Kansas City Star: News

District picks up some more momentum

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

It’s a baby step. True, the child should be full-grown by now, finally reaching her potential. But it’s progress nonetheless. I’m referring to the advances made in the 18th and Vine Jazz District.

Not such a simple solution after all

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

For a moment last week, it looked as if a bit of sanity might be restored to federal policy on illegal immigration. The Obama administration announced plans to discontinue a Bush-era rule that sought to force employers to fire workers whose Social Security numbers didn’t match records in federal databases.

As bunny grows, so does his courage

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Marvin is the larger, and the other — the one we call Marvella — a bit smaller. Though in truth, the adjectives large and small hardly are applicable. I saw them for the first time when I went out one recent morning to pick up the newspaper, and almost could not believe my eyes.

Rockhurst High student combines a passion with community service

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Career counselors say it all the time: Do what you love. But the same advice works well for people who want to volunteer. Even if what you love is juggling.

Mercury unlikely to land in KC

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Uncle Sam must have it in for us. First, there was talk that terror detainees might be moved to Fort Leavenworth.

Bob Dole maintains a busy, bipartisan workload

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:15 CDT

The other day, I asked Bob Dole how he was doing. His first two words: “I’m busy.”

The American Institute of Floral Designers symposium

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:54 CDT

The opening of the new Bonner Springs City Library

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:23 CDT

Star Shots | Car drives into lake, Swope Park party

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:45 CDT

8 Man All-Star football game in Liberty

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:18 CDT

Royals lose slugfest 15-9 in Boston

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:59 CDT

Iowa jury awards $7.2 million to Lenexa widow

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

The widow of a Lenexa cameraman was awarded $7.2 million Monday from an Iowa jury that found a pilot mostly to blame for a fatal June 2006 helicopter crash. A Polk County jury found Richard Green 75 percent at fault in the death of Roland Schlotzhauer, who was killed in Iowa while filming the movie “The Final Season.” The film production company was 25 percent at fault, the jury decided.

Fifteen taken to hospital after bus overturns

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

MANHATTAN, Kan. | Fifteen people were taken to a hospital Monday after a charter bus carrying Job Corps students was hit by a tractor-trailer in northeast Kansas, overturned and briefly caught fire. The bus was making a legal U-turn about 2:20 p.m. Monday west of Manhattan when it was struck from behind by a truck carrying road construction materials, police said. The bus skidded into the median, overturned and briefly caught fire.

Crop art created for Topeka hospital's 100th anniversary

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

An environmental artist is helping a Topeka hospital celebrate its 100th anniversary by mowing its logo into a grassy hill. Stan Herd of Lawrence approached St. Francis Health Center with the idea about a year ago. Herd is well known for his crop art, consisting of images created on large fields and visible from aircraft.

Regional jail will open without KC police involvement

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Jackson County legislators on Monday took the final budget steps needed to open the new regional jail, saying police can join the project later but at a higher cost. County Executive Mike Sanders reported that a transfer of $1.3 million to the Public Works Department’s corrections budget would allow county officials to hire more than 60 new guards for the jail, which will be in a county-owned building downtown.

Puppy wash is a Humane Society fundraiser on July 14

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Is it time for your puppy’s pedicure? How about a good old-fashioned scrub? Dogs of all sizes are welcome today at a fundraiser to benefit the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City.

Public safety | Man dies in fall from balcony; victim of motorcycle wreck ID'd; woman sentenced in officer assaults; death of homeless man is ruled a homicide

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

KANSAS CITY | Man dies in fall from balcony A night of partying ended tragically early Monday when a 27-year-old man tumbled off a second-floor balcony in Kansas City and died.

Lotteries | Winning numbers for Monday, July 13

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Monday’s winning numbers: •Missouri Pick 3

Drastic cuts proposed for Wyandotte County budget

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Facing a drastic reduction in tax revenues, Wyandotte County’s Unified Government is proposing drastic remedies, including furloughs, pay freezes and the closing of the Wyandotte County Museum. County Administrator Dennis Hays made those and other grim proposals Monday evening when he delivered his recommended 2010 budget.

KBI celebrates its 70th anniversary of assisting Kansas police

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation chased bank robbers and rustlers in the 1930s. Now, changing with the times and crimes, it goes after killers, rapists and methamphetamine makers. The group, which started with just 10 agents, turned 70 years old this month.

Pilot's father says aggressive maneuver preceded fatal crash in Missouri

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

The father of a pilot who died practicing for a Missouri air show said she was trying an aggressive maneuver, but he didn’t know why she went down. Chandy Clanton, 36, of Lincoln, Neb., died Friday near Tarkio.

Bonner Springs residents seem thrilled with new library

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

When Mayor Clausie Smith cut the ribbon Sunday to open Bonner Springs’ new library, a throng of patrons walked through the doors under a quote from Thomas Jefferson. It read: “I cannot live without books.”

Public safety news in brief | Gunman surrenders at VA hospital in Topeka

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

TOPEKA | Veteran with gun surrenders at hospital A gunman who entered a Veterans Affairs medical center in Topeka on Sunday surrendered without hurting anyone and is now a patient at the hospital, officials said.

The Watchdog | Here's a better way to keep drivers in line

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

The problem Pam Keenan of Kansas City wonders if something can be done to minimize the lane-changing hazards she encounters when driving north on Brookside Boulevard, approaching the 47th Street intersection near the Plaza.

Lottery numbers | July 11, 12

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Sunday’s winning numbers: •Missouri Pick 3

Consideration to cut funds of Tour of Missouri is purely political

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

News that budget cuts might cancel the upcoming Tour of Missouri raised even the least politically savvy of eyebrows. Nothing figured. With less than two months before the start of the seven-day, cross-state tour of elite cyclists, why would the tour even be considered for budget cutting?

Munday on Monday

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Up too late Another hour, still

Museum supporters acquire a site

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Supporters of a museum dedicated to central Kansas’ role in training B-29 bombers during World War II are celebrating another step in making the museum a reality. Organizers recently acquired a parachute building in Pratt, Kan., on a former B-29 air base. The building, already on the National Register of Historic Places, was designed to be tall enough to hang parachutes to be aired out and repacked.

Johnson County to offer master gardener classes

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Is your thumb green enough to teach others about gardening? If so, sign up for classes to learn how to become a volunteer master gardener at the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension office. Classes cost $125 and will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Tuesday from Sept. 15 through Nov. 17.

Tribute | Kenney B. Hicklin poured his life into self-published autobiography

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Who: Kenney B. Hicklin of Kansas City Age: 98

Residents in KC's Northeast area want a ‘prostitution-free' zone

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Will Royster is fed up with brazen street prostitution and drug deals eroding the character of his historic Northeast neighborhood. Royster and others want the city to turn the area into a “prostitution-free” zone that could bar convicted streetwalkers from their neighborhoods.

KC rolls out its first Party in the Park

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Swimmers, musicians, hikers, gardeners, photographers, anglers and even some bowlers turned out Saturday for Kansas City’s first Party in the Park. A laundry list of events dotted the day as well as the expanse of Swope Park. They marked the city’s celebration of National Recreation and Parks month.

Man charged in fatal shooting in Ottawa, Kan.

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Police charged a 24-year-old man in connection with what they believe was a fatal shooting in Ottawa, Kan. Police identified the victim as Sky Nicole Cadarette, 19, of Ottawa. She appeared to have died from a single gunshot wound, but police said an autopsy would determine the cause of death.

Kansas secretary of state won't seek re-election

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

After 15 years in office, Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh said Saturday that he wouldn’t seek re-election next year. Thornburgh spoke to about 40 people at a meeting of Republican Women United. When asked if he planned to run again for secretary of state, Thornburgh replied: “The short answer is no.”

Sunflower State Games get under way in Topeka

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

TOPEKA | The Sunflower State Games have started in Topeka, with a record 43 athletic events to be held over three weekends. The games, in their 20th year, are amateur athletic competitions in numerous sports for athletes of all ages.

Lawrence restaurant owner takes dispute with underage drinker to TV's ‘Judge Judy'

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

A Lawrence restaurant owner who was busted for selling alcohol to an underage drinker blames the customer for using a fake ID. So he’s taking his case to a higher court. Well, a more visible court, anyway.

Medicare is slow to collect its money

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

WASHINGTON | Stephen Bough says his law client owes Medicare several thousand dollars and is eager to pay, if only he knew how much. Medicare isn’t saying.

KC to get All-Star Game in 2012

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

ST. LOUIS | First thing you see is a giant baseball, 12 feet in diameter, signed by Derek Jeter and Ted Williams and Hank Aaron. It’s in Guinness World Records, and sort of an unofficial welcoming here at baseball’s All-Star FanFest. It’s also a heck of a metaphor for what’s coming to Kansas City.

On health care reform, businesses big and small have divergent approaches

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Asking what business wants from health care reform is a lot like asking which religion or which political candidate is best. Some businesses would be delighted to end the current employment-based system, which serves about 170 million Americans. It’s a costly administrative headache.

Sotomayor confirmation hearings likely to have an impact well beyond the bench

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

WASHINGTON | When Sonia Sotomayor takes her seat today in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, she finally will add her own voice to those that have been arguing publicly for confirmation of the first Latina Supreme Court justice. How she answers the questions of Republican committee members will help determine whether charges from her critics persist about her ability to apply the law fairly.

Appeal of the outdoors tough sell to video game generation

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Look around next time you’re out fishing. Chances are that a lot of your fellow anglers will remember where they were when John F. Kennedy was shot. It turns out adults in their 20s or 30s just aren’t going outside that much. One author even calls it “nature deficit disorder.”

Schools aim to inspire more students to college

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Darrell Walker is one of the lucky ones. And he knows it. He surveys a room filled with fellow Kansas City, Kan., School District students who, like him, come from families with little or no history of college.

Petition urges CVS to unlock condoms in stores nationwide

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Physician Sharon Lee knows the embarrassment of buying condoms. “I used to buy condoms myself, and it’s not an easy thing to do,” said Lee, director of Southwest Boulevard Family Health Care in Kansas City, Kan.

Prayers, healing could mean path to sainthood for Kansas priest

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

COLWICH, Kan. | On the first day — long before the lawyer from the Vatican showed up, long before talk of saints and miracles — young Chase Kear lay on the edge of death in the intensive care unit. It was an accident: pole vaulting.

Feuding festers between KC and Police Department

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Disputes rumble on over the new jail, over dozens of police cars in storage and over red light cameras. With all that and more, at least everyone can agree on one thing: Relations between the leadership of the Kansas City Police Department and the city government have hit a serious pothole.

Medication errors harm millions of Americans each year

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Slurred speech. Disorientation. Memory loss. Morris Ganaden thought he was having a stroke. So did doctors in two emergency rooms, but brain scans and other tests turned up nothing wrong.

KC man arrested in slaying of four at Raytown apartment

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

For four months, people wondered who would break into a home and kill four persons, including two young brothers, ages 10 and 7. Authorities said Friday it was Gevante E. Anderson, whom relatives have identified as a former boyfriend of the boys’ aunt.

Natural gas provides bright spot in energy picture

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Oil and gasoline prices get the attention, but plummeting natural-gas costs are quietly freeing up billions of dollars and possibly setting up one of the cheapest heating seasons in nearly a decade.

Record numbers turn to food pantries for assistance

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Ellen Jewett’s eyes well with tears and her lower lip quivers as she talks about what she must do next week: go to a food pantry for groceries. “You have to swallow your pride,” Jewett said. “It’s not a bad thing to ask for help.”

Troops drinking more, but fixing the causes will be formidable

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

It’s easy to understand why our troops are drinking more, and that their drinking is becoming more troubling. Two wars. Constant deployments. Combat stress. Friends killed or maimed. Time away from home.

Recession forces more older workers to put off retiring

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

The recession is keeping some older workers on the job beyond the time they intended to retire. In some industries, such as nursing, that's a good thing — it's helping ease worker shortages. In other workplaces, the lack of turnover is keeping younger workers from landing jobs.

Truck-only lanes for I-70? Missouri says it's possible

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

All the asphalt in the world can’t repair a heart. Three years ago, James Garrett lost his mother and grandmother in a fiery crash on Interstate 70 when a tractor-trailer rammed a line of cars from behind.

Tour of Missouri may lose state funding, which may cancel this year's race

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

JEFFERSON CITY | Responding to a request from Gov. Jay Nixon for budget cuts, the Department of Economic Development this week moved to freeze $1.5 million in state funding for the Tour of Missouri, a weeklong bicycle race scheduled to spin through Kansas City.

Sprint contracts Ericsson to handle networking operations

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Sprint Nextel is transferring the day-to-day operations and maintenance of its networks — along with 6,000 Sprint employees and up to $5 billion — to a Swedish telecom company.

Raids take aim at dogfighting network

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

Authorities seized more than 400 dogs early Wednesday in a multistate raid that animal welfare groups said dismantled the “largest dogfighting operation in U.S. history.”

Little Known (tax free) Veterans Benefit (up to $23,396 annually)

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:53 CDT

Dennis G. Williamson, CSA recently attended a (3) day training event in Topeka, Kansas to learn more information about a little known and very valuable Veterans Administration benefit. Although this benefit has been around since 1951, it is very rarely utilized because people simply do not know what is required for them to apply and qualify. For example, although (2) million Americans qualify for this particular benefit, only 143,000 veterans and their widows are currently receiving it. If a veteran or a veterans’ widow qualifies for the benefit, it can lead to an annual paycheck of up to $23,396 in tax free dollars. read more

NoRTH Hosts Second Summer Experience Session

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:43 CDT

NoRTH HOSTS SECOND SUMMER EXPERIENCE SESSION LEAWOOD, Kan. – After a sold-out session for its debut, NoRTH will continue offering cooking demonstrations in the restaurant through September. This month’s second Summer Experience Session will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 22. Guests are invited to a cooking demonstration class set up in the restaurant’s dining room hosted by Executive Chef Ryan Foxworth and General Manager Frank Giacomini. For $40 a person, guests will enjoy an exhibition culinary experience plus a three-course meal featuring cuisine from NoRTH’s menu and unique wine pairings. The menu will include: strawberry goat cheese salad, spaghetti and meatballs and nutella cake. read more

The Kansas City Boys Choir (KCBC) and The Kansas City Girls Choir (KCGC) 13th Annual Scholarship Banquet

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:40 CDT

Grammy Award Winner Brian Kennedy to speak and perform at Annual Scholarship Banquet (Kansas City, MO) The Kansas City Boys Choir (KCBC) and The Kansas City Girls Choir (KCGC) will hold its 13th Annual Scholarship Banquet at 6:00 PM Sunday August 7, 2009. This year’s keynote speaker is Grammy Award Winner, two-time ASCAP Music Award Winner, Multi-Platinum Award Winner, and KCBC Alumni Brian Kennedy. The banquet will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel located at 2345 McGee Street in Kansas City, MO. The organization will celebrate and congratulate eight graduating seniors this year. They are: Keara Carruth, Aaron Childress, Anthony Mondaine, Christopher Russell, Logan Smith, Leonard Tann, Ja’Ron Stearns, and Austin Washington. Each of the graduates will receive a scholarship to help with tuition at the college of their choice. In its 14th year under the artistic direction of Founder Ah’Lee Robinson, the KCBC and KCGC is best known for performing a wide range of song and dance which includes contemporary, read more

AT&T Pioneers Provide Support to Head Start of Shawnee Mission, Inc.

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:31 CDT

News Release Thursday, July 23, 2009 Contact: Renee Miller Community Relations Coordinator Head Start of Shawnee Mission, Inc. Office: 913-649-9714, Ext. 228 rmiller@smks-headstart.org read more

Diary of Mayor Funkhouser's wife reveals she was upset with council members, city staff, media

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:15 CDT

A 2008 journal kept by Gloria Squitiro shows the mayor’s wife was deeply upset with City Council members, city staff, the media and even her husband. The diary was one of two disclosures Monday in the long-running lawsuit filed against the city, Mayor Mark Funkhouser and Squitiro by former mayoral aide Ruth Bates.