Happy Thursday, Blue Valley!

☀️ Today’s forecast: Sunny, then mostly clear with a 20% chance of thunderstorms in the evening. High: 89. Low: 65.

🚨 One thing to know today

Walmart announced on Tuesday its plans to build a $257 million case-ready beef facility in Olathe.

The corporate giant will break ground on the 330,000-square-foot-facility later this year, with an expected completion of the project in 2025, according to a report from KSHB. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said the project is expected to create 667 jobs in Olathe.

McCownGordon Construction, a company based in Kansas City, Mo., is designing and building the facility.

“We’re thrilled that Walmart chose Olathe for its innovative facility, Olathe Mayor John Bacon said in a statement. “This huge capital investment will help create more jobs that will greatly benefit the City of Olathe and our entire region.”

Case-ready beef comprises any beef products that are processed and packaged at a facility, then delivered to a store and placed in a meat case for individual purchase.

The Olathe facility will package steaks, roasts and other Angus beef products from Sustainable Cuts LLC, which is based in North Platte, Nebraska. Those products will then be distributed to Walmart locations across the Midwest.

“We’ll continue to work hand in hand with our suppliers to ensure we’re delivering high-quality products, increasing transparency, resiliency and capacity through the supply process and meeting increased demand for our customers,” Walmart said in a statement.

🚧 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.
• 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 Thursday

• Board of County Commissioners, 9:30 a.m. [View agenda]
• Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees Retreat, 4 p.m. at Hugh W. Speer Board Room (GEB 137).
• Johnson County Community College Board of Trustees, 5 p.m. [View agenda]

🚀 Post’s top Wednesday stories

1. Moms for Liberty flyers in Johnson County support book bans, decry school performance
2. 🥳 Best of Johnson County 2023: And the finalists are…
3. Blue Valley teacher wins ‘Innovation Nation’ teacher award
4. Kansas lawmakers want quicker switch to teaching reading in a way that actually works
5. 2 Overland Park projects get tax breaks for next phase of work

📰 Other local news

• The Gardner Edgerton school board rejected a former student’s challenge to the Bible being on district library shelves, after the district this year removed seven other titles based on one parent’s complaints that they contained objectionable material. [Kansas City Star]
• As more students speak out about widespread and unchecked racism in their schools, Olathe district officials are considering issuing harsher punishments for racial harassment. [Kansas City Star]

📸 A thousand words

Yellow blooms greet folks at a trailhead at I-Lan Park on Tuesday afternoon in Leawood. Photo credit Lucie Krisman.