Local News

Howling south winds will last though tonight

Wed, 23 May 2012 15:41:30 -0500

A powerful low pressure system moving through the Plains has kicked up the south winds across Central & Eastern Kansas today. Winds up to 30-40mph, gusting closer to 45-50mph will be possible throughout the rest of today and may actually reach the strongest point in the middle of the night. Lows only falling to near 70 overnight.

Mostly sunny and pleasant on Thursday. A little bit cooler with highs in the lower to middle 80s. South winds will shift to the north behind a cold front at 10-20mph.

More heat builds back in by the Memorial Day weekend.

Flags to fly at half-staff to honor Kansas soldier

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:26:10 -0500

Flags will fly at half-staff across Kansas Saturday to honor a soldier from Wichita who died in Afghanistan.

Gov. Sam Brownback ordered the honor for Sgt. Zachary Hargrove, who died May 3 while serving with the 1st Infantry Division in Afghanistan. Hargrove was found unresponsive at a medical facility at Bagram Airfield. His death is being investigated. Hargrove was a wheeled vehicle mechanic assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 84th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. He served three tours in Iraq before his deployment to Afghanistan.

Hargrove joined the Army in September 1998 and was assigned to Fort Riley since August 2008.

Acappella Unlimited helps reveal iPad winner!

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:11:04 -0500

Mary Walter from Manhattan won the iPad giveaway contest!

Camp teaches kids with disabilities to ride bike

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:56:48 -0500

        Learning to ride a bike is a rite of passage for a lot of kids, and a local camp helps kids with disabilities reach that milestone. June 4-8, the Easter Seals Capper Foundation in Topeka is presenting "Lose the Training Wheels," a national program that uses adapted bicycles and a special instructional program to teach the skills necessary to ride a two-wheel bike.
        Kids at least eight and older with a disability are eligible to attend the week long camp with 75 minute daily sessions. Registration is $100, but camp director Cris Teter said scholarship assistance is available. The camp is at the Central Park Community Center at 1534 SW Clay St. in Topeka. The camp offers four sessions:
                1- 9:00 - 10:15 a.m.
                2- 10:35 - 11:50 a.m.
                3- 1:00 - 2:15 p.m.
                4- 2:35 - 3:50 p.m.
        Volunteer spotters are also needed to help teach children to ride.
        For a full list of participation criteria for campers, to sign up, or to volunteer email Annie Swanson at aswanson@capper.easterseals.com; call (785) 272-4060, ext. 156; or visit www.capper.easterseals.com.

Pets of the week

Wed, 23 May 2012 10:48:32 -0500

Man breaks into WIBW-TV, stabs employees

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:59:32 -0500

UPDATE: A man is in custody after breaking into the WIBW-TV studios Wednesday morning and stabbing two employees.

According to the Topeka Police Department, officers responded to a call of a man wtih a knife inside the television station at 9:20 a.m. Officers arrived at 9:25 a.m. to find the suspect restrained by WIBW employees.

Employees at the station say the front desk receptionist refused to let the man in and he broke the door with a lamp. According to a WIBW-TV report, the suspect made his way through the station and eventually stabbed Sales Manager Roger Brokke in the leg and also cut sales associate Greg Palmer in the leg. Brokke was also bitten on the ear by the suspect. Brokke and Palmer were being treated for minor injuries. Brokke said he was told he would need to get a tetanus shot.

The suspect has been identified as 48-year-old Ray A. Miles. Miles is homeless. He was booked on charges of Aggravated Battery, Simple Battery, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Criminal Threat, Aggravated Burglary and Criminal Damage.

Thieves steal trailer full of flagpoles from VFW

Wed, 23 May 2012 08:04:13 -0500

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - Memorial Park Cemetery in Lawrence will not have its traditional "avenue of flags" on Memorial Day because thieves stole a trailer full of flagpoles.

The Lawrence Veterans of Foreign Wars reported the theft of the trailer with 300 flagpoles to police last week. The trailer was stored on the post's property.

Post commander Fred Shockey says the VFW will still have its traditional Memorial Day ceremony and put flags on gravestones. The post will try to raise money in the next year to replace the flagpoles.

Shockey says some of the poles included brass plaques honoring veterans.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports post members have checked with area metal recycling businesses but no one has seen the plaques or flagpoles.

Brownback to attend Missouri River meeting

Wed, 23 May 2012 06:09:47 -0500

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Missouri River governors plan to question a top officer for the Army Corps of Engineers about the agency's plans for stopping future floods.

North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple is hosting Wednesday's meeting in Bismarck. The governors of South Dakota and Kansas and the lieutenant governors of Nebraska and Iowa plan to attend in person. The governors of Montana and Missouri are listening in by telephone.

Brig. Gen. John McMahon is commander of the region that oversees the management of the Missouri River and its network of dams. He'll be briefing the state officials on the corps' flood-control plans.

States along the Missouri River sustained hundreds of millions of dollars in flood damage last year. Dalrymple says the governors want to know about federal plans for preventing another disaster.

Snapshot of the Day

Wed, 23 May 2012 05:21:08 -0500

The inside of a tulip.

KU incubator system announces latest tenant

Wed, 23 May 2012 05:08:21 -0500

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - An alternative energy company is the latest tenant at a new University of Kansas incubator facility.

Midwest Energy Solutions specializes in conversion technologies. Its focus includes converting vehicles to compressed natural gas, and it carries products that let drivers refuel with natural gas in their garages or driveways. The company also builds and installs equipment for commercial fueling stations.

Midwest Energy is the fifth tenant at the Bioscience & Technology Business Center. The center opened in September at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.

It's part of a four-facility incubator system. The other three buildings are in Lawrence.