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Operation LeGend Update | Olathe Teacher Tracks Pandemic | High School Sports Proceed

Greg Echlin
/
KCUR
Many of the fall sports taking place in the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference involve close contact.

How effective the influx of federal agents into Kansas City has been, an Olathe teacher explains why she began tracking COVID-19 cases among U.S. schoolchildren, and what was behind a Missouri high school league's decision to play fall sports.

Segment 1, beginning at 4:10: Operation LeGend has made 355 total arrests with 33 connected to homicide cases and 122 firearms confiscated since July.

A recent editorial from The Kansas City Star raised concerns about the efficacy of Operation LeGend. Tim Garrison, the United States attorney who is helping oversee the task force, disputes claims that Operation LeGend's success has been overstated. The Kansas City Police Department has been publishing violent crimes statistics since the operation started noted Garrison adding, "That transparency should give the public confidence that what we're reporting is true."

Segment 2, beginning at 22:33: One motivated educator accurately tracked COVID-19 outbreaks in schools around the nation.

Alisha Morris was shocked to learn that no one was tracking COVID-19 cases in schools around the country. So she went about finding reported cases and the database Morris created now became the basis for a new COVID-19 tracker now maintained by the National Education Association where submissions can continue to be made anonymously.

Segment 3, beginning at 36:54: Twenty-seven high schools in Missouri have approved fall sports.

Even with an ongoing pandemic, the Kansas City Greater Suburban Conference voted unanimously to go ahead with fall sports and activities for its member schools. While measures are being implemented to keep the students safe, Dr. Allan Markley acknowledges there is risk involved with the decision.

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
As culture editor, I oversee KCUR’s coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. I work with reporters to make sure our stories reflect the fullest view of the place we call home, so listeners and readers feel primed to explore the places, projects and people who make up a vibrant Kansas City. Email me at luke@kcur.org.
Chris Young is an Assistant Producer for KCUR’s Up To Date. Contact him at chrisy@kcur.org.