The Kansas City Star

Parts of Interstates 35 and 635 have been reopened after accidents had shut them down earlier this evening. Full Story »

A Kansas City woman’s hands and head were severely burned this evening when she became trapped in her burning house. The fire started around 7 p.m. in a room in the front of the woman’s house in the 1200 block of Oakley Ave., according to Kansas City Acting Battalion Chief Tim Sheil. Full Story »

The snow has snarled at least two freeways in the Kansas City area since flakes began falling Tuesday night. Full Story »

The Kansas City, Kan., School Board unanimously selected Cynthia Lane to be the next superintendent of Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools on Tuesday night. Full Story »

Cynthia Lane will be the next superintendent of Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools, the school board announced Tuesday night. Lane will take over the school district on July 1 after the retirement of current Superintendent Jill Shackelford. Full Story »

Platte County authorities have charged a former Army recruiter with having sex with a 15-year-old girl. Chevaldric Williams, 34, was charged Saturday in Platte County Circuit Court with second-degree statutory rape and second-degree statutory sodomy. Full Story »

It took a Platte County jury 12 minutes today to return a guilty verdict for a man accused of possessing child pornography. Robin S. Roggenbuck of Platte City was charged in May with five counts of possession of child pornography. Full Story »

A Douglas County jury today found a Lawrence man guilty of hatching a plan to have his children beat their mother to death with a baseball bat. Jurors convicted Arthur W. Davis III of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and contributing to a child’s misconduct. Full Story »

Bruce Springsteen ’s cousin, whose death in October led the singer to cancel his concert at the Sprint Center, died from an accidental drug overdose, according to autopsy results released today. Lenny Sullivan, 36, died from acute amphetamine and heroin intoxication. The combination of these drugs sometimes is called a speedball. Full Story »

The man found dead in a Raytown driveway on Monday has been identified. Raytown police say the victim was Wesley Bryan Binder, 51, who owned the home in the 8900 block of East 60th Terrace where his body was discovered. Full Story »

A 15-year-old boy pleaded not guilty today to a first-degree murder charge in the August shooting death of 20-year-old Robert Moran IV. Mikeise Levon Boyd of Kansas City previously was certified as an adult in the case. He appeared today during an arraignment hearing in Clay County Circuit Court. Another hearing is scheduled for Dec. 31. Full Story »

The Kansas City health department has scheduled H1N1 flu vaccination clinics for 2-6:30 p.m. on Thursday at St. Luke’s Methodist Church, 9420 James A. Reed Road; and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Health Department, 2400 Troost Ave. Health Director Rex Archer said the city now has enough vaccine available for anyone over 6 months of age who desires the vaccine. Previously, the city was ... Full Story »

Area fire investigators suspect that an early morning house fire in Sibley was accidental, and may have been caused by electrical issues. Fire fighters with the Fort Osage Fire Protection District responded about 5:15 a.m. to a residence in the 26000 block of East Blue Mills Road. Full Story »

Blue Springs authorities today asked any area women who believe they may have been victimized by a local con man to contact them. “Individuals who have been victimized … may feel embarrassed that someone pulled a scam over their eyes,” Wayne McCoy, Blue Springs police chief, said in a statement. Full Story »

Authorities identified Jae Cho as the 35-year-old man who died after a one-car wreck on Shawnee Mission Parkway this morning. Shawnee Police Capt. Bill Hisle said Cho, of Mission, was headed westbound on Shawnee Mission Parkway just east of Interstate 435. Witnesses told police that Cho attempted to change lanes but steered back into his lane when he noticed a car there. However, he ... Full Story »

A police officer working off-duty at a Kansas City grocery store Monday night exchanged gunfire with two robbers who were fleeing from a holdup at a nearby KFC restaurant. The officer was not hurt. It was unknown whether the suspects were hit. Full Story »

Kansas City police are looking for a man who broke into a 70-year-old woman’s house and tried to rob her. The woman said she heard her rear sliding glass door break about 2:20 p.m. Monday in the 11800 block of Fremont Avenue. A man then crashed through the wooden louvered doors into her kitchen and pointed a gun at her. Full Story »

The new year may bring layoffs for Overland Park city staff. City manager John Nachbar is recommending that 40 to 50 city employees be let go in order for the city to regain its financial stature in this bleak economy. Full Story »

Kansas City police are participating in this week’s statewide “You Drink & Drive. You Lose.” campaign. Police are planning extra enforcement through Sunday to stop people from driving impaired. Full Story »

Mist, cold temperatures and some overnight snow are making roads slick this morning — but significant precipitation is taking a break until later today. Full Story »

While downtown Kansas City and areas south haven't seen street-covering snows, areas north and west of the Interstate 435 loop have seen up to a few inches already, with more on the way. Full Story »

Two businesses in south Olathe were evacuated this afternoon when firefighters spotted a steam cloud traveling over an industrial area. The firefighters initiated a “hazardous materials investigation” when they saw a white haze over a wooden fence behind Desco Coating at 19890 W. 156th St. Full Story »

A gunman suffered a shotgun wound to his face today after he allegedly barged into his ex-wife’s house firing shots — and met another gunman. The man’s injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Police said that for more than a year, the man had been shooting at the boyfriend when their paths crossed. Full Story »

Power has been restored at Blue Valley High School, and classes will be held as usual Tuesday morning. Blue Valley High School dismissed students at 11:30 a.m. this morning because of a power outage. The school called in KCP&L crews earlier today and had hoped to fix the outage without dismissing students. However, the issue could not be resolved quickly, and students were sent home. Full Story »

Kansas City police are investigating a burglary in the old Northeast area where an intruder reportedly sodomized a 3-year-old boy. The boy’s mother awoke about 1:20 a.m. today and heard her son screaming. She went into his room and found him with his pants and underwear pulled down. The boy said a stranger had told him to “stay quiet” before sodomizing him with a black tool. Full Story »