In the words of Pastor Doug Gripka, Newtonia has “stopped the bleeding.”

Local fans cheered Wednesday when Blue Springs South High School grad David Cook advanced to a showdown with Utah teen David Archuleta in next week's final contest on "American Idol."

Randall “Danny” Russell, local self-proclaimed pastor, was arrested late this morning on new child sexual abuse charges.

Jury recommends life in prison in the stabbing death of Pamela Marquez at her Grain Valley home.

With only two days gone by since the death of their friend, Casey Marie Coggin, 17, a group of young people gathered at the shattered remains of the Coggin home to remember, reminisce and shed some tears.

In a taped confession, Eddie George described the attack on Joe and Pamela Marquez that left Pamela dead.

Someone asked me the other day if I had ever, in nearly 20 years in the journalism business, covered a tornado as large as the one that roared through Newton County Saturday evening.

If the players from the St. James High School girls’ soccer team needs an example of toughness and dedication, they need only to look to their own sidelines.

A well-liked guy who gave his all to his community and his fire department.

Touring the devastation for the first time, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff offered his condolences in a press conference mid-day Tuesday at the intersection of Missouri Highway 43 and Route BB.

“Ethan’s Law,” the legislation requiring private water parks and swimming pools to carry $1 million in liability insurance, has passed both the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate and now goes to Gov. Matt Blunt for approval.

After touring the destruction left by the tornado in Newton County, my thoughts and prayers go out to the families who either lost a loved one or their homes and family items.

Janet Winchester sat at her favorite table, peering out at the intersection of Jute and Goldfinch roads warmed by the Monday evening sun.

Saturday’s tornado has claimed another victim, bringing the total number of deaths in Newton County to 14.