Kansas City Star: News

Extradition sought for 'Fast Eddie'

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

British police announced Friday they have begun the process of seeking the extradition of a man arrested Wednesday in Missouri, a suspect in a $1.6 million robbery in 1993.

'He was my world,' mother says of son who died in burning truck

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Early on Feb. 3, Curtis Durbin started fires inside a dozen vehicles in Platte City, police said. They found his body inside a charred white GMC. He died of smoke inhalation.

Karen Pletz's death was a suicide, coroner says

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

The death of former medical school president and civic leader Karen Pletz has been ruled a suicide, a Florida county medical examiner said Friday.

Teenage girl shot in Lee's Summit

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

A gathering of teenage girls in Lee's Summit turned perilous Friday when one of them was shot with a handgun, apparently by accident.

KC man pleads guilty in stun gun assault on police

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

A 32-year-old man who fought six Kansas City police officers and turned a sergeant's stun gun against three officers pleaded guilty this week to five city ordinance violations.

Police were watching Pernice, officer testifies

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

It will be at least next week before Northland murder defendant Shon A. Pernice finds out whether prosecutors can use GPS evidence collected after his wife disappeared three years ago.

Predatory plants: Is that a reach?

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

My wife's flower room doubles as my home office, which is a bit like saying a bathroom might double as a kitchen. Some improvisations just don't quite work.

It's 2012, and we're arguing about birth control

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Oh, dear, what is that baying? It sounds like the religious right has let slip the dogs of culture war.

Conservative crowd cheers Kobach

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:34 CST

Speaking to a conservative audience Saturday morning, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach predicted that the U.S. Supreme Court would uphold the stringent immigration laws passed by Arizona and Alabama

Hartzler, tea party face similar challenges

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:27 CST

Leaving a House Republican caucus meeting one morning, Rep. Vicky Hartzler had to pause a moment to get her bearings

Obama team takes a step back on contraception coverage

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:40 CST

Catholics, women's groups and politicians caught in the bitter argument over insurance coverage for birth control remained divided after the Obama administration offered a compromise Friday aimed at quelling a ...

Proposed Kansas abortion ban blocked by abortion foe

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:08 CST

TOPEKA, | An influential anti-abortion legislator is blocking the push for a ban on abortion in the Kansas Constitution, highlighting a split among abortion opponents over tactics and frustrating the ...

Dave Helling | Be both wasteful and efficient

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Tuesday's weird, doesn't-really-count Missouri presidential primary came in the middle of Missouri's weird, doesn't-really-count winter, two facts that help illustrate Helling's first axiom of politics and government, which may be stated thus: Most government endeavors are wasteful. Until they're essential.

Steve Kraske | Missouri primary debacle is costly

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Missouri, we look like fools. We have a presidential primary on Tuesday that doesn't matter, but it's going to cost taxpayers millions.

Joe Robertson | Chronicling lives brings rich rewards

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

My father proposed to my mother on an October night in 1951 bearing seemingly heavy news. "I want you to marry me," he said. "But before you answer me, you need to know we'll never have a place to call home."

Dave Helling | KC faces a taxing decision

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00 CST

We're going to spend this year arguing over government spending and taxes. As the discussion moves ahead, though, we may want to talk about how we collect our money, as well as how much.

Tribute | John Leitt displayed inner and outer strength

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Who: John Leitt, 92, of Kansas City.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler, tea party face similar challenges

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Leaving a House Republican caucus meeting one morning, Rep. Vicky Hartzler had to pause a moment to get her bearings.

Star wins sweepstakes award in Missouri competition

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

The Kansas City Star has won several first-place awards in the Missouri Associated Press Managing Editors newswriting and photo competition, including the sweepstakes award for photojournalism.

Man beaten severely at homeless camp

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Jackson County prosecutors on Friday accused three homeless people of severely beating a 52-year-old homeless man early Thursday, breaking his nose, orbital bone, rib and wrist.

The Watchdog | Traffic signal takes a break from reality on the street

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

If traffic signals were people, you could say there's one in Johnson County that's hallucinating.

Proposed Kansas abortion ban blocked by abortion foe

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Gordon Lamb, former fill-in leader at MU and UMKC, made a difference

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

When Gordon Lamb stepped up to lead the University of Missouri System as interim president in 2007, he said he would not simply warm the chair, but make a difference.

Governor's Habitat Challenge will bring 35 new homes to Joplin

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:20 CST

The 2012 Governor's Joplin Habitat Challenge partners with the Chiefs, Royals and Kansas Speedway in building 35 new homes for those still in temporary housing in Joplin.

McCaskill introducing line-item veto bill

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00 CST

WASHINGTON | Sen. Claire McCaskill plans on Friday to introduce a companion bill to legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that would give President Barack Obama - and future presidents - line-item veto power.

Tour guide at St. Louis museum accused of stealing Civil War-era coins

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

James H. Strassner worked at the Museum of Transportation in west St. Louis County for nine years, leading tours and sharing the history of America's planes, trains and automobiles with countless visitors.

Three Kansas students advance in spelling bees

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Three excellent spellers are moving on to represent the Kansas side of the metropolitan area after winning their local spelling bees.

Liberty play pays tribute to educator who overcame racism, segregation

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Dressed impeccably in a dark gray suit and blue sweater vest, Shelton Ponder walks slowly onto the stage of the old Garrison School, a building constructed more than 100 years ago to educate African-American students in Liberty.

Jury finds cousin guilty of first-degree murder

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

That Reyes E. Olivas killed his young cousin with a butcher knife while the two were home for a snow day at Harrisonville schools was never in dispute. The entire argument at his murder trial was whether Olivas acted with "cool deliberation" when he stabbed Katie Rios, 14, to death two years ago.

Gardner woman delivers baby, is improving after hit-and-run

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

A pregnant Gardner woman injured Wednesday in a hit-and-run collision with a semitrailer is improving at a hospital and has delivered a healthy baby girl, her husband said.

Kansas abortion hearing gets testy

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

A Kansas abortion debate turned nasty Thursday when the leader of a women's group pulled out a rubber stamp and accused a House panel of routinely approving bills restricting the procedure.

Missouri House passes voter photo ID bill

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Nearly six years after the Missouri Supreme Court threw out a law requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID before casting a ballot, the Missouri House has passed the bill once again.

Johnson County Library branches off closings list for now

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

The Johnson County Library system's latest budget reduction scenario for 2013 and 2014 no longer has three libraries on the chopping block.

Teacher evaluation plan removed from Kansas education bill

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

A proposal from Gov. Sam Brownback to post teacher evaluations on school district websites was removed Thursday from a Kansas House education bill after it sparked outrage.

Missouri, Kansas like chances of shedding No Child Left Behind

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

The prospects that Missouri and Kansas schools may soon escape the tightening grip of the No Child Left Behind Act brightened greatly Thursday.

Apartment explosion injures man in Overland Park

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

An apparent explosion and fire in an Overland Park apartment complex Thursday night sent one man to a hospital but in good condition.

Leader is out after 11 years at Baptist seminary in KC

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

After 11 years in office, Phil Roberts is no longer president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City.

Grain Valley teacher had been accused as early as 2008, district says

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

In a letter released Thursday, Grain Valley School District officials said a "concern" first was brought to their attention in 2008 regarding a teacher arrested last month on alleged child sexual abuse offenses.

Assault case against KC mayor's son is dismissed

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

A judge in Kansas City Municipal Court on Friday dismissed an assault case against the Kansas City mayor's adult son, who was accused of punching a woman outside a nightclub in August.

Kansas City Stockyards district has a new direction

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

An effort to build a new hub for creative culture in the West Bottoms gets a big boost next week when a former New York art dealer opens a major gallery.

Obama team takes a step back on contraception coverage

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

What the $25 billion mortgage settlement means to you

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Mortgage relief will go to homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth and are current on payments, as well others who are similarly underwater but not current on their payments. Cash will go to former owners who lost their homes in foreclosures. The question no one seemed able to resolve: Who qualifies for a slice of the pie?

KC mayor wants $1 billion for street repairs, other maintenance

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Kansas City Mayor Sly James called Thursday for a $1 billion infusion of new spending on the city's crumbling streets, sidewalks and other infrastructure.

Not so fast, Eddie: Fugitive in British heist arrested in Missouri

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

He gave it a good run, but not even "Fast Eddie" could elude the law forever.

Lotteries | Friday, Feb. 10

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Friday's winning numbers:

Kansas House leadership details tax plan

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:53 CST

Leadership of the Kansas House today released details of a plan that lowers tax rates while preserving many credits and deductions in an attempt to better help the poor and the working class.

US says signs growing that Syrian elite wants out

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:38 CST

The Obama administration says it is seeing growing signs that the Syrian elite, including people close to President Bashar Assad, are increasingly worried and beginning to prepare exit plans.

Uzbek man pleads guilty in plot to kill Obama

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:11 CST

A man from Uzbekistan who pleaded guilty Friday to plotting to kill President Barack Obama with an automatic rifle claimed he was acting at the direction of an Islamic terror group in his home country.

Woman pleads guilty in NY newborn kidnap case

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:43 CST

A woman who snatched a newborn baby from a New York City hospital in 1987, then raised the child as her own for more than two decades, pleaded guilty to a kidnapping charge Friday as the girl's true mother wept in the courtroom.

Alan Bavley | Numbers make you wonder

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

How is a proposed oil pipeline like a cancer research center? They both come with glowing predictions of bountiful jobs and economic development -- predictions that may come from the very same people.

Community Faces | SPCA builds pet shelters

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:29 CST

The Humane Education Resource Officer (HERO) program of the Heartland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals invited volunteers to its Merriam medical center on Saturday to help build 25 doghouses for pets in need.

Community Faces | Naka-Kon in Overland Park

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:44 CST

Fans of Japanese animation, or anime, flocked to the Overland Park Convention Center as Naka-Kon began its three-day run Friday. The convention celebrates the influence anime has in the Midwest and around the globe by educating people about the many diverse facets of popular and traditional Japanese culture.

Community Faces | World of Wheels at Bartle Hall

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:52 CST

Sponsored by O'Reilly Auto Parts, the 52nd annual World of Wheels show began its three-day run in Kansas City on Friday at Bartle Hall. Besides lots of tricked-out hot rods and motorcycles, the show featured appearances by celebrities and extreme freestyle BMX exhibitions.

Community Faces | Father-daughter Valentine's Dance

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:58 CST

The Matt Ross Community Center in Overland Park held its annual father-daughter Valentine's Dance on Friday night. The magical night included a buffet dinner and an energetic DJ who taught the dads and daughters the latest dance moves.

Community Faces | Monster Truck Jam fans

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:58 CST

Braving a blustery, frigid evening, folks turned out Friday night at the Sprint Center to watch the big trucks.

Crashes on I-435, I-70 create huge tie-ups for morning commutes

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Crashes involving multiple vehicles along the Interstate 435 loop in Kansas City this morning created problems for commuters.

School board 'messed up,' president says

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Park Hill's school board president apologized to the public Thursday night for what she said was a lack of communication during the search for a new superintendent.

The Watchdog | Retriever needed for utility flags

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00 CST

Moms everywhere tell their kids to pick up after themselves. And we all know what dog owners are supposed to do after we canines … oh, you know. So why, asks Janet Karr of Leawood, do utility flags dot the landscape long after construction crews are gone?

Google to start hanging Internet cables today in KCK

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Google Inc. will begin construction today in Kansas City, Kan., on its long-awaited, much-coveted ultrafast Internet service. The company planned to make the announcement this morning in a blog post by Kevin Lo, the Google executive heading up the project.

Google, Unified Government set fees for pole use in KCK

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Google Inc. will pay $10 a year for every utility pole it attaches cables to in Wyandotte County.

Audit: ND university awarded unearned degrees

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:36 CST

Facing pressure to bring in more students as North Dakota's booming oil industry made it tougher to coax new high school graduates into college, Dickinson State University began looking overseas to boost its enrollment.

Philadelphia cardinal's death investigated

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:51 CST

The child-molestation scandal in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia has taken a mysterious new turn, with prosecutors asking a coroner to examine the body of Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua to establish whether he died of natural causes.