SCOTT McFETRIDGE, Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The number of private pilots in the U.S. has been steadily falling and is a big factor in the closure of hundreds of airports.

Since peaking at 357,000 in 1980, the number of pilots with private certificates has plunged to 188,000.

That drop is a big reason hundreds of small, rural airports have closed.

In Onawa, Iowa, planes will stop flying into the airfield for the first time in 60 years. Instead, the runway will be used as a racing dragstrip.

Officials in Hillsboro, Illinois, sold off their airport to a company that is mining for coal.

Gene Martin, who owns a private airfield in South Sioux City, Nebraska, says business has slowed, but he’s holding on despite offers for his land.

Martin says, “That’s all I’ve ever done.”

MANHATTAN -Riley County Emergency Director Pat Collins reports that the one adult and three children that were transported from the scene with non life threatening injuries have been released from the hospital. The Kansas State Fire Marshals Office is investigating the explosion and the fire at the residence.

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RILEY- Four people, including children, were injured in an explosion at a home in Riley County.

Officials say the Riley County Police Department, EMS, Riley Fire Department and Manhattan Fire Department responded just after 12:15 p.m. on Saturday to a residence in the 200 Block of North High Street in city of Riley.

Initial reports were that the garage door of the home was blown off and the residence was on fire.

Few additional details are being released. Check the post for more information as it is available.

HAVANA (AP) — The leader of a delegation of Republican senators visiting Cuba says the opening of a U.S. embassy in Havana for the first in 54 years is “imminent.”

Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona was in Havana made a short visit to Havana with fellow senators Susan Collins of Maine and Pat Roberts of Kansas on a fact-finding mission and to gauge progress on talks to restore normal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

After meeting with Cuban officials, Flake predicted Saturday that the opening of both a Cuban embassy in Washington and a U.S. embassy in Havana will occur in the very near future.

SEDAN – One person died and another was injured in an accident just after 4:30 p.m. on Saturday in Chautauqua County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Jerry W. Hoff, 64, Grove City, OH., was eastbound on U.S.166 nine miles west of Sedan.

The driver pulled over onto the gravel shoulder, he lost control and the motorcycle rolled into the south ditch.

Hoff was pronounced dead at the scene and transported Frontier Forensics.

Life flight transported a passenger Barbara A Hoff, 66, Grove City, OH., to Wesley Medical Center.

Both were wearing helmets according to the KHP.

Water being released at 16,000cfs out of one tube at Tuttle Creek Lake. Video taken at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, June 13.

MANHATTAN -The Corps of Engineers has closed the swim beach and boat ramp at Tuttle Creek Cove Park because of flooding. All of the non-utility sites were closed, but several utility sites remained available for tent camping.

Other closures included the boat ramp and campground at Stockdale.

All of the boat ramps, campgrounds, and the swim beach will reopen when flooding recedes and Tuttle Creek Lake returns to a safe level.

Also be cautious around the lake during the high water period. Obstructions can be invisible under the surface of the water. File a boat plan fore boating and wear the right fit and type of life jacket when on or around the water.

According to the Corps, the water is only being released from one of the tubes right now at 16,000 cfs. If they do go up to 20,000cfs as planned, then both sides will be opened.

BELVUE, Kan. (AP) — A man charged with killing his uncle is set to go on trial in October.

The Manhattan Mercury reports that Christopher Michael Arand initially planned to enter a plea during a hearing Thursday in Pottawatomie County District Court. But defense attorney Richard Lake says Arand changed his mind and decided he wanted a trial.

Arand is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 70-year-old Larry Arand, who was found dead in his Belvue home in November. He also is charged with felony cruelty to animals in the death of his uncle’s cat.

JUNCTION CITY – Four people were injured in an accident just after 1:20 p.m. on Saturday in Geary County.

Garry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director, reported a pickup was westbound on Interstate 70 by Marshall Army Airfield when it hit an object in the road.

The driver lost control of the truck. It traveled across the median and hit an eastbound vehicle.

The woman driving the pickup was transported to Geary Community Hospital along with three people in the car including a man and two children.

Their injuries were non-life threatening according to Berges.

Traffic was backed up for about 45 minutes to allow emergency crews to work.

Additional details including the identities of those injured have not been released.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — No charges will be filed in the shooting death of a man accused of lunging at a Wichita police officer with a knife.

The Wichita Eagle reports that Sedgwick county District Attorney Marc Bennett made the announcement Friday. Icarus Randolph was fatally shot last July 4 while police were responding to a call from his family. Relatives described Randolph as a veteran who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Police said a stun gun was ineffective against Randolph. And Bennett says the officer “objectively and reasonably felt he needed to defend himself.”

Sunflower Community Action spokesman Djuan Wash says the activist group is “disappointed.” Wash says the officer should have de-escalated the situation, distanced himself from it, and gotten Randolph to a mental health facility.

DODGE CITY, Kan. (AP) — Questions have arisen after a zero was dropped from one version of a Dodge City school district bond issue ballot.

The Hutchinson News reports that the ballot explains that the bond amount isn’t to exceed $85.6 million. The English version is fine, but in the Spanish translation, the last zero is dropped.

Ballots for the mail election began arriving in voters’ mailboxes last week. They are due back in the Ford County Clerk’s office June 25.

An official in the secretary of state’s office says the typo doesn’t necessarily invalidate the election. But the election could be contested after the results are certified.

Ford County Clerk Sharon Seibel told state officials that the error occurred at the printer’s, and it wasn’t caught in proofreading.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Westar Energy has dropped plans for three new energy efficiency programs.

The Kansas Corporation Commission issued an order Thursday allowing the utility to withdraw its request for the programs. A current program, called WattSaver, which installs special thermostats in homes, will serve existing customers but will add no new customers.

The utility had proposed funding home energy audits, incentives for small businesses to install more efficient lighting and weatherization assistance for low-income customers.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the Citizens Utility Ratepayer Board and KCC staff raised concerns about the programs’ cost-effectiveness. They also suggested the programs might cause one group of customers to subsidize those who benefited from the programs.