The city of Mission is envisioning a more connected future. Next week, the Mission City Council will consider amending its comprehensive plan to include Mission Connections, the city’s first-ever citywide bike-pedestrian study that calls for adding or enhancing 15 different routes including the existing Rock Creek Trail. The city developed Mission Connections over the past year with the help of a Mid-America Regional Council Planning Sustainable Places grant. Here’s a look at the Mission Connections plan and the ways the city hopes to connect residents throughout the city and the region. Source: Johnson County Post

A new group comprised of businesses and organizations in Lenexa hopes to capitalize on the FIFA World Cup coming to Kansas City in 2026. Pitch Lenexa intends to show off Lenexa to tourists during the World Cup with a series of inclusive community events and activities at venues around the city, including Lenexa City Center. Its ultimate plans go beyond that event, said Mark McFarland, organizer of the group. “The goal of the group is to have a big celebration for the World Cup. But that’s just an interim goal,” he said. “Ultimately, the idea is for the group to stay [...]

Shawnee is adding 11 more license plate readers around the city, courtesy of a federal grant. On Monday, the Shawnee City Council voted 5-1 to approve a nearly $70,000 purchase of License Plate Recognition equipment from the Merriam-based Electronic Technologies Inc. Councilmember Tony Gillette was in dissent. Councilmembers Kurt Knappen and Sierra Whitted were absent. The purchase is the result of an $83,000 federal grant under the COPS Technology and Equipment Program Invitational Solicitation for Fiscal Year 2023, which allows police departments to purchase equipment to assist in responding to and preventing crime, according to city documents. About $11,000 of the [...]