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Sunday, December 22, 2024

News from April 2024

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Governor Parson's Schedule for the Week of April 29 - May 4, 2024

By KC Reporter | Apr 30, 2024

Governor Mike Parson's upcoming schedule for the week of April 29 - May 4, 2024, is packed with various meetings and events across Missouri.On Monday, April 29, Governor Parson, along with First Lady Parson, will host legislators and their families at the Governor's Mansion for the final Legislative Barbeque of their administration.Tuesday, April 30, will be a busy day for Governor Parson as he travels to Kansas City to attend Americold Logistics Inc's groundbreaking ceremony for its new cold storage facility. Following that, he will head to St. Louis for a "fireside...

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Kansas City Launches Housing Accelerator Program to Revitalize Neighborhoods

By KC Reporter | Apr 30, 2024

Kansas City, Apr 30 2024 - The City of Kansas City has announced a new initiative aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods by turning vacant lots into vibrant spaces. The Housing Accelerator program, spearheaded by Third District Councilmember Melissa Patterson-Hazley, is set to transform the Washington Wheatley Neighborhood, covering 95 acres of vacant land, including 45 lots.Councilmember Melissa Patterson-Hazley expressed the motivation behind the program, stating, “This initiative was born out of my drive from my house on 19th Street to UMKC, where I noticed over 14 vacant...

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Kansas City Man Sentenced for Armed Robbery and Carjacking During Illegal Drug Sale

By KC Reporter | Apr 30, 2024

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mykus Butler, a 25-year-old man from Kansas City, Missouri, has been handed a severe sentence in federal court for his involvement in an armed robbery and carjacking that took place during an illegal drug sale. U.S. District Judge Greg Kays sentenced Butler to 14 years and two months in federal prison without parole.Butler pleaded guilty to several charges, including aiding and abetting a robbery, aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and aiding and abetting a carjacking. He confessed to contacting the victim under the...

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Springfield CPA Pleads Guilty to Stealing $400,000 from Trust Fund

By KC Reporter | Apr 29, 2024

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man, Ray Leonard Marple, 61, has pleaded guilty in federal court to embezzling more than $400,000 from a trust fund under his control.According to court documents, Marple admitted that he embezzled approximately $432,981 from a revocable trust account over a period of almost six years. The embezzlement took place following the death of the grantor.Marple confessed to stealing at least $415,481 from the trust account and using the funds for personal purposes, including the purchase of his residential property in Springfield....

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Council Committee Meetings Shift

By KC Reporter | Apr 29, 2024

The City Council has announced a significant change in its standing committee meeting schedule, aiming to increase efficiency and public accessibility to agenda items. Starting on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, the City Council’s regular committees will now convene on Tuesdays instead of Wednesdays.Explaining the rationale behind the decision, a City Council representative stated, "The decision to move the committee meetings to Tuesdays stems from a comprehensive evaluation to enhance the Council's efficiency and productivity, and the public’s accessibility to agenda items." This...

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Changes in Priest Assignments Announced by Bishop Johnston in April 2024

By KC Reporter | Apr 29, 2024

Bishop Johnston has approved a series of priest assignment updates during the month of April, affecting several parishes and missions in the area. These changes, set to take effect on different dates, bring new responsibilities and transitions for the clergy involved.Fr. Christian Malewski's assignment status was addressed by Bishop Johnston, who stated, "Fr. Christian Malewski has concluded his assignment as Pastoral Coordinator for St. Joseph Catholic Academy, St. Joseph. He retains his current assignment as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, St. Joseph."Another...

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Which former KC Reporter area high school standouts will be in action in the week starting Mon April 29?

By KC Reporter | Apr 28, 2024

These former KC Reporter area high school standouts will be in action in the week starting Mon April 29.

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KC Reporter area weekly mass times

By KC Reporter | Apr 27, 2024

The following parishes in the KC Reporter coverage area hold weekly mass at these designated times.

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City Prepares for Severe Weather

By KC Reporter | Apr 26, 2024

Kansas City is gearing up for severe weather expected to hit the area starting Thursday and lasting through Saturday. The city's various departments are collaborating to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents.The City's Office of Emergency Management is on high alert during severe weather events, coordinating resources with partners across the region. Public Works, one of the key departments involved, has a plan in place to deploy crews and equipment to clear debris and ensure traffic flow in case of storm damage.According to a city official, "Depending on...

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KC Police Officer Indicted for $300,000 Charity Fraud Scheme

By KC Reporter | Apr 26, 2024

A Kansas City, Mo., police officer, Aaron Wayne McKie, found himself facing serious charges after being indicted for a charity fraud scheme that involved misappropriating over $300,000 in donations for personal expenses. McKie, who has been with the Kansas City Police Department for 24 years, allegedly used funds from the anti-crime charity he ran for his personal gain.According to the federal indictment, McKie served as the president of Mid-America Crime Free, Inc. (MACF), a non-profit organization, from 2009 to 2023. The indictment revealed that McKie devised a scheme...

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Governor Parson Extends Drought Alert in Missouri

By KC Reporter | Apr 26, 2024

Missouri Governor Mike Parson has extended the state's drought alert until September 1, 2024, due to worsening conditions brought on by prolonged dryness. The decision to extend the alert was made in response to the struggles faced by farmers, ranchers, and concerns over commercial navigation along riverways. Governor Parson acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, "the reality is we’re facing conditions worse now than a year ago."According to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the lack of precipitation and below normal streamflow over the past year...

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Olathe Man Indicted for Stealing 41 Firearms

By KC Reporter | Apr 26, 2024

An Olathe, Kansas man, Frank Guereca, has been indicted for stealing 41 firearms from a gun store in Raytown, Mo. Guereca was arrested while crossing the border from Mexico back into the United States and is now facing charges related to the theft."We are committed to stanching the flow of illegal firearms on the black market, whether they’re trafficked within the United States or smuggled into Mexico," stated U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore of the Western District of Missouri. Moore emphasized the importance of holding accountable those involved in criminal activities related...

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Anesthesiologist Pleads Guilty to Taking Fentanyl from Hospital

By KC Reporter | Apr 25, 2024

An anesthesiologist at a Lee’s Summit, Mo., hospital pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally taking fentanyl from the hospital.Roman Peplinski, the anesthesiologist in question, admitted to illegally obtaining fentanyl from Lakewood Medical Center on Nov. 5, 2022. Peplinski misrepresented the fentanyl was for a patient, when in reality, that patient had been discharged from the hospital earlier that day. He also admitted to withdrawing fentanyl from three vials from Sept. 1, 2022, through Nov. 30, 2022.According to the information provided, personnel from...

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KC Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to False Tax Returns

By KC Reporter | Apr 24, 2024

A Kansas City tax preparer, Linzell Harris, 67, has pleaded guilty in federal court to aiding the preparation of false tax returns. Harris, who owned and operated The MJM Group, Inc., admitted to fabricating deductions and credits for clients to obtain large refunds. According to the report, the total tax loss to the IRS as a result of Harris's actions was $124,308 for tax years 2015 through 2019.Harris prepared false income tax returns for at least 12 taxpayer clients, totaling 43 fraudulent returns over the mentioned years. He also failed to file personal tax returns...

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Empowering Entrepreneurs: KC BizCare Launches Small Business Capital Program

By KC Reporter | Apr 24, 2024

Kansas City's Small Business (SMB) Capital Program, a joint effort by the KC BizCare Office, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, and the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City (EDCKC), has been introduced to provide crucial starting capital for small businesses in the area. The program aims to support entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic growth within the local community.City Manager Brian Platt emphasized the importance of supporting small businesses, stating, "Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, but also are what make Kansas City so...

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Ohio Man Sentenced for Meth Trafficking

By KC Reporter | Apr 24, 2024

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Cincinnati, Ohio, man has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine pills. Antuan McClendon, 43, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips without the possibility of parole.McClendon's sentencing follows his guilty plea to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The charges stemmed from an incident on December 21, 2023, when McClendon was apprehended while traveling on a bus from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Indianapolis, Indiana, with a stop in Kansas City, Mo.Law enforcement...

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Tulsa Man Sentenced for Meth Conspiracy, Illegal Firearm

By KC Reporter | Apr 23, 2024

A Tulsa, Oklahoma man, Jeffrey L. Hughley, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine in southwest Missouri. The sentencing was carried out by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool. This comes after law enforcement officers seized approximately 29 pounds of methamphetamine, $57,000, and several firearms as part of the investigation.According to court documents, Hughley admitted to being a courier during the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in various counties...

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Deepwater Man Sentenced for $500,000 CARES Act Fraud

By KC Reporter | Apr 23, 2024

A Deepwater, Mo., man, Brian Ruth, Sr., has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison without parole for fraudulently obtaining over $500,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the CARES Act. U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark handed down the sentence, along with a $15,000 fine, $522,765 in restitution to the Small Business Administration, and a forfeiture of $336,000. Ruth was immediately taken into custody following the hearing.Ruth admitted to his crimes, stating, "I applied online in May and June 2020, and received three PPP loans totaling...

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West Plains Man Sentenced for Illegally Harvesting Trees in National Forest

By KC Reporter | Apr 23, 2024

A West Plains man, Justin Lee Massey, has been sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison without parole for illegally harvesting and stealing trees from Mark Twain National Forest. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark. Massey was also ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution to the U.S. Forest Service and forfeit $30,000, representing the proceeds of his theft.Massey pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government property after admitting to illegally cutting down at least 10 trees in Mark Twain National Forest between...

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11 companies in cities within Platte County received 11 inspections in Q4 2023

By KC Reporter | Apr 22, 2024

There were 11 companies in cities associated with Platte County that received 11 FDA inspections in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Association.