Latest news with #WDAF
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Northern Lights: The best way to view the weather phenomenon
KANSAS CITY, MO. — As the summer heats up, the chance for Midwesterners to catch the aurora borealis, also known as northern lights, increases. The phenomenon often best seen in states such as Alaska, occasionally makes its way closer to a few other North American states, giving others a chance to take a look up to the sky and marvel at the dazzling light show. Northern lights, infrastructure impacts possible due to 'severe' geomagnetic storm: What to know Sunday, June 1, gave some northern Missourians a better chance to catch the lights. However, it is uncertain when the next best chance to catch the spectacle will be for parts of the midwest. This uncertainty is widely due to the light's appearance relying on 'just right' conditions. These conditions include a mix of interactions between solar wind streaming out from the sun and Earth's magnetic field, according to the NOAA. Here's a few tips to help you better see the lights when those 'just right' conditions come back around: The NOAA suggests for the best viewing opportunity, to head towards the magnetic polls. This means heading more north of your area. It must be dark out to catch a glimpse of the blue, green, and purple lights. This means times between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. are typically best. To ensure darkness, look for areas outside of major cities where light pollution is less intense. Keep up with the NOAA and your local weather team. Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Trying some of the above tips may help increase your chances of catching the lights in all of their glory. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Reggie Jackson joins as ‘deeply personal' partner for new NLBM hotel
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hall of Fame outfielder Reggie Jackson, also known as 'Mr. October', has joined on as a founding legacy partner for the new Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Hotel, according to a release from Grayson Capital. The Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel in Kansas City's 18th and Vine District will feature an upscale restaurant, rooftop bar, a cultural partnership platform and more as a 30,000 square foot expansion of the museum. It's all part of a new, cultural destination known as the Negro Leagues Baseball Musuem Campus. Frank White shares stadium discrepancy between county, KCMO and MO Jackson described the partnership as 'deeply personal' as the legendary ball player has personal connections to both KC and NLBM. 'Returning to Kansas City, where my MLB career began—and helping honor the Negro Leagues, where my father Martinez Jackson played for the Newark Eagles—is deeply personal,' said Jackson. 'This hotel will celebrate the greatness of those who came before me and inspire the generations to come.' The release goes on to say that Jackson's involvement will include driving awareness, fostering generational ties to baseball's historic players and advancing the project. Jackson is focused on helping NLBM impact both the KC and baseball communities throughout the future. Watch FOX4 News free on streaming TV devices by downloading WDAF+ Reggie's involvement is a significant addition to our project. His connection to the Negro Leagues is deep and meaningful, and his voice will elevate our mission to educate and inspire through the game of baseball,' echoed NLBM President Bob Kendrick. The hotel and campus will support both the continuing investments in the 18th and Vine District as well as the cultural movement surrounding the NLBM. For more information on the NLBM and its new developments, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Man Misidentified as Chiefs Parade Shooter Dies — as Family Seeks Justice for Falsehoods Spread by Lawmakers
A Kansas man who was wrongly accused of being responsible for the mass shooting at the February 2024 Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade has died, according to his family's attorney. Denton Loudermill Jr. was found dead on the morning of Friday, April 11, by his family, his attorneys confirmed over the weekend. Attorney Arthur Benson confirmed the news with local WDAF and WJBF, while attorney LaRonna Lassiter Saunders confirmed Loudermill Jr.'s death in a statement on Facebook. 'It is with great sadness that we share the news of Mr. Loudermill's passing,' Saunders wrote. 'More details will be provided in time, but for now, we ask that you honor the family's need for privacy as they come together to grieve this tremendous loss.' Loudermill Jr. was 49 years old. Related: 3rd Man Charged with Murder in Relation to Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parade Shooting The Olathe, Kan., man was falsely accused by several Republican lawmakers and social media influencers of being the supposed sole mass shooter responsible for the Feb. 14, 2024, shooting following the Chiefs' 2024 Super Bowl victory parade. The false rumor, in which several GOP lawmakers also referred to him as an "illegal alien," had started on social media after a user shared a photo of Loudermill Jr. sitting on a curb in handcuffs following the shooting. In reality, Loudermill Jr. had been improperly detained by police for allegedly moving too slowly while evacuating the scene of the shooting and was let go shortly after he was handcuffed, his lawyers argued in multiple civil lawsuits filed against the Missouri lawmakers. The lawsuits were filed last year against Republican Rep. Tim Burchett and three Republican Missouri state senators: Rick Brattin of Harrisonville, and Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg and Nick Schroer of St. Charles County. The suits were thrown out a month later by a federal judge who cited issues with jurisdiction. According to local Fox 4, Loudermill Jr. had filed the lawsuits in a federal court in Kansas, rather than Missouri, the state where the lawmakers were from. The shooting happened in downtown Kansas City, Mo. Loudermill Jr.'s attorneys vowed to continue fighting his case in court after his death. 'If you thought we were determined before, you haven't seen anything yet!' Saunders wrote on social media. 'While the family takes this time to mourn, we want to make it clear that this is not over,' she added. 'Mr. Loudermill should not have spent his final days burdened with stress and chasing down a lie that went viral due to the careless and heartless actions of a Congressman, Missouri senators, and social media influencers, who couldn't be bothered to verify the truth before destroying a man's life.' Related: Chiefs Parade Shooting Victim Identified as Local Radio DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan, Station Says Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. One person — popular local radio DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan — was killed and 22 others were injured in the shooting. Many of the injured were children. PEOPLE previously reported that three other men were later charged in the mass shooting, which allegedly began after an argument between the suspects, prosecutors alleged. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Man arrested for home invasion also charged with murdering parents in Kansas City
COVERT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A man arrested on home invasion charges in Southwest Michigan is also accused of killing his parents in Missouri, police say. The break-in happened on March 29 around 12:45 a.m. at a home on Blue Star Highway, police said. Covert Township police say Jason Sessoms went into the home and was confronted by the homeowner, who was armed. Sessoms tried to flee but was met outside by officers. Officers say Sessoms fought back when they tried to arrest him and to disarm an officer. Sessoms was found with two handguns, police said. After his arrest, officers found a juvenile family member traveling with him. Investigators questioned the juvenile to try and locate family, at which point they learned Sessoms had shot and killed his own parents in Kansas City, Missouri. Clay County, Missouri, prosecutors have charged Sessoms with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action, WDAF, WOOD TV8's sister station in Kansas City, reports. WDAF reports the killings happened at an Extended Stay motel. Talking to investigators, Sessoms said he couldn't find some of his money and found out his mother spent it on the motel room, which 'disappointed him,' WDAF said, citing court documents. Sessoms told investigators he 'crept' up to his mother while she was sleeping and shot her twice in the head, the documents said. His father woke up and tried to disarm Sessoms, but was shot in the back of the head, WDAF reports. Sessoms is being held at the Van Buren County Jail on charges of first-degree home invasion, attempting to disarm a police officer, car theft, carrying a concealed weapon and resisting and obstructing a police officer. He was arraigned on those charges Sunday in South Haven. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
3 Chiefs Fans Mysteriously Died in Their Friend's Backyard One Year Ago. Here's What We Know Now — Including Who Was Just Charged
Over a year after three men were found dead in the backyard of their friend's home in Kansas City, Mo., police have arrested and charged two suspects with involuntary manslaughter. Ricky Johnson, David Harrington and Clayton McGeeney's bodies were discovered on Jan. 9, 2024, two days after they gathered at their friend Jordan Willis' home to watch a Kansas City Chiefs game on Jan. 7. A year later, on March 5, the Kansas City Missouri Police Department shared that two suspects — Willis and Ivory Carson — were charged with "distribution of a controlled substance and three counts of involuntary manslaughter," facing up to 10 years in prison. Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd said during a press conference that police found two plastic bags containing "white powdery substances" when searching Willis' rental home, with each allegedly containing cocaine and fentanyl — the same substances found in the three men's bodies, per FOX 4 Kansas City. From the details of the night the three men died to the arrests made 14 months later, here's everything to know about the deaths of Ricky Johnson, David Harrington and Clayton McGeeney. Johnson, Harrington and McGeeney were three close friends who often posted with each other on their social media before their deaths in early January 2024. Johnson's brother, Jonathan Price, told PEOPLE that he would see Johnson post with Harrington and McGeeney, but he wasn't very familiar with Willis, who was renting the home where the men died. Price added that Johnson, who was 38 years old when he died, went to high school with Harrington and McGeeney, who were 37 and 36 respectively, while Willis went to a nearby school. Johnson ran his father's business, Johnson's Construction, in Kansas City and was an avid sports fan, always rooting for the Chiefs. He was also a father of three girls — 14, 9 and 4 at the time — whom he 'loved spending time' with, as his mother, Norma Chester, told PEOPLE. 'He would've done anything for his girls,' she said. 'He didn't deserve this." McGeeney's family echoed similar sentiments, with his cousin, Caleb McGeeney, calling him a 'good person' in an interview with FOX affiliate WDAF. 'Just the thought of him dying and them him sitting outside in the cold for two days,' he said. 'It's extremely devastating. The whole family is messed up. He was such a good person.' Per a GoFundMe started on behalf of April, McGeeney's fiancée, the victim was a subcontractor for a small construction company. In an interview with The Kansas City Star, another cousin explained that McGeeney was 'on a good path,' turning his life around after a few issues with traffic violations and child support. Jennifer Marquez, Harrington's mother, told WDAF that the call informing her of her son's death was the 'most devastating moment of [her] life.' 'It's a huge loss. He's everything,' she told the outlet. 'He's a brother, he has a sister, Carmen, a brother, Sebastian. They're missing him, and they are broken-hearted they will never see their brother again." On the night of Jan. 7, the three friends went over to Willis' rented house in Kansas City to watch the Chiefs play. While initial reports stated that it was just the four of them present at the home, WDAF later reported that a fifth friend was there that night, but left earlier in the evening. The exact timeline of the events that followed remains unclear. In a statement to PEOPLE, Willis' lawyer, John Picerno, claimed that his client Willis last saw the men when they left his house and he went to bed. "He had no knowledge that they remained in his backyard," the attorney added. Via an email to PEOPLE, Picerno acknowledged WDAF's report that there was a fifth man at the house, but said that "he left maybe an hour or two before the other three,' and added that "Jordan is not exactly sure of that time period." However, WDAF reported that Picerno has since said that Willis went to sleep before the three men left. 'When he would have people over at his house, yes sometimes as people, they get tired, they're people that are very close to you and you feel comfortable going to bed and allowing them to leave when they want to leave,' he said, per WDAF. After toxicology reports found traces of substances in the men's systems, many questions continued to remain unanswered. Tony Kagay, an attorney representing McGeeney's mother, Nancy Bossert, and his fiancée told FOX Digital that 'there are attempts being made to resolve' these, however, he cautioned that "a lot of these questions may never be answered in a way that makes people satisfied." Willis has not spoken publicly about the case, but Picerno has given statements on his behalf. After the police arrived, Picerno said Willis 'allowed them into the house, told them all he knew, and voluntarily consented to a search of his home.' Two of the victims' cars were found parked on his street, per WDAF-TV, but Picerno said it wasn't 'unusual' for Willis' friends to leave their cars there overnight. According to Picerno, all Willis wants is 'answers.' The attorney told NewsNation, 'He's known them for over 20 years. They're his friends. He's deeply hurt by their passing.' Picerno also added that while concerned family members did knock on Willis' door over the course of the two days before the bodies were discovered, he did not hear them as he slept with earbuds and a loud fan, per the statement. He said Willis did not receive any text messages or phone calls regarding the three men and did not see a Facebook message from one of their wives before the police came. However, the families of the victims have pointed out other inconsistencies in Picerno's statements. In an interview with NewsNation, Picerno said his client 'was home sporadically' in the two days before his friends' bodies were found. A few days later, however, he claimed Willis never left the house between Sunday and Tuesday, when the police came. 'What I meant to say on NewsNation is that … he was sleeping, and he left his bedroom sporadically,' Picerno said, per WDAF. Early toxicology reports as of Feb. 1, 2024, showed "several" substances were found in the victims' bodies, which they later revealed to be cocaine and fentanyl. In a statement to PEOPLE, the police said that Willis was cooperative with them when they discovered the dead bodies. They added that they were not ruling the situation a homicide case. Alayna Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the KCPD, told the Associated Press on Jan. 27, 2024, that there were no signs of foul play as they continued their investigation. Following the Feb. 1 update, Gonzalez doubled down to PEOPLE in a statement that the case "remains an ongoing death investigation." "Currently, there have been no additional details or reports of this case revealed to any media, nor are there any plans to at this time," she told PEOPLE in a statement on Feb. 5, 2024. By 2025, police said a forensic exam determined that the three friends "all died of Fentanyl and cocaine combined toxicity." The name of the fifth friend there that night has not been released, however, Picerno confirmed to PEOPLE that he left before the other three and that Willis went to sleep before the others left. However, WDAF has since reported that the attorney told them his client did not go to bed before they left and, instead, he escorted the three to the door before falling asleep on the couch. WDAF interviewed the fifth individual, who had a different version of events. The person emphasized to the outlet that all four men were awake when he left. Andrew Talge, the fifth individual's attorney, told the station that Willis and the three men were watching Jeopardy! on TV when his client left around midnight. The families of the victims have been vocal about their suspicions of the situation. Price, Johnson's brother, told PEOPLE he thought they may have had something that wasn't alcohol. 'If I were to give a hypothesis ... for the three men to die in the way that they did, something had to have been in their system," he told PEOPLE. "Whether or not it was taken knowingly, I wouldn't answer that." He added, 'But something was taken because three grown men do not freeze to death at the temperatures that were there at the time with just alcohol involved." Early on, Price had his doubts about the sobriety of the individuals. 'There's no way that a coincidence of three grown men who all are fairly smart individuals would die in that way on the same night without something else being involved,' he said. 'Even if one of them was not inebriated, they would've brought the other two inside." Alan McGeeney told KCTV that he also felt something was amiss in the story of how his cousin died. '100% I think the situation is strange,' he said. 'I'm not looking for anyone's head or anything, but my cousin was frozen to the dirt for two days.' After the toxicology reports showed traces of substances in the dead men's bodies, Harrington's stepmother, Theresa Harrington, told NewsNation's Chris Cuomo that the discovery made her feel there was "more to the story." 'David wasn't a drug addict, or anything like that," she said. "We keep getting answers that they're still investigating. So there's something there that they're saying 'maybe that's not right' as well.' On March 5, police confirmed that Willis and Carson, a drug supplier, were arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter for supplying cocaine and fentanyl, respectively. "The probable cause statement alleges that Mr. Willis was determined to be the major contributor of DNA found on that bag," Zahnd said of one bag filled with cocaine. "The other bag contained fentanyl and the probable cause statement alleges that Mr. Carson was determined to be the major contributor of DNA on that bag." According to Zahnd, while one witness allegedly at Harrington's home earlier in the night said he "saw a large plate of cocaine allegedly supplied by Mr. Willis that everyone was using," another witness who was allegedly present at Willis' home later in the night claimed that the friends "drank, smoked marijuana and used cocaine" then as well. Per Zahnd, text messages also allegedly indicated that "Mr. Carson supplied Mr. Harrington with cocaine." Picerno told KCTV in a statement that the charges against Willis came as a surprise. "The probable cause statement submitted by the state is consistent with what Jordan stated happened," Picerno said. "Jordan maintains that he is not responsible for purchasing or supplying the drugs that led to the deaths of his three friends. We are very much looking forward to the day a jury gets to hear all of the evidence in this case." Read the original article on People
