Severe storms possible tonight

Clouds over Wyandotte County on Monday night. There is a slight risk of severe storms Tuesday night in Wyandotte County, according to the National Weather Service. (Photo by Steve Rupert)
Wyandotte County is at a slight risk for severe weather on Tuesday night. (National Weather Service graphic)

Strong to a few isolated severe storms are possible between 9 p.m. Tuesday and 3 a.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

Large hail, damaging winds and locally heavy rainfall leading to flooding concerns are possible with these storms, the weather service said. An isolated tornado or two may be possible in the region.

The greatest risk of severe weather is in northern Kansas and southern Nebraska, according to the weather service.

Wyandotte County will be in an area of slight risk of severe weather, the National Weather Service said.

Today, there will be a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m., the weather service said. The high will be near 83 with a northeast wind of 6 mph. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is possible.

Tonight, there is an 80 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms likely before 2 a.m., then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., then showers and thunderstorms likely after 4 a.m., according to the weather service. The low will be around 64 with an east southeast wind of 6 mph becoming light and variable after midnight. Between a half and three-quarters of an inch of rain is possible.

Wednesday, there is a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 a.m., the weather service said. The skies will change from mostly cloudy to sunny, with a high near 80. A north northwest wind of 6 to 11 mph will gust as high as 18 mph. Between a tenth and quarter-inch of rain is possible.

Wednesday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 59, according to the weather service, and a north northwest wind of 6 mph becoming calm in the evening, according to the weather service.

Thursday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 81 and a calm wind becoming south southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon, the weather service said.

Thursday night, there is an 80 percent chance of showers and possibly a thunderstorm, according to the weather service. the low will be around 62. New rainfall amounts will be between a quarter and half-inch.

Friday, it will be partly sunny, with a high near 77, the weather service said.

Friday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 58, according to the weather service.

Saturday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 80, the weather service said.

Saturday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low of 62, according to the weather service.

Sunday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 84, the weather service said.

Sunday night, it will be partly cloudy, with a low of 68, according to the weather service.

Monday, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 89, the weather service said.

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

New Whataburger scheduled to open today with traffic pattern in place

On Monday, the finishing touches were being added to the landscaping at a new Whataburger restaurant scheduled to open at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 7, at 10780 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas. The restaurant is owned by KMO Burger, which includes Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Lines of customers are anticipated during the opening, and Kansas City, Kansas, police have announced a traffic plan in effect from 7 a.m. Tuesday, June 7, through 5 p.m. Sunday, June 12. Traffic coming from the east on Parallel Parkway will be using the far right turn lane on Parallel to reach the restaurant. Cones will be placed, along with message boards to help with traffic, police stated.

Kansas City, Kansas, police have released information about traffic patterns in place from Tuesday through Sunday for the opening of a Whataburger restaurant at 10780 Parallel Parkway. (KCK police graphic)

Foodie park development at Indian Springs formally comes to end

Tonight’s Unified Government committee meeting saw a formal end to a project to redevelop the former Indian Springs shopping mall site at 47th and State Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.

Without very much explanation of what went wrong, UG Economic Development and Finance Committee members voted to terminate a development agreement with Scavuzzo’s Foodie Park. It next goes to the full commission for approval.

Commissioners also voted to repeal the 2019 Midtown Redevelopment Plan, which addressed redevelopment plans for Indian Springs.

Katherine Carttar, UG director of economic development, said this is the first time she knew of that the UG had to use a reversionary clause in a development agreement. The development agreement contained timelines for various parts of the project to be completed.

“Everyone is disappointed,” Carttar said.

Carttar said the UG and the developer of the project came to an agreement without having to go to court.

She said the developer was current on their taxes through 2021. The UG, which sold them part of the land at 47th and State, will get the property back, she said, while the developer will pay prorated taxes on the property through the closing date. The issue will go to the full UG Commission on June 30, and if it is approved, Carttar expected the land to be transferred back to UG ownership by July 19.

Commissioner Andrew Davis acknowledged the community nostalgia and expectation that the UG do something with this particular property, given its history. He said he was hoping for good news and the opportunity for engagements and partnerships in the future. He said he recognized this as a tough loss but hoped they will be able to bounce back.

While no reasons were given for why the foodie park project was not going forward, developers who were involved in several unrelated projects told the committee Monday night that some of them had been affected by the pandemic, and prices on construction materials had increased greatly in the past few years.

Another development project had been planned around 2009 for the Indian Springs property, but that project was stopped by a recession and also by the developer’s death. The last big anchor for the Indian Springs mall left in 2001. The last regular tenant there, Italian Delight, a restaurant, left in 2010 and relocated to 82nd and State. The Indian Springs shopping mall was demolished in 2016.