Overland Park

Gavriela Geller, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Bureau and the American Jewish Committee, says that more education is needed to combat antisemitism in Kansas City communities.

Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez suddenly resigned last week after nine years in the position. As it turns out, the city of Overland Park had already begun the process of firing Donchez before he resigned.

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.

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.

The proliferation of traditional grass lawns have brought problems like flooding, river contamination and pests. But the local ordinances and the rules of homeowners’ associations across the Kansas City area practically insist on Euro-style turf.

Olathe-based Pepper Cave, owned by Justin Bale, was suspended indefinitely in apparent response to complaints about Bale’s social media activity, which in recent days has been filled with blatant antisemitic invective. Bale responded to the suspension by praising Hitler.

A MidAmerica Nazarene University football lineman died from what his family calls "heat-related injuries." He was just 19 years old. In just the past few years, several Kansas college football players have died from heat stroke following summer practices.

Avery Vehlewald, a 7-year-old from Overland Park, is headed to Japan next month to compete in the Pokémon World Championship. He’ll be competing with his 9-year-old brother, Glenn, who also qualified.

Wiener Kitchen, which began as a food truck at the Overland Park Farmers Market, makes a hot dog from roasted cauliflower, walnut and wild rice. It was named one of PETA's 10 top vegan hot dogs of summer 2023.

Violinist Maria Ioudenitch grew up around Kansas City, and is part of a very musical family — her parents are world-renowned pianists and educators. Now, she's balancing the rollout of her debut album, "Songbird," with the an international touring calendar.

This weekend, two teams based in Olathe, Kansas will play in the Granny Basketball national championships. Organizers want to foster camaraderie, sportsmanship and a “gentle game” for women over age 50. Plus: the elite violinist whose world-renowned musical family called Kansas City home.

City councilmembers now will consider whether to make the chicken rules permanent and whether to reduce or drop the minimum land requirement. Overland Park's animal control department noted there have been no documented complaints on properties with chicken permits since the pilot began in March 2022.