Wet Weather Leads to Localized Flooding in Eastern Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (KPR) - The National Weather Service has issued a number of watches, warnings and advisories:
- FLOOD WARNING FOR MILL CREEK NEAR PAXICO AFFECTING WABAUNSEE COUNTY UNTIL LATE TUESDAY
- FLOOD WARNING IN EFFECT FOR STRANGER CREEK AT EASTON AFFECTING LEAVENWORTH AND ATCHISON COUNTIES THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING
- FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN KANSAS, INCLUDING LAWRENCE, TOPEKA, EMPORIA AND KANSAS CITY
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Witness Claims KC Police Shot Unarmed Woman; Cops Say She Had a Weapon
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Did Kansas City police shoot an unarmed, pregnant woman? That's the question many are asking in the wake of a video taken by a woman and shared on social media. Four Kansas City police officers responded to a suspected carjacking Friday night. KCTV News reports that investigation led to an officer-involved shooting of a woman at a Dollar General Store near 6th and Prospect. The shooting has become the subject of a social media video and a dispute, as at least one eyewitness claims the woman shot by police was unarmed. Police say otherwise. Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Andy Bell says the initial investigation indicates the woman shot by police was armed with a handgun. Bell notes that officer-involved shootings take weeks, if not months, to fully investigate before final conclusions can be reached. ( Read more.)
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Advocates Seek New Policies After Topeka Homeless Camp Razed
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The recent bulldozing of a camp for homeless people has advocates arguing that Topeka should adopt more liberal policies modeled after ones in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City Star reports that social worker Russell Burton and other advocates hope to raise the issue at the Topeka City Council’s meeting June 7. Burton wants the city to require outreach workers to visit before a camp is bulldozed and to remain until city workers leave. He also wants to require the city to store people’s personal items for 60 days. The city razed the encampment May 10, and a spokesperson said it followed its policies and protected people's constitutional rights.
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Lack of Cooperation Hinders Wichita Police Investigation into Fatal Shooting at Graduation Party
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Authorities in Wichita continue to investigate a shooting at a high school graduation party that left two teenagers dead. One of the victims died from a gunshot wound. The other victim was hit by a vehicle while fleeing the scene. Police say the events unfolded after an argument Saturday night between two groups. Investigators say a lack of cooperation among witnesses has made it difficult to determine the details of the case. The shooting victim, a 17-year-old Wichita boy, was taken to a nearby a hospital where he died. A 15-year-old girl fleeing the scene of the shooting was struck by a car. She later died at a hospital. The 18-year-old driver fled the scene and was later arrested on suspicion of felony hit and run.
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Kansas to Spend Millions on New Train Projects
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - Kansas is pumping millions of dollars into railway projects to increase transport capacity in rural areas. Governor Laura Kelly’s administration announced more than $11 million for 17 railway projects as part of a program created in 2019. The money will largely flow to parts of western and southern Kansas, to help companies such as short-line railroads and shippers. Kansas grants partial funding to help them complete projects such as laying new track, replacing railway switches and upgrading bridges.
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Steamboat Arabia Museum Considers Moving from Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMBC) - One of the top tourist attractions in Kansas City could be leaving town. The owner of the Steamboat Arabia Museum - Bob Hawley - is looking at a new city for his sunken riverboat collection. It could be headed to a new home, across the state of Missouri, in St. Charles. Hawley says the current museum is not large enough. He also wants to dig up another steamboat - located about 90 miles east of Kansas City - and display them both. Hawley expects to have a final decision on a move within six months. The Steamboat Arabia museum will remain at its current location -- in City Market -- until its lease expires in 2026.
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Kansas Libraries Giving Away Free State Park Passes
TOPEKA, Kan. (KNS) - A new program aims to get more Kansans outdoors by handing out free state park vehicle passes at public libraries. The passes are available at more than 50 libraries, from Kansas City and Topeka in the east to Goodland and Scott City in the west. And they'll get Kansans into any state park for one day. For free. Program coordinator Riston Landwehr says it’s a chance to extend the work libraries are already doing in these communities. "Just a way to educate not only inside reading books but sending them out with materials into state parks to learn about the outdoors as well," he said. The program runs through the end of this year, but Landwehr says the goal is to continue it in 2023. Kansans can find a full list of participating libraries on the department of wildlife and parks’ website.
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Louisiana Man Dies While Driving in Kansas
RUSSELL COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) — A man from Louisiana died while driving in Kansas over the weekend. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP), 20-year-old Aaron Bostick, of Bastrop, Louisiana, was killed in a collision after losing control of his vehicle in Russell County. KSNW TV reports that Bostick was driving a 1994 GMC westbound on Interstate 70 about two miles east of U.S. Highway 281 when he lost control, veered left and crossed the median onto the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70. Bostick was then hit by a semitrailer. Bostick was pronounced dead at the scene. The KHP online crash log states he was wearing a seatbelt.
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EPA, Corps of Engineers Take Input on Water Rules
UNDATED (Harvest Public Media) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers are getting input on how they should be implementing clean water rules. Representatives from agriculture, environmental groups, and municipalities are among those attending a series of virtual roundtables on the topic through June 24th. Mila Marshall is with the Illinois Sierra Club and attended one of the sessions. She says she wants to see stricter regulations. "Our wastewater treatment facilities are not able to manage and process waste and materials that they weren’t designed to do 100 years ago," she said. Some farming interests say tighter regulations could make it more difficult for them to be profitable. They say it will also restrict their ability to continue long-standing conservation efforts. The EPA will likely implement any changes by the end of the year.
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Antique Tractor Sells for Big Bucks
UNDATED (Harvest Public Media) - You may have heard of antique cars selling for millions of dollars... but antique tractors? Harvest Public Media reports on the recent sale of the most expensive tractor ever sold: The 1913 CASE 30-60. Experts, like Kurt Aumann, say it's an impressive machine. “This tractor was huge. It’s called a prairie tractor, I mean it was used to break virgin prairie in the farming fields and pull an eight bottom plow," he said. Aumann runs Aumann Auctions, which sold the tractor for a whopping $1.4 million. That’s not only the most expensive antique tractor ever sold, it’s the most expensive tractor ever sold. Aumann says the tractor belonged to a collector in Iowa who recently passed away. It sold it to a museum in Connecticut. It’s one of only five models in existence.
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Royals Have Worst Record in the American League; Ace Pitcher Greinke Injured
CLEVELAND (AP) - The Cleveland Guardians beat the injury-riddled Kansas City Royals 7-3 Monday. The Royals fell to 16-and-31 - that's the worst record in the American League. Meanwhile, Kansas City ace Zack Greinke has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right forearm. The 38-year-old Greinke complained of tightness in his arm following Sunday's start in Minnesota. Royals manager Mike Matheny said it could "take a little time" before Greinke's back. A six-time All-Star, Greinke is in his second stint with the Royals.
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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.