Eleven finalists of the KC Superstar competition will vie for the title of the area’s best high school singer at 7 p.m. Sunday in Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College. The finalists were selected from than 150 students from 54 Kansas City area high schools in a competition modeled after TV’s “American Idol.” The field will be reduced to three by a panel of judges and the winner will be chosen by audience vote. The winner receives a $5,000 award, second place is awarded $1,000, and third place gets $500. The first-place winner’s high school receives a $1,000 donation to its Fine Arts Department. Updated: Aug. 27, 2010 5:31 PM |Full Story

The Olathe Police Department is working with more than 140 other agencies across the state to cut down on drunk driving now through Labor Day. The aggressive enforcement of the state’s drunk driving laws and other driving laws during the period is part of the “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” effort. The program is underwritten by a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation. Updated: Aug. 27, 2010 5:31 PM |Full Story

Johnson County now has an appointed county treasurer and a single department for treasury and finance, following a streamlining effort approved this week. The Board of County Commissioners voted Thursday to create the new Department of Treasury and Financial Management. Updated: Aug. 27, 2010 5:41 PM |Full Story

A De Soto woman charged with starving her 6-year-old son and confining him in an attic argued Thursday that her bond should be reduced because she is pregnant. After her lawyer argued for a vast reduction because of a high-risk pregnancy, Johnson County Judge Peter Ruddick set a Sept. 17 hearing to consider it. Updated: Aug. 27, 2010 5:41 PM |Full Story

MARRIAGES This list is provided by the Johnson County District Court. Updated: Aug. 27, 2010 5:35 PM |Full Story

Large public universities may be turning away residential-hall hopefuls in droves this year, but on-campus living remains plentiful at MidAmerica Nazarene University. In fact, for many freshmen and upperclassmen, living on campus isn’t just encouraged, it’s required. Updated: Aug. 27, 2010 11:27 PM |Full Story

A Spring Hill woman was killed Friday morning in a one-vehicle accident in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol this morning is working a fatal accident in Johnson County.

A De Soto woman charged with starving her 6-year-old son and confining him in an attic argued Thursday that her bond should be reduced because she is pregnant.

An infant has a confirmed case of bacterial meningitis and is being treated at a local hospital, the Johnson County Health Department reported this morning.

Olathe police on Wednesday identified the woman who died Tuesday afternoon after a traffic accident.

Heart to Heart International, a worldwide humanitarian organization with headquarters in Olathe, this week introduced Andre T. Butler as its new chief executive officer. Butler, who will begin his new role immediately, is a 12-year veteran of the organization and its former executive vice president. The unanimous decision was announced Tuesday by Heart to Heart International’s board of directors. Updated: Aug. 21, 2010 7:53 AM |Full Story

The Olathe school board Monday night approved a 2010-11 budget that includes a small tax increase, but not before one member raised the possibility of a pay cut next year. Following a public hearing at the District Education Center, the board voted 6-1 to approve a budget of $224 million, up .0028 percent from last year’s budget of $223.4 million. The new budget includes an increase in the mill levy of 5.963 mills to 72.863 mills. Updated: Aug. 25, 2010 4:34 PM |Full Story

Although residents of some nearby communities that draw drinking water from the Kansas River have complained late last week that the water tastes or smells bad, Olathe has not heard similar complaints. City offices in Lawrence and Topeka received complaints about the water tasting “musty” or “earthy.” Water officials said the problem was caused at least in part by algae in the Kansas River. Officials also said the water is safe to drink and that the algae causing the problem was expected to die off naturally over a period of days. Updated: Aug. 24, 2010 5:15 PM |Full Story

Students at three of four Olathe high schools increased ACT scores while the Olathe School District’s average score remained near last year’s. District students had an average score of 23.2 on the college entrance exam, with 75 percent of students taking the exam, according to Mary Matthew, district director of school improvement and assessment. Updated: Aug. 24, 2010 5:15 PM |Full Story