TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Kansas Department of Insurance is offering assistance to victims of the Westmoreland tornado.

Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt and staff from the Kansas Department of Insurance visited Westmoreland to assist those impacted by the EF3 tornado that struck the town on Tuesday, April 30. They assisted with insurance claim questions, concerns and complaints.

“As residents and communities focus on the long-term recovery, the Kansas Department of Insurance stands ready to assist wherever possible,” said Commissioner Schmidt. “I encourage all Kansans who have experienced property damage from recent storms to call the Department if you have questions about your insurance claim or if you encounter insurance-related problems along the way.”

Commissioner Schmidt and key staff visited the site of the Westmoreland tornado on Friday, May 3, to provide on-site assistance with residents who may need help with their insurance. Schmidt visited with residents and provided information on the resources available through the Department.

Kansas Department of Insurance noted this storm season, if you or someone you know is having trouble with an insurance claim, please 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 insurance.kansas.gov for any claims-related questions or concerns.

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After a failed vote to build a downtown Kansas City Royals stadium, another of the city’s professional sports teams is planning to expand with a mixed-used entertainment district.

The Kansas City Current, the city’s National Women’s Soccer League team, will add a retail, restaurant and multifamily district to its recently opened stadium. The first phase will include $200 million in private funding and will begin construction in late 2024 with expected completion in 2026 ahead of the World Cup that year, when Kansas City is one of the North American host cities.

All phases of development will cost roughly $800 million, according to the team. In August 2023, economic development agency the Port Authority of Kansas City approved up to $800 million in bonds for the project.

The $117 million stadium opened in March and is the first stadium built specifically for a women’s team in the US, according to the team. It sits just north of the city’s downtown, on the Berkley Riverfront District along the Missouri River. The entertainment district will be developed by the Current and Marquee Development. The team’s owners, Angie and Chris Long, founder of Kansas City-based Palmer Square Capital Management, purchased the team in 2020. They’re co-owners with Brittany and Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback of the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs.

“With the next phase of our investment in Berkley Riverfront Park, our goal is to reconnect Kansas Citians to their riverfront, bringing even more energy and activity to the water,” Angie Long said in a statement. “We believe this foundational investment will benefit our community for years to come and cement the Berkley Riverfront as one of Kansas City’s great neighborhoods for residents and visitors alike.”

The 2 million-square-foot project will have restaurants, retail, entertainment and over 1,000 apartments, with 10% of units set aside for affordable housing. It will also include a riverfront walkway and 200,000 square feet of office development.

The announcement follows the resounding April 2 defeat of a $2 billion measure to build a new downtown Royals stadium and updates to the Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium.

Photo: CPKC Stadium, home to the Kansas City Current, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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Erik Jones, who suffered a broken compression fracture in his lower back at Talladega Superspeedway, has been cleared by doctors to return to NASCAR competition, but Legacy Motor Club officials announced Thursday they will hold Jones out for another week.

That means Corey Heim will drive the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway (2 p.m. CT, FS1).

Jones’ tentative return would be at Darlington Raceway in the Goodyear 400 on May 12, where he has two wins — his most recent in September 2022 while driving for Petty GMS Motorsports Jones has three top-five finishes at Kansas, including a third-place finish in September 2023.

Jones, 27, suffered the injury after being involved in a head-on-crash with Bubba Wallace after Wallace was pushed by John Hunter Nemechek with 34 laps left in the Geico 500 on April 21.

Jones was checked into the infield care center complaining of pain in his back, but was released after being checked. The pain persisted and Jones was taken to a Birmingham, Alabama hospital later that night where he underwent an evaluation from specialists.

Legacy Motor Club officials stated that Jones, who missed last Sunday’s Wurth 400 race at Dover, would be held out of this week’s race due to “an abundance of caution.”

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Heim is a reserve driver for Legacy Motor Club Club, who competes full time in the NASCAR truck series. Heim finished 25th subbing for Jones at Dover. Jones traveled to Dover to support Heim and plans to be in Kansas Sunday.

Jones had made 263 consecutive NASCAR Cup Series starts before last week. The Dover race was the first Jones has missed due to injury since the start of his rookie season in 2017.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.