Overland Park, KS - The City Council Monday night is conducting a public hearing on proposed incentives for Teva Neuroscience.

The public hearing is at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chamber of City Hall, 8500 Santa Fe Drive. Councilmembers will consider the issuance of Economic Development Revenue Bonds in an amount not to exceed $65 million and granting tax exemption incentives.

Overland Park, KS - They play with determination, speed and a dream of winning it all.

The US Youth Soccer National Championships is coming to the Overland Park Soccer Complex July 24-28, 2013. The top 72 teams of boys and girls, ages 14-19, from across the country compete at this annual event.

"Hosting the US Youth Soccer National Championships will be a wonderful opportunity for young players in the area to see some of the best teams from around the country in action," said Jose Zarate, president of the Kansas State Youth Soccer Association.

"Kansas State Youth Soccer is excited to partner once again with the city of Overland Park to host this great event. Hosting the championships in 2010, and being selected again in 2013, speaks to the quality of the complex and the hard work of our volunteers," Zarate said.

"We are truly honored to host the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships at the Overland Park Soccer Complex," said Mayor Carl Gerlach. "This is a result of the great partnership involving the Kansas Youth Soccer Association, the Overland Park Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Blue Valley Soccer Club, the city and support of the outstanding local soccer community.

"Soccer has proven its popularity in Overland Park, and the continual use of our soccer complex is a testament to soccer's increasing success. Restaurants, hotels and retail shops often know when a soccer tournament is occurring due to a surge in business."

"The Overland Park Convention & Visitors Bureau is thrilled to welcome back US Youth Soccer and all of the coaches, players and families," said Kelly Peetoom, vice president of sales at the OPCVB. "These national championships have a tremendous impact on our local economy, and we're looking forward to another successful event in 2013."

The tournament will bring elite players from throughout the country, in addition to collegiate coaches, to Overland Park.

Overland Park hosted the national event in 2010, and the McGuire Cup U-19 boys championship game was nationally televised live on Fox Soccer.

Overland Park, KS - Drivers of Quvira Road better rely on their GPS devices to find alternate routes.

Beginning Monday, April 30, another major road construction project begins on Quivira. This time, the work is from College Boulevard south to 119th Street.

Starting Monday, and for most of the project, which is slated for completion in November, drivers can expect frequent lane closures for both north and southbound traffic, reducing it to one lane in each direction. Lane closures are scheduled to occur between 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to avoid morning and evening rush hours.

The $6.5 million project calls for adding a lane in each direction, increasing the total number of lanes from four to six. Other improvements include a new right-turn only lane for southbound Quivira at College, and a right-turn only lane for southbound Quivira at 119th Street. The project also includes new curbs and gutters, sidewalks and street lights.

Funding for the project is coming from the federal government, Johnson County and the city.

"We are working closely with representatives from Johnson County Community College, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Oak Park Mall and many others," said Justin Nickel, city project manager and senior civil engineer.

"We understand the impact on drivers regarding all of the construction on Quivira from 97th Street to 119th Street. The city is coordinating with the Kansas Department of Transportation on its project for a new interchange at I-435 and Quivira. All the coordination is an attempt to minimize, as much as possible, traffic issues," Nickel said.

All of the construction on Quivira, from 97th Street to 119th Street, is set for completion in November, Nickel said.

Keep up-to-date on Overland Park road projects.

Overland Park, KS - Doug Brown is among the nation's best when it comes to Public Works professionals.

Brown is Overland Park's Director of Public Works. He has been named by the American Public Works Association as one of ten Public Works Leaders of the Year.

Director since 2005, Brown began his career with Overland Park in 1997 as City Engineer. He is a graduate of West Point, serving the country for 26 years while working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"This is the most prestigious award in Public Works," said City Manager Bill Ebel.

"Doug is a humble and effective leader. He has a distinguished career of serving his country and this community. One of his biggest contributions is developing leaders within his department," Ebel said. "Development of an employee makes that person much more effective, a valuable contributor and a primary reason why Overland Park provides outstanding public works services.

"Public Works is one of the more challenging operations for any municipality. Whether you live, work or visit Overland Park, if you drive, you care about the conditions of streets from snow plowing and potholes to road construction," Ebel said. "Under Doug's leadership and guidance, our Public Works Department has done a stellar job in meeting constant daily demands and planning for future needs."

Since Brown joined Overland Park, Public Works has dealt with an ice storm in Overland Park; provided assistance to other communities in Kansas following devastating tornadoes and flooding; reconstructed nearly 50 miles of old, ditched residential streets; improved communications with residents prior to major projects; worked with the Kansas Department of Transportation to secure funding for various projects, which have improved our national and state highways within Overland Park; established a storm water utility program; implemented a state-of-the-art traffic management system; and greatly enhanced our infrastructure maintenance program.

Brown has an undergraduate degree in applied mathematics and science; and master's degrees in nuclear engineering from MIT and operations research from George Washington University; and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Kansas.

He and his wife Vickie live in Overland Park. They have two grown children.

Southbound Quivira Road, from 99th Street to 105th Street, will be down to one lane starting Monday, April 23.

In addition to the lane restriction, access to 99th and 103rd streets from Quivira will be closed at alternating times. Two lanes of southbound Quivira are expected to reopen May 12. All construction work is dependent upon weather.

Northbound lanes of Quvira Road will remain open.