CSW BREAKING: Police Pursuit of Possible Intoxicated Driver Continues East on I-70 in Missouri

A pursuit of the driver of a car believed intoxicated continues east on I-70 near the Independence Center mall...

The chase began around 8:15 p.m. Saturday night near southbound I-435 and Truman Road in KC-MO and ended more than 45 minutes later on eastbound I-70 in Blue Springs.

Speeds during the entire chase were reported at or (well) below 50 m.p.h.

The pursuit continues- at speeds below 30 m.p.h.- east on I-70 now in Blue Springs.

Earlier in the chase it was reported that the pursued driver tried to hit a KC-MO East Patrol officer's car.

KC-MO- Independence- Blue Springs PDs- Jackson County Sheriff- Missouri State Highway Patrol is involved directly and/or indirectly in the pursuit- it appears around a dozen patrol cars in direct pursuit from KC SCOUT images.


At 8:58 p.m.- the pursuit has passed M-7 eastbound on I-70 from Blue Springs.


There is a very heavy amount of traffic backed-up behind this slow-speed pursuit that has gone on more than 45 minutes now.


At 9 p.m.- the suspect vehicle has stopped on eastbound I-70 just east of Missouri-7 highway in Blue Springs.


Around 9:07 p.m.- the male driver of the pursued car is reported to be in police custody.

CSW BREAKING: At Least 3 Shot in South-Central KC-MO

At 6:44 p.m. Saturday evening- KC-MO emergency services were dispatched on a shooting victim "at the Shell gas station at 7033 Prospect-" just north of Gregory and west of U.S. 71/Watkins Expressway.

Police arrive minutes later and find a victim at the dispatched address- then minutes later find 2 additional shooting victims at an elementary school just west of the original scene.

Suspect information is sketchy: a green vehicle containing 2 black males is thought to be involved.


First victim transported to a hospital was "a 20-year-old male shot in the foot-" condition non life-threatening.

A 2nd male victim- age-unknown- was taken to the same hospital in more serious condition.

Man Shot During Reported Attempted Street Robbery in KC-MO

KC-MO Police don't have much to go on in investigating a man found shot just northeast of the Downtown freeway loop early Saturday morning.


The victim was found in the 1300 block of East Admiral Boulevard around 5:15 a.m..

The victim told police that he was shot by a "black male" as a result of "an armed street robbery gone bad."

The male victim had a serious-injury gunshot wound- shot in his abdomen with an exit wound out his back- and was transported by EMS to a Metro medical trauma center.

He also told police he would not prosecute the shooter.

CSW BREAKING: Serious Injury Crash on M-92 Near Smithville MO

Fire crews from Smithville and an EMS crew from the Northland Regional Ambulance District (NRAD) are working a serious-injury 2-vehicle crash on Missouri (M) 92 highway and Mount Olivet Road east of Smithville.

The crash was reported at 3:15 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

More details here as they become available....

Two Injured in KC-MO 2-Alarm Apartment Building Fire

A fire Saturday morning in a south KC-MO apartment complex required a firefighter ladder rescue of one occupant and injured 2 others.



EMS reports that none of the injuries were life-threatening.

The fire was reported around 9:35 a.m. at the Madison Park apartment complex in the 10400 block of Hillcrest.

By the time the fire was brought under control about 40 minutes later- around ten KC-MO companies of 40 firefighters were battling the blaze.


Four of the ten units in the 2-1/2-story building were badly damaged- but it was not yet known how many people were displaced by the fire.



A cause of the fire will be determined by a pending fire investigator's report.

Crash in Jefferson County KS Injures 4

A single-vehicle wreck early Saturday morning in northwest Jefferson County KS injured 4- two critically.


The incident was reported at 12:20 a.m. on Kansas (K-) 16- west of North Cedar Road between Valley Falls and Denison.

Four occupants were reportedly in the vehicle- and 2 of them had to be flown from the scene by medical helicopter.

All the injured were taken to Topeka hospitals.

Update on Missing Baby Lisa Irwin - October 22 2011

1) There are NO new reported leads in this case.

A body-sniffing dog brought in by the FBI on Thursday "detected a hit-" but law enforcement officials haven't elaborated on that term or information...




2) There have been NO arrests regarding this case...


 3) Baby Lisa Irwin has NOT been located.

CSW BREAKING: Shooting- Possible Homicide in South-Central KC-MO

At 12:58 a.m.- KC-MO's emergency services responded to a reported shooting in the 7600 block of Monroe.


It was reported the victim was lying in the parking lot there.

At 1:16 a.m.- the victim is confirmed dead on the scene by EMS- and homicide detectives are enroute.

Man's Cash Arrested in Geary County KS Traffic Stop

It's a late October Wednesday morning- clear skies- dry roads.

You're driving from Columbia MO to Colorado- and your carrying nearly 180000 dollars in cash in a duffel bag.

Real estate deal?   Equipment purchase?   Drug deal?

No matter- if you're doing nothing illegal.

Oops!

Driving through a construction zone on I-70 in Geary county KS- a county mountie catches you going too fast.


He runs your plates- pulls you over- cautiously approaching you from left behind and asks for your license- all in current law enforcement tactics pretty much nationwide.

After your license clears no warrants outstanding- Mr. Deputy is suspicious- wants to search your vehicle.

He finds the cash in the duffel bag and a drug-sniffing dog is brought in.

No drugs or anything else illegal is found- as you may or may not be trying to convince the cop that the money is not stolen nor are you doing anything unlawful a) carrying it and/or b) with it.


The Geary County KS Sheriff's Department takes your cash- guilt by suspicion of the money being used for an unproven future drug deal.


The money is yours again- only by your costly legal actions proving your innocence.



The cash-bust actually happened (not the first time in this UCSA)- according to a story on KMBC.com.

CSW BREAKING: Multiple-Vehicle Crash on I-435 North of 87th Street in KC-MO

The crash was reported at 3:15 p.m. and it is located on northbound I-435 near the end of the on ramp from 87th Street to northbound.

The have been "5" vehicles reportedly involved says a fire department pumper crew on the scene- and at least 4 EMS ambulances have been ordered.

Drivers on northbound I-435 north of Bannister Road- the Grandview Triangle area- will face slowed or stopped traffic on the freeway.



There were fortunately no serious to critical injuries reported- and the wrecked vehicles were being clear from the roadway as of 4:05 p.m..

At 3:35 p.m.- a car that was being pursued by KC-MO Police has stopped on southbound I-435 just south of Gregory Boulevard- about a mile north of the above crash scene.

At least 4 people- 2 white males and 2 white females bailed-out of the chased-now-wrecked car and ran into a wooded area west of I-435 and south of Gregory.


By 4:06 p.m.- it's reported all the suspects that ran from the pursued vehicle were in police custody.

One of the males who ran into the woods was reportedly bitten by a police dog during the search- and was taken to a hospital.

Southbound traffic was being slowed in this area.

MetroRegion Kansas City News: Residence Fire Kills 2 in Emporia KS

A fire in an Emporia duplex has killed the 2 occupants...


The EMPORIA (KS) GAZETTE reports that a man was found dead inside the burning structure at 12 East 11th Avenue shortly after firefighters arrived after midnight.

Another person- a woman- had been injured- but reportedly died of those injuries at a Wichita hospital early Thursday afternoon.


No identities of the deceased have been officially released- but sources say the two victims were international students at Emporia State University.

On Friday- the 2 victims were identified.

They were Mr. Fan Yawei and Ms. Lin Zhen of Liaoning Provence in northeast China.


They were boyfriend and girlfriend- both meeting as students attending Emporia State University- according to the story in The EMPORIA (KS) GAZETTE.

Update on Missing Baby Lisa Irwin- October 20 2011

Rather than lead off every day with a post about no new tangible leads or developments in the case of Lisa Irwin- the 10-month-old taken from her bed in a KC-MO Northland home back on October 3rd (she's 17 days gone as of today)- here is an every 2-3 days or so update:

1) There are NO new reported leads in this case...

2) There have been NO arrests regarding this case and

3) Baby Lisa Irwin has NOT been located.

A number of people- like myself- are now wondering aloud at what point that the local TV news stations quit leading off EVERY newscast with this story considering there is no new information (just new players) regarding this case.

One month? Two months? Next year?

CSW BREAKING: Construction Mishap Injures 3 in KC-MO

A scaffold collapsed at a building undergoing renovations in Midtown KC-MO- injuring 3 people.


The incident occurred about 11:35 a.m. Thursday morning at 6301 Rockhill Road.

KC-MO FD-EMS reports that a scaffolding collapsed- with at least one worker plunging "from a 3rd-story to a 1st-floor roof" of the building.

The most serious injury was said to be a Hispanic male- "46-year-s-old" who was taken to a nearby hospital in serious condition from his injuries.

Two others injured at the site were said to have mostly minor injuries.

The fire department (and no doubt OSHA) were investigating the incident.

CSW Commentary: Kansas City Catholic Bishop Finn MUST Step Down

Recently- CSW reported the indictment of the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Diocese and it's leader Bishop Robert Finn on a cover-up of child abuse and pornography by one of the diocese's priests.


You would think that- at the very least- Bishop Finn would take a leave of absence from his Holy position while this very serious criminal matter is resolved.

You would also think- at the very least- there would be SOME sort of statement from the Vatican on this matter.


Instead- there has been no action from anyone associated with the Catholic church regarding these serious charges.


These people represent God on this Earth and for ALL of those connected to remain quiet on this very- very serious matter is an absolute abomination.

This is not a sin like theft of money or absconding material objects but a crime against another Human Being- MINOR Human Beings at that.

A person of the clergy SHOULD be held to a higher standard since they are in a position of responsibility- like a thieving cop- and arsonist firefighter or a corrupt politician.

It sends a message to the masses that crimes committed by those in high positions of power and/or responsibility somehow rate special treatment of their alleged crimes- rather than swift and sure criminal justice.

This tends to make ordinary citizens that would SURELY be incarcerated for such acts more cynical of the very laws that are on the books to allegedly protect us- and makes us look at the justice system as some sort of privileged joke.


I am not a Catholic- but I would totally support those of that faith who re-examine their support of a church who simply seems to act above the laws of decency- respect and of America.

CSW BREAKING: Haz-Mat Incident at Sewage Treatment Plant in Northeastern Jackson County MO

At 12:50 p.m. crews from Fort Osage- Sni Valley and the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District were called to a reported "haz-mat" incident at the Little Blue Interceptor sewage treatment plant near Atherton.

It was reported that "250 gallons" of an unknown substance was spilled at the facility located at 21208 East Old Atherton Road in the Missouri River bottomland east of M-291 and north of U.S. 24 highways.


Thus far- no injuries have been reported as the incident is working as of this post.

Central States NEWS: Nebraska Politicians Pretty Much Ignore Citizens' Concerns Over Canadian Oil Pipeline

Nebraska's most-powerful state politician is against any special session of that state's Legislature to attempt to relocate a proposed oil pipeline through that Central state.


TransCanada (TC) wants to build an oil pipeline from it's Alberta oil-sands to the Gulf of Mexico- passing through the American Central States- and Nebraska Republicrat Speaker of The (NE) House Mike Flood is against a special legislative session to order TC to change their proposed (done-deal) pipeline route- according to this story from The LINCOLN (NE) JOURNAL-STAR.

Many in Nebraska are against the route that pipeline would take- above and near the Ogallala Aquafier- an underground source of irrigation water for Nebraska's vast farmlands.


However- politicians and labor union officials tout the money the new pipeline would bring (them) the state (mainly in campaign contributions from TC and out-of-state laborers for the construction jobs).

 Landowners along the proposed route can take the money TransCanada offers- or have the pipelines' easement ("eminent domain") taken by the American government.

Stay tuned....

Overland Park's J.C. Penney Outlet Will Stay Open Under New Name

Back on January 25th of this year- CSW noted the announcement of the closing of the J.C. Penney Outlet Store located near the intersection of I-35 and 75th Street.


Well shop 'till you drop fans- a NEW announcement noted in this article from The KANSAS CITY BUSINESS JOURNAL is that the outlet store will stay open under a new name...


A venture capital group from Ohio- "SB Capital Group LLC-" is buying 15 nationwide J.C. Penney outlet stores and converting them to "JC’s 5 Star Outlet" stores.

The 5 Stars will still carry Penney's overstock and out-of-season items as well- the KCBJ story stated- and the 130 employees of the old outlet store will be offered their old jobs by the new owner (at the same rate-of-pay I wonder?).

Central States News: Winter 2010-11 Forecast- Snow- Cold in Northern Central States

Came upon a story- a prediction actually- regarding expected weather conditions in the upcoming winter months from Cedar Rapids Iowa's THE GAZETTE...


It is unclear who exactly made this prediction- which calls for a particularily snowy and cold winter for all of Iowa and parts of Missouri and Nebraska.

Also- if you look at the accompanying forecast image- ice storms are possible over northern Texas- about the southeastern half of Oklahoma- most of Arkansas as well as southern and eastern Missouri.

Metro Kansas City sits between those two areas.

I invoke my Missouri side ("Show Me") mostly when it comes to such long-range forecasts- nonetheless an interesting season to watch as I shall- and keep you informed without a lot of hype.

Daylight Savings Time Ends November 6 2011

I was wondering earlier what day this year that Central Daylight Time (CDT) ends- looked it up and decided to share the results with you...

This year the clocks "fall back" an hour early Sunday morning November 6th- according to this story in the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.


I'll remind myself and everybody else the day before our bi-annual ritual with the (non-computer-controlled) clocks begins.


Also- the time change is a GREAT time to change batteries in your home's smoke- fire and CO alarms.

Tuesday Bank Robberies in KC-MO North and Leawood KS

Bank robbers hit 2 Metro Kansas City banks so far today...


Around 9:15 a.m.- a lone gunman robbed the Patriots Bank at 6500 Northwest Prairie View Road.

The suspect was reported as a white male- and possibly left westbound on Northwest 64th Street in a red Ford F-150 pickup truck.

No one was hurt and the robber took an undisclosed amount of cash.

The other robbery occurred around 11:45 a.m. at the M & I Bank in the 800 block of State Line Road.

Leawood Police report one man waited in the getaway vehicle while his accomplice went into the bank and robbed the facility.

Both males were described as black males- the actual bank robber described as having "a slender build" and thought to be "in his 40's."

The two left in an unknown direction in a silver-colored Dodge Intrepid.

CSW BREAKING: Multiple-Vehicle Crash Reported on Sbnd I-435 Near Front Street in KC-MO

At 12:52 p.m. this Tuesday afternoon- KC-MO emergency services were enroute to a reported multiple-vehicle crash on southbound I-435 near Front Street.


It was reported to involve "4 cars and an 18-wheeler" and "extrication" was reportedly also requried of at least one motorist.


Later reports revealed that fortunately- the few that were hurt in the crash didn't have  any life-threatening injuries.

CSW Weather: Frost- Freeze Likely Over Much of Kansas City MetroRegion

As the rain and clouds moves out of the area this Tuesday morning- clearing skies and lightening winds will produce the fall season's first widespread frost and freeze Wednesday and particularly Thursday mornings.

National Weather Service (NWS) offices throughout the Central States have issued anything from "Frost Advisories" to "Freeze Watches" and "Warnings" in their forecast areas.


Only areas immediately spared from the season's coldest temperatures will be eastern Missouri through southern Arkansas- those areas will feel the cool Thursday into Friday mornings.


Rainfall-wise- once again most of us in Metro Kansas City saw little to virtually no rain.

The heaviest (?) amounts are shown on the accompanying Johnson County STORMWATCH Metro map- less than a quarter-inch fell anywhere since early Monday morning.


As we undergo a warm-up in temperatures by the weekend- our next chance for any measurable precipitation will come again Sunday- and that chance will only be for small rainfall amounts.

Willie Nelson- George Strait and Dixie Chicks Headline Texas Wildfire Relief Concert

Say what you will about the Great State of Texas and it's people- but they know how to take care of their own.


More than one-half million dollars was raised by some very fine musicians that included those in the headline as well as Lyle Lovett and Austin's Asleep At The Wheel Monday night at that city's Frank Irwin Center.

It was a concert to benefit those who lost their homes and possessions in the devastating wildfires in and around Austin last month.

You can say what you will about 'my-man' Willie Nelson too- but be careful saying it around me 'cause Willie could come to my door asking me a favor and I'd drop WHATEVER I'm doing to help that great American.

God Bless all those musicians who pitched-in for their fellow citizens!

CSW Weather: Some Rain Today- First Frost/Freeze Possible Mid-Week

Doppler weather radar returns are beginning to show some very light precipitation echoes in Metro Kansas City...


A larger area of light rain can be found in northern portions of the MetroRegion- in northwest and northern Missouri with general west to east movement of all cells.

Precipitation should continue to slowly grow in areal coverage and intensity through this October Monday.


The much-needed moisture is in response to a storm system making it's way through the Central states this morning.


A cold front will bring the coldest temperatures so far this autumn to the Central States and into Metro and MetroRegion Kansas City.

By Wednesday morning- frost-producing and or freezing temperatures in the 30's will cover our area- with a 2nd morning of growing-season-ending weather likely Thursday morning.

Time to bring in the outdoor potted plants and the brass monkeys...