Gladstone MO Bank Robbed

It happened at 1:53 p.m. Friday afternoon at the U. S. Bank at 6098 North Antioch Road.


Gladstone police said the suspect was "a white male with a stocky build- wearing a plaid shirt- khaki pants and a ball cap."

Additional information was that "the male had brown hair and was about 30-years-old and ran westbound from the bank" officers said.


No word on the dollar amount lifted by the robber.

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Central States News: Missouri Governor Okay After Crash

A vehicle carrying Governor Jay Nixon was rear-ended in Jefferson City Friday morning.


The ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH reports that the crash happened on the Whitton Expressway- a few blocks from the state Capitol building.

Gov. Nixon was taken to a local hospital's emergency room- treated for unspecified injuries and released.


There was nothing in the SLPD story about possible injuries in the other 2 vehicles involved in the crash- nor word of charges against any of the drivers.

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Kansas City KS Records 2nd Homicide of 2011

KC-KS reported finding a deceased victim of a gunshot wound lying on the sidewalk in the 1800 block of Minnesota Avenue around 1:30 a.m. Friday morning.


The victim was described by police as a black male around 30-years-old and there was no suspect information available in this 2nd KC-KS homicide in the first week of 2011.

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CSW BREAKING: KC-MO Shooting- Car Chase and Crash of Suspects

KC-MO emergency services responded to a reported shooting near 24th Street and Drury at 8:14 a.m. Friday morning.


While enroute to the call East Zone patrol police officers spotted what appeared to be the suspect vehicle- reported as a "stolen" 2011 white Ford sedan- speeding away from the scene.

Officers chased that vehicle to 18th Street and Benton Boulevard where- at 8:21 a.m.- the possible suspect vehicle crashed into "a taxicab." 

Extrication of at least one of the occupants of one of the vehicles the suspects crashed into was needed- but the occupant's injuries were reportedly minor.

The possible suspects- "2- younger- skinny black males wearing masks-" ran from the scene and police conducted a manhurt on and near the K.C. Terminal railroad tracks that run east-west near that scene.

While the manhunt was conducted- there was a "lockdown" of the Metropolitan Community College's Pioneer campus located a short distance away near 18th Street and Montgall.

The shooting victim from 24th St. and Drury- "a 29-year-old male shot in the buttocks" and weighing "about 400 pounds-" was transported to a Metro hospital in serious but sounding like not immediately life-threatening condition.



As of 9:15 a.m.- police possibly had one of the suspects caught at or near "19th Street and Park."

That suspect- reported as "a 21-year-old male-" suffered a head injury and was transported  emergency by KC-MO FD-EMS to a K.C. medical trauma center- "in police custody."


Police are still seeking the 2nd suspect as of 9:45 a.m. Friday morning.

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Did "Most" ANYBODY Speak to Republicrat Eric Cantor About Health Care?

The following is Reason 879 why I select other than Republicrats- and Demoblicans- on Election Days...

In an Associated Press story via the KANSAS CITY STAR- House Majority Leader Eric Cantor reportedly flapping his gums on a TV morning show said "most Americans don't like the health care bill...."


Funny- I've emailed and called around to family and friends to see if Cantor talked to them about the health care bill.

None so far have- many question if Cantor himself has even read the damn thing and all said if they hear from ANY politician at all- it's a robo-call at election time.


In a weak defense of Republicrat House Majority Leader Eric Cantor- "most" (myself included)- do NOT like the part of the health care bill that would FINE people who don't care to sign-up for it- but ALL agree we need SOMETHING to be done in regard to bankrupting medical care.

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CSW BREAKING: Person Found Dead in Grandview MO House Fire

The Grandview MO Fire department- along with at least one crew from Belton- are working a structure fire in the 13500 block of Botts Road in Grandview.

This reportedly a residential structure fire that began around 1:15 p.m. Thursday afternoon.



At 1:35 p.m.- Grandview firefighters inside the house doing an initial search reported finding "a (male) victim" in one of the home's bedrooms.



The victim was deceased.

No other bodies were found in the house and there was no initial report of any other injuries.



Grandview Fire reports that the fire victim was 51-year-old James L Veidick.


A cause of the fire had not yet been determined by investigators as of late Friday.

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Fellow Blogger "South Kansas City Observer" Pays Respects to 2010 Homicide Victims and Their Families

"The Observer" as she calls herself- resides here in Southland K.C.- and she has began a series of posts devoted to the names of 2010's KC-MO homicide victims.



I commend- applaud and tip my hat to The Observer's diligence- compassion and concern when it comes to showcasing The Disgrace of Kansas City MO which is (besides the KCSD) the ungodly number of killings of Human Beings in this burg.

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CSW Commentary: Why Aren't Names AND Charges Against KC-KS Cops Made Public?

I mean come-on- why is there no citizen outrage over this???!

If you and I are "charged" for breaking the law- the police departments can and will release our names- mugshots- and every detail about us but our pets' names.

And of course- our so-called "free press" is hard on those authorities (not) to release those names and charges- since those very "charged" people are IN THE PUBLIC TRUST and carry a GREAT deal of authority over citizens.


It's too bad we didn't win the Mega-Millions jackpot- because I had an island picked out in the middle of nowhere where Ms. Rittenhouse and I could spend the remaining days in REAL freedom and "the pursuit of happiness."  

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Victim of Omaha School Shooting Dies

My condolences goes out to the family and friends of Vicki Kaspar- the assistant principal of Millard South High school in Omaha who was shot by an enraged student Wednesday.


Ms. Kaspar has died of her wounds.


The other victim- Principal Curtis Case- remains in serious but stable condition- according to The OMAHA (NE) WORLD-HERALD.

School is out today at Millard South so faculty and students can try and make sense of why student Robert Butler Jr.- son of an Omaha police detective who also gets my condolences- handled a coming 19-day suspension by returning to the school and shooting the two victims.

Good luck- you can't make sense out of senseless acts like this....

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More American Troops To Be Put in Harms Way in Afghanistan

Those in charge just can't resist wasting America's resources- and I'm not talking dollar bills but our youth...


It's announced that in the coming weeks- 1400 more Americans in the form of U.S. Marines will be sent to that wasteful Hellhole known as Afghanistan.

Like departing President Dwight Eisenhower said in 1960- beware of the American military-industrial complex.


We didn't listen then and we ignore the fact the Soviet Union couldn't win in Afghanistan when they were there in the early 1980's (remember that- when AMERICA furnished the Taliban weaponry to fight the Russians?).

We ignore the fact that the Vietnam Folly wasted more than 58000 American and countless Vietnamese lives.

History is boring it seems- Americans either have a short attention span or just plain don't give a shit if it's not knocking down their own front door- and these senseless- accomplish-nothing wars will be the Death of America..

By the way- where IS Bin Laden???????????

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Walmart Awarded "Business Blunder Of The Year" For Firing Wichita KS Employee

I don't know who or what firm does PR for Walmart- but whoever it is I'm sure has their hands full issuing spinning press releases...


Recall the story of Heather Ravenstein? She's the one fired by a Wichita Walmart for confronting a guy who was stealing a computer last May from the store where Heather worked.

Ms Ravenstein has landed on her feet- according to this story from The WICHITA (KS) EAGLE- but Walmart's actions landed them on CBS' "Business Blunders of the Year" list as Number 1.


Heh- CBS must have missed the Glenn Stevens story- where Walmart accused an innocent man of thefts from a number of Central States Walmart stores.

That got us shopping elsewhere.

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Central States NEWS: Two Seriously-Injured in Shooting at an Omaha NE High School

The OMAHA WORLD-HERALD is reporting that the principal and assistant principal of an Omaha high school were seriously-wounded in a shooting Wednesday afternoon.

The shooting occurred around 12:45 p.m. at the Millard South High School- in southwestern Omaha.

The suspect- reported by The OWH as a student of the school and the son of an Omaha police detective- was found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot in a car some distance from the school.

The 2 victims were reported to be in serious to critical condition.

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CSW BREAKING: Occupant Seriously Burned in Independence MO House Fire

Independence Fire reports the occupant of a home was critically burned at a house fire Wednesday afternoon.

The fire was reported at 2:34 p.m. in the 16900 block of East 4th Street South- and when the first fire crew arrived at 2:39 p.m. they reported "smoke showing from a 1-story- split-level" house.

Shortly afterwards- firefighters reported an occupant was burned: a "68-year-old male with 2nd and 3rd-degree burns" over 30 to 40-percent of his body.

The injured man- whose condition was described as "stable-" was to be transported by AMR-EMS to a local medical trauma center.

The fire is believed to be under control as of this post.... 

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Another Photo of The New Year's Eve Fort Leonard Wood MO Tornado

This photo is courtesy of The COLUMBIA (MO) MISSOURIAN and the photo's owner "Leonard Morrow-" depicting the EF-3 tornado as it roared through the sprawling U.S. Army base in south-central Missouri on New Year's Eve 2010.

This appears to be a rather unique tornado photo in that you can see the main funnel extended from top left-center of the photo to the ground- but also what appears to be a satellite funnel extending from the top-right and cutting through the bottom of the main funnel- touching the ground to the left of the main vortex.


Other CSW stories on the deadly New Year's Eve tornado outbreak that covered 4 states can be found HERE- HERE- HERE and HERE.

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Central States News: Oklahoma's 2010 Tornado Numbers 3rd Highest on Record

A preliminary number of 102 twisters in 2010 made the past year the 3rd-highest tornado count on record- states an Associated Press story via THE TULSA (OK) WORLD.


The highest number was 145 in 1999- followed by No. 2 at 107 tornadoes in 1957.


The story also reports a 115-degree temperature spread between the highest and lowest temperatures recorded across the Sooner State in 2010.

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The Daily Beast.com: America's 40 Top Drunkest Cities

People like making lists- the latest I've found is a list of America's Top 40 Drunkest Cities- compiled by an Internet site called The Daily Beast.com.


The drunkest city according to the site was Milwaukee WI- followed by Fargo ND- San Francisco CA- Austin TX and Reno NV..


No Metro Kansas City cities made the list- but several in our Central States region did- according to The DAILY BEAST:



Number 7- Omaha NE-
Number 14- Sioux City IA-
Number 24- St. Louis MO-
Number 33- Davenport IA and-
Number 38- Cedar Rapids IA..

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120-Year-Old Iowa House Goes For A Ride

The photo- courtesy of The OTTUMWA (IA) COURRIER- shows a home built in 1890 being trucked through the Iowa town of Dowd to a (hopefully) final resting place on a plot of land south of the town.

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New Year's Eve Arkansas Tornado Claims 4th Victim

A 95-year-old woman has died of injuries sustained in the New Year's Eve tornado in Northwestern Arkansas- reports Little Rock's ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE.




This raises the death toll from tornadoes that struck 4 states on December 31- 2010 to 8- with 4 of those deaths in Arkansas and 4 in Missouri.

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CSW BREAKING: Double-Fatality Crash in Miami County KS

Just after 6:30 a.m.- a head-on crash was reported on K-68 highway west of U.S. 169 in Miami County KS..

The male drivers of both vehicles are reportedly dead at the scene of the crash- located several hundred yards west of Cedar-Niles Road.



The Kansas Highway Patrol says neither driver was wearing seatbelts and that there were no other occupants in either vehicle that apparently collided at or near the posted 65 m.p.h. speed limit.


On Thursday- the Kansas Highway Patrol released the name of the 2 drivers.

Killed were 45-year-old Bryan R. Blann of Paola and 53-year-old Garry W. Reed from Wellsville KS..

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1970's Pop Star Gerry Rafferty Dead at Age 63

Those of us around in 1978 surely remembers the iconic album "City to City" and song 'Baker Street.'




One of my faves from that album was "Whatever's Written In Your Heart."

The man who brought us that album- Gerry Rafferty- has died in England after a "long illness" at the age of 63.

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CSW BREAKING: Fire in a Northland KC-MO House

At least 2 handlines are being used on a house fire in the 6600 block of North London in Kansas City MO's Northland.

The fire alarm was reportedly called in by a neighbor at 8:28 p.m. Tuesday night- and when Pumper 4 arrived at 8:32 p.m.- they reported "smoke showing from a 1-1/2-story (lived-in)" house.

At 8:41 p.m.- the fire chief on the scene reports that the line from the natural gas service line from the meter "had been sheared off" by an unknown means- and this was creating additional fuel and hazard fighting the fire.

The Southern Platte Fire Protection District also had an engine and chief on-scene as part of the automatic mutual-aid with that department.

So far- no injuries have been reported- and no one has been found inside the burned house.

The fire's under control at 8:56 p.m..

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Central States News: Three Children Die in Metro Oklahoma City RV Fire

It's a chilling 9-1-1 call to fire dispatchers in Del City- a suburb of Oklahoma City.


An RV that was being used as a temporary residence behind a family's house that was being remodeled was on fire- and the woman's 3 children were still inside.

The mother of the children- she's the one calling 9-1-1- suffered non life-threatening burns apparently trying to get to her kids.


Tragically- the 3 children died in the fire- according to The Oklahoma City OKLAHOMAN.

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CSW BREAKING: Independence MO Cop Hurt After Crash During Vehicle Pursuit

A 39-year-old male Independence police officer has arrived at a Metro hospital with minor injuries suffered when a suspect police were chasing on Truman Road and Owens School Road rammed a police car.

The incident occurred about 3:50 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.


A paramedic said the suspect "hit the front of the car- then ran down the side" of the officer's car- "knocking it off the road."

The suspect who reportedly brandished a firearm after he stopped- was taken into custody at the scene without further injuries.

KSHB NBC Action News reports the suspect was possibly associated with a shooting death earlier this afternoon in Carrollton MO..

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CSW BREAKING: Minor Fire in South KC-MO Apartment Building

CSW was on-the-scene as the first KC-MO fire truck rolled-in on a reported apartment building fire in the 8700 block of Old Santa Fe Road northeast of the old Bannister Mall area that was reported at 3:59 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

These are exclusive pictures from the scene.

No was was hurt- and fire officials on the scene told CSW the fire was "minor" with "smoke removal" being their biggest task.

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CSW BREAKING: Aircraft in Trouble Headed For K.C.I. Airport

As of yet- even the Fire Department doesn't know any details on the aircraft other than the craft is having "hydraulic problems" and is due into K.C.I.'s "Runway 19-Right" in several minutes.

What has been learned only moments ago that there's "79" people on-board the plane.


Five KC-MO FD structural companies along with a Southern Platte County FPD crew- as well as the 4 K.C.I. Fire-Rescue apparatus are on-scene waiting or are enroute.


At 3:53 p.m.- that aircraft-in-distress has landed safely and without incident- with airport crews "monitoring the tires and brakes" of the aircraft.

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"Must Have" Applications For iPhone Users

Must Have iPhone Apps

10) Dropbox - Numerous apps allow you to transfer content between your computer and your device, but Dropbox is free and more user-friendly than most of its counterparts. Dump files you want to sync in a folder on your computer and Dropbox will allow you to access them, download them for viewing. It really helps to synchronize the stuff you have on your PC, laptop and your iPhone.






9) Truphone - Making international calls can be very expensive, so Truphone was created to give users free calls to Skype, Truphone and Google Talk users! No matter where you are or which country you’re calling.






8) Pandora Radio - is a real treat for all music lovers out there! It allows you to create a personalized radio station. How does it do that? It learns your taste of music by the ratings that you give songs that they play, gradually adjusting and playing more songs to suit the genre that you like! You can create up to a 100 different stations playing many different genres. With the Iphone 4, you can listen to Pandora no matter what app you’re using, so long it doesn’t need audio.






7) Todo - If you’re the forgetful sort that will try your best to remember something but still completely forget about it in the end, this app will probably save you more than once. It notes down your appointments in a systematic and easy-to-view manner. It’s free too!






6) Hipstamatic - This cool iPhone app offers a variety of lenses, flashes and film for what will seem like an infinite combination of outcomes. You can upload photos to Facebook or Flickr within the app itself. The moment you launch the app, your screen transforms into something like the back of a camera. Synthetic clearly went the extra mile to create a unique app that doesn’t just produce nice results, but is engaging and fun to use before you take the picture itself. It’s definitely worth it to purchase the “Hipstapaks” that contain additional lenses, films and flashes. If you’re a camera lover, this is for you.






5) Facebook - How can we not include Facebook? The new grid-based interface on the home screen provides easy access to the section of choice such as news feed, notifications etc. With almost everyone using Facebook these days , its one way to stay in touch with your friends on the go. No longer do you have to go through the hassle of logging on to the shared computer at work or wait till you get home before you connect with your friends!






4) RunKeeper Free - This app uses the iPhone’s GPS capabilities to track your jogging route, providing mapping and details of pace and approximate calories burned all in one screen. This app outclasses Nike+system in almost every way except for the integration with iPhone’s iPod functionality. So if you’re considering burning off a few calories, this is your best friend.






3) Whatsapp Messenger - This instant messaging application can help you shave a few dollars off your handphone bill each month if you use it to message your friends who have the app too. You’ll be surprised by how many of your friends actually use this app! The interface doesn’t lose to that of the normal messaging function of the iPhone but in addition, it tells you when your friends are online and when they’re not. Also, since it’s completely free, you can simply send as many messages without squeezing it all into 1 message which is kinda irritating at times.






2) PingChat! - This app will help you and your bunch of friends stay connected with each other. It is a group messaging service that allows all your friends to enter a single chat room (think of msn). Not only can you text, you can send pictures and videos to all your friends via a few simple steps. Best of all, its free!






1) Yelp - With this app, you can always find whatever you need whenever you need it. By determining your location via GPS, it can locate the nearest restaurant, bank, drugstore etc. With Yelp! You will never have to ask strangers for directions and hope they point you in the right way ever again!


Guest author Nicholas owns a Men’s Fashion Blog which features the most trendy and cool stuff for men. Do stop by Cool Quirks if you’re looking for cool gadgets and gear.

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CSW WEATHER: MetroRegion Kansas City Goes Into The Deep-Freeze Next Week

Not only that- but an icy mix of precipitation will precede the Arctic air mass that's forecast to settle over the entire length of America's Central States beyond the Gulf Coast by next week's end.

The first image shown is a GFS weather model depiction of a possible scenario by noon this Sunday- showing the 850 millibar 0° Celsius (32°F)temperature line just south of Kansas City- with the green shading indicating the precipitation that may begin as early as midnight Sunday morning.

That precipitation- which could be freezing rain- sleet and/or snow is forecast to continue into next Monday.

This could well mean Metro K.C. is in for our heaviest snow yet this Winter of 2010-11.

By midweek- much-below average temperatures will overspread the entire Central States and by late week- the 0° Celsius (32°F)temperature line shows on the GFS model (2nd image) to be south of the Texas Gulf coast.



Of course as any weather enthusiast knows- "new data is in" all the time- so the forecast could improve as we get closer to the weekend or it could get worse.



Stay tuned....

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Borders Bookstores About To Go The Way of Circuit City

Fiscally-troubled book seller Borders has suspended payments to some publishers- states Publisher's Weekly.


In addition- some publishers have stopped sending product to Borders.


The book seller has been experiencing financial troubles since The Great Recession (Depression) began and it's probably only a matter of time before Borders starts closing it's retail outlets.

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CSW BREAKING: House Fire in KC-KS

Five companies of the Kansas City KS Fire Department have just gotten a fire in a house in the 1200 block of Argentine Boulevard under control.

The alarm sounded at 12:33 p.m. Tuesday afternoon and when Pumper 3 arrived 3 minutes later- smoke was billowing from the 1-story structure.


The occupants escaped the fire apparently unharmed- and the fire chief reports those occupants told him "they were using paint thinner on the floors" of the house when the fire broke out.

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Central States News: Columbia MO Cable Customers Lose Local NBC- CW Affiliates

Ever wonder why your cable TV keeps going up- up- UP?

It's because (among other reasons) local TV stations and their networks have been charging your cable company to re-broadcast their signals.


According to The COLUMBIA (MO) MISSOURIAN- Columbia cable company Mediacom has dropped KOMU the NBC affiliate and The CW affiliate because the 2 sides couldn't agree on how much money to turn around and gouge their customers with.  

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KC- STAR - KSHB Dump Each Other As News "Reporting Partners"

I had noticed yesterday that Katie "OMG A Cloud!" Horner was providing the weather forecasts instead of Gary "New Data is IN!" Lezak providing weather forecasts on the K.C. STAR's Web site.


So it goes- that KSHB and The STAR have parted ways as "reporting partners" and- as a contract employee of NBC-41- I have no idea why.


Well- I do have some idea- that it PROBABLY involves money....

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K.C. STAR Feature on Dwindling Conventions Doesn't Touch Convention Hotel Issue

I read- with amazement- the story in this morning's KANSAS CITY STAR written by Lynn Horsley about the dwindling shows and conventions at Bartle Hall and other KC-MO venues like Municipal Auditorium and the forgotten but still subsidized Kemper Arena.


I was amazed by what Ms. Horsley left OUT of the story- the 1000-room white elephant known as that controversial proposed convention hotel!

Ms. Horsley's  story itself basically confirms what I and many anti-taxpayer-subsidy wonks have been saying:
In a down economy- trade shows and conventions are the first to get downsized or the axe.

Putting hard-to-come-by taxpayer dollars- further threatened by repeal of that insidious "Earnings Tax-" into ANOTHER downtown hotel or virtually ANY taxpayer welfare project for corporations is not only folly- but flat irresponsible these days.


Today's STAR story would have made a perfect platform to bring up that fact- but then again I forget that Kansas City's lone and corporately-owned newspaper hasn't met a tax increase or a corporate-welfare project it didn't like.

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