Category: News

Leach announces retirement from KC Current

Taylor Leach (KC Current photo)

One of the six original players on the Kansas City roster in 2020, Taylor Leach, has announced her retirement from professional soccer.

A two-time first team all-SEC for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks before starting her professional career in Sweden, Leach played in eight Challenge Cup and 26 regular season matches for the KC Current.

“Taylor’s leadership and experience have been extremely important to the growth of this club,” said general manager Camille Levin Ashton in a news release. “We thank her for all that she has done for the Current and the Kansas City community. We wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors.”

After a season with Östersunds DFF and four seasons with Kopparbergs-Göteborg FC, Leach returned to the United States to join the Utah Royals in 2020. On Dec. 18, 2020, Leach was named as one of 22 players who were being transferred to Kansas City’s roster.

“After much time and reflection, I have decided to retire from the game that has changed my life forever,” said Leach said. “It’s never easy to come to a decision like this but I’m ready and excited to start the next chapter of my life.

“To my teammates, current and former, thank you for making my journey a very enjoyable one. To the fans, thank you for always showing up. The atmosphere you created was unforgettable! To the coaches, club, and staff, thank you for giving me the opportunity to play for and represent this club and city,” Leach said.

While being counted on for her defensive abilities, she has scored two of the most memorable goals in the club’s short history.

On May 23, 2021, Kansas City found itself down against the Houston Dash 2-1 as the referee signaled for two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the match. Shortly after, Leach made a run from the backline and leaped over a defender to score the equalizer.

Then March 30, 2022, Leach scored the fastest goal in club and NWSL Challenge Cup history in the second minute of the team’s 3-0 victory over the Houston Dash. Hailie Mace swung a corner kick low into the box to find Taylor Leach, who perfectly volleyed the ball past Jane Campbell into the top left corner.

The Kansas City Current offseason continues with the 2023 NWSL draft at 5 p.m. Jan. 12, 2023.

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Residents to ask for a stop to BPU disconnections at meeting set for Wednesday night

A public community meeting on Board of Public Utilities’ bills is planned for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, at the South Branch Library, 3104 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kansas.

Community members are demanding the BPU stop utility disconnections and also are demanding local government leaders to remove fees and taxes from BPU utility bills.

“BPU and the UG Commissioners need to stop dangerous utility disconnections and end regressive fees on utility bills,” said Louise Lynch, community organizer. “Our demands are necessary to ensure that our community’s path to clean energy is just and equitable.”

Community members are also demanding transparency and accountability for moving BPU from coal to clean energy to meet the region’s net-zero carbon pollution goal in the KC Regional Climate Action Plan, according to a spokesman.

According to the group, BPU disconnected over 10,000 accounts in 2021, including over 1000 accounts per month during some of the coldest winter months in 2021-2022.

“In order to protect customers from involuntary shut-offs and high prices, BPU should work with UG Commissioners to access millions in federal environmental justice grants. Local government leaders should facilitate community planning across Wyandotte County with help from the Kansas Energy Office,” said Ty Gorman, Kansas campaign representative for Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. “There have been many public comments demanding improvements from BPU in recent Board, UG Commission, and Mayoral task force meetings.”

Volunteer activists have compiled high-level demands for BPU and local government leaders, including:

  • UG Commissioners should instruct BPU to discontinue any water or electric shut offs that might put customers at health risk.
  • UG Commissioners should remove unrelated fees or taxes on the BPU bill. No one should be put at risk of losing water or power because of inappropriate city charges.
  • The UG Commission should amend the BPU Charter to transparently plan (IRP) with KCK communities and city government to access federal funding, lower customer bills, eliminate coal pollution in our community, and keep us safe and housed by facilitating weatherization, energy efficiency, rent and other assistance access for low-income customers.

Man dies in shooting on North 64th

An adult male died in a shooting Tuesday afternoon in the 500 block of North 64th Street, according to a Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department spokesman.

The case is under investigation by KCKPD detectives.

When officers were sent to the residence at 1 p.m. Tuesday, they discovered an adult male outside the residence, the victim of an apparent gunshot, the spokesman stated.

The victim was taken to a hospital where he died from his injuries, the spokesman stated.

Two suspects, an adult male and a female, were taken into custody by KCKPD, the spokesman stated.

The shooting is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Police said anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward, according to police.