Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Royals Decline Option On Joakim Soria

The Royals announced today that they have chosen not to exercise their $8 million option on closer Joakim Soria for the 2013 season, triggering a $750,000 buyout. Soria is now a free agent.

Both Soria and the Royals seemed optimistic that a deal would be reached in the past. Soria is only 28, however the right-handed closer missed all of the 2012 season after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in April. This was the second time in Soria’s career that he has been forced to undergo the procedure. Soria is already rehabbing his repaired elbow and has been throwing two to three times a week.

Despite declining Soria’s option, it is possible that Kansas City could still work out a deal to keep Soria. It has been reported that the Royals planned on declining the option while negotiating an incentive-laden contract with Soria.

Kansas City now faces a difficult decision in whether or not to keep Soria. He is coming off a severe injury, and the closer’s numbers declined in 2011 after his stellar 2010 season. However, Soria is a fan-favorite, and the market for closers is very weak this offseason. If the team wants to have a quality closer, there aren’t many better options out there than Soria. Another possible outcome is that the team may find Soria to be too pricey and choose to spend money on a starting pitcher or another bat. If the Royals went this route, they’d have to sign a cheap bullpen player to be the closer, or use someone currently on the team. It comes down to how much the Royals willing to spend.

Soria has 160 saves and a 2.40 ERA in his Royals career, and was named an All-Star in the 2008 and 2010 seasons.

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Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Chiefs Lose Another Home Game To The Raiders

One of the saddest things that has come with the demise of the Kansas City Chiefs organization is how poorly the team has played at Arrowhead Stadium, once considered one of the toughest places to play in the country. Kansas City lost to Oakland on Sunday, the Raiders’ sixth straight win over the Chiefs at Arrowhead.

The Chiefs are heading towards historically bad territory. For starters, the team has not led in regulation this season, the first time since 1940 that a team has gone this deep into the season without having a lead at any point in regulation play. The Chiefs lone win came in overtime over the lowly New Orleans Saints.

The biggest problem for the Chiefs continues to the turnovers – Kansas City committed four more on Sunday and now leads the league with 25 giveaways. Despite once again giving the ball away at will, the Chiefs had a few bright spots offensively. Matt Cassel replaced the injured Brady Quinn and had a decent outing, connecting on 20 of 30 attempts for 218 yards. Quinn looked awful before leaving the game with a head injury, suggesting that the coaching staff once again blew a personnel decision.

The biggest question mark from this game surrounds Jamaal Charles – the Chiefs top offensive weapon was given only five carries in the game, and head coach Romeo Crennel had no explanation as to why Charles wasn’t used more. Cassel ended up being the team’s leading rusher with 35 yards, and Peyton Hillis also received four carries.

There is no way to sugarcoat anything surrounding the Chiefs – this team is really bad and needs to fire its GM, head coach and his entire staff this offseason and start over. Kansas City fans can only hold onto the hope that the team’s next GM will not blow the Chiefs’ top draft pick in 2013, and that brighter days are ahead.

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Friday, October 26, 2012

Kansas City Chiefs - Oakland Raiders Preview

Throw the records out the window, because it is rivalry week in Kansas City. On Sunday, the Chiefs will host the Oakland Raiders, and kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m.

Earlier this week, Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel announced that Brady Quinn will get the start for Kansas City. Matt Cassel has recovered from the concussion he suffered against Baltimore, but Crennel feels that starting Quinn is an “impactful move to get everyone’s attention.” Basically, Crennel is looking for anything to spark a Chiefs offense that has not played well this season. Most of that is on Cassel, who has accounted for a ridiculous 14 turnovers this season and has completed only 58% of his passes. The Chiefs will have to rely on Jamaal Charles to move the ball, although that may be a tough task against the Raiders defense, which is only allowing 102 yards per game on the ground.

Defensively, the Chiefs have been incredibly inconsistent this season. At times the unit has looked great, and other times it has made bad quarterbacks look like hall-of-famers. Kansas City’s main goal will be stopping Darren McFadden; although McFadden is having a down year, he is capable of breaking a long run at any time. The Chiefs have done a good job against McFadden in the past, and the team’s top priority should be to contain the dynamic back and force Carson Palmer to beat Kansas City through the air. Palmer has thrown for only seven touchdowns this season, and can be prone to turning the ball over.

The Raiders are statistically very similar to the Chiefs – Oakland averages 19 points per game and allows 28 points per game, and Kansas City averages 17 points per game and allows 30 points per game. Both teams rely on their running backs for big plays, and that should be the difference on Sunday. If Charles gets going early, Kansas City will have a good chance to pick up its second win this season. If the Chiefs run game is ineffective and Brady Quinn is forced to make a lot of plays, the team will likely be one step closer to a top-five draft pick.

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Thursday, October 25, 2012

Austin Reed Sigg Arrested For Jessica Ridgeway Murder

Police have arrested 17-year-old Austin Reed Sigg in the murder case of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway, who was killed earlier this month in Colorado. Ridgeway disappeared on October 5 while walking to school, and her remains were found five days later in a field at a park

The death of Ridgeway has become a hot local topic due to her family in the area. Ridgeway’s father, Jeremy Bryant, as well as her other family members addressed the media today in response to Sigg’s arrest.

Sigg’s mother told police that her son had turned himself in, but it is believed that she actually called the police department. Attention has now shifted to who exactly Austin Sigg is what his motives were behind a violent killing of a young girl. Acquaintances and neighbors of Sigg described him as “goth” and a bit of a loner, often dressed in black and could be seen on a skateboard or scooter. Sigg was reportedly interested in mortuary science, but it is unknown what classes he was currently taking at Arapahoe Community College.

Sigg will also be charged with the attempted kidnapping of a 22-year-old woman in another area park, an incident where a runner fought off an individual (thought to be Sigg) who tried to put a rag soaked with chemicals over her mouth.

Hopefully Sigg’s arrest can allow Ridgeway’s family to begin to feel some closure, and let a community that has been shaken to its core begin to heal. Sigg is scheduled to appear in court today, and will most likely be charged and convicted of first-degree murder. Some has speculated that Sigg may have not acted alone; more details should surface as Sigg’s statements and testimonials are made public.

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Woman Dies From Hit-And-Run Accident In Johnson County

Johnson County has had yet another hit-and-run death, the second occurrence in the last month. Police are currently searching for a driver who failed to stop after hitting a pedestrian late on Tuesday in Overland Park.

The incident occurred around 10:40 p.m. last night near West 71st Street and Metcalf Avenue. A 35-year-old woman was hit by the driver and then rushed to the hospital by emergency crews. The woman died a short time later from injuries she sustained from the crash. The Overland Park Police Department is currently investigating the incident.

This alarming trend is a sad recent development in the Kansas City area. It is one thing to accidentally hit someone while you are driving, but only the lowest human beings on the planet would actually drive away and leave the person they have just struck to die. Accidents happen in cars, and the penalty for accidentally hitting someone while you are driving is nothing compared to a hit-and-run incident that ends up costing someone their life.

Much like the hit-and-run incident off of 1-35 that cost Christopher Randolph his life, alcohol could be a contributing factor to this situation. People drive when they shouldn’t, make a mistake that injures someone, and don’t want to face the penalty for driving drunk. Randolph’s killer was found, and odds are the person behind the wheel last night will get caught as well.

These incidents should also serve as a warning to those who travel by foot at night. With no reliable public transportation and the way the metro is set up, people unfortunately routinely choose to drive impaired, especially on weekends. All Kansas City metro residents need to be aware that when the sun goes down, the roads are dangerous. That is the sad reality of the area we live in.

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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Chiefs Name Brady Quinn Starting Quarterback

Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel has announced that Brady Quinn will start for Kansas City on Sunday, when the team plays rival Oakland. Matt Cassel has been cleared to play following his concussion injury against Baltimore; however Cassel’s poor play to start the year has earned him a spot on the bench.

Cassel has been an enormous disappointment this season, throwing for only five touchdowns next to nine interceptions and a 66.2 QB rating. His fumbles and interceptions have routinely forced the Chiefs defense to defend a short field, and has neutralized a successful ground attack lead by the dynamic Jamaal Charles. To make matters worse, Cassel signed a huge six year, $63 million contract when he was brought to Kansas City by GM Scott Pioli, which makes his poor play even more frustrating to Chiefs fans.

Enter Brady Quinn, the former first round pick out of Notre Dame who has only 393 career pass attempts. Quinn’s career rating is only 65.4, and he has actually produced worse stats than Cassel when he has seen the field for the Chiefs this season. Quinn has shown some flashes of the talent that led to the Browns drafting him in the first round, and Chiefs fans have to hope that Quinn will improve as he gets more playing time. Crennel has stated that he hopes this move helps shakes things up a bit, and that he plans on sticking with Quinn for the foreseeable future.

The Chiefs have stated they are not giving up on Cassel, but this move seems to signify that his days in Kansas City are numbered. Since enjoying a pretty good season two years ago, Cassel hasn’t played well and cannot stay healthy. Is Quinn the answer? Probably not, but he has shown some flashes of arm strength that Cassel seems to lack. Cassel’s contract and play will likely lead to his exit at the end of the year, and Quinn now has a second chance to earn an NFL starting job.

Many also believe that the Chiefs could take a quarterback in next year’s draft, especially if the team continues to lose and finds itself with a top-five pick. It is very likely that the Chiefs could resign Quinn this offseason and let him compete with and help groom a rookie quarterback when the 2013 season begins.

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Monday, October 22, 2012

Charity Event 2012 - Masquerade by First Hand Foundation KCMB News

Masquerade 2012 by Cerner's First Hand Foundation - KCMB Kansas City News

One of the biggest and most exciting Kansas City charity events, Masquerade 2012 benefitting The First Hand Foundation by Cerner, happens this Saturday October 27th, 2012 at The Midland Theatre. In it's 7th year, this year's charity fundraiser is poised to be one of the biggest Masquerade parties yet.

The theme for Masquerade 2012 is "Where the Wild Things Are" and will feature live music from Kansas City U2 Tribute Band Rattle and Hum, produced by Adam Blue Productions.  Also, performing live will be The La De Dahs presented by Bands For Hire Live! First Hand Foundation's Masquerade 2012 will feature excellent cuisine provided by PB&J in the form of a large scrumptious buffet. There will be an open bar, photo booths, and of course everyone will be dressed up in their "wildest thing".

Masquerade 2012 Attire
In years past this event was pretty much black tie with a masquerade mask encouraged, this year, however, it seems that they are loosening things up a bit and inviting guests to dress "animal creative" similar to Jazzoo or a storybook monster costume, suits and evening gowns are the norm at this event, so that is still acceptable with a mask of some kind. If you don't have anything on hand, or don't have time to prepare, they will sell you a mask at the event. There will be face painters on hand as well, in case you want to go that extra mile! There will be prizes given out for best costume and also for best dressed.

Pricing for Masquerade 2012 ranges from $1,500 - $60,000 for sponsorship levels, or you can purchase individual tickets for $110.00 each.

Drink and graze, listen to some of Kansas City's best bands and come be a part of the event of the year!



Cerner's First Hand Foundation is an outreach charity program that works to provide funding for children's health care when insurance and other resources are exhausted. Cerner's Masquerade 2012 proceeds will all benefit The First Hand Foundation.

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Matt Kenseth Wins Wreck-Filled Hollywood Casino 400 At Kansas Speedway

There has been a lot of talk about the new paving on the Kansas Speedway, and Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 showed why. The race featured a Kansas Speedway record 14 cautions for 63 laps, and was eventually won by Matt Kenseth.

The Speedway’s new revamped conditions, which feature more steep variable banking, has become the talk of the racing world this morning in the aftermath of a race filled with cautions and accidents. Many cars had tire problems that led to cautions, while other cars spun out on the tracks fast surface.

Kenseth won the race despite driving a damaged car, as he banged his Ford into the wall halfway through the race. Martin Truex Jr. finished second in the race, and Paul Menard finished third. Clint Bowyer, the crowd favorite from Emporia, finished sixth and is fourth in the Chase standings. Chase leader Brad Keselowski was able to avoid all of the accidents and finish the race, and he still leads Jimmie Johnson by seven points in the Sprint Cup standings.

While the fast conditions and wrecks grabbed most of the headlines, Danica Patrick found a way to steal some of the spotlight. Patrick spun Landon Cassill on purpose after Cassill angered Patrick by bumping her earlier in the race.

Those who made it out to the Kansas Speedway saw what was one of the most entertaining NASCAR races in recent memory. To put into contrast how crazy yesterday’s race was, just look at the STP 400, which was the final race on the Speedway’s old surface. The STP 400 had only three cautions, while the Casino 400 more than tripled that.

Will drivers be able to adjust to the new conditions at the Speedway, or are Kansas City racing fans in line to see more races like Sunday’s?

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Friday, October 19, 2012

Dwayne Bowe Pushing For Trade Out Of Kansas City

Reports are surfacing that Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is pushing hard for an exit from Kansas City. With the Chiefs tied for the worst record in the NFL, many predict that the team will deal Bowe in an effort to blow things up and gain a draft pick or young players in return.

This really shouldn’t be a surprise to Chiefs fans, as Bowe did not receive a long-term deal from the franchise in the off-season. Bowe was given the franchise tag, and reluctantly signed his deal just a few weeks before the regular season started. Now that the Chiefs are 1-5, there is no long-term contract binding Bowe to spend his future with a bad team. Bowe will also be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and at this point it seems like there is no chance of him signing a deal in Kansas City.

With Bowe’s days in Kansas City numbered, it makes sense that the team would trade him now to get something back in return. The biggest team being mentioned in trade rumors are the Miami Dolphins, who have some draft picks to deal after picking up extra second and third round picks by trading Vontae Davis and Brandon Marshall. The Dolphins have talent at running back and spent an early first-round pick on QB Ryan Tannehill, yet have few playmakers at receiver. Bowe would give Tannehill a big body to throw to, and would immediately push the Dolphins into the playoff picture. Miami is tied for first in the AFC East, and with how bad the entire AFC has been this season, they would have a great shot to make the postseason.

If the Chiefs make this move, it is clear they are planning for the future. The team already has a poor passing game, and losing its top wide out would cripple the KC offense. The Chiefs invested a first round pick two drafts ago in Jonathan Baldwin, however the young receiver hasn’t done much so far in Kansas City.

The Chiefs had an opportunity to wrap Bowe up this offseason, but failed to offer him a long-term deal. It is clear that Bowe will be leaving Kansas City once the regular season ends, and it is important for the Chiefs to get something of value in return.

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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Lance Armstrong Steps Down As Chairman of Livestrong

Amid a doping scandal that has shocked the nation, Lance Armstrong has announced that he is stepping down as chairman of Livestrong, the cancer-fighting charity that he founded and sponsor of Kansas City’s Livestrong Sporting Park.

Armstrong was not paid a salary for serving as the chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and he will remain on the 15 member board. Vice chairman Jeff Garvey, who helped Armstrong start the foundation in 1997, will now serve as the chairman. Garvey will handle the foundation’s strategic planning and handle many of the public appearances and meetings that used to be Armstrong’s responsibility.

After Armstrong announced his departure from Livestrong, Nike cut all of its ties from the former cycling great, citing “seemingly insurmountable evidence that Lance Armstrong participated in doping and misled Nike for more than a decade.” Nike has stated that despite Armstrong’s scandal, the company will continue to support Livestrong.

Armstrong’s huge fall from grace comes in the wake of a massive report compiled by the US Anti-Doping Agency last week, which detailed Armstrong’s widespread doping and how he convinced his teammates to join him. Armstrong won the Tour de France seven consecutive times from 1999 t0 2005 and has now been banned from cycling for life. All of Armstrong’s titles and cycling accolades are being erased as well. Armstrong has denied all of the doping charges, but he chose not to fight the USADA’s accusations and report through arbitration, citing that the process was unfair.

This has a profound effect on Kansas City as Livestrong is the primary sponsor of Sporting KC and has the naming rights to KC’s hottest new outdoor venue, Livestrong Sporting Park. Many predicted that these allegations could threaten the future of the foundation, which could have an effect on Sporting KC and the stadium. With Armstrong stepping down, hopefully the foundation will be able to focus on helping those who are battling or have been affected by cancer, and there will be no negative impact on Kansas City.

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Tuesday, October 16, 2012

LIVESTRONG Sporting Park Hosts USA World Cup Qualifying Match Tonight

The United States Men’s National team has a big game tonight against Guatemala, the semi-final round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying. The match will take place at Kansas City’s LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, and will begin at 6 p.m.

The United States needs a win or a tie to advance to the finals. The Americans can also advance with a loss in the game based on the result of the Jamaica vs. Antigua and Barbuda match, but the US squad has made it known it intends to go for the win. USA found itself in this game after winning a critical World Cup qualifying match against Antigua and Barbuda 2-1, with both goals being scored by national team veteran Eddie Johnson.

LIVESTRONG has turned into one of the best venues to watch soccer in the nation, and Kansas City has slowly grown an impressive soccer fan base. A lot of the credit has to go to the success of Sporting Kansas City, which has become one of the best teams in major league soccer and is fueled by a terrific home crowd whenever it plays in KC.

With the Royals stuck in two decades of futility and the Chiefs looking like the worst team in the NFL this season (not to mention they haven’t won a playoff game since January of 1994) Kansas City fans should be grateful that they have Sporting KC and LIVESTRONG park. Our MLS team has given the city a winner to root for, and helps attract marquee matchups like tonight’s world cup qualifier featuring our national team.

Is Kansas City turning into a soccer town? If the Royals and Chiefs keep underperforming, it is entirely possible.

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Chiefs Find New Low Against Bucs

It is a sad time to be Kansas City Chiefs fan, as the team continues to find new lows. The most recent came on Sunday, when Kansas City was blown out by the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 38-10. The loss drops the Chiefs record to 1-5 on the season.

Entering the game, it looked like Kansas City would have an opportunity to exploit a weak Tampa Bay offense. The Chiefs were coming off an impressive performance against the Baltimore Ravens, and the Bucs had struggled moving the ball this season. After limiting Tampa Bay to only seven points in the first half, Kansas City was lit up in the second half, and wound up surrendering three second half touchdowns and a field goal. Josh Freeman, who has struggled this season and most of his pro career (Freeman has a career rating of only 79), threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns and looked like a Pro Bowler.

Despite the defensive struggles, Chiefs fans have to be the most frustrated with the offense’s performance. Brady Quinn struggled at times, which is to be expected considering this was his first start since 2009. Quinn did make a couple of good throws, and both of his interceptions really weren’t his fault. A lot of blame needs to be directed at the coaching staff, who dialed up a vanilla game plan despite the fact that Tampa Bay has struggled against the pass this season and lost its best cornerback, Aqib Talib, to a suspension. The Bucs were expecting the dink-and-dunk passes and runs, and with no vertical game, the offense managed only 3 points. Quinn may be rusty, but the coaching staff needs to get aggressive and play to win, rather than playing not to lose. Especially against a struggling unit that was without its best player.

Kansas City’s lone touchdown came on a great special teams play, as running back Shaun Draughn blocked a Buccaneer punt that was recovered by Edgar Jones. Jones made a nice play to get into the end zone, which at the time cut Tampa Bay’s lead to 21-10.

At this point, it is apparent that the Chiefs are heading for a disastrous season that will likely cost GM Scott Pioli and possibly head coach Romeo Crennel their jobs. Pioli absolutely deserves the ax, as he has had four years to build a team and has failed to put a winning product on the field. Crennel is a good defensive coordinator, but has not been successful as a head coach in the NFL. If the team had a top offensive coordinator and a good quarterback, Crennel might not be in the mess he finds himself in.

Unfortunately for Kansas City, the team picked up a victory earlier this season over the Saints. Since the team isn’t getting anywhere near the playoffs, it needs to get the best pick possible in next year’s draft to find someone who can make an immediate difference to this team. It is a sad reality, but winning games no longer does this team any good.

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Friday, October 12, 2012

Kansas City Chiefs - Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preview

If the Chiefs are going to crawl back into the AFC West race and have a respectable season, they’ll need to take advantage of a winnable game on Sunday. The Chiefs’ next opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have won only one game this season, and have struggled on both offense and defense.

The biggest news for the Chiefs is that the team will have a new quarterback – Brady Quinn gets his first start in Kansas City after Matt Cassel’s concussion injury has ruled him out for Sunday. The Chiefs have run the ball extremely well this season, as Jamaal Charles has rushed for a league-leading 551 yards and also tallied 118 yards receiving. Tampa Bay has only allowed 74 yards-per-game on the ground this year, so this one may come down to whether or not Kansas City can get Charles going.

Tampa Bay has struggled offensively, averaging only 276 yards per game as a unit. Josh Freeman has been average at best under center this season, throwing for a pedestrian 790 yards with five touchdowns and four interceptions. The Bucs haven’t gotten their ground game going as well, as the team’s top two backs, Doug Martin and Legarrette Blount are only averaging 3.5 yards per carry. Kansas City’s defense looked very impressive against the Ravens last week, limiting Baltimore to only nine points despite often defending a short field due to Cassel’s turnovers. If the Chiefs defense continues to play well, a struggling Tampa Bay offense may have no answer.

Both the Chiefs and the Bucs are hard to get a read on, as the two teams have been incredibly inconsistent on both sides of the ball this year. Tampa Bay is coming off a bye week, while Kansas City is coming off an incredibly frustrating loss. Still, the Bucs’ offense has really struggled this year, and it appears that the Chiefs defense is coming into its own. If Brady Quinn can protect the football and make a couple of plays, Kansas City will have a good shot to pick up its second win of the year.

Tampa Bay has won the last three meetings in this series by a combined 13 points. Game time is Sunday at 12:00 p.m.

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Thursday, October 11, 2012

DUI Checkpoints Planned For Lee's Summit This Weekend

Drunken driving-related accidents have been increasing in the Kansas City area lately, and police are taking measures to make the roads around the metro safer. One part of this plan is to increase sobriety checkpoints, which will occur in Lee’s Summit this weekend.

The Lee’s Summit Police Department’s traffic safety unity will conduct sobriety checkpoints and patrols this weekend, most likely in areas where DUI arrests and other alcohol-related incidents have occurred recently.

The police department has stated that its goal is to identify drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and remove them before an accident occurs. Several Kansas City residents have lost their lives in accidents that occurred in the early morning hours of a weekend night over the past couple of weeks, which has forced police in the Kansas City area to crack down.

The lesson, as always, is to grab a ride with a friend or take a cab if you have been out drinking. A little inconvenience or a few dollars is a much better alternative to losing your license, paying hundreds in fines or going to prison.

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Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Murder Suspect Van Note Freed On One Million Dollar Bond

Susan “Liz” Van Note, a Lee’s Summit lawyer who is accused of killing her father and his girlfriend, was recently freed from jail on bond. The bond was set at an astonishing one million dollars – an attempt to keep Van Note in prison by the judge. Where the money has come from is baffling the prosecution; however Van Note has paid the fee and has been released from prison.

By now, the Van Note murder case is well known to those in the Kansas City area. On the night of October 2, 2010, William Van Note, a 67-year-old millionaire businessman and his longtime girlfriend, 59-year-old Sharon Dickson, were attacked in front of Van Note’s lakefront home in the Sunrise Beach area at the Lake of the Ozarks. When police arrived on the scene, Dickson had been shot several times and had been slashed with a knife, while Van Note had a bullet wound in his head.

Dickson died at the scene, and Van Note was taken to the University Hospital in Columbia, MO and lapsed into a coma after having the bullet removed from his brain. Liz Van Note presented a signed document stating that she had the authority to make medical decisions for her father, and requested that he be removed from life support. Van Note died after doctors turned the life support machine off.

Only last month, a grand jury indictment accused Liz Van Note of killing her father and his girlfriend, and forging his signature on the document that granted her authority to make his medical decisions. Due to the premeditation of her actions, Van Note has been charged with first degree murder.

What is shocking about Van Note paying a million dollar bond is that she declared bankruptcy only a few years ago. A search has begun to find out where this money came from and how Van Note was able to beat the system. Until then, a woman who is suspected of murdering two people is walking free… after paying a one million dollar bond.

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Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Matt Cassel Doubtful, Brady Quinn Likely To Start Against Tampa Bay

Matt Cassel’s concussion injury sustained on Sunday means he is doubtful for the Chiefs next game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Thus, the Chiefs are entering practice this week planning on starting Brady Quinn.

Chiefs fans have been screaming for Cassel to be benched for weeks, and now they finally will get to see a new QB under center. While head coach Romeo Crennel has not officially ruled Cassel out, the quarterback’s injury and poor play make Quinn the likely starter this weekend. Before getting hurt, Cassel was in the midst of one of the worst statistical seasons a quarterback has had this season, throwing for a league-leading nine interceptions with a quarterback rating of only 66.2.

Brady Quinn’s arrival in Kansas City this offseason brought a great deal of intrigue, and now we are seeing why. Cassel has struggled with both injuries and inconsistent play over the past couple of seasons, meaning that whoever won the Chiefs’ backup quarterback position would have a great opportunity to play. After a stellar career at the University of Notre Dame, Quinn was selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Quinn has struggled to find playing time in his six year NFL career, throwing for a paltry 1,934 yards with 10 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a lowly 67.3 quarterback rating. Kansas City fans are hoping that he can live up to the potential that made him a first round draft pick, but the play over his career should not inspire anyone with a great deal of confidence.

The good news for the Chiefs is that Brady is a traditional quarterback like Cassel, which means the offense does not need to make any drastic changes (as it did when Tyler Thigpen took over at quarterback several seasons ago). Tampa Bay has one of the weaker pass defenses in the NFL, which means Brady should have a good opportunity to get comfortable and have a decent game.

Kansas City fans even went as far as to fly a banner over Arrowhead Stadium calling for Cassel’s benching. Now, they will get to see if Quinn can do any better.

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Monday, October 8, 2012

Eric Winson Rips Chiefs Fans For Cheering Matt Cassel's Injury

The biggest story emerging from the Chiefs heartbreaking 9-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens isn’t that the team had a chance to stay to knock off one of the best teams in the conference, or that Kansas City’s defense played a fantastic game. Instead, Eric Winston has grabbed all the headlines with his criticism of Chiefs fans and their behavior during Sunday’s game. Winston ripped into Kansas City fans for cheering when quarterback Matt Cassel was injured.

Winston was quoted as saying the following after the game:

"We are athletes, okay? We are athletes. We are not gladiators. This is not the Roman Coliseum. People pay their hard-earned money when they come in here and I believe they can boo, they can cheer and they can do whatever they want, I believe that. We are lucky to play this game. People, it’s hard economic times, and they still pay the money to do this. But when somebody gets hurt, there are long lasting ramifications to the game we play, long lasting ramifications to the game we play. I’ve already kinda come to the understanding that I won’t live as long because I play this game and that’s okay, that’s a choice I’ve made and a choice all of us have made. But when you cheer, when you cheer somebody getting knocked out, I don’t care who it is, and it just so happened to be Matt Cassel — it’s sickening. It’s 100 percent sickening. I’ve been in some rough times on some rough teams, I’ve never been more embarrassed in my life to play football than in that moment right there.”

Winston was not the only player to criticize Kansas City fans for their behavior. Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles and the Ravens’ Haloti Ngata both expressed their displeasure with the situation through the media.

First, credit Winston for somewhat acknowledging the frustrations of the fans and that the people who attend games to watch his team play spend a lot of their time and money to do so. Fans invest a lot into their team, and Kansas City has one of the most passionate fan bases in America.

Having said that, Winston has a point. It is no secret that Matt Cassel has played extremely poor thus far, and fans have a right to criticize him and even boo him when he doesn’t play well. However, cheering when someone gets injured is crossing the line. It shows a lack of class and puts Kansas City in national headlines for all of the wrong reasons. Fans keep obsessing over Cassel being benched, and for whom? Brady Quinn, the guy who was a disaster in Cleveland and couldn’t beat out Tim Tebow in Denver? Ricky Stanzi, who during the preseason appeared to not even belong on an NFL roster? Cassel is the best quarterback on this team, which says more about Scott Pioli’s failure as a GM.

Chiefs fans need to direct their frustration in the appropriate direction. Cheering when a home player gets knocked unconscious is a classless move, and KC fans are better than that. This was Oakland Raider territory.

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Friday, October 5, 2012

Kansas City Chiefs - Baltimore Ravens Preview

After getting blown out last week by the San Diego Chargers, the Chiefs’ backs are against the wall. At 1-3, the team faces a must-win situation on Sunday. Unfortunately, that win will have to come against the 3-1 Baltimore Ravens, who have looked like one of the best teams in the league so far this year.

The Ravens have been traditionally known as a defensive team, however their offense has played well this year. Joe Flacco has slowly turned into one of the better quarterbacks in the league, and he is enjoying a very efficient season so far. Flacco is surrounded by talented skill position players like running back Ray Rice (on his way to another big year) and receivers Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin.

The Ravens’ defense is also playing at a level Baltimore fans are accustomed to, having only given up significant points in one game this year (a close win over the Patriots). The defense’s strengths and weaknesses actually match up perfectly against the Chiefs – Baltimore has struggled with its pass defense but its run defense has been stout.

For Kansas City, everything starts and ends with Matt Cassel. The Chiefs running game has been as efficient as ever this year and Jamaal Charles has produced some big plays. Cassel, however, has struggled more than any other time as the Chiefs quarterback, and has already thrown seven interceptions this year (against five touchdowns). He has also fumbled three times, accounting for two-thirds of the Chiefs league high 15 turnovers.

Defensively, Kansas City has really struggled defending the pass this year, giving up 10 passing touchdowns which is the second highest total in the league. The team will have to worry about both the Ravens’ dynamic receivers and Rice, who is averaging 5 yards per carry this season. The Chiefs defense will have to find whatever magic it discovered in the second half of its comeback win against the Saints.

If the Chiefs want to have any shot of winning this game, they will have to avoid turning the ball over. The Chiefs lead the league in turnovers, and Baltimore has shown a penchant for forcing interceptions and fumbles. Kansas City will have to protect the ball and hope the Baltimore offense has an off game to have a shot in this one.

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Thursday, October 4, 2012

Man Dies After Police Hit Him With Taser

Travis Maupin Killed by Police Taser - KCMB Kansas City News

Unfortunately, police officers have to use deadly force at times in their job. In the worst situations, an officer may have to open fire on a criminal who attacks police or is threatening the lives of others. Other times, an officer may have to use deadly force with… a taser?

That is the situation that developed in Osawatomie, where a 32 year old man died after police hit him with a taser responding to a domestic disturbance. Travis L. Maupin had locked himself in his home off of Chestnut Avenue around 1:00 a.m. last night when police arrived at the scene in response to a domestic disturbance - Maupin had allegedly strangled a woman in his home. Maupin eventually came out of his home and was willing to talk to the police, however he ran away as paramedics began to check the woman for injuries.

After setting off on foot, the Miami County police officers chased after Maupin and eventually caught up to him. When he resisted the officers, they hit him with a taser. Travis Maupin was quickly rushed to the Miami County Medical Center, and was later pronounced dead.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has been asked to look into the death of Maupin, as requested by Osawatomie authorities. The situation is bizarre, as the whole objective of tasers are to restrain people without causing them death or any serious harm. It is entirely possible that Travis Maupin had a preexisting health condition, or was under the influence of a substance that resulted in his death when the taser was used.

The use of tasers by police officers has been a hotly debated topic for several years. Many feel like it offers the police a weapon for potential abuse, and that officers are too willing to use a taser since they know it will not kill the suspect. In the past, there have been examples of police using tasers too quickly or willingly, even on women and children. Others also argue that briefly electrocuting someone is a violation of basic human rights. Maupin’s death will only heighten this debate.

Travis Maupin killed by police taser by KCMB Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Romney Obama Debate Swings Romney's Way

The Republican Party gained a small amount of momentum Wednesday night when the Romney Obama debate was decidedly won by Mitt Romney. Even Obama supporters admitted that the President slid back a few points in the ratings after the debate that was watched by over 50 million viewers. Over 25% of the debate focused on Medicaid and healthcare, and although some light was shed on the topic, neither party could produce any concrete solutions, but rather delved into the specifics without providing any resolutions in the end. As most Americans are well aware ever since John Kennedy stole a sure victory out from under incumbent President Nixon in the 1960 Presidential debate, the Obama Romney debate was a very important victory for the Republicans. Although there is still almost no chance of a Republican victory in the 2012 Election, the Republican Party looks like it's going to at least show up this year to the fight. The 2008 Presidential Election was a complete joke, as the Republicans put up the two most incredibly incompetent and ridiculous nominees they could find. Mitt Romney, although he will most certainly lose, shows some promise at least.

Most Americans are under the false impression that voting Republican is voting for the rich, and that is a bad thing. This is the wrong process of thinking about what the Republican Party represents. Yes, the Republicans support the captains of industry who pay most of the Nations salaries, and support businesses who create jobs, and justly reward those business owners in the process. Republicans who are wealthy include people like the founder of Black and Veatch, a locally owned Kansas City corporation that provides THOUSANDS of jobs. Republicans that are wealthy include the founder of Children's Mercy Hospital, who BUILT A CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. Do they deserve to be wealthy? HELL YES. How many welfare collecting Democrats out there do you know who either provide thousands of jobs or have started children's hospitals? The answer = ZERO. So before you think you are a Democrat you might want to think about who is on your team and whether or not you want to be wearing the same color jersey. You'd better support the captains of industry who are most likely employing you right now. We need our rich people to stay rich. That is how jobs are created and that is how children's hospitals are built - get with it people.

What the American people must realize is that they are most likely working for a company who was founded and is now run by just such individuals, and by protecting those business owners and CEOs, they are in a sense giving you job security.

The Four Basic Food Groups of Poor People
Stop and think about your job. Do you work at WalMart? Do you work for or own a gas station? Do you work for or own a check cashing place? Do you work for or own a liquor store? These are the only businesses that benefit from poor people and people on welfare. Unless you work for one of these "four basic food groups" of the poor people on welfare who vote Democrat, then you should be voting Republican. If you don't work for one of those institutions, your salary is being paid by the wealthy. It's a shock, we know, but it is a FACT. You have to support the people who are supporting you, and if you work for any company besides the types listed above, you are being supported by the rich, and you need your rich people to stay rich so that they can afford to continue to employ you. If you vote Democrat, you might just be voting yourself out of a job.

With a small victory by the Republicans in the Romney Obama debate, we may just see a closer election this year, but the victory will almost certainly go to the Democrats once again. This, of course, will continue to promote unemployment, as the Democrats love to hand out welfare checks, and encourage the poor to continue to multiply carelessly without any means to support their multiple children and rely on the government and the working middle class to pay for them and their children while they sit at home watching Springer. A few more years of this and we're moving to Canada.

Romney Obama debate 2012 by KCMB Kansas City News, official kc news site with breaking stories on The Kansas City Royals, Chiefs, charity events, the 2012 MLB All Star Game, weather, sports, MU, KU, ufo sightings, dui checkpoints, Kansas City neighborhoods, nightlife, concerts, the Sprint Center, the Power and Light District and current Kansas City news articles.

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Johnson County Deputy Charged With Unlawful Sexual Relations With Inmate

Vernon Finkenbinder, a former Johnson County deputy, was charged today with unlawful sexual relations against an inmate. Finkenbinder, who is 39 and resides in Gardner, KS, is being accused of inappropriately touching and communicating with a female inmate in custody while he was still serving as a deputy.

The incident that landed Finkenbinder in trouble occurred on September 23 at the Central Booking facility. Deputies learned of Finkenbinder’s actions two days later and immediately began investigations. Finkenbinder was then placed on administrative leave, and later decided to resign from his post as a deputy.

Finkenbinder posted $50,000 bond today, granting his release from jail. He will likely go to court on October 12.

Sexual abuse is not uncommon for women incarcerated, both at the hands of other inmates and the correctional staff. According to the website prisonpolicy.org, the statistics are shocking – there are 148,200 women in state and federal prisons, and 70% of the guards who work at these facilities are male. These male correctional officials watch women undress and often brutally retaliate against female inmates who complain about sexual assault or harassment.

It is unfortunate this occurred in the Kansas City area, and serves as a reminder that those in a position of power will often abuse their privileges. The incident with Finkenbinder happened without any other guards or inmates around, which may be the problem – too much trust is being put in a group of men who are required to “guard” women around the clock.

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Monday, October 1, 2012

Suspect Arrested For Johnson County Hit And Run Accident That Killed Victim

Over the weekend, Christopher P. Randolph Sr. was killed in a hit and run accident along I-35 in Johnson County. This morning, Kansas City police have announced that they have arrested and jailed a suspect in this case. Randolph was 41 years old and leaves behind six children as well as six siblings.

The accident occurred at 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning, when Randolph was putting gas into his minivan in a construction zone off I-35, just north of College Boulevard in Johnson Country. Randolph’s girlfriend, Charlsetta Redd, told police a car knocked over Redd, which led to other vehicles striking him as well. The suspect sped off in a 2010 silver Chevrolet Silverado pickup.

After fleeing the scene, the driver of the pickup abandoned the vehicle. It was later found nearby with heavy front end damage.

Randolph’s minivan had run out of gas, which forced him to exit his vehicle along the highway before the incident occurred. What is sad is that the cars along the highway refused to stop, despite repeatedly hitting Randolph. According to Redd, the final car dragged Randolph down the road while refusing to slow down.

If past convictions are any indication, the driver of this vehicle will likely be in prison for a very long time. It is one thing to convict manslaughter and kill another person, but the driver of the vehicle sped away and did not take any consequence for his actions. Many suspect the driver of the pickup truck was likely drunk, given that this occurred early in the morning over the weekend and the refusal to pull over. If the driver was not intoxicated, their stupidity will likely cost them years in prison, as they could have stopped and been forgiven for an “accident.”

Sadly, the roads of the Kansas City metro have become incredibly dangerous any time after 11:00 p.m. on a weekend night. When people complain about DUI checkpoints being set up on the weekend, they need to keep stories like this in mind. Why people can't pay $15 for a cab ride is beyond me - it certainly is cheaper than losing your license, paying thousands of dollars in fines and spending years in prison.

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