Kansas City News Headlines Friday September 30th, 2011

The American Royal BBQ 2011 - Kansas City News
The 2011 Contest and Kansas City event is under way this evening as over 100,000 people will pass through this year's American Royal BBQ 2011. Tickets are available to purchase at the gate but remember, just because you get into the event doesn't mean that you can get in to any of the parties and tents that are there. The tents and private areas are by invitation only, and are all just like small private parties. Some will have Kansas City DJs for entertainment, some will have live bands such as the Bayer Tent who will be featuring Spike Blake and Honky Tonk Rodeo. The American Royal will run through Sunday, October 2nd and will feature the "World Series of BBQ" contest. American Royal BBQ prizes are as follows:

Grand Champion:
Trophy & $10,000!

Automatic Return Invitations to American Royal Invitational Contest for next five years.

Reserve Grand Champion:
Trophy & $5,000

Second Runner-Up:
Trophy & $2,500

Third Runner-Up:
$1,250

Fourth Runner-Up:
$750

For each of four categories:

1st Place...................Trophy & $1,000
2nd Place.....................Ribbon & $500
3rd Place......................Ribbon & $400
4th Place......................Ribbon & $300
5th Place......................Ribbon & $250
6th -10th Places.........Ribbons & $100
11th -15th Places.....................Ribbons

The Zeros LIVE! at The Power and Light District - Kansas City News
If you don't feel like fighting the crowds at The American Royal BBQ 2011, you can head down to the Power and Light District and catch The Zeros, Kansas City's favorite 80's tribute band. The Zeros put on a great show, performing only "new wave" 80's music, none of the idiotic 80's hair band music. The Zeros hit the stage around 10pm and will rock until they shut the place down. The Power and Light District is losing momentum as it's owners, Cordesh Inc. continue to evict businesses in the district including the most recent closing of Raglan Road Irish Pub in September.

DUI Checkpoints in Kansas City - Kansas City News

Waldo Rapist Bernard Jackson Receives 18 Life Sentences - Kansas City News
It all started in 1977 when Bernard Jackson was convicted of his first rape at the age of 19. 6 years later, Jackson was released and he continued to torture, rob and rape women in the Waldo area until 1985 when Bernard was convicted of rape again and sentenced to 30 years. Jackson was then paroled in December of 2008, and was subsequently charged with additional rapes that occurred after his 2008 release. Bernard Jackson, a.k.a. the Waldo Rapist was sentenced today to 18 consecutive life sentences by assistant district attorney Ted Hunt for the rapes that Jackson committed back in the 1980's in light of new evidence that has been analyzed. Bernard Jackson's attorney, Carie Allen looked like some kind of bad joke today, her hair was fried out and she actually was seen laughing out loud several times during the case, yes, Carie, murder and rape are very funny topics, and your client is a ghetto stank piece of shit that belongs in jail - FOREVER.

Raglan Road Closes in Power and Light District

Cordish Company strikes again, and today at 4pm it became official: Raglan Road Irish Pub at The Power and Light District is closing it's doors effective immediately.

The Irish Pub chain started it's journey in Ireland, then moved on with great success across the pond to Florida, and the buck literally stopped in Kansas City on Wednesday, August 31st after a lengthy legal battle with the Power and Light District. Raglan Road was last reported to have been over $700,000 in the hole on the rent due to Power and Light and despite having some of the highest priced drinks in the district, could not generate enough income to sustain and were forced to close today.

Although many were speculating that the Power and Light District was doing well, it turns out that they are in fact not doing well at all. It is sad to see Raglan Road go, as they were very enthusiastic and featured live Irish dancers and also many Kansas City bands on the weekends. It is always sad to see any live music venue go, as musicians need to eat too! They fought hard to the very end, but eventually the sky high rent in the Power and Light District proved to be too much for the Irish Pub. We wish them luck in their future endeavors and hope that they can find a city that won't charge them an arm and a leg to open a live music restaurant.

The Power and Light District has actually been very active with their legal department lately, going after everyone in sight, not seeming to care at all about smaller businesses in Kansas City. I suppose that is what we should have expected from a new business district that is being run by a conglomerate based in Baltimore Maryland. We will keep an eye on Cordish and see how many more small businesses they run out of Kansas City before this is all over.

In a statement issued to Kansas City News today from Raglan Road Irish Pub: "Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant in Kansas City will no longer be open for business effective immediately. The company has been dealing with legal battles that have come to an conclusion today."

Elton John Billy Joel Face 2 Face Tour at The Sprint Center

Elton John and Billy Joel return to the Sprint Center for another round of their Face 2 Face Tour. Elton John and Billy Joel will bring their Face 2 Face tour to Kansas City's Sprint Center in the Power and Light District February 27th, 2010.

Tickets are on sale for the Face 2 Face Tour. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com or charged by phone at 1.800.745.3000.

Elton John and Billy Joel's Face 2 Face tour started in March and has sold out over 40 venues. The concert starts out with Elton and Billy seated at the pianos doing songs in a duet style, almost like dueling pianos. The show then expands to include each artist's own backing band and concludes with the two back at the pianos together, "face to face".