Austin Morton

Regional Reporter at KWCH-TV (Wichita, KS)

Hays Reporter for @KWCH | @NWOSU Alumni | often with my cat Trippy🐈‍⬛

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Articles

Computing program aims to keep technical college students in NW Kansas

Dec 11, 2023 | kwch.com | Austin Morton |Matt Heilman

GOODLAND, Kan. (KWCH) - Professors at Northwest Technical College aim to give real-world experience in a cutting-edge program with an underlying goal of keeping more students in northwest Kansas after they graduate. In Goodland, technical college students can join the Cloud and Crypto Computing program. Preparation for finals this week has the look of on-the-job production with students getting early starts on professional paths.
Community comes together for family of Ness City teacher critically injured in crash

Dec 7, 2023 | kwch.com | Austin Morton |Matt Heilman

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - A car crash in Dighton last Friday critically injured Emily Smith, a fourth-grade teacher at Ness City Elementary School. Now, the small town in Ness County is coming together to help her family with medical expenses. “She means a lot to these kids, these kids look up to her,” said Ness City business owner JoAnn Epperson. A friend of Smith’s discussed what the teacher means to her students. “She would do anything for them,” she said. “She loved the school.
Christmas tree stolen from holiday display in Salina

Nov 30, 2023 | kwch.com | Austin Morton |Matt Heilman

SALINA, Kan. (KWCH) - A Salina business group is putting in time to get the city into the holiday spirit, decorating downtown with Christmas trees along the sidewalks. “We have 42 of them. We embellish all of the pots with ribbon and last year, all the trees that line Santa Fe have lights in them, and we have the mayor’s Christmas tree across the street,” Salina Downtown Executive Director Leslie Bishop explained. This past weekend, someone played the role of the Grinch and stole one of the trees.
Elder Care giving tree fulfills Christmas wishes for seniors in Great Bend

Nov 20, 2023 | kwch.com | Austin Morton |Matt Heilman

GREAT BEND, Kan. (KWCH) - In Great Bend, Elder Care Inc. provides at-home services for seniors. For the past eight years, a “giving tree” plays a part in making sure those receiving care don’t go empty handed on Christmas. Each ornament on the tree has a holiday wish list. Elder Care Inc. Executive Director Brandi Gruber said this year, they’re helping 80 patients. “We accept donations and we do the shopping for them,” she explained.
Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks issues fish salvage for Sheridan State Fishing Lake

Nov 17, 2023 | kwch.com | Austin Morton

HOXIE, Kan. (KWCH) - Any method will work for people looking to fish at Sheridan State Fishing Lake. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks issued a public fish salvage effective Nov. 6. Signs posted around the lake inform the public about the order.
Goodland Cowgirls ready to defend longest active win streak in Kansas

Nov 15, 2023 | kwch.com | Austin Morton

WICHITA, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - As winter sports practices began this week in Goodland, the Cowgirls basketball team, like always, is training for another state title. This year, they have a new title to bring into the new season: the holders of the longest active winning streak in all of Kansas high school sports. Coming off a second-straight Class 3A state championship, Goodland’s streak is one win away from 40 to start the 2023-24 season.
Kentucky man saved by fellow runners during Salina marathon

Nov 8, 2023 | kwch.com | Austin Morton

SALINA, Kan. (KWCH) - Kentucky resident Brian Rice has a lofty goal to run a marathon in all 50 states. His plans are on hold for now after his race at the Salina Crossroads Marathon didn’t go according to plan and he ended up in the hospital. Brian Rice has been running marathons for years. “I head about the 50 marathons in 50 days challenge and I said, ‘I got to start running more than one marathon a year if I’m going to do 50,’” he said. Rice’s goal is within reach, having raced in 35 states.
Lyons among communities planning renewable energy projects from USDA grants

Nov 6, 2023 | kwch.com | Austin Morton

LYONS, Kan. (KWCH) - The USDA has awarded more than $4 million in grants to rural communities across Kansas. The objective is to keep smaller communities involved in the growing clean-energy economy. Lyons is among those communities seeking to benefit from renewable-energy projects. In Lyons, First Bank received nearly $75,000 in grant money from the USDA. “It helped us with the decision to go ahead with the solar project,” First Bank President Jeff Laudermilk explained.
Salina business community giving back to childcare providers, highlighting need

Nov 2, 2023 | kwch.com | Austin Morton

SALINA, Kan. (KWCH) - The business community in Salina is giving back to childcare providers. They’re doing so in part this Friday by donating money and gift baskets. With that, the community is showing support by raising awareness about the pay gap people in the childcare industry face. “It’s definitely a passion project for my teachers with the pay being what the pay is,” said YMCA Childcare Director Marti Higdon.
Bouncer critically injured in Dodge City bar shooting recovering at Wichita hospital

Oct 30, 2023 | kwch.com | Austin Morton

DODGE CITY, Kan. (KWCH) - An early-Sunday-morning shooting at a Dodge City bar left two people dead and the bouncer critically injured after he tried to stop the shooter. The suspect, Ricardo Cadena-Garcia was later arrested in Oklahoma and is currently held in the Beaver County Jail. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation said an altercation inside Central Station Bar and Grill led to Cadena-Garcia firing a handgun, killing two people and injuring two others. “It’s tragic.