SPRINGFIELD (AP) – A former southwest Missouri postmaster has been sentenced to three years and eight months in federal prison for plotting to rob a convenience store.

Michael Joe Stubblefield of Cassville pleaded guilty in December to participating in a conspiracy to rob a convenience store in Eagle Rock, where he was postmaster.

Prosecutors say Stubblefield met with confidential informants several times in March 2012 to coordinate a staged robbery at the store, where one of the informants worked.

The plan included using the employee’s access information to gain entry after the store was closed, but that changed after the employee was fired.

Also, co-conspirators were to drop cash and other items related to the robbery in a drop box outside the Eagle Rock Post Office that only Stubblefield could open.

PLATTE COUNTY- A motorcycle rider was injured during a traffic stop on Thursday afternoon in Platte County.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Honda motorcycle driven by Mario A. BAYARDO, 26, Kansas City, was eastbound on 45 Highway just west of Bell Road.

The vehicle was the process of being stopped for a traffic violation. The driver was unable to stop safely and he fell. The motorcycle continued to slide along the pavement and was hit by a 2007 Ford driven by William L. KREIGHBAUM, 71, Liberty.
Bayardo was transported to North Kansas City Hospital. Kreighbaum was not injured.

DETROIT (AP) — Ignition switch problems that have plagued General Motors and Chrysler have now turned up in the motorcycle business.

Harley-Davidson is recalling more than 3,300 FXDL Dyna Low Rider bikes because engine vibration can turn the switches from “run” to “accessory.”

The recall covers motorcycles from the 2014 ½ model year. If the motorcycles have been modified to rev higher than 5,600 RPMs, an engine mount bracket can vibrate excessively, causing the problem.

If the switch goes to “accessory,” the engine can shut off while being driven and potentially cause a crash. The company says there have been no crashes or injuries reported from the problem.

Dealers will replace the bracket assembly and ignition switch knob for free. Harley began notifying owners in late July.

 

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Some Kansas church leaders are upset over a remark by Secretary of State Kris Kobach questioning the veracity of those opposed to the state’s voter photo identification law.

Kobach said during an interview on Topeka radio station WIBW this week he didn’t know of any churches that oppose the voter ID law. He told The Wichita Eagle some individual pastors disagree with the law, but to say entire churches are against it he would put the word “church” in quotation marks.

Some local pastors question whether the secretary of state has talked to any black churches. Carieta Cain Grizzel, pastor at Grant Chapel African-American Episcopal Church in Wichita, says the African Methodist Episcopal Church objects to voter ID laws in all states.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri election authorities are predicting about one in four voters will cast ballots in next week’s primaries.
Statewide voter turnout on Tuesday is projected at nearly 1.1 million people — about 27 percent of the almost 4.1 million Missourians registered to vote.

The turnout projections are compiled from figures collected by the secretary of state’s office from each of Missouri’s 116 local election jurisdictions.
They range from a projected high of 69 percent in northeast Missouri’s Knox County to a low of 9 percent in southern Missouri’s Howell County.
The primaries include contested races for state and federal legislative seats as well as county offices.
The ballot also features five proposed constitutional amendments, including one imposing a sales tax for transportation.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka police want to reduce the high volume of calls from a downtown apartment complex that residents have nicknamed the “Green Monster.”

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1sa8mn4 ) Thursday that law enforcement has been meeting with the owner of St. Gregory Suites.

The green-painted complex accounted for 628 calls for police or fire service last year. That dwarfed the next highest complex, where people made 236 calls.

Topeka Police Maj. Kris Kramer says the apartments are a drain on resources. He says calls include homicides, dog complaints and people getting stuck in elevators. Kramer says the types of calls aren’t unique, but the volume is.

A new apartment manager says he’s working to evict troublesome tenants and install security cameras.

LENEXA, Kan. (AP) — Police say a Kansas man is OK after being struck by a train.

KMBC-TV reports  the man was hit Thursday evening in Lenexa. Authorities have not released his name.

Police spokesman Dan Friesen says the man was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Friesen called the collision an accident.

It’s unclear what type of train was involved or how the man was hit.

 

 

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Bus riders in Kansas City now have access to free Wi-Fi.

The Kansas City Star reports the free Internet connection is offered at the 47th Street Transit Center. The newspaper on Thursday reported that the center is the first in the metropolitan area to offer free Wi-Fi.

Local officials say Sprint has agreed to provide the service at no cost for at least a year. The commitment will be re-evaluated at a later date.

The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority previously announced free Wi-Fi on all Max busses and 22 other Metro busses. That service will be provided by T-Mobile US.

 

INDEPENDENCE (AP) – A Missouri car dealer who orchestrated one of the largest identity thefts ever prosecuted in the state has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Twenty-seven-year-old Terry Lee Morrow Jr. pleaded guilty in April to two counts of identity theft and nine counts each of forgery and deceptive business practices.

Authorities say Morrow obtained more than $1.1 million in fraudulent car loans through his used car dealership in the Kansas City-area. They say he used his customers’ names, birth dates and Social Security numbers paired with details he made up.

Prosecutors say Morrow made more than $478,000 through dozens of victims in 2011 and 2012. They say some victims are still working through problems he caused.