Kansas City News

<![CDATA[KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese is not considering bankruptcy, despite having paid millions of dollars for legal fees and settlements in sexual abuse cases involving priests in recent years, a diocese spokesman said. The diocese has paid $6 million in settlements on sex abuse cases since May, as well as $7 million on legal fees for sex abuse cases in the last two fiscal years. And it still faces more than two dozen sexual abuse lawsuits and a breach-of-contract case filed by plaintiffs who settled with the diocese for $10 million in 2008, The Kansas City Star reported (http://bit.ly/1iJj2Tc ). Those costs have raised concerns about possible bankruptcy among parishioners, including a group that has petitioned Pope Francis to remove Bishop Robert Finn for his handling of the sexual abuse allegations. "Among the active and retired clergy, there is a genuine and sincere concern of diocesan bankruptcy," said Jeff Weis, a Kansas City Catholic who started a petition drive seeking Finn's removal. "There's a fear that this diocese is being driven into the ground financially." A diocesan spokesman said those concerns are unfounded. "The diocese is not contemplating or in a position requiring bankruptcy," said spokesman Jack Smith, adding the diocese's insurance carrier covered the costs of the settlements. After the diocese settled with families in 2008, it strengthened policies and procedures to deal with allegations of sexual abuse by priests. "Many felt that our diocese had turned the corner," Weis said, "that our chapter of the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church had come to a close." But in December 2010, a computer technician found hundreds of lewd photos of young girls on the Rev. Shawn Ratigan's computer. Finn was later sentenced to two years of probation for failing to report suspicions of child abuse to authorities. Ratigan was sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to five child pornography charges. That led to more lawsuits against the diocese. The diocese also settled a lawsuit last summer in a case from decades ago involving a monsignor who was the subject of dozens of lawsuits. Another case, filed against a priest, his religious order and the diocese, was settled in December. The diocese also has paid millions in legal fees and still faces another 30 civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse, and the breach of contract case. ------ Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com

The Missouri House has passed legislation aimed at declaring a "cease-fire" in the so-called economic "border war" between Missouri and Kansas.

The largest Briarcliff mansion on the hill west of U.S. 169 north of downtown Kansas City, which impressed locals as well as visitors, was destroyed by a three-alarm fire late Thursday and early Friday.

Co-conspirators from eight states were involved in filing fraudulent tax returns in the largest federal false claims case that has ever been prosecuted in Missouri.

Complaints about a teacher and a part-time instructor at St. Thomas More school in Kansas City have led to suspensions and a police investigation.

The dogs, which were pit bulls and pit bull mixes, were found off a dirt road near Interstate 35 and Northeast Vivion Road.

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The 46-year-old man was stabbed in the throat by a 21-year-old man, Lawrence police said Thursday.

The 5-year-old suffered a massive stroke when he was just two days old. That stroke left him with cerebral palsy, as well as becoming legally blind.

A study released Wednesday by the Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center analyzes the size and structure of the underground commercial sex economies in eight major cities: San Diego, Seattle, Dallas, Denver, Washington, D.C., Miami, Atlanta and Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas City drivers better plan their travels or pray for the luck of the Irish this St. Patrick's Day weekend as runs and parades temporarily take over some streets.

Kansas City police say the death of a man whose body was found at a recycling warehouse apparently was accidental.

"A couple of teens came across a disturbing discovery in a wooded area of the Northland.

Prosecutors file felony charges of financially exploiting the elderly against a man and woman from Utah in connection with what police say is a door-to-door scam selling alarm systems.

Comic books played a key role in the transition of Darryl "DMC" McDaniels to music.

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Kansas City, Missouri: A Washington, DC organisation aimed at reducing gun violence is suing an Missouri gun store in the death of a Lafayette County man shot and killed by his mentally troubled daughter.

A Gladstone boy who has been battling brain cancer, got a salute from Kansas City-area police officers before getting a ride to a hospital in a police cruiser A NINE YEAR OLD BOY, WHO'S BATTLING CANCER, GOT A VERY SPECIAL RIDE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR ONE OF HIS TREATMENTS.

Kansas City Mayor Sly James is putting the finishing touches on his official State of the City speech, which he'll deliver on March 24 at Park Hill High School.

The Big 12 Championships will draw thousands of fans and has an estimated $9 million local economic impact.