Hey, Johnson County! Twice a month, the Post shares a collection of some of the good news that entered our inboxes or popped up on our social media pages.
How to tell us your good news:
If you have good news to share, let us know. You can share it in a number of ways, such as:
- Email us at [email protected]
- Send us a message on Facebook or on X (formerly Twitter)
- Or comment at the bottom of this story.
And now, here’s a look at the latest roundup of good news!
JoCo students honored with KU University Awards
3 Johnson County residents studying at The University of Kansas were part of 11 students given University Awards, which recognizes community engagement, leadership and academics.
Those honored include:
- Nathan Binshtok from Overland Park, who was given the Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award as a senior in economics and political science.
- Emmanuel Saama from Overland Park, who was honored with the Donald K. Alderson Award as a senior in molecular, cellular & developmental biology.
- Katherine Goodwin from Leawood received the Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award as a junior in political science. She founded Jayhawks Against Sexual Violence to build community for survivors and push for real change on campus.
Overland Park named #2 Best Place in the U.S. to Raise a Family
Overland Park came in second in WalletHub’s Best & Worst Places to Raise a Family in the United States in 2026.
The city beat out 180 cities in the U.S., including Seattle, Washington; New York City; and Scottsdale, Arizona.
The study focused on 45 metrics across five key dimensions the city has, including
- Family Fun
- Health & Safety
- Education & Child Care
- Affordability
- Socio-economics
Assisting Living Community in Gardner awarded perfect state survey
Homestead Assisted Living of Gardner received a perfect state survey from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services. The survey recognizes the community’s outstanding commitment to quality care and excellence in senior living.
State surveys are conducted regularly to evaluate assisted living communities on resident care, staffing, and daily operations. Receiving a perfect survey with no deficiencies is considered a significant achievement.
“Our team works hard to provide compassionate, personalized care while making residents feel truly at home. I’m deeply thankful for their dedication and proud to celebrate this recognition with them,” said Executive Director Jodi Bergkamp in a press release.
Blue Valley West Swim Team wins 6A Title
The Blue Valley West High School swim team brought home a state championship on Saturday.
At the Kansas State High School Activities Association championships at the Shawnee Mission School District Aquatic Center, the Jaguars girls swim team captured their first state title since 2021.
The team includes Anya Pivonka, Sasha Weiner, Amber Stringer, Hayden Benbow, Caitlyn Chopra and Avery Johnson,. They are led by head coach Jordan Jacobs.
Shawnee ranked #1 Best Place to Live in Kansas
Shawnee received the #1 Best Place to Live in Kansas and #55 in the nation in 2026-2027 from U.S. News and World Report.
The study ranked cities based on Value, Quality of Life, Desirability and the Job Market.
Other Johnson County cities that ranked in the top 5 also include: Olathe (#2) and Overland Park (#3).
“We are so proud of the work put in by our residents, business community, City of Shawnee, KS Government departments, and the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce team to make Shawnee the best place in Kansas to live, work, and play,” the city stated on social media.
