Kansas

Paola, Kansas, expands affordable housing options with tiny home village

Published

1 month ago

December 14, 2024

Paola, Kansas, expands affordable housing options with tiny home village

KSHB 41 reporter Ryan Gamboa covers Miami County in Kansas and Cass County in Missouri. Share your story idea with Ryan.

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My Father’s House in Paola, Kansas, is expanding affordable housing options through a $1 million grant.

For two decades, it’s provided transitional housing services for women and families. Friday’s groundbreaking ceremony was filled with emotions.

“1,089,” said Blake Heid, a board member at My Father’s House. “That’s the estimated population of rural homelessness in Kansas.”

Ryan Gamboa/KSHB

Blake Heid, My Father’s House Board Member in Paola, Kansas

Beth Waddle is the CEO — she founded the organization 19 years ago to value the underserved rural population.

“We take a relationship-based approach,” Waddle said. “We have to get to know people and what their needs are and earn the right to speak into their lives.”

Tiny Home Village at My Father’s House in Paola, Kansas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka is providing $17.7 million in affordable housing grants in 2023.

The city of Paola, Kansas, worked diligently to permit a tiny home project in the city limits.

My Father’s House grant dollars will benefit 14 tiny homes on a lot adjacent to its flagship location.

Beth Waddle, Founder of My Father’s House in Paola, Kansas

“We have the money raised for 14 tiny homes,” Waddle said. “The goal is to have approximately 40 to 44 in total.”

The community has stepped up in numerous ways, volunteering to push the project to Phase 1, according to Waddle.

Her vision for the 14 Tiny Home Village is to create permanent home options with necessary hygeine and shelter services on the property.

Tiny Homes Paola Location — Vacant lot for Tiny Home Village in Paola, Kansas

“As long as they need it, they can stay in the homes,” Waddle said.

My Father’s House has a waiting list for its current transitional housing program.

Michelle Sutti is the programs success story.

“I came here pregnant, 28 years old, just gotten out of jail,” Sutti said. “I didn’t have anywhere to call home.”

For almost six years, she couch surfed, spent time with the crowd and described herself as “homeless.”

“They taught me how to be a productive member of society, they built a support system for me — everything I needed to do,” she said. “It opened the door for many opportunities; I never had anyone do that for me before.”

Since her graudation in 2017, Waddle works full time with a certificate in accounting and lives with her husband and four children.

“It was my identity,” she said. “It’s not who I am at all anymore.”

Miami County, Kansas, has added challenges for residents transitioning into society.

Kansas State University reports 37.42% of its rental housing units are considered “cost burdened,” meaning 30% of household incomes are spent on rent.

Miami County Rental House Data — Source: Kansas State University

“Miami County, Kansas, has the lowest vacancy rates of any southeast Kansas county in rental homes. We also have some of the highest median rental rates. When people are graduating from our program and transitioning out, it’s kind of a non-starter for them,” Waddle said. “The houses that are available are not within their price range. We saw a need for this tiny home project to increase available affordable housing options.”

My Father's House Groundbreaking — My Father’s House in Paola, Kansas held a groundbreaking ceremony on its Tiny Home Village.

My Father’s House will begin construction almost immediately.

“What they’re doing will allow people to be reintegrated into society instead of being kicked right back out the door,” Sutti said.

The largest portion of the project is to build necessary water, sewer and electric services on the plot of land. It’s expected to be completed near the end of 2025.

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Kansas

Homicide investigation underway in east Kansas City

Published

4 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Press Room

Homicide investigation underway in east Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Kansas City police are investigating a fatal shooting Monday night.

Police with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department said a shooting that happened at 7:30 p.m. Monday is being investigated as a homicide.

It happened in the area of 56th Street and Westridge Road.

When officers arrived at the scene on a reported shooting call they were directed to a residence near the intersection and found a male victim in the yard with gunshot wounds.

Witnesses at the scene were rendering aid to the victim before officers and EMS took over life-saving measures, police said. The victim was eventually transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and died several hours later.

Police said no one is in custody and detectives are working to determine what led up to the incident.

This is a developing story. KCTV will update it as more information becomes available.

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Kansas

Kansas State All-American forward Ayoka Lee is out indefinitely with a fractured bone in her foot

Published

11 hours ago

January 20, 2025

Press Room

$Kansas State All-American forward Ayoka Lee is out indefinitely with a fractured bone in her foot$

Kansas State forward Ayoka Lee will be sidelined indefinitely after an X-ray and MRI exam revealed the All-American fractured a bone in her foot in the second quarter of the No. 10 Wildcats’ win over Arizona State.

The school called it “probable” that Lee will return before the end of the season, but more will be known in the coming weeks.

“It’s not good,” Kansas State coach Jeff Mittie said after the 81-69 win Sunday over Arizona State. “It’s not going to be a week or two.”

Lee only played 13 minutes in the game, leaving for good with 4:21 left in the first half.

The Wildcats, who do not play again until visiting Colorado on Saturday, entered the week 19-1 and 7-0 in the Big 12, and they are riding a 14-game win streak, the fourth-longest in Division I women’s basketball. The Wildcats’ only loss came against No. 13 Duke in the Ball Dawgs Classic in late November.

Lee is a big reason for their success. The 6-foot-6 forward from Byron, Minnesota, is averaging 16 points on 65.4% shooting, even though she’s played limited minutes because of a number of blowouts. She also is averaging 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.

Lee set the women’s Division I scoring record when she had 61 points against Oklahoma in January 2022. She is already Kansas State’s career scoring leader with 2,482 points, and she holds school records for rebounds, blocks and field goals.

Lee also has had a history of injuries, though. She redshirted as a freshman while recovering from a knee injury, and she missed the entire 2022-23 season because of surgery on the other knee. She also sat out several conference games a year ago after she hurt her ankle, and Mittie has limited her minutes at times this season in an effort to keep her healthy.

The Wildcats will lean more heavily on Missouri State transfer Kennedy Taylor, Imani Lester and Eliza Maupin while Lee is out.

“I think it’s just the next-man-up mentality, and I think Eliza came in and played really well for us,” Kansas State guard Taryn Sides said after the win over the Sun Devils. “We don’t really know a whole lot about Yokie. Hopefully she’s OK.”

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Kansas City Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Denver Broncos’ Bo Nix Shocking Comparison

Published

19 hours ago

January 20, 2025

Press Room

Kansas City Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Denver Broncos’ Bo Nix Shocking Comparison

Out of all the former Oregon Ducks to play in the NFL this year, there’s a case to be made for quarterback Bo Nix having one of the biggest break out seasons. For the first time in over nine years, Nix helped lead the Denver Broncos to their first playoff appearance with a 31-7 Wild Card game loss against the Buffalo Bills.

Nix’s numbers for his inaugural season in the league are warranting many to campaign for the young quarterback to win “Rookie of the Year” accolades, with Nix joining fellow former Duck and Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving as a finalist for the Pepsi Zero Rookie of the Year voting.

Amongst those campaigning for Nix to get his flowers, are those comparing his numbers to that of the regular season statistics for one of the best quarterbacks active in the league: Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes.

Jan 12, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws downfield during the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills in an AFC wild card game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images / Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

When look at Nix’s and Mahomes’ numbers from both of their 2024 seasons, the similarities are glaring and in some ways favor Nix over Mahomes. In the passing game, Nix punched in a 66.3% completion percentage, whereas Mahomes clocked in with 67.5%. Nix came in third in the NFL for touchdowns with 29 total while Mahomes boasted 26. Both Nix and Mahomes almost mirrored each other for their pass ratings, with Mahomes at 93.5 and Nix at 93.3.

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Nix also threw 12 interceptions compared to Mahomes’ 11 interceptions this season. As for sacks, Nix was taken down 24 times with Mahomes being sacked 36 times.

For the rushing side of the game, Nix’s numbers compared to Mahomes showed the strength of the former Ducks’ ability to extend a play with his legs. Nix rushed for 430 yards off 92 carries in 2024, picking up four touchdowns. Mahomes got 307 yards off 58 carries with two touchdowns. Nix racked up two rushing fumbles compared to Mahomes’ single rushing fumble of the season.

This comparison between Nix and Mahomes shows serious promise for the Denver rookie quarterback, who earned NFL’s Rookie of the Month in October and also made the second most touchdown passes by a rookie in NFL history.

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix throws out a pass during the first half as the No. 13 Oregon Ducks take on the Stanford Cardinal Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

Ncaa Football Oregon Stanford Football Stanford At Oregon / Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

From a two loss start to the regular season marked with several rookie mistakes, to shining as the clear future for the folks at Mile High, Nix had the clear support of his teammates the entire way. Nix was the first rookie to be named captain of the Broncos since 1967, and was the first rookie starter for the Broncos since the 1980’s with John Elway. Denver right tackle Mike McGlinchey, who has a long-storied history in the NFL, spoke about Nix’s intangibles that helped the former Duck step up to be a clear leader this season.

“I think once we got around him in the building for a week or two—a couple weeks in April—you’re like, ‘Oh man, this kid is made of the right stuff. Obviously, when you’re in shorts in April and May and doing OTA practices, you really can’t tell what kind of a football player he is really until we get into August, and when we put the pads on and all that kind of stuff,” McGlinchey said.

It’s clear with these direct comparisons to one of the best quarterbacks still playing today, that Nix has a bright future with the Broncos going forward.

MORE: L.A. Chargers’ Justin Herbert Takes Blame In NFL Wild Card Loss To Houston Texans

MORE: NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year: Denver Broncos Bo Nix, Washington Jayden Daniels?

MORE: Boise State Football Accuses Oregon Ducks of Tampering

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