Welcome to Tuesday, Shawnee Mission!
Today’s forecast: Mostly cloudy during the day and mostly clear at night. High: 47. Low: 26.
One thing to know
Overland Park scores high on equality, according to The Human Rights Campaign.
The city received a perfect score on the international advocacy group’s Municipal Equality Index, an annual scorecard examining how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ people who live and work there, earning 100 out of a possible 100 points.
This year’s index assessed dozens of cities across the U.S.
“The score is a testament to our commitment to and work for the equality and inclusivity of all our residents. This achievement is a reminder that in Overland Park, everyone is welcome,” said Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog in a press release.
The 2023 score accounts for recent city efforts, including the designation of an LGBTQ+ liaison, providing services to LGBTQ+ youth, providing resources to LGBTQIA+ foster parents and foster children and diversity training requirements for the Overland Park Police Department and other city employees.
It also took into consideration other factors, like nondiscrimination initiatives for city employees, public facilities that have all-gender restrooms and transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits, among others.
Olathe, the only other Johnson County city on this year’s index, received a final equality score of 69.
Lawrence also received a perfect score of 100. Wichita totaled 98 points. Kansas City, Kansas, received 63 points.
Public meetings Monday
- Lenexa City Council, 7 p.m. [View agenda]
Post’s top stories
- Prairie Village to review ethics allegations against mayor, councilmembers
- Decades-old Shawnee Mission East lobster sale tradition may be ending
- JoCo Notes: Donna Kelce to appear at Overland Park Raising Cane’s
- Johnson County looks to convert abandoned factory into trail hub
- Driver reports being shot at on I-35 in Overland Park
A thousand words
Over the weekend, Shawnee Mission Parkway was given a little extra shine. On Friday, Shawnee’s Parks and Recreation crews were busy doing the annual tradition of installing snowflakes on light poles. The snowflakes will be shining through mid-January.
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