500+ Injured in Work Zone Accidents on Kansas Roadways
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – More than 500 people were injured in work zone crashes last year. That's according to data from the Kansas Department of Transportation. New statistics from KDOT show an increase in the number of crashes taking place in designated work zones. Six deadly crashes last year led to nine people being killed. KSNT reports that the leading causes of work zone crashes in Kansas are: inattention, following too closely, improper lane changes and speeding. State officials are asking motorists to slow down and pay attention, especially in designated work zones.
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KBI Casts Doubt on Reported Kidnapping in Northwest Kansas
DECATUR COUNTY, Kan. (KPR) – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is casting doubt on an alleged kidnapping and sexual assault reported in northwest Kansas. A man claimed he had been abducted from a bar in Oklahoma by two men but was able to escape his captors last Saturday near Oberlin. After investigating, KBI agents determined the man's story contained several inconsistencies. The KBI also issued a statement saying there was no threat to the community related to this incident. The investigation continues.
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KBI: Man Bites Officer During Search of Home in Rossville
SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. (KPR) - A Shawnee County man has been arrested for biting a law enforcement officer during a search of a home for child pornography. The officer suffered minor injuries Thursday morning while searching a home in Rossville. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation says 55-year-old John Ross became combative while being detained and allegedly bit an officer, breaking the skin. Ross was arrested for aggravated battery. Authorities say methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found inside the home. The investigation into child sexual abuse material continues.
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Kansas Secretary of State Invalidates Unwanted Third-Party Nomination
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) – Kansas state Senator Marci Francisco is praising a decision to cancel her nomination as a candidate representing a minor third party. The Kansas News Service reports that Francisco, a Democrat from Lawrence, was blindsided this week when the party "No Labels Kansas" nominated her to run for her own seat. The Kansas secretary of state's office quickly invalidated Francisco’s nomination. Francisco says she never heard from the No Labels party before they put her name down. “I think it's an indication of what some people are willing to do to make the process less transparent, less understandable,” she added. Kris Van Meteren is a conservative consultant who filed for Francisco to run with the No Labels party. He said the Secretary of State was wrong to cancel the nomination.
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Two Semi-Trucks Collide and Catch Fire Near Kansas-Nebraska Border
SABETHA, Kan. (KPR) - A fiery crash near the Kansas-Nebraska border destroyed two semi-tractor trailers... but no one was seriously injured. Authorities say the two semis collided and caught fire early Thursday morning on U.S. 75 about five miles north of Sabetha. It's not yet known what caused the crash. The drivers of the semis were able to escape before their rigs burst into flames, shutting down the highway for most of the day.
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$150,000 Reward Offered in Connection with Robbery of KC Postal Carriers
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — Two Kansas City postal carriers were held up at gunpoint last month. Now, the U.S. Postal Service is offering a reward of $150,000 that leads to an arrest. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is looking for a suspect and two accomplices who robbed two letter carriers on May 29th. One robbery happened outside the Westport Post Office (200 Westport Road). The other robbery happened nearby the same day (at 39th and Warwick), around 5:30 pm. WDAF TV reports that the suspects were seen driving a red 2011 Dodge Charger with a broken rear passenger window. Last November, two men wearing masks pistol whipped another mail carrier in Kansas City and stole his keys.
The FBI and Kansas City Police are assisting in the investigation. The suspects face a minimum of five years in prison and a $250,000 dollar fine. Attempted robbery of a postal carrier is a federal offense.
Anyone with information is asked to call (877) 876-2455. The reference case is: No. 4318555-ROBB.
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Kansas Wildlife Officials Hope to Reintroduce Alligator Snapping Turtle to the State
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – Officials with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks hope to reintroduce a species that hasn't been seen in the state for more than 30 years. Efforts are underway to bring the alligator snapping turtle back to Kansas. The last confirmed sighting of the reptile in Kansas was in 1991 in a tributary of the Verdigris River. The alligator snapping turtle is larger than the average snapping turtle, with a larger head, a hooked beak and star-shaped eyes. KSNT reports that the reptile can weigh more than 200 pounds and live for more than 100 years.
The turtles used to be abundant in the Neosho and Verdigris Rivers near Emporia, but the population suffered greatly due to over-hunting. Wildlife officials hope to reintroduce the alligator snapping turtles by the fall of 2024.
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K-State Launches Agriculture Innovation Initiative
LIBERAL, Kan. (KNS) – Kansas State University has broken ground on its Agriculture Innovation Initiative to attract more students from diverse backgrounds into the state’s ag industry. The Kansas News Service reports that Kansas farmers are aging and there’s a need for a new generation to contribute to the multibillion dollar ag industry. K-State hopes to bolster its agriculture department with new buildings and programs to study the challenges Kansas farmers and ranchers face. Ernie Minton is dean of the College of Agriculture at K-State. He says the initiative will also focus on lesser-known parts of the industry, like the pet food corridor that stretches from Wichita to central Missouri. “In order to sustain a student population, we're going to have to find things that are also attractive to students from more urban settings,” he explained. The new academic programs are slated to start in 2026.
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Juneteenth Film Festival Returns to KC for Second Year
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCUR) – The Juneteenth Film Festival is back for a second year, with movies by Black filmmakers taking center stage all month. KCUR reports that the
Juneteenth Film Festival is bringing Kansas City audiences several African American films written and directed by local talent, including Oscar Award winner Kevin Willmott. Director Diallo French’s movie “Kansas City Dreamin” is getting a screening during the festival. He hopes it makes locals proud. “This film is really a celebration of sort of black Kansas City music history. So it falls right in line with sort of the theme of Juneteenth and the principles of Juneteenth,” he explained. Screenings happen every Wednesday evening in June at Screenland Armour in North Kansas City.
Filmmakers and festival-goers will get together for a celebration party in the Historic 18th & Vine district on Saturday (June 8). Click here for more information..
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Special Session: Kansas Lawmakers Consider Tax Cuts, Luring Chiefs Across State Line
TOPEKA, Kan. (KCUR/KPR) - A special legislative session on tax cuts will begin in Topeka June 18th. But Republican leaders have more on their minds than just tax relief. They want to craft a plan to lure the Kansas City Chiefs across the state line. Lawmakers will use the special session to create special incentives to attract the Super Bowl champs to Kansas. The plan, so far, is to use state bonds to finance construction of a new stadium. Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins says lawmakers can tackle both topics at the same time. “I would say that this is just a golden opportunity," he said. "When you look at it from the standpoint of having an NFL team in Kansas... that brings things to the state that we would never have the opportunity for.” Hawkins says lawmakers will consider a proposal to use STAR Bonds to help finance construction of a new sports stadium in Kansas, presumably for the Chiefs.
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State Commission Approves Full Coverage of Breast Imaging Tests for State Employees
UNDATED (The Beacon) – Kansas state employees will get full coverage of more advanced breast cancer screenings. The Beacon reports that some lawmakers want the same benefit for all Kansans. Kansas lawmakers tried to shift the cost of the cancer screenings from patients to insurance companies. The bill would make insurance plans cover mammography, sonograms and other breast-image screenings. But leaders in the Legislature were reluctant to mandate the terms of insurance plans. However, a state commission recently approved the coverage for state employees. Molly Guthrie with the Susan G. Komen Foundation says that’s a welcome step, but she wants to see this coverage for all Kansas women. “Coverage of these things exist. They're included in almost all health plans, but they come with significant out of pocket costs for patients,” she added. Almost two dozen states, including Missouri, require coverage of all the tests.
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KU Cancer Center Offering Free Cancer Screenings Saturday
UNDATED (KNS) – People of all ages can make sure they are cancer-free Saturday without cost or needing to register. The Kansas News Service reports that the University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas Masons and Masonic Cancer Alliance are offering prostate and skin cancer screenings as well as blood pressure readings. Anybody stopping by can also take home colorectal cancer tests. Brooke Groneman with the Cancer Alliance says the screenings are geared toward conditions that are easier to remedy if caught early enough. “Let's say we find somebody with a precancerous lesion on their skin, then we can let them know about it so they can go it biopsied,” she added. The screenings will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wyandotte Masonic Lodge.
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Kansas Selected to Join Federal Program Covering More Mental Health Services
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KNS) – More Kansas residents may soon be able to get mental health and substance abuse services from the state. The Kansas News Service reports that the state has been added to a federal program that provides more money to cover those services. The program supplies Kansas with federal funding to cover a larger portion of Medicaid costs associated with behavioral health treatment. Those services are provided at 26 community clinics across Kansas. Drew Adkins of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services says the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to more people suffering from mental health issues. “It has also highlighted the need for more mental and behavioral health services.” Kansas is one of 18 states selected for the program. Missouri and Oklahoma were already participating.
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SNAP Benefits a Point of Contention in New Farm Bill
UNDATED (HPM) – The long overdue Farm Bill is finally making its way through Congress, after the House agriculture committee recently advanced a proposal.
Harvest Public Media reports that food assistance has been one of the biggest sticking points. More than 41 million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program monthly to put food on the table. The program takes a lot of funding: about 80% of the Farm Bill’s massive budget goes to SNAP. In the House Farm Bill proposal, Republicans suggest placing limits on how the benefits are calculated. Megan Hamann is a community organizer with Nebraska Appleseed. She says the limits would take about $30 billion out of the program over the next 10 years, adding that "...while families wouldn't see their SNAP benefits go down in an immediate sense, their SNAP benefits would be increasingly less efficient as time goes on." Hamann says she’s hoping the Senate’s Farm Bill proposal can find support, which would increase eligibility for SNAP among other things. (Read more.)
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Wichita Announces New Homeless Shelter
WICHITA, Kan. (KMUW) – The City of Wichita announced it's planning to use the former Park Elementary school as a new shelter for people who are homeless. KMUW reports that the city has been looking for a location for what it calls a multi-agency center: a facility with emergency shelter beds, affordable housing units and social services. Now, the city has settled on the former school north of downtown Wichita. Wichita Public Schools shuttered it earlier this year as the district faced a budget deficit. "Given its close proximity to multiple homeless service providers, the location is ideal for referrals and coordinated services...the project is also more financially feasible as the property will be effectively donated to the city," assistant city manager Troy Anderson explained. Anderson says the building will provide between 150 to 200 shelter beds. The city hopes to have it ready to use as a winter shelter this year.
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K-State Hopes To Advance to College World Series
UNDATED (KPR) - The K-State baseball team is trying to get to the College World Series in Omaha. But first, the Wildcats will have to make it through the NCAA Super Regional at the University of Virginia. The Cats will play at 6 pm Friday in the best-of-three contest. K-State’s record is 35-24. This is the second time in K-State baseball history the Wildcats have reached a super regional. The only other year the Cats got that far was in 2013, when K-State fell one victory short of making it to Omaha.
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KU WBB Coach Brandon Schneider Gets Two-Year Extension
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - The women's basketball coach at the University of Kansas has signed a two-year contract extension. This coming season will be Brandon Schneider's 10th year at KU. Schneider has led the KU women to the postseason in each of the past three seasons.
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World Remembers D-Day and the Kansas Man Who Planned the Invasion
UNDATED (KPR) - This week marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, one of the most pivotal battles of World War II. It was on June 6th, 1944 that American and allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy, France to fight the occupying army of Nazi Germany. General Dwight Eisenhower, who grew up in Abilene, Kansas, planned the invasion and delivered a message to his troops before the battle. "The eyes of the world are upon you," he said. "The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you." D-Day was the largest military invasion in history, involving thousands of ships, planes and soldiers. General Eisenhower later became the 34th president of the United States. Eisenhower's life and times are on display at his presidential museum and library in Abilene, where he and his wife are buried.
Listen to what general Dwight Eisenhower told his troops just before the D-Day invasion.
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Kansas City Chiefs' BJ Thompson Is Alert and Responsive After Seizure, Cardiac Arrest
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs defensive lineman B.J. Thompson remained hospitalized but was awake and responsive on Friday, one day after the second-year pro experienced a seizure during a team meeting and went into cardiac arrest at the Kansas City practice facility.
Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said the 25-year-old Thompson was placed on a ventilator and heavily sedated Thursday night at the University of Kansas Health System. He was brought out of sedation on Friday and his prognosis is good.
“He's alert. He's awake. He's coming through quite well,” Burkholder said. “We don't have a diagnosis and in medicine sometimes you don't have that. But he's awake and alert and he's headed in the right direction.”
Thompson, a fifth-round draft pick out of Stephen F. Austin last year, was in the meeting room before the Chiefs were scheduled to have their final voluntary workout of the offseason. He began to have a seizure and kicker Harrison Butker immediately ran to the trainer's room and summoned assistant trainers Julie Frymyer and David Glover.
They were joined by Burkholder in helping Thompson as he went into cardiac arrest. Dr. Jean-Philippe Darche soon arrived from the Kansas Health Sports Medicine and Performance Center, which adjoins the practice facility.
“Our team of that group of people provided CPR for him,” Burkholder said. “He had one AED shock and came back. He was in cardiac arrest for less than a minute, a minute and a half. Our players, security staff, coaching staff — they were phenomenal in handling the crisis. We then turned him over to the Kansas City (Missouri) Fire Department.”
The NFL mandates that teams practice emergency action plans for a variety of situations, including cardiac crises like the one that Thompson experienced. The Chiefs had just completed their most recent practice session on Monday.
“I jumped in there from my office,” coach Andy Reid said. “I'm not much help; they had it under control. But that's tough. That's a tough situation. We've been through a couple of those in my time. It's never fun. Thank goodness, though, that if it had to happen, no better place than right here, where you had the support unit that knows what to do.”
The Chiefs gave players the rest of Thursday off, pushing the final organized team activity to Friday. They have their mandatory three-day minicamp next week before breaking until training camp in late July in St. Joseph, Missouri.
“I think it was good to get them out of here yesterday,” Reid said, “and we've got support people here that can help them if they needed it for what they saw. That's not a real pleasant thing to see. They came back today with good energy, but we kept them abreast all the way through, right to the end of practice there.”
Thompson played in only one game during his rookie season, the regular-season finale against the Chargers, when Kansas City already had clinched its playoff spot and the outcome was meaningless. Thompson had two tackles in that game.
“I'm just glad to see he's doing good,” said Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis, who is close to Thompson from playing at the same position. “You never want that for anyone and it's hard, but I will say this, we're blessed to have such great teammates and trainers to help him, and were able and ready for that situation.”
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