New Vera Bradley Factory Outlet at Legends to open with sale, giveaway on Friday

A new Vera Bradley Factory Outlet store will open Friday at The Legends Outlets in Kansas City, Kansas. (Submitted photo)

A new Vera Bradley Factory Outlet store at the Legends Outlets will open Friday, July 2, with a sale and a giveaway.

The first 50 customers to enter the store when it opens, between July 2 and 4, will receive a lanyard and a matching zip ID case in tangerine twist. Also, the store will open with up to a 70 percent sale on all items.

The store will open at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sarah Lehman, a spokesman, said.

It will be the first Vera Bradley outlet store in the Kansas City area, she said.

The new store offers accessories such as quilted handbags, luggage, travel items and gifts. The colorful, exclusive patterns and prints change on a monthly basis.

Its location is next to Victoria’s Secret near the Civic Courtyard Fountain at The Legends Outlets, at 1847 Village West Parkway, Suite K-109. The store will occupy 5,182 square feet. Brooks Brothers was formerly at the location.

After the grand opening, Legends Outlets will hold an Instagram contest giving shoppers the chance to win a Vera Bradley prize package. Details will be announced after the Fourth of July holiday at www.legendsshopping.com/blog/.

Vera Bradley was founded in 1982 by friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller and currently operates more than 150 full-line and factory stores. The brand’s iconic designs and versatile styles offer people of all ages a colorful way to accessorize every look. More information is at verabradley.com.

Vera Bradley joins more than 100 designer outlets, retail , dining and entertainment locations at the Legends Outlets. Rally House, a sports wear store, is slated to open in mid-July, according to Lehman.

DCF to continue emergency food assistance for Kansas residents

Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday directed the Kansas Department for Children and Families to continue emergency food assistance (SNAP) benefits to current program households.

The emergency allotment increases a household’s monthly benefit to the maximum allowed for the size of family.

“While Kansas continues its steady return to normal, the pandemic caused challenges for families – and many still need support,” Gov. Kelly said. “Extending emergency SNAP benefits is part of our commitment to protecting Kansas children and families during the pandemic and beyond, and ensuring our kids have reliable access to quality, healthy foods.”

Under Gov. Kelly’s direction, DCF Secretary Laura Howard issued a declaration of continuing benefits due to COVID-19 — under state law — which directs the agency to continue taking all necessary actions to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the state of Kansas.

DCF estimates the extension will bring an additional $14.5 million in benefits per month to Kansas.

“I appreciate our federal partners for continuing this valuable support for vulnerable Kansans,” Secretary Howard said. “These emergency benefits will help ensure Kansas families have access to healthy groceries as we continue to recover from this pandemic.”

The continuance of the emergency allotment is effective through Dec. 31, 2021, or upon the termination of the federal declaration of a public health emergency, whichever occurs sooner.

No application is necessary to receive the emergency food assistance funds. The distribution will continue to follow the standard alphabetical schedule.

Those that don’t currently receive food assistance but are interested in applying can visit the DCF website at www.dcf.ks.gov.

Driver crashes after hitting standing water on I-635

When a driver hit standing water in a lane of I-635 this morning, she lost control of her Nissan Altima and hit the barrier wall, according to a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper’s report.

The accident happened on southbound I-635 near Leavenworth Road at 8:53 a.m. June 30.

The driver, a 36-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, woman, had a possible injury and was taken to a hospital, the report stated.