kansascitynews

Teen sex blackmail case

There goes the judge

Connex bus route dedication planned for May 31.

May 31 ceremony planned for service that includes new stops, park-and-ride lots and a Mission transit center.

Ray Merrick: Speaking for the outsiders

While Kansas House Speaker Ray Merrick’s sphere of influence is dryly — and fondly — referred to as “Raymerricka,” it connotes an image in the statehouse of the Johnson Countian’s conservative leanings and his ability to build a life for himself out of poverty.

When will military get serious about reform?

The U.S. military has proved to be a sexually hostile environment for women — and for a fair number of men as well. By the Pentagon’s own measures, women are more likely to become victims of sexual assault while in the military than in civilian life.

Questions of accountability and fairness remain after charter school’s reprieve

Missouri’s efforts to shut down Gordon Parks Elementary School show we still need to figure out a way to fairly hold accountable charter schools, which often set out to serve disadvantaged students.

Who’s soaring, who’s floundering?

Here’s our weekly roundup of area pols

Clinton leads Iowa — but not by a whole lot

Paul, Rubio are in the hunt in the state that holds the first major presidential test

Toss the tassel and let the sweet beginnings commence

Graduation is one term for it — the ceremony of passage that marks the end of a specific period of learning. Commencement is to my mind the better word, alluding as it does not to a conclusion but rather to a beginning — not what’s behind, but what lies just ahead. Through the course of a life, the starts are what contain the excitement and promise.

Another plague besets Africa

A plant virus called cassava brown streak disease has spread across much of the African interior, reducing by as much as 50 million tons a year the harvest of a crop upon which some 500 million Africans rely for their staple food.

A looser Missouri is a loser

Not only did nothing get done in the 2013 session of the Missouri General Assembly, the state actually lost ground when it comes to cleaning up its ethics.

Kansas City government, by committee

Kansas City Mayor Sly James has passed the midway point in his first term, and the grades are pretty good. But he walks a path that was paved by others.

Damage reported from magnitude-5.7 quake in Calif.

Residents in rural northeastern California assessed damage to their homes and businesses Friday from a magnitude-5.7 earthquake, one of the strongest temblors to hit the densely forested region in decades.

Ex-Guatemala president extradited to US

Former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo was extradited on Friday to the United States to face charges of laundering $70 million in Guatemalan funds through U.S. bank accounts.

Sales tax stalemate highlights legislative disagreements even within one party

It was supposed to be so easy.

Controversies do little to change views of President Obama

The electorate is locked into supporting or opposing the president, observers say, with little regard to ongoing events.

Hickman Mills school board stages a coup and ousts its president

Breman Anderson Jr. is removed in a 4-3 vote after one of his allies defects.

In a 3 a.m. vote, Raytown gives green light to downtown Wal-Mart grocery store

A proposal to relax some downtown design standards to accommodate a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market had sharply divided the city. The Board of Aldermen approved the zoning change 6-4 after a long meeting.

Two Metropolitan community colleges campuses get new leaders

Metropolitan Community College at Maple Woods and at Longview campuses got new presidents this month.

Farmer’s House plants seeds of success for people with disabilities

Planting is what Farmer’s House is all about, both seeds in the ground and seeds of encouragement to prepare people with disabilities for jobs in the community.

KCK firefighters rescue woman from burning house

The fire, in the 2400 block of North 59th Terrace, began just before 11 a.m. when the woman’s grandson was making lunch in the kitchen.

Ruptured water pipe forces Bonner Springs Elementary to close Friday

Bonner Springs Elementary will close Friday because of broken water main, but all other district schools will have classes.