Month: October 2016

After yesterday’s storms, weather cools off

Unseasonably cool temperatures are expected this afternoon and overnight, before near-normal temperatures return Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Dry conditions will continue through the weekend, the weather service said.

Isolated showers and thunderstorms will return to the area Monday, with increasing storm chances beginning by the mid-week, according to the weather service.

Today’s forecast is sunny with a high near 61, according to the weather service. It was 48 degrees at 8 a.m. The north wind will be 9 to 13 mph.

Tonight, the low will be around 43, with clear skies. There will be a light and variable wind, the weather service said.

Saturday, skies will be sunny with a high near 69, according to the weather service, and a south southwest wind of 3 to 7 mph.

Saturday night, expect clear skies with a low of 46, and a south wind of 3 to 5 mph, the weather service said.

Sunday’s forecast is sunny with a high near 72, and a south wind of 3 to 7 mph, according to the weather service.

Weather advisory issued for Wyandotte County

A significant weather advisory is in effect for Wyandotte County and some surrounding counties until 8:45 p.m. Thursday.

At 8:06 p.m., Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Linwood to near Lane, according to the weather service. Movement was east at 55 mph.

An automated weather station in Ottawa, Kan., reported 50 mph winds with this complex of storms.

Wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms.

Kansas City, Kan., and Bonner Springs are among the cities that are in the path of the storm, along with many other local cities.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with these storms and may lead to local flooding, the weather service said. Do not drive a vehicle through flooded roadways, the weather service said.

Frequent cloud-to-ground lightning is occurring with these storms, according to the weather service. It is possible for lightning to strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm.

Residents are advised to seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle, according to the weather service.

Residents are advised to monitor the weather at www.weather.gov or listen to a weather radio.

Heather Jones pleads guilty to first-degree murder in death of 7-year-old

Heather Jones
Heather Jones

Heather Jones, 30, Kansas City, Kan., today pleaded guilty in Wyandotte County District Court to one count of first-degree murder in connection with the death of a 7-year-old boy.

Jones, the stepmother of the boy, also pleaded guilty to two counts of abuse of a child.

The remains of A.J., who was 7 years old, were found in a barn on the property of a residence in the 5200 block of North 99th Street in Kansas City, Kan.

When police were called to a domestic disturbance at the residence on Nov. 25, 2015, they received information that A.J., a 7-year-old, had died. The next day, police found remains of a child in a barn on the property, according to the district attorney’s office.

A forensics examination revealed that the remains were those of A.J., and further investigation revealed a history of chronic confinement and abuse of A.J.

Wyandotte County District Judge Michael Grosko accepted Jones’ plea and sentencing was set for 10 a.m. Nov. 14 in Division 5 of the district court.

A hearing for codefendant Michael Jones was held this afternoon. A.J. was the son of Michael Jones. Michael Jones’ motion for a new attorney was heard and denied by Judge Grosko. The trial for his case was set for Feb. 6, 2017, and a pretrial conference originally scheduled for Oct. 7 was canceled.