Month: February 2020

Fans making the trek to see Chiefs parade

Two Chiefs fans from Wichita brought a sign with them. They were at a park and ride stop at 47th and State in Kansas City, Kansas, and were on their way to the Chiefs parade and rally Wednesday in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Mary Rupert)

by Mary Rupert

Light snow was falling, there was a wind chill of about 18 degrees around 9:25 a.m. Wednesday at the bus depot at 47th and State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. Diehard Chiefs fans were arriving to board a shuttle bus to the Chiefs’ parade and rally in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

Fans were carrying blankets, signs and Chiefs gear.

A long line of yellow school buses stood ready on the west side of the former Indian Springs mall to take fans to the parade, which starts at 11:30 a.m. downtown and the rally at 1:30 p.m. in front of Union Station. There is no charge to attend the events. School is out today in Wyandotte County so fans can cheer the Super Bowl winners.

There were no lines of cars waiting to go into the parking lot at 9:25 a.m., and plenty of free parking was available, with police officers on duty.

Two fans from Wichita were carrying a handmade sign that read, “Chiefs Kingdom. We’re Super Bowl Champs.”

Chiefs fans from Junction City, Kansas, brought a blanket that they said they would be using to keep warm today.

Two fans from Kansas City, Kansas, also had a Chiefs blanket that would be providing extra warmth.

Fans were dressing in layers of clothing in order to keep warm. Despite the cold weather, fans seemed eager to start the celebration.

For more details about the parade and rally, visit https://wyandotteonline.com/chiefs-victory-parade-route-announced/.

Fans boarded a shuttle bus to the Chiefs parade and rally on Wednesday. The fans were at the former Indian Springs mall at 47th and State in Kansas City, Kansas. The parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Chiefs fans from Junction City, Kansas, displayed a blanket they brought with them to keep warm. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Nearly all the Chiefs fans who were seen at the shuttle buses today in Kansas City, Kansas, were wearing shades of red. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Chiefs fans from Kansas City, Kansas, dressed in layers and brought a blanket to keep warm at the parade and rally in Kansas City, Missouri. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
Motorists who went to the shuttle location were assisted with parking. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
A long line of school buses was waiting for riders along 47th Street. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)
More buses were parked on the south side of the former Indian Springs mall, ready to take residents to the parade and rally. (Staff photo)
Fans walked to a shuttle bus to the Chiefs’ parade and rally on Wednesday. The fans were at the former Indian Springs mall at 47th and State in Kansas City, Kansas. The parade will begin at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

Wednesday’s weather: Cold and snowy

About an inch, or less than 2 inches, of snow is possible Wednesday in Wyandotte County, according to the National Weather Service. (National Weather Service graphic)
A winter weather advisory is in effect now through midnight Wednesday. (National Weather Service graphic)

A winter weather advisory is in effect from now until midnight Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Around an inch of snow is possible in Wyandotte County today, according to the weather service. Hazardous travel conditions are possible. To the south, in central portions of the state, there will be increased snow accumulation.

Today’s high will be around 30 degrees, with wind chills in the teens and 20s, and temperatures will drop to a low of 17 tonight, the weather service said.

Today, there is a 70 percent chance of snow, mainly between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 30 with a north northeast wind around 10 mph, gusting as high as 20 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of around an inch is possible.

Tonight, there is a 50 percent chance of snow, according to the weather service. The low will be around 17 with a north wind of 5 to 8 mph.

Thursday, it will be sunny, with a high near 35 and a northwest wind of 5 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon, the weather service said.

Thursday night, there will be increasing clouds, with a low of 24 and a calm wind, according to the weather service.

Friday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 38 and a calm wind, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 23, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be sunny, with a high near 39, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 28, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 46, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 28, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 39, the weather service said.

Monday night, it will be mostly cloudy, with a low of 29, according to the weather service.

Tuesday, there is a 30 percent chance of rain, with a high near 40, the weather service said.

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

Davids has role in escorting Trump into State of the Union speech

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., will serve on the Congressional Escort Committee for tonight’s State of the Union address.

Rep. Davids will join a bipartisan group of members, including House and Senate leadership, and Rep. Deb Haaland, in escorting the president to the House Chamber for the State of the Union address. The speech is at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4.

“It’s an honor to be selected for the Congressional Escort Committee, particularly because it will give me the opportunity to meet with the president prior to his State of the Union address and share my hope that he will work with Congress on the issues most important to Kansas families – like lowering the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs,” Rep. Davids said.

Earlier, Rep. Davids announced she would bring Kyle Prellberg, a veteran and Purple Heart recipient from Overland Park, as her guest to the State of the Union address. He was wounded while serving in Afghanistan in 2012, but because of an error, did not receive a Purple Heart. With Rep. Davids’ office help, Prellberg was able to receive a Purple Heart and connected with the Veterans Community Project, which provided him with housing.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, has announced that he would invite Kansas Rep. Chris Croft of Overland Park, as his guest at the State of the Union address.

“Rep. Croft is both a veteran and an advocate for veterans in his role as a Kansas representative,” said Sen. Moran. “He served in the U.S. Army for 30 years and after retiring as a Colonel was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives. Rep. Croft is dedicated to his country, to Kansas and to our nation’s veterans, and I’m honored to have him join me at the State of the Union as my guest.”

U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, today announced that he would vote for acquittal of President Trump in the impeachment trial in the Senate.

“I will vote for acquittal,” Sen. Roberts said. “The prosecution did not prove President Trump committed any impeachable offense. I hope after this matter is concluded on Wednesday, the entire Congress can get back to the important work of the people.”

Sen. Roberts’ speech is on video at https://senatorroberts.app.box.com/s/yvvyso6p5jcqzh0mqxek5rolus8155tk.