Kansas City News Blog

As we've thoroughly documented here, last night Kansas City's favorite performers gathered to declaim from Sarah Palin's new book, Amelia Bedelia Runs For Office. This time, Amelia's literal-mindedness accidentally destroys the Republican Party for a whole generation!

Also, she tries to teach herself to fly and goes kerplump on an Alaskan boardwalk full of Alaskan history and decency. Here are highlights from the first three readers, Ron Megee (in the ascot), David Wayne Reed (with the glasses) and Gail Bronfman Bunch (with both her knees scraped).


Dying camera batteries prevented me from capturing the epic and bosomy performance of Janet Henry, but, really, if I had, Tea Partiers might have drafted her impersonation as a third-party candidate. So it's probably for the best.

Photo by Angela C. Bond

Terry Riley

​Fifth District Councilman Terry Riley led the resistance against Mayor Mark Funkhouser's takedown of City Manager Wayne Cauthen at City Hall on Thursday.

Before the chaotic, tedious legislative session began, Riley worked the room, huddling with reporters and the community activists who had come to support Cauthen. Once the suspension came up, he frequently asked for the floor in order to criticize the decision to remove Cauthen and the manner in which the mayor had made it happen. "I was totally ambushed today," he said.

Race was never far from the surface. Riley complained that he and the other two African-Americans on the council -- Melba Curls and Sharon Sanders Brooks -- had not known of the mayor's intent to terminate Cauthen until Funkhouser put it in motion. "Do I count?" Riley asked Funkhouser.

Defending Cauthen, Riley spoke for a segment of the black community. ("If this isn't racism, I don't know what is," an African-American man in the gallery said as he left the council chamber.) He was also representing the interests of downtown business leaders.

Wayne Cauthen

​Saw this first on KMBC Channel 9. Mayor Mark Funkhouser has suspended City Manager Wayne Cauthen.

Prime Buzz has Funkhouser's letter to council members about Cauthen's suspension.
Here's a clip:

As you know, I believe we need new leadership for the city. As of today, I am exercising the authority given to me as the Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, to suspend the City Manager, effective immediately.

In the interim, the City Manager has been asked to vacate these premises immediately.

Then he cites a section of the city charter, which says he needs six votes from the council at their next meeting to ratify the suspension.

Your move, Mr. Cauthen.

Tom Wiggans announced yesterday that he's the Democrat running for Kansas governor.

Wiggans was ready. He had a folksy Web site and a YouTube video and encouraged supporters to sign up for his mailing list.

Some did ... and then they slapped their heads.

​
Paid for and authorized by Wiggans for Senate?

An auspicious debut, indeed.

This bobblehead of oversized novelty Mayor Mark Funkhouser is amazing.

​

Tom Wiggans is on the far right.

​Kansas Democrats finally found someone to run against Sam Brownback. Their candidate: Tom Wiggans.

Who?

Tom Wiggans of the Wiggans Drugstore.

Uh ...

In Fredonia.

Where?

He knows a lot about bioscience. He was the CEO and chairman of Peplin, Inc.

Pep-what?

They make drugs that treat skin cancer.

Oh, that's good. What political experience does he have?

He's never been elected to office.

Seriously?

Just watch the video, OK?


Lamb meet slaughter.

The New York Times

Mr. and Mrs. Lisa Rockefeller...er, Edward Sebelius and Lisa Rockefeller

​Thanks to this weekend's "Weddings and Celebrations" section of The New York Times, we learned that Edward Sebelius, Kathleen Sebelilus' 28-year-old son, wed Lisa Rockefeller, also 28, last Saturday in Boca Grande, Florida. (Feel free to make "Big Mouth, Florida" jokes at this time.)

Lynn Jenkins

​E-mails obtained by The New York Times show that lobbyists working for biotech powerhouse Genetech and two Washington, D.C., law firms drafted statements for members of Congress to read into the Congressional Record. Among the dozen-plus House members who parroted language from the prepared text verbatim: Missouri Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer and Kansas Republican Lynn Jenkins.

The statements, versions of which were prepared for legislators from both parties, applaud the recently House-passed health-care bill for its job-creating provisions, though of course the language handed to Republicans poo-poos the larger bill. The Times quotes Jenkins' word-for-word echo of the lobbyists' verbiage as containing, after a pat on the Republican back for fighting the bill, this let-my-people-go nugget: "I do believe the sections relating to the creation of a market for biosimilar products is one area of the bill that strikes the appropriate balance in providing lower cost options." With tough talk like that, it's no wonder Kansans can't get enough of lovable, kooky Jenkins.

Maybe now she'll be able to raise more money from medical interest groups.

Darrel Wayne Mohler

​Another family member has been charged in the sexual abuse case in Lafayette County.

Darrel Wayne Mohler, the 72-year-old brother of Burrell Edward Mohler Sr., is charged with two counts of felony rape.

The latest charges come after authorities cleared a man that they claimed was a suspect in the case.

Also, the father of an alleged victim is speaking out.

In other news, The Kansas City Star had a nice piece on the life and death of Ryan Goodman, the ironworker killed at the construction site of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

The Weekend Scoreboard

The cancer-free Kansas City Chiefs beat the hated Oakland Raiders, 16-10, for win No. 2.

Via Deadspin

​Missouri destroyed old man Snyder's Kansas State Wildcats. K-State needs a win next week at Nebraska to clinch the Big 12 North and become bowl eligible. That's what you get for scheduling weak non-conference competition (and losing to Louisiana-Lafayette). And do Tiger fans know how to celebrate or what?

Speaking of Nebraska, the Cornhuskers rolled the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence. The good news for Jayhawks -- no charges will be filed against football and basketball players after their family feud, and it's basketball season.

***
It's rainy. It's crappy. It's another Monday in the fake empire.

​In one way, it was surprising to see what might appear to be a blasphemous argument coming from the Missouri Record, a journal of politics and policy put out by the conservative Missourians for Responsible Government.

But there it was, yesterday, a post headlined "Economics of Gay Marriage."

In the post, Stephen Eisele, a Springfield political consultant and Obama delegate to last year's Democratic National Convention, notes that despite some recent electoral reversals for gay marriage, the general trend is moving toward legalization. And, he argues, conservatives and independents who "espouse a libertarian perspective on fiscal matters" but take the opposite view on social issues are missing out on big paydays for their states.

Massachusetts, he writes, has banked $100 million; Iowa, $5.3 million. Eisele estimates Missouri could see $15 million.

The Des Moines Register put out a survey in September. Did it find that Iowans were up in revolt? Had radical gays taken over schools and government? Of course not. It found that an overwhelming majority, 92% of Iowans, say gay marriage has brought no real change to their lives, while at the same time providing the state with economic benefits.

What these pioneering states should show us is that gay marriage is not the end of the world, but rather a positive change that provides a symbol of commitment and love to gay and lesbian couples, as well as a substantial benefit to the economies and budgets of those states. In 2004, Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Missouri could learn something from its neighbor to the North.

Arctic glaciers will have melted and covered Iowa by the time that ever happens. But, on the other hand, seeing this argument in a conservative publication makes perfect sense: After all, what principle is more conservative than making sure the government stays the hell out of people's homes? When you think about it, the government telling gay people they can't get married isn't all that different from the government telling everyone they have to buy health insurance.

Just another reason why Republicans should support gay marriage!

Photo: Alan Light

Kit Bond

​A new book written by Missouri Senator and inveterate head tilter Kit Bond held Jon Stewart's interest for three-and-a-half minutes before the Daily Show host moved on to a more interesting subject.

Yesterday Bond sat across the table from Stewart to discuss the tome he's written with former Time reporter Lewis Simons, The Next Front: Southeast Asia and the Road to Global Peace With Islam. Bond advocates the use of "smart power," which sounds a little like the foreign-policy equivalent of saying you're a social liberal and a fiscal conservative.

In the edited interview, Bond talked about terrorism and nation building before Stewart shifted the discussion to health care. The two giggled about the lower house of Congress' scruffier elements. Stewart compared the U.S. House to the Delta Tau Chi fraternity house immortalized in Animal House.

"I went to Washington 23 years ago thinking I didn't understand the House of Representatives," Bond quipped. "Now I know I don't."

KMBC Channel 9 is reporting that there is a possible hostage situation at the Governor Office Building in Jefferson City.


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KMBC cites Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder's Twitter updates. The first came about 10 a.m.

Sharpshooters on roof of Jefferson bldg. Hostage situation unfolding in Governor Office bldg. Police locked down the block. Developing ...about 1 hour ago from TwitterBerry

Followed by ...

Chopper overhead as hostage negotiators are on the scene ...38 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

And this one ...

Apparently it's unfolding on fifth floor Governor office bldg.33 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

The last update came from Kinder about 10:40 a.m.

God Bless our police and all first responders!39 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

Update: From KMBC:

KMBC's Micheal Mahoney talked with an aide in Kinder's office who said there are conflicting reports about whether shots have been fired. But police hostage teams are taking positions around the building.

The Governor Office Building is across the street from the governor's mansion. Gov. Jay Nixon and his staff are in his office at the state Capitol building. They are said to be safe.

Update: KCRG Channel 13 reports:

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon does NOT have an office at this building. The Governor Office Building used to be a hotel called the "Governor Hotel" when it was renovated into an office building it retained its moniker.

The building houses the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, Public Service Commission, Office of Public Counsel and the Missouri Development Finance Board.

Update: Twitter update from Kinder at 11:46 a.m.:

Evacuating bldg. One staffer called from 9th floor of Gov Office bldg to report "it doesn't seem like a crisis". Let's hope so.2 minutes ago from TwitterBerry

Update: False alarm?

Kit Bond

​Missouri U.S. Sen. Kit Bond is scheduled to be in the hot seat tonight on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (hat tip to Mike Mahoney's blog).

The show preview says Bond will "talk about the spread of Islam into Southeast Asia and a new way to fight global terror." There's also this helpful link to Bond's new book (with Lewis M. Simons) The Next Front: Southeast Asia and the Road to Global Peace with Islam.

Too bad he's not pimping A Taste of Missouri: Bond Family Favorites.

More Tuesday.

We're almost as dumbfounded as Todd Reesing at Kansas State's hot start.

​Kansas football fans have to be melting down after losing the Sunflower Showdown to Kansas State. Old man Snyder has the Wildcats in the Big 12 North lead. So much for the Reesing for Heisman talk. Oh, and yes, it's basketball season.

Speaking of meltdowns, Baylor shocked Missouri ... in Columbia.

The Jacksonville Jaguars outlasted the Chiefs. Welcome back, Larry Johnson.

Also this weekend, the health-care bill that passed the House on Saturday is meeting a quick death in the Senate.

Sunday's Star also featured one of those crazy stories of a country drive turning into really bad luck ... or really good luck.

A man was in critical condition Sunday night after a shooting in the 3400 block of Locust.

A Kansas teacher allegedly lied about being stabbed.

Foul play is suspected in the disappearance of a missing Kansas woman.

***

It's Monday. Don't forget your towel.

www.peaceworkskc.org

Ann Suellentrop of Physicians for Social Responsibility

​Anti-nuke activists turned out to protest this morning's meeting of the Planned Industrial Expansion Authority, whose board voted unanimously to approve a development agreement to build a new weapons facility at Highway 150 and Botts Road. The National Nuclear Security Administration Campus will replace Honeywell's 60-year-old factory on Bannister Road, which manufactures 85 percent of the non-nuclear parts for nuclear weapons under a contract with the U.S. government.

During the public comments period, representatives from several peace organizations, including Physicians for Social Responsibility and PeaceWorks KC, voiced their disapproval. Ron Faust, a minister with the Disciples of Christ, read a poem he'd written. Then, Theodore "Priest" Hughes and Desmond "337" Jones, a pair of spoken-word artists who call themselves The Recipe, performed a piece called "Self-Destruction." I found a video of the duo performing the same piece at another event; try to imagine this happening in the stodgy context of a board meeting:  

Cindy Circo

​A city committee exploring the development of a 1,000-room convention hotel decided that it needed to hire a communications professional. The choice? The committee chair's campaign manager.

On Tuesday, the Kansas City Convention Center Hotel Development Steering Committee awarded KC Consulting a contract "to educate and inform constituents regarding the potential development" of the hotel. KC Consulting is run by Kim Carlos, an attorney and political consultant. Carlos, a former aide to former Third District Councilman Troy Nash and the co-author of a book about living with breast cancer, formed KC Consulting in 2003.

Councilwoman Cindy Circo chairs the steering committee. Campaign records indicate that her campaign paid KC Consulting five payments of $4,000 over the first five months of 2007, the year Circo won her seat.

​Flags across the state of Kansas are flying at half-staff today after the death of former William H. Avery.

Avery died yesterday at age 98.

Avery was born August 11, 1911, in Wakefield. He was a 1934 graduate of the University of Kansas' law school.

In 1950, the Republican was elected to the Kansas state Legislature. After four years, he was elected to the U.S. Congress. He held the seat until 1965, when he was elected governor of Kansas.

Avery lasted only one-term, losing to Robert Docking.

Avery condemned Perry Smith and Richard Hickock to the gallows for murdering the Clutter family. The murders were featured in Truman Capote's true-crime novel In Cold Blood.

Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson issued this statement:

"Governor Avery led our state during a time of tragic loss and national attention; Kansas honors his long life and service to our state. Our thoughts and prayers are with his children and family."

Flags will fly at half-staff until Avery's interment. A press release from the governor's office says services are scheduled for November 14 in Wakefield, Kansas.

Photo via the Kansas State Historical Society.

​In the latest edition of her e-newsletter, O'Fallon loon (and Missouri state Rep.) Cynthia Davis shows off her concealed-carry permit -- this woman can legally carry a gun? -- and argues in favor of churchgoers packing heat in houses of the holy.

Damn those draconian Missouri laws outlawing guns in churches. She writes:

One concern I have with the current law is that guns are prohibited in churches. This means there is no defense for the members if a criminal act is attempted or perpetrated.

You don't say.

Sweet stupid Cynthia doesn't think the state should tell churches whether they can have parishioners carrying guns. The churches should decide, Davis argues, Hey, isn't that what Jesus would have wanted? Of course it is!

Most of us were taught as children that the church is God's house. Just think how differently things may have turned out if it were not for a heroic woman with a gun at the New Life Church in Colorado.

Yeah, just think about what might have happened.

Cynthia, we don't have to imagine. I'm sure you will remember the assassination of abortion provider George Tiller, who was gunned down while ushering at a Wichita, Kansas, church. Yeah, just think if someone could have come to Dr. Tiller's defense.

Michelle Malkin

​Kansans, if your Spider Sense is going off, there's good reason. Self-loathing conservative columnist and Dunkin' Donuts hater Michelle Malkin is coming to the Sunflower State today.

Malkin's speaking at a fund-raiser for Kris Kobach, who's running for Kansas Secretary of State, at the Terradyne Country Club in Andover. The event starts at 6 p.m.

Malkin and Kobach have a lot in common. She even gave Kobach a shout-out in her book Culture of Corruption: Obama and His Team of Tax Cheats, Crooks, and Cronies:

And on May 29th, 2009, constitutional lawyer and former Bush Administration official Kris Kobach entered the race for Kansas Secretary of State, citing Obama's favorite left-wing racket as his primary motivation. Kobach distilled the essence of the vast web of its partnerships: "ACORN is a criminal enterprise."

I'm sure they'll have lots to talk about.

Geraldo Rivera isn't a fan of Malkin, telling the Boston Globe in September 2007:

"Michelle Malkin is the most vile, hateful commentator I've ever met in my life," he says.

That's saying something.

Newt Gingrich

​Mr. Contract with America Newt Gingrich is in Kansas today and tonight, speaking at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics on the University of Kansas' campus.

His 7:30 p.m. speech is called "Tripartisan Solutions for the 21st Century." Afterward, you can ask the former Speaker of the House a whole bunch of questions.

Newt isn't the only Gingrich making an appearance in the area.

His sister, Candace Gingrich, is slated to give the keynote address at the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Pride celebration next Wednesday (November 11).

Candace Gingrich's talk, "The Accidental Activist: A Personal & Political Journey," is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Pierson Auditorium in the University Center.

Here's a 14-year-old New York Times story about Newt and Candace's relationship. Hopefully, they talk more now. I get the feeling they don't.

​Everybody loves a new drug. Especially a legal one. Even Huey Lewis.

K2 -- synthetic pot -- isn't new, just new to us. Did I mention that it's legal?

The Kansas City Star made itself useful and gave a free ad to a Lawrence shop selling the stuff:

The Sacred Journey, a botanical store in Lawrence, sells bags of K2 for $15 to $30. A store manager declined to comment, but an employee said K2 should be burnt as incense and isn't meant to be smoked. A competing brand is marketed online as "plant food."

But you smokers of the chronic better hurry (and stock up). Kansas state Rep. Peggy Mast is ready to play party pooper (every party has one), talking about making the stuff illegal.

Oh yeah, and K2 hasn't really been studied. So smoke at your own risk.

​Voters renewed the COMBAT anti-drug sales tax yesterday by a large margin: more than 71 percent of the vote.

But let's be clear about the "overwhelming" support for the tax; less than seven percent of Kansas City's registered voters actually went to the polls (according to The Kansas City Star's report today).

All the glossy mailers and yard signs helped pass the tax, but having an apathetic electorate also didn't hurt.

​A committee studying the notion of a downtown convention hotel is beginning to spend its $500,000 allowance.

On Tuesday, the committee selected a consultant who will endeavor to find the City of Kansas City, Missouri, a developer and a hotelier. The proposal that's brought back will then be examined by a third party to determine the size of the crater it will make in the city budget. A "convention headquarters" hotel will require substantial taxpayer assistance if it's to be built.

Councilwoman Cindy Circo, who chairs the Kansas City Convention Center Hotel Development Steering Committee, says the third-party review will serve as a "reality check" against the typically lofty promises of developers. "Whoever wants to do the deal is going to bring you whatever it is you want to hear, is going to bring you all the numbers to say, 'Yes, this is the right thing to do.' We wanted to make sure we had a stopgap."

The committee chose Convention Center Hotel Advisors, a Minnesota company that in July completed an analysis of the key planning issues for a prospective convention hotel. Apparently, the keys include hiring Minnesota consultants.

The real Sarah Palin

​The unfunny Sarah Palin is coming to Salina, Kansas.

The "rogue" Republican is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce's annual banquet on February 5, according to the Associated Press.

A couple of weeks ago, Palin announced a December 2 speaking engagement -- talking about "patriotism, citizenship and civic engagement," don'tcha know -- at the College of the Ozarks, a private Christian school in southwest Missouri.

The speaking engagements come after the former governor of Alaska talks to Oprah on November 16 (and the release of her book a day later).

Of course, this is just an excuse to post more videos of Tina Fey playing Palin.

​It didn't take long for eBay to pull the last two auctions aimed at raising money for the legal defense of Scott Roeder, the man accused of killing Wichita abortion provider George Tiller.

The online auction house removed several auctions for Roeder early Monday, including one for a pencil sketch of Biblical character David holding the decapitated head of Goliath, whose forehead read "Tiller" and corpse read "Child murdering industry."

But two auctions -- one for a "prolife Bible" that belonged to Shelley Shannon, a convicted clinic arsonist who shot and wounded Tiller in 1993, and a Catechism from anti-abortion activist Michael Bray and signed by members of the militant anti-abortion group the Army of God -- lasted into late Monday afternoon before eBay pulled them.

I watched both items top $50.

Jeff Sharlet

​I apologize for the short notice on this one. Jeff Sharlet, author of The Family, a look inside a Washington, D.C., secret society that prays together and shapes public policy, is scheduled to speak Tuesday night at Congregation Beth Torah (6100 W. 127th St.) in Overland Park.

After his talk, Sharlet with sign copies of his book. 

Mainstream Coalition is sponsoring Sharlet's talk, which should hit home to Kansans. The Family's members include Kansas' U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback and U.S. Reps. Todd Tiahrt and Jerry Moran as well as former Reps. Jim Slattery and Jim Ryun.

If you hurry, maybe Mainstream's Boo Tyson will be nice enough to still let you in. Tickets cost $10 for Mainstream members and $30 for the general public. But a Mainstream membership and a ticket to hear Sharlet costs $25. Call 913-649.3326 or click here for more info.

The chiefs didn't lose Sunday. They also didn't play. Mercifully for us and them. But the Larry Johnson news didn't stop over the weekend. The Chiefs and LJ agreed on a settlement figure the troubled running back will give up during his suspension: $300,000.

So LJ can keep bragging about having money -- but not for long if the Chiefs dump him. Arrowhead Pride compiled a couple of news reports (here and here) surveying NFL general managers, and none seem interested in a back that's nearly 30 and good for about 2-yards a carry.

Arrowhead Pride also dug up this video of LJ mocking ex-Chiefs coach Herm Edwards.



Once this whole football thing flames out, King Pink should try out for one of KC's improv groups.

Also this weekend, six people had really bad Friday nights/Saturday mornings. Four people were shot outside of Independence's Do Drop In early Sunday.

Congressman Todd Tiahrt's hair may be facing an ethics probe.

Stay far away from Weatherby Lake -- unless you like E. coli.

Kansas City's bus service will be in deep shit in five years.

Bad weekend for Kansas' college football teams. Texas Tech "decleated" the Jayhawks (check the video), and Oklahoma held off the pesky Kansas State Wildcats. Missouri rolled Colorado, jumping back in the Big 12 North race.

***
We're here. Thanks to those who love us and hate us for coming back for more.

Jolly elfin state legislator Bill Otto says he won't apologize for his "RedNeck Rap," which has been called racist for criticizing President Obama and then proclaiming the deliciousness of "opossum the other dark meat."

Now, the NAACP is demanding an apology, according to KSHB Channel 41.

Otto promised to do another rap -- one that praised Obama. Take it away, MC Otto.

​Sad news for our O'Fallon loon (and Missouri state Rep.) Cynthia Davis: A judge threw out her lawsuit (fronted by Orly Taitz) claiming President Obama couldn't be president because he's from Kenya.

Central District of California Judge David O. Carter dismissed the case. But the trouble for Taitz may be just beginning.

Check this passage:

The Court has received several sworn affidavits that Taitz asked potential witnesses that she planned to call before this Court to perjure themselves. This Court is deeply concerned that Taitz may have suborned perjury through witnesses she intended to bring before this Court. While the Court seeks to ensure that all interested parties have had the opportunity to be heard, the Court cannot condone the conduct of Plaintiffs' counsel in her efforts to influence this Court.

The Washington Independent has the whole decision, which Davis will probably declare was shot down because of Taitz' accent. And here's Drudge.

Advice to conspiracy theorist Cynthia, keep consulting your Constitution.

Jay Nixon dropped the ax today

​Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced today that 700 jobs will be cut to make up for a shortfall in state tax revenues.

Prime Buzz says the cuts are on top of $430 million in budget slashing earlier this year.

Add that on top of American Airlines closing its overhaul base at Kansas City International Airport (and the announcement of 700 job cuts nationwide), and it's been a really bad day.