Kansas
Insurance claims, payouts climbing with severe storms across Kansas, U.S.
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – As many Kansans continue cleaning up from this weekend’s storms, a new report from Bloomberg finds storm damage throughout the country steadily increasing. Statewide, the Kansas Insurance Department continues to see millions of dollars in payouts.
In 2023, the state’s insurance department reported nearly 145,000 storm damage claims resulting in about $443 million in storm claim losses paid out by insurance companies. The recent round of storms that tore through several areas, including towns in Harvey County, left plenty of work for companies like Wray Roofing, Inc. and Shield Roofing. In Newton, the roofers report working around the clock since Sunday.
“There has been a large volume of calls,” summarized Deven Phillips with Shield Roofing.
Representing Wray Roofing, Kent Jost reported pulling crews off of regularly scheduled jobs, “just to make sure everybody stays dry and until insurance can get out and get everything adjusted.”
The local roofing companies reported seeing most of the damage from wind and hail.
“Wind does the most damage. Hail is kind of something that not very many people know until it is on the car,” Phillips said. “But, yeah, hail’s been a pretty big factor and it’s starting to increase in size, duration of it, and frequency.”
The companies agree that numerous claims from last can be expected in an active-weather state like Kansas, and they share some advice.
“You don’t want to file a claim preemptively and not actually have enough damage to where now, you’re going to have a negative strike against you,” Phillips said. “So always call out a qualified, trusted, contractor to evaluate those damages first before actually calling the insurance.”
This storm season, if you or someone you know is having trouble with an insurance claim, you can contact the Kansas Department of Insurance’s Consumer Assistance Division toll-free at 1-800-432-2484, by email at kdoi.complaints@ks.gov or online at www.insurance.kansas.gov for any claims-related questions or concerns.
Copyright 2024 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email news@kwch.com
Kansas
Chiefs vs. Chargers: Week 4 Preview, Score Predictions
The Kansas City Chiefs have their second road game in a row on Sunday, with Week 4 bringing a matchup against a bitter AFC West rival.
Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers, 2-1 on the season, await the reigning Super Bowl champions. While Kansas City has a controlling recent lead in their series against Los Angeles, it’s a new era of football in California. On the other hand, injuries and a suspension to Derwin James could make things challenging for the home team.
How will the game unfold? The Kansas City Chiefs On SI crew makes its predictions for Week 4 of the 2024-25 campaign.
Joshua Brisco: The Chiefs are a much better (and healthier) football team than the Chargers. Even as a long-term believer in the Jim Harbaugh/Justin Herbert duo, I’m selling LA’s stock in the short term. The 2-1 Chargers have wins over the Carolina Panthers and the team who lost to the Panthers (the Las Vegas Raiders). They’re decimated by injuries, and even if Herbert is able to play vs. Kansas City, he’ll be playing through a high ankle sprain behind a patchwork offensive line. Travis Kelce is in a perfect position to get back on track especially while Derwin James is suspended, and I’d be shocked if KC lost this game.
Still, I can’t shake the idea that this is a low-scoring Carson Steele show where the Chiefs take an early lead and get out of LA without putting much on tape. Despite making semi-serious 13-10 predictions throughout the week, I do believe KC will put up a few more points without James or Joey Bosa on the field, but I don’t expect tremendous fireworks on the Chiefs’ business trip.
Prediction: Chiefs 20, Chargers 10
Jordan Foote: Until proven otherwise, I’m going to stay convinced that the Chiefs will do just enough to get by in non-playoff games. This weekend shouldn’t be any different, and the Chargers will give them plenty of room for error anyway. Similar to Brisco’s assessment, I think Harbaugh and Herbert will be a successful pairing down the line. With so many injuries stacking up and the offense not being potent yet, though, it’s hard not to roll with the Chiefs here. They’re a more complete and healthy team at this juncture (which is saying a lot). Look for Kelce to score his first touchdown of the season in Week 4.
Prediction: Chiefs 24, Chargers 17
Zack Eisen: The Chiefs head to Los Angeles to face a banged-up Chargers team. They will be missing their starting tackles and two of their three best defensive players. Also, their starting quarterback is banged up. It sets up for a comfortable Chiefs victory. However, that’s not how they have played games over the last two seasons. Getting the offense on the right track would be nice for Kansas City. It starts with Patrick Mahomes, who hasn’t been himself to start the year. This game could be a chance for him to get himself and the rest of the offense back on track. Establishing Xavier Worthy and Travis Kelce would help build confidence for the unit.
Prediction: Chiefs 24, Chargers 17
Mark Van Sickle: The Chargers are hurting with several key players missing the game or not playing at full strength. This seems like a good game for Kelce to break out. We’ve all been waiting for it! I also think this is the day we see Carson Steele get his first regular-season touchdown as a Chief. The defense should be able to smother Herbert. The Chiefs and Chargers typically play close games but with everything working against the Chargers this week, I’ve got to take the Chiefs by double digits.
Prediction: Chiefs 31, Chargers 17
Read More: Travis Kelce Explains Mindset Amid Lack of Targets, Touches on Offense
Kansas
Southeast Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial revitalized by local crews
GIRARD, Kan. — The Southeast Kansas Fallen Firefighters Memorial gets a revamp.
The memorial was built in 2003, and the statue put in place in 2017.
Firefighters began cleanup at 9:00 a.m. at the Girard Fire Department.
Teams from across Southeast Kansas also helped put down new rocks, felt paper, and edging.
A memorial service is held each October, but this year they wanted to make the memorial look more fresh.
Girard Fire Department Captain, Daulton Crays, says it’s also a way to continue paying tribute.
“This is important to us. The memorial is to honor all of the fallen firefighters for Southeast Kansas. So it’s important to us to carry on their legacy and keep this looking good and take pride in it,” said Daulton Crays, Girard Fire Department Captain.
“Multiple agencies and multiple individuals have put forth the effort and the time to make sure that this was going to be something that, you know, not only the fire department can pay tribute to, but also the public can see and also pay tribute, especially those people that have family members on our memorial. They can come here anytime and visit it and see it,” said Thomas Vacca, Southeast Kansas Firefighters Honor Guard President.
Vacca hopes the memorial will last for generations to come–continuing to pay tribute to those lost.
The plan is to host a Southeast Kansas Fallen Firefighter Memorial on October 20, and everyone is invited to attend.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Kansas
Almirola wins Xfinity in Kansas; Allgaier wrecks
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Aric Almirola crashed Victory Lane in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff opener Saturday at Kansas Speedway for his second victory of the season.
Almirola, the 40-year-old former Cup driver running a limited Xfinity schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing, has six career Xfinity victories, also winning at Martinsville in April. He won three Cup races.
Almirola, Cole Custer and Chandler Smith dueled over the final 40 laps, with Smith leading most of the way. Custer passed Smith for the top spot with 10 laps to go, and Almirola made the final pass with three laps left.
Custer was second, his first top-10 finish at Kansas Speedway. Smith was third, followed by Connor Zilisch and playoff driver Sheldon Creed.
Regular-season champion Justin Allgaier started the race atop the points standings. He left with his season in jeopardy after a wreck on Lap 70. He spun out exiting Turn 2, slid down the racetrack and hit the inside wall hard. Allgaier tried to return to the race, but a flat left front tire and loss of brakes ended his day in 36th place. It was the fourth straight race that Allgaier was involved in an accident.
“We’re not out of it by any stretch,” Allgaier said. “That’s why you work so hard in the regular season, to get all the bonus points you can. But I’ve got a long next two weeks.”
-
News1 week ago
Video: Who Are the Black Swing Voters?
-
Politics1 week ago
Dem lawmakers push bill to restore funding to UN agency with alleged ties to Hamas: 'So necessary'
-
News1 week ago
Four killed, dozens injured in Alabama shooting
-
News1 week ago
Money for cutting-edge climate technology could dry up in a second Trump term
-
News1 week ago
Election 2024 Polls: Florida
-
World1 week ago
Critics slam landmark EU competitiveness report as 'one-sided'
-
Politics1 week ago
Secret Service protection bill passes House unanimously after Trump assassination attempts
-
News1 week ago
Cards Against Humanity says in new lawsuit that SpaceX has destroyed some of its South Texas property