Kaylie McLaughlin
ReporterKaylie McLaughlin covers Shawnee, Lenexa and USD 232 for the Shawnee Mission Post.
She joined the Shawnee Mission Post team in February 2023. She’s a Shawnee native and a fourth generation Johnson County resident. She graduated from Mill Valley and earned a journalism degree from Kansas State University. In her free-time, Kaylie likes trying out local cafes, visiting Farmers' Markets and spending time with her cat Georgie.
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Despite a few headline-grabbing incidents in Overland Park, public records show that reports and arrests for shoplifting and theft remain below their pre-pandemic peaks. But police officials are raising concerns about what they call "organized retail crime."
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The group includes paraeducators, custodians, school nutrition workers, language aids and other members of the classified staff workforce at Olathe Public Schools who are paid an hourly wage. The effort comes as Olathe and other school districts work on improving staff retention.
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The Hall of Fame, which has been inducting honorees since 2006, is expected to open late next year at the Museum at Prairiefire. Patrick Mahomes, who played college baseball at Texas Tech, played an "instrumental role" in the landing the deal for Overland Park.
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The officers were board members of the now-suspended Overland Park Police Officers Foundation. A recent audit suggested they violated the charity's bylaws and disbursed thousands of dollars to themselves over the years, although they're not currently facing criminal charges.
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After the success of a two-year pilot program, Overland Park residents will be now allowed to keep backyard chickens on lots greater than .20 acres. Only hens are eligible — no roosters.
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The Overland Park FOP criticized the Johnson County District Attorney for deciding not to charge four officers for misusing police charity donations. An audit found the officers made unauthorized payments of foundation funds to themselves and may have attempted to conceal their behavior.
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The four officers — Sgt. Brandon Faber, Officer Brad Heater, Sgt. Rachel Scattergood and Sgt. Tim Tinnin — were placed on paid leave more than a year ago while District Attorney Steve Howe’s office investigated claims that they misused funds for the Overland Park Police Officers Foundation while serving as board members.
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Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City is hosting a support group Wednesday evening for the local Jewish community. And the Jewish Culture Fest planned for Sunday at the Jewish Community Center will go ahead as planned.
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Overland Park is updating city codes to make space for planned native landscapes, which have long been banned as "weeds." That could mean front yard gardens featuring milkweed, blue sage, native flowers and other species that once dominated the northeastern Kansas landscape.
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Donchez became Overland Park’s Police Chief in October 2014. During his tenure, the police department was investigated by the FBI for the fatal police shooting of John Albers. Donchez came under fire for his handling of the case, leading to public calls for his resignation.