A Saturday Morning Visible Satellite Look At Tropical Storm Alex

Alex appears to be the first significant tropical weather system of 2010 to threaten to strike on or near the US mainland.

Tropical Storm Alex is south of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and will move over Yucatan- weaken- then move back out over the warm Gulf of Mexico waters south of Texas.

There's no mention yet from the Natrional Hurricane Center (NWS-NHC) of Alex reaching hurricane strength and no 100% assurance that the oil gusher-plagued areas around Louisiana- Mississippi- Alabama and Florida won't be affected by Alex's future movement.

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Rape Reported in Cass County MO

Early Saturday morning- the reported victim of a sexual assault appeared at the main gate of Loch Lloyd- an exclusive secure community west of Belton.

Belton Fire and EMS-along with the Cass County Sheriff's department received the call from Loch Lloyd security from the 16800 block of Holmes Road around 1:16 a.m..


No official information has yet been released from the sheriff's department- but the vicitm is believed to be a teenage female who was transported by Belton EMS to a Metro hospital.

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CSW BREAKING: House Fire With 2 Injured in South-Central KC-MO

Two adults have been injured in a house fire in the 6200 block of Bellfountaine in south-central Kansas City.


The alarm came in at 6 a.m. and five fire companies responded.  The first company arrived at 6:03 a.m. reporting "smoke showing from a single-story" house.

The injured occupants were reported several minutes later- and 3 EMS units were sent to the scene.

The victims reportedly suffered burns and smoke inhalation- but when EMS arrived and assessed the patients- it was determined the injuries were minor.


Two handlines were used on the fire- now under control and investigation.

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Two Critical Injuries in East Independence MO Rollover Crash

Two men were critically injured when the SUV they were riding in rolled-over early Saturday morning.

The crash was reported at 2:48 a.m. at M-7 highway and Strode Road in eastern Independence.

Both occupants were ejected from the vehicle during the crash- and were taken by AMR-EMS to a Northland medical trauma center in critical condition.

IPD was investigating the involvement of alcohol in the crash.

Please watch KSHB-41 NBC Action News at 8 a.m. for a video report.

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House Gutted By Fire in South Blue Springs MO

When the 2:13 a.m. alarm was sounded- dispatchers for the Prairie Township Fire District (PTFD) in Jackson County didn't have an exact location of the fire- but they were getting "numerous calls" on the blaze.

Fire companies from Central Jackson County and Lake Lotawana Fire departments were sent in anticipation of a working fire and that was confirmed when about 10 minutes later the first PTFD engine reports "a column" of smoke and fire from 6 blocks away.

The burning house is in the 4600 block of Southwest 8th Street- and for more than 30 minutes- fire crews didn't know if there was anyone inside- until an occupant arrived at 2:43 a.m. to confirm that there wasn't.

The house was 80% involved in fire- and is 100% destroyed.

No report of anyone hurt- and an investigation is underway to determine the fire's cause.

Please watch KSHB-41 NBC Action News at 8 a.m. for a video report.

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CSW BREAKING: "Possible Drowning" at KC-MO's Oceans of Fun

At 3:27 p.m.- Kansas City MO emergency service received information about a "possible drowning" at Oceans of Fun- located in the Northland at I-435 and Northeast Parvin Road.

Emergency responders were advised to meet Oceans of Fun security at the main gate and they were to be "led" to the victim.


However at 3:32 p.m.- the dispatched fire department pumper- 34's- had arrived at Oceans of Fun and were told- apparently by OOF security- that "their (the fire department's) services were not needed."


KC-MO FD-EMS transported the "29-year-old female" patient who reportedly had "been caught between 2 tubes" at the water park and needed to be "pulled out" of the water "by lifeguards-" conscious and in good condition except for "chest pains" to a Northland medical trauma center...

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Lunar Eclipse Across Central- Western US Saturday

Tomorrow morning there's going to be a partial lunar eclipse that will be visible to more of us in the Central and Western United States.

In the Central Time zone- the eclipse will begin in the western sky at 5:17 a.m Kansas City time Saturday morning- reaching it's maximum of 54% coverage at 6:38 a.m. CDT..

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Republicrats Cut-Off Americans' Unemployment Benefits

This is what the "No Party" does- it approves tax breaks and bailouts for the wealthy and corporate interests- but leaves ordinary Americans like you and I twiddling our fingers or worse.

The Washington Republicrats' latest slap-in-the-face to the American people is causing extended unemployment benefits to be cut-off to millions of jobless (thanks to corporate Republicrats) Americans.


We DO have an alternative- but it involves something many Americans seem afraid to do:  VOTE!

I don't mean for Republicrats OR Demublicans- lest we just get more blah- blah- blah and watch America's continued collapse.

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NWS USA Temperature and Precipitation Outlook for July 2010

If the following National Weather Service (NWS) forecast images are to be believed- cool and wet weather is forecast for much of the Kansas City MetroRegion  and Central States in July.

At least the 6 to 10 Day forecast (valid through July 3) still calls for above average temperatures and below average precipitation totals for the Central States.

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CSW WEATHER: Severe T-storm Watch No. 397 Until 10 P.M.- KS- MO- IL

All of Metro Kansas City is included in Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 397 that will be in effect until 10 p.m. this Wednesday night.

Except for northwest K.C. MetroRegion areas of Kansas and Missouri- the rest of the MetroRegion is in this severe storm watch as well- including the Quad Lakes area of Missouri.

Current weather radar shows storms developing in and near Metro K.C..

Be alert for torrential rains as well- and localized flash flooding in the stronger storms.

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Ottawa KS Man Finds Buttons- Drill Bit in His Campbell's Soup

The drill bit I can understand- it increases the soup's iron content.

But plastic buttons?


All that was found in a bowl of Campbell's Chunky chicken fajita soup recently by Philip Ridenour- an Ottawa KS resident- according to The OTTAWA (KS) HERALD.

Ridenour sent the soup's debris to the Campbell Soup Company "for examination."


And some folks complain when there's a little-ole fly in their soup....

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Photos of The Missouri River at Parkville MO

Here's the Muddy Mo at English Landing Park in Parkville.

The river is ALMOST bankfull here- but has quite a way to go before it reaches the rest of the park and downtown Parkville.

It appears that the weather pattern will be changing to a somewhat drier pattern in the coming week- with only a chance for scattered storms later today and this weekend.

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House Burns in Pleasant Valley MO

Pleasant Valley Fire with a lot of help from Liberty and KC-MO fire crews help fight a well-involved house fire with temperature indices in the low-100's Tuesday afternoon.

The exact location of the fire was initially not known- with KC-MO dispatching 5 companies at 4:31 p.m. to the 7300 block of North McKinley- and 4 minutes later Liberty and Pleasant Valley Fire dispatching to a location on Linda Lane.

The fire was in the 8600 block of Linda Lane- and at least 2 hoselines were used on the fire.

No one was found inside after flames were extinguished- and there were no reports of firefighter injuries.


The cause was being determined.

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CSW BREAKING: Occupant of Home Shoots Intruder in KC-MO's Waldo-area

That's the report from a KC-MO police Metro Patrol division officer who is in the 600 block of East Gregory in the Waldo area.

The call came into police at 4:40 p.m. of the incident and they arrived on-the-scene at 4:47 p.m..

Shortly after- a Fire department EMS unit transported the patient-suspect- "a 38-year-old male with a single gunshot to his left upper leg"- with red lights and siren to a nearby medical trauma center.


No word if the occupant/shooter has been or will be arrested or charged.

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Transocean Ltd.'s Steven Newman is an Idiot

You'd have thought that when Transocean and BP's Deepwater Horizon blew-up- nobody and I mean NOBODY in the oil industry would be questioning the government-imposed 6-month moratoriaum on deep ocean oil wells- let alone criticizing it.

Beleive this or don't- according to the Associated Press story obtained through the OKLAHOMA CITY OKLAHOMAN- the head of Transocean- Steven Newman- was telling reporters at some oil conference in London that the 6-month moratorium should be lifted.

What makes Mr. Newman an idiot is his saying that the shutdown is costing more than a cleanup.

WHAT?????

Mr. Newman has NO FRIGGING IDEA what the final economic and ecologic toll the blow-out of his and BP's well will be.

The blow-out of the Deepwater Horizon demonstrates that the oil industry has NO idea how to stop a deep-sea oil leak- and until the oil industry comes up with FIRM and WORKABLE plans for incidents like the current disaster in the Gulf- then the 6-month moratorium should be maintained and even extended to that time the oil companies figure out ways to ABSOLUTELY stop deep-sea well gushers.


Until that day comes- people like Steven Newman who want the deep-sea drilling moratorium halted will and continue to be idiots.

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CSW BREAKING: Aircraft "Evacuated" of Passengers at K.C.I. Airport

KC-MO Fire companies are re-responding on what was initially reported as "smoke in the cockpit" of a passenger jet at Kansas City International airport.


The initial fire alarm sounded at 3:15 p.m.- and airport fire crews were thought to have the situation under control and had cancelled the response of outside structural fire companies.

However- at 3:28 p.m.- the captain of the plane ordered an evacuation of the passengers- and at this report people are leaving the plane via wing and other exits.

Three FD-EMS units have also been ordered for apparently injured passengers.\

At 3:35 p.m. airport fire crews are reporting NO smoke or fire inside the aircraft.


UPDATE - 1538 CDT : KCI airport fire command reports that NO passengers have been injured and that they found "no fire" and "no smoke" aboard the Midwest Airlines jet that contained 104 passengers and crew.

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Central States News: Des Moines' Polk County Changes Criteria For Sounding Tornado Sirens

This is a good idea I think...

The DES MOINES REGISTER reports that now Polk county Iowa officials are sounding the civil defense/tornado-warning sirens if winds of 70 m.p.h. or greater are expected. 

The change was apparently unannounced- as the DMR story says the last time officials sounded the sirens using the new warning criteria- the public used 9-1-1 to find out WHY the sirens were sounding in lieu of a tornado warning issued.


I like it because a 70 m.p.h. can kill you as those winds are associated with EF-0 and/or EF-1 tornadoes.

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Central States News: Beatrice NE Fire Department Turns 100-Years-Old

The BEATRICE (NE) DAILY SUN reports that the south-central Nebraska city's fire department is celebrating it's 100th-year.

Celebrations are planned- including a return visit of Beatrice's first rescue vehicle- believe it or don't- a 1964 Corvair panel truck!

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Welcome - Summer of 2010

Today is the longest day- i.e.- the first day of summer across the northern hemisphere.

From today until mid-late September- the days will be getting shorter- so enjoy it while you can!

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CSW BREAKING: Firefighter Injured in House Fire at Lake Lotawana MO

Lake Lotawana firefighters- as well as crews from at least 2 other fire departments- are currently battling a house fire.

The alarm sounded at 12:58 p.m. for a fire in a "single-story" residence at 5 P Street at Lake Lotawana.

The first-arriving fire unit reported "heavy smoke from the roof" of the structure at 1:03 p.m..


At 1:38 p.m.- the scene commander reports "a firefighter down"- no doubt overcome by the hot and humid weather at this scene.

At 3:10 p.m.- a Lee's Summit Fire department rescue ambulance was transporting a "25-year-old male firefighter with an ankle injury" in good condition to Lee's Summit Community hospital.


Firefighters were surrounding the burning house with hoselines- unable to make entry into the structure yet as of 1:45 p.m..

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CSW BREAKING: Man Shot in Drive-By on KC-MO's East Side

Police are on the scene of a reported "drive-by" shooting on East 39th Terrace near Oakley on Kansas City MO's East Side.


The call was received by emergency services around 11:20 a.m. Monday morning- police say a caller told of a male in his 50's who had been shot in the chest.

Police arrived at 11:26 a.m. and confirmed the man had "been hit by several "shotgun" pellets"- but the victim's condition did not appear to be immediately life-threatening.

Witnesses reportedly told police the suspects- "a white male and a black male left in a 1995 blue pickup truck- northbound on Topping" from the scene.


Fire department EMS took the "52-year-old male" with "multiple buckshot wounds to his abdomen" in serious to critical condition to a Metro medical trauma center.

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Billings MT GAZETTE Tornado Photos and YouTube Video

Tornadoes are fairly rare in southeastern Montana- and they even more rarely hit anything.

Sunday afternoon what appears to be a low-end EF category tornado touched down and "destroyed" the Rimrock Auto Arena at a business park in northeastern Billings.

One person caught the tornado on video as it was tearing up the arena- shown here.

Other BILLINGS (MT) GAZETTE readers sent the following still photos of the tornado.

Through it all- no one reports being injured.

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CSW WEATHER: Severe T-storm Watch No. 361 Until 3 a.m. Monday- KS-MO-NE-IA

All of Metro Kansas City and points northeast through west are included in Severe Thunderstorm Watch No. 361 until 3 a.m. Monday morning.

There's a pretty impressive squall line of strong to severe thunderstorms well west of K.C. that's beginning to accelerate eastward.

There's a pretty good bet of strong winds as the leading edge of this line advances- winds as high as 80 m.p.h. possible along with frontal "gustnado" circulations.

The line will probably be near if not over Metro K.C. by 11 p.m.- and we also have to be concerned about torrential rainfalls on top of nearly 18-inch totals in the Southland.

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Rare Tornado Touches Down in Billings Montana

A tornado has touched down and damaged buildings in Billings MT late Sunday afternoon.


The twister heavily-damaged an arena as well as other structures in the vicinity around 4:30 p.m. Billings time (5:30 p.m. Central).

There were no reports of injuries and police have cordoned off the area to regular traffic.

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Two Injured- One Critically in Cass County MO Mobile Home Fire

Two woman are being treated at a Metro Kansas City medical trauma center for smoke inhalation- and one is in critical condition- after a mobile home fire in the far south Metro early Sunday morning.

All West Peculiar Fire Protection District fire crews were called out at 3:22 a.m. for the fire that was reported "somewhere west of (the 6700 block of) East 239th Street" in a rural area of the county.

The first of the first-reponders arrived at 3:35 a.m. to report the fire "is near the (East Fork of the South Grand) river"- the mobile home "fully-involved" in flames- but at that time- "everybody" that was in the trailer was "outside." 


Help from other fire departments was requested and sent over the course of the fire to the scene or to an empty station:
Belton- South Metro- Central Cass- Dolan/West Dolan- and even a fire crew from Louisburg KS..


At 3:52 a.m.- the first indication of an injury is reported- and a Metro medical helicopter is dispatched to the scene.

The patient the chopper was sent for was flown back to a Kansas Metro trauma center- that patient being a female about 40-years-old with critical airway issues due to smoke inhalation after she was "found" inside the burning mobile home.

The second victim- also a female but age unknown- was taken by ground ambulance to the same hospital with more minor smoke inhalation problems.


The fire itself was reported under control at 4:44 a.m.- completely "out" at 5:22 a.m..

A state fire marshal will have to determine the cause of this fire.

Please watch KSHB NBC Action News at 8 a.m. for the latest updates on this story.

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