CSW BREAKING: Male Found Dead in Independence MO Residence

Police are investigating a man found dead in a western Independence residence Saturday morning.


An IFD crew and AMR-EMS ambulance was sent to an address in the 10800 block of East 19th Terrace South at 6:23 a.m. on a "Code Blue" non-breathing "26-year-old male."

After those units arrived at the residence- they declared the man dead at the scene and requested police.

More information later today if and when it becomes available.

Two Critically Hurt in Douglas County KS Crash

Two young men are in Metro Kansas City hospitals Saturday morning after a 1-vehicle rollover crash on U.S. 59 in Douglas county...

The crash occurred about 11:15 p.m. Friday night near 700 Road- about 6 miles south of Lawrence.


EMS reports say the occupants were thrown when their vehicle rolled-over an unknown number of times during the crash.


Both occupants were flow by medical helicopters- one each to K.U. and Truman Medical Centers.

The patient flown to K.U. was "a 22-year-old male-" and the Truman patient was reported by a medical helicopter crew was "a 19-year-old male."

Both men had critical head and other injuries.


The Douglas county Sheriff's department and the Kansas Highway Patrol was investigating the wreck.

House Heavily Damaged by Fire in Kansas City KS

A fire that raged for more than two and a half hours has severely damaged a house in east-central KC-KS- but no injuries have been reported.


The alarm was dispatched to five companies of the KCKFD at 2:33 a.m. Saturday morning to the 1300 block of North 20th Street- and two more companies would be sent to the scene over the next hour.

The first company rolled-up at 2:37 a.m. and reported the "back" of the story and a half house "fully-involved" in flames.


The fire spread throughout the house- and fire crews on the inside were ordered out at least twice.


As of 5:15 a.m.- the fire had not been declared under control- but fire crews were reportedly "just (extinguishing) hot spots" throughout the ruined structure.

A cause of the fire is pending.

CSW BREAKING: Man Stabbed in Kansas City MO Northland

A stabbing was reported by KC-MO emergency services around 5:10 a.m. Saturday morning at "I-29 and Vivion Road."

A male victim was located there and- according to KCFD-EMS-6- that victim was "a 31-year-old male" who was sliced "in the abdomen" and reportedly had "his intestines hanging out" of the wound.

He was rushed to a KC-MO medical trauma center in serious to critcal condition.


Police think the stabbing happened elsewhere- and there was no suspect information readily available.

CSW BREAKING: Two Die in Shawnee Apartment Building Fire

A fire in one of the buildings of the Carlyle Apartment complex in the 11600 block of West 75th Terrace has resulted in two fatalities.


KSHB 41News was reporting the "two fatalities" at this fire as of 6:15 a.m..

The fire was reported just after 5:30 a.m. and Shawnee- Lenexa and Overland Park Fire departments are on the scene.


The victims were reportedly rescued from their ground-floor apartment- that's where the fire originated and was mostly confined to- according to a Shawnee fire spokesperson.

At 5:53 a.m.- one of those rescued was decribed by MEDACT-EMS as being in critical condition- and was having CPR performed on them.


That person and a second victim could not be revived and were declared dead at the scene.


There are also people's pets being found in the apartments of the fire building as of 6:10 a.m.- and the fire was under control- out actually- at that time.


CSW learned later Friday the fire investigator's cause of this fire- said to be food that was left on the stove that caught fire and produced heavy smoke in the apartment.

The identity of the victims was also released- a 21-year-old female Jay'D Griffin and a 23-year-old male- JaMaur Smith.

This was also the second apartment building fire in Shawnee this week.

Two Lawrence KS Cops "Suspended" For Fixing Traffic Tickets

This is being reported by the LAWRENCE (KS) JOURNAL-WORLD- two Lawrence Police department police officers have been "suspended" for fixing traffic tickets in exchange for University of Kansas basketball tickets.


The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) was reportedly involved in the case- and the person that provided the two accused officers the KU basketball tickets is already in a federal prison for the earlier KU ticket scam last year- according to the LJ-W story.


The names of the police officers accused are being kept secret- i.e.- not released to the public- by the Lawrence Police department.

CSW BREAKING: Rollover Crash on Eastbound I-70 East of Van Brunt in Kansas City MO

Eastbound I-70 traffic is restricted to one lane- and at least two injuries are reported in a "rollover- 2-vehicle" crash on I-70 in east KC-MO..

The wreck was reported at 2:07 p.m. on east I-70 between Van Brunt and the 31st Street/U.S. 40 highway exits.


At least two EMS units have been requested there.


At 3:15 p.m.- all lanes of I-70 were once again open..

MetroRegion Kansas City News: Hostess Brands Files (Again) For Bankruptcy- Union Prepares to Strike

Hostess Brands Inc.'s executives are at it again- and this time they may completely cook their 'golden goose'....


As reported here at CSW last December- the re-organized company (formerly headquartered here in Kansas City) wasn't paying into their employee's pension plan.

The Hostess's worker's organization- the "Bakery Confections- Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union-" later reported that Hostess Brands HAD come to an agreement to resume paying into the pension- but then the re-organized company again filed for bankruptcy on January 11.


Now- according to this story in the EMPORIA (KS) GAZETTE where one of Hostess's bakeries is located- the union is fed up and threatening to strike.


In addition- Hostess never did pay their share of the pension plan- and continue to take $10 per week from company employee's paychecks to "help the (re-organized Hostess Brands) rebuild."


Too many (management & wealthy?) people badmouth employee unions- but your 'Captain' totally and completely supports the members of the Bakery Confections- Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International union and wishes the beleaguered employees of Hostess Brands all the best in this deplorable situation. 

Independence MO EMS Call: Icy Hot Makes For Bad Toothpaste

As reportedly learned by an Independence MO woman within the past few minutes...


At 10:04 a.m. AMR-EMS and an IFD pumper crew was sent to a residence in the 2600 block of Westport Road to help a woman who reportedly "accidentally brushed her teeth with Icy Hot-" a external body pain ointment- "instead of toothpaste."


No word yet on the woman's medical condition- which I would surmise to say is not life-threatening but certainly awakening....

North Kansas City Firefighters Earn Their Pay Thursday Morning

Those few who complain that firefighters sit around their stations all day and sleep on the job MIGHT be satisfied that North Kansas City firefighters did their jobs early Thursday morning...


Around 3:45 a.m.- both stations of the NKCFD responded to a fire at the French Quarter Apartments at 1600 Orleans Circle- just northwest of the Interstate 29/35 and Armour Road intersection in that Northland industrial city.

Arriving the fire crews found people trapped on outside balconies by heavy smoke in the building- then found a female in an inside hallway unconcious- reportedly from "smoke inhalation-" according to the story from KSHB 41News.

Although the fire crews were no doubt somewhat delayed by the rescues- the fire- reportedly in "a basement storage area-" was quickly knocked down and extinguished before it could spread throughout the rest of the 2-story building.


The woman was taken to North Kansas City Hospital in unknown condition- but no other injuries were reported while the American Red Cross helped to re-locate those residents rendered temporarily homeless by the fire. 

Pedestrian Struck in Warrensburg MO

This call was received at 7:14 a.m. Thursday morning- a reported "pedestrian stuck - just south of Southwest Division on Southwest (Johnson county road) 101 (also known as "Parker Road") in western Warrensburg.

Johnson County EMS dispatch reported the person struck was "a 45-year-old male" and a few minutes later- reported that patient was with "a group of ROTC" people who were "out running."

The man was later reported to have suffered only a not life-threatening "wrist injury."

CSW BREAKING: Working House Fire East of Kansas City's Plaza Area

Six companies of firefighters are engaged at a fire in a reported two-story house east of the Country Club Plaza/Nelson Art Gallery area.

The alarm was sounded at 7:31 a.m. for an address in the 4600 block of Harrision and it was reported that "all occupants" were "out" of the burning house.


"Station 35" arrived at 7:35 a.m. and reported a "working fire-" an the 6th fire company was dispatched.


Using at least two handlines (1-3/4-inch hoses)- the fire- which sounds to have originated in the basement of the lived-in home- was reported "under control."


No word if traffic is affected on busy nearby Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard and as of yet- no reports of any injuries at the fire scene which I'm monitoring.

CSW BREAKING: House Fire in Northwestern Ray County MO

Crews from at least two fire departments are fighting a fire in a 2-story house northeast of Lawson MO in extreme northwestern Ray county.

The call was initially dispatched by the Lawson Fire department (FD) at 10:08 a.m. Wednesday morning and shortly thereafter crews from the Holt FD were called to assist at the location near "206th Street and Coon Branch Road."


The first arriving LFD unit at 10:18 a.m. reported a "working fire" that sounds to have originated "in the basement" of the structure and has spread upward since.


There is yet no word on the occupancy-status of the house- whether anyone was found inside- not any injuries as this firefight is underway.

CSW BREAKING: Gas Line Break Forces Evacuations Near Downtown Lawrence KS

Several Lawrence Fire department crews are working an incident involving to break of "a two-inch" diameter gas line break in the 1000 block of New Hampshire.

The incident was reported shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday morning.


Fire department communications reported evacuating at least several buildings near the leaking gas line- which was "shut off" at 10:18 a.m..


No fire or injuries resulted.

Okay With Drug Testing Kansas Welfare Recipients IF Politicians Included

Americans in general and Kansans in particular seem to be so incredibly gullible these days...


We seem to accept the fact that those who protect and govern us are going to do the right thing when- in too many cases nowadays- it's really the opposite.


The latest case in point is in Kansas- where it seems state politicians want to turn the Sunflower State into a 19th Century theocracy.


The latest is that Kansas state politicians are floating a proposed bill to subject low or no income welfare recipents to "random" drug tests.


That seems fair I guess- if you get taxpayer money to help survive- you should have some sort of accountability- if it's such an overwhelming issue.


However- an informed and thinking person realizes that the politicians themselves- the ones who SPEND taxpayer dollars- are NOT subject to ANY kind of either pre-oath or in-office drug or alcohol tests.


Nor are recipients of corporate welfare- you know- the wealthy "1%" who get tax breaks of their many names and are floated state-issued/backed bonds to build anything larger than a phone booth.


So your Captain is going to support these so-called "random" drug tests for poor state welfare cases ONLY under the following conditions:

• 1) That the state (local AND Federal) politicians themeselves start taking pre-oath and in-office drug and alcohol screens and

• 2) That heads of companies AND their employees that receive tax breaks or any form of government assistance also take drug tests BEFORE such breaks/assistance are approved for them.

What's that Kansas State Representative (and/or) Senator?

Yeah- I didn't THINK you would.....

First Significant Snowfall Produces Slick Roads in Metro Kansas City

The roads are slick- so take off early and TAKE IT SLOW PLEASE...



About 1-inch of snow here in the Loma Vista area of south Kansas City MO this Monday morning.

Here are some photos taken within the past 45 minutes area the CSW area.

CSW Weather: Hey Kansas City- It's Snowing

The first significant snowfall that was predicted several days ago has begun.


Light sleet preceded the snowfall that began around 1 a.m. Monday morning over the Kansas suburbs and has since spread over all of Metro Kansas City.


Snowfall totals will be around 2-3 inches by afternoon- when the snow is forecasted to become light drizzle or freezing drizzle.

Public works road crews from both states- the counties and cities are out spreading salt and other chemicals on area roadways which as of this post just after 3 a.m. range from wet to  becoming partially snow-covered (see the accompanying traffic camera images taken between 3-3:30 a.m. Monday morning).

Here at CSW in south KC-MO- the temperature hovers just above the 32-degree (freezing) mark- but temperatures at Metro NWS weather stations range from 27 at K.C.I. airport to 28 to 29 degrees in Downtown KC-MO- Olathe and Lee's Summit.


Temperatures should hold fairly steady today or actually rise by a degree or two.


There are live traffic cameras found here at the Kansas City Scout system- as well as here at the Overland Park Traffic division Web site.

Everybody will be fine if people leave 10-15 minutes early for work- drive smoothly (no erratic lane changing and/or braking) and SLOW DOWN.


CSW will be listening for any major traffic issues through 9 a.m.-  and post them on this blog in the YOUR COMMENTS section of this post.