Rainy Holiday Weekend for Eastern Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - According to the National Weather Service, strong to severe thunderstorms may develop Friday night across much of eastern Kansas - including the cities of Manhattan, Junction City, Topeka, Emporia, Lawrence, Holton, Osage City and Ottawa.
The following counties fall inside the area of concern for hazardous weather: Republic, Washington, Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Cloud, Clay, Riley, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Jefferson, Ottawa, Dickinson, Geary, Morris, Wabaunsee, Shawnee, Douglas, Lyon, Osage, Franklin, Coffey and Anderson counties.
The primary hazard Friday night will be hail the size of quarters and half dollars. The better chances for strong to severe storms will be south of I-70.
Strong to severe storms may also develop Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Periods of heavy rainfall along and southeast of I-35 may lead to minor flooding through the Memorial Day weekend.
(-Related-)
Flood Watch in Effect All Weekend Long for Southeast Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - It's shaping up to be a rainy Memorial Day weekend across eastern Kansas. And in southeast Kansas - flooding could be a major concern.
A Flood Watch remains in effect for portions of southeast Kansas through Monday evening. The Flood Watch covers the following counties: Linn, Allen, Wilson, Neosho, Chautauqua, Montgomery and Labette counties, including the cities of Chanute, Fredonia, Parsons, Coffeyville, Neodesha, Iola, Independence and Humboldt.
Excessive rainfall is possible across the area. Excessive runoff may result in the flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone areas. Rainfall amounts earlier in the week of 1-3 inches - combined with anticipated precipitation of 2-4 inches (now through Tuesday) could lead to flooding.
==========
Federal Government Issues Major Disaster Declaration for Kansas Following Severe March Storms
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) – The federal government has issued a major disaster declaration for Kansas after much of the state was hit by severe weather in March. Kansas now has access to federal disaster assistance to help with recovery efforts in areas affected by severe weather earlier this spring. That includes a winter storm, straight-line winds, flooding and wildfires. The funding is also available for local and tribal governments, along with some nonprofit organizations. It will be used to help repair and replace damaged facilities. More than two dozen Kansas counties in central, southeast and western Kansas are eligible for the assistance. They are Barton, Chautauqua, Edwards, Elk, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Gray, Greeley, Hodgeman, Jewell, Lincoln, Logan, Ness, Norton, Osborne, Pawnee, Phillips, Rice, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stafford, Wallace and Woodson counties.
==========
Salmonella Outbreak Prompts Nationwide Cucumber Recall
UNDATED (KPR/NPR) - A salmonelle outbreak is affecting Kansas. The Food and Drug Administration is recalling cucumbers across the country over a salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than two dozen people in multiple states, including Kansas.
The FDA says the recalled cucumbers were grown by South Florida-based Bedner Growers and distributed nationwide by Fresh Start Produce Sales, though it's unclear exactly where all the cucumbers may have ended up.
The cucumbers have been linked to what the FDA calls a "multistate outbreak" of Salmonella Montevideo, a bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract. As of Tuesday, 26 people were sick, nine of whom required hospitalization.
Cases have been reported in 15 states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. (Read more.)
==========
Judge Rules in Favor of Private Prison over City of Leavenworth
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - A federal judge handed a court loss to the city of Leavenworth in the legal battle over a proposed immigrant detention center. U.S. District Judge Toby Crouse says the city of Leavenworth cannot ask him to block a private prison company from reopening its dormant facility. The company, CoreCivic, wants to use the 1,000-bed complex as an immigrant detention center. City officials wanted Judge Crouse to tell the company it needs a special use permit before it can follow through on those plans. But the judge dismissed their complaint for lack of jurisdiction. It’s unclear whether CoreCivic will reopen the facility as planned.
==========
Hundreds Attend Vigil for Kansas Woman Killed in Washington, D.C.
UNDATED (KCUR) – Hundreds of people gathered at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City Thursday night to mourn Sarah Milgrim, the Kansas woman killed in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday. Milgrim worked at the Israeli embassy and was fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum along with her boyfriend Yaron Lischinksy. Milgrim grew up in Prairie Village and attended Shawnee Mission East High School and the University of Kansas. KCUR reports that Jay Lewis, head of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City, addressed the vigil, saying "...tomorrow we can talk about healing. Tomorrow we can try to make sense of this. Tomorrow we can even talk about hope. All we can do tonight is come together as a community to mourn, to be together, to cry, and to hug each other." The shooting is being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime, and the suspect has been arrested and charged with murder.
(–Earlier reporting–)
Woman Killed in D.C. Shooting Grew up in Prairie Village
UNDATED (KCUR) – One of the victims of a fatal shooting in Washington D.C. Wednesday night grew up in Johnson County. KCUR reports that the victim worked for the Israeli embassy. Police say a gunman shot and killed two people outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday: Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky. Milgrim, who was 26, grew up in Prairie Village. Her father, Robert Milgrim, thinks education is important to stopping these acts of violence. “Many different people live in the US. There's no reason to hate one another. You know, this hate cannot divide us, we need to overcome it,” he said. Milgrim added that his daughter and Lischinsky were dating, and Lischinsky was planning to propose to her on an upcoming trip to Israel.
Sarah Milgrim was a 2021 graduate of the University of Kansas. Both KU Chancellor Douglas Girod and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued statements of condolence on Thursday.
===========
Some Kansas Lawmakers Question Police Search and Surveillance Powers
UNDATED (The Beacon) – Some Kansas lawmakers are worried the state hasn’t done enough to protect Kansans from unreasonable searches. They are considering legislation next year to limit certain surveillance powers. The Kansas City Beacon reports that police can put cameras on utility poles and they don’t need a warrant. Law enforcement can get permission from the utility company and install a camera that is recording 24/7. That’s concerning to Senator Kenny Titus, who said “...I just feel like it oversteps the protections we have to protect people from being constantly monitored.”
Titus is considering introducing a bill that limits when these cameras can be used if there's no warrant. But he isn’t sure what legislation could look like when lawmakers return in 2026. Police say utility pole surveillance is necessary because it’s used in drug cases and violent crime investigations.
==========
Leaked Proposal Indicates Funding Cut to Disability Services
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) – A leaked proposal to cut federal funding for disability services could impact groups that support around 46,000 Kansans. The leaked budget proposal would eliminate funding for the Developmental Disabilities Network. Those funds go to disability rights groups in all 50 states. The cuts would affect three hubs in Kansas that advocate for people with disabilities at the state and local level. Rocky Nichols leads the Disability Rights Center of Kansas. “There’s been an expansion of programs to protect the rights of people with disabilities. And you know, this would undo a lot of that, unfortunately,” Nichols said. The network began more than 60 years ago with a history of bipartisan support. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. recently indicated he wants to continue supporting the network.
==========
Harvesters Organization Says Cuts to Food Assistance Will Cost Kansas and Missouri Hundreds of Millions of Dollars
UNDATED (KCUR) – President Trump’s new tax bill will drastically cut the U.S. food assistance program and will cost Kansas and Missouri in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Trump’s bill will rely on states to replace cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- or SNAP. That program used to be known as – food stamps. Elizabeth Keever, the chief resource officer with Harvesters in Kansas City, says seniors, children and veterans will be affected the most. But she says rural America should pay attention, too. “We will feel it in local economies in a very large way and I guarantee you we’re going to see rural grocery stores continue to fail because of these detrimental cuts,” she explained. Keever says Kansas will have to pick up a nearly $120 million deficit, while in Missouri it could reach $376 million.
==========
Transgender Student Formerly Employed by KU Files Lawsuit, Alleging Wrongful Termination
UNDATED (KNS) – A transgender student and former employee at the University of Kansas is suing the school, alleging he was wrongfully terminated for speaking to the media about policy changes affecting LGBTQ students. The Kansas News Service reports that Anthony Alvarez says he was wrongfully terminated from his position as a residential assistant because he spoke to the Kansas News Service at a protest about housing policy changes that remove gender neutral spaces. The university put him on probation and then fired him the following day. The lawsuit alleges KU violated Alvarez’s First Amendment rights and did not give him time to appeal his probation before he was fired. KU did not respond to requests for comment. (Read more.)
==========
KBI: Officer-Involved Shooting in Topeka Ends Without Injury
TOPEKA, Kan. (KBI) – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is looking into an officer-involved shooting that occurred early Friday morning in Topeka. Late Thursday night, the Topeka Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance (at 1500 SW 24 Street) to make contact with a man identified as 33-year-old Dustin C. Kuney. Officers attempted to communicate with Kuney, who was alone in the residence. Just before 1 am Friday, police say Kuney fired shots from the doorway of the residence. Three police officers returned fire in response. The gunfire ended and Kuney surrendered to officers at the scene. No one was injured in the shootout.
The KBI says Kuney was arrested for aggravated domestic battery and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer and was booked into Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Formal charges are pending.
==========
USDA Secretary Announces Proposal to Aid Family Farmers
UNDATED (HPM) – After a day of tours across Nebraska this week, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a ten-point proposal to support small family farmers. "There's been a lot of conversation around what and how we keep America strong, how we bring prosperity back to rural America. And at the base of all of that, the foundation is our small family farmer," Rollins said. The proposal, dubbed Farmers First, contains some technical actions, like digitizing paper forms through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and combining some loan programs. It also includes loftier goals, like reforming certain environmental regulations, and building a strong legal workforce through non-immigrant visas… which allow people to come to the U-S for a specific, time-limited purpose. According to a 2021 report from the USDA, 89 percent of the country’s farms are classified as small family farms.
==========
Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic Continue to Plague Kansas Schools
WICHITA, Kan. (KNS) – It’s been five years since COVID-19 shut down schools in Kansas, and educators say they’re still seeing effects of the pandemic. The Kansas News Service reports that fifth-grade teacher Susie Kelley says many of her students...who were kindergartners when the pandemic began...are still behind academically. She’s also seeing more absences and behavior problems. “Those formative foundational skills and those years were lost. It’s going to take us time to get it back. And so, even though it was five years ago, we're still behind,” she said. Time on screens also spiked during the pandemic. Experts believe that affected kids’ attention spans and fine motor skills.
==========
Former Residents of Apartment Complex Suing Building Owners
UNDATED (KCUR) – Former residents of a Gardner, Kansas, apartment complex are suing the owners after the buildings were condemned by the city. Earlier this month, Gardner gave the Aspen Place tenants 48 hours to move out. The city deemed the apartments uninhabitable the day after a fire truck sank into the street outside the complex. KCUR reports that residents are alleging that they complained for years about leaky pipes, mold, and sewage drainage issues, but the landlords did nothing to fix the problems. The residents demand damages for back rent, property loss and emotional distress. They are also seeking class action status so other former tenants can join the lawsuit - with potentially more than 1,000 people eligible.
==========
Art Project Launched to Support Medicaid Funding and Expansion
LIBERAL, Kan. (KNS) – A Kansas advocacy group is traveling across the state using an art project to push for preserving Medicaid. With cuts to the health care program Medicaid potentially looming at the federal level, advocacy groups are getting creative with their outreach. The Kansas News Service reports that the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas wants to protect and expand Medicaid in the state. Executive Director April Holman says the group is using textile art as a way to educate communities and draw attention to the issue. “It's hard to get people excited to come to a meeting where we're talking about the same thing. It's going to give us an opportunity to meet with people in a variety of communities across the state,” she explained. Holman says the goal is to display art pieces around Kansas to tell the stories of people living in the health care coverage gap.
==========
Quindaro Townsite Named as National Historic Landmark
UNDATED (KCUR) – A Kansas City, Kansas, landmark with ties to slavery was recognized as a National Historic Landmark on Thursday. KCUR reports that the Quindaro Townsite in Kansas City, Kansas, was once a safe haven for people escaping slavery along the Underground Railroad. Its new national historic landmark status means access to more federal preservation funds. Johnny Szlauderbach of the Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area says Quindaro is a significant part of American history. “It's a truly hidden treasure that really deserves to be recognized for its mammoth importance in the American story,” he said. The designation still needs approval from the Secretary of the Interior.
==========
KU Baseball Team Advances to Semifinals at Big 12 Tourney
ARLINGTON, Texas (KPR) - The KU baseball team just keeps on winning. At the Big 12 tournament in Arlington, Texas, the second-seeded and 21st ranked Jayhawks have advanced to the semifinals after a 7-6 walk-off win over Oklahoma State Thursday night. KU takes on TCU at 7:30 pm Friday in the semifinals.
Jayhawks senior Mike Koszewski, of Oakbrook, Illinois, entered the game in the eighth as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement. In his only at-bat, he blooped a single to the opposite field and drove in the winning run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth. "I just always try and stay ready," he said. "You never know when your name is going to get called. Whenever my name does get called, I just try to my best to help the team win." It was the 26th come-from-behind win for KU after the Jayhawks trailed, 6-2, entering the seventh. KU’s bullpen, meanwhile, pitched scoreless ball for the final five innings.
==========
This summary of area news is curated by KPR news staffers. Our headlines are generally published by 10 am weekdays and are updated through 7 pm. This ad-free news summary is made possible by KPR members. Become one today. And follow KPR News on X (formerly Twitter).