Kansas
Was the Old Farmer’s Almanac correct about winter in Kansas?
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Kansas has seen low temperatures, heavy snowfall, icy streets, school and government closures, and more this winter.
In September, we reported that the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicted a warmer than normal winter throughout the area, “with the coldest months occurring during late January and early and late February for Kansas and the Heartland region.”
So, is it safe to say the Old Farmer’s Almanac warned Kansans of the extreme winter?
How does The Old Farmer’s Almanac make its weather predictions?
Since its first edition in 1792, the Old Farmer’s Almanac compares “solar patterns and historical weather conditions with current solar activity” to make long-term predictions. It’s taken into account “a weak La Nina phase of the ENSO (El Nino/Southern Oscillation), USA Today reported.
“Like all forecasters, we have not yet gained sufficient insight into the mysteries of the universe to predict the weather with total accuracy, though our results are often very close to our traditional claim of 80%,” it says.
Was the Old Farmer’s Almanac accurate about winter in Kansas?
It depends on your point of view whether the almanac is always accurate.
But weather forecasters typically pooh-pooh the almanac’s predictions. A University of Illinois study from 2010, cited by Popular Mechanics in an October 2022 story, found the Old Farmer’s Almanac only about 52% accurate over the years, “which is essentially random chance,” USA Today reported.
This winter, the Old Farmer’s Almanac forecast, in general predicted, “a temperate uneventful winter,” — that’s something Kansan’s might not agree with.
But, the U.S. was hit in January with a major winter storm followed by an Arctic blast of below-average temperatures across the country. Then, a “once-in-a-generation weather event” hit the South and set snowfall records from Texas to Florida.
Topeka is seeing above-average snowfall this cold weather season, as the National Weather Service records showed the 4 inches of snow that fell in late February. That most current snowfall brought the city’s total for the year to 24.6 inches.
The capital city seen its third snowiest day on record in early January with 14 inches of snow. Even higher snowfall, totaling as much as 18 inches, recorded in parts of Pottawatomie, Nemaha, Marshall, Riley and Brown counties.
The Farmer’s Almanac winter predictions for Kansas and the Heartland region included snowfall and precipitation would be below average. With the most snow falling when temperatures are coldest in “late January as well as early and late February.”
Though Kansas did see snowfall through those periods, snow first arrived in early January, despite the almanac’s “late January” prediction. Kansans might also not agree with the Almanac that snowfall was “below average” this season.
Kansas
Kansas officers shot while responding to domestic violence call; Suspect dead
Kansas Highway Patrol Superintendent Erik Smith speaks at a news conference about a domestic violence incident that resulted in multiple casualties, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at the Carbondale City Library in Carbondale, Kan. (Credit: KBI)
CARBONDALE, Kan. – Four law enforcement officers were shot on Saturday morning while responding to a call at a home in a rural area south of Topeka, Kansas.
Dig deeper:
The shooting was around 10:30 a.m. Three Osage County sheriff’s deputies and one Kansas Highway Patrol trooper were shot, Kansas Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Melissa Underwood said.
A male suspect died from gunshot wounds, leaders from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and state Highway Patrol said. One other male was injured and taken to a hospital and is in stable condition, officials said.
Deputies and troopers were responding to a domestic violence incident north of Carbondale. They were on scene for several minutes when gunfire erupted, authorities said.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded immediately to the call of the shooting, officials said.
The scene of the shooting is a house off a two-lane road that runs to Topeka. Authorities blocked off the road about six-tenths of a mile south of there.
What they’re saying:
Their conditions are “still very fluid,” Underwood said.
Big picture view:
The area of the shooting is a rural region close to U.S. Highway 75. There is no active threat to the public, Underwood said.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. Information in this story comes from statements by officials with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
Kansas
Power Play Comes Alive in 6-3 Wichita Win at Kansas City | Pro Hockey News
INDEPENDENCE, MO – Wichita began a six-game road trip on Friday night, knocking off Kansas City, 6-3, at Cable Dahmer Arena.
Noah Beck and Declan Smith led the way with three points while Peter Bates added two helpers. Roddy Ross earned his second win of the season, stopping 29 shots.
Smith opened the scoring at 12:39 of the first period. Vanroboys won a battle in the corner to the left of Ian Shane. Houle found Smith in the slot, and he put a one-timer past him for his first of the season to make it 1-0.
In the second, Houle added to the lead just 29 seconds into the frame. Noah Beck danced around Landon McCallum at the blue line, fired a shot on net and Shane made the save. He couldn’t find the rebound, which popped into the crease. Houle pounced on it and made it 2-0.
Just over a minute later, David Cotton cut the lead to one. Jake McLaughlin raced up the ice and peeled back in the corner. McLaughlin fed a pass to Cotton at the right faceoff dot, and he beat Ross for his third of the year to make it 2-1.
Wichita re-gained a two-goal margin at 16:50 with a marker from Spencer Blackwell. Michal Stinil lifted a pass up in the air that got behind the defense. Blackwell beat Luke LaMaster to the puck and unloaded a shot past Shane to make it 3-1.
Kansas City fought back into the contest early in the third. Jackson Jutting took a shot that was initially blocked at the left point. He stayed with the play and fired it through traffic at 1:31 to make it 3-2.
Beck recorded his first of two at 3:32. Wichita won a faceoff to the left of Shane. Beck got to the loose puck in the slot and scored his fourth of the year to make it 4-2.
Jack Randl cut the lead back to one once again on the man advantage at 5:35. Bobo Carpenter let a shot go from the left circle that caught Ross’s leg pad. Randl got to a loose puck and put home a rebound for his fifth of the campaign to make it 4-3.
Wichita was awarded another power play when Hudson Wilson was called for slashing. He broke Smith’s stick in two pieces and gave the Thunder another opportunity. Kyle Crnkovic made a great play to steal the puck in the slot and kept the play alive. Bates fed it back to the blue line and Beck put one past Shane from the high slot for his fifth of the year to make it 5-3.
Smith added an empty netter at 19:25 and Wichita earned a 6-3 victory.
Wichita snapped a three-game road losing skid and evened the season-series with Kansas City at one win apiece.
Beck and Smith each tallied two goals and an assist. Blackwell scored his second of the year. Houle finished with a goal and an assist.
Wichita recorded two power play goals in a game for the first time this season and finished 2-for-6. Kansas City was 1-for-3 with the man advantage.
The two teams play once again tomorrow night at Cable Dahmer Arena to close a three-game series. Opening faceoff is set for 6:05 p.m.
Single game tickets for all games are on sale now. Our next homestand takes place starting on Wednesday, October 29 against the Florida Everblades. Buy tickets by clicking HERE.
Kansas
Kansas drug dealer gets plea deal after caught with meth, fentanyl pills
HARVEY COUNTY —On Wednesday, Harvey County Chief Judge Wilder sentenced 54-year-old Shyla McFrederic of Sedgwick, Kansa for Distribution of Methamphetamine, a severity level 1 drug felony, according to the Harvey County Attorney’s office.
The case originated from McFrederick’s arrest in Sedgwick, Kansas, on April 19, 2024, when she was found in possession of 111 grams of methamphetamine, 22 grams of psilocybin, 94 grams of marijuana, and four fentanyl tablets.
Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines, McFrederick faced a presumptive prison term of 138 to 154 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections. Harvey County Attorney Heather Figger requested that the Court impose a 146-month prison sentence, emphasizing that the State had already exercised leniency by dismissing seven felony and five misdemeanor charges across three separate criminal cases as part of the plea agreement.
County Attorney Figger also urged the Court to consider the devastating impact that the distribution of these substances has on the Harvey County community. Counsel for McFrederick requested a downward departure to probation.
In ruling on the matter, Chief Judge Wilder noted that the case involved “the highest level drug felony that exists and that is only for the methamphetamine you possessed and not the other drugs.”
During sentencing, the Court cited a substance use evaluation completed by McFrederick in September 2025, which indicated that she still was not accepting responsibility for her crimes. The Court also noted that McFrederick’s no contest plea was not an acceptance of responsibility.
After consideration, Chief Judge Wilder granted a durational departure, sentencing McFrederick to 60 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. The Court based this reduced sentence on McFrederick’s decision to waive her preliminary hearing and enter a plea—thereby saving the State the expense of further proceedings—and some limited acceptance of responsibility demonstrated by the actions she had taken to improve herself.
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