News Archives

By Elana Gordon

Kansas City, MO – Karen Staehling-Hampton and Olivier Pourquie have discovered a gene mutation that causes Jarcho-Levin Syndrome. It's a rare hereditary disorder that's characterized by severe vertebrae and rib deformities. Porquie says he first studied a group of genes responsible for spinal development in mice and chic embryos. And then:

Porquie: We looked after those genes in humans and found that one of these genes was disrupted in patients that have Jarchom Syndrome.

By Laura Spencer

Kansas City, MO – The Kansas City Art Institute announced plans Wednesday, May 14, for a new Northland location. The Art Institute intends to purchase one of six buildings now under construction near Highway 9 and Briarcliff Parkway in Riverside, Missouri. This marks the college's first major off-site expansion.

Associate Vice President for Special Programs, Shirley O'Leary, says they've been considering expanding their reach outside Midtown for the past five years.

By Sylvia Maria Gross

Kansas City, MO – Mayor Mark Funkhouser introduced a plan this afternoon to eliminate the city's sales tax for 23 years in the area surrounding 18th and Vine. The plan is intended to attract small businesses back to a once-thriving area.

At an outdoors press conference this morning, business owner Ollie Gates said there are currently about 80 retail businesses in the entire district.

Kansas City, MO – A federal jury Tuesday chose the verdict of life in prison for Gary Eye, one of the defendants in the hate-crime murder of a black pedestrian, William McCay.

Gary Eye and Steven Sandstrom were both convicted last week of killing William McCay in 2005. McCay was black. Eye and Sandstrom are white.

Both defendants were convicted with four capital crimes, including murder, firearms violations and witness tampering. They were also convicted of arson and obstruction of justice.

The penalty phase of Sandstrom's trial is scheduled for Wednesday.

By Dan Verbeck

Kansas City, MO – Family members and lawyers trying to save two men from federal death sentences have started trial testimony at the Kansas City U.S. District Courthouse. Prosecutors are ready with cross examination. KCUR's Dan Verbeck is covering the trial and has this report.

By Dan Verbeck

Kansas City, MO – First quarter earnings and losses reported Tuesday by Sprint-Nextel show losses even more remarkable than expected.

The Overland Park based wireless carrier reveals a loss of $505 million or 18 cents per share in the three months ending March 31st. It was down 7 cents a share, first quarter last year. Analysts had expected earnings of 2 cents per share.

By Dan Verbeck

By Susan B. Wilson

By Susan B. Wilson

Kansas City, MO – Anthony Tao is a sports writer and a former KCUR intern. He was born in Beijing, but grew up in Overland Park. Tao's back in Beijing now, visiting family and awaiting the Olympics. Two weeks ago, he was at a ceremony near Tianammen Square, counting down 100 days to the Opening Ceremonies, he shot this video which he put up on YouTube.

By Alex Smith

By Steve Bell

Kansas City, MO –
Fired Blunt administration attorney Scott Eckersly says he recorded the personnel session at which he got his walking papers. And the St. Louis Post Dispatch has posted a profanity-laced excerpt from the tape of Eckersly's exit session with Blunt Chief of Staff Ed Martin on its web site.

The excerpt seems to substantiate Eckersly's claim that he was fired for insisting that the Blunt administration was breaking the law by deleting e-mails.

By Marshall Griffin

Jefferson City, MO – A bill passed Wednesday by the Missouri House would provide Bombardier Aerospace up to 240 million dollars in tax credits to build an aircraft factory at Kansas City International Airport. The tax credits would be issued in the year 2013.

G.O.P. House Member Timothy Flook of Clay County says it would put thousands of Missourians to work, adding that they are the types of jobs Missouri wants: manufacturing, warehousing and mechanical-technical positions.

By Elana Gordon

Kansas City, MO – The Kansas Masonic Foundation has surpassed its $15 million pledge to the University of Kansas Cancer Center. The foundation launched a 5 year campaign in 2003, but met its goal about a year ahead of schedule. Foundation President Jeff Sowder says the money will go towards research and towards supporting the center's long term goal of becoming a National Cancer Institute Designation.

By Dan Verbeck

Overland Park, Ks – Efficient use of energy is one of the most formidable challenges facing state governments. That's the essence of a meeting of Midwestern governors in Overland Park. Kansas' chief executive has little use for the proposal to suspend gasoline taxes this summer.

By Susan Wilson

Kansas City, MO – African Americans and Latinos are the two largest minority groups in the United States. But recently, the percentage of Latinos nationwide has grown to 14 %, surpassing the 12% of African Americans. In the Kansas City metro area, African Americans still double the number of Latinos, that's 13% compared to 6.5%. Many African Americans and Latinos have common civil rights interests; but cultural, political and historical differences can lead to tension and misunderstandings.