Some background on the poll: A six percent "adjustment" in the property tax rate is on the table for this year's Unified Government budget.

Because of assessed valuation rates decreasing, the UG says the amount of property tax dollars taken in will still be a smaller sum than the total last year.

Some commenters on our Facebook page and a few of our Twitter followers made an interesting point: Why is the property tax rate increasing after the sales tax increase was passed?

Looking at some campaign literature during the sales tax campaign, there never was a guarantee that property tax rates would remain steady. There was, however, a statement about how it would be difficult to "hold the line" on property taxes.

Anyway, below is the poll on whether or not you would change your vote based on this year's budget news.

SPECIAL TO THE KANSAN

The Kansas City Wizards announced Sunday that the team will begin accepting initial payments for an exclusive block of 2,011 season tickets for the 2011 MLS season to commemorate the opening of the team’s new soccer stadium next year.

Beginning Monday on a first-come, first-served basis, fans that make an initial payment of $50 per seat will receive priority consideration for seat selection among new season ticket holders to see all the exciting Major League Soccer action and other events next season.

“The opening of the new stadium in Kansas City symbolizes the continued growth and prominence of professional soccer in the community,” said Andrew Steinberg, Kansas City Wizards Executive Vice President. “By participating in this exclusive opportunity, fans can be part of an inaugural group of season ticket holders as we usher in a new era.”

Existing Kansas City Wizards season ticket holders who renew for the 2011 season will remain atop the priority list based on their current position.

Monday’s pre-sale will be the first chance for new season ticket holders to reserve their seats in the new state-of-the-art stadium being built in Village West in Wyandotte County and scheduled for a June 2011 opening.

The stadium will boast numerous modern features, including an 1800 square feet HD video board on the south end and a 250 square feet video board on the north end. The stadium’s most distinguishing element will be a dramatic roof that will cover every section of the stadium and contain crowd noise for an improved game atmosphere. 

The stadium measures more than 340,000 square feet in size and will hold approximately 18,500 soccer spectators, including a carefully designed supporters section with a capacity of 2,000. In addition to the stadium seating, the venue features 36 suites and five clubs for an array of premium seating options.

The field itself is projected to be larger than every field in the English Premier League with dimensions of 75 yards by 120 yards, and will be a natural grass surface with SubAir™ under-soil heating and cooling system to maintain its quality in all conditions.

Budget cuts in next year's Unified Government are leaving some commissioners concerned on how they're being administered and who receives the brunt of the cuts.

The cuts span across most departments within the county government as part of a 20 percent "across the board" cut.

Among specific items receiving a cut:

• A study has been introduced to examine the possibility of eliminating routes. There are no plans to immediately reduce routes as of right now.
• There would be cuts in snow removal and street maintenance.
• Cuts in meal service provided by the Meals on Wheels program. The meals will be targeted for those only 60 years old or older.
• WIth no fair being held within Wyandotte County this year, the UG will not fund the fair, other than the costs of ribbons and awards, which are mandated by the state.
• A 20 percent cut for the Wyandot Mental Health department.
• The Wyandotte County Extension services will be cut by 20 percent.
• The UG and BPU are considering consolidating its fund for federal lobbying.

While the cuts are spread department-wide, two commissioners expressed considerable concern for the cuts in transportation, the meals program and other services that receive some UG funding.

"This is another impact on the disabled population," said commissioner Pat Pettey. "That's a very vulnerable population also being impacted by state reductions."

Commissioner Nathan Barnes said the budget, along with hurting those with lower income, indirectly punishes the northern portion of Wyandotte County.

"This is hurtful," he said. "Too much of this is pointed towards the north and the direction of those who need our services more. I can't vote for a budget like this."

Budget discussions involving law-enforcement and other items were pushed off until this week, where three separate budget workshops will be held.

"It's going to be a tough task at hand," said UG Mayor/CEO Joe Reardon. "It's pretty obvious that's not going to be an easy task. It's going to be important and instructive. There's not a commissioner around this table who wants to cut."

SPECIAL TO THE KANSAN

The Kansas City T-Bones (38-20) scored nine runs in the second inning, highlighted by two home runs by Ray Sadler, en route to a 10-1 win over the Rockford RiverHawks (26-32) Sunday night in front of 5,482 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The T-Bones used six straight hits off RiverHawks starter Mike Wood (1-4) to start the second inning, collecting four home runs in the frame to take a 9-0 lead. Sadler lead off the inning with a home run, and following singles by Jim Fasano and Brian Joynt, Dwayne White hit a three-run shot.

Jacob Blackwood followed suit, hitting the third home run of the inning, also a three-run blast. Rico Washington then walked and Sadler hit his second home run of the inning to chase Wood.

Wood surrendered nine runs on eight hits and one walk in one and one-thirds innings, striking out one in the loss.

Reid Santos (4-3) worked five scoreless innings for Kansas City, allowing four hits while walking two and striking out one. The RiverHawks pushed just one runner into scoring position against the left-hander in his outing.

Kevin Light added three scoreless frames in relief of Santos, allowing two hits and striking out one. He extended his scoreless innings streak to seven.

Ryan Fox took the mound for the T-Bones in the ninth and surrendered the lone RiverHawks run on an RBI double by Franco Valdes. Five different T-Bones players had two hits, and Blackwood, Sadler and White all drove in three runs.

Every starter recorded a hit, and eight T-Bones scored at least one run.

With this victory, the T-Bones have now won seven consecutive series.

Kansas City now prepares for a seven-game road trip, beginning with a four-game series in Lake County, their first ever trip to Zion, IL.

First pitch of game one is set for 7:00 p.m. Monday night. Catch all the action online at www.tbonesbaseball.com or on the radio at KXTR 1660 AM

SPECIAL TO THE KANSAN

Ian Church’s seventh-inning sacrifice fly propelled the Rockford RiverHawks (26-31) a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City T-Bones (37-20) in front of 8,142 fans Saturday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The RiverHawks jumped on T-Bones starter Andrew Cruse (8-3) in the second inning with a two-run home run by Patrick O’Sullivan. Kansas City answered in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single by Eladio Rodriguez off Kyle Wright (5-2) for a 2-1 score.

Rockford extended the lead to 4-1 in the third with an RBI triple by Jason James and an RBI single by Travis Scott. The T-Bones responded in the bottom of the inning, plating three runs on a two-RBI double by Ray Sadler and an RBI single by Jim Fasano.

The game remained tied at four until the seventh when Evan McArthur singled to lead off the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third base and eventually scored on Church’s sacrifice fly, sealing the RiverHawks victory.

Cruse, who snapped a personal six-game win streak with his first loss since June 13, allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out six. Casey Hodges pitched two scoreless innings to finish the game for Kansas City, allowing one hit.

Wright left after seven and one-thirds, giving up four runs, three earned, on eight hits while striking out six in the win. Emary Frederick got the final four outs for Rockford to earn his first save of the year. The T-Bones pushed the tying run to third in the ninth, but fell short.

Kansas City wraps up the three-game series and nine-game homestand Sunday night, sending left-hander Reid Santos (3-3, 5.14) to the mound opposite right-hander Mike Wood (1-3, 3.89) and the RiverHawks.

First pitch is set for 5:05. Catch all the action online at www.tbonesbaseball.com or on the radio at KXTR 1660 AM.

Local response crews and the Kansas Highway Patrol are responding to two separate car accidents near Interstate 70 and 57th Street.

The first accident, initially reported at around 5:10 p.m., involves four cars and happened on westbound I-70 near 57th Street. Injuries are unknown, but emergency response units have been dispatched to the scene.

Accident number two was reported at around 5:55 p.m. and happened just a half-mile up the road just east of 57th Street.

Like the first accident, injuries are unknown at this point.

Those on the scene suggest weather played a role in both accidents.

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A multi-car accident at 83rd and Leavenworth Road has been reported.

The accident has closed off the street at 82nd and Leavenworth Road. If you are traveling in the area, it's recommended to find an alternate route.

No word on injuries or the cause of the accident.

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SPECIAL TO THE KANSAN

Ryan Knippschild (7-4) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, and Jacob Blackwood homered twice to push the Kansas City T-Bones (37-19) over the Rockford RiverHawks (25-31), 12-2, in front of 6,046 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark Friday night.

It was the first ever match-up between the teams.

Knippschild worked seven innings while allowing just two runs on five hits and two walks, striking out eight. His only blemish came in the fifth, when both runs scored on an RBI double by Kevin House.

Kansas City jumped on Rockford starter Roger Lincoln (4-5) early, as Keanon Simon tripled to lead off the first inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jacob Blackwood, giving the T-Bones a 1-0 advantage.

The T-Bones added to their lead in the third, putting the first three batters of the inning on against Lincoln.  Two then scored on a two-run single by Blackwood before a sacrifice fly by Rico Washington brought the score to 4-0.

After the RiverHawks cut the lead to 4-2, the T-Bones answered in the bottom half of the fifth with three runs, all with two outs. A solo home run by Jacob Blackwood plated the first run before a wild pitch and passed ball forced the next two home for a 7-2 T-Bones advantage.

Lincoln left after five having allowed seven runs, six earned, on seven hits in the loss.

Ryan Fox homered off reliever David Wagner in the sixth, and the T-Bones used four extra-base hits, including Blackwood’s second home run of the game, to plate four runs in the seventh capping the score at 12-2.

Erik Hamren relieved Knippschild in the eighth, and pitched a perfect inning, striking out two. Kyle Heim worked a perfect ninth inning for Kansas City. Blackwood finished four-for-four with five RBI, pushing his season RBI total to 50. Every T-Bone batter collected a hit.

Kansas City sends Northern League wins leader Andrew Cruse (8-2, 1.90) to the mound opposite right-hander Kyle Wright (4-3, 3.81) and the RiverHawks in game two tomorrow. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. Catch all the action online at www.tbonesbaseball.com or on the radio at KXTR 1660 AM.

SPECIAL TO THE KANSAN

University of Kansas Cancer Center researcher Carol Fabian, MD, a leader in the area of breast cancer prevention, has received a $4.5 million Promise Grant from Susan G. Komen for the Cure® grant to investigate whether an estrogen found in flax seed – a commonly used supplement – can reduce the risk for breast cancer.

Secoisolariciresinol (SDG) is a weak plant estrogen, but its highest concentration is found in flax seed. Dr. Fabian, along with a team of researchers at the University of Texas-Austin who share in the $4.5 million grant, will study whether SDG can be used as a prevention strategy for pre-menopausal women at high risk for developing breast cancer.

The study will be conducted in eight universities across the country. 

“We want to test whether SDG is likely to reduce risk for breast cancer in premenopausal women,” says Dr. Fabian, who is the director of the KU Breast Cancer Prevention Center. “We will try to confirm the apparent reduction in cell growth and precancerous cells observed in an earlier pilot study.”

Komen for the Cure Promise Grants are large-scale grants up to $5 million each over a five-year period, targeted to research that brings science to the bedside quickly. The $4.5 million grant is part of a $59 million portfolio of research grants that Komen will award to scientists worldwide in 2010.

“Komen’s infusion of millions of dollars into research projects means that promising research that is designed to treat and ultimately eradicate breast cancer will continue,” says Eric Winer, MD, Komen’s chief scientific advisor.

Since 2001, Komen has awarded $1.7 million in research grants in Kansas, part of the $450 million Komen has invested in research globally since it was founded in 1982.

In addition to research funding, Kansas’ two Komen Affiliates invested $2.2 million in their local communities last year for programs supporting early detection and treatment of breast cancer, breast health education and outreach.

Nationwide, Komen Affiliates invested a total of $130 million in their local communities in 2009 and $900 million since 1982. For more information, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

A firefighter from the Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department was treated at the scene of this morning's fire on Strong Avenue with heat exhaustion.

Meanwhile, the cause of the fire is under investigation and the Topeka Fire Department has been called out to the scene of the fire for help on the investigation.

Robert Rocha, senior deputy chief of the KCKFD, said the fire and the outdoor temperatures were difficult to manage while attacking the fire.

"Initially, crews made an aggressive interior attack, but heavy smoke and extreme heat drove firefighters out," he said. "Fire Command order all crews out of the building and went to a defensive fire attack mode."

The fire happened at a two-story commercial building at 3416 Strong Ave.

"Crews remain on scene to conduct salvage and overhaul," Rocha said.

No word yet on how much damage was caused in terms of dollar number.

SPECIAL TO THE KANSAN

Cody McAllister (7-3) allowed one run over seven innings, and the Kansas City T-Bones (36-19) hit four home runs en route to a 7-3 win over the Schaumburg Flyers (21-35) Thursday night in front of 5,192 fans at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Thursday's victory gave the T-Bones their sixth straight series win.

McAllister had perfect innings in the first, second, fifth and seventh, and scattered six hits while striking out three and walking none.

His only blemish came in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Ron Borquin.  The victory was McAllister’s third straight in as many starts, and his fourth in his last five.

Dwayne White continued his hot hitting, giving Kansas City an early lead with a solo home run in the second off Flyers starter Brett Harker (3-7). An RBI double by Ray Sadler in the third, and a sacrifice fly by White later in the frame pushed the T-Bones lead to 3-0.

Jacob Blackwood and Rico Washington hit back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth, forcing the Flyers to turn to the bullpen to start the fifth. Harker allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks in four innings, striking out three in the loss.

Jim Fasano hit a home run off Matt Elliot to start the fifth, giving Kansas City a 6-0 advantage. Casey Hodges came on in relief of McAllister in the eighth and retired all three batters he faced.

The T-Bones added to their lead in the bottom of the frame when Ryan Fox walked and later scored on an RBI single by Washington, pushing the score to 7-1.

Fox moved from left field to the mound in the ninth and allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits and an error. Washington finished the night three-for-three with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Fasano added three hits, including a home run, in four trips to the plate.

Kansas City will face the Rockford RiverHawks for the first time in a three-game weekend series beginning Friday night. T-Bones left-hander Ryan Knippschild (6-4, 4.57) is scheduled to start opposite left-hander Roger Lincoln (4-4, 5.94).

First pitch is set for 7:05. Catch all the action online at www.tbonesbaseball.com or on the radio at KXTR 1660 AM.

A Kansas City, Mo., attorney was charged this week with one count of attempting to entice a minor to have sex and one count of sending and receiving child pornography.

Samuel Logan was charged this week in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan.

Logan's accused of using a Web camera to send nude images of himself to a 14-year-old girl. He's also accused of engaging in conversations of "sexual nature" with the girl throughout June.

Logan, if found guilty, could face a $250,000 and at least 10 years of prison.

The Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department is currently battling a fire at a vacant warehouse on 34th and Strong Avenue.

Firefighters have battled the fire since 8 a.m. this morning.

The cause of the fire is known right now. There are no known injuries so far.

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(More information soon)

The Kansas City, Kan., Fire Department is investigating a fire that happened Thursday night at 617 Parallel Ave.

A larger crew of firefighters were used to battle the fire due to the high temperatures. When arriving on the scene before 5:30 p.m., firefighters discovered the home on fire.

Along with damage to the home at 617 Parallel Ave., the house next to the fire at 621 Parallel Ave. was also slightly damaged.

No one was injured in the fire. The dollar amount of damage to the structures is unknown.

A fire investigator was called out to the scene.

The Unified Government Board of Commissioners are considering a new funding tool for a store expansion at 47th Street and Shawnee Drive.

A proposed community improvement district sales tax (CID) would be levied in the area of 47th and Shawnee Drive in order to pay for an expansion of a store in the plaza. The expansion would be 8–9,000 feet in size.

"This works a lot better than a TIF tax," said Chase Simmons, a legal representative of the project. "They want to make it more efficient and put it in a better position to serve the community."

The $2.4 million project would be funded by a one percent sales tax "add-on" to the store's products. In order for the CID sales tax to be issued, 55 percent of the owners in the land area are required to sign a petition supporting the measure.

A petition presented in the agenda indicates owners of the property have indeed signed the petition.

Along with the store, the "Family Dollar" located in the plaza would be remodeled and located at a new location near the store expansion.

While commissioners express general support for the project and the CID tax, some also expressed the need to show caution on the matter.

"This first CID will set a precedent," said Nathan Barnes, commissioner. "If this is a template going forward, we need to get it right the first time around. It's a hand and glove fit."

A public hearing was held tonight for the CID. Some residents who spoke opposed the project. Comments ranging from concern about issuing another sales tax, funding infrastructure and the lack of development in some portions of Kansas City, Kan., were made.

Generally, though, the plan appears to have strong support among commission members.

"It is is a good investment because it is an enhancement to the south side of our city," said Pat Pettey, who represents the district the CID would effect. "It will help revitalize our strip-malls wherever they're located at."

No action was taken on the measure.