Bob Priddy and Steve Walsh talk with Darin Jobe this week about Governor Nixon’s State of the State address and reactions to it. They also discuss the State Tax Commission’s required valuation assessments and the possibility of tax cuts for some and tax increases for others based on the farmland productivity.
Audit slams MoDOT’s long-range planning and funding estimates
January 22, 2010 By
State Auditor Susan Montee reviews MoDOT audit
An audit of the State Transportation’s road and bridge funding plan finds improvements are needed in the development of long-range transportation needs and funding estimates.
State Auditor Susan Montee says MoDOT does a good job of developing short-term projects, but the ball is dropped when focusing on transportation needs down the road. [Read more...]
Internet enticement cases down, child pornography up
January 22, 2010 By
A look at child pornography and enticement cases from 2009 shows that as the Internet evolves, so do predators.
Detective Tracy Perkins scans the Internet for illegal activity, often tracking dozens of sites at the same time.
Cases of child pornography cases appear to be on the rise, but enticement cases are down, according to Detective Andy Anderson, Coordinator of the Mid Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force, who is comparing 2009 data with the previous year. He says the increasing popularity and availability of file-sharing programs probably have something to do with the increase.
Royals Sign Former Cardinal Ankiel
January 22, 2010 By
According to Yahoo Sports, former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher-turned-outfielder Rick Ankiel agreed Thursday to a contract with the Kansas City Royals for a guaranteed $3.25 million, including the buyout on a second-year, mutual option for $6 million.
Hampered last season by shoulder, groin and Achilles’ injuries, Ankiel batted .231 in 122 games. He hit for a higher average in his only full big-league season as a pitcher, in 2000, when he batted .250, won 11 games and finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.
Ankiel, 30, joins outfielders David DeJesus, Scott Podsednik and Jose Guillen in Kansas City. It’s likely Guillen will spend more time at DH. Ankiel, who has one of the better outfield arms in the game, can play any of the three outfield spots.
UMKC Snaps Skid
January 22, 2010 By
Four players reached double figures to propel the UMKC men’s basketball team to a 61-57 victory over Western Illinois on Thursday night at Municipal Auditorium. Junior Spencer Johnson finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds to tally his second double-double of the season.
Junior Jay Couisnard and sophomore LaTreze Mushatt paced the team in scoring with 14 points apiece. Junior Bakari Lewis and Johnson finished with 10 points apiece, and Lewis dished out a game-high five assists.
After playing to a nine all tie through the first five minutes, Couisnard and Lewis drained back-to-back three-pointers to put the ‘Roos up six at 15-9. Western responded with a 13-5 run that was capped off by a Ceola Clark long ball to give WIU the 22-20 advantage with 7:44 left in the half.
Freshman Kirk Korver put UMKC back on top with a long ball on the following possession to open a 13-1 run that saw UMKC build a 33-23 lead. The ‘Roos proceeded to take a seven point lead into the locker room, as they finished the half with a .500 field goal percentage.
The Leathernecks started quickly in the second half, as they scored the first six points to pull to within one (33-32). Mushatt then connected on a long ball at the 16:31 mark to put UMKC back up four at 36-32.
Western Illinois wouldn’t go away as it pulled to within a point on a lay-up by Emeka Okafur, Jr., at the 10-minute mark, but UMKC once again had an answer, as Johnson drained a three to put the ‘Roos up 46-42 with 9:41 to play. Johnson’s long ball opened a 9-2 UMKC run that saw the squad build their advantage to eight at 52-44 with 5:48 remaining.
The Leathernecks had one final push left in its tank, as Clark had an old-fashioned three-point play to cut the margin to six (52-46). Couisnard answered with a jumper to extend the margin back to seven, but guard Matt Lander then made four straight free throws to make the score 54-51 with 3:58 to play.
WIU then managed to climb to within a single point at 57-56 on a Clark three-pointer with 2:22 to play, but Mushatt made a lay-up on the ensuing possession to make the score 59-56 with 1:59 left on the clock.
After a pair of empty possessions by both teams, Clark made a free throw with 39 seconds left to make the score 59-57. WIU then decided not to foul despite there being just 39 seconds left on the clock. UMKC ran down the shot clock before Lewis drained a long jumper to wrap up his squad’s four-point win.
UMKC finished the game with a .449 (22-49) field goal percentage and a .444 (8-18) mark from long range. WIU, meanwhile, had a .373 (19-51) mark from the floor, despite shooting .500 (8-16) from three-point land. UMKC also won the battle on the boards for the second straight game, 32-28, and had 13 assists.
A pair of Leatherneck players finished the game in double-digits with Clark leading the way with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. James Granstra, meanwhile, netted 12 points, which included a pair of thunderous dunks.
UMKC (9-9, 3-4) will return to action on Saturday night against IUPUI beginning at 7:05 p.m. The game will be the second of a ‘Roo-Jaguar doubleheader, as the women’s squad will host IUPUI in the afternoon at 4 p.m.
