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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 - Monday, September 1, 2008  
Political Campaign Signs Support Party MessagesKANSAS CITY, MO, (SLFP.com), September 1, 2008 - Campaign signs are beginning to make an appearance across the St. Louis region in support of the presidential campaign and the upcoming vice presidential debate, scheduled, October 2, at Washington University. This is the fifth consecutive time the University has been selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) to host a debate. Washington University is the only institution to host more than two debates. The debate will focus on both domestic and foreign policy and will be administered by a single moderator. Gwen Ifill, a longtime correspondent and moderator for nationally televised public broadcasting news programs, has been selected to moderate the vice presidential debate. The University is again offering the same facilities that were made available for the 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 debates, which include the Field House, Francis Gymnasium and other areas of the Athletic Complex. Francis Gym and Francis Field were the sites of the 1904 World Olympic Games, the first Olympics played in the Western Hemisphere. In 2000, the University hosted a "town-hall meeting" debate between Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore, during which candidates took questions from an audience of 140 undecided St. Louis-area voters selected by the Gallup organization. The town-hall format again was used when President George W. Bush squared off against Sen. John Kerry during the 2004 debate at Washington University. ABC News' Charles Gibson served as moderator. All tickets to attend the debate are assigned by the CPD. As was done in 1992, 2000 and 2004, any debate tickets that may be assigned to Washington University will be distributed only to full-time students, who will be selected in a University-wide lottery. Missouri's National Guard Expands Support in Louisiana KANSAS CITY, MO, (SLFP.com), September 1, 2008 - Gov. Matt Blunt has mobilized an additional 700 Missouri National Guard Citizen-Soldiers to support Hurricane Gustav recovery efforts in Louisiana, bringing the total number of mobilized Missouri Guard members in this effort to nearly 1,300. "As our Gulf neighbors continue to battle Hurricane Gustav, I am directing an additional 700 Missouri Guard Members to Louisiana," Gov. Blunt said. "I had the opportunity last night to talk to Governor Jindal and we discussed Missouri's Guard presence in Louisiana. I told him that Missourians are proud of the leadership he has shown in helping the people of his state battle the hurricane. Melanie and I offer our thoughts and prayers to the people of the Gulf Coast and I know the thoughts and prayers of Missourians are with our neighbors to the South during this challenging time." Missouri National Guard units being mobilized today for movement to Louisiana tomorrow include: 203rd Engineer Battalion and Forward Support Company, Joplin; 1141st Engineer Company, Kansas City; 294th Engineer Company, Carthage and Anderson; 220th Engineer Company, Festus; 880th Haul Team, Perryville; 311th Brigade Support Battalion, Lexington and the 548th Transportation Company, Trenton. "As the needs of Louisiana increase, the Missouri National Guard continues to provide support," said Maj. Gen. King Sidwell, adjutant general for the Missouri National Guard. These Soldiers will join almost 600 Missouri National Guard members in support of hurricane response efforts in Louisiana, including a task force of military police from across the state, led by the 205th Military Police Battalion, Poplar Bluff; an aviation maintenance team from Springfield; the 7th Civil Support Team, located at Fort Leonard Wood; the 1221st Transportation Company in Dexter, Portageville and Sikeston; and Company A, 311th Brigade Support Battalion in Nevada and Lamar. The Missouri National Guard Citizen-Soldiers are being mobilized under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, an interstate mutual aid agreement. Health Department Warns of Scam Targeting Lodging Establishments KANSAS CITY, MO, (SLFP.com), September 1, 2008 - The City of Kansas City, Mo., Health Department has alerted lodging establishment proprietors to a telephone-based scam that attempts to extort money under the guise of fees for forms from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The scam has been reported by at least one Missouri establishment, and at this time appears to be targeting smaller lodging establishments such as bed and breakfasts. As part of the scam, the caller tells the lodging owner that he/she needs to send $200 for a form that must be displayed in the establishment under new state regulations. The caller says the new form and fee are part of a new law that went into effect Aug. 1. A second phone call may follow, telling the owner that a package is being sent with the form and an invoice for the $200. The phone number may be blocked by caller I.D., or it may show a number from Montreal, Canada. The Department of Health and Senior Services has assured the Health Department that its staff is not making these calls and there is no new law requiring a form and $200 fee. Anyone receiving calls of this sort should gather as much information as possible from the caller and try to obtain a return phone number. Under no circumstances should the establishment agree to accept a package from an unknown or unconfirmed source or submit any payment. "At this time the scam is not widespread, but it may become so," said Bert Malone, manager of the Environmental Health Services division, which regularly inspects lodging establishments for safety and sanitation under contract with the State of Missouri. "If you have received one of these calls or you have concerns about a lodging establishment, contact the Health Department at (816) 513-6313."   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