Forecast: Expect some rain today

National Weather Service graphic
National Weather Service graphic

Scattered storms are in today’s forecast, according to the National Weather Service.

A wide area of rain was moving toward Wyandotte County at 9 a.m. Saturday.

There is an 80 percent chance of precipitation today. The highest chance for precipitation will be from this morning through late afternoon, the weather service said.

Small hail or gusty winds are possible with some of these storms, but widespread severe weather is not expected, according to the weather service.

Today’s high will be near 69 degrees.

Tonight, there is a 50 percent chance of rain, the weather service said, with a low of 56.

An additional round of storms is possible Sunday across the area, the weather service said. At this time, strong to severe storms are not anticipated.

For more weather information today, visit www.weather.gov.

A National Weather Service radar map showed rain and storms moving toward Wyandotte County around 9 a.m. Saturday. (National Weather Service graphic)
A National Weather Service radar map showed rain and storms moving toward Wyandotte County around 9 a.m. Saturday. (National Weather Service graphic)

Saturday events

Democratic breakfast group to meet Saturday, April 18
The Wyandotte County Third Saturday Democratic Breakfast will meet this Saturday, April 18, at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Mayor Mark Holland will be the guest speaker at the meeting. The breakfast begins at 8:15 a.m. and the program begins at 9:15 a.m. The meeting will be in Room 2325-2326, which is on the bottom floor of the Jewell Building at KCKCC, 7250 State Ave. Mayor Mark Holland will be the featured speaker. The breakfast buffet is available at 8:15 a.m. and the forum begins at 9:15 a.m. The cost for the breakfast buffet is $10, which includes tax and service. The cost is $7 for students and those on limited income. All Democrats are invited to attend, and you need not purchase a breakfast to attend.

Household Hazardous Waste Collection day to be April 18
The next day for Household Hazardous Waste Collection will be April 18. The collection site at 2443 S. 88th St., Kansas City, Kan., will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 18, for household hazardous waste collection. It is south on 88th Street from K-32. All items brought to the site should be labeled or identified. There is a limit of 10 tires, with rims removed. Other items accepted include motor oil, batteries, antifreeze, degreasers, paints, varnishes, solvents, lawn and garden insecticides, pesticides, and household cleaning products. Other dates for collection will include May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19 and Oct. 17.

Friends of Bonner Springs Library plan book sale
Friends of the Bonner Springs Library have scheduled the Spring Book Sale for April 16 -18. Hours of the book sale are Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Along with selections from favorite authors of fiction one will also find intriguing titles that beg to be read even if the author is not well known. Nonfiction runs the gamut from arts and crafts to travel and includes large selections of books on business, cooking, religion, romance and science fiction as well as many other categories. There are also large print books and a very large selection of books for children of all ages. Prices range from .25 cents to no more than $1 and each day will feature various specials. The sale is held in the basement storm shelter and can be reached from the parking lot at the rear of the library which is located at 201 N. Nettleton, Bonner Springs.

Barnyard Babies plans to open today at Ag Hall
Barnyard Babies will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, 126th and State Avenue, Bonner Springs. The event will feature new babies that may be found on the farm. Also planned are other activities such as crafts, hayrides and train rides. Admission is $5 for adults, which includes one free child admission; $4 each for other children 3 to 16 years old; and free for children under 2.

Spanish singing lessons planned

Learn to sing Spanish songs at a music program from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the South Library of the Kansas City, Kan., Public Library, Meeting Room B, 3104 Strong Ave. The group is for all ages.

One-act plays to be presented today at KCKCC
Theater students at Kansas City Kansas Community College are putting the final touches on the 17th-annual Original Student One Act Play Festival. The remaining festival performances include 7:30 p.m. April 18 as well as 2:30 p.m. April 19. Three plays are included in this year’s festival, all written, directed, acted and designed by KCKCC Theatre Students:
• “The Roman Tiger” – gangsters willing to do anything to an accountant to obtain a valuable secret.
• “Nothing Else Matters” – a young teenager faces the challenge of providing for her sisters and alcoholic mother.
• “Hell, LLC” – the Devil goes corporate and relegates the processing of souls to a new hire.

Sporting KC takes on LA Galaxy in California
Sporting Kansas City faces the LA Galaxy in Carson, Calif., on Saturday in the first of a two-game road trip. The reigning MLS Cup champions are in the midst of a 25-game unbeaten streak at StubHub Center including their 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution in the MLS Cup final last December. Saturday’s match is scheduled to kick off at 9:30 p.m. and can be seen locally on KMCI’s 38 the Spot and SKCTV across the Midwest with coverage beginning at 9 p.m. The match will also be available on Sports Radio 810 WHB (English) and La Grande 1340 AM (Spanish).

Slight decline shown in local unemployment rate

Unemployment figures announced today showed a slight decline in the local unemployment rate.

Unemployment was 6.3 percent in Kansas City, Kan., and Wyandotte County, according to figures from the Kansas Department of Labor. That compares to 7.1 percent in February 2015 and 7.3 percent for March 2014 for Wyandotte County.

Kansas City, Kan., tied with Junction City, Kan., for the highest unemployment rate of the larger cities in the state, according to the figures.

Wyandotte County had the third highest unemployment rate of all counties, with Neosho County at 7.6 percent and Linn County at 6.7 percent, according to statistics.

Statewide, the unemployment rate for March was 4.2 percent, seasonally adjusted, the same as last month, and slightly lower than 4.6 percent one year ago, according to the Department of Labor.

The Kansas secretary of labor said the rate shows a steady economy with high labor force participation from Kansas residents.