Hawker Beechcraft's Union Trying to Block Proposed Sale
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) -- The machinists union for Hawker Beechcraft is trying to block the proposed sale of the struggling aircraft manufacturer to a Chinese company. But the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers hasn't had much success rallying support in Washington. The union says allowing the sale of Wichita-based Hawker Beechcraft's business jet and general aviation operations to Superior Aviation Beijing Company Limited, would give China access to technology it doesn't yet have.
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Lawrence Water Demand Up Sharply in Heat Wave
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- A Lawrence water official says the heat wave has city residents using more water per day than he can remember in his 22 years with the city. Water plant manager Charlie Ballenger says the city has used up to 23 million gallons of water a day for the past few weeks. That's about 10 million gallons of water a day more than the city's yearly average. The increased usage has forced the city's water treatment plants to run near or at full capacity. Ballenger says there's no room for problems that could impact that output. City Manager David Corliss says the city's investments in infrastructure have Lawrence in better shape than other communities that are struggling to provide ample water for their residents.
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Five Missouri Walmart Stores Evacuated After Bomb Threats
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Walmart says bomb threats caused evacuations at five of its Missouri stores but no explosives were found and nobody got hurt. Company spokesman Dan Fogleman said the threats were called in Friday evening to stores in Raytown, Gladstone, Jefferson City, Nixa and Ozark. Fogleman says such threats can happen at any retail establishment, but acknowledged it's unusual to get so many in one evening. He says the company is working closely with law enforcement to find out who's responsible. Two Walmart stores in Tulsa, Oklahoma received bomb threats on the same day in June, and a 13-year-old boy in Minnesota is suspected of making a threat in April that led to the evacuation of a Walmart in Alabama.