Was somebody deliberately shooting at Lou Dobbs' house?

In New Jersey, the state police are investigating after a bullet hit CNN host Lou Dobbs' house. It's not clear if the shot was intentional or just accidental, maybe from a hunter's bullet. The authorities say they're investigating partly because Dobbs is a public persona. The broadcaster says he's gotten weeks of threatening phone calls.

Report: Woman sues over naked pics on camera

KCTV has a story about a Belton woman suing Wal-Mart because she bought a digital camera for her teenage daughter, who -- after she opened it -- reportedly discovered the camera already had photos of a naked woman on it.

Cleveland police investigate after 6 bodies found at home

In Cleveland, authorities have arrested a convicted rapist, Anthony Sowell, after six corpses were found at his house Thursday. Sowell wasn't picked up until this afternoon, just walking along the street. Police had gone to his home to arrest him in connection with a recent rape and found the bodies -- which were so badly decomposed that the victims might have died years ago. The coroner is pretty sure the victims died from strangulation, though. On Saturday night, Sowell was in custody for the recent rape charge, but homicide charges hadn't been filed against him.

An unspeakable crime

The New York Daily News has the details. We require people to be 21 years old before they can drink alcohol. To legally drive, you have to pass a test, pay for a license and retain car insurance. Yet any idiot can have a baby.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, cripjak

Shawnee man says he was mistakenly jailed for 25 days

Joe Lambe has the full story here, but the nutshell is that Adolph Moreno is suing Johnson County and Overland Park because he was supposed to be jailed for two days. Instead, he says, authorities kept him for 27 days -- and sent him a bill. The authorities haven't commented yet with their side of things.

Shooter fires on carloads of teens

Independence police are investigating after someone fired upon two carloads of teenagers late Friday night near 39th and Bolger. The vehicles were stopped at a red light. A 16-year-old boy was hit in the eye by some shrapnel, and was treated at the scene. Police think it might have been connected to an incident at Wal-Mart -- a man had gotten into a tiff with the teens and threatened to get them.

Suspect info: The suspect car is described as a green or blue Ford Escort that left westbound on 39th St. The suspect is described as a black male between 20 and 27 years old 5'00 to 5'04" tall. There was possibly a two year old child in the car at the time of the shooting.

The police's press release is available after the jump ...

6 DUI arrests during KCPD sobriety checkpoint

From KCPD: The Kansas City Missouri Police Department conducted a Low Staffing Sobriety Checkpoint on October 30, 2009 from 2300 hours to 0400 hours at NB I 35 & Chouteau and NB I 35 & Brighton Exit Ramps. Northbound traffic was checked with a total of 243 vehicles stopped. A total number of 6 DUI arrests were made, along with 2 Driving While Suspended, 1 State Warrant for DUI, 1 State Warrant for Driving While Suspended, and 3 Hazardous Moving Violations.

Open Thread ... Weekend Edition

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Photo via icanhascheezburger.com!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Photo via icanhascheezburger.com!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Photo via icanhascheezburger.com!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Photo via icanhascheezburger.com!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Photo via icanhascheezburger.com!

Guilty plea in two Northland slayings

From Meredith Rodriguez: A Kansas City man pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of two people in December 2006.

Lark E. Gardner Jr. had allegedly joined three others in robbing a home in the 4200 block of Northeast 44th Street. The home was believed to be a drug house, according to a probable cause statement from Kansas City police. During the robbery, one of Gardner’s co-defendants, Prentiss R. Fulton, shot and killed Angela Windle, 18, and Patrick Hooton, 22, while injuring two others.

The craziest thing you will read today

A woman and her father were trying to get from the American Royal to the Marriott on 12th Street downtown yesterday, but got lost and stopped at Paseo Express, 1500 Truman Road, to get directions. They met a guy, Jason E. Frazier, who offered to lead them to their destination in exchange for gas money, authorities say. So they took off following him. (The woman and her dad were in separate cars.)

They got to the 500 block of Central Avenue before the woman decided something was wrong. The woman tried to turn around, but Frazier allegedly got out of his car with a gun and ordered her out of the vehicle. Dad, though, backed his car at Frazier and told her to drive off. She did, and Dad followed.

They pulled into a convenience-store parking lot in the 700 block of Central, thinking Frazier was gone. From the U.S. Attorney for Western Kansas:

When Frazier drove up, Katrina Schwer sped off westbound on Central Avenue with Frazier pursuing her. Her father followed. At 12th and Central Frazier pulled alongside Katrina Schwer’s car. He shouted, “Get in my car.”

Her father maneuvered his car in front of Frazier’s car and backed into the front end of Frazier’s car, disabling Frazier’s car. Her father flagged down a Kansas City, Kan., Police Department officers, who located Frazier and arrested him.

Frazier is now facing federal charges. If the whole account is accurate, it's like something from a TV show.

KCK names homicide victim from1300 block of North 4th

From KCKPD: The victim from the homicide which occurred on Friday, October 30, 2009 in the 1300 Block of North 4th Street has been identified. LeDion D. Brown, black male, DOB 03/17/1990, was a Kansas City, Kansas resident. The victim’s family has been notified. The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department’s Major Case Unit is encouraging anyone with information regarding the incident to please call 913-573-6020 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

UPDATE: Private eye died of natural causes

In Newton, Kan., police are investigating the death of Richard Schroeder, a former U.S. marshal who worked as a private investigator. His wife found him lying in their driveway last night with serious head injuries. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Eagle notes that Schroeder was a principal in a proposed work-release center in Wichita. In addition to his detective work, he had done security work for the late Dr. George Tiller, both as a marshal and a p.i.

UPDATE: An autopsy now says that foul play was NOT involved.

1 dead, 1 injured in shooting at 31st and Prospect

From KCPD: Officers on Friday at 2:51 p.m. were called to 31st and Prospect to investigate a shooting. Upon arriving the officers found a male in the parking lot of the shopping center near Cash America Pawn. The man had been shot and was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A second shooting victim was located at another area hospital at about 316 pm. Detectives are investigating the possibility these two shooting victims may be related.

A witness reported the victim was chasing 2 other males through the parking lot. The victim was shooting at the 2 other males and the 2 males were shooting at the victim.

UPDATE: KCPD officer hurt when suspect's gun discharges

Just an update about the incident this morning at the bus station near Troost and 11th ...

From KCPD: During the below described struggle between detectives and a suspect, identified as Kalvin Loyd, detectives placed Loyd in custody. Once in custody a gun fell out of Loyd's pocket, hit the ground (concrete) and discharged striking the officer in the leg. The officer was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Kalvin Loyd has since been charged in federal court with Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm.

Did Mo. need a law to keep sex offenders home on Halloween?

The Missouri Attorney General's office is reminding folks -- and by folks, they mostly mean sex offenders -- that registered sex offenders are supposed to follow the following rules on Halloween:

• Avoid all Halloween-related contact with children.

• Remain inside his or her residence between the hours of 5:00 and 10:30 p.m. unless required to be elsewhere for just cause, including but not limited to employment or a medical emergency.

• Post a sign on his or her residence stating, “No candy or treats at this residence.”

• Leave off all outside residential lighting during the evening hours after 5:00 p.m.

The law has faced legal challenges, the AG's office notes, but says it'll still be enforced. The Sex Crimes blog, though, points us to this study, which argues there's not an increased risk of sex crimes against kids on Halloween.

Bar patron shot in the chest Thursday night

From Sara Shepherd: Police are looking for four men who barged into an east Kansas City bar Thursday night, ordered everyone to the floor and shot one of the patrons in the chest. According to a police report, the suspects showed up at the 2400 Club, 4820 E. 24th St., about 10:30 p.m.

Intoxicated driver rams riding mower into stopped school bus, Fla. cops say

Which made all the children laugh at him, which -- naturally -- enraged him. He tried to get on the bus, presumably so he could kindly ask the children to stop laughing at him, but the bus driver refused.

Muslim wife tried to kill husband for making her eat pork, drink booze, N.Y. cops say

He lived, though. The New York Post article is one long game of he-said, she-said. One interesting point, though: They were put together through an arranged marriage. I've always heard those worked out pretty well.

Hat Tip: Many thanks, Keith G in PV!

Open Thread ... Sweet Merciful Friday

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Welcome back to the Open Thread, our blog's space for off-topic comments and discussion. If you've seen an interesting story somewhere else, feel free to post a link below.

As always, please follow our standard rules: Please sign your comments, and please avoid profanity, as well as racially and sexually abusive language. And when you sign your comments, please use only one nickname. If you need to reach me, just send an email to jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Look out, Dog!

At the Citizens Police Academy, we went to KCPD's shooting range. On TV, the officers always shoot at an abstract outline of a person. Kansas City police, though, have targets with photographs of "bad guys" on them. (Or actors posing as bad guys. Please don't interpret this as the police wanting to shoot people -- anything but.)

I saw three versions of the paper targets last night, and one is a dead ringer for Dog The Bounty Hunter. (Though to be clear -- it was NOT a picture of Dog.) One of the other target models looked like Dave Chappelle's Tyrone Biggums character, if he worked out.

Merriam plans DUI saturation patrol on Halloween

And into the early hours of Sunday morning.

Man was raped, beaten for hours over missing cellphone, Ohio cops say

Oh, and exposed him to HIV, the authorities say.

KISS fan won't take no for an answer

From the Athens Banner-Herald:

The man walked into Shuffles Bar, 334 W. Main St., in Winder on Saturday evening and demanded that the manager book Kiss. When the manager refused, the man became irate and started yelling at everyone in the bar that he was running a meth lab.

When the manager threatened to call the police, the man got into a white minivan and drove off, yelling that he was going to Walmart, according to the report.

The man was later arrested at Wal-Mart.

Alaska dad blew kids' college money on Vegas stripper, police say

All told, about $36K was stolen, authorities say -- about $12K from the college funds, the rest from savings accounts that his wife set up.

Mission: Improbable

Two 14-year-olds in Idaho are in trouble because they were playing "Mission: Impossible" after school, on school grounds, with air pistols -- and another kid, who didn't know about the "mission," accidentally got hit by a pellet in his leg.