Good morning, Olathe.

Over the weekend, 26-year-old Olivia Copeland—daughter of late Olathe Mayor Michael Copeland and an employee of AVA Rafting and Zipline—fell while rappelling during a guiding tour in Idaho Springs and did not survive as state agencies investigate the accident.

Rush Bowls, a Colorado-based eatery that serves acai bowls and smoothies, announced it will open its first store at 10524 S.

Ridgeview Road in Olathe later this fall—marking its debut in Johnson County and the Kansas City metro area. An exact opening date has not been set.

Olathe Public Schools and the Kansas 10th Judicial District Court have hosted a Constitution Day mock trial for a decade to teach third graders civics skills — this year the program expanded nationwide with over 15,000 students set to participate in classroom simulations tomorrow.

Olathe’s Westview Elementary will close at the end of this school year to become a K-8 alternative program offering 45 days of classroom instruction and specialized behavioral support—designed for students with serious behavior challenges.

The district will begin hiring this Spring and plans to finalize transportation and naming as the program starts fall 2026.

Local officials are working to protect child care access as licensed in-home providers drop from 419 to 356 in Johnson County, prompting Overland Park to consider easing rules so providers can hire extra staff and have fewer administrative hurdles—while initiatives like Raising JoCo encourage businesses to share costs. This move aims to help families get the quality child care they need and support providers’ well-being.

Mike Scanlon, a former Mission city administrator and executive director for Kansas Trails Inc., began his month-long 700-mile ride on Kansas trails on Sept.15 in Merriam to raise funds for Kansas Trails Inc. and GO2 for Lung Cancer — he rides 25 to 30 miles each day and aims to raise $75,000 as his Ride for Resiliency continues toward the Flint Hills.

The Chiefs defeated the New York Giants 22 to 9 on Monday, earning their first win of the season and their first in New York—now the team will prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

ASL-for-All 5K Walk, Run & Roll

8:30-9:45 a.m. — Frontier Park — Donations encouraged — Celebrate and support a shared signing community for Deaf and non-Deaf individuals.

KC Pumpkin Patch Homeschool Day

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. — KC Pumpkin Patch — Prepurchased ticket required — A special field trip day for homeschooling families filled with autumn fun.

Walmart's Innovative Manufacturing Journey

7:30-9:00 a.m. — Grand Street Cafe — Free entry — Explore Walmart's groundbreaking 330,000-square-foot meat production facility and the innovation behind its design-build success.