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Police report progress in solving homicide cases

Kansas City, Kan., police are reporting progress in solving a recent spate of homicide cases, with help from tips from the community.

The community experienced five homicides in the six days from Aug. 30 through Sept. 4, some of them from drive-by shootings.

According to a police spokesman, three of the cases have been solved, with charges pending.

They include the Brannae Brown homicide, Sept. 2 at 500 Freeman, resulting in one arrest; the Steven Sykes homicide, Sept. 3 at 2100 Quindaro; and the David Burkin homicide, Sept. 5, at 900 Argentine Blvd., one arrest.

So far this year, there have been 29 homicides in Kansas City, Kan., and at this time in 2015, the total number of homicides was 22.

The police spokesman said there are promising leads on other cases, but they still need additional information from the public to solidify the case.

The other homicide cases from the past week included a homicide Aug. 31 in the 100 block of South 12th St., a drive-by shooting that killed Kevin E. Gonzalez, 21; and a homicide Aug. 30 in the 2400 block of North 9th St., a drive-by shooting that killed Natasha A. Hays, 36.

Detectives, task force officers, community policing officers and command staff members are meeting today to discuss the remaining unsolved cases and formulate a strategy to become partners with the community. Police plan to seek information by going door-to-door in the neighborhoods where the crimes occurred, and distribute informational fliers.

Anyone with information about any crime may call the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 913-573-6020 or the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

T-Bones win season finale

Jake Blackwood, 60th home run with the T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones held off the Sioux Falls Canaries, 7-5, winning their season finale Monday afternoon at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.

After losing the first three games of this series, the T-Bones jumped out to an early lead Monday and never trailed.

Tyler Massey led off the game for Kansas City with a home run. Dalton Wheat followed up with a single to left field.

Later, with two outs in the inning, Anthony Gallas singled in Wiley and gave Kansas City the early 2-0 lead. Wheat went 3-for-4 in the game.

Kansas City added two runs in the second before giving up two to the Canaries in the fourth and fifth innings.

Darwin Perez led off the fourth inning with a double. After Jake Taylor and J.C. Linares flied out, Blake Schmit scored Perez with a single to center field.

Aaron Owen, who reached after being hit by a pitch, scored in the fifth with a single by Ethan Chapman.

The T-Bones took advantage of fielding errors by Sioux Falls, adding two more runs in the third and fifth innings, distancing themselves further by a score of 6-2.

The T-Bones’ final run came from a solo home run by Jake Blackwood in the seventh inning. It was Blackwood’s 60th career home run with Kansas City, putting him third on the franchise’s all-time home runs list.

Starting pitcher Josh Hodges (5-8) held off the Canaries, scattering eight hits, and giving up three runs, while striking out seven and not allowing a walk in 8 innings.

Kansas City entered the ninth with a 7-3 lead before closer Mark Haynes gave up two runs.

After striking out leadoff batter Owen, Haynes walked Chapman. An error by Massey allowed Owen to reach third and batter Taylor Zuetenhorst to advance to second. Taylor hit a sacrifice fly that scored Chapman before Linares singled to center scoring Zutenhorst.

The T-Bones finish the season with a 42-58 record, tallying a 24-26 home record and 18-32 road record.

Kansas City finished third in the American Association in attendance, totaling 207,855 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Stay up-to-date with the club and organization during the off-season at www.tbonesbaseball.com.

– Story from Matt Fulks, T-Bones

Hot, humid weather today to be followed by possible storms Wednesday

Expect a heat index as high as 99 today, the National Weather Service said, followed by a 40 percent chance of storms on Wednesday.

Today, the high may be 91, with mostly sunny skies, the weather service said. A south wind will be 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

The chances of thunderstorms will increase Wednesday afternoon and evening, according to the weather service.

A few marginally severe storms, with large hail and high winds possible, are in the forecast late Wednesday afternoon through evening, the weather service said.

A few rounds of heavy rain-producing storms are possible from Thursday night through Friday evening, according to the weather service.

From 1 to 3 inches of rain is possible through the region from Wednesday afternoon through Friday night, with locally higher amounts possible, the weather service said. The heaviest rains may be in several rounds from Thursday night through Friday evening.

Tonight, the low will be around 75 with a south wind at 14 mph gusting as high as 18 mph, according to the weather service.

Wednesday, there is a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a high near 89, the weather service said. The heat index will be as high as 97. The wind will be south southwest 13 to 16 mph, gusting as high as 24 mph.

Wednesday night, expect a 50 percent chance of storms and rain, with a low of 73, according to the weather service.

Thursday, the chance of rain and storms is 40 percent, the weather service said. The high will be near 86, with a south wind of 7 mph.

Thursday night, the low will be around 70, and there is a 60 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, according to the weather service.

Friday, the chance of showers and thunderstorms is 60 percent, with a high near 83, the weather service said.

Friday night, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with a low of 59, according to the weather service.

Saturday’s forecast is sunny with a high near 75, the weather service said.