Kansas
Town hall focused on youth crime held in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Jackson County leaders and experts came together Monday to hold a town hall geared toward youth crime in Kansas City. A panel discussed what is driving it, what they are doing to address it, and potential steps towards solutions to the problem.
“Seeing safe and peaceful communities starts with us,” said Adam McClun, the Director of Programs and Operations at KC Common Good. “It starts with our families and our kids and also asking ourselves the question are we reaching? Are we serving those most impacted by violence and those who are closest to violence?”
Representatives from KC Common Good, the Kansas City Missouri Police Department, Circuit Court of Jackson County, and Kansas City Public Schools all took turns sharing information. Major Leslie Foreman, with KCPD’s Central Patrol Division, brought up juvenile crime statistics. She said while there are several reasons it’s harder to get the numbers for certain juvenile crimes, they are able to keep stats for violent crimes like homicide.
“When we look at homicide suspects that are juveniles — these are identified suspects — doesn’t mean they have been charged necessarily, just that we believe we know who they are,” said Foreman. “In 2019, we had 17. In 2020, we had 6. 2021, we had 7. 2022, we had 14. 2023, we had 16. So far this year we have had 13. Homicide victims that are juveniles: In 2019 it was 11 of them. 2020 it was 10. 2021 it was 15. 2022, 12. 2023, 19. This year to date 14.”
Monica Penrose, the acting juvenile officer for the Circuit Court of Jackson County, discussed what they are doing to address offenders in the juvenile system.
“We receive hundreds of referrals each year,” said Penrose. “Many of them are actually minor types of offenses where we are able to put them in a diversion program and put their parents through services as well. We have parents bring their children to our offices asking for help. In our diversion program, over 92% of the youth referred to that program and go through the services do not re-offend.”
Another program that is working for kids in Kansas City Public Schools is a mentorship program, according to Dr. Derald Davis, the Deputy Superintendent and Chief Equity Officer.
“Our data shows that students with mentors have higher attendance, fewer disciplinary infractions, they are graduating on time at a higher rate versus those without mentors,” said Davis. “So essentially, students with support are thriving in school.”
He added they can always use more volunteers to sign up as mentors.
“Currently there are more than 350 students on the waiting list,” said Davis. “That means the student has asked for a mentor and parents have signed a permission slip. But to be fair, once there are 10 students on a waiting list at a particular school, we don’t accept any more permission slips. So the need is actually greater.”
Other ideas brought up to address youth crime include expanding community partnerships, putting more funding in crime prevention and programs, and going directly to the source and helping kids who are already in trouble get the support they need to prevent them from doing it again.
“”We just released the Kansas City public safety plan,” said Gary Jones Jr., the KC 360 Manager with KC Common Good. “Phase one of that is intervention.”
KC United for Public Safety just announced a plan earlier this month to make Kansas City safer. It’s called KC 360 and the five pillars of the plan are prevention, intervention, enforcement support, and support services.
The goal of the plan is to reduce gun violence by 50 percent in five years, and have fewer than 100 homicides annually.
All on the panel agreed there are several things that can be worked on, but it won’t be an overnight fix.
“Understand there is a root cause to that we have to address as well,” said Jones Jr. “It’s one thing to brand the crisis and the issue, but I think Kansas City has to take time to brand the solutions as well. And that’s what we has not been doing thus far.”
KC Common Good has more information on how to get involved on its website.
Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Indiana’s portal haul continued to grow Sunday as multiple outlets reported the addition of Kansas State edge rusher Tobi Osunsanmi.
Osunsanmi has played in 36 games over the last four years and has 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. Most of that production came over the last two seasons. He has a total of 47 QB pressures during his college career.
In 2025 he played in six games and had 20 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. He suffered a season-ending injury in October.
He saw action in all 13 games in 2024 as a reserve defensive end and on special teams, recording 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble over 303 defensive snaps and 31 special teams plays.
In 2023 he saw time in all 13 games as a reserve linebacker, a rush end on passing downs and on special teams. He was tied for team-high honors with five tackles on kickoff coverage.
He played in four games in 2022 and preserved his redshirt.
The 6-foot-3 and 250-pound Osunsanmi has one year of eligibility remaining.
The Wichita, Kan. product (Wichita East H.S.) was regarded as the 232nd-best overall player in the nation for the Class of 2022 by 247Sports.
Osunsanmi will help fill the void left by outgoing edge rushers Mikail Kamara, Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley.
More transfer portal information:
For complete coverage of IU football recruiting, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
Related
Kansas football coach Lance Leipold explains signing QB Jaylen Mason
Check out some of what Kansas football coach Lance Leipold had to say Wednesday about why the Jayhawks signed quarterback Jaylen Mason.
LAWRENCE — The Division I transfer portal window for college football is open from Jan. 2 through Jan. 16, and that means Sunday is another chance for the Kansas football program to shape its roster.
The Jayhawks already gained one public addition earlier this offseason in Grand Valley State transfer Jibriel Conde — whose signing was announced Dec. 4. Conde, who is making the jump up from Division II, is a 247Sports-rated three-star defensive lineman in the portal and is listed by KU as a defensive tackle. On Saturday, a number of current Kansas players — including redshirt freshman quarterback Isaiah Marshall, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Keaton Kubecka and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Blake Herold — also outlined in social media posts on X that they are locked in with the program for the 2026 season.
Marshall is set to compete for the starting quarterback job next season. Kubecka has the chance to step up into a more significant role at wide receiver. Herold is in line to be a key part of Kansas’ defensive line.
Those positives, though, don’t outweigh the fact that there has been a sizable group of players who have revealed their intentions to transfer away. Looking overall, when it comes to those whose decisions became public before and after the portal opened, the significant names to know include redshirt senior safety Lyrik Rawls, redshirt junior linebacker Trey Lathan and freshman quarterback David McComb. Lathan led KU in tackles in 2025.
Check in here for more updates during this transfer portal window about a KU team that finished 5-7 during the 2025 season, with transfer ratings as outlined by 247Sports.
Kansas football transfer portal additions
Jibriel Conde (3-star defensive lineman from Grand Valley State) — KU lists him as a defensive tackle
Kansas football transfer portal departures
Joseph Sipp Jr. (linebacker)
Jacoby Davis (cornerback)
Dylan Brooks (defensive end)
Jaidyn Doss (wide receiver)
Carter Lavrusky (offensive lineman)
Trey Lathan (linebacker)
Tyler Mercer (offensive lineman)
Harry Stewart III (running back)
Caleb Redd (3-star edge) — KU lists him as a defensive end
Aundre Gibson (3-star cornerback)
David McComb (3-star quarterback)
Kene Anene (3-star interior offensive lineman) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman
Laquan Robinson (3-star safety)
Jameel Croft Jr. (3-star cornerback)
Logan Brantley (3-star linebacker)
Greydon Grimes (3-star offensive tackle) — KU lists him as an offensive lineman
Jon Jon Kamara (3-star linebacker)
Lyrik Rawls (3-star safety)
Damani Maxson (3-star safety)
Jaden Hamm (tight end)
Bryce Cohoon (wide receiver)
JaCorey Stewart (linebacker)
Johnny Thompson Jr. (running back)
Efren Jasso (punter)
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Hundreds of people packed the Gem Theatre over the weekend to celebrate Kwanzaa.
The celebrations run nightly through January 1. Each night highlights a different core value, including unity, cooperation and faith.
The event features local vendors and performances. Organizers say it’s a great way to start the new year.
The Kwanzaa celebration is free and open to everyone.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
Some Venezuelans in North Texas celebrate Maduro’s capture, hopeful for the future: “We know this is just a first step.”
Ukrainian family in Utah facing separation, with 2 family members fearing deportation
VT Lottery Lucky For Life, Pick 3 results for Jan. 4, 2026
Virginia state trooper injured in Beltway crash following pursuit
Tracking crime in the DMV: Some areas see drop in violent crime, homicide
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Trump vows US ‘in charge’ of Venezuela as he reveals if he’s spoken to Delcy Rodríguez
Trump’s abduction of Maduro escalates concerns over potential war with Iran
Cuba says 32 Cuban fighters killed in US raids on Venezuela
Dan Bongino officially leaves FBI deputy director role after less than a year, returns to ‘civilian life’
Hundreds march in silence to honour Crans-Montana fire victims
-
World1 week agoHamas builds new terror regime in Gaza, recruiting teens amid problematic election
-
Indianapolis, IN1 week agoIndianapolis Colts playoffs: Updated elimination scenario, AFC standings, playoff picture for Week 17
-
Business1 week agoGoogle is at last letting users swap out embarrassing Gmail addresses without losing their data
-
Southeast1 week agoTwo attorneys vanish during Florida fishing trip as ‘heartbroken’ wife pleads for help finding them
-
Politics1 week agoMost shocking examples of Chinese espionage uncovered by the US this year: ‘Just the tip of the iceberg’
-
News1 week agoRoads could remain slick, icy Saturday morning in Philadelphia area, tracking another storm on the way
-
World1 week agoPodcast: The 2025 EU-US relationship explained simply
-
News1 week agoMarijuana rescheduling would bring some immediate changes, but others will take time