(AP) – A suburban Kansas City man has admitted taking part in a $725,000 fraud scheme that involved hacking into business computer systems and stealing customers’ identity information.
The U.S. Attorney’s office said 45-year-old Vince Evola, of Gladstone, pleaded guilty Thursday to count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. He admitted taking part in the scheme with his ex-wife, a sister and a Jordanian citizen, all residents of Gladstone, and a second sister from Overland Park, Kan.
Prosecutors said the five used stolen credit and debit card numbers to make online purchases over three years, starting in 2006. Vince Evola admitted a loss of $30,000 to $70,000 can be attributed to him.
Evola faces a maximum sentence of 20 years. His four co-defendants pleaded guilty earlier and were sentenced.
(AP) – A southwest Missouri woman has been sentenced to slightly more than three years in prison for a nearly $400,000 fraud scheme at apartment complexes she managed.
The U.S. Attorney’s office says 55-year-old Barbara J. Evans, of Carthage, must also pay about $206,000 in restitution under the sentence she received Thursday.
Evans pleaded guilty earlier to one count each of wire fraud, money laundering and filing a false tax return.
Evans managed four Carthage apartment complexes for a Boston-based company. In her plea, she admitted keeping about $206,000 in rent increases paid by tenants of subsidized units when their incomes rose.
She also admitted arranging for a construction company she created with her daughter to get $192,000 worth of contracts at subsidized properties she managed.
Members of the Missouri Congressional Delegation shared thoughts today on the passing of Nelson Mandela.
Senator Claire McCaskill, “Nelson Mandela’s principled life defined courage. History will be kind to him. He deserved and earned the world’s admiration and respect.”
Senator Roy Blunt, “Few have done more to advance human rights and democracy than Nelson Mandela. Today the world lost one of the most courageous leaders of our time.”
Rep. Sam Graves, “Nelson Mandela was an inspiration to freedom-loving people across the world. Despite his passing, his legacy will live on for generations to come.”
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, “There has never been, nor will there ever be, another Nelson Mandela. I cannot put into words the deep respect and profound admiration I have for him. He was a fighter — for freedom, for forgiveness, and for peace. Nelson Mandela sacrificed so much for equality, democracy, and for what is right. He transformed South Africa — and indeed, the world.”
Rep. Vicky Hartzler, “The world has lost a true hero today. My thoughts and prayers are with the Mandela family and the people of South Africa.”
(AP) Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has activated the State Emergency Operations Center for round-the-clock operation in response to the winter storm bearing down on the state.
The storm on Thursday brought sleet, freezing rain and snow to Missouri, creating hazardous driving conditions in the southern part of the state. Temperatures were 40 degrees colder than Wednesday, when much of Missouri basked in weather in the 60s.
Other state agencies were also geared up for the weather. The Missouri State Highway Patrol extended shifts in affected areas, and workers for the Missouri Department of Transportation were treating roads for snow and ice.
Nixon encouraged Missourians to stay on top of the weather, drive cautiously, and check on the elderly and others who may need help.
(AP) President Barack Obama says the world has lost an influential, courageous and ‘profoundly good’ man with the death of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.
Obama says Mandela “no longer belongs to us. He belongs to the ages.” Mandela died Thursday at the age of 95.
Speaking from the White House, Obama said he was one of the countless millions around the world who was influenced by Mandela.
Obama met with Mandela’s family earlier this year when he visited South Africa. But he did not meet with the ailing leader, who was hospitalized throughout the U.S. president’s visit.
(AP) — A Kansas City, Mo., man accused of fleeing from police in a stolen FedEx delivery truck has been charged in Kansas with felony theft.
19-year-old Caleb Ownby said he understood the charge when he made his first appearance Thursday in Johnson County District Court. Online court records said Ownby planned to hire an attorney. Bond in the case was set at $10,000.
Ownby was arrested early Wednesday evening in Prairie Village, Kan., after police used a tire-puncturing device to flatten some of the vehicle’s tires. The pursuit began in southeast Kansas City and wound through residential neighborhoods and along highways.
News helicopters followed the chase as police stayed well behind the truck, whose driver frequently signaled to change lanes or turn corners.
The Farmstead is all lit up!
From 5-10 p.m. until January 5th, a new, holiday light display will be at The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. The display is also accompanied by music on 98.5 fm. This spectacular display can be viewed by driving past the Farmstead entrance or parking in the parking lot. This display is the perfect family outing on those chilly winter nights!
The Farmstead is located at 13800 Switzer Rd., in Overland Park
Benton Advanced Placement Art students will be traveling to all of the Benton feeder schools this year to get students interested in studying art. They started by visiting first graders at Hyde Elementary on Thursday.
“We teach them some of the fun cool stuff we’re doing,” said
Lynn Davis, Benton art teacher
“In high school, kids choose whether they will be in art, and we want to get the younger kids excited and give them a reason to stay active in art.”
Some of the cool projects include teaching students to make “bacon” out of wet toilet paper, and making paintings out of melted crayons (called “encaustic” painting). “The bacon piece is a 3D sculpture piece,” said Davis. “It looks so real, you’d almost expect it to smell like bacon.”
Benton art students have gone to Hyde in the past, which is right next door, but in the past they have not had funding to visit other schools. Thanks to an Apple Seed Grant Davis received, the AP art students can visit all of the Benton feeder schools, which include Hyde, Hosea and Lake Contrary Elementary Schools, as well as Spring Garden Middle School.
As part of the project, the Benton students spend time preparing to work with different ages of students, discussing expectations of working with the kids and thinking about their abilities as “little artists.” Afterward, students write in-depth reflections about the experience.
“This really teaches the high school kids to be advocates for the arts,” said Davis. “The kids tell me ‘I feel so empowered,’ and ‘I really felt like a role model and a real artist.’ It also gives them a sense of community, and helps them figure out ‘What’s my part in my community?’”
(AP) Two former Missouri football players are suing the NCAA in federal court over head injuries they suffered decades ago, joining a cascade of recent lawsuits against college sports’ governing body related to traumatic brain injuries.
Tony Van Zant and Sharron Washington filed the suit Tuesday. Both played for Missouri from 1987 to 1991. Van Zant is now running backs coach at Division II Lincoln University in Jefferson City.
Both say they suffer headaches, depression and other ailments. The lawsuit seeks medical monitoring and testing for former college players with similar head injuries and didn’t advance to the NFL.
Similar lawsuits have been filed in recent months in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota and Tennessee by ex-players from schools such as Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Oregon and Vanderbilt.
R. Bowen Loftin, outgoing Texas A&M president has been named Chancellor at the University of Missouri.
Loftin became President at A&M in February 2010 after serving in the interim role since 2009.
Loftin announced his retirement in July, but said he would continue to teach at A&M.
Loftin received his Bachelor’s Degree from Texas A&M and both his Master’s and Doctorate Degrees from Rice University. Loftin was also a professor at Old Dominion University.
(AP) – A suburban Kansas City man has admitted taking part in a $725,000 fraud scheme that involved hacking into business computer systems and stealing customers’ identity information.
