KSHB 41 reporter Abby Dodge covers consumer issues, personal budgeting and everyday spending. Share your story idea with Abby.

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Kansas City International Airport was full of travelers Friday afternoon ahead of the first week of school for many on the Missouri side of the Kansas City area.

According to the most recent Consumer Price Index, published this week, airline ticket prices are down by 7% compared to June.

“I did notice it being less,” said Stephanie Musick, who was traveling at KCI on Friday.

Musick traveled to Kansas City to help move her niece into her college dorm at the University of Kansas.

Angelina Castaneda attends school at Columbia College in Chicago and booked a quick trip home before classes begin.

KSHB 41 News staff

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“I’ve already booked another one for September,” she said. “It was just as cheap.”

Traveler numbers are at a record high.

In July, TSA screened more than 3 million passengers in one day, which is a record for the organization.

With open seats lingering as summer comes to a close, airlines are cutting capacity.

Some travelers are holding out for even bigger deals, like traveling jazz artist Julian Vaughn.

KSHB 41 News staff

“For me, it’s still not down enough,” he said. “Being that I fly almost every week.”

Travel experts predict prices will continue to fall after Labor Day, but then steeply rise for the holiday season.

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Students from Topeka, Kansas, will have the opportunity Wednesday, Aug. 21, to have NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick and Tracy C. Dyson answer their prerecorded questions aboard the International Space Station.

The 20-minute space-to-Earth call with students from Mose J. Whitson Elementary, Most Pure Heart Catholic School, and Aviation Explorers Post 8, will stream live at 10:30 a.m. EDT Aug. 21, on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency’s website. Learn how to stream NASA TV through various platforms, including social media.

Media interested in covering the event must RSVP no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19, by contacting Aaron Gray at agray@tps501.org or 785-295-2900.

In preparation for the event, students from Whitson Elementary joined high school members of Aviation Explorers Post 8 for a local airport control tower tour and a pre-flight inspection demonstration. The Lawrence Amateur Astronomy Club, University of Kansas graduate students, and other astronomy enthusiasts provided presentations for the Whitson Starry Night Astronomy Title I family night. On the day of the event more than five schools from across the community will tune in.

For more than 23 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through SCaN (Space Communications and Navigation) Near Space Network.

Important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the International Space Station benefit people on Earth and lays the groundwork for other agency missions. As part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars; inspiring Artemis Generation explorers and ensuring the United States will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery.

See videos and lesson plans highlighting space station research at:

https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation

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Abbey Donaldson / Gerelle Dodson
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
Abbey.a.donaldson@nasa.gov / gerelle.q.dodson@nasa.gov

Sandra Jones 
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Soldier Kansas was one of many areas hit hard by storms in NE Kansas Wednesday night.

“Came home to a horrible disaster. If I wouldn’t have been at work my car would have been parked right under where this roof has come off of our home,” says Pamela Powell whose home was damaged by storms.

This couple returned home to find the storm had ripped their roof off.

“And as I came back around the corner as I came home I was flabbergasted. I couldn’t figure out what was laying on my house and then I realized it was my roof,” says Ron Youngs whose home was damaged by storms.

“This has been kinda emotional and very shocking. You don’t think these things will happen to you then here you are it’s happened to you,” says Powell.

Community members like Luke Schreiber says neighbors helping neighbors is just how it works around here.

“Right after the storm it was still raining but the wind had died down and there were people out on the streets, the mayor, city council folks, a person or two from the fire department then just other community folks. That’s kinda what folks do around here,” says Schreiber.

“As soon as people heard I had this loss they came. It was still raining they started to help me put things into tubs and help me move things out of where the collapsed area was,” says Youngs.

The couple says now they are just grateful for the community coming together to help.

“I appreciate anybody’s help even if it’s to come bring us some water or talk us through something or anything. I appreciate it,” says Powell.

“I’ve had a lot of people come together for me and I appreciate it because I wouldn’t know what to do if it wasn’t for the people in my life. Thank God for Soldier Kansas. I don’t know where else people help people like this,” says Youngs.

The couple has a second home that still needs plumbing and electricity. They say they hope to move in soon.

Any donations can be sent to them through the Denison State Bank in Holton under Pamela Powell’s name.

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