Members of Topeka’s notorious  Westboro Baptist Church say they will picket in Joplin on Sunday, the site of a killer tornado last weekend where 125-people died.

On its Web site, the church proclaims “Thank God For 125 Dead in Joplin,” and refers to President Obama as “Beast Antichrist.”

The news release also proclaims “GOD H8S MISSOURI!”

Obama and Governor Jay Nixon are scheduled to visit the city on Sunday, and may attend a memorial service for storm victims.

We asked a representative of the Patriot Guard if they planned to go to Joplin on Sunday.

“The Patriot Guard Riders are not a counter protest group.  We have a very specific mission statement that focuses on our Fallen Heroes that have served our country and citizens.  As a non-profit organization we are bound by law to adhere to our mission statement.  Violating that could  prevent the organization from continuing to honor our fallen military and first responders.”

When asked about first responders and veterans who died in Joplin, she replied:

“We only attend funerals or memorial services for veterans at the request of the immediate family.  We have this rule in order not to become uninvited guests also.  If any of the immediate family contacts us about their veteran’s service, then we would direct them to the Missouri State Captain so he can organize the mission.”

Ticket sales are at a record pace for opening night for the St Joe Mustangs tonight at Phil Welch Stadium  Chief Operating Officer Rick Muntean and his organization are busy preparing the stadium after bad weather yesterday, but he says all signs point to a great night for baseball

The Mustangs take on UMB bank at 7 p.m.  The gates open at 5:30.  There will be some special presentations before the game.

Muntean tells us ticket sales have been “absolutely spectacular,” and he’s expecting one of the largest opening night crowds ever tonight.  They’ve sold about three times the number of tickets than their original opening night, and about double last years opening night sales.

He says by noon today, there were only about twenty box seats available.

“There are plenty of general admission tickets available, and that “if you come out to the ballpark, you will get in, andyou will get to see the game” Muntean said.

For more information and tickets visit the team’s web site at www.stjoemustangs.com

The parent of a 10 year old is out of jail and charged with five counts of child endangerment after letting the child drive and try to outrun a train.

It happened Tuesday evening near Chillicothe. 31 year old Erin Graves was arrested after 10 year old Haley Graves was driving a 1995 ford and collided with a train.

The vehicle stopped at the railroad crossing when a train was nearing, according to the Highway Patrol.

The child then accelerated to avoid the train. The train smashed into the left rear of the car and the car spun counter-clockwise.

The 10 year old was wearing her seat belt and there were no injuries.

Her father, Erin Graves of Chula, faces five misdemeanor charges from the Missouri Highway Patrol.

Online court records show he was charged in 2007 with failure to secure a child in a child restraint seat. He was also charged in 2002 for a child under 16 in the passenger seat not wearing a seat-belt.

Kids in Joplin, Missouri are still in need, and the 3rd Day Christian Fellowship is planning a delivery.  They’ll accept donations through five pm today.  Among the things they’d like to deliver: peanut butter sandwiches.

They’re also looking for undergarments of all sizes in new packaging, especially youth sizes (t shirts, underwear and socks)

They also would like to deliver loaves of bread and some peanut butter.

The drop off location is from 9 to 5 today at St Joe Health Care, 1109 South Belt

State officials are waiving fees, bending the rules and organizing relief efforts in the wake of the Joplin Tornado.

Gov. Jay Nixon on Wednesday day signed Executive Order to help out people whose medical records were lost in the storm.  The order temporarily waives regulations to allow pharmacists and out-of-state physicians to continue caring for the victims.

Truck drivers in Kansas who deliver relief efforts to Joplin, or help cart of debris will find the going a little easier.  Governor Sam Brownback’s executive order expands the hours and driving conditions during which drivers can haul away debris or deliver needed supplies.  Drivers will still need to get permits for oversize or overweight loads, but the state is waiving the fees for those permits.

Missouri State Parks will waive all camping fees in three state parks for families displaced by the recent tornado in Joplin area.  Division of State Parks Director Bill Bryan says camping fees will be waived at Roaring River State Park near Cassville, Table Rock State Park near Branson and Stockton State Park near Stockton. The waiver applies to all Missouri residents who are victims of the tornado outbreak in state-declared disaster counties of Jasper and Newton counties. The waiver will apply for 30 days, after which time each situation will be re-evaluated to determine if the stay needs to be extended.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is waiving specific solid waste and air pollution regulations to give residents and communities in two Missouri counties cleaning up after Sunday’s severe weather outbreak in southwest Missouri.  The waiver will allow brush and yard waste to be taken to such landfills if the landfill agrees to accept it. The waiver applies only to vegetative waste caused or damaged by the Sunday’s storms.  The department continues to strongly encourage, but not require, composting of vegetative waste where practical. The waiver applies only to yard waste and does not allow disposal of other items normally prohibited in sanitary or demolition landfills.

The governor will join senior officials from his administration and key staff to connect those affected by the storms with state and federal assistance programs, including food assistance; cash assistance; counseling; temporary housing; unemployment assistance; and more.  The Community Response Meeting will take place Thursday, May 26th at 4 p.m. at the Taylor Performing Arts Center at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin.

Administrators with St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri are working quickly to set up a temporary hospital.  The facility took a direct hit from Sunday’s devastating tornado.

Mercy Health System CEO Lynn Britton says the temporary hospital will be fully operational by Sunday.

Some hospital functions like emergency care are already available at Joplin’s Memorial Hall.  Work also is being done to determine whether the St. John’s facility will have to be totally rebuilt because of the severe tornado damage to the structure.

UPDATE: A tornado touched down in Sedalia and caused extensive damage.  The storm ripped the roof off at least one home in Sedalia, and a tanker truck with a driver on board was overturned by tornadic winds.  A Sutherland’s store there was also damaged.  The store sustained roof damage.  The roof of the lawn and garden section was blown off.   There is no word yet on injuries.

UPDATE: The tornado warning in Clinton County was allowed to expire.

UPDATE: The tornado that touched down in Miami County, Kansas touched down at least three times in the Overland Park area for a short time.  No damage reports yet.

A tornado warning was issued for parts of Kansas City around 11:30 am.

Livestream coverage below.

Twenty-one people face federal drug and firearms conspiracy charges under an indictment unsealed Wednesday in U.S. Court for Western Missouri.

U.S. Attorney Beth Philliips says the drug-trafficking operation allegedly operated from Kansas City, Kansas into northwest Missouri.  ATF Special Agent in Charge Michael P. Gleysteen says the indictment is the culmination of over two years investigation.

The grand jury charges 21-people with crimes including methamphetamine and gun conspiracy violations.  Several of the defendants are Mexican nationals with unknown addresses, while most list addresses in Kansas City.

Clinton Sibbit, 42, is from Trenton, Missouri.  Rodney Bethards, 49, is from Laredo, Missouri.  Sibbit and Bethards are charged together with one count of distributing methamphetamine. Sibbit is also charged with being a felon in possession of firearms. The indictment alleges that Sibbit, who has been convicted of a felony, was in possession of a New England Firearms .22-caliber revolver and a Ruger .22-caliber rifle.

In addition to criminal penalties, the government is seeking a money judgment against the defendants for $1,408,000, three homes in Kansas City, Kansas and two vehicles.