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Author: Matt Stooks

Rain from Space

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National Weather Service uses satellites to animate the difference between last year’s rain fall compared to this year. The region is in a rainfall deficit.

Brief: Arson, Mountain Lions, Hemp, Heat, and Pizza

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Authorities want to find who detonated an explosive in Atchison, so they’ve issued a $5000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction.

 

Mountain lions may be returning to Missouri after being declared extinct in the state in the 1920s. Genetic material left behind on a dead elk in Shannon County confirmed the presence of a mountain lion. The material matched a mountain lion that had been trapped in 2012.

 

It is now legal to grow hemp in Kansas, but hurdles remain.

“I’ve not grown a stitch of hemp,” he said. “But I feel like I know how I could do it and have a plan to do it.”

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“It’s an amazing plant. It’s magic,” William “Wild Bill” Billings said.

 

Senator Roy Blunt spoke to Meet the Press Sunday. Topics included North Korea and Russia. The video is here.

 

Vice President Mike Pence visits Kansas City Wednesday. KC Star reports.

He is expected to promote President Donald Trump’s tax cuts and to raise money for U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder.

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While in Kansas City, Pence will attend a political event for Yoder, a sign that the Johnson County Republican’s re-election is a high priority for the national party.

 

Dangerous heat is in the forecast for the region again.

 

Kansas is using artificial intelligence to build a databank for the state’s chatbot.

 

St. Joe is losing its popular pizza place inside East Hills Shopping Center.

Meanwhile, Geneo’s Pizza remains open.

 

The Brief is a daily roundup from St. Joe Post and around the web. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Video: Blunt on North Korea and Russia

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Senator Roy Blunt discussed topics including North Korea and Russia on Sunday’s Meet The Press.

Brief: Firework Amputations, Tariffs, Detentions, Baby Lemur Princess Buttercup

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4th of July injuries include two amputations in the region. KC Star reports that in addition to the injuries, a bullet entered a home through a skylight, and one through the ceiling of another home. Police previously warned residents to not shoot guns in the air to celebrate.

The seven area hospitals that are part of HCA Midwest Health treated 53 patients for injuries directly related to fireworks over the last several days, including the area’s two amputations. That is down slightly from 55 injuries treated last year. But there was only one amputation last year.


You can read Senator Moran’s full statement here.

Kansas Congressman Kevin Yoder to the KC Star on detentions at the border:

“I think we need to enforce the rule of law. I think we need to enforce our borders, but I think we can do it humanely,” Yoder said. “And I think there is an obvious clear pathway here where we enforce the law and we do it compassionately. I think that’s the middle ground.”

It was in his capacity as newly minted chairman that Yoder took a fact-finding trip to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas on June 5 and 6.

Yoder is chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security.

KCUR on tariffs’ local effects:


KCPL reminds you about assistance with your bill.

Below is a collection of lovely photos.


The Brief is a daily roundup from St. Joe Post and around the web. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Brief: Farmers on Trade, VP to KC, Beetle Traps Attract More Beetles

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“Because we have become so tribal in our politics in this country, the one thing that we’re going to have to do is have the farming community — because they support Donald Trump in a very, very powerful way — to call Washington and say to the president … they are not happy with the direction that he’s taking this country as it relates to the tariffs.”

Mike Pence will visit Kansas City next week to campaign for Representative Kevin Yoder.

NY Times wrote a flattering profile on Kansas City’s streetcar.

Step off the KC Streetcar (as it is officially known) and look around as if you don’t know where you are going and a passer-by will stop and ask where you’re trying to get to. Sport that expression while you’re still riding it and someone sitting across the aisle from you will do the same thing. Ask them how they like the streetcar and they will tell you, sincerely and in a fair bit of detail. And they do like it. They ride it. The city — which has a population just under a half-million — projected one million riders in the streetcar’s first year; it got twice as many by day 364. A year later that figure exceeded four million.

The Villages says it’s grateful for the support but has no more room for items.

Kansas Capitol Police sing James Brown’s “Living in America.”

 

The Brief is a daily roundup from St. Joe Post and around the web. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Fireworks as seen from Space and Kauffman

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Radar shows fireworks displays from the region.

Sluggerrr shared the view from Kauffman Stadium.


 

Brief: Gun Shots on the 4th, Chinese Fireworks, St. Joe’s Superintendent

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St. Joe’s average June temp: 78; 4.4 degrees warmer than usual. Average high: 89; 5 degrees warmer than normal. The average low temp 67 degrees; 3.7 degrees warmer than the 130-year average.

St. Joe School’s new Superintendent started his new job Monday.

“A little overwhelming anytime, I think, that you transition into a new job, but my impression is we’ve got a lot of great folks that I’ve dealt with so far in the short time that I’ve been here and people that really want to do what’s right for the community and for our kids and that’s really what our focus needs to be.” –St. Joe Post


Kansas City police are knocking on doors to remind residents not to fire their guns in the air to celebrate the 4th. A stray bullet killed an 11-year-old in 2011.

“A lot of people don’t realize that; they think it goes off into space or something,” Becchina said. “It comes back down at the same velocity and that’s why it’s so dangerous.” –KC Star

Americans will spend close to a billion dollars on fireworks this year. Almost all come from China.

“Ninety-nine percent of the backyard consumer fireworks come directly from China,” said Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association. “And about 70 percent of the professional display fireworks are manufactured in China.” –Morning Edition


The Brief is a daily roundup from St. Joe Post and around the web. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Brief: Sword Shooting, Climate and Allergies, Ketchup Tariffs

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Bearing two swords, a 60-year-old man charged at Grandview police. One officer fired two bean bag rounds. The man continued his charge, and the other officer then shot and killed the man with live ammo. –St. Joe Post

Illegal arms dealers might be reporting gun thefts to Kansas City Police to mask sales.
“Someone who legally acquired a gun passes it on to an illegal gun owner. And then, as an alibi, the legal gun owner reports the gun as stolen just in case it is recovered in a violent crime and traced back to their hands.” -KC Star

Is climate change contributing to worse allergies? Children’s Mercy Hospital has been collecting allergen data for more than 20 years.

“In Kansas City, when we started collecting the data, it was unusual for the pollen count to get over 1,000 (particles per cubic meter). Now it’s pretty routine to get up to 8,000. We never saw that before…It’s not a hoax. It’s actually happening.” –KC Star
You can no longer smoke on campus at the University of Kansas. The ban began Sunday. It includes electronic cigarettes and vaping devices. –The University Daily Kansan
Canadian tariffs went into effect Sunday.
U.S. products, mostly steel and iron, face 25 percent tariffs, the same penalty the United States slapped on imported steel at the end of May. Other U.S. imports, from ketchup to pizza to dishwasher detergent, will face a 10 percent tariff at the Canadian border, the same as America’s tax on imported aluminum. –KC Star

Missouri’s State Fire Marshal says fireworks cause 18,500 fires a year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires, and an average of $43 million in direct property damage.
“Shooting the fireworks inappropriately or in inappropriate areas causing grass fires and those fires spread to structures or vehicles, that’s the most common error when it comes to fireworks.” –St. Joe Post

The Brief is a daily roundup from St. Joe Post and around the web. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Brief: Roberts on Farm Bill, Protestors Locked Out, Tornado Relief in Kansas, Key Endorsement for Colyer

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Volunteers showed up to help after an EF-3 tornado tore through Eureka, Kansas. The tornado injured eight people and damaged dozens of homes

The state Adjutant General’s Department says in a news release that more volunteers are needed in Eureka after more than 300 people showed up on Thursday to help. The twister that hit the town of about 2,400 residents Tuesday night has been classified as an EF-3 with winds of at least 136 mph. Nearly 80 homes were damaged and at least 10 were destroyed. The high school also was damaged.

 

 

Kansas Senator Pat Roberts spoke about the Farm Bill. He is the Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman.

“Today marks an important day for farm country. We are one step closer to providing farmers and ranchers a Farm Bill with the certainty and predictability they deserve,” said Chairman Roberts. “I thank my partner in this journey, Ranking Member Stabenow, as well as many of our Senate colleagues who offered leadership and expertise. I am proud we have a strong, budget neutral Farm Bill with broad support.”

 

Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer received a key endorsement. Developing story. The Wichita Eagle’s Kansas Statehouse reporter:


 

Kansas lawmakers question why security officials locked protestors out of the Statehouse.

Top leaders from both parties directed the director of Legislative Administrative Services to prepare a report during a meeting Wednesday. They want answers about when security officials can lock people out of the Statehouse and who has the authority to make such a decision.

 

 

The Brief is a daily roundup from St. Joe Post and around the web. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Brief: Farm Bill, St. Joe Schools, 4th of July Traffic, Excessive Heat

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Roy Blunt took to the Senate Floor to speak on the Farm Bill. You can watch the video here.


The St. Joe School District posted video and the agenda from the latest meeting. Topics included suicide awareness. You can watch the video and see the notes here.

 

Plan for heavy traffic for the Fourth of July.

 

The National Weather Service says the tornado that ripped through the Kansas town of Eureka carried winds of at least 136 mph.

The weather service says the EF-3 tornado touched down Tuesday in Eureka, a town of about 2,400 residents in southeastern Kansas.

 

Excessive Heat Warning in effect in St. Joe until Saturday night.

KDOT jumps aboard the meme train.

The Brief is a daily roundup from St. Joe Post and around the web. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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