🌱 Patch AM: How did Overland Park end up America’s “least needy” big city?

Good morning Overland Park! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How did Overland Park end up America’s “least needy” big city?
• How is an Overland Park teen reshaping the KC Current’s defense?
• What will you find inside Nerman’s bold new Linda Lighton retrospective?

Today's riddle: How many sheep does it take to make a sweater? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Partly sunny, nice and warm, with a high of 66 and low of 55 degrees.
• Sunday: A couple of morning showers, temps: high: 57, low: 17. ⛄️ Brr!
• Monday: Sunny, breezy and much colder, with a high of 29 and low of 18 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Nationwide survey calls this northeast Kansas city 'least needy' (cjonline.com) — Overland Park residents can take note that a new WalletHub analysis ranks the city as the “least disadvantaged” among 182 major U.S. cities, thanks to strong income, health, and safety indicators. The study compared large cities on poverty, food insecurity, insurance coverage, and other hardship measures, with Overland Park performing better than every other city examined.
   

• Kansas City Current announces roster changes: Here are incoming & outgoing names (kansascity.com) — A rising soccer standout from Overland Park, 16-year-old defender Meila Brewer, has signed a three-year deal with the Kansas City Current after reclassifying early to play at UCLA. The club also added Alabama scoring star Gianna Paul and Washington defender Kolo Suliafu while parting ways with several players, including promising youngster Alex Pfeiffer.
   

• A Kansas City artist crafts fashion — and guns — out of ceramic. Her provocative career gets a new look (kcur.org) — Overland Park art lovers can explore a major retrospective of Kansas City ceramic artist Linda Lighton at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art on College Boulevard, running through May 3, 2026. The show traces her five-decade career, including provocative gun-themed works previously pulled from an Overland Park gallery, and invites visitors to reflect on gender, violence, and social change.
   

📸 Around Overland Park

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📣 Overland Park Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday December 28

• 📆 Calendar Swap! 📆
  Hometown Olathe Family Farm , 11000 S Woodland St , Olathe
  1:00 pm

Monday December 29

• đŚ 7:00 am - 11:00 am (2 lanes) - Short Course
  SMSD Aquatic Center , 17251 W. 87th St. Parkway , Lenexa
  7:00 am
• đŚ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm (2 lanes) - Short Course
  SMSD Aquatic Center , 17251 W. 87th St. Parkway , Lenexa
  4:00 pm
• đŚ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (3 lanes) - Short Course
  SMSD Aquatic Center , 17251 W. 87th St. Parkway , Lenexa
  6:00 pm
• December Info Sessions – How to Become a Foster Parent in Kansas
  KVC Kansas , 21344 W 153rd St , Olathe
  6:00 pm

Wednesday December 31

• Stormwater Management Committee
  Leawood, KS Calendar , 4800 Town Center Drive , Leawood
  7:30 am
• 50 Plus Ring in the New Year
  Roeland Park Community Center (RPCC) , 4850 Rosewood Drive , Roeland Park
  11:30 am

Thursday January 1

• City offices closed for New Year's Day
  City of Shawnee , 11110 Johnson Dr , Shawnee
• City Hall Closed - New Year's Day
  Mission Hills Calendar Mission Hills, KS 66208
• City Council Meeting
  De Soto, KS Calendar De Soto, KS 66018
  7:00 pm

Friday January 2

• đŚ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm (2 lanes) - Short Course
  SMSD Aquatic Center , 17251 W. 87th St. Parkway , Lenexa
  4:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• Tiny Basketball League Season Starts
  De Soto, KS Calendar De Soto, KS 66018

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Overland Park PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• RUNAWAY CAT PLEASE CALL OR TEXT: 9132807417
  Name: Alfie super sweet but hates other pets will run but only has 3 teeth and doesnt bite please let me know if you have seen him! (Nextdoor Nottingham Forest South)
• My 5 year old lost his new drone with in 5 minutes of flying it.
  He went out with papa and before I could run out there it was gone last seen in the air in the area highlighted below. If anyone finds it, please… (Nextdoor Hanover)

• Hilton posted a job opening for Banquet Captain - DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Kansas City Overland Park in Overland Park. Apply here.
• Walmart posted a job opening for Cart Attendant in Overland Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Overland Park here.

🗞 Nearby News

Leawood

• Mayor Lucas Reacts to Lockton Companies Headquarters Relocation Plans (thekansascityglobe.com)

Olathe

• Tiki Taco Wraps Up 2025 with Momentum, Plans for Growth (qsrmagazine.com)
• 63-year-old pedestrian dies in Olathe crash involving SUV (kctv5.com)
• A Sunday Reality Weather Check (kshb.com)

Ok Overland Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I have no idea. I didn’t even know sheep could knit.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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