KMBC Channel 9 is reporting that a school bus and three vehicles have been involved in a car accident on 57th and Parallel Parkway.

One car reportedly was traveling normal speed on Parallel Parkway when it hit black ice on the road. The reaction of other drivers eventually led to the school bus hitting a vehicle.

According to Channel 9, one student hurt a knee. However, no additional injuries were reported.

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The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU), in accordance with Federal Regulation, 10 CFR, Part 905.11, is taking public comment and making available for review its draft 2010 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).

Integrate Resource Planning (IRP) is a process that involves consideration of demand-side options in addition to traditional supply-side options in meeting the power needs of an electrical system.

Such planning focuses on the need to seek and evaluate opportunities for savings of demand and energy in addition to evaluating traditional supply resources. It is an on-going planning process that is updated as conditions, prices, costs, technologies and power requirements change.

The object of such planning is to find a least cost solution which will supply customers the amount and quality of electric service they desire while at the same time promoting the utility’s long term financial health.

BPU is required by law to file an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), an Agency of the U.S. Department of Energy, and update the plan every five years. As part of this requirement, BPU must also submit annual progress reports and the status of its IRP.  The report being made available is the draft BPU’s 2010 IRP.

Public comments on BPU’s draft 2010 IRP will be accepted for 30 days from notice of this publication. Comments can be forwarded to the Director of Electric Supply Planning, Blake Elliott using any of the contact methods which appear below.

Paper print copies of the draft 2010 IRP are available to the public by request. To receive a print copy, please contact:

Director of Electric Supply Planning
Board of Public Utilities
312 N. 65th Street
Kansas City, Kansas 66102
Att: Blake Elliott

Electronic copies are available by submitting requests to belliott@bpu.com, and are also available on BPU’s website at the following link:

http://www.bpu.com/documents/Integrated%20Resource%20Plan%202010.pdf

For additional questions regarding the draft 2010 IRP, please contact Blake Elliott, (913)573-6837.

The tougher winter isn't just imagination – it's in the statistics.

The average temperature in the Kansas City area for the month of January was 23.8 degrees, which is 3.1 degrees below normal. The average high temperature was 29.8 degrees, a full 6.2 degrees below normal.

Meanwhile, the average low temperature was 17.8 degrees, which is actually the normal low temperature for this time.

Kansas City also experienced a less wet January than normal.

The precipitation totals came in 0.72 inches below normal.

In regard's to today's weather, expect bitter cold wind chills throughout the day.

However, it's expected to be a dry day. The full four-day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Tuesday: Scattered flurries. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 22. Wind chill values between -2 and -12. Blustery, with a northwest wind between 13 and 21 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. Northwest wind between 11 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 24. Wind chill values between zero and 10. Northwest wind between 3 and 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. Light north northwest wind.

Thursday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 36.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

ARSON

• 2100 Block of N. 47th Street

ASSAULT

• 100 Block of Edgerton: (AGG)(Criminal use of weapon)
• 3000 Block of Suntree
• 8900 Block of Parallel Parkway
• 2000 Block of N. 1st Street (AGG)

BATTERY

• 800 Block of Tauromee
• 2700 Block of N. 13th Street
• S. 27th Parallel Parkway
• 900 Block of Washington Boulevard
• 200 Block of Central Avenue

BURGLARY

• 1400 Block of S. 55th Street: Wyandotte County decal sticker stolen from car
• 1200 Block of Ruby Avenue: DVD/stereo system stolen from car (CD)
• 700 Block of N. 7th Street: Numerous items stolen from car (CD)
• 900 Block of Minnesota Avenue: Cellphone, ATM card, check book and purse stolen
• 2300 Block of N. 57th Street: Prescription pills stolen
• 3900 Block of Rainbow Boulevard: BlackBerry stolen
• 3000 Block of N. 18th Street: Decal sticker stolen from car
• 7500 Block of State Avenue: Wallet, driver's license, Social Security card stolen and pre-pay card stolen
• 2200 Block of Metropolitan: Home break-in (CD)
• 3700 Block of State Avenue: Shoplifting
• 1200 Block of Central Avenue: $500 in wire stolen
• 2200 Block of Lawrence Street: Nintendo Wii system, games stolen (CD)
• 2300 Block of Central Avenue: Nothing specified
• 500 Block of Northrup: iPod stolen from car (CD)
• 2300 Block of Tauromee Avenue: Vehicle plate stolen from car
• 900 Block of N. 34th Street: Wyandotte County decal stolen
• 300 Block of N. 18th Street: Vehicle plate stolen
• 4300 Block of State Avenue: Two pallets stolen
• 2900 Block of N. Bethany Street: Kansas tag stolen
• 800 Block of N. 6th Street: Designer table stolen
• 1100 Block of County Line Road: Decal sticker stolen
• 1400 Block of N. 81st Street: Decal sticker stolen
• 5300 Block of Miami Avenue: Decal sticker stolen
• 900 Block of Hillcrest Drive: Decal sticker stolen
• 6600 Block of Thron Drive: Cellphone taken
• 2800 Block of S. 47th Street: $40 stolen
• 500 Block of S. 55th Street: (CD)
• 2800 Block of State Avenue: Shoplifting
• 4100 Block of Orville: Wiring, lumber, copper tubing stolen
• 7200 Block of Montana: Copper pipes, central air unit stolen
• 1000 Block of Troup Avenue: $5,000 item stolen
• 600 Block of S. 75th Street: $2,000 in copper stolen (CD)
• 900 Block of N. 71st Street: Nothing specified
• 6700 Block of Kaw Drive: Purse stolen at gunpoint
• 800 Block of N. 81st Street: $860 in currency stolen
• 800 Block of S. 70th Street: Diesel fuel, fuel transfer electric pump stolen
• 1700 Block of N. 76th Street: Washer stolen
• 10000 Block of Parallel Parkway: Condoms, peanut butter cups stolen
• 5900 Block of Leavenworth Road: Wallet stolen
• 900 Block of N. 34th Street: Kansas temporary tag stolen
• 3500 Block of Yecker Avenue: $2,000 in cash, purse stolen (CD)
• 700 Block of Gilmore Avenue: 30-day temporary tag stolen
• 500 Block of Barnett Avenue: Mexico passport stolen
• 18th and Orville Avenue: 30 CDs stolen, $20 in personal checks stolen

CAR THEFTS

• 200 Block of S. 55th Street (CD)
• 400 Block of N. 5th Street
• 100 Block of N. Boeke
• 2300 Block of Victoria Drive
• 6500 Block of Garfield Avenue

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

• 3100 Block of S. 40th Street
• 2500 Block of 47th Street
• 2200 Block of Metropolitan
• 400 Block of Shawnee Road
• 1300 Block of N. 55th Drive
• K-7 and Parallel Parkway

DRUGS

• 8th Street and Parallel Parkway: PCP bust
• 1200 Block of Central Avenue: Cocaine, drug paraphernalia
• 29th and Parallel: Possession of pills
• Valley Street and Central Avenue: Possession of controlled substance and paraphernalia
• 10th and Central Avenue: Possession of marijuana, paraphernalia
• 10th and Central Avenue: Possession of marijuana with intent to sell
• 18th and Cleveland: Possession of cocaine, drug paraphernalia
• 18th and Garfield: Possession of marijuana and cocaine
• 2000 Block of N. 67th Street: Sell and possession of meth
• I-635 and Leavenworth Road: Possession of drug paraphernalia
• 14th and Central Avenue: Possession of marijuana and paraphernalia
• 25th and Freeman: Possession of heroin, cocaine
• 1200 Block of Central Avenue: Possession of cocaine, drug paraphernalia

FORGERY

• 7300 Block of State Avenue: Check, IDs stolen
• 800 Block of Kansas Avenue: Forged check

GUNS

• 3000 Block of Hiwatha: Criminal use of weapons
• 27th and Georgia Avenue: Possession of a firearm

Bridges, exit and entrance ramps and side streets are starting to get a little nasty.

Here are some accidents over the past hour or so. There are a few more, but I haven't received enough information on them yet.

• Interstate 635 and State Avenue: A one vehicle which caused no injuries. The black vehicle slid into a ditch near the exit and entrance ramp areas.
• Interstate 635 and Interstate 70: A similar accident happened. No injury.
• 18th and Steele Road: An accident caused minor injuries.
• A minor accident was reported on Interstate 435 somewhere in Wyandotte County.

Along with those accidents and others mentioned earlier today, numerous slick roads are being reported and road crews are being called out to address slick spots.

Needless to say, proceed with caution.

A heavy rescue unit has been called out to a two-car accident on the Kansas Avenue bridge above the Kansas river.

One party is described as trapped in a vehicle. According to respondents at the scene, it was a head on collision.

Everyone in the second vehicle have exited the vehicle.

UPDATE: The trapped victim is being transported to a local hospital. She is suffering from "head trauma" and is complaining of major pain in her left hip area.

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While the snow isn't coming down too hard, there are some accidents around Interstate 70.

Two non-injury accidents have been reported to EMS units in Kansas City, Kan., today.

• One accident involves a red Blazer and a brown Mercedes. The accident sounds like a hit and run incident, as the red Blazer left the scene quickly. The Blazer's bumper is hanging off the vehicle.
• A second accident happened on the Westbound I-70 ramp from 7th Street. One car slid off the road. A few minutes later, a second car slid off in the same area. It's unknown if the second car became in contact with the first vehicle. No injuries have been reported and no heavy rescue units have been called to the location.

The Burger King at 4004 Rainbow Boulevard was robbed Saturday night of $600.

One person entered the fast food joint with a handgun and proceeded to rob the store of $600. The robbery happened Saturday night at around 8 p.m.

A Kansas City, Kan., Police Department report shows that four employees were working the shift at the time.

All four of them were listed as victims of assault. Among the employees were two 18 year olds.

Police arrived a few minutes after it was reported. The scene was cleared just after 10 p.m.

Earp Meat Company of Edwardsville, Kan., will receive $5 million in allocated funding from the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The funds were received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Areas were targeted based on recovery needs and the economic situation.

Earp is one of four businesses to receive funding.

Over $99 million worth of requests were made to the state; only $30.6 million were rewarded in the competitive process.

UPDATE: More on the funds, from a press release:

Recovery Zone Facility Bonds and Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds are two new types of bonds created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help economically distressed areas. Recovery Zone Facility Bonds are much like Private Activity Bonds and can be used for privately owned or used projects. These bonds are federally tax exempt, which can provide the issuer with a lower cost of capital. Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds, which are used for public infrastructure, are fully taxable to the bond holders, but the U.S. Treasury will pay to the issuer (cities, counties) an amount equal to 45 percent of each interest payment.
 
The Kansas Department of Commerce reviewed applications for these two categories of bonds through a competitive process. The Recovery Zone Facility Bond process was exceptionally competitive, with the Department of Commerce receiving $99 million in requests for $30.617 million in available authority.
 
Organizations that have been issued bond authority through the first round of this reallocation process must confirm their intent to issue bonds with the Department of Commerce’s Bond Allocation Administrator by February 17, 2010. Allocations that are not confirmed by this date will be surrendered and redistributed among other applicants. The bond authority allocated to a project may be combined with other funding sources. This bond allocation expires if the bonds are not issued by May 31, 2010.

Next week, J.C. Harmon High School will induct it's first class into the school's new Hall of Fame.

The ceremony will be held during halftime of the Feb. 19 boys varsity basketball game against Wyandotte.

Among those inducted into the hall's first class – former NFL Pro Bowl cornerback Mark Haynes. Haynes, a 1976 alum of Harmon, appeared in the Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos. He also played for some of the Bill Parcells' New York Giants teams in the 1980s.

Others included in the first class:

• Javier Calderon, soccer, Class of 2001
• Haromma Dickerson, football, Class of 1991
• Aaron Hodges, wrestling, Class of 1991
• Maryam Malone, volleyball, basketball and track, Class of 1995
• Glenn Mays, basketball, Class of 1980
• Harold Piersey, football, Class of 1995
• Kevin Pulliam, football, Class of 2002

Plaques of each nominee will be in a display case in the school's commons area.

Former Harmon Athletic Director Shirley Murray said the hall was established to reflect on the school's past, but also inspire Harmon's current athletes.

“We wanted individuals who had not only been successful athletes in high school, but who also had distinguished themselves through good character,” Murray said. “We looked at their ability to act as a role model, and how they related to their coaches, teammates, peers and teachers. We also looked at citizenship and academics.”

A new class is expected to be inducted annually.

The Armourdale Renewal Association will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 18.

The meeting will be held from 6-7 p.m. at the Armourdale Recreation Center, located at 730 Osage Ave.

Habitat for Humanity's Tom Lally will be the event's guest speaker. Refreshments will be served and there is no charge for the event. For more information, contact Kim at (913) 371-5696.

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Harmon High School hosted this year's Wyandotte County Wrestling Tournament on Saturday.

All nine area high schools competed in the tournament. Here are the team results first, then the individual winners.

TEAM RESULTS

1. Turner
2. Bonner Springs
3. Sumner Academy
4. Piper
5. Wyandotte
6. Schlagle
7. Washington
8. Harmon
9. Bishop Ward

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (listed in order of place)

103: Eason (Piper), Spurlock (Turner), Seaton (Bonner Springs), Cruz (Sumner Academy)

112: First Place:  Florez (Turner) won 15-6 over Kovesec (Bonner Springs); Third Place: Enloe (Washington won 16-2 over Vue (Sumner Academy)

119: Seaton (Bonner Springs), Saunders (Harmon),Alas (Sumner Academy), Bussard (Turner)

125: Lohman (Turner), Cobb (Bonner Springs), Vue (Sumner Academy)

130: Carrol (Turner) won 7-5 over Blackwell for first; Koberlein (Piper) defeated Loe (Schlagle) for third place.

135: John (Turner) defeated Rhone (Schlagle) by a 2-1 decision for first; Morris (Piper) defeated Baker (Harmon) for third place.

140: Puckett (Bonner Springs), Sierant (Turner), Terres (Wyandotte) and Stevens (Washington)

145: Estrada (Turner) defeated Zwart (Piper) for first; Thompson defeated Moman (Sumner Academy) 12-3 for third.

152: Mohler (Turner) defeated Osuna (Sumner Academy) 7-2 for first; Bauswell (Piper) defeated Porter (Washington) 3-1 for third.

160: Tansey (Sumner Academy) defeated Hachinsky (Bishop Ward) 9-8 for first; Lira (Washington) defeated Clements (Bonner Springs) for third.

171: Callahan (Bonner Springs) defeated Avery (Schlagle) 11-7 for first; Palmer defeated Whitmore (Wyandotte) for third.

189: Alcantara (Turner) defeated Willis (Sumner) 9-4 for first; Moore (Piper) defeat Stirling (Bonner Springs) 3-1 for third.

215: Mitchell (Turner), Sipple (Wyandotte), Wallace (Schlagle), Leal (Sumner Academy)

285: Baren (Bonner Springs) defeated Young (Turner) for first; Berry-Davis claimed third.

The KCK Second Friday Downtown Art Walk will be held this Friday from 5-8 p.m. at scattered locations in downtown Kansas City, Kan.

A number of locations will host art walk displays on Friday.

• YWCA 6th Street Gallery: Alexander Austin's "Earnest to Epic, off the street" paintings and drawings displays will be available for display beginning Friday. An opening reception will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday. The display will be available until March 10.

• Imago Dei Arts Center: Greg Cissell's "Draws Me Coser" will have its opening reception at the Granada Theatre at 10th and Minnesota Avenue. The reception will be held from 5-8 p.m. and the display wil last until March. 6.

• KCK Public Library: Opened until 5 p.m. Friday, the "Welcome to Our World" exhibit will display a traveling exhibit created by people with developmental disabilities.

• Kaw Valley Arts and Humanities Gallery: Paintings and drawings from Melanie Lowrance and Rachel Mindrup will be available at 756 Armstrong. The opening reception will be held from 5-8 p.m. this Friday and the exhibit is viewable by appointment until March 5.

• Red Door Studios: An "Erotic Art Show" will be presented by Mark Glover. The exhibit will be viewable from 5-8 p.m. this Friday. Red Door Studios is located at 738 Armstrong Ave.

• Pressroom Studios: Studios of Darrell Trubey, George Morris, Michael Brantley, Jose Faus, Kim Eichler-Messmer and Carol Kariotis will be available for viewing at 750 Armstrong.

• Wheat State Pizza: Jim Russell's Paintings will hang at 612 N. 5th Street.

• Fat Matt's Vortex, 411 N. 6th Street, will host an after party. El Camino Real will also be opened for visitors.

Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh will resign on Feb. 15.

The announcement was made today in Topeka.

“It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve my fellow Kansans as Secretary of State for the last 15 years," he said in a statement. "My family and I have been very blessed by this opportunity.  The support and friendships we have received from countless Kansans has been invaluable. Thank you to the voters and my staff for making this experience possible. I am very proud of my record and the many accomplishments throughout my years of public service."

He was first elected in 1994 and since then, he's won three more terms in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

He received the most votes of anyone in the past two statewide elections.

Thornburgh will move on to the private sector, joining NIC as a Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson will appoint a replacement for the term, which expires Jan. 10, 2011.