K.C. MetroRegion-Metro WEATHER UPDATE: S.T.-Watch No. 116 Continues- May Extend Eastward

The Severe Thunderstorm Watch is still in effect for southwestern through northwestern portions of the Kansas City MetroRegion.

The Storm Prediction Center MAY extend this watch eastward into the K.C. and St. Joseph areas soon.

Here are the latest visible satellite and weather radar images for our area:

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K.C. MetroRegion WEATHER: NWS-SPC; Severe T-Storm Watch No. 116- KS-NE

The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 116 for a large part of eastern to northeastern Kansas and southeastern and eastern Nebraska until 8pm.

ST-Watch No. 116 includes cities as Topeka- Lawrence and Ottawa-KS..

Metro Kansas City is NOT included but could see thunderstorms- some strong- later this Saturday evening.

Here are the watch graphics:

Here is the latest Central States visible satellite and Topeka weather radar images:

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The Old and The New - Kansas City's Paseo Bridge

The 4-lane Paseo bridge over the Missouri River was built in 1954 and soon carried the new Interstate 35 IN 1956.

It was a toll bridge until the early 1970's. The removal of tolls didn't help the congestion on the bridge and it's feeders south into downtown and north to I-29's beginning.

As many Missouri bridges- the Paseo suffered lack of preventive maintenance and had to be closed for repairs on an emergency basis in 2003.

In 2005- the bridge was again closed for re-surfacing the roadway and application of the bridge's more-appealing blue paint job.

A new- eight-lane bridge (with no accommodation for rapid transit) is being built just east of the old Paseo bridge- the new to carry the name Bond bridge (although many will still call it the Paseo bridge- like the Grandview Triangle still is that) .

In these images (click for full size) - you can see that the new bridge's deck is twice as wide as the old bridge..

The new Paseo bridge and the I-35 corridor improvements- at a budgeted cost of $245-million- is slated to be completed by Halloween 2011.

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A Metro Kansas City News Observation - Overnight - Saturday - April 4

For the most part- the citizens of Metro Kansas City behaved themselves.

A man in his 30's is in serious condition at an area medical trauma center after being shot around 1:15am near 25th Street & Elmwood in East KC-MO..

Police didn't have much to go-on in this drive-by- other than they were looking for a black or dark-blue late-model Chevy Tahoe.


Another man got shot in the foot near 39th Street and South Benton around 3am.. Police followed- stopped and apprehended possible suspects in this crime before the victim was transported to a hospital.


KC-MO firefighters are putting out the hot spots after a vacant house caught fire in the 11400 block of Jackson around 4:15 am..

There's so far no injuries and a fire investigator is enroute to look this one over.


Volunteer firefighters in Johnson County MO are wetting down bales of hay after the metal building the hay was stored in caught fire and collapsed around 2:35am Saturday morning.

No injuries here either.

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A warm and windy day in store today. There's a chance of showers and thunderstorms late this Saturday evening- with a cold front sweeping in by this time Sunday morning.

I won't tell you what we could see a little bit of Sunday here in the Metro....

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BREAKING NEWS: Mass Shooting- Hostage Incident in Binghamton-NY

MSNBC is reporting as many as a dozen people may have been killed by an unknown gunman in Binghamton-NY.

The incident is reportedly at a building containing the American Civic Association in downtown Binghamton.

(Image courtesy of Google Maps)

At least 4 people- reportedly gunshot victims- have been taken to area hospitals.

Police reportedly have entered the building and are searching for the gunman- reported earlier to have as many as 40 hostages.

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Like KC-MO's "Leaders"- An Irresponsible Family

Here's a family that acts sort of like Kansas City's City Council instead of taking care of REAL priorities:
That family's income dropped drastically recently- so in order to continue to pay for their season tickets to the Royals and Chiefs- the family has made some cuts.

Like KC-MO and the police and fire protection- this family cut their security alarm service. No problem the husband said- he hope their neighbors step up and watch over their house more often.

Like KC-MO and the ATA- this family also cut-out usage of their cars- eliminating late-night and weekend errands or trips. Do without or walk.

Like KC-MO- this family has drastically cut donations to charitable organizations and have restricted free-time activities available to their kids- the latter the parents figure will stay busy playing mind-numbing video games or just hanging out with their friends (who- unknown to the parents- use drugs and are into petty- so far- crime).

Of course- one of the parents in this family wanted to just drop the sports season tickets rather than cut everything else that might benefit the family's well-being.

The other parent of course ignored that request and kept the season tickets- to HELL with all other family needs and concerns.

Recent news is that family is falling apart and that a divorce is now in the offing. Hopefully- the kids will go to the more-responsible parent.

Unfortunately- Kansas Citians have to wait until the next election.

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Sense of Relief- Humor In Flood-Weary Fargo-ND

As the Red River continues to fall in Fargo- at least one resident decided to add a touch of humor- setting up these penguins on one of the temporary levees.

(Photo courtesy of The Associated Press)

The river in Fargo stands below 38 feet today- after a record crest of 40.82 feet Sunday.

The high water heads north toward Grand Forks- as you can see in this image

that northeastern North Dakota town is snug behind their new flood protection system built after the disasterous 1997 flood.

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President Obama- Where's Outrage Over Wall Street Honchos?

At last count- Wall Street greed-mongers have sucked up more than $250-BILLION American taxpayer dollars to extricate themselves from their horribly mis-managed mess that (still) threatened America's financial security.

Those greed-mongers and their other Wall Street minions have gotten millions of dollars in bonuses which were actually taxpayer dollars with simulated outrage expressed by many Washington D.C. pollys.

Of all those billions of dollars going to Wall Street- there STILL are no regulations in place to prevent Wall Street greed from running rampant again.


On the other hand the American auto makers- companies that actually make a product- have received less than $50-billion of American taxpayer welfare.

With this bailout- the present Administration wants yet MORE sacrifices from America's auto workers.

So which group SHOULD Obama be pressuring for change at their corporate top?

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Central States WEATHER: NWS-SPC: Severe T-Storm Watch No. 95- KS-OK

The NWS' Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has moved the "slight risk" of severe thunderstorms area southward away from Metro Kansas City.

However- areas southwest of the MetroRegion are under Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 95 valid until midnight.

Please refer to the graphics for watch details and specific Kansas and Oklahoma conties included.

(Click-on images for full size )

Here are the latest Central States-MetroRegion and Metro visible satellite and weather radar images.

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Kansas City's BREAKING NEWS: Aircraft In Trouble Enroute To K.C.I. Airport

Officials at Kansas City International airport say a Northwest Airlines passenger jet has smoke coming from an engine and is flying back to K.C.I..

An "Alert-2" fire response has been sent to the airport at 12:39pm..

There are no reports of the number of passengers on board nor any other info at this time.

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UPDATE - 1243 CDT - That Northwest airlines jet has landed safely and without incident at K.C.I. airport.

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K.C. Metro-MetroRegion WEATHER: NWS-SPC: "Slight Risk" of Severe T-storms Tonite

While we see the last of the 5-inch snowfall melt today- a new storm system brings a slight risk of a severe thunderstorm squall line forming in the area this Monday evening.

As shown by the graphic (click-on for full size)- most of the southwestern through southeastern parts of the Kansas City MetroRegion- including the southern K.C. Metro- are in this "slight risk" area of mainly large hail and possible severe wind gusts above 58 MPH..

The risk is this Monday evening- from about 6-10pm for this line to develop and move through.

This is Storm No. 2 in what promises to be an active 7 days weather-wise in the K.C. MetroRegion.

What we'll see too over the next few weeks is an increased flood risk in our region.

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