Local News. Local Stories. Our Community.
Olathe Today is an independent, locally operated news organization dedicated to keeping the people of Olathe, Kansas, informed, connected and engaged with their community.
Launched in August 2026, Olathe Today was founded on a simple belief: Local news should be accessible to everyone, without subscriptions or paywalls.
As traditional news organizations have scaled back local coverage and more information has moved behind subscription fees, we saw a need for something different — a news source focused specifically on Olathe and the stories that matter to the people who live and work here.
From City Hall decisions and public safety to new businesses, community events, local history and neighborhood concerns, our mission is to keep Olathe informed about what’s happening in our own backyard.
Our History: A Return to Our Newspaper Roots
While Olathe Today is a new publication, our roots in local media stretch back to the 1990s.
Our parent company, Something Different, began as a newspaper in the 1980s. The newspaper ceased publication in 2001, and the company shifted its focus to advertising, marketing, sales, video production and digital media.
Today, Something Different Media Group brings together more than four decades of media industry experience.
Over the years, the company has developed websites for established publications, including The Jewish Chronicle, The Wednesday and The Overland Park Sun, as well as dozens of chambers of commerce throughout the United States.
That work helped build a strong foundation in digital publishing, community communications and connecting organizations with the audiences they serve.
Something Different Media Group has also continued working in television and video production, advertising, website development and marketing, helping businesses and organizations tell their stories through a variety of media.
Although our business evolved, our connection to publishing and local storytelling never disappeared.
In August 2026, we decided to return to our newspaper roots, this time with a modern approach combining traditional reporting with digital publishing, social media and video journalism.
That decision led to the creation of Olathe Today.
Why Olathe Today?
Olathe has grown tremendously over the years. New neighborhoods, businesses and developments continue to reshape our city, while important decisions about roads, schools, public safety and local government affect residents every day.
We believe those stories deserve attention.
We also believe residents shouldn’t have to pay a subscription fee to learn what’s happening in their own community.
Olathe Today was created to help fill that gap by offering free, locally focused news and information.
Our coverage includes breaking news, city government, development projects, business openings, community events, public safety, local history and the people who make Olathe a great place to live.
We want to ask questions, seek answers, share important information and celebrate the positive things happening throughout our community.
Not every story needs to be breaking news. Sometimes the most interesting stories are about a small business opening its doors, a piece of local history being rediscovered or a neighbor doing something extraordinary.
If it matters to Olathe, it matters to us.
A New Publication With Room to Grow
Olathe Today is still young, and we’re growing alongside our audience.
We’re building this publication one story, one interview and one relationship at a time.
Our background in professional video production allows us to take a multimedia approach to local journalism. In addition to written articles and photography, we’re developing original video reports, interviews, business features and on-location coverage.
We believe video can bring local stories to life in ways that traditional newspaper articles alone cannot.
As we grow, we hope to expand our reporting, introduce additional features and provide even more coverage of the issues and events important to Olathe residents.
We’re a growing local news operation, and we’re constantly learning, listening and improving. Our goal isn’t simply to publish more stories — it’s to provide meaningful coverage that reflects the interests and concerns of the community.
Keeping Local News Free
One of our most important goals is to keep Olathe Today free for readers.
We believe access to community news shouldn’t depend on whether someone can afford a subscription.
To help support our operations and future growth, Olathe Today plans to offer advertising opportunities on our website and digital platforms.
This approach will give local businesses an opportunity to reach an audience interested in Olathe while helping support the publication of free local news.
Our parent company, Something Different, brings extensive experience in advertising, marketing, website development and video production, giving us a strong foundation for helping businesses share their messages.
We believe local businesses and local journalism can support one another. Advertising, however, will remain separate from our editorial decisions. Paid promotional content will be clearly identified.
When local businesses support Olathe Today, they’re also helping keep local news free for everyone.
Independent and Community Focused
Olathe Today is independently owned and operated by Something Different Media Group.
We are not affiliated with the City of Olathe, any government agency or any political organization.
Our goal is to report local news accurately, fairly and responsibly. We strive to present the facts, provide context and give readers the information they need to form their own opinions.
We believe local journalism plays an important role in keeping residents informed about decisions that affect their neighborhoods, schools, businesses and quality of life.
We also recognize that trust is earned. We’re committed to listening to our readers, correcting errors when they occur and continuing to improve our reporting.
Help Us Tell Olathe’s Stories
Olathe Today isn’t just about the stories we publish. It’s about the community those stories represent.
We welcome news tips, photographs, event announcements, historical information and story suggestions from residents, businesses and community organizations.
Opening a new business? Planning a community event? Concerned about an issue in your neighborhood? Have an interesting piece of Olathe history you’d like to share?
We want to hear from you.
We also welcome inquiries from businesses interested in supporting free local journalism through advertising.
Contact Olathe Today
Phone: 913-768-1000
Olathe Today — Local News. Local Stories. Our Community.
Something Different Media Group