Month: June 2022

Victim in homicide on South 8th identified

The victim of a homicide in the 200 block of South 8th Street on Sunday has been identified, according to a Kansas City, Kansas, police spokesman.

The victim was Avion Walton, 17, a resident of Independence, Missouri, police stated. She was taken to a hospital where she later died from her injuries, according to police.

The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department’s Major Case Unit is investigating.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS, according to the spokesman. All tips will remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward, the spokesman stated.

KCKCC receives $1.4 million grant to serve local high school students

Kansas City Kansas Community College has been awarded $1.4 million by the U.S. Department of Education to implement the Upward Bound program. The grant begins in fall 2022 and will continue through August 2027.

“Being awarded the Upward Bound grant allows Kansas City Kansas Community College to expand services into schools to help those students who need it the most. These expanded services, built around intensive and intentional academic and student support services, will help increase high school graduation rates and college preparedness,” said Dr. Greg Mosier, president of KCKCC. “The Upward Bound program expands KCKCC’s ability to positively impact workforce needs and educational readiness of underserved students in our community.”

The Upward Bound program serves low-income and potential first-generation college students with the goal of preparing participants for college. Students receive comprehensive academic assistance and overall support for students and families, including advising, tutoring, study skills workshops, test taking support and college and financial aid application assistance.

“The Upward Bound program is an opportunity to prepare students in Wyandotte County for college – students who may not have otherwise even dreamed of what they could do beyond high school,” said Dr. Shawn Derritt, dean of student services at KCKCC. “At KCKCC, we strive to help all of our students succeed and work to provide them with the tools and skills necessary to achieve their goals.”

The grant will support 60 high school students each year from Schlagle and Washington high schools in the Kansas City, Kansas, School District. The focus for these students will be to improve academic performance, graduation rates and college readiness.

  • Story from Kelly Rogge, KCKCC public information manager

BPU board to meet Wednesday

The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities will meet Wednesday, June 22.

The work session will begin at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting will be at 6 p.m.

On the agenda for the work session is a board update, general manager update, cold weather rule discussion and Yard II economic development fund request.

On the agenda for the regular meeting at 6 p.m. are a public comment time; 2020 Leadership report; general manager and staff reports, human resources quarterly update; APPA community service award, miscellaneous comments; and board comments.

The public may listen to the meetings on Zoom or on the telephone.

The Zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84523139724.

The toll-free telephone number is 1-888-475-4499.

The meeting ID number is 845 2313 9724.

The board meeting information packet is online at https://www.bpu.com/Portals/0/pdf/board-information-packet-6-22-22.pdf.

For more information about the meeting, visit https://www.bpu.com/About/MediaNewsReleases/June22ndBPUBoardMeetingNotice.aspx.