investigators have determined that two teenagers killed over the weekend in Olathe shot each other inside a car, a spokesman for the Olathe Police Department said Thursday. [Kansas City Star]
- Shawnee needs volunteers May 7 for Tour de Shawnee. [City of Shawnee]
? A thousand words
A statue of William B. Strang Jr., an American railroad magnate who platted Overland Park, overlooks the city’s downtown. Photo credit Nikki Lansford.
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