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Articles by Syed Shabbir
Anteromedial thalamic infarct: a rare presentation
We report a rare presentation of an anteromedial thalamic infarct in a 50-year-old woman with acute onset left eye ptosis, vertical gaze paresis and confusion. MRI identified an acute left anteromedial thalamic infarct with a severe left P1 stenosis. Thalamic infarcts are associated with marked neurobehavioural disturbances with dominant thalamic lesions causing language deficits, verbal perseveration, memory disturbances, abulia and disorientation.
Rare presentation of AICA syndrome
We report a rare presentation of an anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) infarct in a 74-year-old woman with acute-onset nausea, vomiting, vertigo and gait instability long before the full onset of symptoms and a negative MRI on admission. Over the next several days the patient developed left facial weakness, numbness, hypoacusis, and limb and gait ataxia, and was found to have acute infarcts of the left pons and cerebellar peduncle consistent with an AICA syndrome.
Prairie Village Police credit new tool for saving driver in fiery crash
PRAIRIE VILLAGE, Kan. - A Prairie Village driver pulled from his burning truck is recovering at an area hospital thanks to recently added equipment to police patrol cars.The Prairie Village Police Department recently switched out its household fire extinguishers with ColdFire extinguishers, an investment that made all the difference in Monday morning's crash. The driver, who is in his early 20s, has not been identified.
Affordable Care Act to impact millions of tax returns
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tax advisors with H&R Block said the Affordable Care Act has created the biggest change in tax code in 20 years, which will impact about 25 million returns. On Thursday, the tax preparation company held an open house so people could meet one-on-one with an advisor to see how ACA might affect them. Richard Gartland, the face of H&R Block's "Get Your Billion Back" advertisement, said there are two groups of people whose taxes will be affected.
Employees who work outside do what they can to stay warm
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - On the coldest day of the season so far, workers who spend their day outside did what they could to stay warm. Emmett Fishburne collects an average of 10 tons of trash a day for the City of Kansas City, Mo. He said the single digit temps motivate him to move quickly. "You keep moving, you got heat in the truck and you got layers underneath," Fishburne said. "I got little music playing in the truck and those hot toes underneath.
Minimum wage workers in Missouri say 15-cent increase not enough
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Minimum wage workers in Missouri will get a 15-cent raise starting Jan. 1, but many feel the increase isn't enough. Kim Askew has two kids and works the drive thru window at Wendy's off Stateline Road. She said the increase wont make much of a difference. "You got rent, bills, gas in your car, you have your kids to take care of; you can't do it all off minimum wage," Askew said.
Uplift volunteers continue delivering meals to the homeless
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For about 25 years, a group has been making sure the homeless have a hot meal, even during the holidays. Uplift delivers food three times a week in the rain, snow and on cold nights. And in 24 years, they haven't missed a single delivery. Every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, about a dozen volunteers load up three different vans with food and supplies.
8-year-old Santa delivers nearly 200 gifts to local kids
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - While most kids spent the morning opening Christmas presents with their parents, Alli Koepkey, of Blue Springs, Mo., spent the morning delivering presents to families she didn't know. The 8-year-old decided to spend the last four months raising money to buy presents for the 24 kids who live at the American Inn extended stay. "I saw them get off the school bus here, and I thought they were less fortunate," Koepkey said.
North Kansas City firefighter receives cash gift in honor of John Tvedten
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the 15th year in a row, anonymous donors gave a cash gift to an unsuspecting firefighter in honor of the late John Tvedten. The random act of kindness is known as the Tvedten Angel Award and is given every year on December 18, the anniversary of Tvedten's passing. On that day in 1999, the battalion chief for district 106 in Kansas City, Mo., responded to a four alarm warehouse fire.
Local Cubans react to President Obama's call for diplomacy
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Local Cubans have mixed reaction to President Barack Obama's call for diplomacy. It has been 52 years since Maria Rovirosa of Gladstone, Mo., left her home country of Cuba, and she hasn't been back since. While she's grateful for her life in the U.S., she said she still misses the Cuba she grew up in. "Especially around the holidays. We get very sentimental thinking about the life that we left behind," Rovirosa said.
More than 200 flu cases reported at two Shawnee Mission schools
SHAWNEE, Kan. - Shawnee Mission School District officials alerted all district parents Tuesday of the more than 200 flu cases reported at Briarwood and Broken Arrow Elementary Schools. District spokesperson Leigh Anne Neal said about 150 students at Briarwood stayed home with flu-like symptoms. That's more than a quarter of the school. Broken Arrow had about 56 students stay home, which is about 14 percent of the school.
Hundreds attend funeral for 15-year-old hit-and-run victim Abdisamad Sheikh-Hussein
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - There was a huge show of support for the family of a 15-year-old boy killed in a hit-and-run on Thursday. Friends and family of 15-year-old Abdisamad Sheikh-Hussein gathered again at Masjid Al-Taqwa to console each other and pray for their loved one. Several hundred people, maybe even a thousand, gathered at the Islamic Center of Greater Kansas City for the funeral service.
Muslims gather at Somali Center to pray for family of teen killed in hit-and-run
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Nearly 200 Muslims gathered at the Somali Center Friday afternoon to pray for the family of 15-year-old Abdisamad Sheikh Hussein. The teenager was killed Thursday during a hit-and-run crash . "He was a loving boy that was growing," family friend Yusif Abdi said. "He's very polite, respect to everybody." Ahmed Mohamed was a close friend to Sheikh-Hussein and said his loss has devastated the community. "He's like one of those people you can go to talk to," Mohamed said.
Park Hill parents alerted of bus stop incident, later discover it was man with Alzheimer’s
An incident at a Park Hill bus stop caused major concern Wednesday after two girls were approached by a stranger, but further information revealed the man has Alzheimer’s disease and never meant to harm the girls. The girls were waiting for their morning school bus at Northwest 58th Terrace and Northwest Waldon Drive in Kansas City, Mo., when the man approached them. They told the school resource officer at Park Hill South High School the man ran his fingers through one of the girls' hair.
Top 10 most dangerous toys this holiday season
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - If you're heading out in search of the best deals on holiday toys, there are few you may want to avoid. World Against Toys that Cause Harm, or W.A.T.C.H., released its annual list of the top 10 most dangerous toys. Despite the organization's claim, the toys are under no recall and can easily be purchased at your nearest Wal-Mart, Toy-R-Us or online. Syed Shabbir picked up the True Legend Battle Hammer at the Toys-R-Us off 95th Street in Overland Park, Kan.
Local community holds rally to bring awareness to 'anti-black violence from law enforcement'
Hundreds gathered Tuesday night at St. Andrew United Methodist Church to bring awareness to what event organizers call years of anti-black violence from law enforcement. The rally comes on the heels of Monday night's grand jury decision to not indict Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson for killing unarmed teenager Michael Brown.
Local pastors to focus Sunday service on Ferguson
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Local pastors plan to use their Sunday service to promote a peaceful response to the Ferguson grand jury decision. Tension is already starting to escalate in the St. Louis suburb, and the unrest is weighing heavily on the Rev. Wallace Hartsfield of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church. "The racial divide is just a shame," Hartsfield said. He said he's no stranger to what he describes as "bad blood" between police and black communities. "I've been victim of this," Hartsfield said.
Man in ICU after being beaten by three men, run over by car
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - UPDATE: Police would like to identify and speak to the two individuals pictured below about the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department. For the last four days, Timothy Mulvey, 20, has been recovering in an ICU hospital bed after surviving an attack Sunday morning. Shortly after midnight, some friends dropped Mulvey off at the QuikTrip at Quivira Road and Johnson Drive.
Chief Forte: KCPD prepared for unruly protests
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - As Ferguson, Mo., prepares for what many fear will be a repeat of the August unrest, Kansas City Police Chief Darryl Forte says his force is prepared to keep the peace should any local rallies become violent. A grand jury is expected to make a decision this month on indicting Officer Darren Wilson, who shot and killed Michael Brown on Aug. 9. Forte says the decision will impact cities all across the nation.
Kansas City International Airport prepares for snow removal
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The snow removal crew at Kansas City International Airport is responsible for 15.4 million square feet of pavement, and when winter weather is in the forecast, they bring out some heavy duty machines. Some of their plows are 22 feet wide, nearly double the size of some of the plows used by city crews. Since the plows can't get down to the pavement, the team also uses trucks with large spinning wire brushes.
City council members voice concerns on how office informed staff of shooting near City Hall
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Moments after Wednesday’s deadly shooting near Kansas City City Hall , police swarmed the area, blocked off roads and quickly caught the shooter. Still there are some major concerns about how long it took the city manager's office to inform the city staff of the situation. "In that situation, we need to be able to communicate with city staff promptly,” Councilman Jermaine Reed said.
City Union Mission homeless shelter faces $300,000 budget shortfall
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - As frigid temperatures force many of Kansas City's homeless community to their nearest shelter, City Union Mission is dealing with the rush with a major budget shortfall. "We're two to $300,000 behind where were the last couple years," Executive Director Dan Doty said. "That's a little bit of a concern, but we'll see what happens.
Valet parking at Kansas City International Airport: Is the convenience worth the cost?
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - There's no denying the convenience factor of the new curbside valet service at Kansas City International Airport's B terminal. "You are less than 20 feet from the door," parking manager Katy Sell said. "Passengers are really excited about this service." Numbers for the first month show an average of 200 cars a day, with as many as 250 on busy travel days when the garages are full.
Charlie Hustle KC heart t-shirts surge in light of World Series
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The locally designed KC heart t-shirts are becoming the hottest item in town. "We'll set a box out, and people will just start going through it, trying to find a certain size," Westside Storey owner Chris Harrington said. "We'll sell out of 100 t-shirts in 30 minutes to an hour." Lines at The Bunker will form sometimes hours in advance of a delivery, and the owner said sales are up 500 percent this month.
Royals give young fans strength to fight cancer
A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Young Royals fan battling rare cancer will help others in his situation join him at a World Series game. KSHB KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A Kansas family is getting calls from some big name celebrities who want to meet 6-year-old Noah Wilson. The young Royals fan has captured the hearts of his community. In April doctors diagnosed Noah with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare type of cancer found in only six percent of pediatric patients.
Child with cancer gets World Series tickets
A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Kansas City, Missouri -- If you haven't fallen in love with the Royals magic season yet, maybe this will do the trick. Just like his favorite team, six-year-old Noah Wilson has captured the hearts of his community. In April, doctors diagnosed Noah with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare type of cancer found in only six percent of pediatric patients. "I fell to my knees," says Noah's mom, Deb Wilson.
Hispanic-owned business to be honored by KCMO for Hispanic Heritage Month
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Kansas City Mayor Sly James is recognizing a local business as a prime example of how Hispanic businesses are improving the economy. At 11 a.m., Monday, the Mayor will visit the Panaderia de Las Americas at 826 Southwest Blvd., to present a special proclamation to the owner Luis Hernandez. Hernandez is a master baker and learned his trade while working for his father's family baking business in Mexico.
TRAFFIC ALERT: IKEA grand opening to impact rush hour traffic
MERRIAM, Kan. - Nearly 3,000 shoppers are expected for Wednesday's grand opening of the IKEA in Merriam, Kan. The store opens at 9 a.m. and more than 100 shoppers were already in line by 5:30 a.m. The Merriam Police Department has spent the last six months partnering with other Johnson County agencies and developing a parking and traffic plan. The police chief said the opening will impact rush hour traffic Wednesday.
Fraternal Order of Police banding together for fallen officer
TOPEKA, Kan. - The flags in from the Law Enforcement Center were lowered to half-staff and flowers and candles were laid at the base of a memorial in honor of Topeka Police Cpl. Jason Harwood. The 40-year-old husband and father was killed in the line of duty Sunday during a traffic stop. Harwood has spent the last 15 years protecting and serving his community, and now his brothers and sisters with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 are protecting and serving his family.
TRAFFIC ALERT: New ramp closures at Interstate 35 and 75th Street
JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. - A construction project at I-35 and 75th Street in Johnson County will shut down ramps Tuesday morning. Since July, the on and off ramps on the south side of 75th Street have been closed. Tuesday those ramps will reopen, but the on and off ramps on the north side of 75th Street will close. Drivers will not be able to go north on I-35, and drivers heading south will not be able to exit on 75th Street. The closures at expected to last until the end of October.
New effort to track down mom's and daughter's killer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Dozens of the city and police officials gathered at Blue Hills Park in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday morning to search for a killer. A year ago from Saturday, 28-year-old Myeisha Turner and her 3-year-old daughter Damiah White were gunned down in their home a few blocks from the park. "Somebody knows something, and it's time for that somebody to come forward," Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters-Baker said. "We are not going to stop trying to solve this case.
Hundreds expected to attend rally for Michael Brown at J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Hundreds of people are expected to attend a rally for Michael Brown Friday evening at the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain. The 18-year-old was shot and killed Saturday by a Ferguson, Mo., police officer triggering community tension in the St. Louis suburb. Friday's rally is part of a national moment of silence that organizers say will include as many as 25 cities from across the country. According to the event's Facebook page, more than 300 people are expected to attend.
Leawood couple escapes burning home
A husband and wife woke up to screeching smoke alarms Tuesday morning and found their Leawood home on fire. It happened at about 2:15 a.m., in the 11000 block of Buena Vista Street. Leawood police officers were the first to the scene and said they could see the glow of the fire from eight blocks away. The home owners were already out when they arrived. Police Sgt. Brad Robbins said firefighters faced two challenges in getting the fire out.
Man found shot to death in the middle of a Kansas City street
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City Police are on the scene of an early morning shooting that left one man dead. It happened near 37th and Brooklyn around 12:45 a.m. Officers have closed off a large section of 37th Street as detectives go through the crime scene and interview witnesses. When police arrived, they found a man shot in the street. Paramedics started doing chest compressions, but there wasn't much they could do.
Kansas City tightens parking restrictions downtown
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Construction and an increase in people living and working downtown have Kansas City officials adding new parking restrictions. Drivers heading downtown can park in passenger loading and unloading zones for a maximum of 10 minutes. The time restriction for commercial loading and unloading zones is 30 minutes. In both zones, drivers are required to keep their hazard lights flashing. Drivers also have to park at least eight feet from the soon-to-come streetcar.
New playround in Grandview offers one-of-a-kind features
GRANDVIEW, Mo. - A brand new playground opened in Grandview, Mo., on Thursday and is considered the first of its kind in the entire country. The highly unique Valley Park at 4000 E. 123rd Terrace has a 55-foot tube slide that moves riders at speeds between 7 and 12 mph depending on the type of pants being worn. It has 30-foot climbing structures, rope ladders, bridges and a zip line. The ground is a soft artificial turf that has been specially designed to help with drainage.
Kansas City Muslim communities recognize month of fasting with Mayor Sly James
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In a time when passenger airlines are being shot out of the sky, Palestinians are being invaded and Israelis are dodging missiles, Muslim communities from across the Kansas City metropolitan area gathered to promote peace and understanding during the Islamic month of Ramadan. The month is considered the most spiritual of the Islamic calendar, for Muslims believe this is the month when God revealed the Quran, the religion’s holy book, to Prophet Mohammed.
Charges filed in deadly Lenexa shooting
LENEXA, Kan. - A Lenexa man has been charged in last week’s deadly Lenexa shooting. Police arrested 27-year-old Alex Brune late Wednesday night on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the death of 78-year-old Clifford E. Preston and his 47-year-old step-son Brian Stewart Baskind. (EDITOR'S NOTE: There have been two spellings listed of Brian's last name.
String of car break-ins at Overland Park apartment complex; at least 5 vehicles hit
The latest rash happened around 3 a.m. Tuesday when a resident at the Brownstone Apartment, complex near 61st and Foster streets, saw a man breaking into cars. Police responded and made one arrest. They continued to search for a second possible suspect. At least five cars had been hit. Similar to the previous break-ins in Overland Park, Sgt. Kyle Livengood said the cars were left unlocked. The vehicles were not damaged. Police urge people to lock their cars and report any suspicious activity.
Grain Valley Board of Aldermen order Valley Raceway to close
GRAIN VALLEY, Mo. - A late-night decision by the Grain Valley Board of Aldermen has shut down the last race track in Jackson County. City leaders say Valley Raceway has been getting a lot of noise complaints and has not been up to city code. Residents packed into Thursday night’s meeting and the back and forth from each side seemed more like a court case than a board meeting.
City of Kansas City joins Nextdoor to improve communication with public
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City is joining the new social media website Nextdoor to improve communication with and within neighborhoods. The private social network for neighborhoods improves community engagement at the neighborhood level, and Wednesday Mayor Sly James' Office, the City Manager's Office and Police Department started to use Nextdoor to share information on public safety issues, public meetings and seasonal neighborhood issues and services.
Park Hill Schools: More than 10K impacted by 'potential data security incident'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - More than 10,000 people received letters this week from the Park Hill School district notifying them of a "potential data security incident" that occurred earlier this year. The threat applies to current and former employees, and students. District officials said a former employee downloaded files containing the personal information of 10,210 individuals onto a hard drive sometime between February and April. That information was later posted online.
Fireworks safety: ATF demonstrates dangers of illegal fireworks
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) demonstrated the dangers of fireworks Wednesday in an effort to get the community to avoid buying or making illegal explosives. The ATF stuffed ground beef into plastic gloves to simulate a human hand, then tied an illegal device to the palm. Spectators were instructed to stand at least 300 feet away as a safety precaution as bomb technicians detonated six fireworks.
New center now open for homeless veterans in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The St. Michael's Veterans Center opened its doors Monday and will provide 58 affordable and permanent one-bedroom apartments for homeless veterans in Kansas City. Despite the hot and sticky conditions, the opening ceremony was standing room only. More than 200 people were present to show their support.
Kansas City celebs come home for Big Slick fundraiser
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Celebrity actors Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, David Koechner and Eric Stonestreet are back home in Kansas City for the 5th annual Big Slick Celebrity Weekend. The Kansas and Missouri natives are bringing some of their celebrity friends to Kansas City for massive fundraiser for the Cancer Center at Children's Mercy Hospital. In previous years, Big Slick featured a poker tournament, but this year the hosts planned a bowling tournament.
91-year-old woman throws first pitch at T-Bones game
WYANDOTTE COUNTY, Kan. - It was a special day at Wednesday's T-Bones game for 91-year-old Jean Scott. The resident of Delaware Highlands Assisted Living Center got to check something off her bucket list by attending a ball game. "I use to go with my two daughters before they passed away," Scott said. Delaware Highlands wanted to do more than take Scott to a game, so they organized a ride in a stretch limousine for her and eight of her friends.
KCFD makes push for ambulance membership plan enrollment
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Fire Department is making a new push to get more people to sign up for its Ambulance Membership Plan. The plan reduces the cost of riding in an ambulance, but because enrollment has dropped 20 percent from this time last year, KCFD will start mailing out brochures four times a year with every water bill. People who are insured can sign up for $59 a year or $109 for two years. In return, if they ever need an ambulance ride, their out-of-pocket expense is $0.
EPA seizes hazardous chemicals from Lenexa lab
LENEXA, Kan. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency started seizing hazardous chemicals Monday from an abandoned lab in Lenexa, Kan. Beta Chem had been using the 2,000 square-foot lab near 100th Street and Lackman Road in Lenexa, Kan., to turn radioactive Carbon-14 into pharmaceutical compounds for medical research.
Hy-Vee: Leawood location to close this summer due to 'difference of opinion'
LEAWOOD, Kan. - Hy-Vee Inc. announced Monday evening it will close its Leawood location in June. The grocery store has been open at 123rd Street and State Line Road for decades, but corporate officials say the company's vision is no longer matching up with the city's vision. "It is clear that the current business environment in Leawood is one in which Hy-Vee cannot be successful," Hy-Vee's Assistant Vice-President of Communications Christine Friesleben said in a statement.
Verrückt water slide sets world record
By: Syed Shabbir,Sarah Hollenbeck It’s official! Schlitterbahn’s newest water slide Verrückt has set the record as the world’s tallest water slide, measuring in at 168 feet and 7 inches. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback and Kansas City, Kan., Mayor Mark Holland was at the water park for the special announcement Friday morning. PICS: VERRÜCKT NAMED WORLD'S TALLEST WATER SLIDE Schlitterbahn Spokeswoman Layne Pitcher said measuring the height takes precise surveying tools with lasers.
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