Great Plains Energy announced Tuesday it plans to acquire Westar Energy.

Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP), the parent company of KCP&L, and Westar Energy, Inc. (NYSE: WR), Tuesday announced a definitive agreement for Great Plains Energy to acquire Westar in a combined cash and stock transaction with an enterprise value of approximately $12.2 billion, including total equity value of approximately $8.6 billion. Upon closing, Westar will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Plains Energy.

Once the transaction is complete, Great Plains Energy will have more than 1.5 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, nearly 13,000 megawatts of generation capacity, almost 10,000 miles of transmission lines and over 51,000 miles of distribution lines. In addition, more than 45 percent of the combined utility’s retail customer demand can be met with emission-free energy.

“Westar and KCP&L are trusted neighbors and have worked together for generations in Kansas. The combination of our two companies is the best fit for meeting our region’s energy needs,” said Terry Bassham, chairman and chief executive officer of Great Plains Energy and KCP&L. “This is an important transaction for Kansas and our entire region. By combining our two companies, we are keeping ownership local and management responsive to regulators, customers and regional needs, while enhancing our ability to build long-term value for shareholders.”

CAMERON, Mo. – One lane of Interstate 35 in each direction will close this week north of Cameron.

On Tuesday, May 31, local maintenance crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation will close one lane of northbound I-35 between mile marker 54 and mile marker 59 at approximately 7 a.m. for pavement repair. One lane will remain closed in that location around the clock until 7 a.m. on Thursday, June 2.

At approximately 7 a.m. on June 2, crews will close one lane of southbound I-35 between mile marker 56 and mile marker 54 for pavement repair. They plan to reopen the lane at approximately 7 a.m. Friday, June 3.

A 14-foot width restriction will be in place during each lane closure.

For more information about this and other MoDOT projects, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) or view the online Traveler Information Map.

A crash between two ATVs in Albany, Missouri Sunday night left one of the drivers with serious injuries.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Kalen Sidden and Dylan Willis were driving at Birch and Bethany Streets in Albany at 9:10 p.m. Sunday. According to the crash report Willis’es ATV clipped the left rear of Sidden’s and crashed.

Willis was ejected in the crash and suffered serious injuries. He was transported to Northwest Medical Center in Albany.

Investigators say alcohol may have played a role in the crash.

A single-vehicle crash in Daviess County Sunday afternoon sent two people to the hospital with serious injuries.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report says Aaron Balliett of Cameron lost control of his vehicle along Oval Avenue near U.S. Highway 69, four miles west of Altamont, Missouri at 3:50 p.m. Sunday.

The vehicle crossed the highway and hit an embankment. Mr. Balliett,20, and his passenger, identified in the crash report as McKenzie Patti, 21, of Kansas City, Mo., each suffered serious injuries.

Balliett was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital. Ms Patti is being treated at the Truman Medical Center.

Online investigative documents show that alcohol may have played a role in the crash.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is offering a new program to increase public access to private lands by paying landowners.

Landowners can apply June 1 – July 15 for new program that pays them to allow public hunting, fishing, or wildlife viewing on enrolled private lands. Additional incentives are also available to enhance wildlife habitat on enrolled lands. The program will focus mostly on enrolling lands in northern Missouri where public access opportunities are generally more limited.

Approved landowners will be notified in August with enrolled lands becoming open for public use this fall.

Offered lands must meet eligibility requirements such as being at least 40 contiguous acres or at least a one-acre pond for fishing access. Land must also contain minimum amounts of quality wildlife habitat such as native grass fields, crop-field buffers, restored wetlands, or managed woodlands.

Due to grant funding through the USDA Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, the Department plans to enroll up to 10,000 acres statewide with emphasis on north Missouri. Tracts near major urban centers will also be targeted, as well as lands with abundant wildlife habitat.

Applying landowners may select one of six public-access options: All Access Hunting and Fishing, Small Game and Turkey Hunting, Youth Only Hunting and Fishing, Archery Hunting, Fishing Only, or Wildlife Viewing.

MRAP lands are open to foot traffic only and area users self-register at designated property entry points. Parking typically occurs along roadsides. Public access is only for types of use agreed upon by the landowner and posted at entry points. Participating landowners are offered liability protection under Missouri’s Recreational Use Immunity Law.

Annual payment rates will be determined by the access type selected by the landowner, amount of quality habitat available, committed participation length, and other factors. Most landowners will likely earn $15-$25 per acre each year they participate. Payment rates for fishing-only access will be on an adjusted scale and will be based largely on impoundment size or stream length.

For more information and an MRAP application, CLICK HERE.

SHAWNEE COUNTY- One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. on Saturday in Shawnee County

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Ford Mustang driven by Jessica L. Alsbury, St. Joseph, MO., was westbound on U.S. 24 two miles east of St. Marys.

The vehicle left the roadway to the right and overturned in a residential driveway.

Alsbury was transported to Stormont Vail. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

A rear-end collision early Saturday morning on I-29 near Kansas City International Airport killed one man and sent another to jail.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Michael Sear of Kansas City, Kansas was driving northbound on I-29 near Mexico City Avenue when his vehicle was hit from behind by an SUV. Both vehicles left the highway and crashed into the median cable barrier.

Mr Sear was transported to North Kansas City Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The other driver was taken into custody by the patrol on possible charges of DWI and Careless & Imprudent Driving. The online crash and arrest reports identify him as 24-year-old Nicholas Sanders of Platte City, Missouri.

A Kansas City man was hospitalized after a crash of an ATV east of Maysville in Dekalb County Saturday night.

A crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol says Timothy Walsh tried to turn left off of SE Patton Road onto a private drive at 11:10 p.m. Saturday. The SUV overturned.

Mr Walsh, 53, of Kansas City, Missouri, was transported to Cameron Regional Medical Center for treatment of moderate injuries.