Thousands

An estimated 8,000 to 9,000 people filled INTRUST Bank Arena Saturday night as the Wichita Thunder honored wounded marine. Sgt. Jonathan Blank lost his legs to an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan last October, watched fellow Marines and others pay him tribute on the ice in a pre-game ceremony. Congressman Mike Pompeo introduced Blank and presented him with an American flag. In full uniform, Blank watched the ceremony from a suite above the ice. Blank is spending some time at home before turning to a military hospital in Texas to continue rehabilitation.

Kids will be out travelling from house to house collecting candy this weekend. One Wichita home will shine brighter than most. Friends and family there unite to support someone in need. With one glance at the West Wichita house, you can tell the people that live there know how to do Halloween. For Richard and Nicki Janne the holiday is more than just candy and decorations; although there's plenty of both at their home. Thousands of decorations fill the yard. It's the same story inside, Halloween is everywhere you look.

Thousands of non-profits across Kansas may lose their tax exemption.  It's all because of a change in IRS rules that many people didn't know about.  But since so many are out of compliance, the IRS is offering one more grace period. "I pray and I stuff," Reverend Peggy Elliott says as she puts donations requests into envelopes.  Donations are the only way her ministry Balm of Gilead survives.  "It is life to the ministry, literally the blood line," she said.  But her work in the community was at risk because of a change with the IRS.  "People didn't know the law changed.

A Topeka business owner has admitted to writing more than 5,000 insufficient fund checks in a check kiting scheme.   John Charles Humpage, III, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. He said that in 2008 he defrauded the Educational Credit Union, Kaw Valley State Bank and Alliance Bank. Humpage did business under various names including Humpco, Inc., Crescent Limousine, Yellow Cab of Topeka and Wire and Glass Lease, LLC. He carried out a scheme to defraud the banks by exchanging and cross-depositing insufficiently funded checks between two or more of his bank accounts.

Imagine running one of the most important races of your life, in this heat.  Well that's exactly what thousands of young athletes are doing over the next several days.  The National Junior Olympic track and field meet is underway at Wichita State.  Close to 10,000 people are here, looking for ways to stay cool and that usually includes spending money.  The Wichita Sport Commission estimates this event will have a $20 million economic impact on...

That's how many meals a Wichita charity could feed the hungry - if it wins a $30,000 prize. The Lord's Diner is one of 15 contestants in an internet contest. The top vote-getter gets the cash. It couldn't come at a better time, said Wendy Glick of The Lord's Diner. In June, the charity served about 14,600 meals. Historically, its numbers don't spike until July and August. Map - Location of Lord's Diner Glick attributes the jump to hot weather (higher utility bills)

Thousands of miles from home and starving to death, a snowy owl is on the mend in Kansas. Federal officials have ordered as little human contact as possible with the bird.  That's why cameras and reporters are not allowed anywhere near the owl as it regains strength at the Eagle Valley Raptor Center near Cheney. The Raptor Center's Ken Lockwood has taken photos which he is sharing on Facebook. The snowy owl's habitat is Alaska and points to the north.  Lockwood says the bird likely ended up in Kansas searching for food.  He says there's not enough prey for all the snowy owls in the Arctic.  Unfortunately, the animals they eat don't live in Kansas.

Reed Sanderson ended up collecting seven dumpsters (truck loads) full of cans over the weekend. That totals just under 9,000 pounds. The recycling center offered him ten extra cents per pound. Reed raised just over $5,000, not including cash and checks he received. The money will be used to offset medical costs. ------------------------------------- Original Story, September 18 A man on a mission to save his fathers life, and he's only seven-years old. Reed Sanderson organized a can drive to help raise money for his father.

Wichita city officials are headed to Africa, on your dime.  Next week, the mayor and vice mayor will attend a Sister Cities International Conference and they're not just bringing suitcases. Two police officers including the police chief are travelling as their personal security. The ten day trip starts Monday, when Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer and Vice Mayor Lavonta Williams leave for Ghana.  "We're looking at additional opportunities that may be there for the City of Wichita," Brewer said.  He answered our questions about the trip from Phoenix, where he's attending the National League of Cities with five other council members.

The Boston bombings have put a spotlight on student visas. An alleged accomplice of suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was allowed to re-enter the United States although his student visa had expired. Tuesday, The Senate Judiciary Committee agreed to boost security around the student visa program, ensuring federal agencies communicate with each other. FactFinder 12 looked into international students in Kansas using student visas. There are thousands of them and they bring in an estimated $23 million to the Wichita economy and more than $200 million to the state.