A beloved Missouri sports legend will be inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians today. Buck O’Neil will be honored at the State Capital for his career as a player and coach of the Kansas City Monarchs, and for his quiet courage and unfailing grace.

State Representative Michael Brown says O’Neil always put other people ahead of himself. Brown worked with O’Neil for four years at the Negro League Baseball Museum, and says he never saw him angry or bitter.

A bust of Buck O’Neil joins those of other famous Missourians, including Stan Musial, Mark Twain, Thomas Hart Benton, JC Penney, and Walt Disney, among others.

Buchanan County Sheriff’s investigators are seeking your input on a recent string of break-ins and thefts.

Detective Captain Mark Brock says thieves using as many as three pickup trucks and an enclosed trailer took five motorcycles and ATVs from a residence in the 6800 block of SW Henman Road. The thefts took place on February 16 between 7:15 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Taken were :
* a 2008 Kawasaki 650 brute Force 4×4 ATV Light Green in color w/damage to plastic on front. this one was not in running condition at the time it was taken
* a 2004 Kawasaki 700 V-Force 4×2 ATV Light green in color, w/flame stickers and missing the front bumper
* a 2009 Suzuki Z-250 4×2 w/blue seats & 2″ wheel spacers
* a 2004 Honda CRF50cc dirt bike red in color w/black in color lettering, in good shape for the year of the bike.
* a 2001 Honda XR-100 dirt bike, red in color w/some black and white on it and gray handle bars

Brock offered descriptions of several possible suspect vehicles:
* a white ford pickup pulling a grey trailer (enclosed in like a utility or stock trailer)
* a Black in color 2000 F150, extended cab w/rusted fenders & dark tinted windows
* a White in color Ford F250

During this same period, Brock says a number of people reported thefts from their unlocked vehicles in the Lake Contrary area. In one case someone stole a vehicle that was left unlocked with the keys inside. Investigators have little more information to go on. They urge you to lock your vehicles.

Brock also offered photographs from surveillance video taken during a brazen break-in and theft at the Fisca Oil at 13595 US-59 in Winthrop. At about 4:20 a.m. on February 13, two men tossed a landscaping block through the front door to steal cigarettes. In the photographs below, Brock says the wearing gray is approximately 5’2″ -5’5″ while the subject wearing black is approximately 5’4″ -5’7″ tall. A third person was driving the newer model white Mercury Mariner used in the robbery.

If you have information that could help, contact:
Captain Mark Brock Investigation Unit Supervisor Desk: 816 236-8839
Sergeant Shawn Collie (Street Crimes Unit) Desk: 816 236-8838
Investigator Thomas Cates (Cyber Crimes Unit) Desk: 816 236-8856
Investigator Kenny Shryock (Sex Offender Registry Compliance Unit) Desk: 816 236- 8860
Investigator Mike Wilkerson (General Assignment) Desk: 816 236-8889
Or call the TIPS hotline at (816) 238-TIPS (8477)

ST. LOUIS (AP) – A St. Louis man is now facing a murder charge after allegedly shooting a friend in the forehead after the friend asked him to do so.

Twenty-one-year-old Kevin Beindorff was originally charged with assault and armed criminal action.

The assault charge was upgraded to second-degree murder after 18-year-old Matthew Pellegrini of Ballwin died Thursday.

Beindorff is jailed on $300,000 cash bond and does not yet have a listed attorney.

Authorities say the men were in a vehicle outside Beindorff’s home Tuesday night when Beindorff showed a revolver. That’s when Pellegrini asked Beindorff to shoot him. Beindorff allegedly raised the gun to the victim’s forehead and fired one shot, then drove him to a hospital, where Pellegrini died.

The political science department at Missouri Western will sponsor a panel discussion on the constitutionality of the Obama Administration’s national health care law, also known as the Affordable Care Act.

The free, public event is scheduled at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 in Hearnes Center, room 102.

The ACA went into effect in March 2010. It is more than 2,000 pages long and contains dozens of provisions. The constitutionality of two of the act’s most controversial provisions, the individual insurance mandate and the expansion of state Medicaid coverage, will be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court later this year.

The arguments for and against the constitutionality of the act will be discussed by a panel made up of Western political science faculty members Dr. Jonathan Euchner, Dr. Daniel Radke, Dr. David Steiniche and Dr. Edward Taylor.

St Joseph Mayor Bill Falkner will deliver his State of the City address on Friday during this month’s St Joe Rising breakfast.

The event starts at 7:30 a.m. at the Stoney Creek Inn and Conference Center. The St Joseph Metro Chamber hosts the event, which is presented by Cochran Head Vick & Co. P.C.

The charge is $10 for Chamber members and $20 for general admission.

The ticket price includes a breakfast buffet.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling 232-4461 or online at www.saintjoseph.com.

Atchison, KS – (AP) – A Sabetha man convicted of capital murder in the death of a rural Horton woman is seeking a new trial. An attorney for 60-year-old Roger Hollister said he deserves a new trial because the Atchison County judge who heard his case did not properly instruct jurors.

Hollister is serving life in prison with no chance of parole for the November 2009 death of 58-year-old Patricia Kimmi.

Hollister’s attorney argued in a court motion that evidence presented in the trial was insufficient, errors were made in closing arguments and other errors deprived Hollister of a fair trial.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Drivers who are distracted while behind the wheel could be charged with a misdemeanor – even if they haven’t broken any other laws – under legislation endorsed by a Missouri Senate committee.

Violators could receive up to 15 days in jail and a $300 fine.

Tougher penalties could be imposed if they’re involved in an accident.

The measure sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer, SB717, would create a new traffic offense for people who fail to give “full time and attention” to their driving.

Stouffer says the charge could apply to people who text while driving. But he says drivers should still be able to use hands-free devices that allow them to keep their eyes on the road.