Farmers in western Kansas find crops ruined after severe weather BREWSTER (KWCH) - As western Kansas faces more severe storms, they are still recovering from the last round of weather on Saturday, which caused farmers to find the majority of their crop ruined.
“You have a lot of things going through your mind when you’re in the house,” said Jordan Reid, one farmer who lives near Brewster said. “What are things going to look like when you get outside?”
Hail and winds nearing 100 miles per hour swept through the region, leaving farmers with ruined crops.
“The crops were underwater. We drove to the west, and the road was washed out,” Reid said.
Reid said they had just started cutting their wheat. His corn was also ruined by hail that broke the stalks.
“At this point, we only have 40 acres left that are worth cutting,” Reid said. “There’s a few stalks standing. Most of them are broken over. We’ll be looking at replant options on both these fields.”
Farmers like Reid already didn’t have much of a crop, thanks to drought conditions. Now, with hail and heavy storms, Reid said it will be difficult to recover financially.
“It’s tough. Insurance helps, but it doesn’t cover it all. You just have to do your best to work through it,” Reid said.
Reid deals with the situation he’s been handed by looking ahead to what’s next.
“My mind goes to grazing. What do we need to do with these fields to get them ready? We are thankful for the moisture we did get,” Reid said.
Farming in western Kansas can be hard, according to Reid, and you have to take life as it comes.
“You have to have a solid face to work through some of this. It takes government programs and insurance to help us absorb some of this, and just do the best you can,” Reid said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said that if you sustain damage to your crops after a storm, be sure to report the damage to your crop insurance agent within 72 hours. Do not replant anything before you’ve spoken to your insurance agent. ---- KU’s Darryn Peterson Selected No. 2 in NBA Draft BROOKLYN, NY (KAKE) Kansas guard Darryn Peterson was the No. 2 overall selection by the Utah Jazz in the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Tuesday night. Peterson is the highest KU draft selection since Andrew Wiggins went No. 1 in 2014.
Peterson becomes the 20th lottery selection in Kansas history and the 14th in the Bill Self era, which began in 2003-04. The NBA lottery began in 1985 and recognizes the top 14 players chosen in the NBA Draft.
Peterson becomes the fifth Kansas player drafted by the Utah Jazz, and the first since center Udoka Azubuike was taken in the first round at No. 27 overall in 2020. Other Jayhawks selected by the franchise include current KU assistant coach Jacque Vaughn in 1997 (first round, No. 27 overall), Greg Ostertag in 1995 (first round, No. 28) and Kelly Knight in 1984. Peterson joins a Jazz roster which also includes former Jayhawk Svi Mykhailiuk, who has played for the team the past two seasons.
With the selection of Peterson, KU now has 90 all-time NBA Draft selections, including 32 in the Self era. ---- Recent weather delays completion of Gage Parks’ new playland TOPEKA (WIBW) - Work continues on Gage Park’s new playland, but recent weather has delayed the project’s completion.
Shawnee County Parks and Recreation originally hoped to open the playground on June 1. Weather conditions have slowed the installation process and pushed back the opening date.
“We can’t put that surfacing down until things are dry and they’re good to go, but the installation of the equipment, even, the weather has — if it’s a muddy mess, then we can’t get in there and get work done, but we’re real close. We’re a little behind, but we’re feeling good about the progress,” an official said.
The biggest remaining step is installing the safety surfacing. Other items to be completed include additional equipment, bench installation, and other minor details.
Shawnee County Parks and Recreation now anticipates the playland will be completed in late July to early August.