Topeka

A busy black Friday was just enough of a distraction for a man to steal hundreds thousands of dollars from a Topeka Walmart. Police say a video shows the man walking into a manager's office and walking off with between $200,000 and $500,000. Walmart says it is considering a reward to help catch the thief. Click here to see photos from the surveillance video.

It's sparked protests and national criticism - an ordinance against domestic battery taken off the books in the city of Topeka. The issue started last month, that's when the Shawnee County District Attorney said his office couldn't afford to keep prosecuting misdemeanor cases from Topeka. He argued the city's courts should handle them, but city leaders said they can't afford to either. On Tuesday night, Topeka repealed ordinances banning misdemeanor domestic battery. Since state law still requires prosecution, it forces Shawnee County to take the cases.

Communities across Kansas will have special events this weekend to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.       One of the centerpiece events will be Saturday in Anthony, home of the state's official 9/11 memorial. A memorial in the town about 60 miles south of Wichita contains a stone from the Pentagon, steel from the World Trade Center and soil from Pennsylvania where an aircraft hijacked by terrorists was forced down by passengers.       Other events include activities at Topeka's Forbes Field to honor first responders and emergency personnel for their service.

A burglar didn't get inside a home, but he did kill the dog who kept him out. Police in Topeka say the man tried to get in the home through the backyard when he came across an 8-year-old akita named Ouji. Investigators say the burglar shot the dog twice. "He was a part of the family as far as I'm concerned, he took the life of our family member. " Says the dogs owner Chris Dykes. Police don't have a description of the suspect.

Remains found in a car at the bottom of Lake Shawnee is that of a Wisconsin man. Leonard Jordan of Milwaukee disappeared in 1984. He was 84-years-old when he was last seen. Jordan's submerged 1976 Oldsmobile was found earlier this month. Investigators say Jordan often visited relatives in Topeka and liked to fish at Shawnee Lake. Authorities worked with Jordan's family to confirm his identity. Officials with the Department of Wildlife and Parks were testing new sonar equipment on the lake last fall when they picked up an image of the vehicle.

While the parents flew overhead, three Peregrine Falcon chicks were given identification bands in Topeka Monday. The three chicks were born in a special nesting box atop the Westar Energy building. In addition to getting Id bands on their legs, experts also took blood samples and looked at their feet to try and determine their gender. Officials say banding of the birds is important in tracking the birds' growth and progress after they leave the nest. Westar Energy is holding a contest to name the birds; it also has a webcam on the nesting box. Click here to learn more about the contest and see the feed.

The American Lung Association names the nation's most polluted cities. The organization has compiled data from around the country for the past 12 years for its "State of the Air" report. When considering ozone levels, Los Angeles is considered the most polluted.  Seven cities in California make up the top ten of most polluted cities by ozone.  Houston, Texas and Charlotte, South Carolina are also in the top ten. Topeka, Kansas ranks among the cleanest cities for ozone air pollution.

A small airplane crashes in a field near Topeka, killing four people. Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Herrig says Richard and Amy Spencer and their two children, 7-year-old Chase and 5-year-old Ansley are the victims. The Federal Aviation Administration said the six-seat Beechcraft was headed to Phillip Billard Airport from Scott City when it may have had engine trouble. The plan went down Friday morning about three miles northeast of the capital city. Eyewitness News contacted several residents in Scott City Friday evening.  Superintendent Don Wells spoke with us via phone.

They’ve nested atop Westar Energy’s general office in Topeka for years, now a new pair of peregrine falcons has moved in. Westar Energy’s well-known peregrine falcon couple, Hope and Doorly, has nested atop their building since 2004.  But, a few weeks ago, Westar says a new couple from Lincoln, Nebraska moved in. Westar Energy employees reported hearing increased vocalization around the general office during that timeframe. “Peregrines interact more through vocalization than they do with physical contact,” said Brad Loveless, director, biology & conservation program.