KS - August 6 2025
Wichita Cartel Raid; Airport Expansion Plan; Late-Season Wheat; Gun in Bathroom; Topeka History Tales
Federal Agents Raid Wichita Locations in Drug Cartel Investigation
Wichita Airport Seeks Public Input on 20-Year Expansion Plan
Research Shows Promise for Late-Season Wheat Planting
Gun Used in Shootings Found Hidden in City Hall Bathroom
Topeka Historian Recounts Tales of Grave Robbers and Gunfights
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Federal Agents Raid Wichita Locations in Drug Cartel Investigation
Local and federal officers executed multiple search warrants across Wichita and Sedgwick County Wednesday as part of a year-long investigation into a transnational drug cartel operation. SWAT teams assisted in the raids, including one near 31st and Arkansas, while another warrant served in the 9200 block of South Meridian resulted in the discovery of a suspected explosive device that prompted evacuations of three nearby homes and required the Wichita Police bomb squad.
Kansas.com
Wichita Airport Seeks Public Input on 20-Year Expansion Plan
Wichita Eisenhower National Airport officials hosted a public meeting Tuesday to gather community feedback on their comprehensive 20-year master plan designed to accommodate growing travel demand at Kansas' busiest airport. Airport Director Jesse Romo outlined proposed improvements including parking upgrades, runway enhancements, and potential terminal expansion as part of the long-term development strategy.
KWCH
Research Shows Promise for Late-Season Wheat Planting
Oklahoma State University research is challenging traditional wheat planting schedules in the High Plains, offering hope for Kansas farmers who face similar timing constraints due to weather and competing crops. The study focuses on short-season wheat varieties that can be successfully planted as late as November or December, potentially benefiting producers who must delay planting due to cotton harvest or insufficient moisture. Associate Professor Amanda De Oliveira Silva's research emerged from conversations with Oklahoma farmers who successfully grow wheat using late planting strategies, suggesting applications for Kansas growers facing similar challenges with traditional September-October planting windows.
HPJ
Gun Used in Shootings Found Hidden in City Hall Bathroom
A handgun linked to two recent shootings was discovered in a Wichita city hall bathroom when it fell from a toilet paper holder while a police detective was using the facility, according to federal court documents. Daquinton Shamarr Baker, 23, faces federal charges for gun possession by a prohibited person after allegedly bringing the weapon into the building while in police custody for questioning on April 11.
Kansas.com
Topeka Historian Recounts Tales of Grave Robbers and Gunfights
Local historian Don Chubb entertained Topeka Bar Association members with stories of the city's colorful courthouse history, including an 1895 grave robbery scandal at a medical college and a deadly 1860 confrontation between slavery opponent John Ritchie and a U.S. marshal. The tales highlight Shawnee County's turbulent early years when pro- and anti-slavery factions battled for political control. Chubb detailed how slavery supporters initially established Tecumseh as county seat after a fraudulent 1855 election, only to lose control when anti-slavery forces moved the seat to Topeka. The courthouse saga culminated when Ritchie fatally shot U.S. Marshal Leonard Arms in self-defense at his home, after the marshal came to arrest him on charges filed by the previous pro-slavery territorial government.
CJOnline
Sources
- https://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article311607935.html#storylink=cpy
- https://www.kwch.com/2025/08/05/wichita-eisenhower-airport-seeks-public-input-20-year-expansion-plan/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks&tbref=hp
- https://hpj.com/2025/08/01/short-season-wheat-a-solution-for-late-planting/
- https://www.kansas.com/news/local/crime/article311611726.html#storylink=cpy
- https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/local/2025/08/06/speaker-tells-of-topeka-grave-robberies-killing-of-u-s-marshal/85479533007/?tbref=hp
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