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‘Elder rap’ spreads message to help crime victims’ families

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — “I am not a Snitch, I am a Witness.”  That’s the title of a new rap put forth by a not so “new” rapper, 71 year-old Carl Boyd, the creator and longtime host of the *Generation Rap* teen talk show.

In his rapping debut, Boyd says there have been too many crimes committed in Kansas City, and people know who’s responsible, but they won’t step forward.

Sixteen year-old Audrey North constantly misses her best friend and older brother- 20 year-old Ashton O’Guinn.  He was killed April 23, 2012.

She says whoever killed him took two lives.

“He’s taken my smile.  He’s taken my way of life.  I had a brother, and I no longer have him, so he’s taken my life as well as my brother’s,” said North.

Audrey and her family don’t know who to hold accountable for Ashton’s death, even more than a year later.

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Homeowner’s Insurance claims: How to make process easier

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When you’re looking for homeowner’s insurance policies, most, if not all, will cover tornado damage to your home.  Local insurance experts from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners say it’s what’s inside your home that is sometimes overlooked.

They recommend knowing exactly what  valuables you have in your home so you can be fairly reimbursed if those belongings are lost in a  tornado.

The N.A.I.C. experts recommend making a home inventory, you can do this on paper, or through a new app called the My Home Scrap Book, or you can use another simple approach.

“Take a video camera and walk from room to room in your home, open doors, drawers, and talk about what you own…here’s a chair- here are CDs,” Scott Holeman from the N.A.I.C. said.

Ruskin Heights tornado happened 56 years ago

GRANDVIEW, Mo. — On this already stormy day in the Midwest, we look back at a storm that killed forty-four people 56 years ago Monday, the Ruskin Heights tornado.

“I can almost remember moment by moment everything that happened that day- that night, the next day, and so-on down the road,” said Beverly Michael.

Beverly Michael was just getting off the school bus when she noticed things looked strange outside.

“It was really windy, and very funny looking.  The sky and everything,” she said.

Beverly didn’t think much of it, so she and her family went about their normal evening at their motel, the Circle H Ranch House Motel.

“After dinner on Monday nights we always watched ‘I Love Lucy,’ so we were watching that when they interrupted the program and told us about the storms,” Beverly explained.

Stores use technology to ‘spy’ on customers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — We all know stores use cameras to make sure you aren’t taking something from them, but do you know how they may be using cameras and other technology to take something from you?

From mannequins whose eyes are fitted with video cameras, to tracking your cellphone as you walk through a store, companies are even using facial recognition technology that gives a store unique information about their customers base.

It’s all being used, mostly in test markets.

Some says it’s efficient, others say it’s scary.

“It’s new technology, but it’s certainly not a new technique,” said David Cecil, owner of marketing company Johnny Lightening Strikes Again.

Harrisonville company creates deployable tornado shelters

HARRISONVILLE, Mo. — A Harrisonville company said its one-of-a kind product can save lives, should a tornado hit and it is just starting its production line to make the first deployable shelter.

Mike Vogt, President of Staying Home, said, “It’s frankly a little bit humbling.  It’s, you know, almost an honor that we’ve been blessed to come up with his idea.”

Despite it being about 2,000 pounds, the idea is an easily deployable tornado shelter called “Hide-Away.” Vogt said battle scars mark where its been tested and never failed at a testing facility out-of-state.

Inside, Vogt said a handful of adults or up to 15 kids can stay safe from mother nature’s wrath.

Vogt said the biggest concern people worry about is lift.  But he said this shelter will be bolted down in concrete in the back and then in the front with preset anchors.

Underage drinking problem on KC party buses, some say

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —  Kansas City teenagers say underage drinking is happening on party buses  – and no one is stopping them.

With prom and graduation, party bus rentals this time of the year are popular among high school students.

FOX 4 spoke with a few teens on Monday, but none wanted to be identified. All of them say it’s the safest and easiest way to drink with your friends with little risk of getting caught.

“Its a big thing to do,” said one high school senior who didn’t want to be identified. She also says they are the perfect place to drink underage.

“Partying at somebody’s house is a lot more susceptible to getting busted and people getting in trouble rather than a traveling bus all over the city,” she said.

Gunfight in Lawrence leaves two men wounded

LAWRENCE, Kan. — A shooting in Lawrence injured two people Saturday night and damaged a police car.

Police officers got a call about an armed fight inside Club Magic located on 24th Street.  When they arrived they heard gunshots a few blocks away.

Officers rushed to another scene and said a shooting victim crashing into an officer’s patrol car.

Two men from Topeka went to hospitals with life-threatening gunshot wounds.

Detectives arrested one many at the bar and have identified several persons of interest.