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Here’s how high winds hit across northeast Kansas, leaving thousands without power

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Here’s how high winds hit across northeast Kansas, leaving thousands without power


High winds accompanying a late-winter storm that brought light snow left thousands without electrical power Wednesday morning in northeast Kansas.

As of 4:50 a.m., power outages were affecting 2,640 homes and businesses in the Lawrence area, 920 in the Topeka area and more than 61,000 of the customers the electrical utility Evergy serves in Kansas and Missouri, Evergy reported on an online outage map it maintains.

By 8 a.m.., Evergy reported the number of homes and businesses affected had risen to 5,707 in the Lawrence area, dropped to 856 in the Topeka area and decreased to 33,476 for its coverage area.

High winds kicked up late Tuesday afternoon

High winds kicked up beginning late Tuesday afternoon in northeast Kansas, with maximum wind gust readings at Topeka rising from 13 mph about 4 p.m.. to 22 mph about 5 p.m., 38 mph about 6 p.m. and 47 mph about 7 p.m.

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The weather service Tuesday evening reported gusts of the following:

•  70 mph four miles south/southwest of Sabetha in Nemaha County and three miles east of Jarbalo in Leavenworth County.

•  69 mph three miles east/northeast of New Cambria in Saline County in north-central Kansas.

•  65 mph six miles south/southwest of Centralia in Nemaha County.

•  And 61 mph five miles north/northeast of Lawrence and three miles east/northeast of Topeka.

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Meanwhile, rain that had been falling during the day Tuesday turned to snow early that evening.

Wind, snow brought blizzard conditions

The wind and snow combined to temporarily cause whiteout conditions late Tuesday four miles east of St. Marys in Pottawatomie County, the weather service reported on the website of its Topeka office.

Visibility fell to one-half mile late Tuesday three miles east/northeast of Topeka, it said.

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The weather service recorded 1.2 inches of snow late Tuesday and Wednesday at its Topeka office in northeast Topeka near Philip Billard Municipal Airport, said Matt Wolters, a meteorologist with that office.

Other snowfall readings included 1.6 inches at Seneca, 1.5 inches two miles south/southeast of Ozawkie in Jefferson County and 1.3 inches seven miles west/southwest of Topeka.

Sheriff’s office implements accident reporting procedure

Shawnee County Sheriff Brian Hill announced at 6:40 a.m. Wednesday that because of road conditions, his office was implementing its Phase III accident reporting procedure.

During that phase, deputies respond only to scenes of crashes involving injury, possible injury or death; potentially impaired drivers; hit-and-run drivers; disturbances; hazardous materials; major traffic congestion; or enough damage to require a vehicle to be towed.

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Drivers were directed to report all other crashes at their earliest convenience at sheriff’s office headquarters at the Law Enforcement Center, 320 S. Kansas Ave.

What’s next?

High winds continued Wednesday morning, with the weather service reporting gusts of up to 56 mph at 4 a.m. at its office in Topeka.

However, a high wind warning issued for the area was set to expire at noon Wednesday.

Winds were predicted Wednesday morning to come from the northwest at 25 to 30 mph, with gusts of up to 50 mph, then decrease Wednesday afternoon to 15 to 20 mph.

Forecasters predicted Wednesday morning would bring Topeka mostly cloudy skies, which would clear up in the afternoon.

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Topeka’s high temperature Wednesday was predicted to be about 42 degrees.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.



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Kansas City man sentenced for cocaine trafficking, possession of illegal firearm

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Kansas City man sentenced for cocaine trafficking, possession of illegal firearm


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A Kansas City man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy and possession of an illegal firearm.

According to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, 22-year-old Antoine R. Gillum was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole.

His sentencing stems from a June 2024 incident in a metro gas station. KCPD investigators contacted Gillum inside and found that he had discarded a 9 mm pistol in an aisle between the merchandise. He also discarded a pill bottle containing multiple illegal substances: cocaine base, oxycodone/acetaminophen and oxycodone.

Officers searched the vehicle Gillum had arrived in and found approximately 32 grams of cocaine base.

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On May 6, 2025, Gillum pleaded guilty to one count each of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It’s a part of ‘Operation Take Back America,’ a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

No further information has been released.



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Deadly 4-car crash kills 2 people, injures others in Kansas City

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Deadly 4-car crash kills 2 people, injures others in Kansas City


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – A crash near a busy highway killed two people and injured two others.

Emergency crews responded to the crash at U.S. 71 Highway and Meyer Boulevard around 12:40 p.m. on Monday, March 2.

When crews arrived they determined four cars were involved in the crash.

Police are investigating how the crash happened.

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Homegrown Jayhawk stars ready to shine at Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City

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Homegrown Jayhawk stars ready to shine at Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City


LAWRENCE, Kan. (KCTV) – As Kansas women’s basketball prepares to enter the postseason at the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, they’ll be led by two Overland Park natives who have been two of the most electrifying players to watch in the country this year.

Junior guard S’Mya Nichols and freshman forward Jaliya Davis have played integral roles in the recent growth of the program. Both cite the desire to help grow the Jayhawks into something special as reasons for committing there.

“Where we wanted to take Kansas women’s basketball, I wanted to be a part of that growing evolution,” Nichols told KCTV5.

“We [my family] were also really big Jayhawk fans. We came to a lot of games,” Davis said about her childhood.

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The two were both 5-star recruits in high school, and their commitments marked historic recruiting victories for the KU women’s basketball program.

First came Nichols in the Class of 2023, picking KU over Tennessee and Oklahoma.

“I genuinely wanted to go to Kansas,” she said.

Then Davis became the highest-rated player to ever commit to KU as part of the Class of 2025.

“When you go back to S’Mya Nichols being a local, Kansas City, Overland Park product, a nationally respected player, Jaliya was really the next one that was very important for the Jayhawks to keep home,” said head coach Brandon Schneider.

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Now as a junior, Nichols has established herself as one of the most consistent scorers and physical guards in the nation.

But it’s the Shawnee Mission West’s alum’s leadership that defines her legacy in Lawrence.

“The team leader, the quarterback,” Coach Schneider described Nichols. “I think oftentimes the player that everybody looks up to off the court.”

“I mean it means everything. Knowing that I’m important to the team, and that they see me as that as well,” said Nichols with a smile.

Both Nichols and Davis were recruited by the Jayhawks for years, going all the way back to seventh grade.

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“Well, we offered her in middle school,’ Coach Schneider said with a laugh about Davis.

“Oh he put in a lot of work,” laughed Davis. “I mean, obviously, seventh grade, that’s a long time.”

It was that dedication from Coach Schneider that led her to choose the Jayhawks over Texas, South Carolina, Baylor, and Oklahoma – where he dad played ball.

“I think it really was the relationship we had and grew. He was always there, every single one of my games,” Davis said about Schneider.

After just one practice as teammates, Nichols voiced a big belief about Davis into existence – and it’s probably going to come true.

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The Jayhawks are the 11-seed in the Big 12 Tournament, and will face 14-seed UCF in the first round on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.(KCTV5)

“I saw her first practice, and I sent her a text, and I’m like ‘I think you can win Freshman of the Year’, and I still stand by that,”

Davis is averaging 21.0 points per game, and has been named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for eight weeks in a row. That sets a power conference all-time record.

“I think it’s really cool. I mean obviously it’s a team effort, they’re always looking for me,” Davis said about her historic accomplishment.

“Just a phenomenal stretch of basketball for her, and so well deserving,” said Coach Schneider.

Now these two homegrown stars are at the forefront of a late-season push to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Right now, CBS Sports bracketology has them as a ‘First Four Out’ team.

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But a few wins in the Big 12 Tournament could certainly help seal their invite to the big dance.

“Obviously we’re not in the position that we were hoping to be in, but I think we can make the most out of it, and get to where we want to be,” Davis said about the opportunity at hand in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.

The Overland Park kids are especially fired up about starting the postseason in their own backyard.

“I have a big support system. So I bet my family will take a big chunk of that area during that tournament,” Davis laughed.

“I remember being younger, and the College Basketball Experience is right next door. So I felt like at one moment that was the big stage, when I got to play my little AAU tournaments in there. And then all of a sudden I’m literally in T-Mobile Center on the actual big stage, so it’s pretty cool,” said Nichols.

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The Jayhawks are the 11-seed in the Big 12 Tournament, and will face 14-seed UCF in the first round on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.



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