KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Authorities say two workers have been hurt at a Kansas City water treatment facility.
The workers at KC Water’s Water Treatment Plant were rushed to a hospital Sunday morning after coming into contact with slurry of lime, which is used to soften the water. A KC Water official says the workers suffered chemical burns.
One employee was released from the hospital a short time later, while the second employee will remain hospitalized for a few days.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A nail salon worker accused of starting a fire that killed two Kansas City firefighters is going on trial.
The case against 46-year-old Thu Hong Nguyen will be heard Monday by a judge, not a jury. She is charged with arson, second-degree murder and causing a catastrophe in the October 2015 fire that killed 43-year-old Larry Leggio and 39-year-old John Mesh.
They were trying to quell flames in an area that had been deemed unsafe when a brick wall fell on them. The wall collapse seriously injured two other firefighters. Fire officials subsequently changed safety procedures.
The blaze started in the storeroom of a nail salon that Nguyen was the last person seen leaving. She has pleaded not guilty.
Warm and muggy conditions will continue into the week. Temperatures will be slightly cooler mid-week with increasing cloud cover, and multiple chances for showers and thunderstorms, but overall conditions will be pretty normal for this time of year. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. North wind 3 to 8 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northeast wind around 7 mph.
Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East southeast wind around 6 mph.
Tuesday Night: A chance of showers after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wednesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Southeast wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 88.
SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for burglary.
Just before 1a.m. Sunday, police responded to report of a robbery at an apartment in the 1200 Block of Western in Topeka, according to Lt. Kelvin Johnson.
A suspect had entered the victim’s unlocked apartment door armed with a machete, according to police. The suspect took several items and fled on foot.
Additional responding officers found a man matching the suspect’s description. Police recovered items taken from the victim and found the machete. Police booked 27-year-old Darren Daniel into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery and Aggravated Burglary, according to Johnson.
Daniel has previous convictions for robbery, burglary and theft, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. — A Missouri man died in an accident just before 1p.m. Sunday in Johnson County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Chevy Silverado driven by Abrahm C. Jansen Van Rensburg, 51, Drexel, Mo., was northbound on Interstate 35, one mile north of 135th Street.
The truck left the road way. The vehicle then went to the right and collided into a bridge pillar.
Jansen Van Rensburg was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to First Call. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Latest on the shooting of three Kansas City police officers (all times local):
11 p.m.
Authorities say a gunman being investigated in the killing of a university student from India shot and wounded three Kansas City police officers Sunday before dying in an exchange of gunfire with police.
The three officers’ wounds were not life-threatening. Police said the suspect, whose name has not been released, had been identified as a person of interest in the slaying of Sharath Koppu and officers had him under surveillance.
The 25-year-old Koppu was a master’s degree student from India who was studying at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Koppu was shot on July 6 during an armed robbery at a fast food restaurant in Kansas City where he worked.
Jagdeesh Subramanian, president of the India Association of Kansas City, said the group is grateful to police for pursuing Koppu’s shooting diligently and that “there is some closure” with the person of interest’s death.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police shot and killed a man Sunday suspected of shooting and wounding three Kansas City police officers, authorities said.
The suspect died Sunday afternoon after barricading himself in a house in the southeast part of the city. He emerged from the home and was killed in an exchange of gunfire, police Chief Rick Smith told reporters.
All three officers are expected to live.
Police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said the first two officers were shot during an undercover operation at a motel less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from Kauffman Stadium, where the Kansas City Royals baseball team plays. The suspect then fled in a vehicle with another person, who was arrested when officers found the vehicle.
The suspect barricaded himself inside of a home about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from the motel. He shot the third officer in the arm during the standoff, Smith said.
The suspect was a person of interest in the fatal shooting of a University of Missouri-Kansas City student during a robbery earlier this month.
“We’ve been looking for him all week,” Smith said. “This is the first time we laid eyes on him.”
————–
3 p.m.
Authorities say a suspect in the shooting of two Kansas City police officers shot a third officer who was searching for him and had been barricaded inside of a house.
The third officer struck by gunfire is in stable condition at this time.
At approximately 1:15p the armed suspect exited a residence and once again exchanged gunfire with officers. He was shot and taken into custody. He was declared deceased by KCFD at that time.— Kansas City Police (@kcpolice) July 15, 2018
The initial investigation centered on a person of interest in the robbery and murder of Sharath Koppu at 5412 Prospect https://t.co/mEEWVYbNYP
— Kansas City Police (@kcpolice) July 15, 2018
———
KANSAS CITY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting that injured three officers in Kansas City.
Police were searching for a suspect near 40 Highway and Manchester in Kansas City, according to a social media report from police.
Approximately 12:15pm undercover and tactical officers were conducting an ongoing investigation at 8300 E 40 hwy. They encountered a suspect who fired on officers with a rifle. Two officers were struck and are at the hospital in stable condition.
— Kansas City Police (@kcpolice) July 15, 2018
An additional (3rd officer) was struck by gunfire and was taken to the hospital. That officer’s condition is unknown at this time. The standoff continues at this time. More information as it becomes available
— Kansas City Police (@kcpolice) July 15, 2018
Officers with assault rifles blocked off the area around where the shooting happened Sunday afternoon.
Worshippers at the United Believers Community Church were urged to leave the area as soon as possible.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region planned for the week of July 16 – 22 from the Missouri Department of Transportation.
In addition to the work listed below, there may be pothole patching, mowing, shoulder work, bridge maintenance, striping, brush cutting, guardrail repairs, litter pick up and other road work conducted throughout the region. Many of these will be moving operations and could include lane closures with delays. All scheduled maintenance and construction projects are subject to change.
MoDOT reminds the public to stay alert, watch for road work, buckle up, slow down, and drive with extreme caution through work zones and in changing weather conditions.
For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (888-275-6636) or visit modot.org/northwest. You can also follow MoDOT’s Northwest Missouri District on Twitter @ModotNorthwest and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/
Andrew County
Interstate 29 – Bridge deck replacement project at the Nodaway River Bridge. Traffic is head-to-head in the northbound lanes. This traffic pattern will be in place through August and includes a 13-foot width restriction.
U.S. Route 71 – Guardrail, rumble strips and striping from Route 48 to Route A (Nodaway County), July 16 – 20
Route D – CLOSED for a culvert replacement south of County Road 339, July 18, 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Atchison County
Route CC – Pothole patching, July 16 – 17
U.S. Route 275 – Resurfacing project from the Iowa state line to U.S. Route 136, July 16 – 20
Route B – Pothole patching from U.S. Route 59 to Route F, July 18 – 19
Route F – Pothole patching, July 20
Buchanan County
U.S. Route 169 – Pedestrian crossing improvement projects at Route AC and Pickett Road intersection, Commons Road (near Menards and Bucky’s) and South Belt Wal-Mart, July 16 – 20
Cook Road – CLOSED for bridge maintenance at the I-29 overpass:
Caldwell County
Route B – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from NE Ridgeway Drive to NE Jefferson Drive, July 16, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance at Long Branch Bridge, July 16 – 19
Route B – Pothole patching from Nettleton Road to Route U, July 17 – 20
Chariton County
Route E – Bridge maintenance at the West Yellow Creek Bridge, July 17
Route E – Bridge maintenance at the East Yellow Creek Bridge, July 18
Route J – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Jordon Road to King Hill Road, July 19, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Route CC – Bridge maintenance at the Turkey Creek Bridge, July 19
Route KK – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Bill Bass Avenue to Route WW, July 20, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Clinton County
Route 116 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the McGuire Creek Bridge. The road will be closed through July. A signed detour is in place.
Route C – Resurfacing and shoulder project from Route 116 to Route CC, July 16 – 20. A pilot car and flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone.
Daviess County
Route 13 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Honey Creek Bridge. The road will be closed through September. A signed detour is in place.
DeKalb County
U.S. Route 36 – Resurfacing project from Grindstone Creek to just east of U.S. Route 69, July 16 – 21. Below is the planned scheduled of milling, resurfacing, and ramp closures:
Gentry County
Route V – CLOSED for a chip seal project from Route H to Route AA, July 16 – 17, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Route V – CLOSED for a chip seal project from Route AA to U.S. Route 169, July 17 – 18, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Grundy County
Route C – CLOSED for bridge maintenance on the West Muddy Creek Bridge from NW 25th Avenue to NW 12th Street, July 16, 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Route C – Bridge maintenance at the Weldon Fork Grand River Bridge, July 17 – 18
Route B – Bridge maintenance at the Muddy Creek Bridge, July 19 – 20
Harrison County
Route AA/H – CLOSED for a bridge deck replacement at the I-35 overpass. The bridge will be closed through July. One lane of I-35 may be closed in each direction during the project.
I-35 – Pavement repair at the northbound 103 mile marker and southbound 101 mile marker, July 16
U.S. Route 136 – Pavement repair three miles west of Bethany, July 16
U.S. Route 69 – Pavement repair four miles south of U.S. Route 136, July 16
I-35 – Resurfacing project from the Iowa state line to Route N at Eagleville, July 16 – 21. This includes a 16-foot width restriction and will include overnight lane closures.
Route U – CLOSED for a culvert replacement just north of Route 46, July 19, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Route U – CLOSED for a culvert replacement just north of County Road W 110thStreet, July 20, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Holt County
I-29 – Bridge deck replacement at the Nodaway River Bridge. Traffic is head-to-head in the northbound lanes. This traffic pattern will be in place through August and includes a 13-foot width restriction.
Route A – Pothole patching from Route 113 to U.S. Route 71 (Nodaway County), July 16 – 20
Linn County
Route C – CLOSED for bridge maintenance at the Long Branch Bridge between Route KK and Hawk Drive, July 16, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
U.S. Route 36 – Pavement repair eastbound from Route 139 to U.S. Route 65 (Livingston County), July 18 – 19
Livingston County
U.S. Route 36 – Pavement repair westbound from U.S. Route 65 to Route C, July 16 – 17
U.S. Route 36 – Pavement repair eastbound from U.S. Route 65 to Route 139 (Linn County), July 18 – 19
Mercer County
U.S. Route 65 – Sealing project from the north city limits of Chillicothe to the Iowa state line, July 16 – 21. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.
Nodaway County
Route AE – CLOSED for a chip seal project from Route M to Pebble Road, July 16, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
U.S. Route 71 – Guardrail, rumble strips and striping from Route A to just north of Route 48 (Andrew County), July 16 – 20
Route A – Pothole patching from U.S. Route 71 to Route 113 (Holt County), July 16 – 20
Route UU – Driveway culvert replacements, July 16 – 20
Route O – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Pebble Road to Nodaway Gentry Road, July 19, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Putnam County
U.S. Route 136 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the West Locust Creek Bridge. The road will be closed through September. A signed detour is in place.
U.S. Route 136 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Elm Branch Bridge. The road will be closed through September. A signed detour is in place.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The amount of water being released into the lower Missouri River will likely remain above normal throughout the summer and fall to reduce the amount of water held in reservoirs along the river.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increased the amount of water being released from Gavins Point Dam on the Nebraska-South Dakota border in late June because more spring rain and more snow fell in the mountains.
Officials expect the amount of water in the Missouri River this year will be 157 percent of normal.
The releases are expected to remain near 60,000 cubic feet per second through the summer, but they may be adjusted in response to downstream flood concerns.
Roughly 25 percent of the flood storage space in the river’s reservoirs remains available.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Even before the specter of a trade war with China and other countries threatened to cost them billions of dollars, American farmers were feeling the squeeze from fluctuating crop prices and other factors that have halved their overall income in recent years.
The threat of counter-tariffs on U.S. farm goods and the impact of President Donald Trump’s other policies on immigration and biofuels, though, have some farmers more worried than ever about their ability to continue eking out an existence in agriculture.
“No matter where you look in ag right now, you see storm clouds on the horizon and some of those are a lot closer overhead than we’d care for,” said Chad Hart, an agricultural economist with Iowa State University.
Trump’s tariff threats earlier this year against China, Mexico, Canada and European Union elicited quick retaliatory measures that depressed the prices of certain U.S. agricultural products, including corn, soybeans, pork. When $34 billion worth of tariffs against China took effect July 6 and China responded with tariffs of its own, U.S. farmers were already feeling the squeeze from lower crop prices, higher land prices and other factors.
The Department of Agriculture predicted before the threat of tariffs and counter-tariffs that U.S. farm income would drop this year to $60 billion, or half the $120 billion of five years ago. That projection is likely high, given what’s transpired since.
Don Bloss, who grows corn, soybeans, sorghum and wheat on his farm in the southeastern Nebraska community of Pawnee City, said he’s already seen a few neighbors quit farming as they struggled to make a profit even before the tariff battle began this year.
“They aren’t making money. One has said the banker is giving up on them,” said Bloss.
John Weber, who raises pigs and grows corn and soybeans with his son about 100 miles northeast of Des Moines, near Dysart, said many farmers’ budgets were already tight going into this growing season and the impact of tariffs has made it worse.
“Some were given the go-ahead for another year, but boy, you start looking at these lower prices and the extra costs that are out there now it gets tough. It just doesn’t work,” he said.
Per-bushel soybean prices have fallen 19 percent since early May to a 10-year low and corn is down more than 15 percent. At current prices, most farmers lose money on corn, soybeans and pigs.
U.S. pork producers stand to lose more than $2 billion per year because of plunging hog futures prices, the result of the Chinese retaliatory tariffs, according to Iowa State University economists’ projections.
“That means less income for pork producers and, ultimately, some of them going out of business,” said Jim Heimerl, a pig farmer from Johnstown, Ohio, and president of the National Pork Producers Council, an industry trade group.
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has promised that Trump will restore farmer profitability but he hasn’t specified how and some economists are skeptical that the administration can come up with the billions of dollars necessary to cover losses.
“If this continues and the USDA does not discover a way to helicopter in and drop buckets of cash into the corn belt this fall, then I would not be surprised if there are tractor parades going to DC at some point in the next year,” said Scott Irwin, University of Illinois agricultural economist.
There’s no sign of a quick resolution to the trade dispute. The U.S. and China have threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs next week on $16 billion of each other’s goods. And on Tuesday, Trump announced plans to impose 10 percent tariffs on an additional $200 billion in Chinese imports by the end of August. China said it would retaliate, leaving even more U.S. farm products at risk.
Meanwhile, Trump’s hardline immigration policies have been making it even harder to recruit workers for pork producers, who have historically relied on immigrants for a third of their workforce. The industry had been planning a rapid expansion due to growing export demand from China and Mexico, but the trade dispute and raids spring immigration raids on a Tennessee meatpacking plant and an Iowa concrete plant have worried pork producers.
“Skilled and unskilled foreign workers have been crucial to maintaining and growing the workforce and revitalizing rural communities across the United States. We need more of them, not less,” Heimerl said.
The Trump administration’s willingness to issue waivers exempting petroleum refineries from having to blend ethanol into their fuels has led to an estimated 250 million bushels of corn going unused, which contributed to lower corn prices.
“There’s potential here for this to turn into the worst farm financial crisis since the 1980s,” Irwin said.
BROWN COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just after 3a.m. Sunday in Brown County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer driven by Chenenia Delores Johnson, 30, Horton, was eastbound on 130th Street seven miles north and two miles east of Netawaka.
The vehicle left the roadway to the right on the south embankment and collided head-on with a tree in the driveway at 731 130th Street.
Johnson was transported to a hospital in Topeka. A passenger Sheridan, Diaz Vincent Sheridan, 30, Tama, IA., was transported to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.
They were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.
