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Friday, November 30, 2012

Kansas City Chiefs - Carolina Panthers Preview

The Chiefs march towards the top overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft continues on Friday, when the team hosts the Carolina Panthers at home in Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff for the game is 12:00 p.m.

While the Chiefs have had an absolute disaster of a season, Carolina’s hasn’t gone much better. The Panthers currently have a 3-8 record, held back by a poor offense that is only averaging 19 points per game. Quarterback Cam Newton has struggled this season after a very impressive rookie year, struggling with inconsistency and turnovers. Newton is also the team’s leading rusher, and the team’s entire offense rests on his shoulders. If the young QB struggles in this one and commits some turnovers, the Chiefs are going to have a very good shot to pick up their second win of the year.

While the Panthers’ offense has struggled this year, it has been nowhere near as bad as the Chiefs’ anemic attack that is averaging 10 points per game in its last seven contests. Kansas City has 32 turnovers this year and only 94 red zone points, and both stats rank last in the NFL. After Matt Cassel’s poor play this season – he threw for six touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions – Chiefs fans demanded to have him benched. Unfortunately, his replacement, Brady, Quinn, has not been any better. Quinn has yet throw a touchdown pass this year, and has four interceptions of his own. It appears that neither quarterback is the long term answer, and the odds of the Chiefs selecting a QB with their first round pick in the 2013 draft are increasing.

The lone bright spot for the Chiefs this season on offense has been Jamaal Charles, who has rushed for 928 yards and boasts a healthy 4.8 yards-per-carry average. It is a shame that one of Charles’ prime seasons was wasted this year, but the back should be one of the few offensive players on this current team that is a part of Kansas City’s long term plans.

Despite how terrible the Chiefs have played lately, this is a winnable game. The Panthers played well and picked up a win last week, yet they have been inconsistent all year. If Newton plays well and can put some points on the board, the Chiefs won’t have a chance. However, if the Panthers’ young QB commits some turnovers, this might be a low-scoring affair that comes down to the wire.

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.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Micah Moore's Defense: Bethany Deaton's Killer's Confession Was Fake, Death Was Suicide

Two weeks ago, a man charged with the killing of Bethany Deaton confessed to the murder, and also indicated that Deaton’s wife Tyler, an International House of Prayer Leader, ordered the killing. Now the defense of Micah Moore, the man accused of killing Deaton, is claiming that Bethany’s death was a suicide, and that Moore’s entire confession was made up.

Moore had initially told police that he and other members of the prayer group shared by the Deatons had sexually assaulted Bethany Deaton and were afraid that she would tell someone about their actions. Moore said that Tyler Deaton ordered to have his wife killed to keep the actions of his religious group a secret.

Moore’s lawyer is now recanting this confession, calling it bizarre, nonsensical and untrue. According to the defense, Moore was distraught after the suicide of his friend Bethany and the removal of Tyler as a religious leader from their community.

What makes this story interesting is that police initially ruled Bethany Deaton’s death as a suicide. Officers found her body in a minivan parked by a lake with a plastic trash bag over her head that was tied below her chin. A suicide note and an empty bottle of over-the-counter pain medication were found at the scene as well.

Later, Moore confessed that it was he who held the bag over Deaton’s head, and he held it there until her body shook. After killing Bethany, he then reported back to Tyler informing him that he had killed his wife.

According to court documents, the men who lived in the house owned by the Deatons began drugging and sexually assaulting Bethany Deaton, which led her to start seeing a therapist. It is also believed that the men in the house were engaging in sexual acts with Tyler Deaton, which Bethany was not aware of. One man has confessed that Tyler Deaton said after his wife’s death that he had a dream he killed his wife by suffocating her.

Did Bethany Deaton commit suicide after suffering through sexual abuse at the hands of her husband’s religious outfit, or was she killed by Micah Moore on the orders of her husband? This is the new focus of the story, and the main focus of this case now turns to Moore and the validity of his confession.

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.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Kansas City Swept Up In Powerball Fever

A Powerball ticket will be drawn tonight at 9:59 p.m., and Kansas City residents have been flocking to stores in hopes of grabbing a winning ticket. Currently, the Powerball jackpot sits at $500 million.

According to the Multi-State Lottery Association, there is a 60% chance a ticket will win today, and those odds may increase as last-minute buyers gobble up tickets. There hasn’t been a winner since October 6. Currently, the $500 million jackpot is the second highest in lottery history, behind only the $656 million Mega Millions jackpot in March.

Odds of winning this Powerball are currently one in 175 million. Still, that hasn’t stopped Kansas City residents from lining up outside of stores this morning in hopes of grabbing the winning ticket.

Sales for Powerball reached a record $3.96 billion this year, and are expected to reach nearly $5 billion next year. Half of the proceeds from the ticket sales go into the prize pool, and one-third of that goes into the jackpot. The remaining prize money then goes into several lower prizes, including the $1 million second prize. The other half of the ticket sale money is inserted into lottery operations in 42 states, Washington D.C. and the Virgin Islands. The money is also used for charitable efforts such as education.

Despite the dreams of winning shared by the thousands of Kansas City residents, there are many cautionary tales of lottery winners from the past. Many have squandered their new fortune by being overly greedy, while others say the new money led to divorce and the deterioration of their personal lives. These stories are well-publicized, but have no effect on the thousands who are hoping to buy a winning ticket and change their lives forever.

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, November 27, 2012

Jessica Ridgeway's Killer Due In Court Today

Jessica Ridgeway’s killer, Austin Sigg, is due in court today in Colorado, where the ten-year-old was kidnapped and killed on her way to school. Sigg, 17, is being charged as an adult with murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, and other crimes.

Ridgeway, who has extensive family in the Kansas City area, disappeared on October 5th. Her remains were found five days later in a field at a local park. Sigg’s mother called the police to report her son, and authorities say that Sigg has confessed to the murder of Ridgeway and the attempted kidnapping of a 22-year-old woman several days earlier. It is unknown if he has commented on the sexual abuse charges made against him in Ridgeway’s killing.

Sigg’s conviction could become complicated due to his age. Since Sigg is 17, his lawyers could have asked a judge to move the case to juvenile court after the prosecution charged him as an adult. Sigg’s defense has not made that request, and attorneys on both sides have not been able to comment due ot a judge’s gag order.

Sigg faces the following charges: four counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping, one count of sexual assault and one count of robbery in Ridgeway’s kidnapping and killing. He also faces charges of attempted murder, attempted sexual assault and attempted second degree kidnapping in the attack of the runner. He is also being charged with six counts of crime and violence.

If Sigg is convicted as an adult, he would face up to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years. If he is convicted as a juvenile, he will face a maximum of seven years on each conviction. It is possible that he could be ordered to serve his sentences consecutively, which could lead to him spending nearly his entire life in jail as well.

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.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Chiefs Lose To Broncos, Now Have Sole Possession Of NFL's Worst Record

The Chiefs put up a fight yesterday, but ultimately lost to the Denver Broncos, 17-9. The loss drops Kansas City’s record to 1-10 on the season.

The Chiefs were able to limit turnovers in this one, and the only time the team threw an interception was on the final play of the game on Brady Quinn’s Hail Mary attempt. Despite this, the offense could simply not get anything going all game. Quinn struggled all game, and the team committed several untimely penalties that stalled drives. The Chiefs have now not scored a touchdown since the first quarter of their overtime loss to Pittsburgh – a span of 11 quarters and 173 minutes.

Head coach Romeo Crennel’s conservative approach to games is also frustrating. Kansas City’s defense played well yesterday, preventing Peyton Manning from having a big game and coming up with a big interception in the first half. After Broncos kicker Matt Prater missed two makeable field goals, the Chiefs had a shot to win the game. Despite having only one win on the year, Crennel routinely opted to kick field goals and not go for it on fourth and short opportunities, despite being deep in Denver territory. Ryan Succop was able to hit two chip shot field goals that gave the Chiefs an early 6-0 lead, but when you are a losing team facing a hall-of-fame quarterback, you need to get aggressive and play to win. Even more mind-boggling was the head coach’s decision to punt late in the game with a fourth and six near midfield, with the team only down 14-9. Naturally, Kansas City didn’t get the ball back until there was nearly no time left on the clock. Crennel has had an overly conservative mindset all season long, and it cost his team yesterday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars picked up their second win of the season yesterday, knocking off the Tennessee Titans. This is good news for Chiefs fans, as Kansas City is now the NFL’s only one-win team and currently is in the driver’s seat to land the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft next year.

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.

Friday, November 23, 2012

Kansas City Chiefs - Denver Broncos Preview

The Chiefs’ disaster of a season will keep rolling along on Sunday, as Kansas City will host its arch rival, the Denver Broncos. Kickoff for the game is 12:00 p.m.

This game will feature two teams headed in completely opposite directions. The Broncos had a shaky start, but have since caught fire and sit atop the AFC West with a 7-3 record. Peyton Manning has turned into his old self, enjoying a fantastic season that has him in the NFL MVP discussion, and the defense is playing well led by linebacker Von Miller. The only thing that might slow Denver down is the loss of running back Willis McGahee, however the Broncos have several other capable backs on the roster.

The Chiefs offense is only averaging 15 points per game, and they face a tough matchup on Sunday against a Bronco defense that has become one of the better units in the league. Miller has 7 sacks in his last three games, and the team leads the NFL with 35 sacks this season. This is all bad news for Brady Quinn, who was recently named the Chiefs starter. The Chiefs have given up 10 sacks in their last four games, and injuries to Kansas City’s offensive line means Miller and company might be living in the Chiefs backfield on Sunday.

The only way the Chiefs will have a shot in this one is if they can force some turnovers from Manning and sustain some long drives with their run game. Jamaal Charles is quietly having a very good season, and he will have to play lights out for the Chiefs to have a chance. With Manning in a groove and Denver’s defense playing well, this has all the makings of a blowout. Still, you never know what will happen in a rivalry game.

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.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

2012 Plaza Lighting Ceremony Guide

The 83rd annual KCPL Plaza Lighting Ceremony will take place tonight at a new Plaza location – on Nichols Road and Pennsylvania near the Brio Tuscan Grille and Burberry. The stage will be located on Nichols Road, west of Pennsylvania facing east. The weather is going to be nice and warm this year for a change, as long as it stays dry.

This new location will feature a larger gathering area, allowing more Kansas City residents to get a great view of the stage and the flip of the switch. There will still be the normal celebrations in other areas of the plaza, including the fireworks on the roof of The Intercontinental Hotel which is always incredible. They will also be doing a remote broadcast of the action on the main stage from the pool area at The Intercontinental on the plaza.

Sporting Kansas City players Kei Kamara, Jimmy Nielsen and Matt Besler will flip the switch at 6:50 p.m. from the ceremony stage.

Below is the full schedule of events:

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.: Pre-show performances and prizes.

6:00 - 7:00 p.m.: KCPL Plaza Lighting Ceremony.

6:50 p.m.: Flip of the switch by Sporting Kansas City players followed by fireworks over Nichols & Broadway.

7:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Post-Ceremony Concert featuring Kansas City Band - The Elders.

For those who are unable to attend the festivities down at the Plaza, 41 Action News will be broadcasting the ceremony live.

2012 Plaza Lighting Ceremony details brought to you 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.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Royals Sign Guthrie, Make Other Roster Moves

The Royals have already made several moves this offseason, but recently the team has made some big decisions that will significantly shape next year’s roster. The biggest deal came yesterday, when the Royals resigned pitcher Jeremy Guthrie to a three year, $25 million deal.

Guthrie resurrected his career with the Royals last season after the club acquired him via a trade with the Colorado Rockies. After struggling a bit early on, Guthrie absolutely caught fire in the second half of the season and became one of the better pitchers in the American League. After joining the Royals, Guthrie posted a 5-3 record with a 3.16 ERA in 16 starts.

While many are concerned with Guthrie’s age (he is 33) and struggles in Colorado, the Royals resigned him for a decent price and showed its fan base that they are serious about contending for a playoff spot next season. Kansas City needed to upgrade its starting pitching, and with deals to Guthrie and Ervin Santana, as well as the return of Felipe Paulino and Danny Duffy from injury, the Royals suddenly have what appears to be a solid starting rotation. This rotation, paired with several key offensive players entering the prime of their career, should have Royals fans somewhat optimistic about next season.

Kansas City also was forced to remove several players from its 40 man roster, and a few have surprised Royals fans. Bryan Pena was let go after spending the last four seasons as the team’s backup catcher. The backup catching job now belongs to Brett Hayes, whom the Royals claimed off of waivers on November 2. Hayes is only 28 and is known to be a good defensive catcher who also calls a good game.

The Royals also designated pitchers Vin Mazzaro, Chris Volstad and Ryan Verdugo for assignment, as well as first baseman Clint Robinson and outfielder Derrick Robinson.

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, November 20, 2012

How Does The Recent Conference Realignment Affect The Big 12?

Just when it seemed like everything had settled down, conference realignment is happening again. Yesterday, the University of Maryland declared for the Big Ten, and Rutgers has now officially announced that they will also be joining the Big Ten – which now consists of 14 teams. These moves have made many Big 12 fans wonder if their league should also consider expansion, and if the Big 10’s expansion will once again threaten a Big 12 that barely survived the last round of conference realignment.

A lot of talk is surfacing that North Carolina and Virginia Tech may depart the ACC as well and join the SEC, which would kick-start the race towards super conferences and lead to the end of the ACC. While the Big 12 has a great new TV contract and ten teams, many feel that the league will have to add teams to keep up.

With the ACC’s existence in question, Florida State and Clemson have become the two most talked-about schools in regards to potential targets of the Big 12. Louisville, Cincinnati, BYU and Georgia Tech have also been mention as possibilities.

The biggest issue the Big 12 is facing is more is not necessarily better in terms of revenue. Many feel that the teams the Big 12 is targeting don’t bring much added value to the conference and media consultants have speculated that more teams and the return of a league championship game in football would not guarantee more revenue for the league.

The Big 12 will have to monitor the ACC’s current situation closely, as they will surely look to replace Maryland and Rutgers to help ensure the league’s survival. Should the Big 12 get proactive and try to poach teams to ensure its own survival, even if it comes at the expense of the ACC? That seems to be the difficult question the league will have to answer in the near future.

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.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Chiefs Lose To Bengals

The Chiefs only fueled their reputation as the worst team in the NFL on Sunday, getting hammered by the Cincinnati Bengals, 28-6. The loss drops Kansas City to 1-9 on the season, and the team keeps moving closer towards acquiring the top draft pick in next year’s NFL draft.

Arrowhead stadium was only about half-full for this one, and many fans dressed in all black in attempts to send a message to ownership to clean house in the front office and coaching staff. Chiefs fans are right on the money – Scott Pioli has completely failed as the Chiefs GM and Romeo Crennel is a failed NFL coach who should have never been given another opportunity to lead an NFL franchise. Kudos to Kansas City fans for taking strong measures to voice their displeasure and making a stand.

The game itself was pretty much what most expected – Kansas City’s passing offense completely bombed and failed to complement another strong game from Jamaal Charles. Matt Cassel put up poor stats in the first half, and Brady Quinn failed to do any better in the second half. The Chiefs only committed one turnover all game – a Peyton Hillis fumble that didn’t cost the team any points when the Bengals missed a long field goal. The problem was Kansas City didn’t force any turnovers, and this team simply cannot be competitive when it loses the turnover battle.

Defensively, the Chiefs let Andy Dalton pick the secondary apart all game, consistently moving the chains with quick throws to his talented receivers. A.J. Green had a big day receiving, and running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis had his best game of the season. Kansas City’s special teams even let the team down, as the Bengals converted a fake punt early in the game that lead to their go-ahead touchdown.

Kansas City is getting closer and closer to the top pick in the 2013 NFL draft. Not only are the Chiefs bad, they are banged up – both wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and left tackle Branden Albert left Sunday’s game with an injury. It looks like Chiefs fans now need to be concerned with three things: who will coach the team next year, who will be the team’s GM and which quarterback will the team select early in the draft?

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.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Kansas City Chiefs - Cincinnati Bengals Preview

After losing to the Steelers in overtime, the Chiefs return home to host the Cincinnati Bengals (4-5), who are currently fighting for a playoff spot in a very even AFC. The game will begin at 12:00 p.m.

Kansas City had a great opportunity to knock off Pittsburgh last week, but several untimely penalties prevented the team from expanding an early lead. After making a brilliant throw to help the Chiefs force OT, quarterback Matt Cassel was picked off in the extra period which essentially ended the game. Turnovers have been the biggest reason why the Chiefs currently sit at 1-8. Jamaal Charles is quietly having another strong season, and Kansas City will need him to have a monster game to score points. The Chiefs receiving unit is very banged up, as Jonathan Baldwin is out with a concussion and leading receiver Dwayne Bowe has been limited by a hamstring injury.

Many Chiefs fans have speculated that Brady Quinn would get another shot at the starting quarterback role, but Matt Cassel has been officially named the starter for Sunday. Head coach Romeo Crennel has stated that Quinn is still recovering from his concussion and has not yet been cleared to play.

The Bengals are coming off their most impressive performance of the year, a 31-13 win over the defending champion New York Giants. Andy Dalton has become a solid NFL quarterback, and receiver A.J. Green has quickly become one of the league’s top wideouts. The Chiefs defense has not lived up to its preseason expectations, but it has the talent to keep the Bengals offense in check. Kansas City will likely need to force a few turnovers to slow down Dalton and Green and give its struggling offense a short field to work with.

The Chiefs proved last week that when they limit turnovers (Kansas City had zero during regulation) they can still compete with anyone. Still, it is hard to see this team repeating that type of performance two weeks in a row, especially with a banged up receiving unit. The Bengals are fighting for a playoff spot and have a lot of confidence, and also may be getting several good players back from injury. The Chiefs will likely need a few turnovers to pull this one out.

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.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Audio Experts Claims Bigfoot Exists & He Is In Missouri

According to a crypto-linguist expert, not only is Bigfoot real, he is currently roaming about in the woods not far from Kansas City.

Scott Nelson, who spent 17 years in the navy intercepting Russian communications and decoding them, has become a believer in the Bigfoot/Sasquatch theory and believes the creature is roaming remote areas outside of the Kansas City area. Nelson currently works as a professor at Wentworth College.

Nelson has studied vocalizations that were caught on tape, and slowed them down to discover language being used by a creature that is not human. As a result, Nelson has become a full believer in the theory of Bigfoot, and thinks that the creature has frequented remote and uninhibited areas of Missouri for over 100 years.

The Bigfoot phenomenon has been going on for decades, with dozens of reports and amateur videos surfacing every year attempting to prove the existence of the creature. The state of Missouri, in particular, has had many reports, although “experts” have deemed almost every single one to be fake.

It sounds like Kansas City residents need to be on the lookout the next time they take a camping trip in Missouri.

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.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Man Charged With Bethany Deaton's Murder Claims Her Husband, An International House Of Prayer Leader, Ordered The Killing


Micah Moore

Yesterday, Jackson County prosecutors reported that Micah Moore, who has been charged with the murder of Bethany Ann Deaton, claimed that he was instructed to kill Deaton on the order of her husband Tyler.

Tyler Deaton, Bethany’s husband, is a spiritual leader of a group that uses sex as a part of its religious mission. Moore claims that he and other members of the religious group engaged in a series of sexual assaults on Bethany at a house in Grandview, MO, where many of the group members live. Moore then stated that Tyler Deaton ordered him to kill Bethany. Tyler is now officially under investigation for his wife’s murder.

During questioning at Grandview police headquarters, Moore explained that he and other members of the group gave Bethany Deaton Seroquel, a prescription ant-psychotic drug, before sexually assaulting her. Moore claims that the men in the house then engaged in sexual acts with Tyler Deaton. According to Moore, Deaton ordered his wife to be killed afterwards due to his fear that she would reveal the activity in the house to her therapist.

Bethany Deaton’s body is currently being examined by the Jackson County medical examiner’s office. Her body was discovered on October 30 in a van at Longview Lake with a plastic bag over her head, her killers intending for her death to be an apparent suicide.

Deaton and several acquaintances joined the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, although the group’s president, Allen Hood, has claimed that Deaton is part of a group that has operated separately from IHOP “under a veil of secrecy.” Bethany Deaton was one of those who followed Tyler to Kansas City from Texas.

Bethany Deaton had been working as a nurse at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, KS, and had planned to serve as a missionary overseas with Tyler.

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Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Chiefs Fall To Steelers In OT

Despite owning the worst record in the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs continue to fight. The team took the Pittsburgh Steelers to overtime last night, eventually falling 16-13.

The weather was downright terrible for this one, which had a big effect on both teams’ offenses. Kansas City took advantage of Pittsburgh’s stalled offense early, grabbing a 10-0 lead off a Jamaal Charles touchdown run and a chip shot field goal from Ryan Succop. However, the Steelers would answer with 13 consecutive points despite losing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to injury. The Chiefs had plenty of chances to extend their lead – Dwayne Bowe had a touchdown reception called back due to a questionable holding call, and Succop missed a short field goal moments later.

Kansas City put together its best drive of the season at the end of regulation, as Cassel converted a couple of clutch throws to move the chains. It appeared that Kansas City was finished after tight end Tony Moeaki was called for offensive pass interference, and the Chiefs faced a fourth and long around midfield. However, Cassel made one of the best throws of his career, stepping up in the pocket and drilling Bowe which gave Kansas City a first down and moved them into field goal range. Succop drilled a low field goal through the wind to force overtime, and it appeared that the Chiefs had all the momentum heading into the extra period.

In overtime, Cassel quickly went from hero to goat, as the maligned quarterback threw an interception on the Chiefs second play that Pittsburgh returned to the five yard line. The Steelers quickly booted the short field goal and escaped with a win, as Kansas City moved closer to the draft lottery.

The story for the Chiefs all season long has been turnovers, and it is no surprise that Kansas City was ultimately beaten due to a Cassel interception. Before Cassel’s overtime pick, the team hadn’t turned the ball over once against Pittsburgh, despite the rainy conditions. The Steelers are a playoff team that hasn’t lost at home all season, so the Chiefs deserve a lot of credit for putting up a great fight and nearly stealing a win. When this team doesn’t turn it over, it can still be competitive. Unfortunately, that seems to be asking a lot from Cassel.

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.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Manhunt In Riverside Underway After Man Attempts To Abduct Girl

Riverside police are currently conducting a manhunt to try to catch a man who grabbed a 13-year-old girl this morning and attempted to drag her into a wooded area. The girl was waiting at her bus stop located in the 4900 block of Northwest Gateway Avenue, and the attempted kidnapping occurred at 6:30 a.m.

The girl was able to escape from the attacker after several people near the scene noticed the attacker and scared the man off by yelling at him. The man released the girl and fled into the woods.

The suspect was described as a Hispanic male in his 30s, with a dark complexion and a heavy Hispanic accent. He has dark hair and dark eyes, and stands around 5 feet 8 inches tall with a thin goatee. At the time of the attempted kidnapping, he was wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt with multi-colored stripes.

This situation is particularly troubling for Kansas City residents as it eerily resembles the kidnapping of Jessica Ridgeway. Ridgeway, who has family in the KC area, was kidnapped and murdered by Austin Reed Sigg on her way to school in Colorado. Ridgeway’s murder and this latest kidnapping attempt in Kansas City shows that parents need to be extremely cautious in regards to how their children travel to and from school.

Anyone who may have information on the situation or the suspect should contact the Riverside Police Department by calling 9-1-1.

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.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Kansas City Chiefs - Pittsburgh Steelers Preview

Monday night football seems like a really bad idea for the Kansas City Chiefs, who have been an absolute disaster this season and are currently tied for the worst record in the NFL. The entire country will get to watch the Chiefs take on a strong Pittsburgh Steelers team that hasn’t lost a Monday night home game in over 20 years.

The biggest storyline regarding Monday night’s game is former Chiefs coach Todd Haley facing off against his former team. Haley was fired during the season last year, despite leading the Chiefs to a division title the previous season and maintaining a decent product on the field despite a slew of devastating injuries. Chiefs fans now know the truth – Haley simply did not get along with Scott Pioli, who has quickly established a reputation as one of the worst general managers in professional football. Many fans wish Haley was still the head coach, as Romeo Crennel has looked absolutely clueless running the ship this season and has to shoulder a good portion of the blame for the team’s terrible first half of the season.

Matt Cassel will get the start at quarterback, and actually has played decently since returning to the starting role when Brady Quinn went down with an injury. The Chiefs lead the league with 29 turnovers, which has been the biggest factor in their historically bad season. Pittsburgh’s defense has played well recently, and the team will have to play mistake-free football in order to put enough points on the board to win.

The Steelers got off to a poor start this season, but have since rallied to win three in a row. Last week, the team defeated the reigning Superbowl champion New York Giants, and the offense seems to be clicking under Haley and veteran Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh defeated Kansas City last season, 13-9.

The Steelers are banged up and missing a few key players and it is entirely possible that they will overlook the Chiefs a bit. Expect Kansas City to put up a better fight than most predict, but winning a Monday night game in Pittsburgh will require a near-perfect performance to pull off.

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.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Sporting Kansas City's Season Ends, Controversial No-Call Late

Sporting Kansas City’s season is over, as they split a pair of games with the Houston Dynamo yet fell 2-1 on aggregate. It is the second consecutive year that KC’s season has ended in the playoffs against Houston after winning the Eastern Conference regular season title.

The game will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of Kansas City fans, as Sporting was absolutely screwed late in the game on a no-call in the box. A sporting player got the ball in great position in the box, and was blatantly tripped by Houston’s Ricardo Clark in front of the goal. The ref swallowed his whistle, afraid to make the call late in the game. The end result was Sporting’s season coming to an end.

The non-call in the box is even more frustrating due to how badly Sporting dominated last night’s game. Kansas City outshoot Houston 20-3, including 13 shots inside the penalty area. KC also had a 5-0 edge on corner kicks, a 31-1 edge on open-play crosses and held 71% possession.

Due to their dominating play, Sporting had plenty of great chances to add to their lead, but simply couldn’t find a second goal. C.J. Sapong had a great opportunity to score when he beat Houston’s goalkeeper to the ball in the box, but his shot sailed over the crossbar. Minutes later, defender Matt Besler volleyed a bouncing ball in the box slightly over the goal. Midfielder Roger Espinoza found a couple of open looks from deep, but couldn’t deliver a dangerous shot.

The non-call in the box late will loom over this game for quite a while, but Sporting certainly had plenty of chances to tie the aggregate up. The team deserves a lot of credit for not only a brilliant regular season, but fighting back and playing lights-out when their backs were against the wall. Kansas City fans have one sports team they can take pride in this fall.

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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Kansas & Missouri Election Results

Election season is over, and we have the local results that matter to Kansas City residents. Below you will find a quick recap of who won the high-profile Missouri and Kansas races. Results below list the top two candidates in terms of votes received, with the percentage of total votes they received.

Missouri US Senator
Claire McCaskill (D) 55%
Todd Akin (R) 39%

Missouri Governor
Jay Nixon (D) 55%
Dave Spence (R) 43%

Missouri Lt. Governor
Peter Kinder (R) 49%
Susan Montee (D) 45%

Missouri Secretary of State
Jason Kander (D) 49%
Shane Schoeller (R) 48%

Missouri State Treasurer
Clint Zweifel (D) 50%
Cole McNary (R) 46%

Missouri Attorney General
Chris Koster (D) 56%
Ed Martin (R) 41%

US House – Missouri 5th District
Emanuel Cleaver II (D) 60%
Jacob Turk (R) 37%

US House – Missouri 6th District
Sam Graves (R) 65%
Kyle Yarber (D) 33%

US House – Missouri 4th District
Vicky Hartzler (R) 60%
Teresa Hensley (D) 35%

US House – Kansas 3rd District
Kevin Yoder (R) 69%
Joel Balam (L) 31%

US House – Kansas 2nd District
Lynn Jenkins (R) 57%
Tobias Schlingensiepen (D) 39%

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Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Romeo Crennel Relinquishes Defensive Coordinator Duties, Chiefs Cut Stanford Routt

Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel has removed himself as Kansas City’s defensive coordinator, naming linebacker coach Gary Gibbs as his replacement effective immediately.

Gibbs has been the team’s linebacker coach since 2009, helping Chiefs like Derrick Johnson develop into pro bowl caliber players. He served as head coach for the University of Oklahoma from 1989-1994, and also coached as a defensive coordinator for LSU and Georgia. In the NFL, Gibbs served as the New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator from 2006-2008.

Crennel had drawn some criticism earlier in the season for his attempt to serve as both the team’s head coach and defensive coordinator. Many noted that he was being stretched too thin, especially considering his failure as a head coach for the Cleveland Browns several years ago. This move appears to be an attempt for Crennel to save face after the Chiefs disastrous first half of the season, but give the Chiefs’ head coach some credit for trying something new.

Crennel’s decision to step down as defensive coordinator wasn’t the only move Kansas City made yesterday. The team also announced it has released cornerback Stanford Routt, who the Chiefs had signed to a three year, $18 million contract this offseason. Routt was brought in to be a replacement for the departed Brandon Carr; however he has struggled all season long and has proven to be yet another disastrous signing by GM Scott Pioli. Javier Arenas will likely fill Routt’s starting cornerback spot.

Routt’s roster spot will be filled by Shaun Smith, who is rejoining the Chiefs due to depth problems on the defensive line. Glenn Dorsey’s injured calf may force him to miss several weeks, and the unit could use a player who knows the system. Smith played for the Chiefs in 2010 and had a pretty decent season (despite some interesting controversy) and he should help the team’s defensive line immediately.

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Monday, November 5, 2012

Will The Chiefs Take A QB In The First Round Of The 2013 NFL Draft?

With both the college football and NFL seasons past their halfway point, Chiefs fans can begin to think about the upcoming draft. Currently, Kansas City is one of three teams with only one win this season (tied with the Jaguars and Panthers) and appear to be a lock for a top pick.

The biggest position Kansas City fans will be focused on is quarterback. Matt Cassel has been a disaster this season, and Brady Quinn failed to play any better in his limited playing time. In today’s NFL, you simply cannot win without a good quarterback – the most recent Superbowl winners include Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Really in the last 20 or so years, the only two quarterbacks who won the Superbowl that weren’t considered “elite” were Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer, and both were efficient, mistake-free players who had the top defense in the league. The Chiefs haven’t drafted a quarterback in the first round since 1983, when the team famously picked Todd Blackledge over future hall of famers Jim Kelly and Dan Marino. While Kansas City has had some success bringing in veterans, such as Joe Montana and Trent Green, many feel it is time for the team to draft and develop a quarterback.

At QB, two names have dominated the discussion – Geno Smith and Matt Barkley. Earlier this season, it appeared that Smith was the frontrunner for the Heisman trophy, however West Virginia has struggled since getting blown out by Kansas State. Still, Smith has completed an astonishing 74 percent of his passes while only throwing two interceptions, and his athleticism could be a weapon at the next level. While there are some questions about his accuracy, Smith is extremely talented and will go early in the first round.

Barkley is considered to be more of a finished product, playing in what is his third season as USC’s starting quarterback. Barkley has played well, however many believe he should have done more this season with a bevy of future NFL players around him. USC has struggled this season and Barkley has been given a lot of blame for the team’s failure to meet expectations.

If the team picks up a few wins down the stretch and can’t get either Smith or Barkley, Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson would be an option. Wilson has become arguably the best quarterback in the SEC and has good size and an NFL-caliber arm, and is expected to go somewhere in the top 10 after Smith and Barkley.

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Saturday, November 3, 2012

Royals Make More Roster Moves

The Royals were busy yesterday making several roster moves, most notably the additions of right-handed pitcher Guillermo Moscoso and catcher Brett Hayes. Moscoso was claimed off of waivers from Rockies, while Hayes was acquired from the marlins.

It is unknown if Moscoso has been acquired to be a starter, although many feel he may get a shot. Last season with Colorado, Moscoso earned a 3-2 record with a 6.12 ERA in 23 appearances, including three starts. Moscoso had a much better year in 2011, when he went 8-10 with a solid 3.38 ERA in 21 starts with Oakland. The Royals recently traded for Ervin Santana, and have talented pitchers like Danny Duffy and Felipe Paulino returning from injury (both Duffy and Paulino were reinstated off the disabled list and are back on the roster). Moscoso would likely have to have a strong spring to earn a rotation spot, and may be headed to the Royals’ bullpen.

Hayes has spent the majority of his career as a backup, although he has seen some significant time in the major league. He appeared in 39 games last year, hitting .202, and played in 64 games in 2011, when he posted a .231 batting average.

Kansas City lost Blake Wood, as the right-handed pitcher was claimed off waivers to the Cleveland Indians. The Royals also designated three players for assignment – pitchers Tommy Hottovy and Jeremy Jeffress, as well as outfielder Jason Bourgeois. Catcher Manny Pina was sent to Class AAA Omaha on outright assignment.

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Friday, November 2, 2012

Chargers Blow Out Chiefs - Pioli & Crennel Must Go

The latest embarrassing episode of the Chiefs 2012 season came last night, when Kansas City was throttled on national television by their division rivals, the San Diego Chargers. The team committed four turnovers and let the game slip away in a disastrous fourth quarter, in which the Chiefs were outscored 2103.

Turnovers have been the biggest problem for the Chiefs all season, and the stats at this point are comical. Quarterback Matt Cassel has more turnovers than every team in the NFL save the Dallas Cowboys, despite missing nearly two games’ worth of action due to injury. As a team, the Chiefs have committed more turnovers in the first eight games of the season than any NFL team in the last 15 years. When you can’t protect the football and routinely give the other team great field position, you are going to lose.

Last night’s game was bad, but it is time for Kansas City Chiefs fans to look at the bigger picture here. The Chiefs General Manager, Scott Pioli, has completely failed. Pioli has drafted poorly and missed on most first and second round picks, has made poor free-agent signings and has assembled a team that is not very good. Throw in a coach who appears to be clueless, and you have a recipe for disaster. Why exactly did Romeo Crennel get another head coaching opportunity after being terrible in Cleveland? Because he beat a Green Bay team last year that had wrapped up a home field advantage and had nothing to play for? Romeo Crennel is a better option than Todd Haley, who won the division three years ago and kept a depleted roster competitive last season? The list of poor decisions this franchise has made just goes on and on.

The team needs to absolutely clean house and spend some money to find a solid GM and coach. The good news is that Kansas City should have some high picks in next year’s draft. The Chiefs need to trade the veterans that don’t want to be here anymore (Dwayne Bowe) for draft picks and give the next GM something to work with.

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Thursday, November 1, 2012

Royals Trade For Pitcher Ervin Santana

Just hours after announcing that the club had declined an option on closer Joakim Soria, the Royals announced another deal concerning a pitcher. Kansas City has made a trade with the Los Angeles Angels, acquiring right-handed pitcher Ervin Santana for minor league left-hander Brandon Sisk. The Royals also acquired $1 million in cash with the deal.

Santana has been a regular in the Angels’ rotation since 2005, going 96-80 with a 4.33 ERA. He has been extremely durable during this stretch, starting at least 23 games in eight consecutive seasons. The righty struggles last season, finishing with a 9-13 record with a 5.16 ERA while allowing a league-leading 39 home runs. Santana did pitch well in the final two months of the season, hopefully showing that he has put his struggles behind him and can pitch like he did earlier in his career.

Santana only has one year remaining on his contract, and it appears that the Royals have not discussed any long-term deals with him at this time. This might be a wait-and-see situation for Kansas City, mostly due to Santana’s inconsistency. The pitcher is a former all-star who once looked like one of the best in the game, yet really regressed in the early portion of the 2012 season.

Sisk spent last season in Triple-A Omaha, going 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA and also recording eight saves. The Angels didn’t have room for Santana in their starting rotation, and it is believed that Sisk may be an addition to their struggling bullpen.

It is hard to gauge this trade for the Royals. While the team does need some starting pitching, the acquisition of Jonathan Sanchez – who was downright horrible last season – is still on many Royals fans’ minds. However, the club has shown a knack for helping struggling pitchers find a second life in Kansas City, and Santana did pitch well at the end of last season. The Royals new acquisition has one year left on his contract to prove that he still has the stuff that once made him one of the better starters in the majors.

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