Building The Kansas City Morning



Lots of stuff to cover this morning but we start the news day with this extensive collection of notable news items from Kansas City and then beyond. At this #TBT image of Union Station reminds us that good things take time . . . As always, we welcome pithy, informative, opinionated and captivating comments on any of these news items. Send us an e-mail should and we'll feature with a nickname or any moniker that gives us all a chuckle . . .



Kansas City Loves Helpful Hobo

41 Files: Kansas City rallies behind homeless man

Homeless man who helped Chiefs player receives praise, questions


Speaker Plays Hardball

'She wields the knife': Pelosi moves to belittle and undercut Trump in shutdown fight

House Democrats on Wednesday were making plans to undermine President Trump at his Jan. 29 State of the Union address. Just past 8:30 a.m., the leadership's communications arm sent an email to lawmakers urging them to bring furloughed federal workers or other "message-related" guests to the nationally televised event.


Pushback Against House Majority

FOX NEWS FIRST: Pelosi slammed for attempted shutdown of Trump State of Union; top Dem breaks ranks on wall

Welcome to FOX News First. Not signed up yet? Click here. Developing now, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 THE STATE OF THE UNION IS NOT SHUT DOWN: The Trump administration and Republicans are pushing back on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's suggestion that President Trump delay his upcoming State of the Union address because of the partial government shutdown ...


Team Trump Double Talk

Giuliani claims 'I never said there was no collusion' in Trump campaign

President Trump's personal attorney, Rudolph Giuliani, claimed Wednesday night that he "never said there was no collusion" between members of President Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russian officials -- but he did say that Trump himself never colluded with Russian officials.


Vice Prez Takes Flak

Mike Pence panned for declaring ISIS defeated hours after terror group kills U.S. troops in Syria

Vice President Mike Pence is facing harsh criticism after he claimed ISIS had been defeated on the same day that the terrorist group killed American soldiers in Syria. Pence declared that "the caliphate has crumbled and ISIS has been defeated" during remarks to the Global Chiefs of Mission conference at the US State Department on Wednesday, according to CNN.


Granny Guv Great Expectations

In tough speech, new governor sees need to rebuild Kansas

TOPEKA, KS (AP) - New Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly told Kansas legislators Wednesday that the state faces an emergency in its child welfare system and is "completely unprepared" for the next national economic downturn. Kelly outlined an agenda for the Republican-dominated Legislature that includes increased spending on public schools and expanding the state's Medicaid health coverage for the needy.


The Parson Plan

Governor: Western Missouri's Crossroads Correctional Facility Slated For Closure

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is planning to close Crossroads Correctional Facility in Cameron and transfer prisoners to the nearby Western Missouri Correctional Facility. Officials said the move, announced during the Republican's State of the State address Wednesday, would save the state millions of dollars. That money would go toward raises for Department of Corrections employees.


Kansas Killer Retort

BTK killer responds to daughter's tell-all book

(KCTV) -- The daughter of a notorious Kansas serial killer is ready to tell the story of how her father's crimes shocked her family. Kerri Rawson, the daughter of Dennis Rader, will soon release "A Serial Killer's Daughter," and in it she discusses her childhood with Rader and how her life crashed when her father was arrested for being the BTK serial killer.


Kansas City Practice Perfection

S Berry, RB Ware participate in Chiefs practice

6:35 PM ET Adam TeicherESPN Staff Writer Close Covered Chiefs for 20 seasons for Kansas City Star Joined ESPN in 2013 KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Safety Eric Berry and running back Spencer Ware were among the participants Wednesday as the Kansas City Chiefs began practice for Sunday's AFC Championship Game.


Kansas City GOOD Cause Tech Promo

HELP KC CROSS THE DIGITAL DIVIDE: SUPPORT CONNECTING FOR GOOD!!!
Growing Kansas City
Council presented with ElevateKC survey, Master Tree Plan during first Business Session of 2019
Legal Eagle Power Players Debut

4 Shook Hardy & Bacon lawyers leave to form PEAK Litigation - Kansas City Business Journal

Four lawyers who previously worked for Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP in Kansas City have headed out on their own to form a new law firm called PEAK Litigation LLP. The name comes from the first initials of the four founding partners: Pat Fanning, Emily Sullivan, Aaron Craig and Kristi Burmeister.


Lesson In Harsh Times

Hickman Mills needs to cut $5.5 million, possible solutions include layoffs and closing some schools | The Kansas City Star

The Hickman Mills School District needs to cut $5.5 million, which could potentially lead to school closures and layoffs of teachers and staff. Superintendent Yolanda Cargile says the priority remains on students, and also teachers and staff.


Essential Argument Unresolved

White House Redefines Who Is Essential to Get Parts of Government Moving Again

WASHINGTON - As the government shutdown stretches into its fourth week, the Trump administration is reinterpreting longstanding rules to open the federal government piece by piece, forcing thousands of workers to report to work without pay, many of them in sectors that could minimize damage to the president's base.


Prez Trump Decision Awaits

Trump's shutdown nightmare: Choosing between the economy and the wall

If the government shutdown lasts much longer, President Donald Trump's only way out may involve a choice between two pillars of his political viability -- his border wall and his purring economy.


Overtime Big Bucks

Hotel dishwasher awarded $21 million after boss made her work on Sundays

A jury has awarded a Miami hotel dishwasher $21.5 million, finding that her employer violated her religious rights by repeatedly scheduling her to work on Sundays - and ultimately firing her. But a cap on punitive damages prevents her from receiving anywhere close to that amount.


Persistent Leader Lady Endures

May's government survives no-confidence vote after Brexit defeat

Tory rebels and DUP MPs rally behind prime minister day after rejecting her EU deal


International Rescue Mission

A 2-Year-Old Boy Is Trapped in a Well. Spain Is Watching.

MADRID - The well is over 300 feet deep, but less than a foot wide. And somewhere in its depths a 2-year-old boy is believed to be trapped. Frantic efforts to rescue the toddler, Julen Roselló, have been underway in the countryside northeast of the port city of Málaga after he was said to have slipped down the well while his parents were preparing Sunday lunch.


Taking A Stand

Rep. Greg Pence Says VP Mike Pence and His Wife Are NOT Anti-LGBT

Rep. Greg Pence Read My Lips ... VP Pence & His Wife Are Not Anti-LGBT The Vice President and his wife are getting a bad rap when it comes to LGBTQ rights, despite their track record ... at least according to Mike Pence 's older brother.


Building Better Droids

Android Q may include a dark theme and desktop mode

You'll also find a developer option that would "force experimental desktop mode on secondary displays," which might refer to a Samsung DeX-style view. Don't count on it reaching the finished version (it wouldn't even work when XDA enabled it), but Google appears to be considering the idea at a minimum.


Social Media Origin Story
Why you're seeing the 10-Year Challenge everywhere
Miley Fights Rumor Mill

Miley Cyrus shuts down pregnancy rumors in 'egg-celent' way: 'Can everyone leave me alone'

CLOSE Miley Cyrus has a message for the world: She is not pregnant. The "Wrecking Ball" singer, 26, took to Twitter Wednesday to set the record straight after rumors started swirling that she is expecting her first child with husband Liam Hemsworth, 29.


Raytown Stand With Chief

Raytown police chief retires as state audit looms

Raytown police Chief Jim Lynch announced his retirement Tuesday, in the face of a state audit and recent financial and personnel issues in his department. The 43-year veteran of the Raytown Police Department announced his accomplishments through a spokesman in a press release, citing the "unwavering support" of Raytown residents and businesses.


Kansas City Debate Cont'd

KC mayoral candidates talk incentives, red tape at JLL forum - Kansas City Business Journal

Seven of the candidates running for mayor of Kansas City discussed incentives and red tape and otherwise made their case to the real estate community in a forum for the area's development professionals on Tuesday.


Developing . . .