MCPHERSON

Accident on I-35 claims three lives

Three people were killed Wednesday in a two-car accident on Interstate 35 near McPherson.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a southbound car driven by Carol Cook, 63, of Newton went out of control and slid across the median into northbound traffic about 3:30 p.m. The car was at a standstill when it was hit by another car driven by Ladon Eppinger, 72, of Norton.

Both Cook and her 3-year-old grandson, Bailey Cook, also of Newton, died in the crash. Eppinger died Wednesday night at a Wichita hospital. His wife, Claire, was hospitalized in fair condition Thursday.

A patrol dispatcher said the roadway was wet at the time of the crash, but an official cause was still under investigation.

KANSAS CITY, Kan.

Suspect convicted in kidnapping-murder

A man has been found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy and kidnapping in the death of a Kansas City, Mo., woman last June.

Andrew Jackson, 43, faces life in prison in the death of Delesha Williams, 29, who was beaten, stabbed and strangled in her Kansas City, Mo., home. Prosecutors say Williams was then driven to a wooded area where she was run over with a truck.

Jackson would be eligible for parole in 50 years. Bovi Combs, 30, was convicted on the same charges last month. Shecora D. Clanton, 22, also faces charges in Williams’ death.

EMPORIA

Kansans headed to teachers’ hall

Two Kansans are among the 2002 inductees to the National Teachers Hall of Fame.

May Pat Lindquist of Salina and Lisa Crooks of Olathe became the third and fourth Kansans named to the hall since its inception in 1992, the hall of fame announced Tuesday.

Lindquist and Crooks will be formally inducted in July along with Chicago art teacher Janice Gould, gifted-student teacher Dana Kelly of Lakeland, Fla., and high school physics teacher Jane Nelson of Orlando, Fla.

Those inducted receive a $1,000 stipend, a $1,000 scholarship for a student in their district, $1,000 of educational materials and a number of other gifts. Induction ceremonies will be July 9-10 in Washington, D.C., and July 11-13 in Emporia.

BURLINGTON

Low water levels cause power plant shutdown

Wolf Creek Generating Station shut down Wednesday, authorities said.

The shutdown, which occurred automatically at 5:07 p.m., was caused by low water levels in one of the nuclear power plant’s four steam generators. Plant manager Donna Jacobs said all the plant systems operated as designed during shutdown.

The plant, which is located about 100 miles southwest of Kansas City, Mo., was expected to resume full power operations by the weekend, Jacobs said.

Wolf Creek is operated by Western Resources Inc. and Kansas City Power & Light Co.