TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! KANSAS CITY 39TH STREET RESIDENTS AND MERCHANTS CONVERGE ON GOOGLE FIBER HEADQUARTERS FOLLOWING TREE BUTCHERY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE!!!

Yesterday morning THE MOST KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTERS broke news of 39th Street pushback following tree trimming at the behest of Google Fiber.

Today the story continues to move forward as neighbors and merchants organize an effort to save the scenery and shrubbery which makes their location unique.

To wit . . .

TODAY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION LEADERS, MERCHANTS AND OTHERS CONVERGED ON GOOGLE FIBER HEADQUARTERS TO VOICE THEIR COMPLAINTS ABOUT TREE BUTCHERY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE!!!

A witness to the scene, who also had property damaged in this week's hot mess, describes it this way:

"The folks @ Google headquarters were definitely surprised to see us when we showed up. After they got a chance to hear our concerns they seemed apologetic," the witness said. "I informed them that they shouldn't underestimate these neighborhood groups. If they want to approach 39th Street and the Volker neighborhood as bullies, they'll get the more resistance than they ever expected."

AND YES . . . AS THE DISCUSSION STARTED THERE WAS EVEN SOME TALK OF A GOOGLE FIBER BOYCOTT!!!

For now, neighbors seem hopeful that Google will "fix what needs to be fixed" but there remain concerns that overenthusiastic tree trimming and damage to property will persist on the road to Kansas City high speed Internets.

And all of this has inspired tonight's playlist . . .



As always, thanks for reading this week and have a safe and fun weekend.

Kansas City Memorial Day Crackdown: Seriously, Don't Drive Drunk!!!

Just a reminder . . . Authorities will be out in full force and if there ever was a time to make friends with sober people or take a cab . . . That time is now, amid a pretty massive search for drunk drivers.

Example:

13 Caught . . . Kansas City police stopped 168 vehicles at North Oak Trafficway location early Saturday morning.

Sorry, This Doesn't Count As A Crime Tip: Gunshot Victim Dumped On KCPD

KMBC reports a troubling incident which reveals how hard it is to get people to talk in this town: "Kansas City police are investigating after a shooting victim was dropped off at the department's fueling station early Saturday morning."

JoPo Provides Solutions For Royals Losing Streak: 'Kansas City And The Little Things'

Kansas City sports writer and former newspaper worker Joe Posnanski offers tips for Kansas City Royals improvement that are nice but totally overlook horrible ownership consistently going with cheap players: "KC and the little things"

Related: The Kansas City Royals fall 5-2 to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.

Royals stay losing again 7-0 Today As Harsh Times Continue . . .

Victoria Silvstedt And Even More Kansas City Saturday Links!!!

Victoria Silvstedt and her bikini lounging start this collection of Kansas City mainstream media links for Saturday . . .

- Kidnapping News Dominates Saturday in the Kansas City Metro: Grandview police investigating woman's attempted abduction . . . Grandview PD: Woman escapes after being abducted . . . "A woman jumped from a car and avoided a man's attempt to kidnap her."

- Another Kind Of Train Story: 7 injured after trains collide in Missouri

- Cowtown Helping Hand: KC metro residents busy donating supplies for tornado victims

- Global Climate Change Holiday: Kansas lake levels low for Memorial Day

- Show-Me Danger; At-risk bridges: Mo. ranks 7th in nation

- Crooks have no sympathy: PD: Burglaries occurring while families at wakes, funerals

- The Week According To Kansas City Public Radio

TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! EVEN MORE EXPERT KANSAS CITY HOMICIDE TREND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS!!!

Thankfully, Kansas City homicides have seen a slight but important decrease this year.

However . . .

WORD ON THE KANSAS CITY STREETS AND SOCIAL MEDIA IS THAT THE URBAN CORE FEARS A WARM WEATHER HOMICIDE SPIKE THAT NOBODY SEEMS TO BE CONSIDERING!!!

There are some who suggest that our slightly lower homicide numbers right now are simply a cold weather anomaly.

However, I'm an optimist and I'd like to think that significant and noteworthy efforts have made a difference.

Still . . .

THANKS TO DR. ERNEST EVANS FOR OFFERING MORE ANALYSIS OF HOW KANSAS CITY'S MURDER RATE STACKS UP TO OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE NATION!!!

Dr. Evans notes . . .

"Checked the homicide stats for the nation's "Murder Capital" (ie, Detroit), and even in Detroit homicides are falling: 113 in 2013 compared to 118 at this point in 2012. Notice to KCMO political class: With crime falling even in cities like Detroit, it is "Cruch Time" for you all: Stop trying to find excuses for our city's crime disaster, and start instead doing something to bring it under control."

And then Dr. Evans offers  . . .

"Just checked the 2013 homicide stats for the nation's other "Murder Capital" (Saint Louis): 33 in 2013 compared to 43 at this point in 2012. More bad news for those in the KCMO political class trying to pretend that we don't have a crime disaster in our city, particularly in our black neighborhoods."

Right now, Kansas City has recorded 35 murders so far compared with 42 last year at this time and 34 in 2011 at this point on the calender.

It's important to keep these numbers in mind because local media and politicos forget about Kansas City's murder problem until the bodies start piling up -- Which is unacceptable.

The higher rate of homicide in the urban core and among people of color is an uncomfortable fact that mainstream media often feels to guilty to even mention.

Nevertheless, fear of a violent crime spike in Kansas City is something that's very real for those who still bother talking to their neighbors and as politicos seem mostly devoted to their career ambitions and pet projects.

DEVELOPING . . .

TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! DOLLAR STORE SHOWDOWN ON TROOST!!!

Kansas City struggles to come up with a sustainable economic development plan for the East side.

Meanwhile, KICK-ASS TKC TIPSTERS provide important insight on low rent biz coming up and the debate among the urban planning set.

To wit . . .

THIS EAST SIDE BIZ LESSON OFFERS AN IMPORTANT LOOK AT THE COMPLEXITIES OF TROOST DEVELOPMENT!!!

First, here's important perspective . . .

"After Dollar General won multiple BZA variances despite community concerns to erect a store on Troost Avenue in Manheim Park earlier this month, Family Dollar has now come along wanting to put up a store a block further south at 4601 Troost. 

"Both sites are long vacant lots in an area historically plagued by prostitution and very nasty auto repair and junk car shops.

"Background: Dollar General's plans were nuked in Squier Park more than a year ago when they wanted to put a store near Family Dollar off Linwood, and the "not in my backyard" crowd fought heavily to keep DG out. So DG went south to Manheim, and with pro-bono help from BNIM, got a design that the BZA blessed despite the need to now move the Manheim Park MAX stop to fit the store, possibly at taxpayer expense.

"The issue pits those who see dollar stores as providing more consumer choices for low income folks for an area that now has only CVS and Walgreen vs. urban planning advocates who want developers to follow the Troost Focus plan guidelines to lure higher end retailing."

NOW, check a behind the scenes e-mail that brought this fact to light . . .

"I am writing to you because I received an email regarding a proposed Family Dollar Retail Store to be located at 4601 Troost Avenue, and I thought it was in the best interest of the neighbors in the area to be informed about the coming of this new business to Troost Avenue. Family Dollar is requesting “for a variance to the maximum required number of off-street parking spaces allowed to be located outside of an enclosed parking garage within 1000 feet of a Rapid Transit Stop, a variance to the minimum required square feet of interior landscaping in parking lots, a variance to the minimum required landscape buffer strip adjacent to residential zoning districts, and a variance to allow an access drive within the required landscaping buffer strip, all to allow for the construction of a new commercial building, plus any other necessary variances.”"

And so . . . This debate shows us that biz wants to locate near Troost but our elected officials have a hard tome sticking to a sustainable plan.

DEVELOPING . . .

The Kansas City Saturday Morning Cartoon: March Against Monsanto Explanation

Kansas City is getting ready to March Against Monsanto today . . .

This cartoon provides a funny, scary sad look at some of the reasons local protestors are riled up . . .

GMO A Go Go!

Hopefully, newsies will pick up this grassroots protest and it's strange that more "foodies" aren't concerned with the global agri-biz that powers their pastime.

Still . . . I notice a lot of social media enthusiasm so today should be fun.

TKC BLOG COMMUNITY DOESN'T THINK MUCH OF MORE 'CLUB KC' HYPE!!!

Kansas City power brokers tend to think that providing free and safe hangouts for local youth will reduce violent flash mobs AND lower local violence.

Here are just a couple of hopefull pressers . . .

‘Club KC’ kicks off for KC youth

Mayor's 'Club KC' a hot ticket

Like it or not . . .

THE OVERWHELMING SENTIMENT AMONG READERS OF TKC IS THAT THIS YOUTH PROGRAM ISN'T ENOUGH TO SERIOUSLY ADDRESS TOP TOPIC OF CRIME AND POTENTIAL FLASH MOBS ON THE PLAZA!!!

What more can the Mayor and Council do?

Granted, it's hard to legislate parental responsibility . . .

But insightful Kansas City insiders believe that more support for rank and file KCPD from Mayor Sly would go a long way toward convincing potential flash mob participants and their relatives that our city's most powerful elected official stands against youth violence disguised as social injustice.

Meanwhile, TKC is simply encouraged whenever Mayor Sly works on something besides the toy train.

Show-Me Upcoming Kansas City Water Audit

Kansas City has paid for a seemingly endless string of local tax increases yet sadly out institutions seem as screwed up as ever.

Just one example out of many that hopes to offer a bit of improvement . . .

Missouri state auditor to possibly review Water Services Department

Who knows? Maybe there could be a close inspection in much the same way that I'm gawking at every pixel of this Imogen Thomas jpeg.

We already know that Kansas City's Water Department still serves as the dumping ground for a great many troublesome City Hall employees.

Even worse . . . Mayor Sly attempted to sell improvements to this beleaguered institution but after more than a year nothing seems to have really changed.

DEVELOPING . . .

Kansas City Public Schools Provide Important Lesson In Free Lunch This Summer

Amid overall American economic decline . . . Realize this public assistance teaching moment offers a reality check for anybody poor soul who believes the economy is rebounding.

Kansas City Public Schools to offer breakfasts, lunch during summer

Overall, this is a good move given that starving children on local streets doesn't serve the public interest.

And there really isn't any "summer work" for teens now that the adults and undocumented have eliminated that segment of the young adult economy ...

Like it or not, public schools basically serving as an incubator for various social service agencies is an important lesson that scholars and adults need to understand.

Kansas City Newsie Chatter This Week

Kansas City Public Television talks with top newsies this week but mostly about state house stuff and tornadoes.

The best part of the discussion doesn't happen until the last two minutes of the program.

And then . . .

KUDOS TO KICK-ASS RADIO LADY DANA WRIGHT FOR NAME CHECKING THE SILLY TOY TRAIN STREETCAR AND THE MAYOR'S AMBIVALENCE ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME!!!

Check the latest episode of KCPT Week In Review . . .

As if on cue, Steve Kraske plays the propagandist and seemingly tries to correct the talk of a toy train by using the streetcar misnomer.

Still . . . It's all good stuff and worth a look for the people who still want to understand the media viewpoints the dominate Kansas City's discourse.

Turner Report Rages Over Blog Investigation

Turner Report rages over the details of his teaching job investigation . . . The reality is that prominent bloggers and people with controversial things to say can't have a day job or must remain anonymous cowards . . . As for the comment logs, it should be worth nothing that this is basic biz practice that ignores the fact that the Internets is now a product of smartphones: Joplin R-8 Administration using taxpayer money to hunt down Turner Report commenters

Kansas City Blogger Charts Prove That Brookside Homes Still Worth Big Money

My favorite Kansas City real estate blogger presents a pretty good chart about home values in our middle-class Midtown Kansas City ghetto . . . 2013 Price Rising in the Oak Meyer Gardens Subdivision in Brookside

Billie Faiers And The Kansas City Saturday

Billie Faiers and her curvy bikini body of work inspires this Saturday collection of mainstream media links.

Check it:

- Kansas City Doggie Disaster: Animal Control: 3 dogs found abandoned in garage

- Furniture Store Meatballs Coming soon To Merriam, Kansas: Demolition to make way for new Ikea store is set for Wednesday

- Scary KCK Law Enforcement Infighting: Ex-cop charged w/plotting to harm chief

- Summertime Fun Fact: CDC: Nearly 3 out of 5 pools contain poop

- KCPD Raise Public Drunk Awareness In Waldo: Police help bar patrons know their limit

- Everybody Loves Kansas City Urban Gardens: Behind Benjamin Bannecker Charter Academy of Technology (BBCAT) sits a garden with 21 flower beds full of fruits and vegetables.

- Eco-Devo Celebration: Kansas City welcomes new restaurants, products, gets nod for best ribs

- Sunflower State Political Gesture: Some lawmakers waive pay as Kansas session goes into overtime

- Show-Me Law Changes: Legislators to keep looking into overhaul of Missouri criminal laws

- Another Important Kansas City Group Stands Up: Mothers of Kansas City murder victims take charge against violence

THE TKC WEEKLY POWER RANKING!!!

Jennifer Nicole Lee and her stunning core starts the most important review of Kansas City power players . . .

POLITICOS



1. Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Circo - She's making her next move that's not quite as big of a deal as some expect and really just puts her a stone's throw away from City Hall.

2. Jackson County Legislator Theresa Garza Ruiz - She's the second part of a 12th & Oak switcheroo and the only politico @ the Courthouse who avoided Property Tax Pushback.

3. Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker - A strong statement about a case she didn't charge this week will extract a powerful political toll if she hopes to win reelection next time around.

4. Jackson County Legislator Crystal Williams - Powerful PR gestures that kinda just show that she's out of touch.

5. Future 4th District Council Lady Jolie Justus - Already winning support of Dead Tree Media for accomplishing nothing.


NEWSIES



Steve Vockrodt - No, the photo at the top of this section isn't Mr. Vockrodt but he kinda deserves action hero status for having the guts to ask questions about new KCI that nobody else will.

Ryan Kath - Breaking news and better investigations than just about anybody in Kansas City.

Eric Chaloux - Continued effort to make City Hall answer for water spending benefits taxpayers across the board.

Mark Alford - The King of the Kansas City morning.

Hey Cameraman - Kansas City's digital news gathering resource of record.


Summer Goals



Avoid Stray Bullets - Always my top priority.

TKC Workout - Making 'running in place' more than a bad metaphor about my life.

Out of the basement and up in your grill - We hope to be out and about learning more about Kansas City this summer or at the very least making our QT runs a bit more extensive.

More salad - TKC wants to devour Kansas City urban gardens in a totally appropriate way.

The Long Form - The TKC Think Piece is coming soon.

As always, this list has been compiled according to scientific TKC polling and market research data and it's a weekly comprehensive guide to local powerful people.

Kansas City Lady Fires Back @ Home Invaders!!! Trio Charged In Aftermath!!!

KCTV5 reports on push back against local crime . . . Police: Woman fires shots at men attempting to break into home

KMBC: Accused home invaders charged after resident fires shots, hitting 1

Rock Chalk Tax: Toll Lanes On K-10?!?

The Golden Ghetto Higher Education Commute just got more expensive . . . "A long-range plan for the state's highways suggests that Kansas Highway 10 between Lawrence and Johnson County become a partial toll road."

Craig Glazer Talks 'Inappropriate Comedy'

TKC NOTE: A note and some background info about this weekend from our pal Craig Glazer . . .

Dante and Rebekah
Inappropriate Comedy

Well if you are not going to the lake, checking out the Royals (who continue to suck), or starting your summer tan, this might be a great weekend to check out Dante and Rebekah at Stanford & Sons Comedy Club. Dante co-wrote and is one of the lead stars in the controversial and funny movies out now titled ‘The Inappropriate Comedy’. The movie actually opened a month ago nation-wide, so it’s just in a few theaters now. It stars Adrian Brody (Academy-Award Winner from the film, ‘The Piano’) and that acting marvel, Lindsay Lohann. Dante has plenty to say about this blonde haired talent. Starting with she barely left the trailer except to do one of her few scenes, or to grab her check and leave. I’ve heard it’s very funny and has a lot of cameos by name stars.

What’s strange about this project is that it was financed by Vince, The Sham-Wow Guy. Rebekah Kochan also appears in the picture. She is a super-sexy playmate-bodied actress who has appeared in a ton of scary movies in addition to the ‘Eating Out films (a series of films very popular among the gay and lesbian community) where she plays something of a down on her luck heroine.

Dante and Rebekah live together in Los Angeles, they met when Dante was a finalist on ‘Last Comic Standing’. Dante started gaining attention in the mid-nineties where he won the best comic on the BET Comic View series. The irony is, Dante is white. Like then host, D. L. Hughley said ‘Go figure’.

You might have caught Dante on KCTV5 with Kelly Jones or NBC 41 today. They loved him on the radio, Mix 93, Q104 and Alice 102. Dante has performed more USO shows for the US Troops than any other comic since Bob Hope. Dante may be best known today for being the head writer on the hit E! television show ‘Fashion Police’ with Joan Rivers.

Dante and Rebekah are both a little naughty with their R-rated comedy, so it’s probably not a good idea to bring the kiddies. Some big stars coming up to think about include Michael Winslow from the ‘Police Academy’ movies; Dustin ‘Screech’ Diamond, Judy Tenuta, Carlos Mencia and the ‘Crank Yankers’ Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson, now the hosts of VH1’s ‘That Metal Show’ just to name a few.

Have a great holiday weekend. Hope to see you at Stanford & Sons!
###########

TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! PETITIONERS AGAINST NEW SINGLE-TERMINAL KANSAS CITY AIRPORT RISING TO MEET SIGNATURE CHALLENGE!!!

Kansas City grassroots activists against the new BILLION DOLLAR+ single-terminal airport plan have recently demonstrated an important understanding of City Hall's petition process.

To wit . . .

TKC RECENTLY ASKED ABOUT THE PETITION TO STOP A NEW KCI SINGLE-TERMINAL AIRPORT AND IF THIS CREW WOULD BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE THREASHOLD FOR SUCCESS . . . THANKFULLY, INSIDERS SEEMED CONFIDENT!!!

Here's part of the quick message sent our way in the aftermath of breaking news regarding their petition AND a call for more volunteers . . .

"We will need 3,572 signatures on our Initiative Petition. We will be shooting four a minimum of 4,000 as I am sure some will be rejected."

And so . . . This serious grassroots effort is already off the ground and reaching news heights.

Look for these activists In Brookside/Waldo for now and even more places as this move to push back on Mayor and Council takes off . . .

SHAME!!! KANSAS CITY MAYOR SLY AND COUNCIL CONSIDER MORE CASH FOR ANOTHER TOY TRAIN STREETCAR LINE!!!

Kansas City seems to be falling apart but Mayor Sly is mostly concerned with his toy train streetcar . . .

KC weighs $1.89M contract with BNIM for streetcar expansion study

Again, this stealthy process is how the first Toy Train monstrosity made it to the rigged ballot - Without any consideration from voters overall and powered by a "win at all costs" agenda that doesn't mind subverting Democracy in order to railroad taxpayers.

DEVELOPING . . .

KANSAS CITY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!!!

Taylor Stevens, Jordan Carver And Wendy Fiore adorn this collection of Kansas City weekend links that will inform those of us who won't be spending most of their time in a basement . . .

Check it:

For The Kansas City Rug Rats: Jiggle Jam returns to Crown Center Square

Mid-level Local Theater: The Coterie's 35th Anniversary Season's Line-up

For Hipster Swine: Story celebrates with a pig roast and other weekend possibilities

Golden Ghetto Kicks: Overland Park to kick off huge soccer tourney this weekend

KMBC Offers Memorial Day Weekend Suggestions . . .

And here's the "Celebration At The Station" Outline . . .

And let's not forget about Standee's in Perfect Village . . .



The place is getting rave reviews . . . Thanks to an AWESOME TKC TIPSTER for giving us look at the ribbon cutting AND we hear they have "the fanciest seats ever" which is always a bonus.

Now . . .

Remember, checkpoints will be out in full force this weekend and any time is a good time for a Flash Mob . . . And I think this day is supposed to be about veterans or something???

Nevertheless, the smart people I know have already checked out for the weekend.

Golden Ghetto Robbery & Gunfight Link Pool

Hilary Rhoda and her golden bikini goodness captures our imagination in much the same way that it's a starting realization to some that Johnson County is struggling agianst increasing crime as well . . .

Check the links . . .

KSHB: Inside a JoCo liquor store robbery

KCTV5: Robber shoves 2 into liquor store cooler, gets into shootout with police

Fox4: Robbery suspect leads police on wild, wrong-way chase

Frankie Essex And The Kansas City Link Look

Frankie Essex is one of the chubby Brit stars of The Only Way Is Essex and now her bikini curves adorn this collection of Kansas City mainstream media links . . .

- KCTV5 profile . . . Faces of Kansas City: Schlagle High School teacher adds a green emphasis to his teaching

- Remembering "The Great War" National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial hosts Memorial Day ceremony

- Bottom Line Reporting Dedication: MLB DOES VIDEO TRIBUTE TO FRED WHITE

- Show-Me Legacy: WWII hero's medals found inside Goodwill store in Missouri

- Sunflower State Austerity Disparity: Federal cuts affect poorest Kansas schools

- Cowtown Biz Winning: Kansas City Business Journal announces CFO of the Year honorees

- Political negotiation: Kansas still looking for sales tax deal

SACRILEGE!!! SOUTH KANSAS CITY WATER LINE GEYSER SPRAYS NEAR CHURCH!!!

NBC Action News from the air: "Skytracker video from over the scene showed the water shooting nearly as high as the steeple of the church, on the northwest corner of Red Bridge and Wornall roads."

Bernardo Ramierez Stays Winning @ EDC

KC Biz Journal and more than a bit of important Kansas City financial news: "The Economic Development Corp. of Kansas City introduced two new senior leadership team members during its Friday board meeting. Bernardo Ramirez will serve as the EDC's executive vice president and chief operating officer, and T'Risa McCord will serve as senior vice president and chief administrative officer."

TKC BREAKING AND EXCLUSIVE NEWS!!! GOOGLE FIBER BUTCHERS 39TH STREET WEST TREES!!! MIDTOWN KANSAS CITY RAGE ENSUES!!! IS YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEXT?!?

Kansas City's 39th Street West is known for cool shops and some of the best dining options in all of this town but as of late the rage over some drastic Google Fiber tree trimming is definitely their best quality.

The story . . .

39TH STREET WEST DENIZENS DECRY RECENT TREE BUTCHERY AT THE BEHEST OF GOOGLE FIBER!!!

Don't ever accuse TKC of not taking a risk given that the good people @ Google provide the Blogger.com software the runs these fancy posts . . . But I digress and I really do love the rainbow bunny sometimes and Google Fiber is a great thing as long as we don't give too much credit to Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Circo.

Anyhoo . . . 



We've talked to some of the most AWESOME, KICK-ASS AND VERY COOL KIDS ON 39TH STREET and they are PISSED that their tree-lined streets are being torn apart for the sake of high-speed Internets.

1st Person Reports from the scene and a few pointed questions to workers confirm this work is at the behest of Google Fiber.

And Kansas City residents wonder what this means for other Kansas City "Fiberhoods" and their trees???

So far, tree trimming teams haven't yet made it to Fric & Frac but that could be a tragic loss given that so many hipsters and even cooler people regularly find shade on that corner of the block.

Midtown Kansas City denizens might not realize that their council members are Jan Marcason and Jim Glover because these two spend most of their time in a downtown bunker planning the next phase of the toy train streetcar . . . Still, today there are more than a few people who will be getting in touch with their representatives this morning.

Now . . .

Remember that beautiful tree-lined streets and boulevards are an integral part of Kansas City's unique landscape . . . So it'll be a shame if politicos, merchants and residents lose this fight to save at least a few 39th Street trees from the reality of the high speed digital age.

Developing . . .

PREVIEW: DON'T STOP LOOKING FOR THE MISSING $15K KANSAS CITY!!!

Let's keep this short and sweet because this journalism glory belongs to somebody else . . .

But we don't mind delivering the finest quality gossip!

EXPECT NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SEARCH FOR KANSAS CITY'S MISSING $15K!!!

Mayor and Council are already getting pressure on a civil suit . . .

I think it's clear that City Manager Troy Schulte is out of favor as of late . . .

And yes . . . There's even a slight chance that this scandal could get sexier . . .

Developing . . .

WILL 'MAYOR'S NIGHTS' SAVE KANSAS CITY?

Kansas City is counting on an idea more than 20 years old to keep youth violence in check . . . Will it work?

KMBC: Kansas City's night programs for teenagers will start up this weekend with about 900 young people signed up to take part in basketball, soccer, volleyball and dance activities.

On the bright side, there's momentum going into this project given the lower homicide rate and increased cooperation among neighborhood districts . . . Which is good . . . Given that Mayor Sly and Council are mostly dedicated to a spendthrift development agenda.

DEVELOPING . . .

SCHOOL BOARD COUP LAST NIGHT!!! HICKMAN MILLS HOT MESS PUSH BACK!!!

Education turmoil in the Hickman Mills School District just got more interesting last night.

The links:

NBC Action News: The president of a local school board was ousted during a district meeting Thursday night.

Newspaper: Hickman Mills school board stages a coup and ousts its president

Please feel free to offer behind the scenes insight . . . I'm not sure who's winning but it's probably not the students.

KANSAS CITY BOY SCOUT REAX!!!

Change comes to The Boy Scouts of America.

And so . . .

WHAT DO YOU D-BAGS THINK ABOUT THE BSA ALLOWING GAY BOY SCOUTS?!?!

TKC Joke Of The Day because I'm an idiot . . .

It's a sign of progress that The Boy Scouts of America have decided to allow openly gay Scouts to join the organization . . . On the downside, membership in the Webelos collapsed upon the news.

Now check the links . . .

- Boy Scouts 'Moving Forward' Vote To Allow Gay Members

- Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

- Boy Scots Vote To Allow Gay Members, But Not Leaders

- Boy Scouts leave flags at veterans' graves . . . They were rainbow flags, anchored a bit more securely so they could endure all of the spinning.

STILL: KANSAS CITY ROYALS STAY LOSING!!!

A collection of Kansas City Royals losing links that prove TKC baseball knowledge over marketing gimmicks and hopeful fanboys.

Check it:

Another losing round-up: Royals keep tumbling when comeback falls short in loss to Angels

Deadspin: Idiot On The Field In Kansas City Steals Rosin Bag, Escapes Cop . . . Actually, sounds like off camera he got (deservedly) body slammed.

Dead Tree Media Excuses: Dayton Moore vows recent slide won't cause Royals to panic

KANSAS CITY BISHOP FINN EARNS REBUKE FROM NATIONAL CATHOLIC PANEL!!!

NC Register.com:Head of national Catholic panel criticizes KC bishop

"Al Notzon, who chairs the child sex abuse board of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, rarely challenges or questions the church hierarchy. But in a new interview with National Catholic Register, Notzon criticizes KC Bishop Robert Finn's handling of the Fr. Shawn Ratigan child porn case:

"The diocese has to get that allegation report immediately to the civil authorities, and that allows the authorities outside the institution to investigate the report — someone who is trained and has no personal interest in who the perpetrator is. Any attempt to prevent disclosure works to our disadvantage."

Get Well Soon: Golden Ghetto Golf Cart Crash

KSHB confirms my stereotypes about all JoCo deniznes driving around in country club electrically powered vehicles: Two people were hurt - one of them seriously - in a golf cart crash Thursday evening.

Kansas City Ruckus This Week

From Kansas City's most important forum for opinion . . .

The Ruckettes discuss a myriad of topics from local to national and even concerning Northeast Kansas City.

Check the latest episode of KCPT's Ruckus

Their pithy viewpoints are far more clever than most of the comments on this dump of a blog.

And as always, they note the neverending struggle between left and right . . .

There was a bit of preview of this talk in the comments but the reality as a bit more subduded but still worth a look . . .

Kansas City Red Light Cameras FOREVER!!!

Red Light Camera Activist Tracy Ward skipped town and now there's not a single voice in Kansas City to fight against ongoing and expensive traffic light surveillance . . .

Here's the damage:

The Kansas City Council voted unanimously to extend the contract for its red light cameras Thursday afternoon.

KCUR: Council Extends Red Light Cameras, Delays Ethics Code Vote

And the public radio headline really says it all . . . Lip service to ethics by the likes of Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Circo isn't as important as awarding contracts and enforcing the illusion of safety.

Golden Ghetto Gunfire Runaround & Crash

NBC Action News: "A suspect in a Johnson County, Kan., liquor store robbery led police on a wild chase where police shot at him early Friday before crashing on Interstate 70."

KCK Recruiting More Police

KMBC reports: "The Kansas City Kansas Police Department is looking to add some men and women to the force."

Lacey Banghard And The Kansas City Links

Lacy Banghard (yes, that's really her name) and her pink, hottie outtakes start this morning collection of Kansas City Friday morning links.

Check it:

- Good Save At The Royals Game Unrelated To Baseball: Nurse gives teen CPR in scare at the K

- Follow-up on tragic pedestrian peril: 4-year-old boy struck by car in KCMO

- Lesson in Golden Ghetto thievery: Police investigating after $30,000 allegedly stolen from elementary school's funds

- Political ruckus over military industrial complex win: Air Force selects McConnell base in Kansas for new tankers

- Kansas City Chiefs Already Playing Hurt: Dexter McCluster tweaks hamstring

- Local tradition changing hands: Honor Flight prepares for generational change

- New tenant for ugly Plaza building: CBRE will join Colliers in American Century tower

- Political Discount: Kansas Senate passes plan to cut sales tax on groceries

- Show-Me cute animal reporting: Elk population in Missouri grows with addition of 40

- Tornado Season Panic: Kansas reporters run for tornado shelter during newscast

And your morning shot of potasium with one more look at Lacey:



More in a bit . . .