Category: News

KDOT to close 134th Street near I-70 next week for bridge work

134th Street near I-70 will be closed to all through traffic from March 31 to April 4 for bridge construction work.

The road closure includes both northbound and southbound lanes from Kansas Avenue to Riverview Avenue, and will be in effect 24/7. The closure starts at 8 a.m. Monday, March 31, and runs through 6 p.m. April 4.

According to the Kansas Department of Transportation, there will be no marked detour. Drivers will need to use alternate routes during the roadway closure.

The Kansas Department of Transportation urged all motorists to be alert, obey the warning signs, and slow down when approaching and driving through the project work zone.

County unemployment rate unchanged at 8.5 percent

Unemployment in February in Wyandotte County was 8.5 percent, according to the Kansas Department of Labor.

The rate was almost the same as the previous month, and was down from one year ago, when it was 9.2 percent, according to the figures released this week.

The number of unemployed persons in Wyandotte County was counted as 5,827 in February.

Linn County had the state’s highest unemployment rate with 9.5 percent, with Wyandotte County second highest.

Statewide, the unemployment rate in February was 4.9 percent, up slightly from 4.8 percent in January and down from 5.6 percent one year ago.

It was the first time in more than five years that the state unemployment rate has remained under five percent for three straight months, officials said.

During the month in Kansas, government gained 8,800 jobs; other services added 600 jobs; professional and business services were up 500; and education and health services were up 500, according to state statistics.

Reporting job losses statewide over the past month were construction, which dropped 2,500; manufacturing, which lost 800; and trade, transportation and utilities, which decreased 800 jobs.

 

Tornado watch issued for area

A tornado watch has been issued by the National Weather Service through 8 p.m. Thursday, March 27, in Wyandotte County and the surrounding area.

At 12:41 p.m., radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11 miles northwest of Ottawa moving northeast at about 55 mph.

Hail up to the size of pennies and wind gusts to 40 mph are expected with this storm.

I-35 and the I-435 loop are expected to be affected.

The storm also may intensify.

For more information, visit www.weather.gov.