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Morning Rush: Condoleezza Rice warns of Russia, Greitens’ ethics, Vargas trips up

Welcome to The Kansas City Star’s Morning Rush, where we get you ready for the day ahead.

Here’s what you need to know:

Rice warns of Russia

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised the appointment of former FBI Director Robert Mueller to investigate Russia’s role in the 2016 election, Bryan Lowry reports. Rice spoke at the Kansas City Public Library downtown Wednesday, where she also called Russian interference in the election a “troubling development” and a “hostile act.”

Greitens’ ethics

Jason Hancock reports that while Gov. Eric Greitens had some victories in his first legislative session, he also saw his signature campaign pledge to reform ethics rules and ban lobbyist gifts collapse.

Mizzou woes

The Star’s editorial board writes that the University of Missouri’s Columbia campus sits at a critical juncture following budget cuts, declining enrollment and bad publicity. Work must be done to ensure it remains Missouri’s flagship institution.

Vargas trips up

The Royals’s Jason Vargas showed everyone he is human, Rustin Dodd writes. After lowering his ERA to 1.01 — the best start to a season in his career — Vargas was roughed up Wednesday by the Yankees.

Entertainment preview

New movies open Thursday: “Alien: Covenant,” “Everything, Everything” and “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul.”

This story was originally published May 18, 2017 at 7:43 AM with the headline "Morning Rush: Condoleezza Rice warns of Russia, Greitens’ ethics, Vargas trips up."

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