CSW Weather: NWS- "Excessive" Rainfalls Likely in Metro- MetroRegion Kansas City

Rain has begun over most of Metro Kansas City as well as the southern 1/2 of the MetroRegion- and this trend will continue off and on until at least midday Wednesday.

In addition- the NWS' Hydro Prediction Center (HPC) has Metro- as well as a large part of the northern & northeastern MetroRegion outlooked for possible excessive rainfall for about the next 24 hours.


Storm totals from this prolonged event- which should be known as our drought-buster- could well exceed 2-inches with more than 3-inches quite possible in some areas.

There is also a "slight" risk of possible severe thunderstorms over about the southern half of the Kansas City MetroRegion through Tuesday night..

Any flooding issues will be noted here at CSW as they occur....

Corporate Welfare (Tax Increment Financing) Taking Independence MO Budget To Cleaners

The INDEPENDENCE-BLUE SPRINGS-GRAIN VALLEY EXAMINER has a rather cheerleading story about The Falls- a shopping area anchored by Bass Pro Shops that is sucking taxpayer money from the Independence coffers.


Back in March- the city paid $3.5-million in bond payments to The Falls out of the city's fund because the taxpayer-funded retail area was (severely) underperforming in sales taxes.

Independence had backed the bonds to build The Falls with taxpayer dollars- and another multi-million-dollar payment is again due March 2012.


That drain on city funds has caused city employees to take an unpaid day off- as well as raise their insurance co-pays.


Citizen America needs to initiate a law that TOTALLY does away with ANY taxpayer subsidies to ANY  corporation!

Absentee Owner Wants To Remove Stadium's Legacy Name

You can tell when Ewing Kauffman's control of the Kansas City Royals changed hands just by looking at the team's standings any of the past 12 years or so.

You'll probably be as old as Moses would be today until the Royal ever win another world championship- let alone get into baseball's playoffs.


News partner KSHB-41 Action News announced today that the Glass family has reportedly sold the naming rights to Kauffman Stadium.

Yeah- the Glass family sure needs that extra $3-6-million- for what we dunno.

My guess for the new stadium name is WalMart Stadium- where you'll find the lowest player saleries as well as the lowest standings of any American League team.

Then again- the change could be to "China Stadium-" where you'll find the most defective team (and owner) in all of baseball.


Regardless to what they THINK they're renaming the stadium- it'll ALWAYS be Kauffman or Royals to me.


UPDATE: According to a story that appeared in The KANSAS CITY STAR within the hour- spokespeople with the K.C. Royals organization DENY there's any immediate re-naming of Kauffman Stadium.

I guess they didn't want their fans to suffer both a next-to-last-place finish and a taking away of the only name synonymous with winning major league baseball in Kansas City.

Serious Injury in Kansas City KS Shooting

KC-KS Police are investigating a possible drive-by shooting in the area of North 36th Street and Ohio early Sunday morning.

It occurred around 2:40 a.m. CST.

EMS transported the seriously-injured but stable "20-year-old male" with a single gunshot wound to his right side to a Metro medical trauma center.

There wasn't any suspect information yet available.

Crash Critically Injures Driver in Parkville

The driver of a vehicle on Crooked Road northwest of  Downtown Parkville lost control and struck a tree about 2:35 a.m. Sunday morning.

The crash occurred at or near Northwest Bluff Way.

Kansas City MO Fire department EMS transported the "23-year-old male" with "head" and other injuries in critical condition to a Northland hospital.

Group Overdose in Lawrence KS

Three people- 2 males and a female all in their 20's- are in critical condition at the Lawrence hospital Sunday morning.


The three were found unconscious and unresponsive in the 3400 block of Scioto Drive shortly after 3:40 a.m. CST.


One of the males was said by an EMS crew to have ingested "PCP and Ecstasy" as well as a 3rd unidentified drug and he was virtually pulseless.

(You can bet) Police were investigating this incident.

CSW BREAKING: Explosion and Fire in Gladstone MO House

Fire investigators are working the debris of a house explosion and fire in Gladstone early Sunday.


The incident was reported at 4:04 a.m. CST in the 2700 block of Northeast 57th Terrace.

Fire crews from Riverside helped Gladstone firefighters knock the fire "out" at 4:26 a.m..

Early into the fire- Gladstone Police received reports that "2 people ran" from the house just after the explosion.

There are indications of possible drug activity (meth house?) there as police investigators assisted.



No injuries were reported from the fire scene- unknown about the 2 that fled.

CSW BREAKING: Critical Injuries Reported in Lawrence KS Crash

Lawrence KS emergency services are working a 2 vehicle crash on Iowa Street (U.S. 59) and 19th Street.


The incident was reported at 2:12 a.m. CST Sunday morning and was reported to be "a T-bone" type crash.



There are 2 critically-injured people reported by EMS at this scene- and at least 1 medical helicopter was sent to the scene.

One patient is "a 19-year-old male (un-seatbelted) rear-seat passenger" in serious to critical condition- flown by helicopter to a Metro Kansas City hospital.

Another was "a 17-year-old (un-seatbelted) male driver" in serious condition who was taken by ground ambulance to another Metro K.C. hospital.

A 3rd patient- "a 27-year-old female (un-seatbelted) rear seat passenger" was taken to the Lawrence hospital in good condition.

CSW BREAKING: Firefighter Slightly Injured at KC-MO House Fire

A male KC-MO firefighter suffered minor injuries while extinguishing hot spots at a vacant house fire.


The fire was reported at 1:32 a.m. CDT in the 3300 block of Benton.

The first-arriving fire crews reported fire showing from the back of a 2-story structure at 1:35 a.m. CDT.

The fire was declared under control 14 minutes later- and a fire/arson investigator was requested to come look the scene over.


At 1:16 a.m. CST- a 2nd EMS unit was sent to the scene for the injured firefighter- who was taken to a KC-MO hospital.

Saturday Night 5.6-Magnitude Earthquake Strongest in Oklahoma History

I was first made aware there was an earthquake somewhere nearby by broadcasts over the public service radios starting at 11:06 p.m. Saturday night.


Thirteen minutes earlier- an earthquake had erupted in central Oklahoma- 44 miles east-northeast of the state capital- Oklahoma City.

Originally measured by USGS seismologists as a 5.2-magnitude- the quake's intensity was upgraded about 20 minutes later to a 5.6-magnitude.

This makes Saturday night's quake the most powerful in Oklahoma state history.

The previous record was 5.5-magnitude near El Reno on April 9- 1952.


Early Sunday morning November 6th- there are reports of damage in Oklahoma- THE OKLAHOMAN says "across (Lincoln County)" where the quake was epicentered.

In Lincoln county- parts of U.S. 62 highway had buckled and a chimney had been knocked off a house.

There is likely other damage not yet detected in the darkness.

There are also no reports of injuries as of 12:15 a.m. from the Oklahoma City or Tulsa news media.

Shown here is a USGS "Community Internet Intensity" map-" updated after midnight Sunday morning and showing the citizens responses to shaking felt in their area.

A maximum shake number reported was "VII-" or "very strong" according to the shake chart- with "moderate" damage possible.

This quake was felt as far away as the Dallas-Fort Worth MetroPlex as well as Metro Kansas City- with at least one report east of St. Louis in Illinois.


Early Saturday morning- CSW also reported a 4.7-magnitude earthquake in Oklahoma with an epicenter close to Saturday night's record quake.

CSW BREAKING: "Earthquake or Tremors" Reported in Platte County MO

At 11:06 p.m. Saturday night- the Platte County MO Emergency Communications Center was broadcasting an advisory over their frequencies that the center was getting "numerous calls of an earthquake or (earth) tremors" in that Northland KC-MO county.

Dispatch added that "there's been no reports of injuries or damage."

Police dispatch in Bonner Springs KS also reported "numerous calls" from people there.


At 10:53 p.m.- the USGS reports a "5.2" magnitude earthquake centered 44 miles east-northeast of Oklahoma City.


A short time later- the USGS upgraded the intensity of the Oklahoma quake to a "5.6" magnitude.

As of 11:30 p.m. CDT- news media sources in both Oklahoma City and Tulsa are not reporting any damage or injuries from what is now the strongest earthquake in Oklahoma state history.

The shaking locally is probably from that earthquake (not felt here at CSW).

Turn Your Clocks Back 1 Hour at 2 A.M. Sunday Morning

Or- if you go to bed earlier- make sure your non computer-controlled clocks are set BACK 1 hour.

If not you'll be an hour ahead of everybody else later Sunday.

CBS' Andy Rooney Dies At Age 92

The man had barely time to enjoy his "retirement" from his long-run on the CBS news show '60 Minutes.'


Andy Rooney passed away in New York late Friday at the age of 92.

God Speed Andy!

Central States News: 4.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Central Oklahoma

Residents of Oklahoma and at least 4 other states report feeling a moderate earthquake that had an epicenter east of Oklahoma City early Saturday morning.

The USGS reports the quake struck around 2:12 a.m. local (Central Daylight) time- had a magnitude of 4.7- and the center was about 47 miles east of Oklahoma City or 75 miles southwest of Tulsa.


Replies to a USGS shake-map query has people from 4 surrounding states- Kansas- Missouri- Arkansas and Texas- who felt the quake.


The Oklahoma City THE OKLAHOMAN states that the earthquake was felt as far away as here- "Kansas City MO.."


No damage or injuries have been reported to OKC or Tulsa news media as of this report..

Corporate Welfare Carrot Lures NY Firm's Headquarters to Metro Kansas City

If you could move your company and get tax credits and cash to do so- you probably would...

American corporations have found the perfect cash cow- The American Taxpayer.

Announced today in the KANSAS CITY (MO) STAR is another company getting "incentives (corporate welfare)" to move to Metro Kansas City from New York.

The story says the company- "Netsmart Technologies-" intends to move it's headquarters to the Metro- but that the company already has a temporary office in Overland Park.

KCTV-5's New Chief Meteorologist: Chris Suchan

Well- Channel 5's Katie Horner is out as chief meteorologist and a guy from Tampa FL- Chris Suchan- takes her place.


Once again- KCTV's Gary Amble is passed over for the chief spot.


It will be interesting to see how KC-area weather wonks take to the new talent (personally- except for WGN's Tom Skilling in Chicago- I don't watch any of them).

It will be interesting to see how many times the new guy pronounces 'Nevada' MO the same way as the Las Vegas state until he gets a clue.


What's REALLY going to be interesting to me- is how the fact Channel 41 and Channel 5 are sharing a news helicopter are going to plead "exclusive pictures" when the other station has access to the same shot.

CSW WEATHER: Metro Kansas City Rainfall Maps Nov. 2-3

It had been September 18th since such widespread- beneficial rains came to Metropolitan Kansas City.

The maps- courtesy of Johnson County KS 'Stormwatch-' shows rainfalls at the indicated reporting stations in 4 Metro counties got around an inch or more Wednesday.

Some stations in Jackson county MO approached the 2-inches of rainfall mark.

This isn't it for rainfall in the near-term either...

More wet weather should come into the area by late Monday- lasting through Tuesday into Wednesday- with inch amounts likely.

CSW Commentary: Sales Tax Weighs Most On Poor- Vote No on KC-MO Zoo Tax November 8

The City of Kansas City MO raises fees on this and that- proposes new taxes to finance this and that- yet spend millions per year supporting a Downtown drinking district (K.C. Live).


The city's infrastructure crumbles while so-called city leaders talk about tearing perfectly good buildings down- and spending tens of millions to replace it with another (Kemper Arena).


The head of a white elephant of a 1000-room convention hotel- heavily subsidized by KC-MO taxpayers- looms still.


Yet next Tuesday November 8- voters in Clay and Jackson counties in Missouri will be asked to approve a 1/8-cent sales tax increase to fund a non-infrastructure item: The Kansas City Zoo.


While I totally support our zoo- I'm totally against more sales taxes.

If approved- sales taxes in areas of Raytown for instance would rise to as much as 9.25%.

Residents in Raytown- as well as KC-MO are looking at huge increases in their water and sewer bills as it is- not to mention raises in electrical rates- etc..

People are being assaulted with price rises in food (30-50% rise in price of peanut butter!) and fuel (it will- count on it)- the last thing we need is to pay more for something that doesn't necessarily help the city run well.



Proper funding of the zoo is good- using another sales tax boost to fund the zoo is bad.


So do yourself and your pocketbook a favor and Vote NO for the KC-MO Zoo sales tax on November 8.

(Last) Update on Status of Missing Baby Lisa Irwin - November 3 2011

In less than 24 hours after this writing was posted will mark exactly  one month since infant female Lisa Irwin disappeared from her KC-MO Northland home.


Unfortunately- the news remains the same: no arrests made in this case and Baby Lisa has not been located.


This case has had a number of twists and turns- well described AND pondered in a post made a few days ago by "The Observer" who runs the SOUTH KANSAS CITY OBSERVER blog.


Since there have been no real developments in the Lisa Irwin case- I'm discontinuing the every few days updates.


When and if there are new significant developments- an arrest or if the infant is located- CSW will be right on it.

CSW Weather: Metro Kansas City Gets Most Rain Since September - Snow Possible

The light to occasionally moderately-heavy showers continue to move southwest to northeast across the Kansas City Metro and MetroRegion.

In the Metro by 7 p.m. Wednesday night- some scattered amounts approaching 1-inch can be found both north and south- as illustrated by the accompanying Johnson County KS "Stormwatch" map.

Doppler weather radars both in Pleasant Hill and Topeka show light to moderate rainshowers continuing to develop in southeastern and eastern Kansas and move northeast thru Metro Kansas City toward northern Missouri.


As the cold air with this storm system becomes better entrenched- this rain could well turn to snow toward midnight and sunrise Thursday.

Some areas could see up to a couple of inches on grassy areas and such- but no NWS snow or travel advisories are in effect for the MetroRegion early Wednesday night.

Precip will be out of here by noon Thursday at the latest..

CSW BREAKING: Credit Union Robbed Near Antioch Mall-area of KC-MO Northland

A branch of the CommunityAmerica Credit Union was robbed around 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.


The branch was at 5400 Northeast Antioch in KC-MO..

Police report an "elderly male" who who had his head covered entered the bank- went to a teller and "presented a note but no weapon."

The male reportedly had a red Chiefs cap.


No mention of the amount taken in the robbery as police scour the old Antioch Mall area for the suspect.

Central States News: Des Moines Fire Linked To Facebook Dispute - Story Links To Facebook

A garage fire in Des Moines is being blamed on a person made angry over actions on the Internet...


The DES MOINES (IA) REGISTER reports that a Des Moines woman is under suspicion of setting a former Facebook friend's garage on fire.

I say former friend because that's what got the alleged perp mad- she was reportedly 'unfriended' on a Facebook account.

No one was hurt- but the fire destroyed the contents of the garage including 2 vehicles.

The odd thing about this story is- if you'll refer to a screen-cap of the DMR's story page- you can send a Facebook like/comment of/on this story directly from the newspaper's Internet site...

Stubborn Natural-Cover Fire Continues to Burn in Western Shawnee KS

More fire crews are on-the-scene of a brush/natural-cover fire that has burned hundreds of acres- but no structures- in western Shawnee.


The fire began yesterday afternoon in the "Frisbee" area- between K-7 and the Kansas (Kaw) River south of Bonner Springs.

At one time- at least 6 fire departments were helping to battle the wildfire that was spread by southerly winds gusting as high as 40 m.p.h..


The BONNER SPRINGS (KS) CHIEFTAIN reported that one firefighter got a minor injury.


Around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning- fire crews from Shawnee were again sent to the area when smoldering embers from yesterday's fire re-ignited.


Today's version of the fire sounds to be well under control- with lower temperatures and higher humidities.


Rain is expected in Metro Kansas City by afternoon- with a chance of rain turning to snow sometime around or after midnight.

Kara Kopetsky's Family Gets An Attorney After Belton Police Exposed

Currently many people are fixated on the disappearance of infant Lisa Irwin- but nearly 5 years ago a Belton teenager seemingly disappeared from her high school.


Kara Kopetsky was last seen on May 4 2007 walking the halls of Belton High School and that night- her parents filed a missing person report with the Belton Police department.

However- KSHB investigative reporter Russ Ptacek has a Belton P.D. report that's date 2 days earlier than the day Kara actually went missing.

In addition- the KSHB report uncovers a number of discrepancies in Belton Police's handling of the Kara Kopetsky case- INCLUDING a reported confession from a person who flatly stated "I killed Kara."


This reminds me in a way the handling of the Lisa Irwin case- but by a much larger and supposively more-experienced police department.

Why did it take police MORE THAN a week to obtain a search warrant to Lisa Irwin's home?


These are things we'll probably never know on the other side of The Great Blue Wall....

CSW BREAKING: Now A House Fire in Independence MO

Independence MO's emergency services are very busy this Wednesday morning...


A house fire was reported at 7:28 a.m. in the 8800 block of Kentucky- and 5 companies of the Independence Fire department responded.

Flames and smoke were visible from the 1-story structure when the first fire crews arrived a few minutes after 7:30 a.m..


The fire was reportedly "knocked down" at 7:37 a.m.- but as of this post- no searches had been reportedly conducted of the structure's interior.

CSW BREAKING: Water Main Break Has Roadway Closed on 23rd Street Near M-291 in Independence

A water main break on 23rd Street- M-78- juest east of M-291 has resulted in roadway damage and closed traffic lanes.


Independence Police reported moments ago (7:16 a.m. Wednesday morning) that part of the roadway was "collapsing" near the break- necessitating closure of  all of the eastbound roadway.


At 7:26 a.m.- police on the scene say it's possible at least "one business has been flooded" by the broken main- address given is "2301 South M-291" and the business the officer says "is flooded" is "Select Physical Therapy."


Later Wednesday morning- there are reports that the closure could last at least several days.

Detour eastbound 23rd Street there is right or south on M-291 to Gudgell- left to R.D. Mize Road- then left again or back north to 23rd Street.

CSW BREAKING: Pedestrian Struck Near Van Horn High School in Independence

Independence Police are investigating a car-pedestrian collision early Wednesday morning.


The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. at the intersection of Truman and Winner Roads- in front of Van Horn High school.



The person hit- according to AMR-EMS- is "a 15-year-old female" who was struck by a car going at an unspecified speed.

The ambulance crew said their patient had "road-rash on her back- arms- hands and legs" and "flew about 50 feet after being struck" by the vehicle.


Her condition was considered serious as she was being transported to Children's Mercy Hospital in KC-MO..