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This man is ready to respond when conflicts arise on Kansas City buses

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This man is ready to respond when conflicts arise on Kansas City buses


At round 4 p.m. on a Thursday in early June, the bus heading north on Troost Ave. got here to a halt between stops. An aged lady was presupposed to get off on 39th Avenue, however she didn’t make it and the operator was persevering with to 37th Avenue when she yelled at him to cease.

One other passenger, a lady in her late 50s, additionally began yelling for the driving force to let the primary lady off. The driving force stopped and referred to as for a supervisor.

Arriving inside minutes was Ken Lewis, his dreadlocks neatly tied in a ponytail in the back of his head and a radio in his hand.

Lewis is a district street supervisor for the Kansas Metropolis Space Transportation Authority. He instructed the ladies to relax, that he was right here to resolve the matter.

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In the meantime, the bus stuffed with passengers shouted out in a refrain of frustration to begin the bus.

The second lady was so aggressive, yelling and threatening the driving force, that Lewis requested her to exit the bus. As she stepped off, she threw a cup stuffed with ice cubes on the windshield, swearing at each Lewis and the driving force.

After patiently listening to the aged lady who had missed her cease, Lewis mentioned he would drive her again to her cease in his automobile. He requested the driving force if the whole lot was OK, then let him proceed the route.

“That is nothing,” Lewis mentioned of the incident. “There are conditions which can be extra hostile at occasions.”

Lewis is certainly one of 10 street supervisors working seven districts inside the KCATA. He’s labored there for almost a decade, first as a bus operator. He discovered it fulfilling to get passengers to their locations. Now he works District 3, the whole lot west of Troost from twenty seventh to one hundred and thirty fifth avenue.

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These supervisors are obligation day-after-day from 4 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., supporting at the very least 400 bus operators alongside 57 routes with 3,500 stops in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.

Carlos Moreno

/

KCUR 89.3

Kenneth Lewis visits the East Village Transit Station just lately, certainly one of many areas the place he screens buses and their riders for RideKC.

Not a day goes by with out some form of incident.

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“Generally in a day, I’ve to mediate conflicts between the passengers and bus operators three to 5 occasions a day, starting from delicate to severe,” Lewis mentioned.

A dispatcher from the KCATA’s operational management heart street supervisors to disturbances on buses or at bus stops, in addition to to accidents and re-routes that change into obligatory for causes that don’t contain RideKC.

Generally the dispatcher points an “all name,” utilizing an intercom system to let everybody on a bus know that supervisors, cops and safety guards are on their method and they need to exit the bus.

If a state of affairs is troublesome to defuse or will get uncontrolled, there are two Kansas Metropolis Police Division officers on obligation and at the very least seven Titan safety guards supporting the supervisors.

“They’re on the scene inside three to 4 minutes to make sure there isn’t a hazard to bus operators or passengers,” Lewis mentioned.

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Generally it is a problem to cope with every persona.

“Each state of affairs and each name are totally different, and now we have to be affected person and proceed with security,” he mentioned.

“Generally it may be overwhelming, however I look ahead to my job day-after-day.”

KCATA district street supervisor Ken Lewis

Lewis begins his days at 7 a.m. by driving round his district to examine on individuals who sleep in bus shelters, waking them as much as make room for passengers to sit down and watch for the bus.

He then helps passengers who’ve questions on routes, buses and schedules, and checks on the bus operators.

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“I additionally do a well being and welfare examine on my operators to see how they’re doing and the way their day goes. Generally I additionally ask them about how their households are doing,” mentioned the 54-year-father of 4 kids and 5 grandchildren. “I attempt to give them recommendation if wanted.”

Generally passengers would possibly flip their frustrations on Lewis. Anybody who’s concerned in a dispute that causes disruption is banned from driving the bus for a day. If a passenger assaults the bus operator, they are going to be banned for six months to 1 12 months, typically indefinitely, relying on the severity of the case or whether or not the particular person is a repeat offender.

Often Lewis waits for police or safety officers to reach, but when he occurs to be first on the scene, his fundamental process is to ensure the driving force and passengers are protected. He then tries to take away the disruptive particular person from the bus by speaking to them.

More often than not, he is in a position to escort the disruptive particular person off the bus so the state of affairs would not get out of hand and there’s no interruption of providers.

“Our major objective is the security of bus operators and the passengers when conflicts come up on the bus. I first apologize to the passengers for any inconvenience brought on,” Lewis mentioned.

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Even when passengers disrespect or swear at them, Lewis mentioned, he and his operators aren’t demoralized as a result of there are different individuals who recognize their work.

He remembered a state of affairs again in Might 2021, when a lady left a make-up bag containing tons of of {dollars} on the bus. The operator knew the lady, and referred to as the operations heart, the place a dispatcher put in a name to Lewis.

He discovered the lady, who he now is aware of as Ms. Moss, strolling close to her dwelling and escorted her to RideKC headquarters to choose up the bag.

“Generally it may be overwhelming,” he mentioned, “however I look ahead to my job day-after-day and I get pleasure from my job. Coping with the general public, assembly individuals from all totally different walks of life and the operators of Trip KC.”

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Kansas

Family of man killed by Kansas City, Kansas police officer sues chief, Unified Government

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Family of man killed by Kansas City, Kansas police officer sues chief, Unified Government


KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – The family of a man shot and killed by a Kansas City, Kan. police officer filed a lawsuit against the officer, the police chief and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County.

According to the lawsuit, an officer shot 50-year-old John Anderton in the back five times as he ran away from an emergency scene in February 2023. Anderton died from his injuries.

The Wyandotte County District Attorney investigated the shooting and determined the officer was justified in shooting Anderton.

According to the DA’s investigation, Anderton failed to follow the officer’s orders and reached for a gun when the officer fired at him.

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ALSO READ: Man recently released from Leavenworth penitentiary charged with first murder of 2025

Anderton’s brother disagrees according to the lawsuit filed Jan. 14.

The lawsuit claims the police officer violated Anderson’s civil rights when he used excessive force and shot him.

The shooting happened as crews responded to a call about two people overdosing in a house near N. 55th Street and Haskell Ave.

The lawsuit said Anderton tried helping his friends by performing CPR. He left after paramedics arrive. The lawsuit said Anderton left the house because he was concerned that staying would exacerbate his chronic COPD.

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ALSO READ: KCKFD firefighter hospitalized after person drives over fire hose

The officer stopped Anderton as he left the house.

The lawsuit states the officer “suddenly demanded” Anderton to put his hands on top of his head. That’s when Anderton tried to run away. The lawsuit claims the officer fired a dozen shots at Anderton. Five of the bullets hit him, including two in the back and one in the back of the head.

The lawsuit claims Police Chief Karl Oakman and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County are responsible because they should know how the officers are trained to use force.

ALSO READ: Kansas City begins to plan for another possible Superbowl Parade in the wake of tragedy

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Spokespeople for both the police department and Wyandotte County declined to comment due to pending litigation.

The lawsuit asks for a jury trial and demands more than $75,000.



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Max Jones’ Effort For Kansas State Can Translate To Wins

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Max Jones’ Effort For Kansas State Can Translate To Wins


Even with Kansas State’s loss to Texas Tech Tuesday night, there was still much the Wildcats could appreciate.

One was Max Jones’s level of play, as he finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. But amidst his solid performance, a ton of plays beyond the box score made the difference. He kept them afloat in the second half when Texas Tech looked like they were going to turn the game back into a blowout.

“I promise our fans that we’ll put dudes on the floor that are gonna give an effort that’s worthy of wearing a K-State uniform. And if they’re not gonna be gritty and tough like Max Jones and some of the other guys showed tonight, then they won’t be on that floor,” coach Jerome Tang said.

Jones has been one of Kansas State’s most consistent scorers, scoring close to his median every game. Despite the three-game losing streak, he’s put up double-digit performances while regularly getting to the free-throw line. Jones’ stability and aggressive play make it easier for Tang to know what he can provide nightly.

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Nevertheless, Kansas State needs to start winning conference games. Jones says there’s “not a lot of pressure” to immediately win, but a fifth Big 12 loss will only fuel outside doubts.

“I’d just say we gotta keep getting better,” Jones said. “I feel like today we got a lot better, and a lot better in practice before this game. We gotta take one game at a time, and just take each game like it’s our last and just try to win.”

Jayden Armant is a graduate of the Howard University School of Communications and a contributor to Kansas State Wildcats on SI. He can be reached at jaydenshome14@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @jaydenarmant.



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Kansas influencer SB Mowing raises over $750K for elderly homeowner who faced fine from city for overgrown lawn

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Kansas influencer SB Mowing raises over 0K for elderly homeowner who faced fine from city for overgrown lawn


A Kansas influencer raised over $793,000 to save a disabled elderly woman who faced a hefty fine from her town for failing to trim her overgrown yard.

Spencer, a content creator known for his landscaping business SB Mowing, said he met homeowner Beth last summer when a town official familiar with his social media videos contacted him and asked if he could help fix her lawn.

He was warned that Beth, who uses a cane to move around her property, needed to trim the yard or pay $240 for the town, which was not revealed in the video, to cut it for her.

An influencer raised $793,000 to change the life of a disabled woman. GoFundMe

‘I’ve spent a month trying to get someone to come mow,” Beth said in a video uploaded on Jan. 10. “They won’t answer their phones.”

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Beth revealed that the town officials had implemented a date for when she was required to have the yard cut before she faced the financial loss.

Spencer described the lawn that surrounded Beth’s small white house as unkept and was “getting crazy.”

“I can get that taken care of for ya,” Spencer assured her, offering his landscaping service at no cost.

“I can’t believe it that’s great,” Beth replied.

Spencer transformed her lawn by clearing grass from the driveway cracks, trimming the bushes, removing trees and mowing very tall grass.

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Spencer stepped in after lawn care companies wouldn’t help Beth. GoFundMe
Spencer offered his landscaping service at no cost. GoFundMe

“I cried on and off just listening to your machine,” Beth told Spencer after the big reveal.

Spencer added that he was happy to help Beth as she became emotional over the gesture.

“Your work makes me twinkle so I really appreciate you. I can’t tell you how much. No one’s been happy to help me,” she added.

On top of the lawn issues, Spencer then noticed the home needed improvements to accommodate Beth, who was “in desperate need of help.”

The money raised will help Beth “gain accessibility and comfort” on her property. GoFundMe

Spencer launched a GoFundMe when he noticed how Beth’s old stairs posed an issue for her to walk on and that the driveway cracks could cause her to fall.

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The small business owner raised over a half million dollars within a day to help her “gain accessibility and comfort” on other parts of her property.

Funds raised will help address accessibility issues she faces including building a new ramp outside so it’s easier for her to get to her front door, a smooth driveway and a chair lift that will allow her to get up and down stairs for her laundry.

“We’re gonna be able to do a little bit more than just your driveway and your ramp here,” Spencer revealed. GoFundMe

The money will also pay a lawn care company to maintain her yard for the “next few years” because Spencer lives too far away.

The elderly homeowner was stunned when she received the life-changing donation.

“I can’t even cry,” Beth said. “I can’t even think.”

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“I never expected help ever, ever, ever. I always help people until I got down and out,” Beth added.

“We’re gonna be able to do a little bit more than just your driveway and your ramp here,” Spencer revealed.

Spencer is making sure all the money that was raised doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

“I am also working with an attorney to set up a trust for her to make sure that all of the funds are protected,” Spencer wrote in an update on the GoFundMe page. “I don’t want anybody trying to take advantage of her and I want to make sure that the funds are used properly.”

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