Kansas

Soldier, KS couple left without a roof over their heads after severe storms

Published

2 years ago

August 16, 2024

Soldier, KS couple left without a roof over their heads after severe storms

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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Kansas

Kansas man sentenced to 4 years in connection with 13-year-old Linn County boy’s death

Published

2 hours ago

May 29, 2026

Press Room

Kansas man sentenced to 4 years in connection with 13-year-old Linn County boy’s death

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Bates County Circuit Court judge Friday sentenced a Linn County, Kansas, man in connection with the December 2025 death of Airen Andula, 13.

Damon Leonard, 47, was sentenced to four years in prison for abandonment of a corpse, according to court records.

He pleaded guilty to the charge of abandoning a corpse on May 22.

Andula disappeared from his Pleasanton, Kansas, home on Dec. 21, 2025. A day later, law enforcement found the boy’s body in a ravine in Bates County, Missouri. He had died from multiple dog bite injuries.

Police were led to the boy’s body after a phone call from Leonard.

Court documents said Leonard “admitted that he transported the deceased child from Kansas to Missouri and left the body in the bottom of the creek” before he returned home.

KSHB 41 reporter Fernanda Silva spoke with Andula’s family earlier this week — after the guilty plea and ahead of Friday’s sentencing.

His family shared that the guilty plea brought a small sense of justice, but it didn’t do much to ease the pain of their loss.

READ MORE | Family of Airen Andula speaks out ahead of sentencing

“We’re missing our kid every day of our lives,” the boy’s father Charles Andula told Silva.

Leonard received credit for time served of 158 days in his sentence, per court records.

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Kansas

Gas, diesel fuel prices down over past week across nation, Kansas

Published

14 hours ago

May 29, 2026

Press Room

Gas, diesel fuel prices down over past week across nation, Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – It may not seem like a lot of relief, but gas and diesel prices have declined over the past week.

Friday morning’s national average for a gallon of unleaded gas was $4.39, according to the Automobile Association of America.

That’s down three cents from $4.42 on Thursday; down 16 cents from a week ago; but was up 17 cents from $4.22 a month ago and up $.23 from $3.16 a year ago.

Gas and diesel fuel prices are down this week in Kansas and across the nation, according to the American Automobile Association.(KALB)

In Kansas, AAA says, unleaded gas on Friday was averaging $3.96 a gallon — down four cents from $4.00 on Thursday; down 13 cents from $3.96 a week ago; but up 26 cents from $3.70 a month ago; and up $1.07 over $2.89 a year ago.

Diesel fuel also was dropping in price. AAA says Friday’s national average for a gallon of diesel was $5.52 a gallon — down three cents from $5.55 on Thursday; down 12 cents from $5.64 a week a go; but up six cents from $5.46 a month ago and up $1.98 from $3.54 a year ago.

Kansas diesel fuel prices, according to AAA, checked in at an average of $4.98 on Friday. That’s five cents below $5.03 on Thursday; down 16 cents from $5.14 a week ago; but up 24 cents over $4.74 a month ago; and up $1.72 from $3.26 a year ago.

In Topeka, GasBuddy.com on Friday morning showed unleaded gas prices ranging between $3.77 and $4.09 in Topeka, with diesel fuel going for between $4.94 and $5.29 a gallon.

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