The latest Pitch and 21 things we learned this week

U.S. soldiers are committing suicide in record numbers, and the Army is struggling to fix the problem. This week’s Pitch feature story, “Exit Strategy,” looks at one solider who almost became a statistic.

Also, Martin covers MoDOT’s shoddy maintenance of inner-city bridges. Ferruzza reviews Café Trio. And Buckle Bunny talks tour managing.

1. Lynn Jenkins’ “hope” for change is white.

2. Living next to a Rockhurst frat sucks.

3. Riverfront Heritage Trail is pretty cool.

4. 26 homicides in KCK. 80 homicides in KCMO.

5. Urologists like Claire McCaskill. She also knows how to work a crowd.

6. The KCMO School District doesn’t know how many people it employs.

7. Walt Bodine is still alive at 89.

8. Babies and hot dogs are a craptacular combo.

9. Texting and driving is illegal — if you’re under 21.

10. Joe the Plumber is coming to KC.

11. The health-care money behind Sam Graves and Dennis Moore.

12. Dead Ted Kennedy makes people sad.

13. Dog park debates are contentious.

14. Lil Wayne grabs his crotch a lot.

15. Honduras is a bad, bad place.

16. Kansas state Sen. Chris Steineger should take his grandfather’s advice.

17. Roy Blunt is a turd clogging RNC Chairnman Michael Steele’s crapper.

18. Independence has a lot of wannabe gangsters.

19. Michael Beasley needs professional help.

20. Wal-Mart is not a cyclist’s best friend. But the mega-store is the shopping spot of choice of nearly shirtless men.

21. Rhiannon Ally left KCTV 5. I don’t want to wake up anymore.