Month: August 2016

Rain possible today and Wednesday

Scattered thunderstorms are expected through Wednesday across the entire area, according to the National Weather Service.

The most robust storms will have the potential for very heavy rainfall that may lead to localized flash flooding, the weather service said.

Heavier storms currently are to the north of Kansas City, Kan., and there is a flash flood watch to the north.

While heavy rainfall is the primary concern through Wednesday, a few storms may become strong during the afternoon and evening, according to the weather service.

Downburst winds up to 50 mph will be possible as storms quickly collapse, the weather service said.

Drier and cooler weather will arrive on Thursday, according to the weather service.

Today’s high will be near 87, and there is a 50 percent chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, the weather service said.

Tonight’s chance of precipitation is 40 percent, with showers and storms still in the forecast. The low will be around 70, according to the weather service.

Wednesday’s weather will be a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 80, the weather service said. The rain and storms likely will be between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Thursday’s forecast is sunny, with a high near 80, according to the weather service.

A flash flood watch is in effect to the north of Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)
A flash flood watch is in effect to the north of Wyandotte County. (National Weather Service graphic)

Police investigate homicide from apparent drive-by shooting on North 9th

Kansas City, Kan., police are investigating a homicide in the 2400 block of North 9th.

Police responded to a call at 3:47 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, at that location, and found a female dead inside the home from an apparent gunshot wound, a police spokesman said.

The preliminary investigation revealed that unknown suspects drove by and fired shots into the residence, striking the victim, the spokesman said.

The identity of the victim will not be released until there is family notification.

The homicide is under investigation by the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department’s Major Case Unit, which is encouraging anyone with information to call the TIPS hotline or 816-474-TIPS.

El Salvador bishop to visit Kansas City, Kan.

by Murrel Bland

The Rt. Rev. David Alvarado, the Anglican bishop of the Diocese of El Salvador, will visit St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kan., this weekend. He will tell of the Episcopal dignity and justice program that targets poverty, violence, immigration and human trafficking.

Bishop Alvarado will lead a discussion entitled “Immigration: Seeing the Connections” at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, in the parish hall. All interested persons will be invited. The bishop will also preach at the 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday services Sept. 4.

St. Francis Community Services of Salina has been collaborating with the Episcopal Diocese of El Salvador since 2015.

“Issues like poverty, violence, immigration and human trafficking are shared issues we can address more effectively if we work together,” Angela Smith said. She is the director of mission engagement at the St. Francis agency. “Our hope is that this visit will be an opportunity to talk about issues like these, how they connect us and to educate communities about how we can support peace and reconciliation efforts.”

Smith said that more and more children from Central America, including El Salvador, are coming to the United States to escape violence.

The St. Francis social service agency, which has more than 1,000 employees, has served children and families since 1945. The Rev. Robert Mize Jr. founded St. Francis as a boys’ home in Ellsworth, Kan. Mize spent part of his boyhood in Kansas City, Kan., when his father, The Rev. Robert Mize Sr., was rector at St. Paul’s during the early 1900s.

Earlier this year, St. Francis merged with Associated Youth Services, which had its roots in the Mennonite Church in the Argentine community of Kansas City, Kan.

Murrel Bland, the executive director of Business West, is the former editor and publisher of Wyandotte West.