Month: February 2015

Traffic stop in Utah leads to drug indictment in KCK

An investigation that began with a traffic stop in Utah led to a federal indictment in Kansas City, Kan., Wednesday charging five people with drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

Ana Claudia Rodriguez-Rodriguez, 39; Sergio Lopez, 41; Migel Lopez-Lopez, 22; Daniel Rivera, 32; and Andres Marquez, 22, are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Rodriguez-Rodriguez was stopped by the Utah Highway Patrol Jan. 21, 2015, driving a red 1991 Jeep Cherokee. Troopers found approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine in the car.

Investigators determined that she was headed to the Kansas City area to deliver the drugs. In Kansas City, Kan., officers set up a sting operation and arrested the other defendants when they attempted to take delivery of the drugs, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.

If convicted, they face a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million. The Utah Highway Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Tomasic is prosecuting.

Minnesota Avenue open house

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An open house about Minnesota Avenue streetscape improvements was held Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 17, at the Kansas City, Kan., Area Chamber of Commerce office, 727 Minnesota Ave. These are some of the concepts for improvements near 8th and Minnesota in downtown Kansas City, Kan. (Photos by William Crum)

Sporting KC to face Colorado tonight in Arizona preseason match

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Sporting Kansas City resumes preseason action tonight against the Colorado Rapids in the opening match of the 2015 Diamond Desert Cup in Tucson, Ariz.

The friendly is set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. at Kino North Stadium and will be streamed live on SportingKC.com.

The club returned to Tucson on Sunday for the second phase of preseason training and will play four matches in the Desert Diamond Cup, at least three of which against teams from Major League Soccer’s Western Conference.

Tonight’s contest is followed by a meeting with defending Supporters’ Shield champion Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday at 9 p.m. and a rematch of MLS Cup 2013 vs. Real Salt Lake on Feb. 25 at 9 p.m.

The tournament’s six-team field also includes MLS side New England Revolution and hosts FC Tucson of the USL Premier Development League, and will conclude Feb. 28 with placement matches for first, third and fifth place.

All four of Sporting KC’s matches in the Desert Diamond Cup will be streamed live on SportingKC.com. In addition, SKCTV’s Nate Bukaty (play-by-play) and Andy Gruenebaum (color) will provide the call for Saturday’s clash with Seattle.

After splitting a pair of matches against the Portland Timbers (2-0 loss) and FC Tucson (4-2 win) during the first leg of preseason, Sporting KC is back in the desert with a few additional players.

Captain Matt Besler and homegrown goalkeeper Jon Kempin have returned to the squad after competing in January Camp for the U.S. Men’s National Team, while winger Graham Zusi and defender Ike Opara could see their first action after recovering from long-term injuries.

Haitian midfielder Soni Mustivar will join Sporting KC after the club receives his P-1 Visa, and Canadian international Marcel de Jong is currently with the team for a trial period.
– Story from Sporting KC