KC Chiefs Face Patriots for AFC Title
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots meet for the AFC title, with New England seeking its third straight Super Bowl appearance and Kansas City trying to make it back for the first time since 1970. New England has been the dominant franchise of this era, but Kansas City is hoping to take over that mantle behind young quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Today's game marks the first AFC championship game ever to be held at Arrowhead Stadium.
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Snowplow Driver Dies in JoCo Rollover Crash
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A snowplow driver for the Kansas Department of Transportation is dead after the plow he was driving on U.S. Highway 69 rolled over. The Kansas Department of Transportation crash happened around 6 a.m. Saturday in southern Johnson County, south of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Officials say the rollover happened as roads remained slick from a winter storm that had moved through the area Friday night. The driver has been identified as 25-year-old Stephen Windler of Paola. The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
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Overland Park Man Charged in Fraud Scheme
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 49-year-old Overland Park man is facing federal charges in an alleged scheme that prosecutors say cost the government more than $12 million. Troy Bechtel was charged Friday with two counts of major program fraud and two counts of lying to investigators. The U.S. Attorney's office said Bechtel and others falsely claimed that United Medical Design Builders, of Merriam, was controlled by Joseph Dial Jr., a disabled Army veteran. The company won a $12.7 million U.S. Defense Department contract to design and build four U.S. Air Force bases under a program for businesses owned or operated by disabled military veterans. The indictment alleges Bechtel ran the company and Dial was rarely in the office. Dial has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and program fraud and is awaiting sentencing.
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Kansas Veteran to Restore Historic Route 66 Gas Station
GALENA, Kan. (AP) — A military veteran has purchased a historic Kansas gas station along the old Route 66 with plans to restore the building to its original condition. The Joplin Globe reports that U.S. Army and Coast Guard veteran Aaron Perry is the new owner of a 1939 Texaco gas station in Galena, near Kansas' borders with Missouri and Oklahoma. The Wakarusa resident stumbled upon the for-sale gas station last year while driving to the Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri. Perry called the opportunity to acquire the building a dream come true. Perry's renovation plans include placing vintage gas pumps in the parking lot and installing neon lighting. Perry is also an artist and wants to sell gearhead artwork created out of car parts at the station.
