(Via Terra Hall)

Farther north there were more impressive snow totals in IA and IL. Here is a map showing the coverage of the snow from yesterday and early this AM

Here is a close up map from IA, showing the general 2-6″ snow that fell up there.

The storm is still producing a decent swath of snow in parts of MI now, and farther southwards in the MUCH warmer air, the threat of severe weather continues to be high across the eastern Carolinas. There has already been a handful of tornado warnings for parts of the SE part of the country today. Here is the latest from the SPC.

Thankfully, so far there has only been two reports of a tornado as of this writing.

The storms out there are moving at high speed through the eastern US. Temperatures in the eastern Carolinas have heated up into the 80s and dewpoints are in the 60s. Through in a decent cold front (30° spread from east to west) and you have the recipe for severe weather.

Our weekend weather will be nice. Seasonably cold tomorrow AM followed by highs in the upper 40s to near 50° or so. Then as another swift moving cold front (that won’t have any real cold air with it) advances into the Midwest the winds will start to increase rather dramatically as we head into tomorrow night. As a matter of fact aloft, the winds will be cranking at close to 60 MPH a few thousand feet above the ground. So expect the winds at ground level to increase markedly SAT Night into early SUN AM, with the potential of 20-30 MPH winds from the SSE. That should help our temperatures stay steady or perhaps in warm up heading towards daybreak Sunday.

Then just as quickly as the winds increase, they’ll drop off again later SUN AM as the trof/cold front/wind shift moves on through. Highs should be near 60 SUN PM and it will be very nice to finish off the weekend.

The next storm is actually off the coast of AK now and will be dropping into the western part of the country over the weekend.

This storm, at least right now appears to be one to pass well to the NW/N or the area. What this means for us, is ahead of the storm warmer air will be driven towards the north. This means that we’ll see continued warm weather on MON-TUE of next week. By later Monday, some gulf moisture may try to work it’s way up the I-35 corridor. Since everything is moving so quickly however, the moisture may get shunted off towards the east of here, and since the storm will be passing NW of the region, the likelihood of a dry slot will be increasing as well. This may effectively shut off most of the precip threat. Here is the map from 500 mbs (18K feet or so) showing the wave in the Rockies, moving NEwards.

The one thing to be alert for is should the storm slow down a bit, then the potential for MORE gulf moisture will stream this way. That may set us up for some afternoon storms that would need to be monitored for the potential of severe weather. Again for that to happen things would need to slow down about 6-12 hours which isn’t out of the question.

Have a great weekend and I’ll update the blog again over the weekend.

Joe

Studios are now adding more speakers to the mix and noticeably improving the quality.

Tech reporter Rich DeMuro is Working for You….. and your ears.

It’s not just Catholics or the “religious” who take part in Lent. Many jump on the sacrificial bandwagon with the idea that there’s strength in numbers. If someone they know is going through sugar withdrawals, they can suffer through the convulsions, hallucinations and night sweats together (figuratively speaking).

Sugar just happens to be one of many popular things people give up during Lent. Alcohol, coffee, meat, cigarettes, fast food and — believe it or not — Facebook are others. (Blasphemy!)

Jokes aside, Lent is meant to be a time of reflection, sacrifice and self-denial — a time of spiritual renewal when believers remind themselves of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert denying every one of Satan’s temptations.

Lent concludes with the celebration of Easter Sunday — depending on whom you ask. But for the sake of arguing, we’ll say Easter when everyone gorges on Peeps and chocolate bunnies, following Mass of course.

Even Newt Gingrich and his wife are taking part in Lent. (Who knew politicians could be funny?)

But that’s Newt. What about you? Are you giving up anything for Lent?

Me? Well, I’m on day four of no soda. We’ll see how long that lasts.

This is a blog and not meant to be taken too seriously.

Shadow is 6 years old.

If interested, call Wayside Waifs at (816) 761-8151. Wayside Waifs is located at 3901 Martha Truman Road in Kansas City, Mo.

Roy D. Andrews faces one count of rape and one count of Sodomy in the Nov. 23, 1990, attacks in the neighborhood north of East 23^rd Street, between Jackson and Van Brunt.

According to court records, a 33-year-old woman and her 11-year-old daughter were raped and sodomized when two men entered their residence through an unlocked door. They were armed with a sawed off shotgun. DNA testing linked Andrews to the attacks.

The case was co-investigated by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Cold Case Unit and the Kansas City Police Department’s Sex Crimes Cold Case Unit.

Andrews is currently in custody. Prosecutors have recommended a $350,000 bond, secured.

Event Info:
Sunday
Snow Creek
10am to Noon: On-site build
Noon: First Run

Hal Wagner, the owner of Ace Sports and Nationwide Tickets at Oak Park Mall, said he has around two dozen tickets left to sell. A pair of floor tickets are going for nearly $1,300 a piece!

On StubHub.com tickets are selling anywhere for $450 to $2,400 a ticket. Wagner said if you want to see the two teams play together in their final regular season game, act quick. He expects he will sell out by the end of Friday.

“It’s insane,” he said. “People are calling like crazy to buy tickets. Once in every 10 hours, there’s one person calling to sell. That’s why the supply is what it is. Demand is crazy. People are just buying anything and everything they can get.”

Missouri has to beat Kansas to have a chance at winning the Big 12 title. KU has the home court advantage. The Tigers haven’t won in Allen Fieldhouse since 1999.

Tip off is at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Cosby, a comedian, actor, author, and activist feels especially convicted about students living in America’s urban core. His program is called “It’s the Truth-Commitment to Change” and features skits performed by Ruskin High students.

He’s known for talking to them straight about refusing to let their situation rule them. He knows their feelings and wants students to admit to them and get past them.

“The anger,” he said. “And sometimes not being able to focus because you feel not loved.”

Many students were challenged by the message.

“It influenced a lot of kids to do the right thing with stuff in school,” said one student.

Kansas City-based One Goal Consultants sponsored Cosby’s visit.

Movie is only being shown at the following theaters:
AMC TOWN CENTER 2O, LEAWOOD
AMC STUDIO 30, OLATHE

ACT OF VALOR

RUSS
“Act of Valor” is a military action flick with a unique gimmick: The main characters are all played by real-life Navy Seals. It’s too bad that their efforts are in service of what is essentially a scripted video game.

SHAWN
“Act of Valor” is a fictionalized account of real life Navy SEAL operations using real Navy SEALS. Tons of adrenaline and high energy but not much in the story or acting departments.

RUSS
The action scenes have some impressive shock and awe as our heroes battle drug cartels and fanatic terrorists. The filmmakers use ‘point-of-view’ shooting, making many of the scenes seem like they were lifted from the video game, “Call of Duty.” It’s effective, but the awkward script undermines their efforts. The action sequences, however, mostly deliver the goods.

SHAWN
If the Oscars had a category for best recruitment video or most patriotic film this movie would be a frontrunner. But it doesn’t…

RUSS
3 Popcorn Bags

SHAWN
3 Popcorn Bags

WANDERLUST

RUSS
One of Kansas City’s favorite sons, Paul Rudd, stars alongside Jennifer Aniston in the exceedingly raunchy R-rated comedy, “Wanderlust.” There is plenty of sex and drugs humor and forced outrageousness.

SHAWN
“Wanderlust” is an overly raunchy comedy that delivers a fair amount of laughs. It’s often insanely humorous, twisted and crazy. And a bit cliched.

RUSS
The movie swings wildly between moments of inspired hilarity and awkward tedium. One’s enjoyment of “Wanderlust” will depend largely on one’s tolerance for crude humor.

SHAWN
But if sexually explicit jokes nd full frontal shots aren’t your thing then you won’t enjoy Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston deliciously acting like fools. And there’s no comedy category at the Oscars because?

RUSS
3 Popcorn Bags

SHAWN
3 Popcorn Bags

GOOD DEEDS
Tyler Perry is back and delivers his most mature, honest and cinematically pleasing movie of his career. His writing is still a bit shaky and he’s no where close to receiving an Oscar nomination for directing but “Good Deeds,” a story loosely based on a time when he was homeless connects. It’s heartfelt, moving and entertaining. And no Madea makes it pleasantly tolerable.

3 Popcorn Bags

GONE
Lawd have mercy, child please and what the bleep all apply to “Gone.” It’s a combination of a weak CSI episode and bad Lifetime movie and asking Amanda Seyfried to carry the entire thing is just wrong. Either someone in Hollywood hates her or her talent level has been severely miscalculated. She’s radiant in the movie and tries her best.  But carrying entire movies is above her pay grade. She’d be better as an Oscar presenter.

2 Popcorn Bags

That’s why the death of a four-year-old Virginia boy from a rare strep infection has many parents so concerned and grieving for the family of the preschooler.

Henny and Neil Ponce laid their son Kingston to rest Thursday morning.

(Click here for the WTVR- CBS 6 interview with the parents.)

Henrico Health Department officials said the four-year-old boy suffered a rare and fatal strep A infection last weekend.

His parents took him to the doctor last week when Kingston’s fever spiked. The next morning his condition worsened. His parents called 911 when he lost consciousness and his father performed CPR until paramedics arrived. At the hospital, doctors tried to save him, but he died on Saturday.

“One day at a time. That’s how we’ll get through this. I want him to know that he was loved in so many ways. He touched our lives and we’ll never forget that” said Tara Ponce, the boy’s aunt.

On Tuesday, Henrico County health officials sent a letter to parents whose children attend Kingston’s preschool to tell them about the dangers of the contagious and common Group A strep infection.

Signs of severe strep infection include fever, throat pain, red or swollen tonsils, headache, rash, stomachache and listlessness.

DAYTONA — Going 200 mph, Danica Patrick spun out and crashed into a wall at the Daytona International Speedway in her NASCAR Sprint Cup debut on Thursday. She crashed nose-first and later said it was the toughest wreck of her career.

Patrick’s car sustained major damage, but she was not injured. Her official finish was 16th.

The documentary explores Kansas City’s pioneering African-American political organization that, for more than 50 years, has fought for civil rights and minority empowerment in Kansas City.

Cleaver is the son of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver.

For more information or to RSVP, visit kclibrary.org or call 816-701-3407.

You decide who wins.

(Click here to see and submit your own KU or MU display!)

The third-ranked Tigers, who are leaving the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference at the end of the season, will take on the fifth-ranked Jayhawks on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at Allen Fieldhouse, bringing to close a rivalry that began (at least on the basketball court) on March 11, 1907, when the Tigers pulled out a 34-31 win against the James Naismith-led Jayhawks in Columbia.

The Tigers won the next day as well, trouncing KU 34-12. But since then, the Jayhawks have taken a clear lead in the overall  series, leading 171-95.

Since that first tip-off 104 years ago, there have been plenty of moments of glory – and infamy – for both sides of what was once dubbed the “Border War.”

During the 1909-10 season, the two squads – which included players from the two school’s football teams – played gritty games more at home on the gridiron than the hardwood.

During one game that season, a dismayed KU head coach (and basketball inventor) Dr. James Naismith is reported to have exclaimed “Oh, my gracious! They are murdering my game!”

The rivalry first came to a crescendo during the finals of the 1951 Big 7 Holiday Tournament at Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium, when KU center Clyde Lovellette stomped on MU star Win Wilfong’s stomach, leading to his ejection.

MU coach Wilbur Stalcup managed to calm enraged Tiger fans through the arena PA system, averting a likely riot.

Then, 10 years later, during an MU loss in Lawrence, a bench-clearing fistfight between the two teams erupted. During the return match in Columbia a few weeks later, and in front of a national television audience, another fistfight broke out when KU star forward/center Wayne Hightower threw a punch after being fouled by MU’s Charlie Henke. Both players were then thrown out of the game.

The incidents, sparked from a controversial football game between the two schools in 1960 that may have caused MU to lose a chance at a national championship, led KU athletic director Dutch Lonborg to briefly consider discontinuing the rivalry.

The Jayhawks hold the distinction of having defeated MU in the final games of the first two arenas the Tigers called home. In 1971, KU topped the Tigers 72-68 in the final-ever game at MU’s Brewer Fieldhouse, while in 2004 the Jayhawks’ David Padgett hit a basket with two seconds left in the game to beat MU 84-82 in the final-ever game at the Hearnes Center.

In 2003, during the halftime of the KU-Texas game in Lawrence, recently-retired longtime MU coach Norm Stewart was honored with a new rocking chair by the University of Kansas. During Stewart’s time with the Tigers, he would often jump up off the bench to argue a call – prompting KU fans to chant “Sit down, Norm.”

In their final showdown in Columbia on February 4, Marcus Denmon led the Tigers with a pair of clutch 3-pointers to lead MU past KU 74-71. It was the Tigers first win against the Jayhawks since 2009, and only their second win in their last 12 games against KU.

These picks don’t necessarily reflect their 2012 favorites, but what they think the Academy voters will choose.