Dan Verbeck

Gardner, KS – A Kansas group opposed to a huge rail hub in Johnson County calls issuance of a federal permit,"arbitrary" and "capricious," and threatens a lawsuit to block it. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved construction for the 400 acre project.

The permit will allow one of the largest economic development ventures in the Kansas City area. Developer BNSF Railway plans to build on the 400 acre site off Interstate 35 near Gardner.

Kansas City, Kansas – November 15th, 1959, two former convicts from Kansas State Penitentiary killed the Herbert Clutter family near Holcomb, Kansas in a failed robbery. The story became internationally known through the Truman Capote book, In Cold Blood. Barely a month before the 50th anniversary of the murders, one of the last remaining key characters in those events died. KCUR's Dan Verbeck knew him and recounts some of the life of James E.E. Post.

Lexington, Mo. – At Lexington, Missouri, a sixth member of a family has now been charged with sex crimes against children within that same family. The latest allegations are against 72 year old Darrel Wayne Mohler of Silver Springs, Florida. He is brother to one defendant and uncle to four others.

Kansas City, MO – Three years of planning against rough economic times have paid off for the Jackson County government. That is the assessment county executive Mike Sanders gave in his "state of the county" address yesterday. He says that without years of belt tightening, county government would have shut down.

Kansas City, Mo. – Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders says his administration will hold the line in 2010 and lower property taxes. He made the remarks in his November 12th State of the County Address.

Kansas City, Mo. – Only the U.S. Senate stands in the way of making the World War One Memorial in Kansas City the official, national memorial. Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver chose Veterans' Day to note House passage of the measure by a vote of 148 to 1.

By Dan Verbeck , KCUR news

Kansas City, Mo. – A construction crane tipped backward, sending two workers to the ground, fifty or more feet below. One man died, the other was seriously hurt. The accident happened at the construction site of the new Kansas City Performing Arts Center, immediately south of the downtown district.

Kansas City, Mo. – Water and sewer projects lead to jobs. As part of the "Get to Work, Missouri" program, Governor Jay Nixon went to a job site in Kansas City to herald a $266 million statewide initiative. More than a score of communities will get funds for sewer and drinking water plants.

Kansas City's share will be $24 million. Blue Springs will get $34 million.

Kansas City, Mo. –
With a freshly-filed discrimination complaint against the Power and Light District, Kansas City's Human Relations Department reveals a test it took of the "lightning rod" dress code in the District.

The study says a test group of whites and minorities was sent to the entertainment district, all dressed in like fashion. All whites were admitted. 56 percent of minorities got in.

Kansas City, Mo. – Radio communications between fighters and paramedics are a vital connection for public safety. And a faulty system is getting keen attention before a special Kansas City council committee.

Fire Chief Smoky Dyer reports to the panel after a first transitional meeting this week, bringing MAST ambulance into the fire department. Focus is on six issues including staffing of the reorganized ambulance sector.

Kansas City, MO – Early last evening, rush hour drivers along Bruce Watkins Freeway had to head to shoulders of the road to make way for what appeared to be two armored cars. The heavy trucks had police cars leading and following, with flashing lights and sirens.

The fast moving vehicles were heading for Kansas City's far southeast side and beginnings of an Operation 100, so-called because it takes about that many officers to work and support the siege of a crime scene.

Kansas City, Mo. – Factors are consistently working against Kansas City hosting the national figure skating championships. Within the last twelve months, there have been two attempts, two failures.

San Jose will host the 2012 U.S. National Figure Skating event. The decision was made public today.

Kansas City, Mo. – Army Sergeant Isaac Jackson's body was met by family and friends on a wind swept air park at KCI. The Clinton County Missouri soldier was one of seven colleagues killed in an Afghanistan roadside bomb attack.

Parents, in-laws, wife and young son met the small jetliner that delivered his body.

Jackson's army friend, Staff Sergeant John Phillips flew from Belgium to be with the widow, Kristen, due to deliver a daughter next month.

Kansas City, Mo. – Executives of E-bay say they've started removing memorabilia put up for-sale to raise money for the Kansas City man accused of killing Doctor George Tiller.

The online auction house pledged to take down anti-abortion artifacts, sale of which was designed to benefit Scott Roeder. He allegedly killed the Wichita abortion provider as he attended church last May. According to E-bay, the items for sale violate its listing policies.

Kansas City, Mo. –
Some parts of northwest Kansas got up to 10 inches of snow Thursday night as a storm rolled into the state from Colorado. But the National Weather Service says the snow will be gone by the end of the weekend as temperatures rise into the 50s and 60s.

Rawlins County saw the biggest accumulation with 10 inches.

A meteorologist says areas south of Interstate 70 received little if any snow from the system.