Kansas City News Collection Kisses

Hottie Elsa peddling panties via social media inspires this quick look at pop culture and news sweetness:

Gizmodo: CDC Warns Against Kissing, Snuggling Pet Hedgehogs Amid Salmonella Outbreak

Newsweek: Ann Coulter Mocks Donald Trump, Newt Gingrich Over Wall Defense: 'Kissing the Emperor’s Ass'

PopSugar: This Gorilla Can't Stop Kissing Her Newborn Baby, and It's Honestly Making Me Want to Give Birth Again

Closer to home, here are some of the more important local news links . . .

Celebrate Rough Kansas City Rescue

Homeowner, firefighter injured in Kansas City duplex fire

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- A homeowner and firefighter both had to be taken to the hospital overnight with injuries from a duplex fire. It happened about 1 a.m. Wednesday in the 33800 block of East 28th Terrace. The homeowner had to be treated for smoke inhalation while the firefighter suffered minor injuries from a short fall.

Show-Me Lady Sports Fight

Missouri legislation would gut Title IX, favor the accused | The Kansas City Star

The Title IX-gutting bills proposed in the Missouri legislature would not restore "due process" to those accused of committing sexual assault on campus. They would discourage reporting and favor the accused.

Traffic Trouble Tonight

Police respond to multi-vehicle crash on Buck O'Neil Bridge

KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Police have responded to a multi-vehicle crash on the Buck O'Neil Bridge. Officers said the incident was reported Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. They also noted that 6-8 vehicles were involved in the crash. There is no word on the extent of any injuries at this time.

Cruel Rock Chalk Crackdown

Southwest Kansas Is Seeing Fewer Refugees, And A Shift In The Agencies Supporting Them

Sahleh Mohamed fled his native Myanmar in 2015. "Too much fighting over there," he said. As a member of the Rohingya ethnic minority, he was in particular peril. His life was in danger. He settled in Garden City. Now 24, he may gain citizenship in a year.

Golden Ghetto Lucky Guy

Shawnee man wins $22K in Kansas Lottery

A suburban Kansas City man says he discovered he had won $22,000 in the Kansas Lottery when he was bickering with his wife about how much he spends on lottery tickets.

Fanboys Share Lots Of Love

Surprise your sweetie with a Sluggerrr Gram

Forget flowers and chocolates! Get your valentine what they really want - a visit from Sluggerrr. Sluggerrr, the Kansas City Royals' mascot, is again delivering Sluggerrr Grams this Valentine's Day season. Whether you want to impress your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, kids, boss or friend, having Sluggerrr show up is a guaranteed fun memory.

Local Hipster Warmup Underway

Farmers & Friends, a Tiny Brewery Celebration & Other Weekend Possibilities

Don't have a friend who is a farmer? You do at Cultivate Kansas City's annual Farmers & Friends meeting from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Second Presbyterian Church (318 E. 55th St.). The day kicks off with a potluck pie breakfast (there is also a potluck lunch) and continues with workshops on growing, urban forestry, building a farm-to-table restaurant and goat farming.

Kansas City Weather Science

First Alert: After cold start, temps finish in upper 30s

Temperatures will start off in the single digits for your Thursday, but then we'll see the numbers rise. Look for a high near 37 degrees. Even warmer weather is...

And this is is the OPEN THREAD for right now . . .