The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. plans to seek bids for about $1.12 billion of commercial and residential real estate loans as part of the agency’s sale of assets seized from failed banks.

Yes, Steve Bledsoe is well aware that some of you think he and his Leawood neighbors are terrible snobs. Yet he swears prestige has no bearing on their objection to a Shawnee Mission School District proposal that would have kids in the Brookwood Elementary attendance area going on to Shawnee Mission South High School, rather than Shawnee Mission East.

Rick Miller has a fair share of convenience stores right down the street from his Leawood, Kansas, home. But he says that a one percent sales tax increase in Kansas has him doing more of his shopping across the state line in Missouri.

AMERICAN ROYAL COMPLEX: American Royal Barbecue. 3 p.m.-midnight Oct. 1, 10 a.m.-midnight Oct. 2. www.arbbq.com . Certified Barbeque Judge Class. 10 a.m. Sept. 30. $85. www.kcbs.us (816-569-4036) 1701 American Royal Court. AMORE CHOCOLATE PIZZA COMPANY: Nick Charles. Acoustic roots guitar music, wine tasting and samples of chocolates. 2 p.m ...

Joseph Francis twitches, hears voices and often cries for reasons no one else can see. Authorities and experts nationwide are looking for ways to keep mentally ill people like him out of jail.

OLATHE, Kan. -- With more than three months left in 2010, Johnson County has already surpassed its record number of homicides. Prosecutors say there have been 13 homicides in Johnson County so far this year. That compares with 10 last year and 11 in 1999, the previous record.

With more than three months left in 2010, Johnson County has already surpassed its record number of homicides.

There’s more than a sliver of wisdom in the latest trend in wood: Buy local. Similar to buying food from regional farmers, those who make our furniture and flooring are advocating lumber from trees in Kansas and Missouri.

DOVER, Del. | IndyCar racing star Danica Patrick expressed disappointment Friday that Kansas Speedway will not be on the IndyCar Series schedule in 2011 for the first time since the track opened in 2001. Three other tracks owned by International Speedway Corp. — Chicagoland, Homestead and the Watkins Glen road course — were dropped by the Indy Racing League.

Even in Johnson County, some growth trends are unwelcome. With more than three months to go this year, the county has already blown past its record number of homicides.