Johnson County News Archives

“If you want to be serious about paying schoolteachers money, you put it on the table with everything else.”

The House overwhelmingly approved a bill Friday limiting courts' power to seal documents and close hearings, a measure inspired by two sealed, abortion-related lawsuits before the Kansas Supreme Court. via The Topeka Capital-Journal

“I understand the district attorney wants something else, but this is the grand jury's investigation”

Planned Parenthood will turn over patient records to a Johnson County judge, but grand jurors won't see them.

Under a plan approved Thursday, the grand jury will see a spreadsheet with medical information taken from the records. The judge will ensure that the spreadsheet reflects the records.

Prosecutors from the Johnson County district attorney's office called the plan ridiculous. But Planned Parenthood attorneys said the plan would give the grand jury the information it wants while protecting patient privacy. Read more

The Johnson County Community College Foundation has named Leawood civic leader Fred Logan as 2008's Johnson Countian of the Year.

Logan, a Prairie Village lawyer and a former member of the college's board of trustees, will be honored at the foundation's 22nd annual 'Some Enchanted Evening' gala this fall.

Logan is is chairman of the Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City. He also is vice chairman and a member of the board of directors of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the board of directors of St. Luke's South Hospital. Read more

A 58-year-old former Johnson County teacher pleaded guilty today to using a computer to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.

David Hazlett of Olathe pleaded guilty during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Carlos Murguia in Kansas City, Kan.

In his plea, Hazlett admitted that on Jan. 20, 2003, he chatted with two minor girls via a Web camera, asked them to undress and show themselves to the camera. He saved the images to the hard drive of his computer.

Authorities became aware of the crime in July last year after Hazlett left his computer and other personal items behind when he was evicted from his apartment. The apartment manager had discovered the child pornography on the computer and called the Johnson County Sheriff's Department. Read more

“The goal here is not really justice. The goal here is to rip from current constitutional law the right of a woman to choose.”

Johnson County, Kan., District Attorney Phill Kline on Tuesday filed a motion with a state judge in support of a grand jury subpoena of records from Planned Parenthood of Kansas and Mid-Missouri 's clinic, ... via MediLexicon

In May of 2005 I searched for jobs that would move me from my tiny Nebraska town to Anywhere More Urban, USA. via KCCommunityNews.com

A prosecutor is questioning whether a former attorney general hindered the investigation of an abortion clinic in Overland Park. via KWCH

The Johnson County Commission is expected to vote this afternoon on an annexation proposal intensely opposed by many landowners in southern Johnson County.

The session is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. at the county administration building, 111 S. Cherry St. in Olathe

Overland Park wants to annex 15 square miles south to nearly the Miami County line, a land mass about the size of Leawood.

The vote follows months of public acrimony over the largest annexation proposal in Overland Park's 47-year history. The proposal generated hundreds of e-mails, phone calls and letters from people who decried the 'land grab' that 'was too much and too soon.' Read more

“It says to the voters that this is a real proposal”

University of Kansas Medical Center leaders aim to expand the region's pursuit of new drugs and enhanced patient care with a clinic and research center in Fairway.

The Hall Family Foundation is buying an office complex that would be provided to the university should voters approve a Johnson County Education Research Triangle sales-tax initiative later this year.

'We have a tremendous capability in this community in the drug development field,' said Bill Hall, president of the foundation. 'What has been done by KU over the years is extraordinary. The ability to combine clinical trials with drug development capabilities should give us a significant leg up.' Read more

“If I am elected, my first priority will be to implement a plan, in cooperation with local law enforcement, that will win the war against crime in our community.”

Topeka lawyer Chad Taylor announced Thursday he is running as a Democrat for Shawnee County district attorney. via The Topeka Capital-Journal

Two University of Kansas juniors have been nominated to compete for Harry S. Truman Scholarships. via The University of Kansas

Today's problem

Shirlee Kanter of Mission Hills can't wait for the new Tomahawk Road bridge to reopen just east of Mission Road.

For her, it's a better route to the Prairie Village Shopping Center than 71st Street, which has more traffic.

She asks the dog to find out when she can use the bridge again.

The answer

Prairie Village Public Works Director Bob Pryzby has good news, Shirlee. The project should be finished in fewer than 60 days, and perhaps fewer than 30.

The bridge replaces one that was rated structurally deficient under a federal rating program. The new structure also will alleviate flooding at the intersection from Brush Creek, Pryzby says. Read more

“This cannot be overstated. We are talking about disease, death and heartache by family and friends”

Supporters of banning smoking in restaurants, bars, casinos and most other public places got a quick lesson Tuesday in practical politics when they urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to rewrite the bill. via Newton Kansan

“I can't really see what more can be examined”

The Kansas attorney general's office says it won't seek conflict-of-interest charges against two Douglas County officials for their dealings with a pharmaceutical company. via The Topeka Capital-Journal

De Soto officials are urging lawmakers to approve creation of a riverfront authority to help spur development on the Kansas River. via KWCH

“A billion dollars are spent by Kansans on health care each year for tobacco-related diseases”

Kansans want a smoking ban in their public places restaurants and bars included but they want local citizens to have the option of approving or rejecting it. via The Johnson County Sun

“McCain doesn't have the values”

Thousands of Kansas Republicans filed through presidential caucuses Saturday, giving Mike Huckabee a solid chance of picking up the state despite rival candidate John McCain's status as the presumed GOP ... via The Kansas City Channel

“I think Romney would have had a good shot at capturing Kansas, but when the handwriting is on the wall, people are ready to move on”

Mitt Romney's decision to suspend his presidential campaign Thursday reordered the Republican race in Kansas just two days before GOP caucuses that drew the two remaining major candidates to the Sunflower ... via The Hutchinson News, Hutchinson Kansas

“They whine more than our kids do”

Defense attorneys for Edwin R. Hall accused Johnson County prosecutors Wednesday of withholding evidence that could help their client, who is charged in the Kelsey Smith murder case.

The attorneys also told District Judge Peter Ruddick that they were still waiting for prosecutors to provide raw footage of videotape from the Target store where 18-year-old Smith was abducted on June 2.

Stephen Maxwell, deputy district attorney, denied that the state had withheld evidence and said that the raw footage would be provided. Read more

A Gardner teenager, Dustin Howard, was charged today with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Dakota DeRemus, another Gardner teen who was found dead on Monday. via Kansas City Star

A former Johnson County firefighter pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to using the Internet and his cell phone to entice a Missouri minor for sex.

Kyle D. Brewer, 32, of Shawnee, also admitted traveling from Kansas to Livingston County, Mo., to meet what he thought was a 15-year-old girl for sex.

At the time, Brewer worked as a firefighter and emergency medical technician for Johnson County Fire District No. 2. Read more

“He deals (methamphetamine) and that kind of thing. You don't call the police on those kind of people. If they figure out who did it, you're enemy number one.”

Kevin Hollingshead testified Wednesday that he never made an agreement with Nicole Golden to kill Patrick Metsinger. via The Olathe News

Overland Park voters reapproved a sales tax for street improvements -- and by a wider margin than they passed it two times previously.

The special five-year, 1/8 -cent sales tax passed with 75 percent approval, with 28,565 ballots for the tax and 9,552 against it, said Johnson County Election Commissioner Brian Newby.

'I'm excited that citizens passed it by such an overwhelming percent,' Mayor Carl Gerlach said. 'I think it goes to show citizens trust us. We use this money for what we say it's going to be used.' Read more