11 years ago
A group of middle school students will get a chance to fly over Wichita this week to mark the conclusion of a mentoring program. The program, called Flying Challenge, culminates Thursday at the National Center for Aviation Training. The agenda that includes flights over Wichita, a robotics lab, a paint lab and a radio controlled airplane ...

11 years ago
A drought-induced water shortage could force Wichita officials to idle the city's $3.5 million WaterWalk Waltzing Waters fountain system and other fountains throughout the city this summer. City Manager Robert Layton says water use across all city operations is under review. The Wichita Eagle reports city officials are preparing a water conservation plan for residential and ...

11 years ago
A Colorado man has died after accidentally being shot with a .22 magnum by a friend who lives in the Wichita suburb of Park City. The Wichita Eagle reports Eloy Portillo-Meza was pronounced dead around 12:30 a.m. Saturday at Wesley Medical Center. He was rushed there in critical condition after the shooting at 9 p.m. Friday. Police ...

11 years ago
A northeast Kansas man is likely facing a $7,000 bill for a 35-mile air ambulance ride after police say he faked injuries that prompted the emergency flight. The Topeka Capital Journal reports the Eskridge man claimed to have been pistol-whipped during a disturbance Friday morning at the Topeka home of his wife's sister. Police say the man ...

11 years ago
A former Kansas volunteer firefighter who is accused of setting more than a dozen fires late last year has hired an attorney and will appear in court next month. The Hutchinson News reports Hutchinson attorney Rick Roberts entered an appearance Friday on behalf of 19-year-old Arlington resident Cody Knox. The former Reno County volunteer firefighter is ...

11 years ago
Legislators are expected to make quick work of remaining education issues when the Kansas Legislature returns May 8 to finish the 2013 session, including a proposal sought by Gov. Sam Brownback to improve elementary reading scores. The plan calls for testing first-graders on their skills and holding them back if they aren't reading at grade level. ...

11 years ago
A Salina police officer who lost an eye last year in a shooting thought his career was over before he learned of many others in his profession who suffered similar wounds but were able to eventually get back to work. The Salina Journal reports Chuck Huen was hurt in a Sept. 27 confrontation with a 19-year-old ...

11 years ago
Lawrence officials say they are considering a proposal for a new type of retirement community in the city. It's called an intergenerational retirement community. Under the proposal, private developers would build a mix of single-family homes, apartments and condominiums for people 62 years and younger. The project would also include a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community. That ...

11 years ago
A new executive director will take over leadership of the Salina Area United Way. According to the organization, Amanda Michaelis will be the new person in charge. Michaelis earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Kansas and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Healthcare Administration from the University of Missouri. For the ...

11 years ago
Miami County authorities have charged two teenagers in connection with an ATV crash that killed a 17-year-old student. Miami County Attorney Elizabeth Sweeney-Reeder said Friday that 18-year-old William Mahaffy Sutherland of Overland Park has been charged with aggravated endangering a child and unlawfully hosting minors consuming alcohol. Sweeney-Reeder says another person who was 17 at the ...

11 years ago
Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is close to winning legislative approval for new power for his office to investigate and prosecute election fraud cases. Kobach said Friday he's optimistic lawmakers will approve the bill when they reconvene next week to wrap up their business for the year. The House and Senate have approved different versions of ...