People

Kansas City, MO – A Kansas City Missouri Army National Guard Soldier has been killed in Afghanistan doing one of the more dangerous combat jobs .

Robert W. Crow was 42 years old and a sergeant.

Crow had gone to Afghanistan when his unit, the 203rd Engineer Battalion of Joplin deployed last September. His home unit of combat engineers was the 1141st Engineer company of Kansas City which he joined in 2005.The job of his unit was clearing improvised explosive devices from roadways.The soldiers are commonly called sappers.

Kansas City, MO – NAACP delegates voted yesterday to repudiate racism in the Tea Party movement. The organization's national convention is in Kansas City this week.

The resolution says that tea party members have engaged in explicitly racist behavior during protests and rallies - using offensive language and threatening public officials, particularly African Americans. NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous said Tea Party leaders need to take a stand.

Overland Park, KS – The White Haven Motor Lodge, with its black and white building and landmark neon sign, was operated by the White family since it opened in 1957. Over the years, the rooms retained the trappings of that era, outfitted in classic 50s decor and opened with keys on brass rings.

By Anthonia Akitunde

Kansas City, MO – The NAACP's national convention kicked off this weekend here in Kansas City. It's the organization's 101st anniversary this year, and we wondered if people still think race-based organizations like the NAACP are important. KC Currents' Anthonia Akitunde went out to the Westport and the Landing mall on Troost, to ask people what they thought.

Overland Park, KS – The iconic White Haven Motor Lodge sign on Metcalf Avenue is staying in Johnson County, after the motel finished auctioning off all of its property today.

The Johnson County Museum had the highest bid - $5500. The only other bidder was a museum in Indiana. Johnson County Museum Director Mindi Love says many Kansas Citians have fond memories of the motel and sign, and wanted to see it stay in the community. And she says the sign also has historical significance.

Salina, KS – Fireworks make the 4th of July a favorite holiday for many people. But as Kansas Public Radio's Bryan Thompson explains, it's not so popular with pets.

Pets have sensitive hearing. And they don't understand what all the noise is about. Their instinct is to run. If that requires them to jump a fence, dig under it, or push a gate open, that's what they very well may try to do.

Kansas City, MO – There's no accurate count of the number of people who have walked across America. Some have done it with little fanfare, others with no recognition at all. A former U. S. Army soldier strode into Kansas City yesterday with a self imposed mission driving him, and a long way toward reaching this goal. KCUR's Dan Verbeck has the story.