KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Power & Light Co. is seeking a 15.8 percent increase for about half of its Missouri customers.

The utility said Thursday that it needs the increased revenue to pay for environmental upgrades at its coal-fired plant in La Cygne, Kansas.

KCP&L officials say the $121 million annual rate increase would cost the average residential customer about $14 more a month.

The company said the federally required installation of scrubbers at the La Cygne plant cost $1.21 billion.

The Kansas City Star reports if the current request is approved, the affected KCP&L customers will be paying more than 50 percent more for power than they did a few years ago.

The rate increase for La Cygne would probably not go into effect until September 2015.

 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific has converted a boxcar into a mobile classroom that it will use to help teach emergency responders about railroads.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad says the boxcar classroom will join its fleet of training equipment it uses with emergency responders.

Union Pacific vice president Bob Grimaila says the classroom will make it possible to expand the number of classes offered each year.

Already, Union Pacific trains about 2,500 local, state and federal emergency responders each year.

The classes give emergency responders a chance to see railroad equipment up close and better prepare for the possibility of a derailment.

 

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Firefighters have rescued a parachutist who became stuck on the wires of a broadcast tower about 125 feet off of the ground and dangled for

about two hours.

First responders were dispatched on Thursday night after the man’s parachute became stuck on the wires connected to the KETC-TV tower in south St. Louis County. Authorities haven’t said where he jumped from.

A firefighter climbed the tower and passed an anchor to the man, who released himself from his parachute and was lowered to the ground.

The man was taken from the scene in an ambulance. His identity hasn’t been released.

PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — Plans for a regional technical education center for southeast Kansas are progressing.

The Pittsburg Education Foundation on Thursday announced it bought a building to house the education center. The building currently houses Fort Scott Community College carpentry, masonry and woodworking courses.

The Joplin Globe reports  the foundation paid $890,000 for the building.

Several schools in southeast Kansas will use the Southeast Kansas Career Technical Education Center of Crawford County for training in such areas as careers as welding, construction, culinary arts, nursing and auto technician training.

A committee will now start working on plans for the building expansion and begin the bid process.

Plans for the center began about two years ago when industries and businesses complained about a lack of well-trained employees in the area.

ARLEY- A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just after 5 p.m. on Thursday in Clay County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Jeep driven by Lisa A. Small, 47, Plattsburg, was traveling northbound on Highway C at Arley Road. The vehicle ran off the right side of the. The driver overcorrected and ended up off the right side of the road and into a tree.

Small was transported to North Kansas City Hospital
The MSHP reported she was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A new program will match 2,000 St. Louis-area youths from low-income families with summer jobs next year.
Gov. Jay Nixon announced the program Thursday while visiting a career center in St. Louis. The program aims to prepare youths to become economically independent as adults.

Funding includes almost $6 million in federal grants.
Youths will earn $8 an hour for up to 30 hours a week.

Other career resources, such as mentorship, will be available to participants.
The program will be led by former state Sen. Maida Coleman, who now heads the Missouri Office of Community Engagement.