Johnson County

Johnson County Republican Chairman Fabian Shepard was accused of forcibly kissing a Wyandotte County GOP official against her will outside a political event on Aug. 20, according to a police report.

The U.S. Census Bureau says Black homeschooling numbers jumped by 400% throughout the pandemic. But these Missouri homeschool mothers explained that COVID isn't the only reason.

A lawyer for the plaintiffs said he dismissed the suit because the middle-school plaintiff was at risk of "vitriol, rumors, and innuendo from bad actors."

As health care systems serving Johnson County deal with resignations, fatigue and other issues related to COVID-19, hospitals offer programs and amenities to try to help workers who are feeling the effects of burnout.

The Kansas Promise Scholarship will pay the cost of tuition, fees and books for students in dozens of programs at Johnson County Community College and Kansas City, Kansas Community College.

A COVID-19 case at Trail Ridge Middle School, in the Gardner-Edgerton School District, is keeping most 7th and 8th graders out of class until Tuesday, Sept. 7. As of Aug. 31, the district had 231 students in quarantine.

On average, about 62% of Johnson County employees who work in federally-licensed nursing homes and long-term care facilities are vaccinated.

Johnson County school districts began reporting their first COVID-19 data for the 2021-22 school year this week. All four northern Johnson County districts are each reporting dozens of students either with confirmed positive cases or in quarantine.

In Kansas, voter registration groups are suing to stop a new elections law. Some organizations have stopped doing voter drives for fear of charges being filed against their volunteers.

A rising number of employers and public venues across the Kansas City area are requiring proof of vaccination.

The Roeland Park City Council on Monday unanimously approved an order requiring mask be worn inside all indoor public spaces citywide. The order takes effect Tuesday, Aug. 24, and will remain in effect through at least mid-October.

Sheriff Calvin Hayden said one inmate initially tested positive and then 7 others in the same cell also tested positive at the New Century Adult Detention Center outside Gardner.