Thieves steal pedestrian signals at I-70 and The Paseo, will cost $30,000 to replace

Posted May 15, 2013 at 4:02 pm

By LESLIE COLLINS
Northeast News
May 15, 2013

It will cost $30,000 and take about three weeks to replace the stolen pedestrian signal poles, bases and heads at Interstate 70 and The Paseo.

A Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) field worker discovered the thefts on Monday, May 14, and a report has now been filed with the Kansas City Police Department. A total of 11 pedestrian signal poles, bases and heads were stolen.

“They’re likely aluminum thieves,” MoDOT Assistant District Engineer Chris Redline told Northeast News. “They’ll be selling the material for scrap for pennies on the dollar for what it’s going to cost the taxpayer to replace them. That’s the sad part.”

To Redline’s knowledge, this is the first time MoDOT has dealt with an aluminum theft in the Kansas City area. Copper thefts, however, are a common occurrence.

“MoDOT, just like every other company in

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    Judge finds fraud in 2010 primary

    Northeast News
    May 14, 2013

    “It’s an unfortunate incident,” State Rep. JJ Rizzo told Northeast News in reference to his uncle’s court case.

    Rizzo’s uncle John Moretina pleaded guilty to voter fraud Monday during court proceedings at the United States Courts for the Western District of Missouri.

    Moretina admitted to lying about his residence in order to register in Rizzo’s district and cast a ballot during the August 2010 election between Missouri House candidates Rizzo and Will Royster, both Historic Northeast residents. Rizzo won the 2010 election by one vote and ran unopposed this past

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    blue-green truck

    City seeks public’s assistance in identifying illegal dumping suspects

    Northeast News
    May 10, 2013

    Illegal dumping continues to be a problem in Historic Northeast and the city of Kansas City is seeking the public’s assistance in locating and identifying several vehicles.

    One red truck with distinct wheels was caught by a city camera illegally dumping near Blue Ridge Boulevard and 7th Street. A metallic blue-green truck with two stripes painted over the roof and hood was also spotted dumping in the same area. Investigators know who the blue-green truck belongs to, but need assistance in figuring out where the woman currently resides, since she’s moved three times since she last registered her

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    City needs public’s assistance in identifying vehicle illegally dumping in Northeast

    Northeast News
    May 9, 2013

    UPDATE: Northeast News just received an email stating that the city has located the driver of the truck. If you spot other vehicles illegally dumping in the area, you can contact the city’s Illegal Dumping Investigator Alan Ashurst, (816) 215-1112, or email him at Alan.Ashurst@kcmo.org.

    Original story:
    A truck was spotted illegally dumping in Historic Northeast and the city’s Neighborhood and Housing Services Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the vehicle.

    A city-owned security camera

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    City converts key one-way streets to two-way streets

     

    By LESLIE COLLINS
    Northeast News
    May 8, 2013

    Several one-way streets in downtown Kansas City will change to two-way streets by the end of May.

    “This is something we’ve been looking at for quite some time,” said Sean Demory of the Public Works Department. “Throughout the area you are looking at streets that for one reason or another were kept one-way a little too long. It’s not as effective for

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    KC Parks Department invites public input at community forums

    Northeast News
    May 6, 2013

    The Community Services Division of the Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation is encouraging residents to attend its public forums which will be held throughout this week at area community centers. The purpose of these open meetings is to gather information to aid in improving service and program delivery of the Community Services Division which oversees community centers, athletics and aquatics programing in Kansas City, Mo.

    Below is the public forum schedule:
    Tuesday, May 7
    6 p.m.: Gregg Klice Community Center, 1600 John “Buck” O’Neil Way
    6 p.m.: Tony Aguirre Community Center, 2050 W. Pennway
    7 p.m.: Garrison Community Center, 1124 East

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    Cinco de Mayo goes to the dogs

    Northeast News
    May 3, 2013

    Organizers of the Kansas City Chihuahua Parade are once again hoping to break the Guinness World Record for the most dogs in costume.

    Currently, St. Louis holds the record with 1,326 costumed dogs.

    Although it’s called the Chihuahua Parade, dogs of all varieties are welcome to participate in the parade, which will begin on Sunday (Cinco de Mayo) at the Barney Allis Plaza at 12th and Central, Kansas City, Mo.

    Cost to participate is $5 per dog and entry fees will be given to the Great Plains SPCA, which recently opened a second shelter in the metro area. Every year,

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    Charges filed in Jan. 28 double homicide near Budd Park

    Northeast News
    May 2, 2013

    An 18-year-old Kansas City man has now been charged in the Jan. 28 double homicide of Brian G. Cunningham and Therman Lacy III that occurred near Budd Park.

    Glenn A. Pulluaim II has been charged with two counts of second degree murder and two counts of armed criminal action, both felonies.

    According to court records, Pulluaim, another man and a woman made an arrangement to purchase marijuana from two individuals who were parked in a car near Budd Park.

    When one of the victims said he forgot his scale, Pulluaim pulled out a handgun and shot the victim, according to

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    Task force proposes limiting Northeast park hours

    By LESLIE COLLINS
    Northeast News
    May 1, 2013

    Despite safety enhancements, some of Kansas City’s parks continue to generate a high volume of calls for service.

    “You’ve done everything you can and yet there’s still a problem,” City Council member Scott Wagner said of three Historic Northeast parks.

    For Budd Park, George E. Kessler Park and Independence Plaza Park, Wagner feels the only option left to enhance safety is to close the parks during evening hours, an unprecedented option in Kansas City. Currently, all of

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    Students honor local hero Diane Rojas with assembly

    By MICHAEL BUSHNELL
    Northeast News
    May 1, 2013

    All you need to know about Diana Rojas is that she has two Labrador retrievers named, wait for it, Cheech and Chong. That should give you a glimpse of the sense of humor of Mrs. Diane Rojas, Gladstone Elementary School’s Hero for 2012-2013.

    The mantra, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” aren’t just words to Diana Rojas, it’s more a way of life. Sound cliché? Well, follow Diana Rojas around for a day and see if you don’t start to live it

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