Connect with us

Kansas

Storm shelters to be removed from Kansas Turnpike as KTA moves to cashless tolling

Published

on

Storm shelters to be removed from Kansas Turnpike as KTA moves to cashless tolling


WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Along the 236 miles of the Kansas Turnpike are tornado shelters that can be found at most toll plazas.

However, as the Kansas Turnpike Authority moves towards cashless tolling starting in July 2024, a majority of those shelters will be going away.

“We will no longer have employees at those toll plaza areas, and the toll plazas will be completely reconfigured over the next 18 months,” said Rachel Bell, the Director of Business Services and Customer Relations at KTA.

While the shelters were intended to be used by the workers at the toll plazas, they also provided a safe option for commuters on the road caught in the middle of a storm.

Advertisement

“It is a pretty rare situation that those tornado shelters are used,” said Bell. “At a lot of our lower level toll plazas, we don’t have overnight employees. We don’t staff all shifts, so those tornado shelters are used maybe a couple times a year, if that.”

As the KTA will soon begin the process of closing and removing the storm shelters, since staff will no longer be stationed at the plazas, weather experts are reminding drivers what to keep in mind if they find themselves on the turnpike when a tornado warning is issued and shelters are not available. Vanessa Pearce, the Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said drivers need to know where they are at all times and how close they are to the nearest exit or service station.

“The biggest thing is to have a plan to avoid that situation, but obviously all situations can’t be avoided,” said Pearce. “If you see the storm ahead, is there an exit coming up that you’re able to get off to? Finding a sturdy shelter will be your best option.”

If commuters cannot reach an exit or shelter in time during severe weather, Pearce said people should get down to the lowest point like a ditch and to avoid overpasses.

“Don’t park under an overpass and think you’re going to get up under the girder,” said Pearce. “That’s going to provide protection, because the winds can travel through there and be stronger so it can be very dangerous.”

Advertisement

As for current and future safety options on the turnpike, the KTA told 12 News the storm shelters at the toll plazas will close in July, but the shelters at the six service areas along the roadway will remain available.



Source link

Kansas

Kansas City man injured after single-vehicle crash Sunday

Published

on

Kansas City man injured after single-vehicle crash Sunday


WYANDOTTE COUNTY, Kan. (WIBW) – A Kansas City man was left with minor injuries after a single-vehicle crash Sunday.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol Crash Log, the crash occurred around 5:50 a.m. in Wyandotte County.

A 2019 GMC Terrain was traveling eastbound on westbound I-70 in the outside shoulder when it struck the end of the concrete bridge railing for 134th Street.

The driver, a 23-year-old man, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

Advertisement

View the KHP report HERE.



Source link

Continue Reading

Kansas

Kansas Citians hold vigil, protest for Renee Good to get ‘justice’ while demanding ICE reform

Published

on

Kansas Citians hold vigil, protest for Renee Good to get ‘justice’ while demanding ICE reform


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Large protests were organized across the country calling for justice for Renee Good, including in Kansas City, where Good lived before her move to Minneapolis.

Because Renee Good once called Kansas City home, locals still consider her one of their neighbors. They want her death to be a turning point in how ICE works.

The gathering began with a vigil as roughly 1,000 protesters honored Renee Good and everyone else who has died in ICE custody or encounters. Reports show that since President Trump took office again, more than 30 people have lost their lives in that category, marking 2025 the deadliest year for the agency in over 20 years.

Hundreds gathered in Kansas City to protest after multiple federal shootings were reported, including the fatal shooting of former community member Renee Good.(KCTV5/Alex Love)

Speakers call for reform

“The killing of Renee Good reminded this country of a hard truth: this system doesn’t just harm immigrants,” one speaker during the vigil said. “It harms the soul of our communities.”

Advertisement

In attendance was Bradford Bray, an Iraq War veteran who served in the Air Force and Navy from 1995-2005. He said he is furious about how ICE operates.

“It’s the constitution. That’s what we’re fighting for,” Bray said. “It’s the land of laws. These people are not trained. They’ll hire anybody with a signing bonus. If these people are trained, I’m the Pope.”

Hundreds gathered in Kansas City to protest after multiple federal shootings were reported,...
Hundreds gathered in Kansas City to protest after multiple federal shootings were reported, including the fatal shooting of former community member Renee Good.(KCTV5/Alex Love)

Like most in attendance, he disputes arguments by the federal government that Renee Good was trying to run over the ICE agent.

“Even the guy that shot her was filming her and she said I’m not mad at you,” Bray said. “She was pleasant. She was just trying to get out of the way and do the right thing. She was turning her wheels to get out of the way when she was shot.”

March moves through Plaza

After the vigil, most of the crowd turned the protest into a march through the Plaza, spreading the message that killings by federal agents cannot become the norm.

Hundreds gathered in Kansas City to protest after multiple federal shootings were reported,...
Hundreds gathered in Kansas City to protest after multiple federal shootings were reported, including the fatal shooting of former community member Renee Good.(KCTV5/Alex Love)

“I’m a 71-year-old great-grandmother who’s afraid for the future of my great-grandchildren in a country that’s turning fascist,” Terisa Mott said. “Any of them could be grabbed off the streets or shot like they shot that woman.”

Counter-protesters present

Some Trump and ICE supporters, like Scott Watts, were among the crowd. He sent condolences to Renee Good’s family but said he believes illegal immigration should not be tolerated.

Advertisement

“I spent time at the southern border and I saw thousands of pretty dangerous people being let out of that border,” Watts said. “That are here now and that’s what Trump’s trying to do is protect us.”

Watts carried a sign highlighting American citizens who had been killed by illegal immigrants over the years, including Mollie Tibbetts of Brooklyn, Iowa, who was stabbed to death while jogging in 2018 by Christian Behena Rivera.

“I’m at a loss for words when it comes to stuff like this,” Watts said. “But I’ll stand out here day after day to try to educate people. I don’t want to fight or anything like that. I just want people to realize there’s dangerous people out there and they need to be aware of those people.”

The gathering stayed peaceful, and traffic kept moving smoothly.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Kansas

Kansas basketball vs WVU final score, highlights: Jayhawks suffer loss

Published

on

Kansas basketball vs WVU final score, highlights: Jayhawks suffer loss


Kansas basketball’s regular season continued Saturday, Jan. 10, with a Big 12 Conference game on the road against West Virginia, and saw KU lose 86-75.

The No. 21 Jayhawks struggled mightily down the stretch in the second half. The Mountaineers fed off of their home crowd. Had KU won, it would have been the first time WVU lost at home this season.

Advertisement

Here is what happened during this game in Morgantown, West Virginia:

The Jayhawks are running out of time, as the Mountaineers appear to lead comfortably with about four minutes left in regulation. It’s a 22-5 run for WVU right now. Kansas has hit just two of its last 14 shots from the field.

West Virginia is now on a 13-0 run, and leading by five points with about nine and a half minutes remaining in regulation. Kansas hasn’t scored in more than five minutes. KU also has missed its last eight shots from the field.

Kansas hasn’t scored in more than three minutes, and West Virginia has used that drought to go on a 7-0 run. The Mountaineers could also tie the score coming out of this break, as a WVU player scored while getting fouled going into this timeout. It’s important to note that it’s not just Bryson Tiller who’s in foul trouble for Kansas with four fouls, as Flory Bidunga has three fouls.

Darryn Peterson is up to 20 points and six rebounds, as he’s continued to connect on every opportunity from the free-throw line. Foul trouble, though, has started to become a problem. Kansas has a starter in Bryson Tiller who’s up to four fouls, and West Virginia has two starters who are up to three fouls.

Advertisement

Brenen Lorient has thrived on the way to nine points, as West Virginia holds a slim lead with a little less than five minutes left in the first half. The Mountaineers have been able to gain an advantage from behind the arc. KU still hasn’t established long-range shooting as a threat, with WVU putting itself in a position for an upset.

3-point shooting hasn’t played a major role in the game so far, with the Jayhawks not even hitting one yet today. However, KU still holds a slim lead with about 11 and a half minutes remaining before halftime. Darryn Peterson has tried to be that standout talent for Kansas, but the shots haven’t fallen.

Kansas is trailing early, as the Jayhawks have struggled to see Darryn Peterson get going. Bryson Tiller has not lived up to his potential on the defensive end. Look for KU to do more to involve Flory Bidunga.

Pregame

Check out the starting lineups

Kansas coach Bill Self previews game

Kansas basketball vs West Virginia game time

  • Date: Saturday, Jan. 10
  • Time: 11 a.m. (CT)
  • Location: Hope Coliseum in Morgantown, West Virginia

What channel is Kansas basketball vs West Virginia game on today?

Kansas basketball’s game against West Virginia will be broadcast on FOX during the 2025-26 college season. Streaming options include Fubo. It’s a chance for KU to earn another road win this season.

Kansas basketball vs West Virginia betting line

Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of Saturday, Jan. 10

  • Spread: Kansas by 3.5
  • O/U: 138.5

Kansas basketball 2025-26 schedule

Here’s a look at Kansas’ last three games:

  • Dec. 22 (home): Davidson — Kansas won 90-61
  • Jan. 3 (away): UCF — Kansas lost 81-75
  • Jan. 6 (home): TCU — Kansas won 104-100

West Virginia basketball 2025-26 schedule

Here’s a look at West Virginia’s last three games:

  • Dec. 22 (home): Mississippi Valley State — West Virginia won 86-51
  • Jan. 2 (away): Iowa State — West Virginia lost 80-59
  • Jan. 6 (home): Cincinnati — West Virginia won 62-60

Kansas basketball vs West Virginia score

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending