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Kansas City News Today Kansas City Front Page is a weekly news publication, with daily updates, spotlighting attractions, events, business and hospitality in Kansas City. |
KANSAS CITY NEWS TODAY - Tuesday, May 27, 2008 Heart to Heart, FedEx to Deliver First Private Airlift to China KANSAS CITY, (BUSINESS WIRE), May 20, 2008 - Heart to Heart International Inc. and FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., will deliver the first private airlift of relief supplies to China following a massive earthquake in Sichuan Province. A FedEx MD-11 cargo plane carrying nearly 70 tons of humanitarian aid, valued at approximately $1.5 million (U.S. wholesale). Thanks to FedEx and its donation of transportation and logistics services, Kansas City-based humanitarian organization, Heart to Heart will be able to help millions of people over the next several months throughout Sichuan Province, the area hit hard by a magnitude-7.9 earthquake on May 12. Heart to Heart has been working in this part of China for more than a decade, managing year-round health and emergency initiatives from its base of operations in the Sichuan capital of Chengdu. Because of the organization's location and history in Sichuan, Heart to Heart was able to start helping survivors of the quake only hours after it struck near Chengdu. "Shortly after the quake hit, our staff in Chengdu mobilized quickly and were onsite helping survivors of this terrible tragedy," said Jon D. North, Heart to Heart's CEO. "Today's airlift is going to make a significant impact on our efforts to reduce suffering and we're privileged to be working on this initiative with our partners at FedEx, who helped us start our humanitarian operations in China with a medical airlift to Chengdu in 1997." The load consists of requested antibiotics, pain relievers, children's medications, IV solutions, first-aid supplies, diagnostic instruments, surgical items, orthopedic equipment, and such basic necessities as tarps, blankets and personal-hygiene kits. HEART Act to Reduce the Tax Burden and Expand Homeownership Opportunities for Veterans KANSAS CITY, (kansascityfrontpage.com), May 27, 2008 - The House recently passed the Heroes Earning Assistance and Tax Relief Act (HEART Act), which provides permanent tax relief for military families, expands the availability of Recovery Rebates for military families, and expands homeownership opportunities for veterans. In a statement, Speaker Pelosi said, "The New Direction Congress is second to none when it comes to meeting the needs of our troops, from ensuring that they have the tools and training they need in battle to caring for them and to delivering the quality health care they need when they return home. "Today, the House passed $1.3 billion in tax relief for military families facing significant financial hardships due to extended deployments. The bill represents a robust effort to reduce the tax burden on military families -- including helping more military families to access the Earned Income Tax Credit, offering small businesses a tax incentive to pay their National Guard and Reserve employees called up for active duty, making thousands of veterans eligible for low-interest home loans and ensuring that more military families are able to receive Recovery Rebates. "This tax relief for military families is the least Congress can do for our troops who are putting their lives on the line every day. I look forward to the Senate passing the HEART Act and the President signing this critical legislation into law," stated Pelosi. Similar to the earlier House-passed bill, which passed 410-0, the HEART Act's $1.3 billion in tax relief for military families is a modest response to the extended military deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan that have created significant economic hardships for many of our military families. This measure represents the final agreement with the Senate that may be sent to the President by Memorial Day. The House will also consider a legislative package of bills to address the health care needs of veterans, authorize major medical facility construction projects, and provide a cost-of-living adjustment for service-connected disability compensation rates for veterans, among others. Scam Artists Targeting Local Credit Union Customers KANSAS CITY, (kansascityfrontpage.com), May 27, 2008 - Attorney General Jay Nixon says Kansas City-area consumers are receiving phone calls, text messages and e-mails that appear to be from Mazuma Credit Union, but actually are from identity thieves. Official-sounding messages say the customer's account has been suspended because of fraud, then asks them to call a phone number or visit a Web site to reactivate the account. When they call the number, consumers are asked for their account information. "This is phishing scam - nothing more," said Nixon. "These crooks send messages that look and sound official, but it's important to remember never to give out personal information to anyone who's contacted you." Phishing is an attempt by identity thieves to trick consumers into giving out valuable personal information, such as bank account or credit card numbers. Nixon says any contact that appears to be from a financial institution asking for account information is a scam. Instead, he says consumers should call the legitimate phone number of the credit union or bank and report the contact. Missourians should never divulge their personal information to anyone who calls or e-mails them. Nixon says Mazuma and other legitimate organizations will never call or e-mail consumers asking for account numbers. Consumers can report phishing or other fraud at the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222 or his Web site, ago.mo.gov. Pioneer Services Leads Effort, Challenges Others, to Keep Flame Lit Atop Liberty Memorial KANSAS CITY, (kansascityfrontpage.com), May 27, 2008 - Since its completion in 1921, the Liberty Memorial has been a Kansas City landmark, overlooking the downtown skyline. But recent funding issues have forced the flame sitting atop the 217-foot tower to be extinguished except on special holidays. The annual cost to keep the flame burning is estimated to be $45,000 by officials at the National World War I Museum. Pioneer Services, a Kansas City-based company, has stepped up with an initial $5,000 donation to keep the flame burning until July 4. The company is also challenging other local businesses, individuals, and groups to donate to the cause by July 4, and will match those contributions up to an additional $17,500. "Since we work exclusively with the military community, we could not just sit back and let the flame go out," said Karen Von Der Bruegge, chief marketing officer for Pioneer Services. "The National World War I Museum is the only museum in America that preserves the legacy of those who served in the Great War, and we decided to do whatever we can to help ensure that legacy is honored." There is a new Web site, www.SaveTheFlame.org, to inform people of the need for assistance and to facilitate donations. Concerned citizens and organizations can make a tax-deductible contribution by sending a check to 100 W. 26th St., Kansas City, MO 64108-make the check out to "National World War I Museum" and put "Save the Flame" in the memo line. "Whether five or five hundred, every dollar is important," said Brian Alexander, National World War I Museum president and chief executive officer. "We are grateful to all of those who help keep the flame burning."   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