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Lenin

**Lenin did not invent communism**—that originated primarily with Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels—but he turned Marxist theory into a disciplined, successful revolutionary force in Russia and then a model for movements worldwide. ### Early radicalization and organizing Lenin (born Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov in 1870) was radicalized in part by the 1887 execution of his older brother Alexander for involvement in a plot to assassinate Tsar Alexander III. The family was socially ostracized, and Lenin immersed himself in radical literature, including Marx, declaring himself a Marxist around 1889–1890. In the mid-1890s he moved to St. Petersburg, organized Marxist study and workers’ circles, and helped found the Union of Struggle for the Emancipation of the Working Class. He was arrested in 1895 and exiled to Siberia (where he married fellow revolutionary Nadezhda Krupskaya). After his release he went abroad and co-founded the underground newspaper *Iskra* (“The Spark”) to unify s...

more of the same

October 29, 2026 Mayor Spencer Duncan City of Topeka 215 SE 7th Street Topeka, Kansas 66603 Dear Mayor Duncan, I am writing to raise several concerns about recent decisions and the direction of the city’s approach to personnel, development incentives, and related policy matters. The continued reliance on outside consultants to address employee issues raises questions about the effectiveness of current human resources leadership. If internal processes are not functioning as intended, that warrants a direct review of the personnel responsible for those functions rather than repeated external expenditures. I also question the circumstances surrounding the hiring of Dr. Perez. His compensation appears difficult to justify given the limited role he appears to have played, with day-to-day responsibilities largely handled by others. The position itself seems questionable in the first instance. Separately, I would like to understand the basis for retaining Braxton afte...

RHID (originally Rural Housing Incentive District; now Reinvestment Housing Incentive District) is a Kansas state program created in 1998.

It uses a form of tax-increment financing to capture the increase in real property taxes generated by new housing and apply those funds (for up to 25 years) to public infrastructure and certain related costs that support the housing. Origins and Early Rural Focus (1998–early 2010s) The Kansas Rural Housing Incentive District Act (K.S.A. 12-5241 et seq.) was enacted in 1998 (1998 Session Laws Chapter 66, approved April 8, 1998). Its stated purpose was to encourage the development and renovation of housing in rural cities and counties by authorizing them to help finance public improvements that support housing in areas experiencing a shortage of housing. Key original features: Limited to smaller jurisdictions (initially cities under roughly 40,000 population in smaller counties, or small counties themselves; thresholds later rose to cities under 60,000 and counties under 80,000). Required a Housing Needs Analysis demonstrating a shortage of quality housing of various price ranges that ...

X

Good morning, Henry. Here's what the Kansas City Star posted over the past day. Real estate A historic downtown KC hotel converted into 122 apartments has set its grand opening. KC's newest grocery store, a no-frills shop, opened in a 50-year-old building. The owner of United Market at Linwood is opening a second store. A St. Louis ice cream franchise plans two more KC locations. Politics Jackson County voters will decide whether to extend a sales tax that fights crime and drug use. The Democrat running in Missouri Senate District 8 is focusing on the economy, education and taxes. Crime and courts Troopers are looking for a truck tied to the hit-and-run death of a Raytown kindergartner. A woman was sentenced for setting a fire at a KC warehouse eyed for an ICE center. The DA won't file charges in a separate case involving a former Johnson County priest. Loved ones are mourning the woman shot at an Independen...

Chop chop

ChopMore! by Price Chopper (https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=%2Fg%2F1v62j57r) is a new value-focused, no-frills grocery concept that officially launched in Kansas City on October 27, 2026. Developed by Cosentino’s Food Stores, a family-owned local grocery giant operating in the metro area for more than 75 years, the banner is designed to go head-to-head with large national big-box retailers and discount chains like Aldi. [1] (https://startlandnews.com/2026/10/chopmore-price-chopper/), [2] (https://www.grocerydive.com/news/chopmore-price-chopper-grocery-supermarkets-value/873028/) The store operates out of a 50-year-old, sentimental site that formerly housed a standard Cosentino's Price Chopper in the Brywood Center. [1] (https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/kansas-city-newest-grocery-store-190706575.html), [2] (https://startlandnews.com/2026/10/chopmore-price-chopper/) Chop More!4.2(2.1K) Grocery store Closed8700 E 63rd St The Cost-Plus Wholesale Model Rat...

Fw: DCG construction partnership | MCRE LLC

Henry McClure 785.383.9994  Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device Get Outlook for Android From: bryan.egan@dynamiccg.pro <bryan.egan@dynamiccg.pro> Sent: Wednesday, 28 October 2026 10:55:06 To: mcre13@gmail.com <mcre13@gmail.com> Subject: DCG construction partnership | MCRE LLC   Henry, I'm Bryan Egan, Chief Operating Officer of Dynamic Construction Group, where we perform commercial construction projects across the contiguous 48 states. Your work at MCRE LLC caught my attention. Would you be the right person to discuss DCG's qualification for future commercial construction packages, or getting on your contractor bid list? Bryan Egan COO | Dynamic Construction Group 816-988-5625 bryan.egan@dynamiccg.pro Headquarters: 11312 E. 23rd St. S., Independence, MO 64052 If you prefer not to receive future outreach, please reply and I will re...

Key Points from Mayor Duncan’s Remarks

Mayor & City Manager Monthly Press Conference (City of Topeka, October 28, 2026) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr8ZwbjC7Ac This ~30-minute press conference features Mayor Spencer Duncan and newly appointed Interim City Manager Michael Webb. It covers recent leadership changes, two March 2026 mail-in ballot measures, the city manager search, and related questions (including data centers). Key Points from Mayor Duncan’s Remarks Anonymous online criticism Duncan revisited earlier comments about anonymous online posts. He clarified that he objects to using anonymity to bully, mock bodies, invent lies, or claim false insider knowledge—calling it cruel, dishonest, and cowardly because it avoids accountability. He distinguished this from legitimate named criticism or disagreement, which he accepts. Much of the commentary targets city employees, council members, or residents rather than him personally; he argued people deserve basic decency even amid disagreements. Former City...