Halfway through the week, Blue Valley!

🌤 Today’s forecast: Mostly sunny, then mostly clear in the evening. High: 86. Low: 62.

🚨 One thing to know today

A Head Start program for children in Johnson County will receive $1.8 million in federal funding to support its 200 students.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is awarding a renewal of the funds to Growing Futures Early Education Center. Located near downtown Overland Park, the program provides early education opportunities and family support services for students ages 0 to 5 in Johnson County.

Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas District 3 shared her excitement for the news about the federal funding renewal on Tuesday morning.

“The first few years of a child’s life are critical for development, and Head Start programs teach social and emotional skills, while preparing children to succeed in their future educational endeavors,” said Davids. “The benefits of Head Start programs appear immediately and last a lifetime. I am proud to continue to support funding for programs like Growing Futures throughout the Kansas Third.”

Growing Futures serves 223 enrolled students and has an active waitlist of more than 200 students, according to a press release. Most students in the program come from low-income families. At least 5.9% of Johnson County residents live in poverty, according to U.S. Census Bureau data from July 2022.

Read our report from October 2021 about the program and how it serves students and families.

🚧 Latest U.S. 69 short-term closures

During the U.S. 69 toll lane project and interchange improvement work, the Post will provide updates on the latest lane and ramp closures from West 103rd to West 151st streets. Here’s the latest:

• SB U.S. 69 at Indian Creek, April 3 – June 30. Single right lane closure on bridge over Indian Creek for project access to bridge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• NB and SB U.S. 69, 151^st St. to Blue Valley Pkwy., May 22 – June 23. Alternating lane closures for road widening work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and nightly as follows:
  • Mon-Thurs: 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
  • Fri: 8 p.m. to 10 a.m.
  • Sat: 6 p.m. to 10 a.m.
  • Sun: 5 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• NB U.S. 69 at EB 135^th St., June 6 – November 15. Ramp closed (EB 135^th St. to NB U.S. 69 entrance ramp) for pavement work.
• EB and WB 135^th St. at U.S. 69, June 12 – 14. EB and WB 135^th St. single left lane closed; SB U.S. 69 to EB 135^th St. exit ramp inside lane closed for core drilling work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• NB U.S. 69, College Blvd. to 103^rd St., June 12 – 30. Single left lane closed for project site prep work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• SB U.S. 69, 103^rd St. to I-435, June 12 – 30. Single left lane closed for project site prep work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

🗓 Public meetings Wednesday

• Overland Park Public Safety Committee, 7 p.m. [View agenda]

🚀 Post’s top Tuesday stories

1. Here are the neighborhoods impacted by Blue Valley school boundary change
2. First Beef-A-Roo location in Kansas to open in Overland Park June 16
3. Blue Valley teacher wins ‘Innovation Nation’ teacher award
4. Leawood Police dropped from federal discrimination lawsuit
5. Local obituaries for June 9-12

📰 Other local news

• Without a formal review, the Gardner Edgerton school board on Monday rejected a student’s challenge and agreed to keep the Bible on library shelves. [Kansas City Star]
• The Overland Park Farmers Market and Silo Modern Farmhouse in Lenexa are some of the top rated on a list of markets and farm-to-table restaurants in the Kansas City area, according to local chefs and food critics. [KCUR]
• An Overland Park middle school student has already logged hundreds of hours in a flight simulator in hopes of one day becoming a pilot. [KSHB]

📸 A thousand words

Thirty years ago, a young Jason Sudeikis thanks the NewsChannel 4 team (now Fox4 News) for an interesting tour. What a treat! Photo via Twitter.