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Hot air balloon crashes into power lines, 5 hurt (VIDEO) Caution Extreme Language

Screen Shot 2014-07-21 at 8.49.28 AMCLINTON, Mass. (AP) — A hot air balloon crashed into power lines in a Massachusetts neighborhood, injuring five people on board.

The Federal Aviation Administration tells Boston’s WBZ-TV that the balloon was attempting to land in the residential area in Clinton, Massachusetts when it hit the power lines around 7:40 p.m. Saturday. Five people on board were burned.

Witnesses tell the TV station there was a huge explosion when the balloon hit the power lines. One witness, Bob King, tells the station he was surprised the balloon riders survived. He says he thought “they were gone.”

The FAA says it will investigate the crash.

Task force wants to bring Amtrak back to S.E. Kansas

AmtrakEMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — A group of Emporia residents is exploring the possibility of returning Amtrak to the southheast Kansas city.

The Emporia Amtrak Task Force recently filed for nonprofit status with the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office. It’s trying to raise funds for an impact study to build a train depot to replace one that was destroyed by fire in 1999.

Supporters say Amtrak would improve the city’s economic development efforts and provide transportation for the elderly and international students at Emporia State University. They say it also could bring people into the city to shop or visit.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports members of the task force have been talking to Amtrak and BNSF railroad staff, Emporia State University and community leaders. BSNF owns the tracks on which Amtrak’s Southwest Chief runs.

 

Missouri mom, daughter fatally injured in Nebraska

fatal crashSEWARD, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Missouri woman and her 11-year-old daughter have been fatally injured in a southeast Nebraska accident.

The Seward County Sheriff’s Office says the accident occurred around 6:45 a.m. Friday on Interstate 80. The office says a westbound car veered left across the median, across the eastbound lanes and down an embankment, where it struck the bottom.

The Sheriff’s Office says the driver was flown to a Lincoln hospital but soon died there. She identified as 29-year-old Nell (Renee) Jorgensen. Her daughter, 11-year-old Morgan Smith, was pronounced at the accident scene. They were from Hannibal, Missouri, and had been headed to a family reunion in Wyoming.

Jorgensen’s 4-year-old son also was in the car. He was treated for minor injuries.

Motorcycles and cars block interstate traffic

435 PLATTE CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri State Highway Patrol says more than 40 motorcycles and racing cars held up traffic while performing stunts on Interstate 435 in northwest Missouri.

The patrol says the racers buzzed other drivers and caused a traffic jam on Interstate 435 in Platte County Sunday evening. They blocked three lanes of highway traffic while recording each other performing stunts.

 The Kansas City Star reports the riders were weaving through traffic, racing and performing motorcycle stunts.

Patrol spokesman Collin Stosberg says if the racers are caught, they could face charges of impeding traffic and careless driving.

PAC dollars boost Yoder’s treasury in Kansas 3rd

Congressman Kevin Yoder
Congressman Kevin Yoder

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Contributions from political action committees have helped Republican congressman Kevin Yoder stockpile funds for his re-election campaign in Kansas’ 3rd District.

A finance report filed last week by Yoder’s campaign shows it received $131,000 from PACs from April through June. He also collected more than $110,000 in cash contributions from individuals.

He ended the period with more than $2.2 million in cash.

Yoder’s most active Democratic challenger in the Kansas City-area district is former state Sen. Kelly Kultala. She raised $85,000 during the quarter, ending June with nearly $100,000 in cash.

Kultala’s only PAC contribution was a $250 donation from a committee associated with a payday loan company.

She faces retired Lenexa electrician Reginald Marselus in the Aug. 5 Democratic primary. No report was available for him online.

New minivan makes it easier to yell at kids

Screen Shot 2014-07-21 at 6.20.03 AMTOM KRISHER, AP Auto Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Toyota wants to help you scream at your unruly kids.

The latest version of the company’s Sienna minivan has a feature called “Driver Easy Speak.” It uses a built-in microphone to amplify a parent’s voice through speakers in the back seats. It works only one way, so the kids can’t talk back.

At least not with amplified voices.

The feature is an option on the 2015 Sienna, which is being refreshed with a totally new interior.

Analysts say such features are needed to help make out-of-fashion minivans more appealing to buyers.

Child missing since standoff found safe

Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka police say a 2-year-old girl who had been missing for more than 24 hours has been found safe.

However, police are still looking for the man who took the girl during a domestic disturbance on Saturday in southwest Topeka.

Details of how and where the girl was found Sunday have not been released.

Officers were called to the home Saturday afternoon, where a woman said her boyfriend was inside with their nearly 2-year-old daughter.

After a nearly four-hour standoff, police entered the home and found no one inside.

 

Mo. man hospitalized after Sunday motorcycle accident

BETHANY- A Missouri man was injured in a motorcycle accident on Sunday in Harrison County.

MHP motorcycle accident crashThe Missouri State reported a 2007 Suzuki driven by Marcus M. Hamilton, 26, Kansas City, was southbound on Interstate 35 seven miles south of Bethany. A bag fell from the motorcycle and became lodged in the rear tire. The vehicle began skidding, overturned and skidded off the west side of the highway.

Hamilton was transported to Liberty Hospital

Sunny, hot Monday

A heat advisory is in affect from Noon today until 7PM Tuesday. This is due to high temperatures reaching into the low to mid 90s this afternoon and factoring in Screen Shot 2014-07-21 at 5.41.15 AMthe humidity the heat index will be in the 97 to 105 range. Tuesday, temperatures will further rise into the mid to upper 90s with heat index values ranging from 102 to 107. With the recent cool spell and the fact that we have had very few hot days so far this summer many may not already be acclimated to the heat. As such, extra precautions should be taken to beat the heat in what will be the hottest stretch of the summer thus far!

Today Sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 102. South wind 10 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 75. South wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tuesday A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 104. South southwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday Night A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West southwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. North northeast wind 10 to 13 mph.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 63.

Mo. man injured in Sunday evening truck accident

SPICKARD- A Missouri man was injured in a Sunday evening truck accident in Grundy County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1971 Ford pickup driven by Robert G. Blozvich, 49, Spickard, was southbound on west 60th Avenue four miles west of Spickard. The driver lost control of the vehicle on a gravel road. The truck skidded off the east side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned.

Blozvich was transported to Wright Memorial Hospital. The MSHP reported he was not wearing a seat belt.

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