Scattered showers and isolated storms moved across much of the area this morning.
The showers should have cleared by 9 a.m., according to the National Weather Service.
Then the weather will gradually become mostly sunny on Wednesday, with a high near 71, the weather service said. There will be a south southwest wind of 7 to 11 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
A return to quiet conditions is expected through the weekend, according to the weather service.
Tonight, expect mostly clear skies, with a low around 48, the weather service said. A north wind will be from 3 to 7 mph.
Thursday, it will be sunny with a high near 72, according to the weather service. A calm wind will become south around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 56, the weather service said, and a south wind of 5 to 7 mph.
Friday, it will be mostly sunny with a high of 80, the weather service said. There will be a south southwest wind of 7 to 15 mph, gusting to 26 mph.
Friday night, it will be partly cloudy with a low of 62, the weather service said.
Saturday, there will be mostly sunny skies with a high of 77, according to the weather service.
About 150 public officials and private sector business leaders crowded into the Media Center at the Kansas Speedway Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 25, to learn that the American Royal Association plans to build a $160 million event center and related buildings in western Wyandotte County.
“The American Royal currently hosts more than 50 events annually, attracting nearly 270,000 attendees and has economic impact of more than $60 million annually,” Angie Stanland said. She is the chairwoman of the American Royal Board of Directors. “Last year we awarded $1.4 million in scholarships and support to our youth education.”
The proposed area for development includes 274 acres just west of the Legends on property now owned by members of the Perry family and the Sac and Fox and Kickapoo Indian tribes.
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback said the sales tax bonds will finance about half of the project. The rest will be raised by private-sector giving. The area for the proposed sales tax bonds, which will help pay for infrastructure, would be about 530 acres and include The Plaza at the Speedway.
These sales tax bonds are what were used to develop the Kansas Speedway and the Legends Outlets. Gov. Brownback made it clear that without these sales tax bonds, there would be no development.
Gov. Brownback said this new location will encourage growth and expansion of Kansas agriculture beyond its borders. He said it will be a worldwide epicenter that will encourage great progress in such fields as animal genetics.
Cliff Illig, a member of the American Royal Board of Directors, said the new complex will have an event center with some 300,000 square feet of floor space. Illig is a principal owner of the Sporting Kansas City soccer club that plays its home games in the Legends. Plans also call for at least two smaller arenas, Illig said. Illig was one of the founding partners of Cerner.
The board of directors of the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in nearby Bonner Springs announced its support for this effort by the American Royal.
Mariner Kemper, whose banking family has been longtime supporters of the American Royal, praised the plans for the proposed new location. He said this will help the American Royal become the “Kentucky Derby” of livestock and horse shows.
Kansas City, Kan., Mayor Mark Holland said this project marks several years of work by the state of Kansas and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County.
“The new vision of the Royal that has emerged is a hub and showcase for agriculture and animal science,” Mayor Holland said. The mayor said the American Royal will offer event space for year-round use. It is expected to attract private-sector-development such as restaurants, hotels and retail stores.
The American Royal also offers a professional rodeo and the World Series of Barbecue.
The American Royal can trace its roots to 1899. The nonprofit organization presently has buildings in the bottoms of Kansas City, Mo., close to where the Kansas City Stockyards were.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is executive director of Business West. Kansas City, Kan., Mayor Mark Holland, at the podium, and Gov. Sam Brownback, left, spoke at today’s announcement that the American Royal plans to move to Wyandotte County. (Photo by Murrel Bland) An artist’s rendition of the proposed American Royal development in western Wyandotte County. The artist’s rendition was on display at the announcement today at the Media Center of the Kansas Speedway. A map of the proposed STAR bond district for the American Royal can be found in the Unified Government’s agenda for Oct. 27, online at www.wycokck.org. On Thursday, the UG Commission will consider a resolution for a public hearing Dec. 15 to consider creating a new STAR bond district.
Kansas City, Kan., police are requesting the public’s assistance to identify two persons of interest involved in the aggravated robbery and aggravated battery at 3 p.m. Oct. 21 of an 82-year-old priest at Blessed Sacrament Church, 2203 Parallel Ave.
The first suspect is a male about 18 years old, 5-10 to 6-feet, about 200 pounds, with short hair and a dark complexion, police said.
The second suspect is a male about 16 years old, from 5-6 to 5-7, about 150 pounds, with short hair and a medium complexion, according to police.
The victim’s vehicle was taken by the suspects during an aggravated robbery and has not been recovered, police said.
The vehicle is described as a 2012 Honda Civic LX, 4-door, light blue in color and displaying Kansas tag No. 238JAF, police said. The vehicle has noticeable damage on the passenger’s side of the front bumper.
The incident is under investigation by the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department’s robbery unit, which is encouraging anyone with information to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS or the robbery unit at 913-573-6052.
