WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) -- As 2024 comes to a close, we look back on the stories you cared about most in 2024. Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley People across the country closely watched the investigation into the disappearance and deaths of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley. The two disappeared in late March while they were en route to a custody exchange for Butler's two children in the Oklahoma panhandle. Five people were eventually arrested in connection to their disappearance and deaths. They were part of a quasi-religious group who called themselves "Gods Misfits" led by Tifany Adams, the paternal grandmother of Butler's children. The motive for the crime appears to be related to the custody of the children. Preliminary hearings for the suspects took place this month, and it appears at least two of the suspects have reached plea agreements as they testified against their co-defendants. Wage Change Proposed for Disabled The U.S. Department of Labor is considering phasing out the Subminimum Act. Created in 1938, the act allowed businesses to pay disabled workers less than the minimum wage in an effort to help veterans who had been disabled in combat. The law applies to all those with disabilities. KSN spoke with a representative for the Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns and a local non-profit that provides employment opportunities for disabled residents in Kansas about the local impacts that could be created by eliminating the act. 2024 Eclipse Natural phenomena also captured people's attention, and one of the big events of the year was the solar eclipse. Millions of people across the United States watched as the moon passed in front of the sun on April 8, including this teacher who reunited with his students 46 years later to watch the eclipse in upstate New York. KSN also brought you the story of a blind Minnesota woman who traveled to Hutchinson for the eclipse. Many of you also shared your photos of the event with KSN. Kansas Roads A lot happened on Kansas highways and roads this year. There was a bridge replacement that caused a detour of over 100 miles or drivers getting heavy fines for speeding across the state. The bridge over Interstate 70 was shut down by the Kansas Department of Transportation because it kept getting struck by oversized loads. Eventually, the interstate was shut down so the bridge could be demolished. This created a temporary detour of over 78 miles that raised concerns about safety with local law enforcement. Watch: Evergy rescues cat atop power pole 'Big Boy' Return Buzz began in June when it was announced the historic Union Pacific train would be returning to Kansas as part of its 2024 tour. The tour began in late August, but the “Big Boy” No. 4014 engine didn't arrive in Kansas until mid-October. Animals There were plenty of animal-related stories in 2024: A husband and wife striking the same deer seconds apart, driving different vehicles. A house cat and bobcat having a standoff in Cowley County, tarantulas on the Loose in Kansas, Kansas counties with a snake problem, or an extinct species to Kansas being reintroduced. There were plenty of events at local zoos, the Sedgwick County Zoo, including a dentist being brought in to treat an elephant with a broken tusk, Five pregnant elephants at the zoo, and a new Gorilla. There was also the announcement from Tanganyika Wildlife Park of a change in operations and cost. Car Dealerships There were several stories from the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office about actions taken against local car dealerships, including a dealership that was ordered to pay nearly $400,000 and stop selling cars in Kansas, another that was forced to pay out over $100,000, and the owner eventually ordered to jail. Weather It wouldn't be Kansas without extreme weather. We started off 2024 with a Blizzard in western Kansas that left motorists and workers stranded. In March, a storm system brought thunderstorms to the state and blizzard warnings in northwest Kansas. In mid-April, five tornadoes touched down in Kansas. Later that month, more tornadoes touched down in south-central Kansas, and the same system moved over southeast Kansas, bringing flooding. In late May, another storm system produced three tornadoes and hail, causing extensive damage. It prompted FEMA to designate 13 Kansas counties disaster areas. You can keep up with all of the latest news and weather information in 2025 by downloading the KSN News app or the Storm Track 3 Weather app, available on all Apple or Android devices.