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KS - June 19 2025

Heat Wave; Cattle Herd; Floodwaters Close US81; Emporia House Explosion; Thunder Trail Gm 6

Greg Loving

19 Jun 2025 • 4 min read

Heat Wave Grips Kansas as Temperatures Near 100

Cattle Herd Rebuild Faces Delays Amid Drought, Economic Uncertainty

Floodwaters Close US-81 Near Belle Plaine

House Explosion Kills Two in Emporia

Thunder Trail Pacers 32-27 in Game 6 of NBA Finals

Heat Wave Grips Kansas as Temperatures Near 100

Strong south winds will continue pushing heat and humidity across Kansas through Monday, with heat indices approaching 100 degrees in central and eastern regions Friday. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid to upper 90s through the weekend, with northwestern Kansas possibly seeing low 100s that could approach record highs. A weak cold front arriving Monday evening may bring scattered storms to western Kansas, though most of the state won't see significant rain chances until later next week.

Cattle Herd Rebuild Faces Delays Amid Drought, Economic Uncertainty

Agricultural economists say the nation's cattle herd rebuild is progressing but caution patience as lingering drought in key cow-calf states, high interest rates, and profitable heifer sales slow the process. Kansas State University professor Glynn Tonsor notes that while near-term profitability remains sound, elevated cattle price exposure and macroeconomic uncertainty about beef demand pose significant risks. Texas A&M's David Anderson points to persistent drought conditions across the Great Plains' major beef-producing regions as a continuing challenge.

Floodwaters Close US-81 Near Belle Plaine

Rising floodwaters from the Ninnescah River have forced the closure of U.S. Highway 81 near Belle Plaine in Sumner County, according to the Sumner County Sheriff's Office. The Kansas Department of Transportation shut down the stretch of highway Thursday as a public safety measure after recent storms caused the river to overtake the roadway.

House Explosion Kills Two in Emporia

Two people died Tuesday evening when a house exploded at 1814 E. 6th Avenue in Emporia, with police calling the blast apparently accidental. Emergency responders arrived just before 5 p.m. to find the home collapsed and fully engulfed in flames, with victims discovered in the debris around 8:30 p.m. Authorities have not released the names, ages, or genders of the victims.

Thunder Trail Pacers 32-27 in Game 6 of NBA Finals

Oklahoma City trails Indiana 32-27 in the second quarter of Game 6 of the NBA Finals, with the Thunder holding a 3-2 series lead. A victory would secure the team's first championship in OKC, while a loss would force a decisive Game 7. The Thunder used to be the Seattle SuperSonics until 2008. The Seattle SuperSonics won the NBA Finals in 1979.

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