Winter Storm Sweeps Kansas, Midwest
LAWRENCE, Kan. (KPR) - A winter storm is sweeping across Kansas to ring in the new year. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for roughly the northern half of Kansas, northern Missouri, southern Nebraska, and into Iowa and Illinois. The rest of Kansas -- including Douglas, Shawnee, Johnson, and Lyon counties -- is under a Winter Storm Advisory until midnight Saturday. A wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow developed across the state Saturday morning, with snow continuing through the day and overnight. The National Weather Service is predicting 5 to 8 inches of snow for some counties in northern Kansas in the Winter Storm Warning area; accumulation of 1 to 3 inches is possible for counties under the Winter Storm Advisory.
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Kansas Woman Convicted in Fatal Hit-and-Run Accident
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas woman faces sentencing in February after being convicted of second-degree murder in the hit-and-run death of a teenager from Leavenworth. The Kansas City Star reports that 28-year-old Amber N. Alexander, formerly of Leavenworth, was found guilty Thursday. Prosecutors presented evidence that Alexander had several drinks before leaving a bar in Lansing and driving to Main Street in nearby Leavenworth in August. Alexander allegedly struck a 16-year-old girl before speeding away and crossing a bridge into Missouri. Sentencing is scheduled for February 2nd.
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Kansas Doctors: If You Feel Sick, Get Tested
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Doctors in Kansas have a simple message for those who are feeling ill: Get tested. COVID-19 cases are surging across the country, and Kansas is no exception. To make matters worse, the Topeka Capital-Journal reports that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists Kansas as among the five states and territories with the highest flu activity levels in the country. Getting tested for COVID-19 is proving challenging. Several testing sites in Kansas are reporting long lines, and at-home testing kits are sold out at many stores.
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Black Hills Energy Customers in Kansas to See Rates Decline
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — About 117,000 Kansas customers of Black Hills Energy will see their overall rates for natural gas service decline under an agreement approved by the state agency that regulates utilities. The decrease will occur even though the order Thursday from the Kansas Corporation Commission signing off on the agreement allows Black Hills to increase its monthly customer service charge by $1.56 a month from $16.94 to $18.50. The agreement requires the company to give its Kansas customers credits against their bills worth about $3 million each year for the next three years. The credits reflect that the company will pay less in taxes because of changes from federal coronavirus relief measures.
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