Governor Announces $20 Million Business Investment in Wichita
WICHITA, Kan. (KPR) – Governor Laura Kelly has announced a new business expansion in Wichita that she says will result in more than 150 new jobs and $20 million in capital investment over the next three years. The company, Fagron Sterile Services (FSS), recently released multiple new health care product lines. To accommodate that expansion, the Belgium-based company says it will expand its current facility in Wichita to produce and store these new products. FSS currently operates out of two plants on the east and west side of Wichita. As part of the expansion, the company will take over 44,000 square feet of space (at 8835 E. 34th St.) and renovate it into additional manufacturing space, labs and offices. The company is seeking professionals, manufacturing specialists, engineers, sales and finance staff and is currently hiring. (Visit fagronsterile.com/careers for more details.)
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Bird Flu Reported in Mixed Bird Flock in Franklin County
OTTAWA, Kan. (AP) — Federal and state agriculture officials say avian influenza, more commonly called bird flu, has been found in Franklin County in northeast Kansas. Heather Lansdowne, spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, says the infected flock was a mixture of chickens, ducks and other birds at a home farm. The department has issued guidelines for bird owners to protect their flocks from wild birds, particularly waterfowl. The guidelines include removing possible nesting and feeding areas for wild birds, and washing equipment and clothing after visiting areas where waterfowl might be present. Nearly 7 million chickens and birds have been killed in 13 states this year because of the bird flu.
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Kansas Lawmakers Consider Bill to Allow Driverless Delivery Vehicles
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - A bill that would allow driverless delivery vehicles on Kansas highways has been rewritten in response to concerns raised by several groups. The new bill is nearing a vote in a Senate committee. The original bill was introduced for Walmart so that it could start using driverless delivery trucks to ferry merchandise from distribution centers to its Kansas stores. The bill was re-written after law enforcement officials and trial lawyers raised concerns. Instead of allowing trucks to be operated remotely from day one, the beefed-up bill requires human back-up drivers for a yearlong test period. It also establishes a group to study the need for additional regulations. That panel would disband after a year. But Kansas Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz is urging lawmakers to maintain it for at least five years. "The technology is changing so quickly. There’s a lot for us to learn as a state. And it’s a way to bring our citizens along," she said. A vote on the bill is expected this week.
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K-State Study: Ogallala Aquifer Increases Western Kansas Land Value by Nearly $4 Billion
HAYS, Kan. (KNS) - In drought-prone western Kansas, water is precious, especially for farmers who rely on a declining underground aquifer. A new study reveals all that disappearing water is worth billions. The Kansas State University study says the Ogallala Aquifer increases the value of western Kansas by nearly $4 billion. But as farmers continue to pump up water to boost crop harvests, that value is slowly evaporating. Farmland that has irrigation is worth about 50% more than nonirrigated land. K-State agricultural economist Nathan Hendricks says that presents the region with a dilemma. “We can stop irrigating and stop depleting the aquifer, but then you've lost all the value of the aquifer also. So, it is a hard place to be in for sure," he said. As the aquifer continues to run out of water, Hendricks expects that by 2050, western Kansas land will lose roughly $34 million in value each year. ( Read more.)
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Kansas Lawmakers Consider Legalizing Medical Marijuana
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - Kansas lawmakers will hold hearings this week on a revised medical marijuana bill. Legislators were poised to start work on a medical marijuana bill early in the session, but Republican Senate President Ty Masterson pulled it back because he thought the rules for prescribing and dispensing the drug needed more tightening. "There is some legitimate medical benefit to the derivatives of the cannabis plant," he said. "I think the final hurdle is what is the legitimate way to deliver it.” Initially, the re-worked bill would legalize cannabis for the treatment of about 20 conditions such as AIDS, cancer, seizure disorders and several that cause chronic pain. Doctors would need a state certificate to recommend the drug to patients and dispensaries would have to comply with a long list of licensing requirements. A Senate committee has scheduled three days of hearings on the bill this week.
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One in Six Kansas Teachers May Leave Professions Early, Fueling Staffing Fears
TOPEKA, Kan. (Topeka Capital-Journal) - About one in six Kansas teachers feel they're likely to leave public education before retiring. That's according to the Topeka Capital-Journal, which cites the Kansas Educator Engagement and Retention Study, which surveyed 20,000 teachers. The study was conducted by Emporia State University Teachers College professor Bret Church and independent organizational psychologist Luke Simmering. The study also found that one in seven teachers feel likely to retire in the next three years. The survey's report adds a layer to other Kansas data that shows the state's schools are facing a staffing shortage. Teacher vacancies, including jobs filled with teachers not fully licensed for those positions, rose 62% to 1,253 vacancies in fall 2021, per a report from the Kansas State Department of Education. The study's response rate represents about half of the state's teaching work force, with teachers from 169 out of 286 Kansas school districts responding. ( Read more.)
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10% of Kansans Struggle with Food Insecurity
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Many people living in Kansas struggle to stock their pantries and refrigerators. It's even worse in some places, like the heart of Topeka. The Kansas Health Institute says more than 1 in 10 people in Shawnee County – and in Kansas overall – don’t necessarily know where their next meal will come from. The situation can be far worse in neighborhoods with housing insecurity, poverty and food deserts. Nearly 30% of people living in two central Topeka zip codes lack enough food for healthy, active lives. This can mean putting off visits to the doctor to afford food. Or falling behind on rent and utilities. The Kansas Legislature is currently considering whether to cut the sales tax on groceries. Proponents say doing so would help struggling families. ( Read more.)
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Officials Identify 9-Year-Old Boy Killed in Kansas Crash
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Officials have identified a young boy who died over the weekend after being thrown from a car in a Wichita crash. Police say 9-year-old Armani Saucedo, of Wichita, died in the crash that happened Saturday night. Relying on information from police, KAKE TV reports that the crash involved three vehicles, including a car that side-swiped two pickup trucks, causing the 27-year-old driver of the car to lose control and hit a bridge abutment. Police say Armani was a passenger in the car. The drivers of the trucks were not injured.
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Trial Begins in Shooting that Killed College Football Player
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Trial is underway for a man accused in a 2019 shooting in Kansas that killed a college football player and wounded a teammate of the victim, a man who now plays in the NFL. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that Francisco Mendez is the only person arrested and charged in the case even though a prosecutor said at least three guns were used to fire 18 or more shots in the April 28, 2019, shooting. Washburn University football player Dwane Simmons was killed in the shooting in Topeka. Corey Ballentine was shot and survived. Ballentine is a cornerback and kick returner for the Atlanta Falcons.
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Kansas City Officer Charged for Not Working Off-Duty Shifts
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City police officer has been charged with felony stealing by deceit after he allegedly was paid for off-duty security shifts that he didn't work. Jackson County prosecutors announced Friday that 38-year-old Brandon Dean Sherman was paid more than $5,000 to work security at an east Kansas City business in January and February. Prosecutors say video surveillance showed Sherman was not at the business at the times he was supposed to be working. The police department initiated the investigation after receiving a tip. The department said Friday that Sherman has been relieved of his duties. He was issued a summons to appear in court on March 23.
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Alabama-to-Colorado Flight Diverted to Wichita Due to Unruly Passenger
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A commercial flight from Huntsville, Alabama, to Denver was diverted to Wichita after a passenger became unruly. News outlets report the problem occurred Sunday morning on a United Airlines flight operated by SkyWest Airlines. A passenger tells WAFF-TV a woman who appeared to be in her 30s was asking for more alcohol, refusing to wear a face mask and cursing. The flight landed in Wichita and officers came on board to remove the woman. A manager at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport says federal authorities were notified and the woman left the airport. The flight continued on to Denver.
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Fort Riley Deploys Additional Troops to Europe
FORT RILEY, Kan. (KPR) - An additional 300 troops from Fort Riley will soon be deployed to Europe. They'll join other soldiers from the First Infantry Division already stationed in Europe. These soldiers are part of the 7,000 additional troops that the Pentagon said last month would be sent to support America's allies, especially on the eastern flank of NATO countries, to ensure deterrence and defense.
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Woman Killed in Fire After Running into House to Save Pet
LAMAR, Mo. (AP) — Police in southwestern Missouri say a woman died over the weekend in a house fire after she ran back into the burning home to try to save a pet. Television station KYTV reports that the fire broke out Saturday morning in a home in Lamar. Police say two residents of the home, 71-year-old Betty Jo Parker and 67-year-old William Parker escaped the flames, but Betty Jo Parker ran back into the home for her pet and was overcome by smoke. Police and firefighters who were called to the scene around 6 am Saturday found the home already engulfed in flames. William Parker was taken to a hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
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Fishermen Find Child's Body in Southwestern Missouri Creek
KISSEE MILLS, Mo. (AP) — A child’s body has been found in a southwestern Missouri waterway, and authorities are working to determine if it is a boy who went missing last month. Fishermen found the body around 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Beaver Creek, which is part of Bull Shoals Lake in Taney County. Trooper Sam Carpenter says the body was found in the area where a 6-year-old boy went into the water on February 18. The child’s name has not been released. The child’s family lives about a mile from the site where the boy was last seen. Authorities have said he and his two older sisters walked more than a mile from the home to the water.
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Officials Arrest 26 People in Kansas City-Area Drug Ring
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Law enforcement officers have arrested 26 people for their alleged roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy in Jackson County, Missouri. Federal prosecutors say that more than 200 officers from federal and Kansas City-area police departments arrested the defendants last week. Officers seized 27 firearms, more than 1,800 rounds of ammunition, drugs and $35,000 in cash. The federal indictment alleges the 26 defendants conspired since January 28, 2019, to distribute crack cocaine, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana in the Kansas City area. All but one of the defendants are from Kansas City and they operated mostly in east Kansas City.
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Ochai Agbaji Named to AP All-America Team
UNDATED (AP) – KU's Ochai Agbaji has been named to the Associated Press All-America first team. He is joined by Keegan Murray of Iowa, Kofi Cockburn of Illinois, Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis, and Kentucky big man Oscar Tshiebwe. Drew Timme of Gonzaga led the AP second team for the second straight year and was joined by freshman teammate Chet Holmgren. Jaden Ivey of Purdue, and Jabari Smith of Auburn. Benedict Mathurin of Arizona rounded out the second team.
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Kansas Earns No. 1 Seed in Midwest Region; Auburn Gets No. 2
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas earned a No. 1 seed for the 15th time on Sunday, second only to North Carolina for most in college hoops history, and will open the NCAA Tournament in the Midwest Region against the play-in winner between Texas Southern and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Fort Worth, Texas. The regional finals will occur in Chicago. Auburn earned the No. 2 seed after a late-year slide, while LSU earned the No. 6 seed one day after the firing of coach Will Wade amid allegations of NCAA misconduct that stems from a wide-ranging FBI investigation into college basketball corruption.
KU fought its way through arguably the toughest league in college basketball this season, ultimately sharing the Big 12 regular-season title with Baylor before romping past Texas Tech to win the conference tournament. Maybe it's karma that the Jayhawks could have the easiest path of a No. 1 seed to the Final Four. They earned the top seed line for the 15th time on Sunday, second only to North Carolina for most in college hoops history, and Big 12 player of the year Ochai Agbaji and company will open the NCAA Tournament in the Midwest Region against the play-in winner between Texas Southern and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Fort Worth, Texas. "I mean, being a 1-seed shows you've gone through the whole year, put in all the work, the grind it takes to be a 1-seed," Kansas forward Jalen Wilson said, "and now it's time to show it. It comes with the good and bad. Now you have everyone gunning for you. We're used to getting everyone's best shot anyway. Just have to represent it well."
Jayhawks coach Bill Self has a No. 1 seed for the 10th time, third-most in history, trailing only retiring Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski with 14 and former Kansas and North Carolina coach Roy Williams with 13. "I never love our draw and I probably don't this year, either," Self said, "but I certainly don't hate it." While the Jayhawks never reached the top spot in the Top 25 this season, their biggest roadblock to reaching New Orleans spent three weeks there. That would be second-seeded Auburn, the regular-season SEC champs, who will begin their quest for a second Final Four appearance four years against Jacksonville State in Greenville, South Carolina. The Tigers were in line for a No. 1 seed for most of the season, but they took their lumps down the stretch, losing five of their last nine games to slip a line on the bracket.
Kansas could be the biggest favorite of the four No. 1 seeds to reach New Orleans, but much like the rest of the bracket, even the Midwest Region is wide open. Wisconsin and Iowa fought to high seeds out of a brutally tough Big Ten, while the Tigers of coach Bruce Pearl showed earlier this season that they're capable of being the nation's No. 1. What could make the road to New Orleans easier for Kansas, though, is that their first four games would be played in the Dallas metro and Chicago, which are both easy drives from their campus and locations with large alumni bases.
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Gonzaga Lands at No. 1, Top Seeds Are 1-4 in Final AP Poll
UNDATED (AP) - Gonzaga will head into the NCAA Tournament exactly where it ended up in the final AP Top 25 — right on top. The Bulldogs received 54 of 61 first-place votes from a national media panel after romping through the West Coast Conference Tournament to land at No. 1 in the final AP Top 25 for the second straight year. The next three teams also landed No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament, with Arizona earning the other seven first-place votes to finish at No. 2. Kansas was third and Big 12 rival Baylor was fourth. Tennessee was the biggest departure between the poll and bracket, finishing fifth among voters but only earning a 3-seed. Now, it's a matter of finishing things off. The Bulldogs, who earned the overall No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, lost to Baylor in last year's national championship game.
The top four teams in the final AP Top 25 landed on the top four seed lines of the NCAA Tournament. Arizona, which got the other seven first-place votes to finish second, will open against the play-in winner between Wright State and Bryant in the South Region. The Wildcats were followed by at No. 3 by Kansas, the top team in the Midwest, and Big 12 rival Baylor, which landed on the top seed line in the East Region. The Jayhawks play the Texas Southern-Texas A&M Corpus Christi winner while the Bears open against Norfolk State.
No team has been No. 1 in the final Top 25 and gone on to win the national championship since Kentucky in 2012, but that doesn't mean it isn't a good barometer for who to watch in the NCAA Tournament. Each of the last six national champions finished among the top six in the final poll, including Baylor, which was third last season.
The Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12 tied for the most teams in the final Top 25 with four apiece, while the Pac 12 and Big East each had three. The West Coast and Mountain West conferences each had two teams while the once-mighty ACC had only Duke — the same number of teams as the Ohio Valley (Murray State) and American (Houston) conferences.
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Royals Hope Youth Yields Edge Through Condensed Spring Training Camp
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals open their long-awaited spring camp in Arizona with a somewhat unexpected edge over just about every other team in baseball: youth. For one thing, they return almost their entire roster intact, making an abbreviated spring training easier to deal with. For another, all those players are full of youthful energy, and might not quite need the two months of work to get limbered up for the season. The Royals are coming off a 74-88 season but were coming on strong at the end, giving them a lot of optimism about the upcoming year.
Dayton Moore has spent more than three decades in baseball, first with the juggernaut Atlanta Braves of the 1990s and the last 16 in charge of the Kansas City Royals, leading them to two World Series and a long-awaited championship. He still sounds like a giddy schoolboy when spring training begins. Which is altogether appropriate: The Royals began camp Monday at their base in Surprise, Arizona, with one of the youngest rosters in baseball, led by a bunch of 20-something arms and with even more youth coming up through the system. "There's nothing like that first day, those first couple days, when players come together," said Moore, who's now president of baseball operations after passing along the general manager title late last season to longtime understudy J.J. Piccolo.
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These area headlines are curated by KPR news staffers, including J. Schafer, Laura Lorson, Kaye McIntyre, and Tom Parkinson. Our headlines are generally posted by 10 am weekdays, 11 am weekends. This news summary is made possible by KPR listener-members. Become one today!