CSW WEATHER: Tropical Storm Don Forms- Heading For Texas Gulf Coast

The National Weather Service's National Hurricane Center (NWS-NHC) in Miami FL announced the formation of Tropical Storm Don off the north coast of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula Wednesday afternoon.

At this time- the NWS-NHC forecasts TS Don to remain just below hurricane strength as the storm moves west to northwest toward the Texas Gulf coast.


One model has the tropical storm making landfall near Houston/Galveston.

Another model on the 1200Z run this morning- shown here- had Tropical Storm Don making a landfall just south of Corpus Christi at just below Category 1 hurricane strength just after Hour 60 (Midnight-0600 CDT Saturday).

More as TS Don moves on....

Central States NEWS: (ATTN: Nancy Grace) St. Louis County Man Charged For Murdering Son

The good people at the ST. LOUIS (MO) POST-DISPATCH report that a "north St. Louis County man- 23-year-old Ramond L. Woods-" was charged with the death of his 2 year-old son.


Woods took his son Jamal Reed to a medical emergency room on Tuesday where it was found Jamal had "broken ribs, bruising to his back and buttocks and a lacerated liver."

The child died of his injuries.

No word if the cable news networks and/or Nancy Grace will converge on St. Louis- for we've had a parent charged with killing their child.


(Methinks this will get only cursory local TV news coverage- odd how that works isn't it? ;))

I-70 Remains Closed West Of Topeka KS

A person who is barricaded in a recreational vehicle on the shoulder of I-70 west of Topeka continues to keep BOTH directions of Interstate 70 closed- according to the TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL.


The closure comes only days after another incident closed much of the same stretch of freeway for more than 9 hours.


This incident began around 8 a.m. Wednesday morning- for updates click HERE for the Kansas Roads Web page.

CSW BREAKING: Industrial Fire Injures One in KC-MO

A fire in an industial building in KC-MO's East Bottoms is under control.

The fire was in a building in the 1500 block of North Monroe- or directly south of the Missouri River from Harrah's Casino.

The fire- dispatched around 10:45 a.m. was reportedly involving a railcar and styrofoam.


Fire command reported one "civilian" injured shortly after 11 a.m..

That person reportedly had "minor burns and smoke inhalation."

CSW Weather: Brief Relief From Heat Wave in Form of Severe Storms Possible Thursday

Cloud cover this Wednesday morning is offering SOME relief from this extended heat wave.


More than 16 KC-MO residents have already died from reported heat-related issues.

According to the "Day-2" outlook from the NWS' Storm Prediction Center- the Metro Kansas City and northern MetroRegion areas are forecast to have a "slight" risk of possibly severe thunderstorms from 7 a.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday.


A weak cool front will settle into our area later tomorrow- but will bring only some temporary relief from the 100-degree temperatures until a stronger cool front makes it's way south late in the weekend or early next week.

Today's severe storm risk will be in northern areas of the Central States- across Iowa and Nebraska- and some of these storms could drop south into our area on Thursday.

Missouri River Flood of 2011 - Upper Missouri Reservoir Readings- 5-Day Rainfall Forecast for July 27

The following are the latest reservoir readings on the upper Missouri River- taken on Wednesday morning- July 27.

NOTE: Beginning August 1- this presentation will be posted once a week until September.

The key to the project parameters listed can be found on this previous CSW post on daily USACE project readings.

There are also three-week predictions made by USACE on inflows and discharges for each dam/reservoir in the Pick-Sloan system found HERE.


Also- the National Weather Service's US 5-Day precipitation outlook and forecasted rainfall amounts.

CENTRAL STATES NEWS: Laura Milkins Walks Home

Laura's not just walking across the neighborhood- or across town.

Laura Milkins is walking from Tucson AZ to her mom's house in Grand Rapids MI.- says the ABILENE (KS) REFLECTOR.

Day 84 had Laura walking from Salina to Abilene.

Each night- she stays with a host and cooks dinner for them in return for their hospitality.


Laura began her trek May 1- and she's scheduled to reach Grand Rapids in October.

Her progress can be monitored on her Web site found HERE.

God Speed Laura!

Joplin Tornado Insurance Payout Largest in Missouri History

The Joplin Tornado of May 22 2011 could ultimately cost insurance companies as much as $2-billion.


The JOPLIN (MO) GLOBE reports that as of June 30- $505-million has already been payed-out for losses in the EF-5 twister that killed 160 people.

Look for your insurance rates to rise as a result....

Sister Wants To Find Out Who Burned Her Brother To Death

Frank D. Locklear's last ride alive was documented here at CSW- but no where else in a large metropolitan area with multiple news media organizations.


The 51-year-old man reportedly had been living in a shed behind a house in the 800 block of Miami in Kansas City KS..

Reportedly an alcoholic with no job- neighbors nonetheless liked Frank- who would do odd jobs and fix neighborhood lawnmowers that went on the fritz.


On the morning of July 2nd- someone set fire to Frank Locklear.


Initially reported here- it was first thought by emergency service workers in KC-KS that Frank was burned over "100% of his body- trying to start a fire with gasoline."

Frank Locklear was rushed to the University of Kansas Medical Center burn unit- where he later died of his injuries.


It was only later that police determined that Mr. Locklear had had an argument with 2 people that July morning- then one or both of those people poured gasoline on Frank and set him on fire.


Frank Locklear's sister- Debbie Cain of Shawnee- badly wants her brother's killer(s) brought to justice.

According to The SHAWNEE (KS) DISPATCH- Debbie Cain and her family has established a reward fund to aid in finding out who killed her brother.


The fund is up to $1500- and Ms. Cain kindly asks those who'd like to contribute to her brother's reward fund to send their checks- money orders- what have you- to the Frank Locklear fund- U.S. Bank- 9900 W. 87th St.- Overland Park KS- 66212.


CSW hopes that those who killed Frank Locklear are swiftly brought to justice.

Missouri River Flood of 2011 - Upper Missouri Reservoir Readings- 5-Day Rainfall Forecast for July 26

The following are the latest reservoir readings on the upper Missouri River- taken on Tuesday morning- July 26.


The key to the project parameters listed can be found on this previous CSW post on daily USACE project readings.

There are also three-week predictions made by USACE on inflows and discharges for each dam/reservoir in the Pick-Sloan system found HERE.


Also- the National Weather Service's US 5-Day precipitation outlook and forecasted rainfall amounts.

CSW BREAKING: Reported "Building Collapse" in East KC-MO

At 3:09 p.m.- a regular alarm response of KC-MO Fire companies are enroute to a reported "building collapse" at 10th Street and Spruce.

Initial report at 3:13 p.m. is that this is "the front of a building under renovation" that has collapsed.


There were no reports of anyone being injured.