Improvements made to a troublesome Parsons street pays off during heavy rains.

 During Thursday's heavy rains the Corning underpass in Parsons remained open. The low point in the road has been subject to flooding and closure in the past, but thanks to two new pumps that were installed recently, city crews were not forced to close the route. The pumps were paid for through ARPA funds received by the city in 2022 and were installed by LaForge and Budd.

This was one of the last projects completed by the long-time construction company before its recent closing. According to the city , the improvements have made Corning a much safer route for drivers during heavy rains.

 Two juveniles are arrested for an incident involving knives in Chapman, KS.

 On Monday afternoon, the Chapman Police Department responded to a call of a fight involving three juveniles at a city park. CPD says a video was made of the incident and has been circulating among students in the Chapman schools.

The third juvenile involved was a 14 year old boy who was the victim. He was unharmed in the incident. CPD says a report has been made to the Dickinson County Attorney's Office for consideration of charges.

 A fifth person is arrested in the kidnapping and murder case of two Kansas women.

 The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has arrested 31 year old Paul Grice on two counts of suspicion of murder in the first degree, two counts of kidnapping, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree in the murders of 27 year old Veronica Butler and 39 year old Jilian Kelley.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Grice admitted during an interview that he was part of the planning, killing, and burial of the two women. It also states that he was a part of a separate attempt of Butler's life in February.

Grice's first court appearance is scheduled for May 1^st.

 The Coffeyville Police Department is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration for the 2024 National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

 Coffeyville Are Chamber President Candi Westbrook says this Saturday is the day to get rid of your old medicines.

On the last Take Back Day in October, law enforcement agencies nationwide collected more than 300 tons of unwanted medications. Other area agencies with drop off sites this Saturday include the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in Independence and the Cherryvale Police Department. To find a drop off location near you, go to

DEATakeBack.com

 Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signs into law a bill that would require Oklahoma students to learn how to write in cursive.

 On Tuesday, the governor signed the bill which requires instruction in cursive handwriting for students in third through fifth grade.

The bill's author – Tulsa Democrat Kevin Matthews – called cursive an important skill that will help students in many ways. He said that learning cursive handwriting is proven to improve students’ neural and motor function, as well as their grammar, handwriting, and spelling. It can also assist them with reading historical documents.

Twenty-three other states, including Arkansas and Texas, also require cursive handwriting.

 It's a first for this legislative session, as the Oklahoma State Senate has voted to override Governor Kevin Stitt's veto on the Oklahoma Survivors Act. 

 Sen. Bill Coleman of Ponca City made the announcement. 

The law allows domestic violence victims found guilty of a crime to enter evidence of abuse at sentencing to get a shorter sentence. It would also allow for resentencing for domestic violence survivors whose victimization played a significant factor in their defense. In his veto, Governor Stitt stated that he is committed to justice reform but called this bill “bad policy.”

 Governor Laura Kelly tours a southeast Kansas educational facility.

 Governor Kelly was in Pittsburg Wednesday to tour the John Parolo Education Center located on the campus of the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas. Kelly discussed with the health center's leadership team how Medicaid expansion could help address the state's shortage of healthcare workers.

Kelly says the expansion could help end the shortage by offering better benefits to those in the medical field.

Legislators from Crawford County and the surrounding areas also attended the tour.

Severe storm chances will increase through Saturday for the four states.

Strong to severe storms are possible this morning mainly for locations along and east of I-135 this morning through afternoon. The main concerns today will be hail up to quarter-sized, and isolated damaging wind gusts. A second round of strong to severe storms is possible tonight through tomorrow Morning, with the main impacts centered in western Kansas and Oklahoma.

A conditional risk of isolated severe storms exists tomorrow afternoon along and east of the Flint Hills. The best chance for severe weather for the four-state area will be Saturday, with very large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes possible, mainly for eastern Kansas and most of Oklahoma. Stay tuned for additional forecasts and count on KGGF for severe weather coverage if needed.

Graphic: Thursday's severe weather threat

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoes the latest bipartisan tax bills and proposes an alternative plan for the legislature to consider.

She says her plan will accelerate the complete elimination of food sales tax to July 1^st. Her plan will keep the current three tax brackets in place but lowers rates while increasing the standard deduction, personal exemption and child care tax credit for dependent care expenses. The plan immediately eliminates state taxes on all Social Security income. Governor Kelly says her plan would also cut property taxes for Kansans by exempting the first $125,000 of all homes from the statewide property tax levy.

She says she is committed to meaningful tax relief across the board, but they must cut taxes in a responsible way. Governor Kelly says her reasoning for the veto was it was too expensive so she is asking the legislature to pass this plan, which will continue the progress they've made for the state, without breaking the bank.

Snakes are emerging from their winter hibernation period. In their search for food and habitat, they could potentially end up in unwelcoming places.

K-State Wildlife Specialist Drew Ricketts says there are benefits to having snakes around.  Ricketts says it's important to be able to identify the different types of snakes.

Ricketts says if a home has a snake problem glue traps can be bought to help in the removal of snakes, but make sure they are the large glue traps or say for snakes on them. He says for those trying to catch a snake make sure to pin it down at the back of the head and then hold it behind the head.

 The Independence City Commission will meet Thursday night for their regularly scheduled meeting.

 One of the items on the agenda will be the approval of a change order for the Central Park Sports Complex. City Manager Kelly Passauer says construction on the project is coming along nicely.

Other items up for discussion this week include a declaration of Public Service Recognition Week and a street closure for an event at the public library on May 31^st. The Independence City Commission meets on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of each month at 5:30pm at City Hall. The public is invited to attend or to view the meeting remotely via the city website. Click on the camera icon for the meeting you wish to view.

 State Senator Virgil Peck announces that he will seek reelection.

 Peck says he will seek a second term in the Kansas Senate because there are still issues he wants to work on for the good of Kansas citizens. He says his prmamry issues include tax policy and protecting Kansans from an increasingly expensive and intrusive state government. The Havana Republican says voters from southeast Kansas want legislators who will protect conservative family values.

Peck has served as Vice-Chair of the Committee on Insurance and Vice Chair of the Assessment and Taxation Committee. He also serves on the Commerce Committee, Joint Committee on Kansas Security and as chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

Peck represents State Senate District 15 which covers Montgomery, Labette, Neosho, Chautauqua, and Elk counties.

 Students in Caney will be wearing hats to class next week for a good cause.

 Students in USD 436 will be wearing hats to school next week to benefit injured Montgomery County Sheriff's Deputy Justin Ward. Ward was seriously injured in a line-of-duty traffic accident on April 7^th and area communities have rallied to help the deputy and his young family. Next week, students at Caney Jr/Sr high can wear a hat to class for $3 for one day or $10 for the whole week. Lincoln School students can wear hats on Friday, May 3^rd, for $1. Donations will be collected in the main office.

 The U.S. Figure Skating Championships are coming to Kansas.

 In January 2025, U.S. Champion figure skaters will be crowned at Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita. Competition will take place in women's, men's, pairs, and ice dance events at both the junior and senior levels.

This is the first time the U.S. Figure Skating Championships will be held in Kansas. Tickets for the event will go on sale on May 16 through Select-A-Seat.

 Authorities in Hutchinson are investigating after a pedestrian is hit by a train.

 Just before 2pm yesterday, Reno County EMS along with the Hutchinson Police and Fire Departments responded to reports of a person being struck by a train while walking near the tracks in the southwest part of the city. Upon arrival, officers found 61 year old Daniel Raya injured beside the tracks. Officers attempted life-saving measures but Raya was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing.

 Governor Laura Kelly signs a bill to reform the Kansas Standard Asset Seizure and Forfeiture Act.

 The bill establishes new guidelines for asset forfeiture, improving due process for property owners, increasing governmental accountability, and not unduly interfering with federal assistance to local law enforcement in asset forfeiture.

For many Kansans whose property has been seized, the cost of recovering it is often greater than its value.  The bill also requires additional steps to initiate the civil asset seizure process and requires clear and convincing evidence in order to move forward with seizure.

Multiple rounds of severe storms are possible from early tomorrow morning through Saturday night for the KGGF listening area.

According to the National Weather Service, the most widespread severe weather is expected to occur on Saturday. Tomorrow morning and night, eastern Kansas and Oklahoma will see a marginal risk of severe weather. Better storm chances will be in western Kansas and Oklahoma. On Friday, the threat increases for the four states, with most of the listening area upgraded to the “slight” category of severe weather. If storms develop, large hail and damaging winds are possible, and a tornado can't be ruled out. Saturday will bring the biggest threat of severe weather from the afternoon through the evening, with multiple hazards possible. Stay tuned for later forecasts and count on KGGF to provide severe weather coverage if it's needed.

 The Oklahoma House of Representatives approves legislation restricting online access to pornography for people under the age of 18.

 The bill  holds commercial entities accountable for knowingly distributing obscene material or material promoting child pornography on the internet. It mandates that such entities must compensate individuals for damages and provide mechanisms for subscribers to block access to harmful content. Additionally, entities employing reasonable age verification methods are exempt from liability.

The measure passed the House 79-13 yesterday and now moves to the governor's desk for consideration. If signed , the measure would take effect November 1^st.

 Parsons Police are warning area residents of a Medicare scam circulating in southeast Kansas.

 The Parsons Police Department has received citizen reports of phony Medicare calls in and around the Parsons area. The callers try to obtain social security numbers, Medicare ID numbers and other identifying information from unsuspecting individuals.

PPD reminds residents that Medicare does not call you uninvited and ask you for personal or private information.You will usually get a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a government agency. Remember that calls requesting health insurance information should not be trusted.

Scammers can be very convincing, and they may know a little - or a lot - about you, especially if they have access to some of your personal information already.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is starting a field survey for bridge improvements on U.S. 166 in Labette and Cherokee counties.

The Labette County survey area includes four locations from the Montgomery/Labette county line east to Ness Road. The Cherokee County survey area includes three locations from SW 107th Terrace east to SW 10th Street. Surveyors will gather information necessary for detailed designs of proposed bridge improvements. The survey is based on the existing highway alignment and is expected to be finished by June 1st. Activities include the use of survey instruments on the ground to determine locations of existing features within the corridor. A member of the survey crew will contact property owners or tenants for permission to enter private property.

A new mode of transportation is coming to the City of Coffeyville.

The city commission approved a resolution to authorize a grant to support the Montgomery County Transportation Initiative. SEK-CAP Director of Transportation Scott Christiansen says it's a free service and available to anyone in the county.

Christiansen says they offer a three day a week service or a five day a week service.  Christiansen says they can travel county to county but cannot go to Oklahoma. SEK-CAP will be offering a three day a week service for this area. The City is providing $3,000 of the $9,800 needed.

The City of Independence has a unique way to improve things around town. City Manager Kelly Passauer says the system is called See, Click, Fix.

Passauer says whether using the app or going online there a many things that can be chosen to have looked at or worked on.

Passauer says when using the app it can pinpoint the location you're at and drop a pin for city workers to find the exact area needing to be worked on. A link to the website can be found here.

Independence High School receives high honors from U.S. News and World Report.  Independence Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Wilson says IHS is ranked as the 12^th best high school in Kansas.

Wilson says education is always one of the things families are looking at when moving into a new area.  IHS ranks fourth in the state on performance on state assessments and 2,281^st among all high schools in the nation. 

 The Coffeyville Police Department is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration for its 2024 National Prescription Drug Take Back Campaign.

 This Saturday from 10am to 2pm anyone can bring any unwanted, unneeded, or old prescription medications to the Coffeyville Police Department for disposal. This is a free event for communities nationwide and disposal can be done safely and anonymously. The Coffeyville Police Department is located at 1206 West 11^th Street and drop off will be on the east side of the building. Other collection sites include the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 300 East Main in Independence and the Cherryvale Police Department at 116 South Neosho Street in Cherryvale. You can also visit DEATakeBack.com for a site near you.

 The Bartlesville Fire Department responds to a call of a grass fire. 

 Bartleville Fire Chief David Topping says the grass fire got out of control.

Topping said the fire took place outside the city limits of Bartlesville, just outside of Oak Park.