
Giving kids something to hold: Kansas girls’ blanket project wins national recognition
Children sometimes arrive at their new foster home with nothing. But these girls aim to change that.
Friday, May 24, 2013

Children sometimes arrive at their new foster home with nothing. But these girls aim to change that.
Breman Anderson Jr. is removed in a 4-3 vote after one of his allies defects.
The Jackson County prosecutor’s office won’t pursue a case against Ossco Bolton, who has refused to return the $15,000 check. The money was intended to bring Las Vegas boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. to Kansas City for a Dec. 8 youth mentoring event that did not take place.
A federal grand jury has charged a Lee’s Summit businesswoman and others with allegedly defrauding the U.S. Army with $2.8 million in bogus computer equipment.

The exhibit “Alien Worlds and Androids” at Union Station also looks at artificial intelligence. The interactive display opens Friday and runs through Labor Day.

With his Senate confirmation by a 97-0 vote, Sri Srinivasan will become the first South Asian federal appellate judge. And he could be bound for the U.S. Supreme Court.
The events are unfolding atop the Commerce Tower downtown.
Please confirm numbers with state lottery officials.

The former presidents yacht, the USS Williamsburg, has had one tow line in the grave for 20 years, about as long as it has been deteriorating at a shipyard in northern Italy. But hope remains among those who would like to see the 243-foot vessel returned to glory. The price, however, is high, and rust is merciless.

Bond for Alex A. Gilbert, 24, was set at $500,000 cash. He has pleaded not guilty, and he is scheduled to appear in Lafayette County Circuit Court on Wednesday. The infant died Monday after suffering broken bones, a fractured skull and brain damage.
Bridges in Kansas: D-plus. Dams in Missouri: D-minus. Overall infrastructure across both states: Does C-minus earn anyone a star? Civil engineers are tough graders. A few gathered in Kansas City on Wednesday to deliver a report card that pretty much stank.
A Senate committee issued a report showing that poor compounding practices have persisted even since last fall, when a meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated steroid injections killed 55 people and sickened about 700.
The City Council’s Public Safety Committee endorsed a renewal of the contract with American Traffic Solutions, the red-light camera vendor. The full council votes on the contract Thursday.

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.

A full house crowded into the Plaza Library to debate education reform with Michelle Rhee, author of the new book “Radical.”

“Road to War: World Power and Imperialism 1904-1914” includes objects as well as photographs and other materials that shed light on the state of the world in that era. The new display will be open during Memorial Day events.
House Republicans turned down a plan from Republican senators that would have set the sales tax on groceries at 5.7 percent while taxing other items at 6.25 percent. The current 6.3 percent tax is scheduled by law to fall to 5.7 percent in July.
The suit by the former U.S. attorney for western Missouri was filed Monday in the district thats home to the IRS office embroiled in a national controversy for its targeting of conservative political groups for extra scrutiny as they sought tax-exempt status. He said it was the first suit to be filed in connection with the much-criticized handling of applications for 501 (c)(4) status.
Would be robber Martron E. Bailey, who pleaded guilty Wednesday, wore an orange construction helmet and left upon learning that someone watching a security monitor wouldnt open the door to a Kansas City bank.
The 10-week-old baby died in a Kansas City hospital after suffering broken bones, a fractured skull and brain damage.

Prosecutors also charged Michael A. Mosley, 23, of Kansas City, with shooting a firearm from a vehicle and two counts of armed criminal action in connection with the May 16 death of his friend, William L. Crawford, 24.

Kansas Sens. Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts on Wednesday cheered the Air Forces decision to pick McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita as the home for new refueling tankers. The Air Force will make an official announcement later Wednesday morning after it informs the congressional delegations from the states involved of the decisions.

Gordon Parks Elementary School can remain open at least through June. A circuit court judge on Tuesday granted a temporary stay sought by the school after state education officials voted last week to pull the schools charter.

Despite the violent upheaval that Moore, Okla., endured Monday afternoon when a monstrous tornado slashed through the city, many of the people who lost much insist that their worries pale in comparison with the sadness they feel for the innocents whose young lives have come to define the towns tragedy.

House and Senate negotiators restarted tax talks on Tuesday. They plan to meet again Wednesday with hopes of reaching a compromise that could bring the legislative session to an end.

Court records allege that Cornelius Coleman, 32, struck the woman about 12 times with a belt, attempted to choke her with the same belt, hit her about five times with a separate studded belt, burned her with a methamphetamine pipe and placed a gun in her mouth. Coleman also allegedly forced her to urinate on herself.

Aldermen pave the way for the store in a 3 a.m. vote after a long meeting that drew a standing-room-only crowd. The key issue was whether the city should relax design requirements in its downtown area.
They allege that Bishop Robert Finn and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph aided and abetted the Rev. Shawn Ratigan as he sexually abused and engaged in “child pornographic offenses” with two young girls while Ratigan was employed as a priest. Last week the diocese settled a similar case for $600,000.

The Republican-dominated House approved the bill on an 83-28 vote. The GOP-controlled Senate approved it last week. The measure now goes to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

U.S. Supreme Court struck down automatic life without parole for young murderers, but Missouri lawmakers failed to find an alternative.