© 2025 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
KCUR 89.3 is operating at low power to allow tower repairs. Our stream remains online at KCUR.org and the NPR app

City Officials Call Special Session To Discuss Controversial Statue

Flickr user 39_Steps

The Overland Park City Council called an extra meeting for Wednesday night. On the agenda: an executive session to discuss legal issues around controversial statuary at the city’s Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. A statue, called “Accept or Reject” by artist Yu Chang, shows a headless woman with exposed breasts, taking a photo of herself. In May, Stilwell, Kansas resident, Joanne Hughes, viewed the work as promoting "sexting" and started a petition to ask city officials to remove it; she teamed up with the American Family Association, and they submitted 4700 signatures on a petition to the county clerk last week.

Election Commissioner Brian Newby confirmed today that enough signatures were verified on the petition, which called for a grand jury investigation. Johnson County now has 60 days to appoint a jury to decide if the city is promoting obscenity to minors.

Laura Spencer is staff writer/editor at the Kansas City Public Library and a former arts reporter at KCUR.
Congress just eliminated federal funding for KCUR, but public radio is for the people.

Your support has always made KCUR's work possible — from reporting that keeps officials accountable, to storytelling to connects our community. Help ensure the future of local journalism.