Kansas

Brown v. Board 70 years later: Kansas school leaders say the work to create racial equity in schools continues

Published

2 years ago

May 17, 2024

Brown v. Board 70 years later: Kansas school leaders say the work to create racial equity in schools continues

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Friday is the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case that ruled segregation in schools unconstitutional. It forever changed the face of public education and Kansas schools say today the work continues to make students of all races feel equally supported.

“When I think about it being only 70 years, that’s not a long time,” said former Shawnee Mission Public Schools DEI coordinator Dr. Tyrone Bates.

As local educational leaders throughout the Kansas City area explain, progress toward racial equality in schools hasn’t always been linear.

“The Supreme Court justice’s opinion was not that schools should be segregated because it was the right thing to do but rather African Americans were inept, they were not qualified to teach students of color,” said Bates.

Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools officials say looking back at the past 70 years, its schools have become more diverse. Currently, its student population is 60 percent Hispanic, 30 percent black, and multiracial.

“I believe that all of our students need access to dual language programs, multilingual resources, resources outside of their community to help support the community,” said KCKPS diversity, equity, and inclusion executive director Dr. Canise Salinas-Willich.

The district’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion department works with other departments to create programs and policies that are inclusive for all students. Students have also been given the chance to share their personal experiences and give feedback that can create real change in the district.

“Our investment in our students is evident as we invest in their voices and we invest in making sure that we bring quality education, quality work into the classroom,” said Salinas-Willich.

Meanwhile, Dr. Bates now works in consulting but during his tenure with SMSD, he established equity practitioners. These are staff members who learn how to support each building in the district. He also established employee resource groups that support staff members who are part of marginalized groups.

“I’m proud of the fact that many administrators were doing whatever they could to break down barriers and bridges between students of different backgrounds,” said Bates.

Last year, a black student at Shawnee Mission East High School was called a racial slur by another student and attacked. Bates explains how this is an example of how racism still exists in schools and communities.

“There’s still work to be done around understanding racial equity, understanding racial justice. There’s a tremendous difference between the two. Racial equity is about improving outcomes. Racial justice is about breaking down hierarchies so we don’t have glass ceilings for people who are not in economic power,” he said.

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Kansas

Storm causes power outages in Kansas City metro

Published

11 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

Storm causes power outages in Kansas City metro

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Residents are without power after a storm swept through the Kansas City metro late Friday night into Saturday morning.

According to Evergy’s power outage map, as of 12:22 a.m., 76 active outages are causing 1,628 customers to be without power.

Over 1,000 customers are without power in the Kansas City area.(KCTV5)

WEATHER UPDATES: First Warn Weather Day: The final round of storms on the way. Here’s what to expect

This is an active situation. KCTV5 will make updates to this story as they’re made available.

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Kansas

Chiefs President: New team facilities in Olathe will connect with schools, city

Published

23 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Chiefs President: New team facilities in Olathe will connect with schools, city

KSHB 41 reporter Elyse Schoenig covers Johnson County. She’s reported on the Chiefs’ decision to move its team facility to Olathe since the team made the announcement in December. That coverage has included amplifying the voices of residents who have different perspectives on the project, which has ranged from excitement to scrutiny. Share your story idea with Elyse.

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Kansas City Chiefs President Mark Donovan said Friday the team is drawing inspiration from recent team headquarters projects with the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys as they develop plans for their own new headquarters in Olathe.

In December, the club reached an agreement with Kansas officials to move across the state line. The agreement called for a $3 billion, domed stadium in western Kansas City, Kansas, and a new team headquarters and practice facility near Kansas Highway 10 and Ridgeview Road in Olathe.

Donovan’s remarks on Friday came during the Olathe Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center.

Elyse Schoenig/KSHB

The Olathe Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Meeting on Friday, March 6, 2026, at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center.

The chamber’s theme for 2026, “Olathe Rising,” appears well-timed as the Chiefs work to build out their team headquarters vision.

Donovan said the team and its partners have been busy behind the scenes and hope to have updates on the project in the near future.

He said the club will look to work with the Olathe School District and the Olathe City Council in their plans.

The club is exploring a unique component to the facility by incorporating flag football into the project.

Flag football has been a priority of the club and the National Football League. The sport will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

In April, the Kansas State High School Athletics Association is set to vote on whether to sanction girls’ flag football as a high school varsity sport.

Funding for the club’s Olathe project will come in part from the sale of bonds paid for by certain sales tax revenues.

In February, the Olathe City Council approved participation in a STAR bonds district to build the team’s new headquarters and training facility at College Boulevard and Ridgeview Road.

Elsewhere on Friday, Kansas legislators introduced the Kansas Sports Authority Act. The act would create a nine-member board to oversee all aspects of sports facility construction.

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Kansas

Former Kansas high school wrestling coach charged with producing child pornography

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2026

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Former Kansas high school wrestling coach charged with producing child pornography

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – A former Kansas wrestling coach was charged with creating child sexual abuse materials by secretly recording minors showering during an athletic competition.

According to court documents, 37-year-old Ryan Brungardt of Salina is charged with two counts of production of child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography.

Brungardt is a former employee at Lakewood Middle School and former wrestling coach for Salina Central High School.

Brungardt is accused of using a cellphone to record three minors while they showered in a locker room during the Tournament of Champions, a wrestling tournament was held at Newton High in January 2024.

Brungardt made his initial court appearance for the criminal complaint on Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooks G. Severson.

A detention hearing is scheduled for Monday

Investigators are in the process of reviewing additional seized cellphone videos in this case that are suspected to have been recorded at wrestling meets in Newton, Hays, Garden City and Salina during the 2023-2024 wrestling season.

Anyone who believes they witnessed crimes or any suspicious activity at these events is asked to contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (785) 600-8790 or report at www.kbi.ks.gov/sar.

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