Governor Laura Kelly Requests Federal Assistance for Flood Recovery Efforts
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Governor Laura Kelly submitted the request to President Donald Trump late yesterday (SUN) for emergency assistance to deal with damage done by flooding, tornados and other types of severe weather in 46 of the state’s 105 counties. The federal resources would help with water rescue efforts, should additional rain make them necessary. The Kansas News Service Reports that the emergency federal assistance would also help with debris removal and short-term housing and food for Kansans forced from their homes. Kelly says she requested the federal assistance to ensure that state emergency management officials have everything they need to “keep people safe and limit damage to property.” State officials briefed U.S.Senator Jerry Moran on the flooding situation over the weekend. Moran said he asked for the briefing so that he could be prepared to support a federal aid request.
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Evacuation of Tiny Kansas Town Ordered over the Weekend
FALL RIVER, Kan. (AP) — Authorities have ordered the evacuation of the tiny southeastern Kansas town of Fall River, as increased water releases from the dam just north of it threatens to swamp the town. The Wichita Eagle reports that Greenwood County authorities called Saturday for the immediate evacuation of the town of about 150 that lies about 75 miles east of Wichita. A shelter was set up at a church in Eureka for evacuees. As of Saturday morning, the dam was releasing 36,000 cubic feet of water per second, and buildings downstream from the reservoir could be seen submerged to their roofs. Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism workers used a boat to search the area for anyone stranded by the floodwaters. All campgrounds and day use areas at Fall River State Park remain closed.
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Cost of Buying Flood-Prone Homes: $5 Billion and Rising
MOSBY, Mo. (AP) — Over the past three decades, federal and local governments have poured more than $5 billion into buying tens of thousands of properties that are susceptible to flooding. An analysis of federal data by The Associated Press shows those buyouts have been getting more expensive. Many of the costliest have come during the last decade after strong storms pounded heavily populated coastal states such as Texas, New York and New Jersey. This year's record flooding in the Midwest and Plains states could add even more buyouts to the queue. The purchases are happening as the climate changes. Along rivers and sea coasts, some homes once considered at little risk of flooding are now endangered due to water that is climbing higher and surging farther inland than historic patterns predicted.
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Weather Service Confirms Weak Tornado Hit SE Kansas
DOUGLASS, Kan. (AP) — The National Weather Service has confirmed that a weak tornado touched down Friday afternoon in a rural area near Douglass in southeastern Kansas. KWCH-TV reports that an EF-0 tornado, with winds from 65 mph to 85 mph, hit about 4:20 p.m. Friday and stayed on the ground only a couple of minutes. The weather service says the damage was relegated to trees in the area. No injuries or building damage was reported. Meteorologists say heavy rains — which could worsen flooding — as well as strong winds and hail could be seen Saturday evening into Sunday for parts of eastern Kansas. Dry weather is expected Monday and for several days after that.
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Kansas Lawmakers' Last Day in Session to Test Kelly's Clout
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly this week faces a key test of her power to shape the Kansas budget and keep moderate Republicans on her side. The GOP-controlled Legislature is preparing to consider overriding Kelly's vetoes of spending and tax relief measures. Lawmakers are set to convene Wednesday to conclude any final business and adjourn for the year. It's their only chance to enact a Republican tax relief bill and several budget items over vetoes reflecting Kelly's belief that the measures would create future budget problems. Republicans have the two-thirds majorities needed in both chambers to override vetoes. Kelly needs at least a few moderate GOP defections. The votes comes only a few weeks after Kelly failed to maintain moderate GOP support for her Medicaid expansion plan.
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Kansas Has Paid Two of Five Claims for Wrongful Incarceration
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - One year after lawmakers agreed to compensate people who were wrongfully convicted and incarcerated, Kansas has paid two of five claims. Kansas has agreed to pay $1.1 million to Richard Jones of Kansas City, who spent 17 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of a robbery that he says was committed by someone who looks like him. Last week, the state agreed to pay $1.03 million to Floyd Bledsoe who wrongly spent nearly 16 years behind bars for the murder of a 14-year-old girl. A petition filed by Lamonte McIntyre, who was mistakenly imprisoned 23 years for a double murder is still pending. The state of Kansas is disputing claims for compensation filed by two others who say they were wrongly convicted.
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Topeka Approves $33,000 Settlement to City Police Officer
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A Topeka police officer who filed a grievance over discipline he received has been granted a settlement of nearly $33,000 by the Topeka City Council. But the Topeka Capital-Journal reports that officials have refused to provide details about officer's complaint or why the city was compelled to pay the settlement. The council voted 9-0 to approve payment of the settlement to Officer Christopher Voelcker. The Capital-Journal filed a Kansas Open Records Act request to compel City Attorney Lisa Robertson to name Voelcker as the officer receiving the settlement. But Robertson's office would not provide a copy of the grievance, saying that information fell under the umbrella of personnel records protected from release under the open records act.
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Officer Shoots and Kills Suspect in Carjacking
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A police officer shot and killed a man who fled multiple times when the officer tried to arrest him over the weekend in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City Star reports the man was a suspect in an armed carjacking that happened around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. Police say the armed man had forced his way into a home and took a vehicle. While officers were at the home, the man returned. He fled when police tried to arrest him, but an officer caught up with him just south of the home. The man struggled, and the officer fired his gun. The suspect received first aid and was taken to a hospital by ambulance where he died. The officer wasn't injured.
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Kansas City Police Investigate After Parked SUV Explodes
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - Authorities say someone threw an explosive device into an SUV parked outside of a Kansas City, Kansas, apartment complex right before it blew up. The explosion happened Sunday morning and damaged the Chevrolet TrailBlazer. No one was hurt by the blast. Police Chief Terry Zeigler says his department has requested help from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in the investigation.
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Seized Tiger, Lion Pelts Donated to Topeka, Wichita Zoos
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Tiger and lion pelts seized from wildlife traffickers have been donated to zoos in Topeka and Wichita. U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said his office donated pelts that were seized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during investigations of a black market for hides and other parts of protected wildlife. The tiger pelts were in a warehouse near Denver that holds wildlife items forfeited or abandoned during federal investigations. Many of the items are donated to educational facilities and nonprofit organizations to teach about endangered species. Fish and Wildlife Service agents used some of the pelts in a sting operation in 2018 that resulted in a Wichita man pleading guilty and agreeing to pay $8,000 in fines for possessing two tiger pelts. Agents also seized a lion pelt from his home.
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Culinary Arts School Proposed for Downtown Wichita Complex
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A new culinary arts program could be in the works for downtown Wichita in a partnership among three centers of higher education. The Wichita Eagle reports that Wichita State University, WSU Tech and Butler Community College are in talks but have yet to reach agreement on the proposal. The culinary arts school would be established in a new downtown complex that will also host a private school of osteopathic medicine, student apartments and a hotel. Developer Sudha Tokala says there's a need for individuals with a broad spectrum of skills who can cater to all dietary requirements, including vegan and gluten free. Tokala says her vision is for a place where students can "eat, study, play, work and live."
