Video Games "Not Addictive" - Then Read This

A couple in Reno-Nevada has been charged with child neglect and authorities say it's because the couple played video games all the time.

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KANSAS CITY'S WEATHER: Watch Still In Effect

ST Watch 517 Continues in effect for the original Metro KC counties until midnight.

STATUS REPORT FOR WS 517

SEVERE WEATHER THREAT CONTINUES FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS

KSC091-103-209-150440- KANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE JOHNSON LEAVENWORTH WYANDOTTE

MOC025-033-041-047-049-089-095-107-165-175-177-195-150440- MISSOURI COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE CALDWELL CARROLL CHARITON CLAY CLINTON HOWARD JACKSON LAFAYETTE PLATTE RANDOLPH RAY SALINE

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KANSAS CITY WEATHER UPDATE: HIGH WINDS IN PLATTE COUNTY MO

REPORTS OF TREES DOWN AND ONE REPORT OF A "NON-INJURY ACCIDENT- CAR VERSUS A TRAMPOLINE" ARE COMING OUT OF PLATTE COUNTY MO..

TREES ARE REPORTED "ACROSS THE ROADWAY" AT "STARK AND 120TH STREET" AND IN LAKE WAUKOMIS "AT 382 NORTH SHORE."

WIND GUSTS OF AROUND 60 M.P.H. ARE LIKELY OVER THE CITY AS THIS STORM APPROACHES!

SECURE OUTDOOR ITEMS NOW...

BULLETIN: A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHWEST JACKSON-CO-MO NORTHEAST JOHNSON CO-KS- SOUTHERN PLATTE & CLAY COS-MO.. UNTIL 9 PM..

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KANSAS CITY'S WEATHER: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR PARTS OF METRO K.C.

The warning's in effect for Platte county MO and Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties KS..

Quarter-size hail and wind gusts around 60 m.p.h. possible.

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KANSAS CITY'S WEATHER: Latest Weather Radar

That cluster of red you see northwest of the KC Metro is heading right for us- and should begin to affect northern Metro areas within the next 30 minutes- spreading southeastward over the next 2-3 hours.

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KANSAS CITY WEATHER: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH No. 517 Valid Until 11 pm For K.C. Metro

The Kansas City Metro- except for Cass county MO and Miami county KS- along with northern and northeastern portions of the MetroRegion have just been placed under Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 517 until 11 pm this Saturday night.

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CENTRAL STATES WEATHER: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH No. 516 Now In Effect For Large Part Of Kansas

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman-OK has issued Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 516- valid until 11 pm CDT for portions of northeastern through southwestern Kansas as well as the Oklahoma and Texas panhandles.. Click on image below to see if your county is included in this watch. Thunderstorms continue to develop in coverage and intensity from southeastern Nebraska to central Kansas. Cells will be moving generally from northwest to southeast.

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Cell Phone Use Cited In Fatal New York Crash

Four teens died last week in a crash in New York- and now investigators say that text messages sent and received on the victims' cell phones may have played a big part in the crash.

A story of bad-driving drivers using cellphones- NO!

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KANSAS CITY-CENTRAL STATES WEATHER: Weather Radar Update

Still no weather watches issued in our area- storms have developed as you can see on the image below- in southeastern Nebraska and even northwestern Missouri.Bigger thunderstorms are off this image to the west and northwest in Kansas.

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Pro-Lifers Needed In Georgia

If a man is convicted to death for a crime- but his lawyers says they now have evidence that the man convicted to death for that crime didn't do it- you would THINK that justice- REAL justice would prevail.

Yet- a Georgia judge has thrown out such an appeal by a man scheduled to die Tuesday.

In other words- the State of Georgia seemingly wants to kill a possibly innocent man.

I would think then- that HUGE numbers of pro-life believers would be converging on Savannah in the next few days.

Somehow though- I'm NOT counting on that to happen....

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KANSAS CITY-CENTRAL STATES WEATHER: Still A Chance For Severe Storms In The Next 6 Hours Or So

The very latest NWS-SPC severe storm forecast or outlook still depicts (click on image below) the K.C. MetroRegion and a swath of other central states in a "slight risk" area for severe thunderstorms through 7 am Sunday morning.A check of the current weather synopsis shows storms should being firing up anytime now- it appears first in north-central Kansas- then along the cool front to our north slowly sagging toward us.

Check here or tune in your fave TV and/or radio source for the latest weather information- as soon as any watch is issued I'll post it.

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Another Of Your At Least $12.5-Million In Tax Dollars Down The Drain- Literally

All that bagged ice that was intended for Hurricane Katrina victims (Aug-Sept. 2005) that's been kept in storage to the tune of $12.5 million is being melted down as wastewater.

Another reason I do not hold anything against people cheating on their taxes- it's YOUR MONEY and all the government does is waste huge sums on ice and Follies.

Heh- I think there a pun frozen in there somewhere....

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Wonder Why Gas Prices Went Up? U.S. Trades North Korean Reactor Shutdown For Oil

I guess- when it comes down to the Ultimate Truth- leaders of nations aren't much different than children: Bribe them to get them to do what you want.

That appears to be the case of the "free" world versus North Korea's dictator- who has been promised "1 million tons of oil and other financial and political concessions" to shut down his nuclear reactor.

Another wager- I'll bet that this isn't the last time we deal with North Korea and atomic energy.

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L.A. Catholics Will Settle Sex Abuse Cases For $600-Million

Tell me good people- just what the HELL is wrong with this picture- when the clergy of your church- and apparently more than just a few- are caught in such deviate behavior?

Why- you pay the victims off is what.

You fans of the Pope had better increase you tithings- the Los Angeles Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic church has agreed to settle with their victims of clergy-abuse- to the tune of a whopping "at least" $600-million.

Rest assured as well- this agnostic gets NO pleasure seeing people of God acting like so many Satanists as The End of Days rolls closer.

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Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Says America Can Leave "Anytime They Want"

Is yesterday too soon Mr. PM?

The man that the Iraqis (or Americans) selected to lead THEIR NEW DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT- and I quote this directly from the Associated Press article- has said "Iraqi forces are capable and American troops can leave "any time they want.""

Did you hear that Dubya? We have the Iraqis permission to LEAVE IRAQ. You can spin that Dubya- "We left because the Iraqis said they are capable and that we could leave."

I'm wagering Dubya STILL won't be getting Americans out of harms' way in Iraq anytime soon- that the ONLY Americans leaving Iraq in the next 6 months AT LEAST will be on stretchers or in body bags.

Any takers?

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Brian May Of Rock Band Queen To Dedicate New Telescope In Song

Some of you may already know that Mr. May- longtime lead guitarist for superband Queen- also has a doctorate in astrophysics.

Brian is writing a musical score to celebrate the dedication on Canary Island of the world's newest and one of the most powerful reflector telescope- scheduled to be fully operational in May 2008.

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KANSAS CITY NEWS OVERNIGHT: Nothing Newsworthy

No overnight news here because there really wasn't anything worth reporting- unless of course you have pictures.

Time for some shut-eye so will be up for the forecasted storm-fest later today.

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International Food Fight- Now China Claims American Meat Is Bad

With all the bad products coming out of China lately- what better way to retaliate than to claim your stuff is bad.

That's exactly what China is doing in it's claims of tainted meats from such health-conscious American corporations as Tyson and Cargill.

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Emergency Dispatchers Led To Lake Tahoe Fire Spread

Incredibly- at least 2 callers had reported the fire to 9-1-1 dispatchers in the area- but the dispatchers blew off the callers by telling them the smoke was from an unrelated "controlled burn."

The fire eventually burned 3100 acres- 264 homes and cost more than $12-million to extinguish.

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CENTRAL STATES WEATHER: Severe Storm Risk Area Includes Kansas City MetroRegion

Refer to the image below and you can see the area that's included in a slight-risk for severe thunderstorms later today and tonight.

The Kansas City MetroRegion is included in this area.

According to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman-OK in the first "Day-1" outlook this Saturday morning- meteorologists say "AS A RETURN OF MID/UPPER 60S SURFACE DEWPOINTS OCCURS- STRONG HEATING ALONG A NARROW CORRIDOR FROM PARTS OF EASTERN KANSAS THROUGH NORTHERN MISSOURI/NORTHERN ILLINOIS IS EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO MIXED LAYER CAPE ON THE ORDER OF 1500-3000 J/KG. AND- FRONTAL FORCING SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT A BROKEN LINE OF STORMS- WITH ADDITIONAL CONVECTION POSSIBLE WHERE INHIBITION WEAKENS NEAR SURFACE TROUGH SOUTHWESTWARD ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHERN KANSAS."

That's good enough for me. Watch for possible watches- and warnings later today inside the green lines.

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Condo For Midgets

Has to be when the AP says both a construction worker fell 140 feet then "24 stories" to his death in Miami today.

If 24 stories covers 140 feet in this "35-story" building under construction- then it must be a condominium for midgets as that comes out to slightly more than a height of 5.8 feet per floor.

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The 1-Billion Dollar Fence

That's the CURRENT estimate to install fence along the Mexican border- and no way that fence across all 370 miles of the border is going to get done "by the end of the year" as Dubya says.

Old saying: If you want something done wrong and over-budget- call in the government.

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KANSAS CITY'S WEATHER: Possibility Of Strong- Severe Storms In The MetroRegion Saturday

This is according to the Storm Prediction Center's (SPC) latest Day-2 storm outlook.

I'll post updates on this developing situation over the next 12 hours-especially after midnight- when the new Day-1 outlook covering Saturday is issued.

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Huzzah For Mike Ditka

I LOVE that guy!

'Iron' Mike's fighting to get former NFL players the compensation they so rightfully deserve.

BOYCOTT THE NFL until the rich- greedy bastards take care of the old players too....

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Fellow Blogger Says It Best: Get Off Of Mayor Funkhouser's Ass

Heh- although in a little spicier with the language than I would be- Xavier Onassis on his blog 'Hip Suburban White Guy' says these other local bloggers so critical of the job Mayor Funkhouser JUST GOT INTO should sorta-maybe STFU and let him have some TIME to get things running his way.

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Citizen Letter From KC-MO Mayor Funkhouser: "Notes From Funk's Front Porch" VI

Welcome to Funk's Front Porch

13 July 2007

Dear Folks,

First on my mind this newsletter cycle is to say thank you for all the support you have given us this past week in response to the media coverage regarding our family; it sure has meant a lot to know that you are behind us so solidly. The cards, emails and flowers choked us up at times, but in a good way! I was particularly moved by tenacious supporter Bill Drummond when he told me that he was a member of the GSA (Gloria Squitiro Army) – he’s probably the only member, but I’ll take what I can get. We were also moved by a letter to the editor written by a widower who longed to have his wife back as a full partner in his daily life; how we wish we could help fulfill his desire. Thank you again for bolstering us up. As before, we promise to work hard to keep your faith and trust in us.

Funk has asked Councilwoman Jan Marcason to run with her idea of organizing a Council retreat in the near future. The purpose of the one-day event would be to develop a strategic plan that outlines the priorities and goals of the Council as a whole, and what they would like to accomplish in the next four years. This is a brilliant idea. Any time you come together as a group, you can accomplish much more than by standing alone.

We are beginning to enter the water with regards to lending the support of the Mayor’s office to the school district. During the campaign, there was a constant, heartfelt theme as to what the community wanted the new Mayor to address once in office, and the schools were one of the biggest themes. We are all very excited to begin the preliminary stages of planning for a citywide, community-focused summit on schools.

The Council had a very spirited business session this past Thursday about extending the city’s moratorium on new billboards. You would have been proud of your City Council in action, and, in fact, several citizens came up to me afterwards to say that they have never seen a better-run session. Council members John Sharp and Beth Gottstein did a wonderful job of drafting and getting passed what will almost definitely be the final moratorium before a new ordinance is passed regarding the subject.

The Mayor was in Amsterdam this past week to discuss his book on auditing around the world. He is getting ever so close to having the first, and most dreaded, draft done by the end of this month. I won’t hold my breath though, lest I run out of air.

We hope you have a relaxing week with loved ones.

All the best,
Gloria & Mark

You can respond to this newsletter at funksfrontporch@gmail.com

Please help us by forwarding this email to as many people as you think might want to be more informed about their city government.

The Mayor’s top ten priorities:

1. Establishing a good working relationship with the Council
2. Getting the City’s finances in order
3. Making downtown work
4. Tending to our neighborhoods
5. Implementing the Housing Policy task force recommendations
6. Improving the perception and the reality of public education in Kansas City
7. Reducing Crime
8. Repairing our sewer systems
9. Establishing an excellent regional transit system, which includes light rail
10. Improving citizen satisfaction with City services.

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Florida Army Reservist Fighting 5th Deployment To Iraq

Bully for Army Reserve Sgt. Erik Botta saying enough is enough!

These people are RESERVISTS- not Regular Army! What does this government think people's limits are?

I say if Dubya wants to continue this madness- he and his family should don fatigues and GO THEMSELVES!

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American Troops Now Fighting Iraqi Police

In the further adventures of Bush's Folly known as the "war" in Iraq- it's been reported that the American military got into a battle with the police who reportedly had Iranian ties.

Six of those Iraqi police were killed.

It ain't workin' folks!

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While Stock Market Reaches New Highs- Consumers Close Their Wallets

Comsumer purchases dived in June- according to this report from the AP and the Department of Commerce.

Many folks apparently did like I do- quit buying all the unnecessary bright- shiny crap we're bludgeoned with constantly on the Boob Tube.

Please- someone explain to me then why the stock market hasn't crashed like a BIG dog yet? Is Corporate America making that much off us?

The new petroleum plateau looks to be around $3 per gallon now- has ANY OF YOU gotten a raise in pay to reflect that rise?

AMERICA! Quit feeding the monster- tighten your belts and save a little money in the process.
Raise your voices to stop the insanity.

People make more noise about abortion than they do all the young- VIABLE Americans being lost in an insane "war" being run by a president on some bizzare acid trip.

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America's News Media - NOT 'Working For You'

I always thought that was the lamest slogan ever devised- other than "fair and balanced."

There is nothing "fair and balanced" about the corporate news media as I have espoused on this site ad nauseam.

There is every bit as much danger to the American citizens for what we're not being told as there is what they spew under the guise of "news."

Fellow K.C. Dan over at his blog Gone Mild- elaborates on this 'liberal media' with his post "Hot Gas & America's Conservative Media."

He makes the point that even though the EMPLOYEES of a media outlet may have liberal leanings- the OWNER of said media outlet has their own agenda which is usually anything BUT liberal.

The 'Illumnati' wants anything but being illuminated.

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Bad 'Taste Of Chicago' For More Than 120 People

Those 126 people got salmonella food poisoning at Chicago's well-known 'Taste of Chicago' food festival last week. Ten of the victims were reported hospitalized.

All were said to have eaten at the Pars Cove Persian Cuisine booth. The 10-day long festival ended last Sunday.

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Avandia - Control Your Diabetes - Die Of Heart Attack

The AP article states that now 3-times the number of people taking this drug have reported associated heart problems.

Yours truly's secret to living 116 years?

Five to ten stoogies a day - drinking (only to excess) and chase wealthy wimmen....

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KANSAS CITY WEATHER UPDATE: No Severe Storms - Maybe None At All

That's the way it's looking.

Although the radar image below shows showers and a few thunderstorms upstream or northwest of the KC Metro- this activity has been weakening now that the sun has set.
In addition- the latest NWS-SPC severe storm outlook has pushed the slight-risk area westward into Kansas- Topeka's on the eastern boundary.

All the stronger storms appear they'll miss Topeka too.

It will no doubt rain enough here in south KC-MO to get dirt spots on the vehicle I washed yesterday- but not much help for the tomato plants.

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Two Planes Nearly Collide At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

It's reported that yesterday- a United flight missed a taxiway and came onto a runway where a Delta Airlines jet was landing.

Controllers there were able to get the Delta flight to pull up and circle around while the United flight continued to Dulles International near Washington D.C..

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KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING NEWS: Possible Drowning At Oceans Of Fun

Details are sketchy- but about 30 minutes ago KC-MO firefighters and MAST-EMS reponded to the Oceans Of Fun amusement park for "a drowning victim."

C.P.R. was being performed on the victim while they were on the way to a Northland trauma center and no sex or age of this victim was given.
----

UPDATE - 2250 CDT - The victim- reported to be a teenaged male- is reportedly "breathing on his own" at Children's Mercy hospital- as reported by NBC41 News.

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CENTRAL STATES WEATHER: Much Of Northwest And Northern Kansas In Storm Watch

The closest that Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 514 comes to the K.C. MetroRegion is near Manhattan-KS.

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WS 514
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
520 PM CDT THU JUL 12 2007

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 514 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 100 AM CDT FOR THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

COC001-005-017-039-063-073-125-130600- /O.NEW.KWNS.SV.A.0514.070712T2220Z-070713T0600Z/

CO . COLORADO COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

ADAMS ARAPAHOE CHEYENNE ELBERT KIT CARSON LINCOLN YUMA

KSC023-027-029-039-041-051-053-061-063-065-071-089-105-109-123-
127-137-141-143-147-153-157-161-163-167-169-179-181-183-193-195- 199-201-203-130600-
/O.NEW.KWNS.SV.A.0514.070712T2220Z-070713T0600Z/

KS . KANSAS COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

CHEYENNE CLAY CLOUD DECATUR DICKINSON ELLIS ELLSWORTH GEARY GOVE GRAHAM GREELEY JEWELL LINCOLN LOGAN MITCHELL MORRIS NORTON OSBORNE OTTAWA PHILLIPS RAWLINS REPUBLIC RILEY ROOKS RUSSELL SALINE SHERIDAN SHERMAN SMITH THOMAS TREGO WALLACE WASHINGTON WICHITA

NEC057-061-065-083-087-129-145-169-181-130600- /O.NEW.KWNS.SV.A.0514.070712T2220Z-070713T0600Z/

NE . NEBRASKA COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

DUNDY FRANKLIN FURNAS HARLAN HITCHCOCK NUCKOLLS RED WILLOW THAYER WEBSTER


ATTN...WFO...BOU...GID...GLD...TOP...DDC...ICT...
....

So far- no indications of a watch being issued that would include the Metro- but stay tuned....

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Goodbye Lady Bird Johnson

Even though I didn't think much of her husband who got & kept us into the quagmire known as Vietnam- Lady Bird seemed every bit a real and classy lady.

God Speed Miss Lady Bird....

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FWH: "Bush Dismisses CIA Leak As Old News"

In related stories- Corporations dismiss American workers- product safety and customer service and Americans dismiss George W. Bush as their leader- citing incompetance.

You're dismissed George.

George?

GEORGE?????

Ah yeah that's right- Dubya don't care what the American people think.....

(Actual story HERE)

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It Must Be A Slow News Day

HAS to be- when KCTV-CBS5 "News" runs a story about an abandoned car on the shoulder of a local freeway catching fire.

Gee Channel 5- down to running stories of car fires.

Well- no worse than other stations showing chopper pix of car fires and sheds burning I guess.

It's all about the pictures- not substance in local news these days.

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GOVERNMENT PROBE: The NRC Gave License To Fake Company

If you can't trust the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to THOROUGHLY check out people and companies licensed to deal with radioactive materials- WHO THE HELL CAN WE TRUST?

Read this shocking article- then take a Valium.

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CONSUMER PROBE: Recall Of Battery Packs

I'm including this story 'cause I know a lot of people use these particular products- from the AP article:

"About 1 million battery packs used to power drills, saws, radios, flashlights, wrenches and Extractor windshield glass removers, manufactured by Milwaukee Electric Tool Co., because damage to a vent while the pack is in use could cause the battery to explode. The company has received 35 reports of incidents, including 11 injuries from battery packs exploding while in use. The recall includes 14.4- and 18-volt 2.4 Ah NiCd Milwaukee Power Plus, Chicago Pneumatic and Extractor battery packs manufactured between July 1999 and February 2004. Details: by phone at 800-729-3878; by Web at or http://www.milwaukeetool.comhttp://www.cpsc.gov"

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KANSAS CITY'S WEATHER: Storm Chances Still Good

If you will refer to the link to the NWS-SPC HERE- you will see a rather odd configuration of the areas included in a "slight risk" of severe thunderstorm from now until 7 am Friday.

Now- the northern half of the MetroRegion is in such a risk area.

There is a line of thunderstorms north of the K.C. MetroRegion (click on satellite-radar images below. This line is moving generally south to southeast- if these storms hold together (new ones may well develop ahead of this line)- they could be into our area by sunset.

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KANSAS CITY'S WEATHER: Severe Storm Risk Today For K.C. MetroRegion - Large Part Of Central States

As you can see by the NWS-SPC image below- the area inside the green line is a "slight risk" area for possible severe thunderstorms and their various types of goodies.
Valid time of this forecast is 7 am CDT this Thursday morning to 7 am Friday morning- July 13 and it's updated several times during the day HERE.

This risk area stretches from extreme southeastern Wyoming- eastern Colorado and extreme northeastern New Mexico eastward through Kansas and Missouri into central Indiana.

It's mainly a hail and wind threat- with the "isolated tornado" possible in the eastern portions and the western portions of the risk area (not around KC).

It's also a flash-flood threat wherever thunderstorms sit or repeat over the same areas- especially those with recent rainfall.

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London-England Jeweler Ripped Off For $20-Million

Two well-dressed- fine-rided and armed men made off with a reported $20-million in jewels and gems from a London jeweler on July 5.

As if Scotland Yard don't have their hands full with terrorists and wot.

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Space- The Area Between Our Ears- Keck II Telescope In Hawaii Sees Young Galaxies

Astronomers have been able to use a new technique that allows the world's biggest telescope on Mount Mauna Kea to see out into space- to galaxies only 500-million years old.

Now- who else has seen a UFO????

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With Dubya As Their Poster Boy - Al-Qaida At Pre-9-11 Strength

Except for the poster boy part - the rest is more-confirmingly true- according to U.S. intelligence experts (which in itself seems a contradiction of terms).

Why wouldn't bad-ole al-Qaida be "rebuilt" to as strong as they were when they cold-cocked us on that fateful September day- especially when their leader OSAMA BIN LADEN is still alive and well in God-knows-where but not Dubya.

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Survivors Of NYC Firefighters Killed on 9-11-01 Blast Giuliani

Parents- brothers and sisters of the 343 New York City firefighters killed when the 2 World Trade Center buildings collapsed have "released a video" criticizing then-Mayor Giuliani for mistakes in that homicidial disaster.

Giuliani's committee to have him elected King of America have dismissed the parents- brothers and sisters of those firefighters- calling the video a "mockumentary"- among other remarks made by various Giuliani henchmen- according to this AP article.

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Possiblity Of Excessive Rain In South-Central Kansas - North-Central Oklahoma Thursday

The latest NWS' Hydro Prediction Center (HPC) forecast has a "slight" chance (see below graphic) of excessive rainfalls in a period from now until 7 pm Thursday evening.

Cities included in this forecast include Wichita- Winfield- possibly as far east as Coffeyville-KS as well as Ponca City- Blackwell and Bartlesville in Oklahoma.

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Sorrow Abounds As Coffeyville-KS Flood Victims Return

Floodwater and oil make for a sickening mess- and some of the victim's stories are heart-wrenching.

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Stupid Chicago-IL Law Fines Man For Sleeping On El

According to WGN-9 News in The Windy City- a Chicago man was ticketed for "sleeping" on a commuter train.

He was on his way to work & had closed his eyes for a short snooze when he was tapped on the shoulder and asked to accompany a CTA cop who wrote him up.

The case was thrown out in court today- the man could have faced a $300 fine for what HAS to be an idiotic law.

The People's Republic Of Chicago?

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Nixon Library Depicted Watergate As A "Democratic Setup"

You're supposed to go to Hell for lying- right?

But all that will be changing now that the "privately-operated" (who'd want to stick taxpayers for it?) library will move under the auspices of the National Archives.

No confirmation that the purchase has been closed on an abandoned 7-11 store for the Dubya Library.

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Manhattan-KS A Finalist For $450-Million National Bio- and Agro-Defense Lab

Manhattan is one of the finalists in 5 states for the laboratory that will study animal diseases.

Manhattan would be a natural- with the Kansas State University's extensive agricutural research.

Good luck "Little Apple!"

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AOL-Time Warner To Pay For Crappy Customer Service

Many know somebody who has gone through the AOL account cancellation nighmare over the past year or so.

A number of them I know won't do business with Time-Warner- let alone AOL- to this day because of the nightmare they had to go through to cancel their AOL accounts.

AOL-Time Warner has agreed to pay the states who were suing them $3-million and reemburse people still charged for things after they cancelled their service (AT&T's good for that one too) among other changes.

Of course- today's settlement song and dance when AOL-T-W says they "didn't acknowledge any wrongdoing in the settlement."

Yeah- right....

Next- we'll attack local company SPRINT for cancelling people "who complained too much."

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Former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson Dies

Wife of former president Lyndon Johnson- Lady Bird Johnson- has died in Austin-TX..

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WDAF-4 Touts Independence-MO Hockey Arena- No Mention Of Cuts To Bus Service

It kind of makes me wonder if 'DAF is an Indy civic booster or a "news station."

They did a smoozy piece on Independence's new arena in the making- but NO MENTION that the City of Independence cut subsidies for their public transportation.

After all- only POOR PEOPLE ride busses. RICH(ER) FOLKS go to arena events.

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The MIAMI COUNTY (KS) REPUBLIC: Osawatomie "Flood Victims Grapple With Lack Of Insurance"

Nearly all of the Osawatomie residents flooded out earlier this month didn't have Federally-subsidized flood insurance.

The REPUBLIC article HERE tells how- among some help available to those victims without insurance- low-interest government loans will also be available.

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OK Major (Money) Leaguers- Step Up For Coffeyville-KS's Kids

Among the casualties of the record flood in Coffeyville is their youth baseball stadium.

According to one official with Red Ravens baseball team in the Jayhawk League- quoted in the COFFEYVILLE JOURNAL article: the stadium was virtually destroyed by floodwaters and oil.

Wouldn't it be nice if every major league ballplayer in the Central States (KC- Minnesota- St. Louis- Texas- Chicago- Denver) gave say- $5000 each to the kid's league so they can repair the stadium so the kids can play?

Step up to the plate Major League Baseball- this town and their kids NEED your help!

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Oops- It's Not SUPPOSED To Rain Today- BUT...

But as you can see by the below radar image- centered on Topeka-KS- that showers and thundershowers have been moving out of northern Kansas and southern Nebraska this morning. (The concentric rings are centered over Downtown KC-MO- each ring indicates 25-miles.)

Athough the activity is moving generally southeastward- there is every indication showers and a thunderstorm are possible over at least the western half of the KC MetroRegion today- especially around the Topeka area- with better chances of precipitation tomorrow as another cool front moves in.

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Michigan Store Fires Employees Watching Iraq Soldier's Funeral Procession

Dock their time? No.

Reprimand the employees? No.

Polly's Country Market of Jackson-MI fired 2 employees who watched the funeral procession of a local young man killed in Bush's Folly - they didn't punch-out their timecards to do so.

I think grocery customers in Jackson should fire Polly's Country (Russia?) Market.

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Dogs Evolving Faster Than Humans

This one in Victoria-TX is anyway.

The dog's owner brought home a male kitten that she found under the hood of her truck- and the dog while not pregnant- started producing milk and let's the male kitten feed from her.

Do you think we could learn anything from that dog?

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Flooded-Out Coffeyville-KS Residents Allowed To Go Home

It's been nearly 2 weeks since record floodwater from the Verdigris River spilled over into this southeastern Kansas town.

Today- those residents of Coffeyville that fled the rising water will be allowed to go back to their homes- or what's left of them.

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Five Dead In Florida Plane Crash

The crash occurred earlier today in suburban Orlando.
Two of the dead were on the plane- 3 others killed in 2 homes struck and burned and several others included children in serious to critical condition.

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"Homeland Security" Chief Chertoff Warns Of Possible Terrorist Attack

Roll the fear slide - raise the color on the terrorist alert.

There could be a terrorist attack this summer- "a gut feeling" Chertoff says.

We're not worried about terrorists with all the gun-toting Americans around.

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KANSAS CITY'S BREAKING WEATHER: SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING- SOUTH LAFAYETTE COUNTY-MO

Warning for large hail until 5 pm.

Storm moving southeastward toward JoCo-Mo.

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Robin Williams For President

I got this email- originating I'm sure from the Robin Williams for President committee. I'm just going to share it- without comment...

Robin Williams' plan... (Hard to argue with this logic!)

"I see a lot of people yelling for peace
But I have not heard of a plan for Peace. So, here's one plan."

1) "The US will apologize to the world for our "interference" in their affairs,
Past & present. You know, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Tojo, Noriega, Milosevic, Hussein, And the rest of those "good ole boys", we will never "interfere" again.

2) We will withdraw our troops from all over the world, starting with Germany, South Korea, the Middle East, and the Philippines. They don't want us there. We would station troops at our borders. No one allowed sneaking through holes in the fence.

3) All illegal aliens have 90 days to get their affairs together and leave. We'll give them a free trip home. After 90 days the remainder will be gathered up and deported immediately, regardless of whom or where they are. They're illegal!!! France will welcome them.

4) All future visitors will be thoroughly checked and limited to 90 days unless given a special permit!!!! No one from a terrorist nation will be allowed in.
If you don't like it there, change it yourself and don't hide here. Asylum would never be available to anyone. We don't need any more cab drivers or 7-11 cashiers.

5) No foreign "students" over age 21. The older ones are the bombers. If they don't attend classes, they get a "D" and it's back home baby.

6) The US will make a strong effort to become self-sufficient energy wise. This will include developing nonpolluting sources of energy but will require a temporary drilling of oil in the Alaskan wilderness. The caribou will have to cope for a while.

7) Offer Saudi Arabia and other oil producing countries $10 a barrel for their oil.
If they don't like it, we'll go someplace else. They can go somewhere else to sell their production. (About a week of the wells filling up the storage sites would be enough.)

8) If there is a famine or other natural catastrophe in the world, we will not "interfere." They can pray to Allah or whomever, for seeds, rain, cement or whatever they need. Besides most of us know that what we give them is stolen or given to the army. The people who need it most get very little, if anything.

9) Ship the UN Headquarters to an isolated island someplace. We don't need the spies and fair weather friends here. Besides, the building would make a good homeless shelter or lockup for illegal aliens.

10) All Americans must go to charm and beauty school. That way, no one can call us "Ugly Americans" any longer.

11) The Language we speak is ENGLISH...learn it...or LEAVE...

Now, isn't that a winner of a plan?

The Statue of Liberty is no longer saying "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses.

She's got a baseball bat and she's yelling, 'You want a piece of me?'

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Kansas City Gasoline Gouge Gets Worse

Like I've once said here- the gas prices go up- then fall to a new- higher plateau- then all over again.

As most of you fellow drivers know- gas hit $3.10 a gallon (ok- $3.099) here early today. It had gone up to $3 YESTERDAY from that new- higher plateau of around $2.85 a gallon for us Missourians.

Fill up everybody! Cruise! Road-trip! I'm keeping "Harry" in the driveway as much as possible- f-them!

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Man Jumps From KC-MO's Liberty Memorial

It appears a man in his 30's jumped- according to KC-MO police- from the observation deck of the 217-foot landmark Liberty Memorial around 2:30 pm this afternoon.
The Liberty Memorial's observation deck was closed as police investigate.

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Kansas City MetroRegion Weather Update: Storm Chances Diminishing

As you can see by the radar image below- all the strong thunderstorms developed south of the KC Metro and continue moving southeast.

There are no watches or warnings in effect for the 50-mile radius of Downtown K.C. MetroRegion.

The actual cold front is moving over Metro KC now- with only widely scattered activity in the Metro counties.
There is one heavy storm cell over and south of Richmond and a lesser-intensity cell in far southeastern JoCo-KS..

Earlier- one moderate cell developed north of Gladstone-MO- but died out as it passed south along the I-435 corridor.

Metro KC should be precip-free after 7 pm and at least two very pleasant summer days ahead.

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In Beijing-China - Do NOT Drink The Water

There's a big flap over "counterfeit water cooler suppliers" in China's capital.

It's only by reading the article one discovers that most Beijing residents do not drink city water from their taps because of aging pipes.

Maybe we could sell them some water from the judged best municipal drinking water in the U.S. of A. - Kansas City-MO water (I wondered if it didn't contain a dose of TIF though).

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One Reason I Am An Agnostic

You can read about some document the Pope approved in it's entirety HERE.

The statement apparently gleaned from the "document" that turned me off?

It was the old "my God's better than your God" B-S: "Orthodox churches were defective and that other Christian denominations were not true churches."

The Great Spirit- through me- sighs.

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Two Killed In Fall From Broadcast Tower In Douglas County-KS

Two men- reported as "technicians" died around 9:30 am this morning when they fell 300 feet from a broadcast tower.

The 2 victims fell from the KMCI Channel 38 television tower near Eudora in northeastern Douglas County. They were reported to be employees of a cellular communications company.

KMCI is owned and operated by Scripps-Howard who also owns and operates NBC 41.

An investigation is underway.

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CORRECTION - 1221 CDT - I have just learned from sources at my employer- NBC41- that "THIS TOWER IS NOT OWNED BY SCRIPPS-HOWARD."

The tower where this accident took place "...was sold to a firm in Topeka last year" the source stated.

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Hall Possibly Gets Death Penalty For Kelsey Smith's Murderer

If I were to bet on how the outcome of the trial is going to be- led by pro-lifer (?) JoCo-KS District Attorney Phil Kline- it'd be that the D.A. would not be so "pro-life" on kidnapper and murderer Edwin Hall.

Personally- I just can't sanction government murder in the "name of the people" (I'd like to see the victim's families have a go at a convict FIRST)- but I would be willing to throw these type of criminals in dungeon-like prisons with only the barest of necessities.

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KANSAS CITY'S WEATHER: Frontal Thunderstorms Expected- Flash-Flood Threat Small

A cold front is racing southeastward toward the KC MetroRegion- and will likely pass through the city sometime later this afternoon- between 3-6 pm.

Thunderstorms should rapidly develop along this front over then next 2-3 hours- a few storms have already developed near Cameron-MO. Storms should move from the northwest to the southeast- generally.
While we could get some strong storms with gusty winds- small hail and torrential rains- the storms will be moving today- so the threat of anything more than localized brief high waters or ponding will be small.

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The Incredible Man In A Flying Lawn Chair

Kent Couch is no 'couch potato.'

With helium-filled balloons attached to a lawn chair- Couch took off- his intended destination- Idaho.

Couch didn't make Idaho- he landed 193 miles east of Bend-OR unharmed.

Kudos to a brave adventurer like Kent Couch- kind of like yours truly when he bagged some tigers in Africa.

I bagged them to go away but they insisted on staying for tea.

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Body Of Missing UW Student Found

Twenty-two-year-old Kelly Nolan had been last seen on June 23 after bar-hopping with friends in Madison-WI..

Monday morning- Kelly's body was found by searchers about 10 miles south of Madison.

These abductions of young women must stop! Ladies- be vigilant- be alert- ready to act! Yes- I agree it sucks that we can't live out our lives without such fears.

We still can't find Kara Kopetsky- all knows what happened to Kelsey Smith- now we have Kelly Nolan found slain.

The streets are seemingly becoming overrun by deranged- homicidal maniacs and we- law-and peace-abiding citizens- must keep an extra eye out for our sisters and cousins and neighbors.

If you see ANYTHING suspicious- act then and call 9-1-1!

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READER POLL: Who Do You Like For President in 2008

Hilary or Obama? Fred or John? None of the above 'cause- like me- you won't vote for either party?

This is for the readers of Captain's daily garbage- Who do YOU like for a presidential candidate for next year's election.

Tell me and everyone else who YOU like below by clicking below on Voice Your Opinion On The Subject.

I'm not going to comment on folk's selections and- as is the Geoffrey Spaulding's policy here- NO CENSORSHIP of any kind- we all SHOULD be adults here

After all- this IS the people's blog- freedom of information keeps freedom in our nation.

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Indian Creek Stages - July 9

Below is a chart of the water levels of Indian Creek this afternoon.

Note the very light precipitation amounts at the gage site- but up to 3.5-inches fell in the northern part of Indian Creek's watershed- north of a diagonal line from about I-435 & Quivira- to about 95th Street and Mission Road.

INDIAN CREEK AT 103RD STREET & MARTY - OVERLAND PARK-KS
Flood Stage: 14-feet.

Date / Time (CDT) Gage height,ft. Streamflow (ft³/s) Precip total,inches
07/09/2007 15:15 5.61 9.9 0.01
07/09/2007 15:30 5.70 14 0.11
07/09/2007 15:45 7.74 453 0.35
07/09/2007 16:00 9.55 1,470 0.39
07/09/2007 16:15 10.94 2,640 0.06
07/09/2007 16:30 11.50 3,220 0.00
07/09/2007 16:45 11.60 3,330 0.00
07/09/2007 17:00 11.59 3,320 0.00
07/09/2007 17:15 11.93 3,710 0.00
07/09/2007 17:30 12.11 3,920 0.00
07/09/2007 17:45 12.23 4,070 0.00
07/09/2007 18:00 11.99 3,780 0.00
07/09/2007 18:15 11.52 3,240 0.00
07/09/2007 18:30 10.36 2,110 0.00
07/09/2007 18:45 9.14 1,200 0.00
07/09/2007 19:00 8.31 733 0.00
07/09/2007 19:15 7.87 510 0.00

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OP-KS's Indian Creek Went Wild

Indian Creek at 103rd STreet and Marty- first light west of Metcalf was just a bit more than 3 feet from it's 14-foot flood stage- as seen on the below graphic.

This is the latest available reading- I would say that since the heavy rain has moved out for the time being- this is now level or falling.

This flood crest will pass downtream and right now- there is no immediate threat of additional heavy rain in the vicinity of 103rd & Marty.

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NHC Chief Proenza "Temporarily Resassigned"

The director of the National Weather Service's (NWS) National Hurricane Center (NHC)- Bill Proenza- has been "temporarily reassigned"- away from the NHC of course.

Maybe he can get a job as Bill Maas' publicist.

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KANSAS CITY'S WEATHER: Current Radar

People living in eastern Independence and northern Blue Springs should be alert as well for flash-flooding.

All storms are moving VERY SLOWLY eastward.

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WHere Is A Flash-Flood Warning NWS

So far- only weather updates from the NWS Pleasant Hill office has been "possiblr gusty winds and small hail" from this huge storm cell over the I-435 corridor in Lenexa and OP-KS..

Heck with them- I'm issuing a "flash-flood advisory" for Indian- Turkey and Brush Creeks for the next 2-3 hours. Flash flooding IS observed on OP-KS traffic cameras on 95th St. in front of Oak Park Mall.

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KANSAS CITY WEATHER UPDATE: More Than 3-Inches In Central OP-KS

Here's the latest radar-indicated rainfall - red area indicates 3.25-inches.

This area seems to be centered between 79th and 95th Streets along Metcalf.

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KANSAS CITY'S WEATHER: Thunderstorms With Torrential Rains In The Metro

Thunderstorms continue to increase in intensity and coverage- right over the 6 KC Metro counties.

Of particular note is the northern parts of Johnson County KS- where- refering to the below image- more than 2-inches of rain has fallen in the past hour and a half.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS- AND THERE IS A CHANCE OF FLASH-FLOODING.

AREAS AROUND INDIAN- TURKEY AND BRUSH CREEKS SHOULD BE WATCHED FOR THE NEXT 3-4 HOURS.

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Iraq War Veteran Is Las Vegas Hero

Remember this fine American's name - Justin Lampert.

This North Dakota native was the first man to attack the shooter in the New-York New York hotel and casino in Las Vegas early last Friday.

Mr. Lampert served his country in Iraq- then served his fellow Americans AGAIN when he was the first man to tackle and subdue the shooter- Las Vegas resident Steven Zegrean.

Justin Lampert quickly got help from others that morning- another also a serviceman.

Mr Lampert- you are my kind of Human Being- and I do believe I owe you a beer or two if you ever stop in Kansas City....

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Texas Flood Woes Continue- New Round Of Rain Possible

Searches for flash-flood victims continue- one was found near Austin Saturday- a victim of an SUV that was swept away by floodwaters.

The 2nd victim in that SUV has not yet been located.

Torrential rains fell about 50 miles southwest of Dallas yesterday- producing yet another round of flooding.

Weather radars are already lighting up with precipitation echoes over eastern Nebraska and central Kansas this Monday morning.

A cool front working slowly southward from the Northern Plains will slow down or stall over or as it approaches Oklahoma- and there's the threat of new rains in areas already devastated by flooding over the past month.

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Wildfires Continue To Erupt- Kills 1 In South Dakota

A fast-moving wildfire destroyed 20 homes and killed a person near Hot Springs- SD.


Fires in the West continue to burn or flare up anew in record heat and dryness.

For now- homes threatened in Winnemucca-NV are safe- others are evacuated in Arizona and Washington State.

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Cindy Sheehan vs. Nancy Pelosi

Cindy Sheehan- Gold Star mother turned anti-war activist- says unless House Speaker Pelosi begins impeachment proceedings again Dubya by July 23- Sheehan will run against Pelosi as an independent in the next election.

Why are people surprised the Demoblicans haven't done anything? Both parties are corrupt liars.

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Any Landing You Can Swim Away From...

It looks like there was good luck even with bad luck when this NYC tourist chopper went down in the Hudson River. Appears the worst injuries were getting doused with the river's water.In the image- see those big- bright yellowish things on each side of the helicopter's front bubble? Those pontoons kept that baby from sinking and disaster with all aboard when it hit the water.

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Five-Day U.S. Precipitation Totals Forecast Map

The graphic was issued at 0517 CDT Sunday morning and is valid from 7am this morning through 7 am next Friday the 13th.

Updated forecast maps can be found HERE.

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07-07-07

I think if I see one more news media story on people getting married yesterday I'm gonna' hurl!

Why- why- WHY does the media beat things to death? Weren't there any DIVORCES yesterday?

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Car Bombs Explode In Baghdad- 26 Die

Oops- thought we had the CITY secure since we're out running around in Baghdad's 'burbs trying to secure THOSE areas.

Two car bombs blew up Sunday morning within 5 minutes and a mile of each other.

Trying to stop a suicidal maniac car-bomber in Iraq is like trying to keep ants out of your house- you may stop them here but then they pop-up over there- and there- and there....

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Thank You - World's Musicians

"Live Earth" went off without a hitch yesterday on 7 continents.

Musicians donated their time and talents for concerts around the globe.

The concerts were held to raise awareness that Mother Earth is sick and if we don't act fast and now- the consequences WILL be horrendous....

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The Kansas City MetroRegion Overnight News and Weather Report - Sunday, July 08, 2007

** SHOOTINGS INJURE MALES IN BOTH KANSAS CITYS **

... In KC-KS- a male was seriously wounded by 2 gunshots to the back in the 600 block of Kansas Avenue at 1:53 am..

The victim was taken to a KC-MO trauma center- since Wyandotte County's only trauma center- K.U.- was closed. No suspect information was heard.

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... In KC-MO- the call came in at 1:33 am for a shooting at 39th Street and Broadway.

Here a 19-year-old male received a non life-threatening gunshot to his ankle- apparently delivered by a drive-by shooter in a green car.

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** HOUSE FIRES IN KC & AMSTERDAM-MO **

... The KC-MO fire was dispatched at 12:51 am- a house on fire in the 4000 block of Indiana- and possibly still occupied.

Firefighters arrived 2 minutes later reporting the back of the house on fire- but after searching the interior crews didn't find anyone trapped inside. The fire's under control at 1:04 am..

The home was moderately-damaged and Red Cross was called for the occupant who turned up later. No one was injured.

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At 4:18 am- a fire was reported in a house in Amsterdam-MO in northwestern Bates County.

The occupants escaped uninjured- but firefighters from Amsterdam- Amoret- Drexel and Archie are still battling the fire as of 7 am Sunday morning. There have been no reports of injuries.

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** MAN FALLS OUT A WINDOW - A CAR CRASHES INTO AN APARTMENT BUILDING IN LAWRENCE-KS **

... The fall was in the 100 block of Hanover Place at 3:19 am. There was reported a "male had fallen 30-feet out a window."

Apparently he either didn't fall that far or something broke his fall- for his injuries were reported as not immediately life-threatening as he was taken to the Lawrence hospital.

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No one was injured just after 6 am when a compact car crashed halfway into an apartment building in the 500 block of Frontier Road.

EMS did report 3 people shaken up by the unusual wake-up call however.

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<><><> OVERNIGHT WEATHER <><><>

Another crystal-clear night in the MetroRegion with light south winds and temperatures in the 70-75 degree range at dawn.

The chances for showers and thunderstorms will increase late Monday into Tuesday as a cool front approaches. The front will slow down as it approaches our area- weather models are indicating the front may stall near or south of the MetroRegion.

If the front does stall- there again is the chance for heavy rain where it does.

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First with Metro Kansas City Breaking News - NBC41 ACTION NEWS.
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