Neighbor of Westboro Baptist aims to ruffle church’s feathers, raise awareness

The Westboro Baptist Church has long used boisterous pickets to bring attention to its anti-gay stance. But for the last few months, a group across the street from the church’s compound has been using its own high-profile stunts to gain attention for its causes. For example, a 5-year-old girl sold ‘Pink Lemonade for Peace.’ On Saturday, they’ll host an outdoor same-sex marriage.

George Brett sees progress, but hedges at his status as Royals’ hitting coach

George Brett plans to meet with general manager Dayton Moore at some point in the upcoming homestand to discuss his future as the Royals’ interim hitting coach. There is little doubt the players want him to stick around.

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Men's Wearhouse ousts founder, pitchman Zimmer

Apparently, Men's Wearhouse doesn't like the way its founder looks. In a terse release issued Wednesday, Men's Wearhouse said it has fired the face of the company and its executive chairman, George Zimmer, who appeared in its TV commercials with the slogan "You're going to like the way you look. I guarantee it."

Service with a smile: The Cassie Wang story

One of Johnson County’s stellar students, Olathe Northwest High School's Cassie Wang is now headed to Harvard, but Harvard is getting more than a scholar. It is getting a philanthropist, an athlete and a young woman who is on a mission to make the world a better place.

KU heptathlon champion springs from unlikely roots in Hamilton, Mo.

On the surface, the antiquated gravel track and absence of field amenities at Penney High School in Hamilton, Mo., make baffling what blossomed from here earlier this month in Eugene, Ore: Lindsay Vollmer, a sophomore at Kansas whose hometown training hinged on what she playfully called “strange stuff,” won the NCAA heptathlon championship to help stake the Jayhawks to the first women’s national title in school history.

Student transfer situation not ideal

Missouri Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro is to be applauded for getting out in front with guidelines for student transfers from unaccredited districts. The Missouri legislature could have resolved the ambiguities in its transfer statute years ago, but chose to let the courts and state bureaucrats hash it out.

(Updated) Pets for adoption

Georgia hasn’t let her circumstances diminish her exuberance and happiness one bit. She loves to play and can entertain herself with the right toy, but she would rather play with other dogs. Georgia does have a lot of energy, and while she knows how to walk on a leash, she is a strong walker. To learn more about Georgia, please contact the Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter at www.parkvilleshelter.com

Officials to present plan to unify KC area’s splintered transit system

Today, no fewer than five transit agencies operate in the Kansas City area: the recently created Kansas City streetcar authority and four bus systems run by Independence, Johnson County and both Kansas Citys. On Wednesday, Area Transportation Authority chairman Robbie Makinen and Johnson County Commissioner Steve Klika will present a plan to make the ATA “the regional transit authority it was meant to be.”