Live blog: Independence School District launches COVID-19 dashboard

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — We have been tracking the spread of COVID-19 in the Kansas City area since the start of the pandemic.

Whether it's stories about how we bounce back through our Rebound KC effort, important information as school resumes or critical information about the November election, trust 41 Action News to keep you informed.

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Updates on the spread of the virus and how it is affecting the metro can be found below for Sept. 8.

9 p.m. | The Independence School District has launched its own COVID-19 dashboard. As of Sept. 8, the district reported two cases at Sunshine Center, one at Abraham Mallinson Elementary School and one at Blackburn Elementary School.

Less than 1% of the district has been quarantined due to exposure at school. -KW

8:07 p.m. | Less than 30 days after suspending fall athletics and activities, Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools reversed course Tuesday and will allow athletic competition to proceed this fall.

The Board of Education voted 4-3 on Tuesday “to allow for athletes to begin workouts on September 14th.”

The board, which voted 5-2 on Aug. 11 to suspend athletics in the first place, also announced a special session Friday “to discuss more of the guidelines” ahead of Monday’s return to practice.

It’s unclear when competition would be allowed to start as athletes must participate in a minimum number of conditioning sessions and practices before taking part in games.

“We know you will have questions about what conditioning will look like, what is required from students to be able to participate, and times that conditioning will take place,” the district said via Twitter. — TP

6:23 p.m. | As if playing Alabama to open the season isn’t hard enough, a little more than two weeks from the Mizzou football team’s opener against the Crimson Tide on Sept. 26 at Memorial Stadium, nearly 20 Tigers players are sidelined due to the pandemic.

Four players have tested positive for COVID-19 as cases spike in Boone County, where Columbia is located, and another 14 players are out due to contact tracing investigations. — TP

3:44 p.m. | A class of first-grade students at a Sedalia elementary school have been ordered into quarantine by the Pettis County Health Center.

A positive case at Skyline Elementary School, which is part of the Sedalia School District 200, prompted the quarantine “with an abundance of caution for all involved,” according to a Facebook post Tuesday about the decision.

Students, all of whom are currently asymptomatic, will be allowed to return to class Sept. 16 and all affected families have been notified.

The district has a mandatory mask policy, so all students, faculty and staff are considered low risk for exposure.

The district also announced that a staff member who works one-on-one and in small groups with students tested positive. — TP

3:07 p.m. | The Country Club Plaza has “reimagined the 89th Plaza Art Fair, announcing new plans Tuesday for the event.

Artwork from nearly two dozen local and regional artists will be displayed throughout September at the Plaza at various storefronts.

There also will be artist pop-ups at shops and restaurants Sept. 25-27, including two live painting events:

• Jenny Meyer-McCall live Lexus car wrap painting, 10 a.m., Sept. 26, Valencia Courtyard;
• Mark Allen live painting, 1 p.m., Sept. 27, Penguin Courtyard.

There also will be four live virtual concerts, which will be streamed on the Plaza’s social channels:

• Olivia Fox, 6 p.m., Sept. 25;
• NuBlvckCity, 7 p.m., Sept. 25;
• Eems, 6 p.m., Sept. 26;
• Nicole Springer, 7 p.m., Sept. 26

More information is available on the Plaza Art Fair’s website. — TP

2:45 p.m. | All Jackson County Parks and Recreation events for the fall and winter have been canceled except Christmas in the Park, a popular drive-thru holiday lights event. At Longview Lake.

The county cited the COVID-19 pandemic, including a 15.6% positive test rate, for the decision, which was made in consultation with the Jackson County Health Department.

The Missouri Town 1855 Fall Festival, Dogtober Fest and Christmas in the Sky are among the events being canceled. — TP

2 p.m. | Ensembles within the Kansas City Symphony will perform a fall schedule of free, outdoor chamber music concerts.

“We see the present conditions as an opportunity to innovate, and in the weeks ahead you are going to see the Kansas City Symphony reaching into every corner of the Kansas City region to deliver excellent music performances," Executive Director Danny Beckley said in a news release. "We greatly miss performing in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, however with every challenge comes an opportunity. The present conditions give us an opportunity to launch a new series of performances in neighborhoods, parks, and public gathering places to reach new audiences in a most accessible fashion.”

The symphony says it will work with community partners on safety measures, including masks and social distancing.

For more information, visit the symphony's website. —AW

11:30 a.m. | With many holiday traditions looking different this year, Powell Gardens said it will extend its annual Festival of Lights, beginning two weeks early on Nov. 13 and running through Jan. 3.

“Powell Gardens is the heartbeat of every season,” Powell Gardens CEO and President Tabitha Schmidt said in a news release. “In the winter, we invite our community to embrace the invigorating cold air and spend time with their loved ones in the Gardens.”

The eight-week festival will feature a mile-long walking path spread over 25 acres through the garden. The installations include more than 20 miles of holiday lights, according to the garden. Special events will include live music on select evenings and a holiday container design workshop on Nov. 21.

Powell Gardens will follow precautions set by local health officials. All of those details will be posted on its website. —AW

11 a.m. | School districts in the Kansas City metro are reporting some technical issues on the first day of school, which is being held virtually for many.

Olathe Public Schools said the district had an "unexpected load" of traffic on Tuesday morning when around 20,000 more devices than expected attempted to log in to the system.

Raytown schools also reported issues early in the day, but said those had been resolved by 10:30 a.m. —AW

10 a.m. | Kansas City Southern will not operate its Holiday Express train this year, which typically makes stops in a handful of states for visitors to meet Santa and tour the festive rail cars.

This year, Kansas City Southern will instead celebrate its 20th anniversary by holding a fundraiser to benefit the Salvation Army in 20 communities, including Kansas City, Joplin and Mexico, Missouri.

“KCS is pleased to celebrate 20 years of its Holiday Express program benefiting The Salvation Army in communities throughout our U.S. rail network,” KCS President and CEO Patrick J. Ottensmeyer said in a news release. “While it is not safe to gather for free visits with Santa Claus and tours of the Holiday Express train this year, the need for the charitable component of this program is greater than ever.” —AW

9:20 a.m. | Starting on Sept. 9, Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools students can pick up meals at a dozen school sites. Anyone between the ages of one and 18 who is interested must pre-register by calling 913-627-3900 and can pick up meals between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Locations can be found on the district's site map. -KB

9 a.m. | University of Kansas Health System officials gave their daily COVID-19 update. -KB

7:30 a.m. | Just starting your day? We’ve got you covered with a quick look at what you need to know. -KB

7:15 a.m. | Independence schools will offer free breakfast and lunch to all students as a part of the USDA's extension of the Summer Meals Program. Meals are available for pick up at the district's high schools Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Elementary and middle school students should pick up meals at whichever high school they will attend. -KB

7 a.m. | As part of the USDA's extension of the Summer Meals Program, Shawnee Mission schools will continue to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students, whether they're learning virtually or in person. Meals can be picked up on Fridays from 7-9 a.m. at all SMSD schools. Parents can get meals at any school but must have their student's pin number. -KB

Previous coverage:
March 2020 updates
April 2020 updates
May 2020 updates
June 2020 updates
July 2020 updates
August 2020 updates
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Thursday, Sept. 3
Friday, Sept. 4
Monday, Sept. 7