By Steve Bell, Dan Verbeck
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-995538.mp3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. –
Diocese Appoints Director of Youth Protection
Besieged by criticism over the handling of child pornography reports, the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese of the Catholic Church appointed a director for a new department of child and youth protection. Bishop Robert Finn created the department at about the time he agreed to a five-year supervision program with the Clay County prosecutor. Carrie Cooper, formerly of American Century Investments, will head the department.
Child Shot By Mistake
A quarter million dollar, cash only, bond is being asked to jail a man accused of shooting a child who had been asleep in her bed. Kansas City Police accounts say the ten year old girl awoke in her mother's bed, middle of the night November 15th to see a man she knew holding a gun, then felt a pain in her hand. The girl was sleeping in bed with her mother in their home near 19th and College. Police say 21 year old James Davenport, Jr shot twice at the girl's mother and missed. A third bullet hit the girl. The child recovered. The prosecutor says Davenport faces up to 30 years in prison for first degree domestic assault, another 15 years for sing a gun.
TV Weatherman, Former Chief Die
There are wo obituaries in today's area news. Don Harman, morning meteorologist for WDAF-TV has died. The Associated Press account says the cause of death was "suicide." Harman was 41. And former Chiefs' defensive tackle Chester McGlockton succumbed to an apparent heart attack this morning in California. He was 42.
Funding Needed to Fix Levees
Lawmakers from along the Missouri river went on record today as demanding that the Corps of Engineers make flood control the number one priority in its river management policy. The Corps was politely noncommittal. Brigadier General John McMahon said the Corps will continue to examine its policies. Meanwhile, there is another obstacle in preventing recurrences of this year's floods. Kansas Water Office Director Tracy Streeter, who heads a state committee on managing the Missouri says rebuilding damaged levees needs to be a priority, but securing federal money for that won't be easy. Streeter says the levees need to be rebuilt by spring - but it won't happen without federal help.
All-electtronic Chambers Greet Returning Council
Back from Thanksgiving break, the Kansas City, Missouri city council held its first meetings in newly refurbished chambers on the 26th floor of City Hall today. In addition to redecorating, the nearly half-million dollar project includes state-of-the art computer and communications systems that will facilitate paperless council operation within a few weeks. Mayor Pro-Tem Cindy Circo says it will also provide a new electronic voting system. The council is progressing cautiously, and will likely vote both verbally and by computer for at least a few weeks.