(AP) — A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper was injured this morning after his patrol car was hit by a semi truck.
The crash happened on U.S. Highway 24 near Menoken Road in Topeka.
According to WIBW-TV, the trooper was monitoring traffic in a construction area when a semi came over the hill and hit his car.
The trooper was taken to an area hospital for treatment. His current condition is unknown.
Highway 24 is currently closed.
(Photos courtesy Eric Ives/WIBW-TV)
(AP) – A fire destroyed a wood product plant in southwest Missouri but 50 employees were able to escape without injury.
The fire at Industrial Wood Products in Ozark started about 2 p.m. Wednesday and several fire departments fought the blaze for several hours. Two buildings at the site on U.S. 65 were destroyed.
Firefighters were hindered by strong winds and a lack of water at the site. Ozark Fire Chief Darren White says firefighters kept the flames away from homes and apartments south of the business.
Industrial Wood Products makes pallets and crates.
John Swenby, the company’s managing partner, said employees would work to serve its customers on Thursday.
(AP) 
Aviation Technical Services says it plans to open its aircraft maintenance plant at Kansas City International Airport by April.
ATS officials say they expect to finalize the lease for the plant by Feb. 1. The Kansas City Council has approved a seven-year, $7 million lease with two, 10-year renewal options for the plant.
The KCI operation will provide services for wide-body and narrow-body commercial and military transport jet aircraft.
(AP) — Kansas City animal control workers seized 24 dogs, most of them pit bulls, from two homes in the same neighborhood.
Narcotics officers serving an arrest warrant at one home Wednesday found 18 pit bulls and a mixed-breed dog in makeshift kennels behind the home. They took another dog from inside the home and four more pit bulls from a home across the street.
The dogs appeared to be in good health, expect for one dog being kept indoors.
An animal control supervisor says the home apparently was being used to breed and train the dogs.
Animal control officers said they will cite the owner of the 20 dogs for having 16 more than allowed and for not having them spayed or neutered.
Former sex crimes prosecutor and U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today applauded thecreation of the White House Task Force on Protecting Students from Sexual Assault, a new initiative from the White House Council on Women and Girls that aims to make college campuses safer for America’s students.
“Our fight to curb the unacceptable rate of sexual assault in the military has garnered a lot of the media spotlight this past year, but this kind of crime isn’t exclusive to our Armed Forces,” McCaskill said. “Sexual assault is far too common across America-particularly among our students and young people, where one in five women is estimated to have been raped. The formation of this task force is a good step, and I hope it will draw on the historic reforms enacted in last year’s defense bill-which are already being implemented in the military to protect and empower victims, boost prosecutions of predators and hold military commanders accountable-and that are transforming our military justice system into one of the most victim-friendly systems in the world.”
The new task force will provide best practices to schools in methods to prevent sexual assault, improve transparency of the federal government’s enforcement activities, and work with federal agencies to hold schools accountable for the prevention of sexual assault.
McCaskill was a vocal supporter of the renewal of the Violence Against Women Act, and as a senior member of the Armed Services Committee has led the fight to combat sexual assault in the military-successfully helping to shape a host of historic reforms, including:
(AP) – Kansas City police say an 88-year-old man with dementia was tricked into buying a 19-year-old man shoes and hats.
Police say the elderly man was in a car waiting for his wife to shop when the younger man, Brian Redmond, got into the car. Redmond allegedly convinced the victim that they knew each other and persuaded him to take him shopping.
The victim drove to several stores and spent about $130 on Redmond. He allegedly tried to spend more but his credit card was declined. The victim also drove Redmond to meet with several people.
Police found the man after the victim’s wife reported him missing.
Redmond with cited for general ordinance violations of stealing and possession of marijuana.
The Center for Multicultural Education and the Division of Student Affairs at Missouri Western State University presented the Drum Major for Justice Awards, honoring the legacy and selfless leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to three individuals. The award is presented annually to a Missouri Western employee, Missouri Western student and member of the St. Joseph community who are committed to social justice, multicultural education, service and, in the case of students, academic excellence.
The 2014 Drum Major for Justice Award recipients are:
Student: April Buntin, of Clarksdale, Mo., nominated by Dr. Ana Bausset-Page, assistant professor of Spanish. Buntin was honored for her work as president of the Spanish Club in helping organize many activities designed to create cultural awareness, including a Day of the Dead commemoration. “Her dedication and hard work with the Spanish Club has contributed to establish understanding and appreciation of other cultures,” according to the nomination.
Employee: Dr. Geri Dickey, assistant professor of social work, nominated by Pam Clary, instructor of social work. “She eats, breathes and lives for social justice,” according to the nomination. “She (helps) students gain a better understanding of their own biases and helps them acknowledge their own privilege. She then uses this change to help them learn how they can work to break down barriers within their own lives, school and/or community.”
St. Joseph community member: Pastor Maurice Martin, Harvest Church North. After nine years of active military service, Martin entered the financial services industry and the ministry. He served as associate minister at Harvest Church International Outreach in Kansas City for years, and he and his wife Jean recently started a branch of that church in St. Joseph.
The name of four-year-old Cassandra Robertson is on the Missouri Highway Patrol missing juvenile page today.
Authorities say Robertson may need medical treatment. She is reportedly with her mother who allegedly has her own medical and substance abuse issues. The pair may be headed to a western state.
The child is described as 2’ 6” tall, 40 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes and she was last seen wearing a gray zipped shirt with a Hello Kitty logo.
Her mother is 5’ 6”, 145 pounds, brown hair and green eyes. She was wearing a black shirt and blue jeans.
They were driving a silver 2006 Nissan Quest, Missouri tag FG2D5J. If you see them contact police.
A Saint Joseph woman celebrates her 110th birthday Saturday. Helen Tramp Woods was born in Saint Joseph and is a lifelong resident. She went to Benton for 12 years, starting in first grade. She graduated in 1922 and worked as a livestock commission bookkeeper for 50 years.
She reached the century mark ten years ago and has been honored several times since, including proclamations from the mayor and the governor. She says, “Years go by, and they go by fast.”
Helen Woods enjoys receiving cards from family and well-wishers. Cards may be sent to her at Saxton Health Care Inn, Room 507, 3002 N. 18th St, St. Joseph, MO 64505.
Authorities are looking for a driver involved in a Wednesday night rollover crash in Platte County.
According to the Missouri Highway Patrol a 2005 Hyundai was traveling north on 635, south of I-29 about 10:30 p.m.
The vehicle travelled off the left side of the road and overturned. The driver fled the scene. A passenger in the vehicle 29 year old Shannon P. Miller of Leavenworth was transported to North Kansas City Hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt.
