Thursday, February 28, 2013

Chiefs Complete Deal To Acquire Alex Smith

It is official – the Chiefs and 49ers have reached a deal that will send quarterback Alex Smith to Kansas City. In the deal, the Chiefs gave up their second round pick (No. 34 overall) in this year’s NFL draft as well as a conditional pick in the 2014 draft.
 
Smith’s career got off to a rough start, but he has played well recently. In the 2011 season he threw 17 touchdowns against only five interceptions, leading the 49ers to the NFC title game. Smith was having an even better season in 2012, with a 104 QB rating through nine games before suffering a concussion against the St. Louis Rams. After he got hurt, Colin Kaepernick played well, and 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh stuck with the talented Kaepernick through the team’s run to the Super Bowl.

There is no question that the Chiefs needed help at quarterback, and Smith provides an upgrade to the position. The big question Chiefs fans are now wondering is this: did the team give up too much to acquire Smith?

The answer is yes. Smith is a good player, but the Chiefs are not in win-now territory. The team was the worst franchise in football last year, and will need a year or two of rebuilding to get back to playoff contention. The 34th pick in the draft is extremely valuable, as well as a mid-round pick in 2014.

The move to get Smith makes sense – there aren’t any great QB prospects in this year’s draft. The staff likely felt Smith gave them the best chance of winning over Geno Smith or Matt Barkley, and Alex will be 29-years-old when the season starts (so he has several years of football left in him). It just seems like the Chiefs could have acquired Smith at a cheaper price, especially since it has become clear he is firmly the backup to Kaepernick in San Francisco.

The Chiefs could still take a quarterback in the draft and groom them for the future. The team may gamble on Geno Smith with the top pick, or attempt to trade down several spots in the first round and take a quarterback then. Kansas City also could take a chance on a project later in the draft, but losing their second-round pick gives the team less flexibility. Most feel that the team isn’t sold on any QBs in this year’s draft, and will instead take a player like Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel and attempt to find a young QB in the future.

With the acquisition of Smith, it appears that Kansas City will release Matt Cassel. Cassel is due $7.75 million in 2013.

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Kansas City Recovering From Second Snow Storm

After being hit with one of the worst winter storms in years, Kansas City got a second helping of snow and ice yesterday that continued into this morning. The second storm featured heavy snow that has caved in roofs, broken trees and damaged power lines.

Over 100,000 people in the metro lost power from the recent storm, which featured 10 to 12 inches of snow across Johnson County to Lee’s Summit. Areas north of the Missouri River received around eight inches of snow, while the area between Pleasant Hill and Warrensburg received up to 14 inches. As a result from yesterday’s and Thursday’s snowfall, most of the Kansas City metro has received between 16 and 25 inches in less than a week.

The latest storm did not create nearly as many traffic problems as Thursday’s, mostly because more Kansas City residents chose to stay home during the day. Few roads were blocked, which marked a significant improvement over Thursday’s snowfall, when hundreds of abandoned vehicles blocked roads and highways across the metro. Despite less people on the roads, there were still several traffic accidents. Many cars and snowplows attempting to brave the conditions slid off roadways, and many roads were still in poor condition.

Most KC metro schools closed yesterday, and many decided to close today as well. Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley, Olathe, Kansas City, KS, Kansas City, MO Lee’s Summit, Belton, Raymore-Peculiar, Independence and Grandview schools are all closed today and will reopen tomorrow.

Kansas City International airport once again had to cancel flights due to the weather. Around 100 flights were cancelled yesterday, most of them coming in the morning. Several KC metro shopping areas and malls also closed, including Independence Center, Legends Outlets, Oak Park Mall, Lee’s Summit shopping centers, Town Center Plaza, Ward Parkway Center and most stores in Zona Rosa. Most of these areas have reopened today, and customers can call stores or visit their websites to check that they are open.

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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Kansas Storms Back To Beat Iowa State In Overtime

The Kansas Jayhawks moved closer to a ninth consecutive Big 12 title with a thrilling 108-96 win over Iowa State in Ames last night. The victory was Bill Self’s 500th career win, and the Jayhawks now have three winnable games remaining on their regular season schedule.

Elijah Johnson, who has been criticized all season for some poor play, had one of the most legendary performances in Kansas history. The senior scored a career-high 39 points, including eight in the final 29 seconds of regulation and 12 in overtime. Travis Releford added 19 efficient points, and Jeff Withey was a force in the paint to help Kansas keep pace with the red-hot Cyclones in the first half.

Iowa State nearly pulled off the win by hitting an insane 17 three pointers – a school record. The Cyclones’ 22-game home winning streak was snapped when Iowa State went cold in overtime as Johnson continued to score at will for the Jayhawks.

The Iowa State fans proceeded to throw plastic megaphones and concessions at the Kansas players after the game, due to Johnson dunking the ball with only a few seconds remaining on the clock. Johnson and Self both apologized for the dunk after the game.

Kansas has now passed the two toughest games it had on the backend of its schedule – on the road against Oklahoma State and Iowa State. Kansas hosts West Virginia and Texas Tech in its next two games, and the Mountaineers and Red Raiders are two of the weakest teams in the conference. The Jayhawks finish the season on the road against Baylor, who has been inconsistent all season. Kansas State, currently tied with Kansas in first, still has to travel to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State and also plays Baylor on the road. The road wins over OSU and ISU have put Kansas in a great position to once again win a Big 12 championship and earn a high seed for the NCAA tournament.

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Monday, February 25, 2013

Chiefs Close To Acquiring 49ers Quarterback Alex Smith

According to multiple reports, the Kansas City Chiefs have a deal that is nearly completed to acquire San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith. Any deal involving Smith cannot officially take place until March 12, when the new league year begins.

Smith’s story was well documented this past season due to the emergence of Colin Kaepernick during the 49ers run to the Super Bowl. After a strong 2011 season in which he threw 17 touchdowns against only five interceptions, Smith was having an even better season in 2012 – enjoying a 104 QB rating through nine games before suffering a concussion against the St. Louis Rams. Kaepernick played well in Smith’s absence, and head coach Jim Harbaugh stuck with the young QB instead of Smith all the way up through the 49ers loss in the Super Bowl to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Chiefs’ most glaring need is at quarterback, and many thought the team would draft a QB with its top overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. However, this draft does not have any quarterback prospects that deserve to go number one overall, and many reports have indicated that Kansas City is moreinterested in drafting Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel.

If the Chiefs trade for Smith, there are two paths the team can take. Kansas City could make Smith the starting quarterback and still draft a QB like Geno Smith or Matt Barkley with the top pick, grooming the young signal caller for the future similar to how the Packers brought along Aaron Rodgers. The Chiefs could also make Smith the starter and spend its top pick on an impact offensive or defensive lineman, and select a QB later in the draft or next season. Acquiring Smith certainly gives the team options.

Is Smith a good fit for Kansas City? He rarely turns the ball over and has excelled in a scheme in San Francisco that emphasizes conservative passes and running the football. With the dynamic Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs are built to be a run-first offense, and Smith could give the Chiefs just what they need – a steady quarterback who limits mistakes. The downside to Smith is that he struggled his entire career in San Francisco until a championship-level team was built around him. As Matt Cassel proved, an average QB can look good with a strong team around him, and Smith will not have the talent supporting him that he enjoyed in San Francisco.

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Friday, February 22, 2013

Kansas City Recovering From Winter Storm

Kansas City is still trying to recover after being hit by a massive winter storm over the past 24 hours. The metro was blanketed in snow, with accumulations of anywhere between 10 to 13 inches.

The snow fell at a rate as rapid as three inches per hour, which quickly made roads dangerous and led to many motorists being stranded or, even worse, wrecking their vehicle. Drivers who had a car stranded or towed are urged to call the city at 816-607-2000 before visiting the city tow lot to retrieve their vehicle. Some vehicles are located at the impound lot at 7750 E. Front St., while others may have been taken to a Missouri Department of Transportation site.

While the snowfall has stopped, the Kansas Department of Transportation is still urging those in the metro to avoid driving, if possible. Many roads are still in poor condition, and road crews and towing companies are still extremely busy.

The storm forced Kansas City International Airport to close down, however KCI has reopened today. A UPS plane was the first to land, and reported good traction on the runway. While the airport is open, many flights have been affected, and a total of 51 flights were still cancelled as of this morning. Anyone traveling in the near future should check their flight status at FlyKCI.com.

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Thursday, February 21, 2013

Kansas Beats Oklahoma State In Double Overtime


In a critical game for the Big 12 title race, the Kansas Jayhawks won a double overtime thriller against the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 68-67. The win moves Kansas back into first place, and KU now has its sights set on a ninth consecutive league title after winning the hardest game left on its schedule.

Oklahoma State and Kansas are both top defensive teams, which was on full display last night as both failed to get anything going offensively. Kansas’ Ben McLemore struggled from the floor, but the Jayhawks once again got a strong game from point guard Elijah Johnson, who attacked the rim and took good care of the ball. For the most part, Kansas was carried by Travis Releford (18 points) and Jeff Withey (17 points).

Kansas led for almost the entire second half, and seemed on the verge of putting the game out of reach when Releford made an acrobatic layup to give Kansas a four point lead late in the game. However, Oklahoma State rallied back to force overtime, and forced a second OT when Kansas again let a lead slip away. Both teams stalled on offense, as Johnson fouled out for Kansas and star freshman Marcus Smart fouled out for Oklahoma State. At the end of the game, KU’s Naadir Tharpe got into the lane and hit a short jumper, which gave KU a one point lead. In the final seconds, Oklahoma State’s Markel Brown took a tough jumper that missed, and Releford made an acrobatic save along the sideline to prevent a dead ball and allow the clock to run out. It was a deservingly thrilling finish to the biggest game of the Big 12 season.

Kansas has a favorable home schedule remaining, as it hosts TCU, West Virginia and Texas Tech – the three worst teams in the league. Kansas will face another tough test on Monday when they travel to Ames to take on a good Iowa State team. If the Jayhawks can win that one, it may be nearly impossible for KU to lose out on a ninth consecutive Big 12 title.


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Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Explosion, Fire Hits Kansas City Plaza Area

A deadly fire ripped through the Kansas City plaza area last night, triggered by a gas explosion at JJ’s restaurant. At least 14 people have been injured, and one female employee of the restaurant is still missing today.

The University of Kansas Hospital has reported that one person at their location is in critical condition, while two are in serious condition. All of the patients at KU have traumatic injuries rather than burns. St. Luke’s Hospital has indicated they have two patients in critical condition, one with extensive burns and another with facial trauma. The others injured in the blast have been treated and released from the hospitals. Heavy equipment has already been brought in to clear out large pieces of rubble and debris, while cadaver dogs are currently searching for the missing worker.

Authorities believe that the initial explosion was caused from either a motor vehicle striking a natural gas line or a piece of heavy equipment disrupting the gas main. Missouri Gas Energy, who supplies utilities to the area, released a statement that “early indications are that a contractor doing underground work struck a natural gas line.” Kansas City Fire Chief Paul Berardi has indicated that an investigation into the cause of the blast will begin after a search for any remaining victims is completed.

Residents in the area reportedly smelled gas about an hour before the explosion, and alerted Missouri Gas Energy. Firefighters and the utility company then began checking the area for the source of the odor before the explosion. JJ’s asked their customers to leave, however several employees stayed behind and were injured in the explosion.

The resulting fire from the explosion spread over an entire block and lasted about 90 minutes. JJ’s was completely destroyed, and many other shops, offices and restaurants in the area have suffered heavy damage.

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Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Dangerous Winter Storm Approaching Kansas City

A dangerous winter storm is making its way to the Kansas City area. Meteorologists say that this storm could be the biggest the region has faced in years. The storm is expected to hit the Kansas City area late Wednesday night and continue through Thursday.

The Thursday morning commute could be extremely problematic for drivers. Areas to the north of Kansas City are expected to get up to six inches of snow, while the Kansas City metro will likely get a dangerous mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain. Areas to the south of Kansas City will likely see a mixture of rain and freezing rain.

The largest amount of snow is expected to fall between Leavenworth and Richmond, MO, while St. Joseph will receive a heavy amount of snow as well. The largest amount of ice accumulation will likely take place in a line from Paola, KS to Warrensburg, MO. Areas south of US 50 highway, including southern Kansas City, are expected to receive the most ice from the storm.

A winter storm watch has been issued to the entire Kansas City region, including the counties of Atchison, Miami, Linn, Leavenworth, Wyandotte and Johnson in Kansas and Buchanan, Clinton, Caldwell, Platte, Clay, Ray, Jackson, Lafayette, Cass, Johnson, Bates and Henry in Missouri. This includes the cities of Leavenworth, Overland Park, Olathe, Parkville, Kansas City, Harrisonville and St. Joseph.

Due to the approaching storm, grocery stores across the metro were packed yesterday with people prepared to be stuck in their homes for a few days. Kansas City residents have also taken interest in the storm due to the Weather Channel’s recent announcement that they will start naming winter storms this year.

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Monday, February 18, 2013

Kansas Blows Out Texas

The Kansas Jayhawks may have turned a corner after a disastrous three-game stretch in which they lost to lowly TCU and appeared to be out of the Big 12 title race. After blowing out Kansas State on Monday, KU turned in another impressive performance on Saturday, embarrassing Texas 73-47.
 
Due to the NBA All-Star break, many former Kansas greats were on hand to see Mario Chalmers get his jersey retired. The current KU squad didn’t disappoint, stifling Texas from the opening jump ball with a great defensive effort led by center Jeff Withey. Withey’s two blocks gave him 265 for his career, breaking Texas’ Chris Mihm’s Big 12 record. Withey also chipped in 15 points, 11 rebounds and four steals. Travis Releford added 15 points in a hot shooting night from beyond the arc, while Ben McLemore added 13 points.
 
Texas isn’t a good team, but the Longhorns looked downright terrible at times against Kansas nation-leading defense. Texas shot 22 percent from the field and two of 21 from three, while turning the ball over several times in the second half for easy transition baskets for Kansas. McLemore turned one into a 360-degree dunk that wound up being the top play on ESPN’s SportsCenter Saturday night.
 
Kansas fans have to feel good about how the Jayhawks responded to their three-game losing streak. KU has regained its focus on defense, and the offense finally looks alive. Senior point guard Elijah Johnson has started to playbetter as well, and sophomore Naadir Tharpe has looked impressive in the past couple of games. If the Jayhawks get good production from the point guard position, the team could be primed to make another deep run in the NCAA tournament.
 
Kansas’ biggest game of the season is coming up, as the Jayhawks travel to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State on Wednesday in a battle for first-place in the Big 12. The Cowboys also won on Saturday, defeating Oklahoma in overtime.
 
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Friday, February 15, 2013

A Closer Look At Kansas' Upcoming Schedule

After once again embarrassing K-State in Allen Fieldhouse, the Jayhawks have grabbed a share of first place in the Big 12 and positioned themselves to make a run at a ninth consecutive Big 12 championship. While blowing out the Wildcats will help the Jayhawks erase the memories of its recent three-game losing streak, KU still has a very tough remaining schedule.

Kansas’ home games are not very daunting, as they face Texas, TCU, West Virginia and Texas Tech in the comfortable confines of Allen Fieldhouse. Texas could present the most problems, as the Longhorns recently got star point guard Myck Kabongo back from suspension. The Longhorns just knocked off a tough Iowa State team in double overtime, and gave Kansas all sorts of problems earlier in the season. Still, Kansas will be the favorite Saturday and a heavy favorite in its other remaining home games.

The road games are where things get tricky for the Jayhawks. First, Kansas will travel to Stillwater to face Oklahoma State – the team that gave Kansas a rare home loss twelve days ago. Oklahoma State has been playing very well lately, and Kansas has a history of stumbling in Stillwater. Things don’t get any easier for KU in its next road game, as they travel to Ames to face Iowa State. The Jayhawks needed a Ben McLemore banked three to force overtime at home against the Cyclones, and lost in Ames last year. Kansas closes out the year visiting the talented – yet inconsistent – Baylor Bears. While KU easily dispatched the Bears earlier in the year, Baylor has NBA talent, and may be fighting for an NCAA tournament berth.

It appears that Kansas’ race for another league title may simply come down to two games: at Oklahoma State and at Iowa State. If KU wins both of these games, it may be impossible for the Jayhawks to not claim at least a share of the league title.

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

Royals Spring Training Begins, Competition At Pitcher Heats Up

Royals spring training is officially underway! The team has made several key offseason moves in hopes for contending for the playoffs, and several position battles are taking place that could have a big impact on the upcoming season.

Currently, all eyes are on the pitching rotation, as a battle for the fifth starter’s spot has developed. It appears that Luke Hochevar is an early favorite to land the position, but he will have stiff competition from Bruce Chen and Luis Mendoza. Hochevar has the most upside of the group, and manager Ned Yost is still high on the former top overall pick. However, Chen and Mendoza both had solid seasons in 2012, and while Hochevar occasionally flashes brilliance, he had an ERA north of five last year.

Kansas City has high hopes for its rotation, as the additions of James Shields, Wade Davis and Ervin Santana should provide a much-needed improvement. Royals starting pitchers went 47-69 last season with a 5.01 ERA – good for 26th in the majors. The three new additions will be paired with Jeremy Guthrie, who pitched incredibly well for Kansas City at the end of last season.

If Hochevar wins the fifth starter spot, Chen and Mendoza could be added to the bullpen, which already has several talented pitchers. Mendoza was recently named the MVP of the Caribbean Series while he pitched for Mexico, and Chen has been steady for the entirety of his career in Kansas City. If the Royals ever needed a spot-starter, or if a starter suffered an injury, Mendoza and Chen would both be worthy candidates.

Danny Duffy and Felipe Paulino are both recovering from elbow injuries, but the pair could be back sometime around the All-Star break. Duffy and Paulino were starters before getting hurt, and both have pitched well in that role for the Royals.

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Domestic Terrorist Christopher Dorner Believed To Be Dead

Former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Dorner, who had gone on a killing rampage over the past couple of weeks before being surrounded by police in a cabin, is believed to be dead. The cabin in California Dorner was surrounded in erupted into a violent fire, and charred human remains have been found. Forensic tests are underway to confirm these remains are Dorner.

The LAPD has said it his highly likely Dorner is deceased, as authorities heard a single gunshot before the cabin was engulfed in flames. SWAT teams on the scene had fired tear gas inside the cabin and had begun tearing down the building’s walls. It is unclear if the SWAT team or Dorner started the fire.

Dorner was charged with killing Riverside police officer Michael Crain and is the main suspect in the killings of Monica Quan and Keith Lawrence. Quan is the daughter of a former L.A. cop that Dorner blamed for his firing after he reported abuse by another officer. The ensuing manhunt for Dorner became a huge national story, as he was labeled a domestic terrorist and a $1 million reward was placed on his head.

According to Police, Dorner had been hiding in cabins in the California wilderness until he was discovered by two cleaning women. Dorner tied the women up with plastic zip ties, stole their car, crashed it, and then stole a truck. The driver of the truck said Dorner used a gun in the robbery, but allowed him to take his dog out of the truck and didn’t cause him any harm.

Officers quickly closed in on Dorner, and gunshots erupted between the two parties. Dorner killed one sheriff’s deputy and wounded another before fleeing through the woods and breaking into a cabin. After a SWAT team surrounded the cabin, a single gunshot was heard – which could potentially have been a suicide shot by Dorner – before the cabin erupted into a violent fire.

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Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Roeland Park Man Pleads Guilty To Role In International Child Pornography Case

Michael D. Arnett, a 38-year-old former emergency medical technician who resides in Roeland Park, has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges. Arnett also had pictures of a one to two-year-old child lying inside an oven, and had discussed killing and eating children in online chats.

Arnett
Arnett has admitted that he took photos of minors engaged in sexually explicit acts between 2000 and 2008. He was charged in May with three child pornography counts, and has been linked to an international conspiracy to distribute illegal images of children. The United States Homeland Security was able to identify Arnett last year by noticing a water bottle in a photograph that contained the logo of a Johnson County pool. Later, investigators were able to find two teens that cited abuse from Arnett when they were younger.

This international investigation into a child pornography ring, also known as Operation Holitna, has produced 34 arrests outside of the United States and 16 in the USA.  According to Homeland Security, around 160 child victims have been identified and rescued. Operation Holitna began in 2010, when pornographic images were discovered that did not originate in the USA. The images were later traced to a daycare center in the Netherlands, and the operator of the center was charged.

In August, a friend of Arnett’s, Robert Poe III of Kansas City, was arrested and charged with sexually abusing two boys and transporting a minor for the purpose of engaging in a sexual act.

According to Arnett’s plea agreement, he will not ask for a sentence less than 20 years, and prosecutors will not ask for a sentence of more than 30 years.

What is even more unsettling about Arnett’s case is that discussions involving him killing and eating children have been found online. A Florida man who chatted with Arnett about these actions has been charged, but has claimed that these were merely fantasies that he would never act upon.

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Monday, February 11, 2013

Kansas Looks To Snap Losing Streak Tonight Against Kansas State

The Kansas Jayhawks have lost three straight games for the first time in eight years, and things do not get any easier tonight. KU will host Kansas State, who currently has a one game lead over the Jayhawks in the Big 12 standings. The game will begin at 8:00 p.m.

K-State currently controls its own destiny in the Big 12, but it will likely take a rare win over Kansas to take the league crown. The Wildcats have lost 45 of 48 against Kansas, and have been routinely blown out in Allen Fieldhouse.  The two teams met earlier this season, and KU prevailed 59-55 in Manhattan.

The key to beating KState will be outside shooting, as the Wildcats have hit 41 percent of their threes during its current win streak. KSU struggled from three against KU in the first meeting between the two schools, with Rodney McGruder and Angel Rodriguez shooting a combined 8 of 22. Despite Kansas’ struggles, KState will have to shoot better than the 35 percent clip it had the last time it faced the Jayhawks.

Most of Kansas’ problems start at point guard, where senior ElijahJohnson has struggled mightily during the Jayhawks losing streak. In the past three games, Johnson is shooting 9 of 37 from the floor, including 5 of 21 from three. Even worse, he has had several costly turnovers late in games when KU still had a chance to pull out a win. If Johnson can take care of the basketball and hit some shots, the Jayhawks’ struggling offense will begin to look a whole lot better.

Kansas has struggled recently, but the Jayhawks began to look better against Oklahoma on Saturday. KU is due for a good game, and it may come at home where Allen Fieldhouse will be rocking. This could be the point where the Jayhawks turn it around – or its streak of conference titles will be on life support.

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Friday, February 8, 2013

Overland Park Police Will Conduct Saturation Patrols Tonight

The Overland Park Police Department will be conducting a saturation patrol tonight, looking for people who are driving impaired. This enforcement effort will take place in the Overland Park area from 10 p.m. through 2 a.m.

Overland Park Traffic Safety officers will be patrolling the city looking for drivers who appear to be impaired. Those suspicious drivers that are pulled over by the patrol will be required to perform a series of field sobriety tests. The police officers also plan on keeping an eye out for those under the influence of illegal drugs, or prescription drugs that should not be taken by anyone operating a vehicle.

A saturation patrol is a common police tactic in which a large number of police officers focus on a relatively small geographic area. Multiple agencies often combine and concentrate their resources on one area during these patrols to maximize efficiency. Many police forces have used this tactic following sports events or other occurrences when there is potential for a large number of impaired drivers to be on the road.

Saturation patrols have been an effective tool for reducing drunk-driving incidents in many other communities. Kansas City has had several traffic incidents caused by alcohol over the past several months, so it is no surprise that police have begun cracking down. Many Overland Park residents choose to visit downtown bars and restaurants on the weekends, making the suburb a likely target for police.

The Overland Park police department asks that anyone who sees a driver that appears to be impaired report them by calling dispatch at 913-895-6300.

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Thursday, February 7, 2013

TCU Shocks Kansas In Biggest Upset Of The Year

It will go down as the biggest upset this season in college basketball and the worst loss a Bill Self Kansas team has ever suffered. Last night, the Kansas Jayhawks were shockingly upset by TCU in Fort Worth, 62-55.

After a rare loss at home to Oklahoma State, most thought that Kansas would come out fired up against TCU. It didn’t happen, as the Jayhawks only scored an embarrassing 13 points in the first half. The Jayhawks only shot 30 percent from the field, including a horrific 3 of 22 from beyond the arc. Efficient scorers Jeff Withey and Travis Releford didn’t get many shots, while reserve point guard Naadir Tharpe attempted 15. Worst of all, struggling point guard Elijah Johnson continued to play terrible basketball, once again missing shots while turning the ball over at will.

To sum this loss up as “shocking” would be putting it too lightly. In terms of RPI, this was the biggest upset in the last 20 years of college basketball. The Jayhawks, who have knocked off top teams like Ohio State and Kansas State on the road, looked outclassed from the beginning against TCU. With two straight losses, it may be panic time in Lawrence if the Jayhawks can’t get out of their funk.

The loss also had a huge impact on the league race, as the Big 12 is now wide open. Kansas and Kansas State are tied for first, while suddenly red-hot Oklahoma State sits only one game behind. The Jayhawks will need to regroup quickly, as they have two tough games coming up – a road contest against Oklahoma and home against KSU. If Kansas can win these two games, it will once again be in the driver’s seat for a ninth straight Big 12 title. However, after last night, that is looking like a slim possibility.

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Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Kansas - TCU Preview

For only the second time this season, the Kansas Jayhawks will be looking to rebound from a loss. TCU may provide the perfect opportunity for KU to right the ship, as the Horned Frogs are winless in conference play. Tonight’s game will begin at 8:00 p.m.

Kansas has struggled offensively over the past month, and the poor play finally caught up to them on Saturday. Against Oklahoma State, the Jayhawks shot only 41 percent and committed 16 turnovers. Much of the focus has been on Elijah Johnson’s struggles, and rightfully so – the senior has 19 turnovers in KU’s past five games while shooting a dismal 24 percent from the floor.

Self has said that he will stick with Johnson at point guard, and KU fans have to remain optimistic that the senior point guard will regain the form he displayed in last year’s NCAA championship game run. While Johnson figures things out, the Jayhawks will continue to rely on freshman sensation Ben McLemore for scoring. McLemore is now averaging 16.4 ppg and has become a consistent force for Kansas, while Jeff Withey and Travis Releford have also been consistent.

TCU has struggled to adjust to the Big 12, and hasn’t been very competitive in league play this season. The Horned Frogs are averaging only 49 points and shooting 35 percent in league play, and shot only 33 percent from the floor while getting blown out on Saturday at Texas. Despite Kansas’ offensive struggles, the Jayhawks still boast one of the top defenses in the country. If the Horned Frogs want to keep this one close, they’ll need some early shots to fall.

This game on paper has all the makings of a blowout, but Kansas has played down against inferior opponents several times this season already. Still, the Jayhawks are too talented for TCU, and Kansas should be able to get rid of the bad taste in their mouth from Saturday’s loss fairly quickly.

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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Lee's Summit West Football Star Charged With Armed Robbery

Lee Summit West High School’s Jamone A. Boyd, one of the top prep football players in the state of Missouri, was charged yesterday with armed robbery. Boyd is accused of robbing several victims at gunpoint in a Kansas City apartment.

Court records depict that Boyd and several other men pushed their way into an apartment with five people inside, striking two victims in the head with a pistol while pushing others to the ground. The burglars stole cash, electronics and clothing, and warned the victims that if they attempted to leave the apartment after the robbery, they would be gunned down with assault rifles. The robbers also threatened to return and rob the victims again in a couple of weeks.

Boyd is being charged with five counts of robbery in the first-degree, as well as five counts of armed criminal action. Prosecutors have requested a bond of $150,000. Boyd has turned himself into police and has denied being involved in the robbery; however, four of the robbery victims have identified Boyd.

The football star, who is 6’4 and 250 pounds, has been rated a four-star defensive end and has received interest from all of the local Universities. Boyd was scheduled to sign a letter of intent tomorrow to play football at Butler Community College, deciding to improve his grades at the junior college after originally committing to Kansas State.

This hasn’t been Boyd’s first run-in with the law. In November, he was cited for possessing marijuana and resisting arrest. After this incident, Boyd was sent to Summit Ridge Academy. He was benched for one game last season at Lee’s Summit West after receiving a detention in school, which is a violation of team policy.  Lee’s Summit West head football coach Royce Boehm and district athletics director Darwin Rold have not yet commented on Boyd’s actions.

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Monday, February 4, 2013

Elijah Johnson Continues To Struggle For Kansas

Kansas’ 85-80 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday seemed shocking to many, given how dominant the Jayhawks have been at home for the last several years and Kansas’ high ranking in the polls. However, the Jayhawks had been asking to be upset for months, narrowly escaping several inferior teams before Saturday. The problem in Lawrence all starts at point guard, as Elijah Johnson continues to struggle for KU.

Johnson nearly single-handedly lost the game for Kansas on Saturday. The senior shot 3 of 14 from the floor and committed four costly turnovers in the second half that led to easy transition buckets for the Cowboys.  The Jayhawks had a four point lead late in the second half, and good point guard play would have allowed KU to put the game away. Instead, Johnson handed it to OSU on a silver platter.

Johnson has 19 turnovers against 19 assists in his last five games, while also shooting a poor percentage from the floor. After excelling as a shooting guard late last season next to Tyshawn Taylor, Johnson simply hasn’t looked comfortable playing the point this year.

The problem for Kansas is a lack of depth – Naadir Tharpe is the only other player capable of playing the point, and the young guard has struggled with consistency this season. Tharpe hit some big shots for KU on Saturday, but he is best used as a change-of-pace of the bench. A Tharpe-Johnson backcourt also presents problems for Bill Self, because it means he has to sit either Ben McLemore or Travis Releford, both who are playing at an extremely high level for Kansas.

Self has said that he will stick by Johnson, and really he doesn’t have any other choice. Kansas fans will continue to hope and pray the senior figures it out and plays at a higher level. The Jayhawks have all the pieces to win a ninth straight Big 12 title and make another deep NCAA tournament run. However, if Johnson continues to play poorly, KU could be in trouble.

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Saturday, February 2, 2013

Church of the Nativity Parish Fundraiser a Smash Hit in 2013

There's big time, and then there's even BIGGER time.  When it comes time for the Church of the Nativity to throw their annual fundraiser for their school The Nativity Parish School, the entire city of Leawood shows up to party. This year, the annual fundraiser hit it's highest mark in regards to donations raised and this was partly due to a change in entertainment for the event.  Instead of going with a regular cover band this year, The Church of Nativity got with the times and brought in The Dueling Piano Guys, a National touring dueling piano act based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Although the auctioneers at this event went on a little too long for most, and started to become a little irritating (there's only so much auctioneering rattle you can stand) - when the Dueling Piano Guys hit the stage  the party lit into action. In years past, many would leave the event after the auction, but not this year. The guests immediately packed the dance floor and stayed there for entire 75 minute performance. From making "human trumpets" out of some hand picked guys and gals from the crowd, to a roaring conga line, the dueling piano guys took this event to the next level performing today's hits mixed with hits from every generation.

The totals are not yet in for the amounts raised, but they are sure to be higher than previous years and the Nativity Parish School, located at 119th and Mission in Leawood, Kansas will be reaping the benefits of many generous prestigious members of the Leawood community's donations. Both the church and the school of the Nativity offer wonderful programs for people in the community of all ages, from the school children to adult groups, this organization offers something for everyone. For more information on The Church of the Nativity and the Nativity Parish School, visit their website at www.kcnativity.org

Check out the Conga Line at the charity event!


2013 Church of the Nativity Parish School Fundraiser 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.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Kansas - Oklahoma State Preview

While it hasn’t always been pretty, the Kansas Jayhawks have made it to this point in the Big 12 season undefeated in conference play, and currently have a two game lead over several teams tied for second. KU will look to stay undefeated and increase their lead on Saturday, when the Jayhawks host the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m.

The Jayhawks’ struggles on offense lately have mostly been a result of sloppy guard play, particularly from senior point guard Elijah Johnson. Johnson has been prone to turnovers, and is struggling to score from both beyond the arc and in the lane. Ben McLemore has quickly turned into Kansas’ best offensive weapon, and Jeff Withey and Travis Releford are both efficiently scoring as well. If Johnson can return to the form he displayed in the latter portion of last season, Kansas’ offense will greatly improve.

Oklahoma State is one of the most talented teams in the league, and many pegged them as the second-best team behind Kansas before the season started. OSU is 4-3 in Big 12 play, however all three losses have come on the road to good teams – Kansas State, Oklahoma and Baylor. The Cowboys narrowly beat Iowa State at home on Wednesday, thanks to Marcus Smart’s layup with only seconds left on the clock. If Oklahoma State can defeat Kansas in Lawrence, they will take a huge step towards locking up an NCAA tournament berth and will be officially part of the Big 12’s upper tier of teams.

Kansas has won 102 of its last 103 home games; however Oklahoma State provides a huge challenge. If Kansas can finally get its offense to wake up, they shouldn’t have much trouble handling the Cowboys. However, if KU continues to shoot poorly from three and turns the ball over, Oklahoma State has the talent to pull the upset.

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