Severe Storms Cause Flooding, Damage; More Predicted
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP/KPR) National Weather Service crews are out surveying damage after severe storms swept through Kansas and Missouri last night (FRI). A tornado was confirmed by NWS radar in Lafayette County, Missouri, east of Kansas City. Flooding forced the evacuation of 15 elderly Kansans from their assisted-living apartments in Rush County, Kansas, northwest of Wichita. Flooding has closed many roads and highways in the state, and the eastern half of Kansas remains under flood warnings and flash flood watches through Sunday morning. The National Weather Service say severe weather is possible through the weekend, with the possibility of heavy rainfall, large hail, damaging wind gusts, and even a chance of tornadoes.
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WWI Memorial in KC Hosts Memorial Day Weekend Events
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City is offering a range of events for this Memorial Day weekend. The memorial also is offering free admission for veterans and active duty military and half-price general admission for the public Friday through Monday. The events will include installation of 140 U.S. flags to draw attention to the 140 veterans lost to suicide every week. Visitors also will be able to use research stations to find any possible family connection to WWI, or to write letters of support to military or first responders. On Memorial Day, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and Kansas City Mayor Sly James are scheduled to attend a ceremony that will feature music and a keynote address from U.S. World War I Centennial Commissioner Dr. Monique Seefried.
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Feds Defer Prosecution of Wichita Gamer in "Swatting" Case
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The government has agreed to an alternative to prosecution of a Kansas online gamer whose dispute sparked a hoax call that resulted in police shooting a man who lived at his former Wichita home. U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren approved on Friday the joint motion for deferred prosecution that had been filed earlier in the day by prosecutors and the attorney for 20-year-old Shane Gaskill of Wichita. Such agreements typically result in charges being dropped if a defendant fulfills all its conditions. Gaskill is charged with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, wire fraud, and making false statements. The judge deferred court proceedings and discovery during a period ending on December 31st, 2020 and ordered Gaskill to pay $1,000 in restitution, costs and penalties as required under the deal.
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Wichita Police: Man Killed in Shootout Fired Dozens of Shots
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita police say a 56-year-old man who died in a shootout with officers fired 52 rounds into common walls he shared with two neighbors. Police say Fred Burton's neighbors called early Thursday to report what they thought was an explosion at MacArthur's Lake Apartments. Captain Brent Allred said officers saw dozens of gunshot holes in the one wall and three rounds in another common wall. Allred said the people living in the apartment were extremely lucky they weren't hit by gunfire. KAKE reports police say Burton shot at officers during the standoff. Two SWAT officers eventually returned fire, killing Burton, who police say was in a mental health crisis. One officer is a 15-year veteran and the other is a 13-year-veteran of the department. Police and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are investigating.
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Revenue Department Seeking to Refill Eliminated Jobs
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Department of Revenue is trying to refill dozens of jobs that were eliminated beginning in 2018 after the state awarded two no-bid contracts to outsource information technology work. The department is working to rebuild its workforce after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's administration canceled the contracts worth more than $110 million with CGI Technologies. The Wichita Eagle reports Revenue Secretary Mark Burghart says the agency is wants to refill about 56 jobs. He says the department is encouraging some of the laid-off employees to return because they are experienced in handling tax processing. Kelly's administration said it canceled the contracts because CGI didn't meet a key deadline last year and had other problems. In a statement, CGI said it was proud of the benefits it generated for Kansas.
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Kansas Museum to Send NASA Control Consoles to Houston
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Restored mission control consoles used by NASA to guide trips to the moon will soon be shipped from Kansas to the control room in Texas where they were used from the 1960s through the 1990s. The Hutchinson News reports that Cosmosphere's SpaceWorks experts have restored 19 consoles in Hutchinson over the last year and a half. NASA picked up 10 of the consoles last year, and the remainder will be sent to the Johnson Space Center in Houston on May 31. The consoles will be unveiled in June ahead of the 50-year anniversary celebration of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon. The consoles were used for the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. They also helped communicate with astronauts to fix an oxygen tank that exploded on Apollo 13.
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Man Freed in 'Doppleganger' Case Faces Federal Indictment
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City man who was released from prison and awarded $1 million for his wrongful conviction has been indicted on weapons and drug charges. Federal prosecutors say Richard Jones is charged in a five-count indictment returned Wednesday by a grand jury. He is charged with possessing cocaine and methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of weapons. The Kansas City Star reports Jones' original conviction became known as the "doppleganger" case after he was wrongfully convicted of a robbery that he said was committed by someone who looks like him. Eyewitnesses said Jones committed the robbery in 1999 in Roeland Park, Kansas. But the witnesses recanted their identification and evidence pointed to a man who looks like Jones. He was released from prison in 2017 after serving 17 years in prison.
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High Water Forces Hutchinson Zoo to Close
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — High water in central Kansas is forcing the Hutchinson Zoo to close for the first time in more than a decade.Zoo Director Ryan VanZant says the closing earlier this week was mostly for safety. KSNW reports some sidewalks, exhibits and playing areas were underwater. VanZant says bison were moved to higher ground and employees are using a boat to get their food to them. He says all the animals still in their habitats are safe. Each habitat has a connected indoor facility that animals use to avoid severe weather. With more storms coming, VanZant says the zoo will remain closed during the weekend.