Kansas City Star: Yael T. Abouhalkah http://www.kansascity.com/274/index.xml News, sports and entertainment from The Kansas City Star en-us Copyright 2013Kansas City Star Yael T. Abouhalkah 60 Fri, 24 May 2013 10:18:04 CDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's PubSys 1.1.fi feedback@kansascity.com (Feedback) Meltdown in Topeka: Brownback, lawmakers keep horror show going http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/24/4253713/brownback-tries-to-steamroll-kansas.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/24/4253713/brownback-tries-to-steamroll-kansas.html#storylink=rss Fri, 24 May 2013 10:15 CDT Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and the Republican-controlled Legislature can't seem to get anything right. But wait: They did approve some unconstitutional gun laws. Wal-Mart wins in Raytown, Lee's Summit; is Waldo next? http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/23/4251741/wal-mart-wins-in-raytown-lees.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/23/4251741/wal-mart-wins-in-raytown-lees.html#storylink=rss Thu, 23 May 2013 14:16 CDT As recent evidence shows in Raytown and Lee's Summit, Wal-Mart usually gets its way by wooing public officials with the possibility of future tax revenues and wearing down its opponents. How to wisely use KC's taxes: We've heard this before http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/22/4249858/how-to-wisely-use-kcs-taxes-weve.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/22/4249858/how-to-wisely-use-kcs-taxes-weve.html#storylink=rss Wed, 22 May 2013 17:28 CDT Led by Mayor Sly James, Kansas City's elected officials work well together in setting priorities for using city funds. But don't get carried away: History shows politicians, city managers and staff members routinely talk a good game about setting priorities and wisely spending public funds. Good riddance to Missouri's lazy lawmakers http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4241098/good-riddance-to-missouris-lazy.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4241098/good-riddance-to-missouris-lazy.html#storylink=rss Fri, 17 May 2013 10:25 CDT As Missouri's legislative session ends Friday, it's far easier to tally up what the GOP-controlled House and Senate did not do than what they actually accomplished. Sure, KC has made some progress, but let's do even more http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/16/4240050/sure-kc-has-made-some-progress.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/16/4240050/sure-kc-has-made-some-progress.html#storylink=rss Thu, 16 May 2013 15:49 CDT Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Circo is right: Kansas City has made some progress in providing better service, but can still do better. KC Zoo moves 'free admission day" to avoid crowd problems http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4241175/kc-zoo-moves-free-admission-day.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/17/4241175/kc-zoo-moves-free-admission-day.html#storylink=rss Fri, 17 May 2013 10:15 CDT Kansas City Zoo officials have taken an understandable step to avoid crowd-related problems they had the last time free admission was offered to Jackson and Clay county residents. Men still have a tight grip on power in the Kansas City area http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/16/4237211/sorry-women-but-men-still-have.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/16/4237211/sorry-women-but-men-still-have.html#storylink=rss Thu, 16 May 2013 15:16 CDT Here we are in 2013, time to renew a troublesome lament: Whatever happened to all the women holding political leadership positions in this region? And when are women ever going to get to call the shots at lots of local corporations? Obama officials' chilling decision to secretly seize AP phone records http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/13/4233680/obama-officials-chilling-decision.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/13/4233680/obama-officials-chilling-decision.html#storylink=rss Mon, 13 May 2013 17:50 CDT The decision to seize The Associated Press phone records is a chilling development because it shows how far the Obama administration is prepared to go to look into how the press gathers sensitive information about the government. Kill Kyle Flack? No, let him rot in prison http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/13/4232916/kill-kyle-flack-no-let-him-rot.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/13/4232916/kill-kyle-flack-no-let-him-rot.html#storylink=rss Mon, 13 May 2013 11:17 CDT Plenty of people right now would like to skip the trial and get right to the part where accused quadruple murderer Kyle Flack gets the death penalty. Yet while it's understandable to feel that Flack deserves the death penalty, that's not likely to happen as smoothly as many people would hope. If at all. Don't let Yankees fans embarrass KC this weekend http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/10/4228899/dont-let-yankees-fans-embarrass.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/10/4228899/dont-let-yankees-fans-embarrass.html#storylink=rss Fri, 10 May 2013 11:52 CDT Welcome to all the obnoxious Yankees fans from Kansas City, Overland Park, Olathe, Lee's Summit, Blue Springs and other local cities who will be streaming into Kauffman Stadium starting tonight. Fighting City Hall, Wal-Mart, other developers is rough on residents http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/08/4225217/fighting-city-hall-wal-mart-and.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/08/4225217/fighting-city-hall-wal-mart-and.html#storylink=rss Wed, 08 May 2013 14:39 CDT Fighting City Hall is tough. Sometimes residents win, but they commonly lose, too. Developers often carry lots of sway with city officials. Plus, city leaders often care more about what their town will look like in 20 years than what current residents think. Mayor James, a towed car and special treatment http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/08/4224852/mayor-james-a-towed-car-and-special.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/08/4224852/mayor-james-a-towed-car-and-special.html#storylink=rss Wed, 08 May 2013 10:04 CDT It appears the Kansas City Police Department gave special treatment to the situation involving Kyle James' car, which had been towed from in front of the mayor's home in late April to a city lot because it had expired tags. Women shut out of KC's top CEO pay list http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/07/4222967/women-shut-out-of-kcs-top-ceo.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/07/4222967/women-shut-out-of-kcs-top-ceo.html#storylink=rss Tue, 07 May 2013 10:51 CDT Talk about an unbreakable glass ceiling: When it comes to earning the big bucks in Kansas City's world of private businesses, women are nowhere to be found. Colleges, Johnson County held hostage by Brownback http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/06/4221024/colleges-johnson-county-held-hostage.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/06/4221024/colleges-johnson-county-held-hostage.html#storylink=rss Mon, 06 May 2013 10:13 CDT Sam Brownback has fooled some Johnson Countians into thinking he cares about higher education. But this is the same governor who last year was roaming the halls of the Capitol successfully arguing for massive income tax cuts that will hurt higher education in the future. Brownback should ignore Holder's gun letter http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/02/4214462/brownback-should-ignore-holders.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/02/4214462/brownback-should-ignore-holders.html#storylink=rss Thu, 02 May 2013 13:23 CDT Sure, the Kansas law on guns is unconstitutional, as Eric Holder points out. However, Gov. Brownback and the Kansas Legislature are all in this year with their anti-federal, pro-gun stance. Foul ball: Northland scores sports perks without paying tax http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/01/4212658/foul-ball-northland-scores-sports.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/05/01/4212658/foul-ball-northland-scores-sports.html#storylink=rss Wed, 01 May 2013 18:28 CDT This doesn't seem fair: Kansas Citians in Clay and Platte counties were among those who rejected the 2004 bistate tax. Yet now they will get the same perks as the people who approved a different tax to benefit the baseball team in 2006. Big loss for GOP on traffic controllers http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/26/4204142/big-loss-for-gop-on-traffic-controllers.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/26/4204142/big-loss-for-gop-on-traffic-controllers.html#storylink=rss Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:48 CDT So much for all the tough talk from GOP lawmakers about sequestration, making tough budget choices, etc. The supposed deficit hawks knuckled under Friday and approved a bill to fully fund the air traffic control system. Despite protests, Wal-Marts keep coming http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/26/4204117/despite-protests-wal-marts-keep.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/26/4204117/despite-protests-wal-marts-keep.html#storylink=rss Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:19 CDT Plans to open new Wal-Mart stores remain controversial in the Kansas City area. But they keep coming because city officials often want the tax revenues they bring. Three terminals or one at KCI? Four steps to clarity http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/24/4199860/four-suggestions-to-help-resolve.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/24/4199860/four-suggestions-to-help-resolve.html#storylink=rss Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:47 CDT Critics have been out in force, pointing out how convenient the current airport is for many fliers and how the traveling public already has spent $250 million on KCI improvements. So what should the next steps in this debate be? Here are four suggestions. Stop whining about KC's highway improvements http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/24/4199577/stop-whining-about-kcs-highway.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/24/4199577/stop-whining-about-kcs-highway.html#storylink=rss Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:08 CDT Frustrated drivers are whining about all the work being done on I-35 near the downtown loop. But what do these motorists expect? They need to concede that their love affair with cars and light trucks has put us in this position. Petty Missouri lawmakers on the warpath http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/23/4198022/petty-missouri-lawmakers-on-the.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/23/4198022/petty-missouri-lawmakers-on-the.html#storylink=rss Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:58 CDT The Missouri Senate is careening out of control. With irresponsible actions, pouting senators in the last few days have decided to cut the budgets of at least two state agencies that the lawmakers think are dissing them. Popular gathering places will overcome problems http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/17/4187507/popular-gathering-places-will.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/17/4187507/popular-gathering-places-will.html#storylink=rss Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:16 CDT The violence and resulting bad publicity that too often afflict Kansas City supposedly are going to scare people -- especially white suburbanites -- from coming to the Plaza, to the zoo in Swope Park and to a downtown still trying to make a good name for itself. Let's be clear: No, that won't happen. Will mayor avoid these potholes on road to 2015? http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/10/4174491/will-mayor-avoid-these-potholes.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/10/4174491/will-mayor-avoid-these-potholes.html#storylink=rss Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:06 CDT With the 2015 elections only two years away, it's a good time to review Sly James' chances of winning another term as Kansas City mayor. Start with this rather basic question: Who in the world is going to challenge him? Needed: A better pitch for retooling KC's airport http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/03/4160005/needed-a-better-pitch-for-retooling.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/04/03/4160005/needed-a-better-pitch-for-retooling.html#storylink=rss Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:27 CDT Aviation Director Mark VanLoh and the city's elected officials must stop bungling the campaign to build the $1.2 billion terminal. One yawner, one hot race for Kansas voters http://www.kansascity.com/2013/03/27/4147818/one-yawner-one-hot-race-for-kansas.html http://www.kansascity.com/2013/03/27/4147818/one-yawner-one-hot-race-for-kansas.html#storylink=rss Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:33 CDT Voters go to the polls next Tuesday to select mayors to lead two of the largest local governments in Kansas. An uncontested Overland Park mayoral race lacks excitement, while big differences emerge in the Wyandotte County battle for Unified Government mayor.