The Kansas House of Representatives opted to prolong the morass of this year's legislative session by adjourning for Memorial Day weekend before lunchtime. But not before issuing a stinging rebuke of Gov. Sam Brownback's tax proposal.
House members on Friday morning overwhelmingly voted 5-109 against a tax bill that the Senate passed at Brownback's behest.
If the measure had passed, it would have kept the state sales tax rate at 6.3 percent, rather than drop it to 5.7 - as the law required.
In Kansas City, we're no strangers to sports fans running across the field in some dramatic, stupid fashion. At last night's Royals-Angels tilt, a new chapter was written in Kansas City fans' hilarity and stupidity. In the bottom of the eighth inning, a fan sprinted onto the infield and headed straight for the mound (video after the jump).
Maybe he had sweaty palms from the jog, because he snatched up the rosin bag before juking a police officer almost out of his shoes and continuing his jaunt around the K. If nothing else, it was a fun distraction for fans as the Royals went down 5-4 for their 13th loss in the last 17 games. The fan faces a three-year ban at Major League Baseball parks. Maybe by then the Royals will be competitive?
While no other Kansas City joints made the list of 20 barbecue spots, St. Louis has three restaurants in the mix: Bogart's (19), Roper's (18), and Pappy's Smokehouse (8), which led the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to ask if St. Louis was "America's Best Ribs city." Texas can claim bragging rights with six restaurants in the top 20.
Virgie Dillard, the 70-year-old owner of Missouri Office Systems and Supplies, is in hot water for allegedly selling counterfeit electronics to a customer most people would rather not mess with: the U.S. Army.
Dillard and her employee Roland Evans were brought up on federal charges today. They're accused of selling about $2.8 million worth of sham computer equipment to the Army Recreation Machine Program.
Evans was arrested today and made his initial appearance; Dillard is expected to surrender to authorities soon.
The Kansas City metro has plenty of historic drive-in restaurants: the beloved local Winstead's (opened in 1940), Mug's Up Root Beer Drive-In (1957), Harold's Drive-In (1958), The Humdinger (1962), and the drive-in that may be the oldest of them all, the cozy diner at 1320 S. Fourth Street in Leavenworth called Homer's. It started as a root-beer stand - with male carhops wearing long-sleeve shirts and ties - in 1931. The current location was opened in 1938.
Unlike modern drive-ins, Homer's doesn't have a drive-through window. Unlike Mugs Up, there are no carhops. And if Harold's and the Humdinger are old-fashioned drive-ins that require patrons to park their automobiles and actually go into the building, Homer's has a sort of car service.
A grand jury indictment issued at federal court in Kansas City details allegations of a nasty crime in Independence where a black family had its house set on fire by racist neighbors.
It's a story from June 26, 2008, that, if true, summons memories of a much earlier and far less progressive time in this country's civil rights attitude.
Victoria Cheek-Herrera, 33, is accused of drawing a swastika, coupled with the words "white power," on the driveway of the house that Larry Davis and Stacey Little rented in Independence with their children.
Cheek-Herrera and an unnamed conspirator then got their hands on some gasoline from a juvenile and used it to make a Molotov cocktail. The indictment says they then tossed the bomb against the side of the residence, setting it on fire.
If you're slumming it at bars in Waldo tonight, you might can come away with a little valuable information about your ability to drive after a few cocktails. The Kansas City Police Department is hosting a "Know Your Limits" event tonight at Tanner's Bar and Grill (7425 Broadway). You can have a few drinks, and KCPD officers will give you a breathalyzer if you want. The police will not issue citations based on blood alcohol content. Turning it into a contest with your buddies is not encouraged, though.
The department says the event is "Purely educational, to help prevent drunk driving. No tickets will be issued based on the results. Information on how alcohol affects individuals will be available." And phone numbers for cab companies will be distributed. A few things to keep in mind: Don't be belligerent; cops aren't giving tickets based on BAC alone. Also, if you blow a high number, it's definitely a good idea to use the cab company information the friendly officers give you. In related news, KCPD announced that there will be a DUI checkpoint in Kansas City over the weekend.
Earlier this year, Potbelly received approval from the Overland Park City Council to build a location at 6751 College Boulevard. The Chicago-based chain has more than 260 sub shops in 17 States. The hours are expected to be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Royals fan sprints on the field, steals rosin bag
Oklahoma Joe's ribs named the best in the country by The Daily Meal
Story celebrates with a pig roast and other weekend possibilities
Don't mess with the Army, feds remind two local businesspeople
Kansas House ignores Brownback, Senate, goes home early for long weekend
Soundgarden's sludgy sound, last night at the Midland (review)
Homer's Drive-In: the oldest drive-through in the metro
Parisi's Pete Licata is a World Barista Championship semifinalist