Hutchinson

He's been honored the world over and has a permanent place in U.S. history.  But Bob Dole was finally honored for something he did years ago for South Central Kansas. The Senator Bob Dole Bypass has been making travel around the Hutchinson area easier since 2004.  But the road's namesake had never been officially recognized for it until now. The former Senate Majority Leader and presidential candidate, and his wife former Senator Elizabeth Dole were honored at the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson.  Dole helped secure the $40 million in federal funds it took to build the bypass.

On September 26 th , 1911, President William Howard Taft came to Hutchinson to lay the Municipal Building's cornerstone.  Today, he made a return visit.  Patriotic music and residents welcomed a thinner President Taft and Hutchinson's mayor. After the procession and speeches, they all went inside the Convention Hall to see what was left behind a century ago in a time capsule. They found a Bible, a silk American Flag, the President's flag, newspapers, and coins among several items.

A fresh coat of paint can go a long way to improving the look of your home.  And now if you live in Hutchinson, the city can make you get out the paint brush.  The city council approved  an updated property maintenance ordinance, giving the city authority to write citations if your house isn't painted properly. When paint chips, Lucinda Ward does her best to scrape away the problem.  But she says keeping up can be tough.  So she's not happy Hutchinson is cracking down on property maintenance rules, especially paint and siding.  "I don't think they're fair to the homeowner," Ward said.  She says if a home looks run down, it's usually not done on purpose.  "I think they don't have the money or aren't able to do the work themselves," she said.

A standoff between a man and Hutchinson police ended around 8:30 Wednesday night. The suspect surrendered after more than six hours of negotiations. According to Lt. John Moore, an officer noticed the suspect driving a vehicle stolen out of Wichita and tried to stop him. There was a short chase before the suspect abandoned the vehicle and ran into a home in the 800 block of N. Monroe. Everyone in the home got out safely. Police setup a perimeter around the home while they tried to get the man out.

A home in Hutchinson is a total loss after an early morning fire Tuesday.  It happened in the 200 block of E. 7th Avenue around 5:30 am. Fire officials there tell us investigators are still on the scene this morning looking for a cause. The American Red Cross was called in to help four people who live in the home.  No one was hurt.

A seven-year-old Hutchinson boy suffers minor injuries after being struck by a pickup Thursday evening. It happened at 9th Avenue and Main Street. Police say the youngster was riding his bicycle in the crosswalk when he was hit by the pickup, which was driven by a 28-year-old man. The boy was taken to the hospital with cuts to his face and body. The driver was arrested for Aggravated Battery, DUI and driving without insurance.

Hutchinson police want to warn people about a scam that's hit the area. They have received several calls of people getting texts about a problem with their bank account. The number provided for them to call is (561) 232-3007. This directs people to an automated system asking for them to provide their bank card number. The text is coming from out of state. Officials say it appears to be a scam. They are encouraging anyone who got this text not to call and contact their bank if there is a problem with their bank card.

A Hutchinson woman dies from her injuries after her car strikes a tree. It happened in the 1700 block of E. 2nd St. around 6 p.m. Friday. Police said Deborah Anderson, 45, was driving her SUV eastbound, when she lost control after crossing the railroad tracks. The vehicle went airborne, landing on the north side of the road and hit a tree. Anderson was flown to Via Christi Hospital on St. Francis where she later died. No one else was hurt. Investigators said she was not wearing a seat belt.

By the time you slow down in a school zone, a lot of children are already at school in Hutchinson. Twenty-percent of students go to school early to eat breakfast because they qualify for free and reduced meals. That's prompting the superintendent to seek an earlier start for 20 mile an hour school zones. Superintendent Shelly Kiblinger will ask the Hutchinson City Council Tuesday to start the school zones at seven o'clock. Right now, they start at 7:30. A grandparent tells Eyewitness News she thinks it's a good idea because cars are driving too fast when her grandchildren head to school.

Police are investigating death in Hutchinson. Officers discovered the body in the 500 block of E. 3rd Avenue on Thursday afternoon. The officers were responding to a welfare call when they found the body. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday in Wichita. Investigators are not releasing the person's name until they can notify the next of kin.