Should United States' 'targeted killings' ever target U.S. citizens?

Anwar al-Awlaki -- a U.S.-born cleric who became an al-Qaida spokesman -- was reportedly killed by a U.S. airstrike Friday in Yemen.

It's hard to muster too much sympathy for someone who was actively calling for the murder of innocent people, but some critics, including Ron Paul, are saying that U.S. citizens shouldn't be the subjects of "targeted killings."

The AP has a good piece here, laying out both sides of the argument. Here's what the supporters are saying:

The officials can cite, in part, a 1942 Supreme Court case in which justices reasoned that the U.S. citizenship of an enemy belligerent "does not relieve him from the consequences" of war.

"In this instance," Charlie Dunlap, a Duke University Law School visiting professor, said Friday, "that consequence is being targeted like any other enemy."

Image via AP

Prosecutors: Robbery suspect wondered if he could just pay victim back

A 19-year-old is facing criminal charges in Jackson County after he allegedly used stolen credit cards this week. Best Part from Tony Rizzo's story:

After police on Thursday caught Justin M. Williams using credit cards taken in a robbery earlier in the day, he made an unusual suggestion, Jackson County prosecutors allege.

“I’m sorry,” he said, according to court documents. “Can’t I just pay the guy back?”

Local financial adviser cheated teenagers out of $1.2 million

From Tony Rizzo:

A financial adviser was sentenced to prison Friday for swindling two teenagers out of $1.2 million they received in a settlement after their father’s death.

Mark S. Greenway, 53, of Lee’s Summit was sentenced in federal court in Kansas City to four years in federal prison. He also was ordered to pay back the money stolen from the two sisters who had initially invested their money with him in 1999, according to federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors say he spent part of the money on classic cars.

Suspect in old KC rapes sentenced to 18 life sentences

Jackson is 53 years old, and he's spent more than 30 years in prison for various sexual assaults. And it looks like that's where he will serve out the rest of his existence.

Today's sentencing -- he was convicted in July -- is only tied to four sexual assaults from 1983 and 1984. Jackson hasn't been tried yet in the Waldo-area rapes more than a year ago.

Man accused of plot to attack Pentagon, Capitol with model airplanes

A Massachusetts man allegedly plotted to attack the Capitol and Pentagon with remote-controlled planes loaded with C-4, the authorities tell the AP. The arrest was part of a sting conducted by federal agents:

Wednesday's arrest was the latest of several terrorism cases to spring from federal sting operations. In other cases, reputed would-be terrorists became involved in fictional plots against various targets, such as Dallas skyscrapers or a Chicago nightclub. In this case, though, authorities say Ferdaus planned the scheme.

AP Photo/U.S. Department of Justice

Ohio man gets 2 years in prison for stealing Reds bobblehead

The suspect's last name? Cheatham. So glad they're putting this dangerous fiend where he can't hurt anyone else.

Showing 'Hangover II' is worse than giving booze to underage customers

Utah has some ... unique liquor laws, and this story from the Salt Lake Tribune includes another good example. A movie theater there was slapped with a $1,627 fine because it showed "Hangover II" and served alcohol to audience members at the same time.

The theater has permission to serve alcohol, but Utah law forbids bars from showing depictions "of certain sex acts and full frontal nudity." Which the Hangover sequel definitely has. (In fact, the Trib has a very nice roundup of the naughty parts.)

The kicker? The theater's fine was about $400 more than what you'd get if you served alcohol to a minor, the Trib says.

Woman who killed, ate husband would like to get out of prison early, please

She argues that she had a very traumatic childhood, but I just feel that -- if you fry someone's hands in cooking oil and cook their head on your stove -- you should at least serve 27 years of your 27-to-life sentence.

Local police plan traffic campaign for Oct. 6

From The Star:

A large traffic-enforcement campaign is being planned for Oct. 6 with police officers across the metro looking for major and minor violations.

Operation Impact, a coalition that includes agencies in Kansas and Missouri, will be watching for drivers who fail to signal lane changes, don’t make complete stops and follow too closely, among other things, said Sgt. Jim Baker of the Shawnee police department.

Prosecutors: Suspect wanted to kill bear, wear its pelt while killing his ex

A New York man -- who owns a junk yard and has experience as a demolition-derby driver -- is going to prison because he tried to hire a hitman to kill his ex-girlfriend in a staged car wreck. His original plan, via the AP:

Clyde Gardner gave up on his first idea: Kill a bear, skin it and wear the pelt while using its claws to kill the woman as she took out her garbage. The plan included him wearing the bear's paws on his feet so no human footprints would be left behind.

No, Congress didn't actually take any children hostage yesterday

Yesterday, The Onion published a story about Congress literally taking a group of children hostage. Even though The Onion is a satirical paper, a lot of people were upset about the piece, which you can read here. (The subhed: "We Need $12 Trillion Or All These Kids Die.")

The Capitol Hill police felt it was important enough to issue a statement noting that it was just a fake news story.

AP Photo / Screengrab of The Onion's Twitter feed

Teen suspect shot, injured during struggle with Blue Springs police

From The Star:

A 16-year-old suspect was shot in the thigh during a struggle with Blue Springs police on Thursday afternoon, the department said. The teen’s injuries were not life-threatening, said Detective Jeremy Dickstein, a department spokesman.

About 4:30 p.m., officers went to an apartment in the 1100 block of Northwest Arlington Place to serve a warrant on the 16-year-old, who was being sought for escape. Police found the teen hiding in a closet and, during the struggle, an officer shot him.

N.J. police chief insists that officers ticket his wife over parking violations

The police chief in Lodi, N.J., says he has told his officers to ticket his wife on two different occasions -- for double parking and failing to move her car for a street sweeper, The Record reports. He said he didn't want his family to get special treatment.

She got one of those tickets while dropping off their kid at school, so I'm not sure if the missus was quite as understanding.

I've heard about police letting fellow officers or their families out of minor tickets. For any police or former police in the audience, do you ever have situations like this -- where officers insist on being ticketed, so nobody can accuse them of getting special treatment?

Friday's Open Thread

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, please email jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Should medical-marijuana users be allowed to buy guns?

The ATF has sent a letter to gun dealers reminding them that it's illegal to sell guns or ammunition to someone who uses illegal drugs -- even if they're a medical-marijuana user, in a state where that's allowed, the AP reports.

"There are no exceptions in federal law for marijuana purportedly used for medicinal purposes, even if such use is sanctioned by state law," said the letter by Arthur Herbert, the ATF's assistant director for enforcement programs and services.

As one dealer tells the AP, it's not a big deal because (a) the users would have to out themselves to the gun sellers and (b) there doesn't seem to be a big overlap between the two groups.

What do you think? Is it reasonable to include medical-marijuana users in the no-gun group?

Suspect in old KC rape can't be charged because of loophole

From Christine Vendel:

Kansas City police recently learned the identity of a man they believe raped a 54-year-old high school guidance counselor in 1997.

Despite the DNA hit, which links a professional cage fighter in Colorado to the unsolved crime, Jackson County prosecutors can’t file charges because of a legal loophole.

At some car washes, they DO mind if you act the fool

A 65-year-old man from Rhode Island has been put on probation after he allegedly got naked while he cleaned his pickup at a car wash.

2 dead after triple shooting at 26th and Prospect, KC police say

From The Star:

Two men, believed to be in their early 20s, were shot to death this evening at 26th Street and Prospect Avenue, Kansas City police said.

A third victim suffered critical injuries in the shooting, which was reported at 5:23 p.m.

The shooting happened across from the Green Duck tavern. The men live in the neighborhood and were headed to the tavern to pick up dinner when the shooting happened, according to a bystander who identified himself as a relative.

Patrol keeps searching for Mo. trooper who disappeared in flooded area

The Missouri Highway Patrol has scaled up its search for Trooper Fred Guthrie's remains, and searchers will be out again today in Holt County.

That's where Guthrie disappeared back in early August. I talked to a patrol spokesman who said they've never stopped looking for him, but now that water levels have gone down, they can send out dive teams and start checking brush piles there.

The not-so-great pumpkin: Gourd thrown at Canadian jogger

I like how the Vancouver Sun describes it as a "rogue gourd."

Thursday's Open Thread

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, please email jhart@kcstar.com. Thanks again, and have a great day!

Man found dead at Olathe park

From Joe Lambe and Bob Cronkleton:

One person is dead following a physical altercation at an Olathe park this morning. It happened at about 5:30 a.m. at Mill Creek Park at North Woodland and East Poplar streets.

When police arrived, they found two men injured. Both were taken to a hospital, where one, a 53-year-old Olathe resident, was pronounced dead. Police have the other person, a 43-year-old Kansas City man, in custody.

OP police release photos in case of stolen credit card

From Joe Lambe:

Overland Park police are asking for help identifying two women who used a credit card that had been stolen from a shopper’s purse.

The victim was shopping at a clothing store Saturday when someone stole her wallet from her purse. Police today released photos of two women who used her credit card later that day at a nearby store.

Anyone with information is asked to call Overland Park police at 913-344-8750 or the TIPS hotline at 816-327-8477.

Police: Iowa woman punched boyfriend because he wouldn't have sex

Paragraph 5 contains the BEST. QUOTE. EVER.

Suspect Googled before he burgled, Illinois police allege

A Chicago man is accused of burglarizing a series of expensive homes -- which, police claim, he identified by Googling "expensive homes along highways."