Field Kindley High School is having a Baccalaureate for graduating seniors for the first time in several decades. Pastor Doug Mund says this is a christian service sponsored by parents and churches.

Mund says this year's keynote speaker will be State Representative Dr. Ron Bryce. Baccalaureate will be at 7:00pm on Sunday in the FKHS auditorium. The event isn't mandatory for seniors but everyone in the community is invited to attend.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issues an executive order offering a $5,000 reward for information in an Augusta homicide case.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Augusta Department of Public Safety have been investigating the murder of 93-year-old Joanne R. Johnson since she was discovered dead in her home on September 3, 2023.  The family of Johnson has offered to match the reward for information, increasing the total reward to $10,000.

Johnson was found by a family member after she was killed in her home, last Labor Day weekend. Authorities believe she was killed between Saturday evening, September 2, 2023 and Sunday evening, September 3, 2023. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME or Augusta Crime Stoppers at 316-775-0055.

 Washington County Emergency Management crews are busy assessing the damage to the city of Bartlesville after last night's tornado.

 SEK Media's Kaleb Potter was in the Bartlesville area early this morning and says there is quite a bit of damage around town.

County Emergency Director Kary Cox says several agencies are pitching in to help including the Salvation Army and Baptist Disaster Relief. The Red Cross has also been asked to help with food delivery to feed those impacted by the storm.

No official numbers have been released in regards to injuries, but Cox says there were a few. He says Bartlesville EMS made at least five transports to the hospital, but that all of the injuries were minor.

As clean up begins, emergency crews ask that anyone not impacted by the tornado to continue to avoid the damaged areas.

 Revenues were over $100-thousand for the month of April for the Caney Grocery.

 During their regular session meeting last night, the Caney City Council tabled a motion to discontinue the act of moving money from the water fund to make up the deficit in the grocery store expenses until the latest ninety day examination period of the store is completed.

 City Administrator Kelley Zellner says April's numbers are encouraging.

 Zellner says the focus continues to be keeping operating expenses as low as possible, while providing goods and services to customers. He says one possible way to lessen expenses is with a change to the deli.

 Other action items during the meeting was the approval of the hiring of Angela Summers as Deputy Clerk / Tresaurer, and the approval of the painting of light poles on 4^th Street. The winning bid was from JT Paint and Design for $8,500.

 Authorities in Barnsdall are still trying to assess the damage from last night's tornado and storms.

 Osage County Emergency Management Director Jerry Roberts says there was extensive damage to the town and confirms one person was fatally injured.

Authorities say there were an additional seven or eight injuries reported as well as one firefighter who was treated for chest pains. Roberts says the most important thing is for onlookers to stay away from the town so that clean up can begin.

The Osage County Commission held an emergency meeting today to begin the process of a disaster declaration.

 Cities and towns across the four state area are cleaning up today after tornadoes and severe thunderstorms roll across the states.

 The City of Joplin suffered storm damage and power outages as the same storm system that hit Barnsdall and Bartlesville moved through southwest Missouri as well. Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez says the most important part of spring storms is preparedness.

Cortez says being ready is important because one of the seasons in this part of the country is storm season.

Oklahoma suffered serious damage near Barnsdall with at least one fatality reported. Bartlesville also suffered damage to buildings and power outages. In Kansas, the city of Howard was left without power and, in the northeastern part of the state areas around Abilene and Manhattan were also hit.

 The City of Miami has two new city council members.

 Dustin Pittman and Kyla Jones were sworn in at last night's city council meeting. Miami City Clerk Melissa Moore did the swearing in.

Pittman will represent Ward 4 and Jones Ward 3. They will replace outgoing council members Dwain sundberg and Brad Williams.

 Crawford County authorities are looking for a suspect in a non-fatal shooting.

 The Crawford County Sheriff's Office is looking for 34 year old Steven M. Taylor, Jr., of Pittsburg in connection to a Sunday shooting. The victim in the case is 34 year old Keith Mitchell, also of Pittsburg. Mitchell was treated for a gun shot in the Emergency Room of Ascension Via Christi hospital around 2am Sunday morning and is expected to survive his injuries.

Police are still looking for the suspect Taylor. Taylor is described as a black male, 5'5” and 180 pounds. He was last seen driving a 2015 blue/gray Jeep Compass with Kansas tags and a missing rear window.

Anyone with information on the crime should contact the Crawford County Sheriff's Office at 620-724-8274

 A two vehicle accident in Neosho County claims the life of an Arkansas man.

 Just after 3pm yesterday, 40 year old Branson Dean of Alma, Arkansas, was traveling southbound on U.S. 169 near Earlton or 8 miles south of Chanute. Dean attempted to pass and struck another vehicle driven by 51 year old Clayton Stafford of Jefferson City, Missouri, head-on. Dean was pronounced dead at the scene while Stafford was taken to KU Medical Center with serious injuries. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

A number of communities are dealing with power outages and damage this morning after last night's storms.

In Howard, more than 500 Evergy customers are without power, and school is canceled for West Elk because of the outages. The Elk County Courthouse is also closed today at least through noon because of the outage. All power to Edna was lost around 11 last night, and this morning, 100 customers remain without power. Labette County Emergency Management Director Charlie Morse says a tree fell on a house in Chetopa with reported injuries, and a barn had its roof blown off just east of Coffeyville at 166 and Douglas Road. Power outages continue in northeast Oklahoma, with scattered outages across Bartlesville, Nowata and Pawhuska.

 Towns in Oklahoma and Missouri hit by last night's storms begin the clean up effort.

 Substantial damage was done from Barnsdall to Bartlesville last night as a large tornado moved through the area. Early reports indicate at least one person in the Barnsdall area has died as a result of the severe weather. Downed power lines in the area have left thousands without power and significant damage to structures and homes has been reported. The Barnsdall high School Field House has been opened to those in need of shelter.

Most of the damage in Bartlesville appears to have occurred around the U.S. 75 and Tuxedo area. Washington County Undersheriff Jon Copeland says people need to avoid the storm-damaged areas.

Authorities in the Joplin area also report damage to structures and loss of power as a tornado was reported there between 9^th and 20^th streets from Rangeline to Duquesne. In Elk County, Kansas, near Howard there are about 500 customers without power after severe weather there last night.

According to the National Weather Service, at least fifteen tornadoes touched down in the central U.S. last night, seven of which were in Oklahoma.

Photos of Damage in Bartlesville (Images by Kaleb Potter)

Severe weather season is here and AAA Kansas wants drivers to be prepared.

Storms can strike quickly, so it's important to know how to stay safe on the road. During heavy rain and hail, reduce speed and pull over if visibility is low. Remember, to turn around, don't drown when encountering floodwaters. For lightning, stay in the car but avoid metal and windows. The biggest danger comes from tornadoes.

In the case of a tornado, abandon the car and seek shelter in a sturdy building. As a last resort, take cover in the vehicle by buckling up, ducking below windows, and protecting the head. AAA Kansas also recommends creating a severe weather emergency kit to keep in the car, including food, water, and a flashlight. Following these tips, drivers can stay safe on the roads.

Montgomery County Sheriff deputies arrest two in connection with an ongoing narcotics investigation.

Deputies on patrol in Independence spotted a black Jeep parked near the Main Street overpass and recognized it as a suspect's in a narcotics investigation. Deputies approached the vehicle and identified Quayland Johnson and Trinity Schlegel. Deputies saw drug paraphernalia in plain view inside the vehicle.

Both were arrested on outstanding warrants and transported to the Department of Corrections. The Jeep was impounded. Following a search warrant, deputies found additional drug paraphernalia and fentanyl pills inside the vehicle. The investigation is ongoing and there are additional charges expected to be filed against Johnson and Schlegel for the items found in the vehicle.

 Representatives from Coffeyville Regional Medical Center thank the Montgomery County Commission for their support on a grant application.

 CRMC told Montgomery County Commissioners at today's (yesterday's) meeting that they had received nearly $1.8 million in grant funding from the state of Kansas. The funds come through the Kansas Rural Hospital Administration Grant Program administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. CRMC asked the commission for support for the grant in February. Director of the CRMC Foundation Amy Taylor says the funding will help with construction on the new Primary Care Clinic.

CRMC Chief Operating Officer Lisa Kuehn says contract negotiations are underway to allow the project to be completed on time.

The 12,000 square foot Primary Care Clinic will be located south of the hospital property on 4^th street and will house clinics for Pediatrics, Women's Primary Health, and Primary Care will be housed in the new facility.

 Four people from Nebraska are injured in a weekend car accident near Neosho.

 The single vehicle accident occurred on Friday evening when the 2018 Dodge Charger they were in failed to negotiate a turn. The vehicle ran off the roadway and overturned several times. Witnesses say the car was traveling at speeds in excess of 100mph when the accident occurred. Two of the car's occupants were ejected from the vehicle during the accident.

 The search for a man reported missing after he drove into flood waters last week is over.

 The body of 50 year old Brian Richardson of Pottersville, MO, was discovered around 8am on Satruday morning. Rishardson disappeared after his pick up truck was swept off a bridge by rushing flood waters last Tuesday. He was found by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Underwater Recovery Team.

 Fire crews across southern Missouri respond to a call of a fire at a Verona chemical plant.

 The fire occurred around 7pm last night at the B-C-P Ingredients plant. According to the Aurora Rural Fire Department, the blaze occurred in a building that grinds and dries corn cobs and that the fire began in the dryer.

B-C-P Ingredients has faced violations and fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration since 2021. In July 2023, OSHA said the plant continued to endanger workers.

There were no injuries reported and the investigation into the cause of the fire continues.

 A fifteen-year-old male is dead following a crash on Saturday near Barnsdall, OK.

  Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported the fatality collision happened just after 6 pm at the junction of two county roads near Barnsdall. The 15 year-old juvenile male passenger was pronounced deceased on scene.

 36 year old Weston Lowe of Barnsdall, was transported by Survival Flight to St Francis Hospital in Tulsa. Lowe was admitted in serious condition with head and trunk internal injuries.

 21 year old Trey Taylor, also of Barnsdall, received minor injuries. Another passenger, a 16 year-old juvenile female, was transported by Survival Flight to St Francis Hospital in Tulsa where she was admitted in critical condition with head, trunk internal injuries.

 The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of an inmate at the Topeka Correctional Facility.

 36 year old Asa Hashanna Adams was found unresponsive in her cell on Saturday morning and was pronounced dead by medical staff. The cause of death will be determined by an autopsy.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Adams was serving a life sentence for a 2007 conviction of first-degree murder committed in Sedgwick County.

 The City of Independence is looking to fill an open position on the Tree Board.

  The purpose of this division is to honor the city's rich history of enjoying and preserving local natural resources, and to promote and protect the public health, safety and general welfare by providing for the development of a community forestry plan.

The Board oversees  the planting, maintenance and removal of trees located on public property, or which encroach upon public property, and seeks to enhance the natural beauty of the community. 

Those wanting more information about the position can contact Scott Patton by email at ScottP@IndependenceKS.gov or by calling 620-332-2512.

Applications for the position are due by Noon on May 16^th. For the online application, go here.

 There have been reports of low to no water pressure in multiple areas of Independence this morning.

 The City Water Department is aware of the situation and have crews out working to resolve the issue. There is currently no time table for restoration of services.

We will have more information as it becomes available.

Current Watches for the immediate listening area:

Tornado watch through 11 p.m.:

Elk, Chautauqua, Greenwood

Osage County, OK

***** Update 10 a.m. *****

The area south of Wichita is now included in the highest possible severe weather risk category.  (As seen in updated image)

***** Original Story ******

An outbreak of severe thunderstorms is possible this evening for southeast Kansas.

According to the National Weather Service, the potential for significant weather has now expanded from south central Kansas to southeast Kansas including the Coffeyville area. Hail up to softball size, winds up to 80 mph and some strong and long-track tornadoes are possible. Storms are expected for southeast Kansas between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., although timing could be a bit earlier for Chautauqua, Elk and Osage counties. If storms develop, they are expected to track to the northeast. The rest of the four-state area could see hail up to 2 inches, winds up to 70 mph and tornadoes possible. KGGF will provide severe weather coverage if needed this afternoon and tonight.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Topeka Police Department make an arrest in an officer-involved shooting.

Just before noon today, 34-year-old Terrell D. Hayes-Osby was arrested for the attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, criminal possession of a weapon and unlawfully tampering with electronic monitoring equipment. Hayes-Osby was arrested as he was released from Stormont Vail Hospital where he was recovering from injuries sustained in the shooting.

The attempted murder charge was secured by the KBI who is investigating the officer-involved shooting, where Hayes-Osby fired a pistol multiple times toward TPD officers. The remaining felony charges were secured by TPD in their investigation into the theft at gunpoint of a pickup truck, occurring prior to the shooting at the gas station.

A Parsons Police Officer is honored by the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police.  Corporal Rory Johnson received the Silver Award for Uncommon Valor. This recognition was in honor of his life-saving actions in April 2023.

Corporal Johnson responded to a distress call from former Parsons Officer Luke Schibi at the Parsonian Apartments. Officer Schibi requested assistance after a resident fell through a large window. Recognizing the need for first aid, Johnson applied pressure to a severe abdominal wound while providing support to Officer Schibi, who attended to a leg injury. Corporal Johnson rendering aid until EMS arrived is credited with saving the individual's life.

Nominated by PPD and selected by KACP, Corporal Johnson received this award during the annual KACP conference held at the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane.

 Flags in Kansas will be flown at half-staff this Sunday in observance of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day and to honor a Dearing firefighter.

 Governor Laura Kelly issued the directive today for all flags in the state to fly at half mast from sun up to sundown on Sunday. While the order honors all fallen firefighters, Kelly noted the service of Division Chief Martin Smith of the Dearing Fire Department. Division chief Smith passed away unexpectedly in January 2023 after responding to a vehicle accident.

Smith had a long career with the Dearing fire Department. He became a junior firefighter at the age of 16 and later served as a Volunteer Firefighter. He served as Assistant Chief for 26 years and became Chief of the Dearing Division in 2016. Smith had a reputation for being a strong leader, bringing many improvements to the Dearing Fire Department, and expected his volunteer firefighters to be well-trained professionals.

Governor Kelly stated, " “Division Chief Smith selflessly served the people of Montgomery County for nearly 50 years. We will not forget the sacrifices Division Chief Smith made and the work all Kansas firefighters undertake each day to protect Kansans.”