LIVINGSTON COUNTY&nbsp;— One person was injured in an accident just before 1:30p.m. Saturday in Livingston County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Volvo semi driven by Cliffon A. Brown, 41, Forney, TX, was eastbound on U.S. 36 four miles east of Chillicothe. The vehicle rear-ended a 2006 Chevy Silverado driven by Courtney A. Westcott, 22, Chula, that had slowed to make a left turn at County Road 255.&nbsp; Livington County Ambulance transported Wescott to Hedrick Medical Center. Brown was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of accident, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman hospitalized after semi rear-ends pickup

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Recent obituaries

ANDREW COUNTY &nbsp;— One person was injured in an accident just before 11a.m. Saturday in Andrew County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1990 Ford Ranger driven by Randy B. Tannehill, 54, Union Star, was southbound on Route M and U.S. 169. The driver failed to yield. A northbound 2017 GMC Sierra driven by Carl M. McDaniel, 71, Union Star struck the passenger side of the Ford. DeKalb County EMS transported McDaniel to Mosaic. Tannehill was not injured.&nbsp;Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of accident, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man hospitalized after Andrew County crash

Law enforcement made 13 arrests during an overnight operation targeting crime and fleeing vehicles in the St. Joseph area. According to St. Joseph Police Capt. Jeff Wilson, the police department, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Buchanan County Drug Strike Force worked together during the operation which included 50 car stops, seven subject checks, 31 citations, 21 warnings, 22 verbal warnings, 13 arrests including four city charges, one state DWI, four state warrants and three city warrants and 13 investigative charges including resisting arrest, drug possession and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Thirteen arrests made during overnight operation in St. Joseph area

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post A state senator who represents St. Joseph has pre-filed legislation seeking to crack down on violent crime, an issue which has captured the attention of the legislature and the governor’s office. Senator Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville says the growing problem of violent, often gun-related, crime in St. Louis and Kansas City as well as Springfield, Columbia, and St. Joseph is a statewide issue. “These pieces of legislation that I filed are aimed at deterring violent offenders from committing those offenses in the first place and to make sure those people who commit those offenses are locked up and handled appropriately as opposed to being granted probation and being put back on the streets where, most likely, we know they are going to reoffend at some point,” Luetkemeyer tells St. Joseph Post. One proposal would prevent probation from being given to many repeat offenders. It also would deny probation for those convicted of the most dangerous felonies, such as murder or rape. Luetkemeyer says Missouri law allows probation to most felons, including those sentenced for second-degree murder. Another measure sponsored by Luetkemeyer would make armed criminal action a more serious charge. Armed criminal action in Missouri is a companion charge in felony cases in which a weapon is used. Judges often allow the sentence for armed criminal action to run at the same time as the sentence for the primary felony conviction. “What my bill does, when you have an armed criminal action charge, you must run that sentence consecutive with the underlying felony charge,” Luetkemeyer says. “So, this means longer prison sentences for people who are using guns to commit violent actions.” Gov. Mike Parson has made reducing violent crime a priority. He has attended meetings with local officials in both St. Louis and Kansas City. Parson issued an executive order earlier this year directing the Missouri State Highway Patrol to allocate more troopers and resources to fighting crime in the St. Louis area. Some leading Democrats in St. Louis are pushing for tougher gun control measures.Luetkemeyer of Parkville says such measures miss the point. “If we want to get tough on violent offenders who use guns to commit crimes, the message should be we’re going to more severely punish armed offenders who commit violent crimes, not punishing people who are law-abiding gun owners,” according to Luetkemeyer. “And I think that’s the solution, that’s the reason that I decided to target the armed criminal action statute.” The 2020 legislative session begins at the Capitol in Jefferson City January 8th.

Luetkemeyer unveils anti-crime legislative package

A cold front brought cooler temperatures and breezy conditions to the area this morning. By afternoon, temperatures will reach the upper 30s to lower 40s with winds gradually decreasing through sunset. Temperatures will climb into the 50s through the weekend with plenty of sunshine anticipated Saturday. Clouds will move back in Sunday ahead of the next cloud front which will allow temperatures to drop through the day Monday. We could see a few rain showers that may transition over to light snow as the colder temperatures push in, but little if any accumulation is expected. However, most locations will likely see no rain or snow at all. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 40. North wind 6 to 11 mph. Tonight: Clear, with a low around 25. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 51. South wind 6 to 13 mph. Saturday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 39. South wind 7 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. South southwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph. Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 31. Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 16. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 33. Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 19. Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 37.

Cooler temps in the 40s today

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575632350274.png">MODOT photo of the flooding in Holt County JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The washer and dryer are still in Larry Whetsel's living room, where they landed after floating out of his kitchen. The water line left by the Missouri River, across the warped, cracked walls, is level with his shoulders. Pieces of furniture, some made by his father, lay in a jumble in the dining room. Luckily his long johns, stored at the bottom of a chest, soaked up the flood water, saving a military burial flag nestled on top. A calendar remains on the month of March, the last time the retired northwest Missouri mailman lived there, reported&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article237837154.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 125, 165);">The Kansas City Star</a>. Considering the condition of his 100-year-old house in Craig, Whetsel, 70, wasn't too surprised when a $12,400 check from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) appeared in the mail in July. The money was for the time he spent displaced from his home, and to help with repairs. Months later, however, Whetsel was incredulous. He learned FEMA, which inspected his home and saw the destruction, wanted him to pay the money back or face garnished Social Security checks. The agency's reason? His home was not damaged by the flood. FEMA came to this finding despite a March 22 photo from the New York Times website that shows Whetsel in chest-deep water trying to get through his back door. "If that wasn't it, then tell me: what was it?" he said, standing on the barren floors of his living room where he has ripped up the mildewed carpets. And the kicker: Local emergency management officials say Whetsel's debt, should he not pay FEMA back, could have only been fully erased through a presidential pardon. Whetsel is one of a handful of Missouri flood survivors caught in the bureaucratic tangle caused by two different disaster declarations. In March the river, already riding high, spread out over miles of northwest Missouri after snow melt from the upper basin broke through dams and punched holes in levees. The town of Craig in Holt County, where Whetsel lived, was encouraged to evacuate. The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) the state-level disaster responder, applied to FEMA for assistance to help residents of five counties flooded out between March 11 and April 16. That claim was denied, along with an appeal. "After a thorough review of all the information contained in the initial request and appeal, we reaffirm our original findings that the impact to the individuals and households from this event was not of the severity and magnitude to warrant implementation of the Individual Assistance program," Pete Gaynor, FEMA's acting administrator, wrote in a two-paragraph denial letter. FEMA did, however, pay out $8.7 million in federal flood insurance claims covering that time period from Atchison and Holt counties. Whetsel said he didn't carry such insurance because his house had never been flooded and he considered the annual payment too expensive to make in one lump sum. The flooding continued through the spring, adding to the first wave of devastation. Rain and more snowmelt poured into the Missouri and parts of the Mississippi. Half of the state was under water at one point. FEMA later approved an application for the period covering April 29 to July 5 for residents of the northwest Missouri counties, and several others, to receive aid from the individual assistance program. But by April 29, the only standing water in Whetsel's home was in the storm cellar, he said. That's because after the first flood, Craig residents built a berm to keep the river from surging back in. On his application to FEMA, he entered March 20 as the date he was flooded out. "I'm not going to lie and I shouldn't have to lie," Whetsel said. Local officials and lawmakers said FEMA's criteria for individual assistance are ridiculously opaque. That's not the case with the public assistance program, which pays for governmental costs such as infrastructure repair. It required Missouri to show $9 million in statewide damage to be eligible, a threshold it met. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri's junior senator, asked Gaynor at a November hearing to explain how FEMA determines which areas are eligible for individual assistance. "This is a question I get at home all the time and frankly one Missourians want to hear about," Hawley said. Gaynor told Hawley FEMA assesses every disaster "on its own merits" in order to be "fair and objective." According to state officials, FEMA looks at the number of uninsured homes and private residences that sustained damage when evaluating eligibility for individual assistance. What exact number of homes FEMA is looking for, or what percentage, is a mystery, according to SEMA Director Ron Walker. "Trust me, I wish I knew (the number)," Walker said in an interview. In 2018, Congress passed a law that allows FEMA to give greater consideration to local impact, allowing those living in sparsely populated rural areas like northwest Missouri a better chance of receiving individual assistance. The entire Missouri Congressional delegation sent a letter to FEMA last week, asking how it was implementing the new law. "With these difficulties in mind, we ask for FEMA to provide detailed information into how 'greater consideration to severe local impact or recent multiple disasters' in accordance with (the new law) is objectively defined and measured," the delegation wrote. In early November, Rhonda Wiley, the Atchison County emergency management director, said she hoped Whetsel wouldn't have to pay FEMA back for what she considers its error. Sitting in Wiley's Atchison County office with a stack of letters from FEMA in front of him, Whetsel pets Wiley's dog, an energetic brown Deutsch Drahthaar named Peach. A mailman who served the county for decades, he's a favorite among the dogs that remember his treats. Wiley told him that under the 2018 law, the president of the United States can waive any debt if the money was mistakenly paid out by FEMA, as long as the matter is contested within 3 years. She recognized a presidential pardon to be novel and untested. "If this is what we have to do get Larry help, I'll go all the way to the White House," Wiley said, at the time. However, Whetsel couldn't afford to take a chance. He had all but drained his savings to buy a new house on higher ground, further away from the river, in Fairfax. On Friday morning, he put a $12,400 check in the mail to FEMA. "I had no choice," Whetsel said. "I can't afford the penalties." Whetsel now needs to decide how to move forward with his destroyed home. It's been in his family since he was five years old. Though most of the ruined walls are bare, a framed saying his mother hung after his father died still remains in the living room: "When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure." Floods are expected next year, and though he often chuckles through his struggles, the past year has worn him out. "This has been the year from hell," he said. He plans to spend the next couple of months tearing his Craig home to the ground by hand. The only help the 70-year-old can afford is himself.___

FEMA takes $12K check back from Missouri flood victim

DAVIESS COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 11:30a.m. Thursday in Daviess County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy 1500 driven by Jeanie A. Little, 44, Trenton, was northbound on U.S. 69 six miles north of Cameron. The vehicle rear-ended a 1988 Ford E 150 driven by Allan E. Reed, 62, Cameron, that had slowed to make a left turn. Daviess County Ambulance transported Reed to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Little was not injured.&nbsp;The MSHP had incomplete information on seat belt usage.

NW Missouri man hospitalized after rear-end crash

by Sarah Thomack/St. Joseph Post staff The Friends of the St. Joseph Animal Shelter will host an open house and fundraiser this weekend at the soon-to-be renovated new shelter. An open house Christmas party fundraiser will be held this weekend at the 5909 Corporate Drive location <a href="https://archive.stjosephpost.com/2019/06/25/friends-of-the-animal-shelter-closes-on-corporate-drive-location/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;">purchased in June</a>. Kappy Hodges with the Friends of the Shelter says proceeds from the event go toward funding the renovations to be able to open the new shelter. “The community has been very generous and we’re always looking for more people to contact and talk to about ways to help create the new animal shelter,” Hodges says. “The faster we get the money, the faster we can start the work and get the animals moved from our old place to a new place.” Hodges says the Christmas party open house is a family and pet friendly event. “It’s going to be a really fun time," Hodges says. "You'll get to see the inside, the building is not renovated, it’s just the building it’ll be in, but you’ll get to see where it is and go inside and have a good time and fun with the kids… kind of like a Christmas party for your dog and your kids.” The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/2780572185309922/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Waggin Around the Christmas Tree</a> open house will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at the 5909 Corporate Drive location. There will be holiday activities going on including a Christmas tree auction and photos with Santa.

Friends of the Animal Shelter holding Christmas open house fundraiser

DEKALB COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Wednesday in DeKalb County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported an IC Corporation school bus driven by Alan K. Lopp, 36, Altamont, was northbound on Route EE four miles north of Cameron. The bus traveled off the east side of the road and struck a field entrance. The vehicle then crossed the road and traveled off the west side of the road. A private vehicle transported two 4-year-old boys on the bus to Cameron Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. &nbsp;Lopp was properly restrained and not injured, according to the MSHP.

Two children hospitalized after bus accident

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1569532421007.png">by SARAH THOMACKSt. Joseph Post Second Harvest Community Food Bank is holding a food drive in an effort to help everyone put a holiday meal on their table. Second Harvest Communications Coordinator Blake Haynes says the "reverse advent calendar" on their website is a way to encourage families to collect food for others in need. "For example, if you have a family, each day, your child or yourself, you’re able to place that item in there and really feel like, hey, I’m building toward giving somebody a meal this holiday season and knowing the fact of, hey, I’m able to provide for somebody who may not be able to provide for themselves like a kid or a senior or somebody who’s just fallen hard on their luck,” Haynes says. Haynes says you never know why someone may be in need this holiday as hunger has no face, no race, no gender and no biases. “What would you do if tomorrow, you lost your job for whatever reason? What would you do for this holiday season? Would you be able to comfortably provide a meal for your family, yourself or whomever for the holiday season? Really consider what place you’re in and maybe make that donation and give it back to those communities and those that are in need," Haynes says. The Food for the Holidays Food Drive list can be found on Second Harvest's website, <a href="https://www.shcfb.org/news-events/event-calendar.html/event/2019/12/18/food-for-the-holidays-food-drive/271708" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shcfb.org</a>. Boxes should be delivered to Second Harvest on or before December 19th.

Food drive being held to help put a holiday meal on everyone's table

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575562477364.png">Temperatures will continue to stay above normal today with highs in the upper 50s to 60s, but will cool off tomorrow with highs only in the 40s. The warmer temperatures will return for the weekend, before a cold blast of air from the north pushes into the area to start the work week with well below normal temperatures looking likely. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 59. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph. Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Light and variable wind becoming north 10 to 15 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. North wind 6 to 11 mph becoming light northeast in the afternoon. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Calm wind. Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 50. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Monday: A chance of rain before 3 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., then a chance of snow after 4 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 32. Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 16. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

Temperatures near 60 today

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post A St. Joseph state representative has pre-filed legislation to kick squatters out of abandoned property. Rep. Shelia Solon says this isn’t just a problem in St. Joseph, but throughout the state. Solon says squatters breaking into abandoned houses is a growing problem. “A young couple came up to the Capitol, talked to me, and they had purchased a historic home in St. Joe,” Solon tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “They were so excited to fix it up and move in, to find that there had been squatters there that were destroying it and it took them months to get them removed. It’s a shame, because we have so many beautiful properties in our city and we don’t want to see them destroyed before the people who want to fix them up get a chance to get a hold of them.” The legislative session begins at the Capitol in Jefferson City January 8th. Legislators can pre-file legislation this month. Solon’s bill, which would modify provisions of the trespass law, is House Bill 1413. Solon says her bill would require squatters to leave a building if told by police they are trespassing. If they refuse, they could be arrested. “Now you can’t say, I didn’t know,” Solon says. “I don’t know how you would not know if you didn’t own something. But, now the excuse of I thought the owner said I could or somebody told me or whatever is being said. Now, if the police warn you and say, you need to vacate, you have no business here, you get arrested.” Solon says squatters are more than a nuisance. “It depreciates property values and look at all the fires that we have in vacant properties,” according to Solon “And I’ve been trying to tell folks buildings don’t automatically combust. They’re being set fire to and there’s a cost to that of not just the risk of life and property, but also a financial cost to our citizens.” Solon adds squatters don’t need our pity, but the services communities throughout the state offer.

Squatters could be kicked out under proposed law

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post&nbsp;A 23-year-old St. Joseph man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of a 28-year-old, whose body was found in the backyard of a house on North 13th Street last year. A Buchanan County jury found Brandon Cox guilty in the shooting death of Clifford York. Cox was accused of getting into an argument with York, pulling a gun, and shooting him to death on October 10th of 2018. Police say Cox fled the scene, but was arrested later.

St. Joseph man found guilty in October 2018 shooting death

The lineup for LakeFest in 2020 has been finalized, with country music duo LOCASH being announced as the headliner. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575500974960.jpeg"> According to a press release, Wheelhouse Records’ LOCASH is the Country music duo made up of singer-songwriters Chris Lucas and Preston Brust; natives of Baltimore, Maryland, and Kokomo, Indiana, respectively. With two albums and eight charting singles to their credit, LOCASH broke out in 2015 with "I Love This Life," followed by the #1 smash, “I Know Somebody” – their first trip to the top of the Country radio airplay charts – and 2017’s “Ring on Every Finger.” The 2019 ACM Duo of the Year nominee released their latest album (and first with their new label BBR Music Group/BMG), Brothers on March 29, 2019 with their lead single, “Feels Like A Party” reaching Top 25. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575501030199.jpeg"> Newly crowned “New Artist of the Year” at the CMA Awards, Ashley McBryde will precede LOCASH on the LakeFest stage. According to the LakeFest press release, Ashley McBryde’s GRAMMY-nominated Girl Going Nowhere (released March 30, 2018 on Atlantic Records/Warner Nashville) earned the Arkansas native critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, Variety and more. The seminal title track on the Jay Joyce-produced LP continues to propel McBryde’s career to great heights with recognition this year by the Academy of Country Music as New Female Artist of the Year, CMT’s Breakthrough Video of the Year and CMA New Artist of the Year. For tour dates and more information, visit <a href="https://www.ashleymcbryde.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AshleyMcBryde.com</a>. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575501056463.png"> Atchison county native Erik Dylan will be back on the LakeFest stage as the opener. Erik Dylan has attracted artists like Kip Moore, Luke Combs, Eric Paslay, Eli Young Band, Justin Moore, Josh Phillips, Brett Cobb, Riley Green and even Hinder to record his songs. It is also what drew peermusic to sign him to a publishing deal in 2017. He writes on Music Row with many of Nashville’s hit makers, but Erik will gladly tell anyone that his happiest moments in songwriting occurred at his hero Guy Clark’s workshop over black coffee. The fifth generation Kansan has also shared stages with some of the biggest names in music, from Lynyrd Skynyrd to The Cadillac Three. Dylan’s debut album, Heart of a Flatland Boy, included the ballad “Fishing Alone” that was a finalist for Saving Country Music’s Song of the Year. For more about Erik Dylan, <a href="http://www.erikdylan.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>. The LakeFest concert is a highlight of the 24th Annual Amelia Earhart Festival, which will be held in the hometown of the world-famous aviatrix on July 17 and 18. The annual concert is held in the park surrounding Warnock Lake, 17862 274th Road, which is three miles southwest of Atchison. Gates and concessions will open at 4 p.m. The Army National Guard will present the colors at 7 p.m. and be accompanied by the signing of the National Anthem. Erik Dylan will take the stage immediately following. Ashly McBryde will perform at approximately 8:15, with LOCASH’s appearance atapproximately 9:45. “We are very excited about the lineup for LakeFest 2020!” Jacque Pregont, Amelia Earhart Festival Coordinator stated. “We know LOCASH that will provide an exciting night of exceptional entertainment! We are thrilled to have the CMA New Artist of the Year Ashley McBryde come to Atchison! I was watching the awards show and cheering for her to win! And we love having Erik Dylan come back home to open for us again. He is such a great talent and everyone in this area should be proud to know he’s from Atchison County and leaving his mark in country music with some great songs!” Tickets go on sale May 1, 2020. For more information, go to <a href="http://visitatchison.com/event/lakefest/">visitatchison.com</a>.

LOCASH to headline LakeFest 2020 in Atchison

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post A 20-year-old man from Oregon, Missouri has been charged with a misdemeanor in a hit and run November 27th in St. Joseph in which a bicyclist was injured.&nbsp;The Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed a Class A Misdemeanor Leaving the Scene of an Accident against Westyn Williams.&nbsp;Williams turned himself in to St. Joseph police after police released photos of him and his vehicle on social media.&nbsp;Williams is accused of hitting a cyclist at 22nd and Olive Streets around four o’clock in the afternoon of the 27th. The cyclist was treated at the hospital and released later than evening.&nbsp;

Charge filed against 20-year-old in St. Joseph hit and run

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post Congressman Sam Graves contends a change made to end pork-barrel spending hampers efforts to hold the Army Corps of Engineers accountable for managing the Missouri River. Graves claims the Corps now spends more money on habitat reclamation than on levee maintenance. “In the old world or the way we used to do things, Congress would have gone in and said, no, you’re not doing that any longer and we would direct spending to and change it so that they were required to spend x amount of dollars, say, on levee maintenance and x amount of dollars on habitat reclamation,” Graves tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. Graves says the crackdown against earmarks greatly reduced the power Congress had over federal bureaucrats without saving the federal government any money. “We didn’t change the amount of money that was going to get spent,” according to Graves. “What we did was, we changed who gets to make the decision on how that money is spent.” Graves, a Republican, blames his own party, saying Republicans went overboard in the reform efforts, handcuffing Congress while failing to rein in spending. He says the result was a shift of power to the federal bureaucracy with bureaucrats how deciding how to spend money, not Congress. Graves says in their zest to end earmark spending, Republicans took away the power of Congress to direct federal agency spending. “We’ve got to have directed spending back,” Graves says. “Everything should be completely transparent and I always argue, too, when it came to earmark reform and earmarks, those ones that are dropped into a conference report after it’s passed the House and the Senate, that was the problem. You know, the Christmas tree museum in North Carolina that just magically appeared in the conference report.” Graves says Congress can address the abuse of earmarks without sacrificing the power of the purse which Congress holds. He says it would only require that House and Senate negotiators could not include anything in a conference report which was not in the original House and Senate bills. Graves says without direct spending, Congress cannot force the Corps of Engineers to spend more money on maintaining the Missouri River levee system. Graves says Republicans and Democrats can agree on at least one thing: criticism of the Army Corps of Engineers. “Everybody has a horror story about the Corps. Everybody hates the Corps of Engineers, because of the way people have been treated when it comes to inland waterways, rivers, streams and things like that, particularly in the Midwest,” Graves says. “But, everybody has a horror story and everybody rolls their eyes when you bring up the Corps of Engineers.”

Graves:  earmark reform keeps Congress from reining in Corps

Above normal temperatures are expected for most of the week with a slight cool down on Friday. There is a slight chance of rain Thursday night south of HWY 50, but less than 0.1” rainfall is expected. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today: Sunny, with a high near 56. West northwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Calm wind. Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Light and variable wind. Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph in the evening. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 43. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 21. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 35.

Sunny with temps near 56 today

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post A juvenile accused in the shooting death of another teenager last month in St. Joseph now faces a more serious charge. The 14-year-old is now charged with manslaughter in the early November shooting. Originally, authorities charged the juvenile with assault. They upgraded the charge in wake of the victim’s death. The identity of the teen has not been disclosed, since the case remains in juvenile court. A charge of armed criminal action also has been filed against the teenager. St. Joseph police officers responded to a call about a shooting at 29th and Penn Streets November 9th. A 14-year-old was taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City by life-flight helicopter. The teenager later died from his injuries.

Teen accused in St. Joseph shooting faces upgraded charge

by SARAH THOMACKSt. Joseph Post Giving locally on Giving Tuesday can help several agencies in St. Joseph help others in need year round. St. Joseph United Way Campaign Director Renita Neville says Giving Tuesday is a nationwide effort to encourage people to give back. “We’ve just come off of Thanksgiving, we’re starting the holiday shopping season and the goal is to kind of have people redirect and think about what’s important in life and to give back and to kind of focus those efforts for one day out of the year.” Neville says anyone who donates to United Way can support a variety of local agencies which focus on education, health or financial stability. “A donation could support something like quality childcare for working parents in our community, it could look like work for individuals with developmental disabilities through supported employment at UCP or through sheltered employment through Specialty Industries,” Neville says. “It might look like a safe place to stay and start over for a woman and her children that have left a domestic violence situation… lots of different ways that the money donated to United Way is used to support a wide variety of needs in our community.” The United Way of Greater St. Joseph partners with 17 local agencies. For more information or to donate, go to <a href="http://www.stjosephunitedway.org/">stjosephunitedway.org</a>.

Giving locally on Giving Tuesday supports community efforts year round

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post A northwest Missouri health care expert has been appointed to a new statewide task force addressing substance abuse. Development and Community Engagement Director Rodney Hummer with Northwest Health Services is one of four members appointed by Gov. Mike Parson to the 16-member task force. We asked Hummer what the state can do to address the crisis. “That is a really good question,” Hummer tells St. Joseph Post, pausing before answering, “States across the nation are fighting this battle and it’s huge and it’s not going to be just one thing that addresses it. It’s going to be 40 things.” Hummer serves on the Buchanan County Opioid Task Force and says he plans to rely on that experience during his service on the statewide panel. Hummer says the statewide panel will consider ways to address substance abuse generally. “You know, it’s not just the opioids. It’s other substances as well. It’s meth and you’ll hear that all the time. It’s all the other drugs,” Hummer says. “I think a few people understand the depths of this and what it costs us as a county and as a state.” The Task Force on Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment is a 16-member panel comprised of six members of the Missouri House, six of the Missouri Senate, and four appointed by the governor. Hummer says the group has a tough task. While the Buchanan County task force has found success in treating opioid addiction through treatment, other addictions have proven tough to overcome, according to Hummer. “So, it’s figuring out those other more difficult areas is going to be a key focus,” Hummer says. Hummer says his first meeting with the statewide task force will be in January. He says he plans to present what has worked in Buchanan County to its deliberations. Hummer says the Missouri legislature can help. He says lawmakers need to approve a prescription drug monitoring program. Missouri is the only state without one.

NW MO health care expert appointed to statewide panel

﻿Above normal temperatures are expected for most of the week with a slight cool down on Friday. There is a slight chance of rain Thursday night south of HWY 50, but less than 0.1” rainfall is expected. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today: Sunny, with a high near 53. West northwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Tonight: Clear, with a low around 31. West wind 5 to 7 mph. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. West northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33. Calm wind. Thursday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 55. Calm wind. Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41.

Sunny today with temps in the 50s

DEKALB COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30a.m. Monday in DeKalb County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by Joshua Pierson, 19, Osborn, was westbound on U.S. 36 at Baker Road. The vehicle traveled off the road and overturned. DeKalb County EMS transported Pierson to Camerson Regional Medical Center. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.

Missouri teen hospitalized after car overturns

Food safety inspections for November 2019

by SARAH THOMACK/St. Joseph Post Staff After a recent meeting of the St. Joseph School Board, plans for school district high schools have been narrowed down to two options. St. Joseph School Board President Seth Wright says those options are a two-high school model or a one-high school model as remodeling all the current high schools is not the best investment of taxpayer money moving forward.&nbsp;&nbsp; “If you look at the data, overall, the community has said, we want to be forward-thinking, our current facilities don’t meet the learning needs of our students and that they would like to see the possibility of new construction," Wright says. "Based upon that data, it’s hard for the board to say investing in our current facilities is a good long term plan.” Wright says narrowing down options for the district's high school facilities is an emotionally-charged issue and process. “These are difficult conversations, the end result will be even more difficult, whatever decision we have to make, but at the end of the day, we understand the gravity of this decision, not just for the school district, but for the community," Wright says. "We want to make sure we’re making the right decision, so we want to take our time, gather all of the feedback." Wright says as they take the next steps toward making a decision, they are continuing to look into what the vision of the community is. School District Superintendent Doug Van Zyl says there are more conversations to come include answering some questions raised through the community engagement process. For more information about the recent meeting, <a href="https://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&amp;DomainID=4&amp;ModuleInstanceID=31133&amp;ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&amp;RenderLoc=0&amp;FlexDataID=55083&amp;PageID=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;">click here</a> and visit <a href="https://www.sjsdfacilities.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;">sjsdfacilities.org</a> for more on the facilities plan.

School board narrows down high school facility plans to two options

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575311669746.jpeg">Donations of toys for the 2019 Christmas For Kids Toy Drive. Photo by Gregg Lynn. Gregg Lynn's 18th Annual Christmas For Kids Toy Drive received hundreds of donations on Friday. The donations helped fulfill wish lists of kids from the Noyes Home for Children, local foster children and more.&nbsp; “We had an outstanding day Friday,” Lynn says. “We brought in enough toys for about 100 kids and a few thousand dollars in donations.” Lynn says there are 32 wish lists still waiting to be granted.&nbsp; Anyone can still drop off new, unwrapped toys or monetary donations at the Eagle Radio studios at 4104 Country Lane in St. Joseph. ﻿The toys will be wrapped by volunteers and delivered for a Christmas party at the Noyes Home for Children next week. For more information or to view wish lists, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreggLynnRadioShow/" style="background-color: transparent;">click here</a>.

Toy Drive receives hundreds of donations, 32 wish lists still need granted

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports nine people died in traffic crashes during this year’s Thanksgiving holiday counting period--from 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 27, 2019, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, December 1, 2019. The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the following: Patrol’s Thanksgiving Holiday Traffic Statistics for 2019 (preliminary): Crashes&nbsp;─&nbsp;404Injuries&nbsp;─&nbsp;166Fatalities&nbsp;─&nbsp;7DWI ─ 94Drug Arrests ─ 63 According to a press release, of the seven traffic crash fatalities troopers investigated, five fatalities occurred in the Troop C, St. Louis area; one fatality occurred in the Troop B, Macon, MO, area; and one fatality occurred in the Troop D, Springfield, MO, area. One person died in a traffic crash on November 28, 2019. Michael J. Scarborough, 54, of Catawissa, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving began to spin on wet pavement as it traveled up an incline. The vehicle spun clockwise and traveled off the right side of the road and went down an embankment before striking a tree. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 21 north of Castle Ranch Road in Jefferson County. Valley Ambulance EMS personnel pronounced Scarborough dead at the scene. Scarborough was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Three people died in traffic crashes on November 29, 2019. Robyn P. Schupp, 54, of Marthasville, MO, and Barb A. Boeshansz, 63, of Obetz, OH, died when their vehicle skidded across the center line and impacted a second vehicle. Schupp was driving too fast for conditions. The crash occurred on Missouri Route D at Lake 27 on the August A. Busch Wildlife Conservation Area in St. Charles County. The second vehicle came to rest in a ditch; that driver sustained serious injuries in the crash. Dr. Brian Ullery pronounced Schupp deceased at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Dr. J. Mahlick pronounced Boeshansz deceased at Progress West Hospital in O’Fallon, MO. All three people were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. Paul D. Scaglione, 88, of Dittmer, MO, died when another vehicle traveled across the center line and struck the vehicle he was driving. The crash occurred on Missouri Route B north of Janssen's Lake Drive in Jefferson County. A passenger in Scaglione's vehicle sustained serious injuries. The driver of the vehicle that struck the Scaglione vehicle sustained serious injuries. Big River Ambulance personnel pronounced Scaglione deceased at the scene. Scaglione and his passenger were wearing their seat belts. The driver of the other vehicle was not wearing a seat belt. Four people died in traffic crashes on November 30, 2019. Kristina L. Blair, 28, of Potosi, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a tree. The crash occurred on Missouri Route M west of Trail Tree Farm Road in Washington County. Washington County Deputy Coroner Steve Hatfield pronounced Blair deceased at the scene. Blair was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Darrell E. Taylor, 19, of New London, MO, died when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving on a wet roadway, traveled off the left side of the roadway, and overturned. The vehicle came to rest on its top in the ditch. The crash occurred on Missouri Route N west of Saverton, MO, in Ralls County. Acting Ralls County Coroner Sgt. Shawn Lenard pronounced Taylor deceased at the scene. Taylor was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Anthony L. Edwards, 42, of Jennings, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving struck a concrete pole and light stand. The crash occurred on Hall Street in St. Louis, MO. Paramedic John Palinsky pronounced Edwards deceased at the scene. The St. Louis City Police Department investigated the crash. Rodney G. Meyers, 51, died in a traffic crash on Missouri Route FF in Joplin, MO. The Joplin Police Department is investigating the crash. One person died in a traffic crash on December 1, 2019. David V. Gulledge, 56, of Springfield, MO, died when he was struck by a vehicle. Gulledge was a pedestrian in the roadway. The crash occurred on Missouri Highway 413 west of Springfield, MO, in Greene County. Medical Examiner Noah Cross pronounced Gulledge deceased at the scene. The driver of the vehicle was wearing a seat belt and was not injured. Three drownings occurred on November 30, 2019. Two juvenile males died when the vehicle in which they were passengers traveled into a flooded crossing. The vehicle was swept away with all occupants entering the water. The driver sustained moderate injuries; a third juvenile occupant sustained serious injuries. The third juvenile passenger was in a child restraint. It is unknown if the two fatalities and the driver were using safety devices. The incident occurred on County Road 356 southeast of Patton, MO, at Little White Water Creek Crossing in Bollinger County. Bollinger County Coroner Charles Hutchings pronounced both juvenile males deceased at the scene. Todd P. Dean, 48, of Mandeville, LA, died when he drove his vehicle into a flooded crossing and the vehicle was swept downstream. The incident occurred on County Road 234 one mile from Sedgewickville, MO, in Bollinger County. Bollinger County Coroner Charles Hutchings pronounced Dean deceased at the scene. Dean was wearing a seat belt. There were no boating crashes, zero boating fatalities, and no boating while intoxicated arrests reported during the 2019 Thanksgiving holiday counting period. NOTE: The fatality statistics in this news release could change if late deaths occur, or if other departments report fatal traffic crashes after this news release is sent out. [During the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday counting period, troopers investigated 543 traffic crashes, which included 11 fatalities and 140 injuries. Statewide, 13 people died and 498 people were injured in 1,640 traffic crashes over last year’s Thanksgiving holiday. Troopers arrested 86 people for driving while intoxicated and made 67 drug arrests during the 2018 Thanksgiving holiday counting period.]

Patrol reports nine traffic fatalities over 2019 Thanksgiving weekend

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575305295933.png">After a stretch of active weather with lots of wind over the weekend, it's going to be a relatively quiet week. Temperatures will warm into the lower 50s by Wednesday and Thursday with a chance of rain on Thursday. Behind that late week system, temperatures will fall back into the mid 40s for Friday. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today: Sunny, with a high near 43. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. South southwest wind 5 to 7 mph. Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 52. West northwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. West northwest wind 3 to 6 mph. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Light west wind. Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.

Temps in the 40s and 50s this week

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post Congressman Sam Graves doesn’t expect Congress to do much when it returns to business this week. Graves says Congress has been focused on only one thing. “Impeachment is the only thing that’s happening,” Graves tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “There’s no infrastructure bill. There’s no spending bill. There’s no trade bill; there’s nothing. It’s just impeachment.” Impeachment hearings have shifted from the House Intelligence Committee to the House Judiciary Committee, which plans to hold hearings this week. Graves, a Republican, says Democrats who hate President Donald Trump and want him removed from office have put pressure on their leaders to halt work on any legislation which might be a win for the president, such as the infrastructure bill which Graves says was working its way through the process. “The word came down from the Speaker’s office that we will stop. That’s it. There will be no infrastructure bill. Cease doing the work on it,” according to Graves. “That pressure was coming from those folks that don’t want to give the president any win whatsoever and he had his fingerprints all over that infrastructure bill. He had talked about it. He had campaigned on it.” Graves says the trade agreement reached with Canada and Mexico to replace NAFTA also has been held hostage while the House considers whether to impeach Trump. Graves wasn’t impressed by the testimony provided during the House Intelligence Committee impeachment hearings. “You can’t impeach somebody just because you hate him,” Graves says. “You can’t impeach somebody on hearsay.” Graves says you can disagree with Trump’s methods and his message. “But, he is very effective at doing those things and getting the things done that he talked about and moving forward and it’s extraordinarily frustrating to those folks,” Graves contends. “I think there are many in Congress right now that wake up every morning just trying to figure out how to hate him more.” House committees have been investigating whether Trump committed an impeachable act during a July call to the president of Ukraine, in which it appeared Trump threatened to withhold military aid unless Ukraine investigated the role Vice President Joe Biden and his son played during Hunter Biden’s tenure on the board of Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company.

Impeachment has Washington at standstill

DAVIESS COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Saturday in Daviess County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Buick Lucerne driven by Steven M. Youtsey, 19, Altamont, was southbound on Interstate 35 near the Winston exit. The vehicle traveled into the passing lane and impacted a &nbsp;2018 Volkswagen Tiguan driven by Morgan E. Anderson, 17, Blue Springs.&nbsp; A family member transported Youtsey to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Anderson was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Missouri teen hospitalized after Daviess Co. crash

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1575051781559.jpeg">Visitors driving through Holiday Park can stop to see Santa, take pictures and enjoy snacks and hot chocolate. Photo by Sarah Thomack. Holiday Park at Krug Park in St. Joseph opens on Friday. "Bring your family up, enjoy the lights,” says Jeff Atkins, St. Joseph Assistant Parks Director. "If you come on Friday or Saturday, the kids can see Santa and just come up and enjoy the lights, that’s why we do it." Atkins says there will be a short ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday with the Mayor flipping the switch to turn on the Holiday Park lights. A ceremony will then be held at 7 p.m. to open South Pole at Hyde Park. The parks are open each night through January 1st. To view the full interview with Jeff Atkins, <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/5ddd9630897d147ad4bb1825" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">click here</a>.

Holiday Park and South Pole open in St. Joseph tonight

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1575046771877.png">Dunn photo MDC KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Missouri prison therapist has been accused of sexually abused inmates in another lawsuit. 49-year-old Teresa Ketner alleges in the lawsuit filed last week that she was sexually assaulted by John Thomas Dunn after seeking counseling at the Chillicothe Correctional Center. She was incarcerated there from 2013 to 2015 for possession of a controlled substance. Ketner said in an interview that she hopes “these people have to answer for what they’ve done,” adding that she still has nightmares. Another woman also sued Dunn, alleging that he began sexually assaulting her after she was raped by a guard. In 2017, Dunn pleaded guilty to sexual conduct with a prisoner. Dunn couldn’t be reached for comment. His attorney has said he no longer works at the prison.

Another lawsuit alleges NW Mo. prison therapist sexually abused inmates

by Sarah ThomackSt. Joseph Post Several shopping programs this weekend and throughout the holiday shopping season encourage area residents to shop local and support small businesses. In Maryville, shoppers have a chance to win prizes every week for shopping local. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MaryvilleChamber" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;">Shop Merryville</a> is underway and customers receive a ticket for every $20 they spend at a participating business and those tickets go into drawings each week with the Shop Merryville’s Grand Prize drawing held on December 23rd.&nbsp; In St. Joseph, Shop St. Joseph is underway with over a hundred businesses large and small participating. “Of course we would like everyone to remember to Shop St. Joseph when you’re doing your holiday shopping,” says Kristi Bailey, St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Director of Communications &amp; Marketing. “So when you’re making your (Black Friday) plan, make sure to visit the Shop St. Joe participants and get a chance to win $10,000 while you’re doing your holiday shopping.” Shop St. Joseph runs until December 16th. For a full list of participants and more on how the program works, <a href="https://saintjoseph.com/shop-st-joseph-2019/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;">click here</a>. In Atchison, Chamber of Commerce President Jacque Pregont says businesses do what they call Reverse Black Friday. “We understand that being in a small town, that a lot of our people are going to get up and they're going to go to the city, either St. Joe or Kansas City and try to get those fantastic buys at some of the big box stores,” Pregont says. “So our stores downtown have started doing what they call ‘Reverse Black Friday,’&nbsp;so by the time you’re back from shopping, maybe you’ve had your nap, they’ll all have specials from 3 to 6 Friday afternoon.” Pregont adds that days like Small Business Saturday, which includes their <a href="http://visitatchison.com/event/christmas-stroll/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;">Christmas Stroll</a> shopping program are important in places like Atchison. “There’s a lot of talk, especially around Small Business Saturday, about how important it is and that those small businesses in town are the ones that support your kid’s baseball team and they’re the ones giving prizes for after prom and they’re supporting your family in so many ways,” Pregont says. “And this is just a really good way to pay them back for that… and give back to small independent business owners.”

Programs encourage residents to shop local, support small businesses

by SARAH THOMACKSt. Joseph Post Gregg Lynn's 18th Annual Christmas For Kids Toy Drive is underway in St. Joseph. The toy drive benefits the Noyes Home for Children, the Adopt-A-Family program, local foster kids and others. "We also do some things with some of the plush animals, those go to another organization that gives those to first responders to pass out, so that organization also benefits from this," Lynn says. "So we ask these kids what they want for Christmas and then we go out and we get it. That's why we need (people) to help us out and buy toys or donate money and help us take care of these kids." The Toy Drive is going on Friday until 6 p.m. at the Eagle Radio studios at 4104 Country Lane in St. Joseph. You can donate any new, unwrapped toy or find wish lists online on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GreggLynnRadioShow/">The Gregg Lynn Radio Show Facebook page</a> or <a href="https://www.joetown1075.com/2019/10/24/gregg-lynns-christmas-for-kids-toy-drive-2019/">click here</a>.

Christmas wishes still need granted as toy drive is underway

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1575037551282.jpeg">I-229 overpass in downtown St. Joseph/Photo by Brent Martin By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post A leading voice in St. Joseph says the city faces a generational opportunity as the Missouri Department of Transportation looks at replacing the I-229 downtown double decker overpass. Chamber of Commerce President Patt Lilly says the double decker was innovative when built, but it isn’t anymore. “It was an earmark project in its day,” Lilly tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.&nbsp;“The Congressman representing this area and city leaders decided we need to find a way to try to help save downtown and improve transportation generally. To their credit, over time, they were able to secure the funding for what is today 229.” MoDOT is consideration change, mainly due to the cost of maintaining the elevated interstate which runs along the Missouri River by downtown St. Joseph. While Lilly appreciates MoDOT’s maintenance burden, he suggests the main drawback of the I-229 structure is that it cuts St. Joseph off from the Missouri River. Lilly says the I-229 downtown overpass never fulfilled the lofty goals backers had for it and St. Joseph needs to think long and hard about a replacement. “I find the double deck ugly and, in some ways, a negative relative to future downtown development,” Lilly says. “In part, because of how it cuts the river off from the rest of the community.” Lilly asserts access to the Missouri River would not just benefit the downtown, but would benefit the city as a whole. Lilly doesn’t see this as merely a transportation project. He says it as a rare opportunity and he says the city needs to make the most of it. “This is a generational kind of opportunity,” according to Lilly. “These opportunities don’t come along very often. So, we shouldn’t be dismissive. We shouldn’t just say, oh, keep doing the same old thing, although there’s always that tendency, but this is a generational opportunity for St. Joseph to do something that will impact the community for the next 50 years.”

St. Joseph faces generational opportunity in I-229 double decker decision

ANDREW COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 7p.m. Thursday in Andrew County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 2003 Ford Ranger driven by Christian R. Pinzon, 21, Maryville, and a 2003 Infiniti driven by Rozalynn M. Irvin, 21, Maryville, were northbound on U.S. 71 at U.S. 59. Both vehicles were traveling too fast for conditions, according to the MSHP. The Ford slid off the east side of the road and overturned. The Infiniti slid off the road and struck the windshield of the Ford. Pinzon refused medical treatment at the scene. Irvin was not injured and wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

MSHP: 2 traveling too fast for conditions in Andrew Co. crash

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574782232421.jpeg">A captive eagle show by Dickerson Park Zoo staff. Photo courtesy Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation. ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - As waterfowl migrate south on winter winds, stopping to rest on open water, bald eagles follow. The migration will be featured Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and Dec. 8, at the 41st&nbsp;annual Eagle Days at the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City. According to a press release from the Missouri Department of Conservation, the wetlands at Loess Bluffs attract thousands of waterfowl and dozens of eagles to Holt County. This event is hosted by the U.S. Fish &amp; Wildlife Service in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and volunteers. Visitors to the free Eagle Days event can see special displays and a captive eagle show by staff at from the Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield. Wild eagles can also be spotted along with waterfowl during a driving tour through the refuge. Special stations along the route will be staffed with refuge staff and volunteers offering information about wetland ecology and helping visitors spot wildlife. Eagle Days will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 7, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 8. Live eagle programs at the headquarters complex will begin every hour, on the hour, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 7, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 8. Shuttle bus parking is available near the Garden Inn located off Interstate 29 at exit 79. The refuge is reached by turning west on U.S. 159 at that exit. For more information about Eagle Days at Loess Bluffs, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAxOTExMjUuMTMzNjIyNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Nob3J0Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvWlAzIn0.IBAtCrQEKC6XkmhZWEJcVpEI_6U_Ay25u4Cr1EYXPe0/br/71812636993-l" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(29, 87, 130);">https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZP3</a>. To learn about eagle watching and other Eagle Days throughout Missouri, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAxOTExMjUuMTMzNjIyNDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Nob3J0Lm1kYy5tby5nb3YvWkc3In0.v_GeDEOVi656ySsP3MGiPYYEEF2abSaHVyAqo_U2VSM/br/71812636993-l" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(29, 87, 130);">https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZG7</a>.

Raptors and waterfowl featured at Eagle Days next weekend at Loess Bluffs

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574883659339.jpeg">Thanksgiving Proclamation issued by President Lincoln/Courtesy of The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post Thanksgiving, as a national holiday, has its roots in likely the darkest time in the history of the United States. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the national holiday in the middle of the Civil War. Missouri Western State University Assistant History Professor Dominic DeBrincat says Lincoln took advantage of the North’s victory at Gettysburg in 1863 to call the nation to reflect on its blessings. “The battle at Gettysburg had taught Lincoln that success is a possibility,” DeBrincat tells St. Joseph Post. “And, so, if you actually read this proclamation, it focuses not so much on the war, but all the other things that Americans should indeed be thankful for.” DeBrincat says it is doubtful Lincoln knew that Thanksgiving would become the celebration that it is today. He says several presidents had called for a day of thanksgiving, but it was Lincoln who made it a national holiday. DeBrincat says Lincoln was swayed, at least in part, by Sarah Hale, editor of the leading women’s magazine, Godey’s Lady’s Book, who advocated for establishment of Thanksgiving as a family occasion. “She had been pushing for nearly a decade and a half before Lincoln finally embraced it,” according to Debrincat. “Now, Godey’s Lady’s Book was probably the best-read magazine in the country. So, there was a lot of backing by the people for this to continue on.” Lincoln also received support for the proclamation from his Secretary of State, William Seward. Seward, in fact, wrote the proclamation Lincoln issued after Gettysburg. The next year, Lincoln and Seward inserted an additional line, stating the country could be grateful for all the new free men and women created by the Emancipation Proclamation. DeBrincat suggests there might be something to learn today in the fact that Lincoln made the move during the Civil War. “Lincoln’s declaration stresses national pride, thankfulness for the blessings that one has, reverence for God, and a return to family,” DeBrincat says. “And so, no matter what your perspective or cultural outlook is, there’s something on there to ground you in a perspective that says things aren’t as bad as they seem if you turn inward.”

Lincoln's call for Thanksgiving has lessons for today

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574870006213.png">The strong winds we experienced overnight will continue through noon today so the High Wind Warning is effect until then. Wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph will be possible. Wind will weaken this afternoon but it will still be breezy and cool with highs in the mid 30s to lower 40s. The next system will move into the area tomorrow morning. A light wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow will be possible Thanksgiving morning through the early afternoon. Very minor accumulations will be possible and although travel hazards are not anticipated at this time it does not take much ice to cause dangerous travel. Keep aware of weather and road conditions if travelling for the Thanksgiving holiday.&nbsp;Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service: Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Breezy, with a northwest wind 18 to 23 mph decreasing to 9 to 14 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph. Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable. Thanksgiving Day: A chance of snow before noon, then rain likely, possibly mixed with snow. Cloudy, with a high near 36. East southeast wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible. Thursday Night: A slight chance of rain after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 34. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Friday: Rain likely before noon, then showers after noon. High near 50. Southeast wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then showers likely. Low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Breezy. Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Monday: Sunny, with a high near 42. Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 48.

Windy with temps in the 40s today

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post We likely will miss the worst of this Thanksgiving weekend weather, but there is a wind advisory out for today. The National Weather Service expects winds of 20-to-30 miles per hour in much of the area, especially strong in northwest Missouri. Gusts could hit 55 mph. St. Joseph has suspended open burning today, due to the high winds. A storm packing heavy snow and high winds that wreaked havoc as it whipped through western states is marching into the upper Midwest as anxious Thanksgiving travelers brace for a busy holiday week. It seems it will pass over us. The wintry storm that left at least one person dead was pushing eastward into South Dakota, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin on Wednesday, while a “bomb cyclone” weather phenomenon was expected to simultaneously topple trees, knock out power, and dump snow in California and Oregon. For this area, snow is likely Thanksgiving morning, turning to rain, possibly mixed with snow, in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation, according to NWS, is 60% with little accumulation expected. The high for Thanksgiving Day is expected to reach 36. The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Area likely to dodge worst weather, but wind advisory in effect

CLINTON COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Tuesday in Clinton County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Ford F250 driven by Gary W. Kirkland, 56, Kansas City, was northbound on Interstate 35 four miles east of Lathrop. The vehicle struck a 2004 Chevy Classic driven by Hannah D. Bills, 18, Braymer, that was backing on the interstate. The Chevy slid into the path of a 2017 Chevy Impala driven by Gregg W. Eckert, 64, Cameron. Tri-County EMS transported Bills to Liberty Hospital. Kirkland and Eckert were not injured. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.

Missouri teen hospitalized after 3-vehicle crash

Tuesdays Around Town: Holiday Park opens Friday

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1570555463894.jpeg">by Sarah Thomack/St. Joseph Post Staff More than 55 million travelers are making plans to take a trip this Thanksgiving and will fly or drive to get there, according to AAA.&nbsp; St. Joseph Police Chief Chris Connally encourages those driving to visit family and friends this week to prepare your vehicle for winter weather and plan ahead for a safe trip. “Plan your route ahead of time and it’s good to share it with a third party, make sure somebody knows the route you’re planning because if you don’t show up, and (there’s) concern that something happened to you that somebody has a way to track or if they’re filing a missing persons report, provides law enforcement an area to look at and try to check on the well being.” Connally also encourages drivers to plan breaks on a long trip. “Sometimes we get in a hurry and we’re like, ‘Yeah, I just want to go go go,’ so you may (get) fast food and keep driving while you’re eating or something,” Connally says. “Well, if you’re taking a long trip, that break actually does you a lot of good - getting out of the car, getting some fresh air, stretching your legs, taking a little break from the focus that it takes on the road - maybe planning a decent lunch isn’t a bad thing.” Drivers are also encouraged to check weather and road conditions on their route before traveling. “Last winter, a couple times, due to winter weather, they closed part of the interstate,” Connally says. “If the interstate is closed, trying to come up with a shortcut through the rural areas is probably not a good idea either because those side roads are probably as bad or worse.” Connally also reminds drivers to avoid distractions, drive defensively and to not drive impaired.

Holiday travelers encouraged to plan ahead, take driving breaks

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574780477457.png">Today: A slight chance of rain between 9 a.m. and noon, then a chance of showers after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 47. East northeast wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Tonight: A chance of showers before midnight, then a slight chance of rain between midnight and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Breezy, with an east southeast wind 7 to 12 mph becoming west northwest 18 to 28 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Breezy, with a northwest wind 18 to 23 mph decreasing to 7 to 12 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Wednesday Night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 27. Light and variable wind. Thanksgiving Day: A chance of snow before 11 a.m., then a chance of rain and snow between 11 a.m. and noon, then rain likely after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 38. Calm wind becoming east southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. Thursday Night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Friday: Rain. High near 52. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Friday Night: Rain likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Saturday: A chance of rain before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Breezy. Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Breezy. Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. Monday: Sunny, with a high near 40.

Breezy with chance of rain throughout the day

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574714621653.jpeg">Downtown St. Joseph By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post A citizens committee has been formed to study parking in downtown St. Joseph.St. Joseph City Manager Bruce Woody says business growth in the downtown is making it a more pressing issue. “With the exciting success that we see downtown, the new entrepreneurs and the new shops that are popping up, that the subject of parking has come up again,” Woody tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “It has been a topic that pops up from time to time in the past.” Woody expects the citizens committee to review a study concluded in 2011. He says that study has sat on the shelf, but still offers some valuable information which could help the committee in its deliberations. “The controversy that comes up with a now nice, vibrant downtown is the age-old subject of are we using the parking spaces in the most efficient manner,” according to Woody. Woody says there are plenty of parking spaces downtown with nearly 1,400 in the various garages and parking lots, and an additional 1,200 on-street parking spaces. There also are more than 2,000 private parking spaces downtown. “Our ultimate concern is being able to have the appropriate use of spaces, get good turnover for the businesses and have it be convenient for patrons, and have some revenue to do the appropriate level of maintenance on our surface lots and garages in the downtown area,” Woody says. The St. Joseph City Council appointed the committee, asking it to forward recommendations by February. The committee has asked for more time, requesting a deadline of sometime this summer.

Growth in downtown St. Joseph prompts review of downtown parking

A tree lighting is held each year in St. Joseph as a way for families and friends to remember loved ones who were victims of violent crime. For several years, the Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has hosted the Victim Memorial Tree Lighting on the courthouse lawn. Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Victim Advocate Leslie Lane says the ceremony is a way, outside of the legal system, to show support for the families and friends of victims. "A lot of us can look forward to the holidays and be excited about it, but when something tragic like this happens to somebody and Thanksgiving and Christmas come around, it’s hard because they’re not there with them and it’s just our way of continuing to show support and comfort to the victim’s families and friends." Lane says anyone is welcome to come and is invited to bring an ornament to place on the tree. "I think it’s a great way to, even if you don’t have a family member or friend that passed in a tragic way, it’s a good way to show support for others in the community so that we can bond and try to stay strong." The Victim Memorial Tree Lighting takes place at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday outside on the north side of the courthouse at 411 Jules Street in St. Joseph.

Annual tree lighting held to remember victims of crime

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574454156927.jpeg">Gavins Point Dam By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post An official with the US Army Corps of Engineers says though the Corps is reducing water releases from Gavins Point Dam early, the move is mostly neutral in its efforts to prevent flooding next spring. The Corps began reducing release from Gavins Point this past weekend and should bring them down from 80,000 cubic feet per second to 54,000 cfs by December 6th.Missouri River Basin Water Management Chief John Remus notes the Corps had planned to keep releases at 80,000 cfs through the end of the month. “We are starting a little bit earlier than we had planned, because the reservoir immediately upstream from Gavins Point, that’s Fort Randall, is drawing down a little too quickly, which could lead to some municipal water intakes drying up if we were to overdraft that reservoir,” Remus tells St. Joseph Post. “So, we’re cutting releases to kind of manage that pool upstream.” Upstream runoff remains high, but has dropped below what the Corps forecast at the beginning of the month. Releases from Gavins Point dropped to 75,000 cfs Saturday and should lower to 70,000 cfs Wednesday, reaching 60,000 cfs the next week on the way to 54,000. The Corps anticipates lowering the releases from Gavins Point to 22,000 cfs this winter, which would be 5,000 cfs higher than normal winter releases. Remus says the Corps plans to be aggressive in preparing for next spring with the aim of preventing a recurrence of the widespread and destructive flooding of this year. “We’re a little bit ahead of our drawdown schedule now,” according to Remus. “So, we should have all of the flood control storage available next spring to capture and, hopefully, manage the 2020 runoff in the upper basin.” Remus cautions against thinking runoff has dropped off much. “We’re still going to have above average runoff for the month of November and probably for the month of December,” Remus says. “It’s just not going to be as much above average as we had anticipated.” Though runoff upstream on the Missouri River has eased up a bit, they remain high for this time of year. “It’s just not going to be as much as we had forecast, but it’s going to be more than we would normally see.” Remus says the Corps will be aggressive in dropping the levels of the six reservoirs upstream on the Missouri River in an effort to prepare for spring.

Missouri River worries remain even as Gavins Point releases drop

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of Nov. 25 – Dec. 1. Inclement weather and continued flooding may cause schedule changes in some of the planned work. There may also be moving operations throughout the region such as pothole patching, striping, signal work, etc., in addition to the work mentioned below.MoDOT will halt most temporary lane closures throughout the state at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 27, to accommodate an increase in traffic due to the Thanksgiving holiday. They will resume again Monday morning, Dec. 2. All work is weather permitting and subject to change. Atchison CountyRoute CC&nbsp;– CLOSED&nbsp;for a culvert replacement project through early DecemberRoute 111 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement project at the Mill Creek Bridge near Corning. The bridge will remain closed until Spring 2020.Route E – Culvert repair 2 miles south of U.S. Route 169, Nov 25, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.U.S. Route 136 – Pothole patching from Interstate 29 to Route M, Nov. 25 – 27Route 111 – Shoulder work from the city limits of Rock Port to I-29, Nov. 25 – 27 Buchanan CountyI-229 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for bridge maintenance from U.S. Route 36 to Highland Avenue including all ramps, Nov. 25 – 26U.S. Route 59 – Guardrail installation from Route 752 to Route 45, Nov. 25 – 30U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance over Route 759, Nov. 26 – 27 Carroll CountyRoute C –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;until further notice&nbsp;at the Branch of Turkey Creek Bridge due to damage from flooding. The bridge replacement project is scheduled to be a part of the February 2020 letting.U.S. Route 65 – Bridge rehabilitation at the Wakenda Creek Bridge through early December. This includes a 15-foot width restriction.U.S. Route 65 – Bridge maintenance at the Shootman Creek Bridge and Mound Creek Bridge, Nov. 25 – 26Route V – Bridge maintenance at the Miami Station Branch Bridge, Nov. 25 – 26 Chariton CountyU.S. Route 24 – Bridge replacement project at the Mussel Fork River and Overflow Bridges west of Keytesville through early 2020. Traffic is being diverted over a one-lane, signalized bypass during the replacement of the Mussel Fork River Overflow Bridge. A 10-foot width restriction is in place.U.S. Route 24 – Bridge replacement project at the Middle Fork Chariton River and Overflow bridges through early 2020. These bridges are part of Governor Parson’s “Focus on Bridges” program. Traffic will be directed through the work zone with temporary traffic signals. A 10-foot width restriction is in place. Daviess CountyRoute B –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for bridge reconstruction at the I-35 overpass through early December. More info:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.modot.org/clinton-and-daviess-county-bridge-deck-replacements-over-i-35" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.modot.org/clinton-and-daviess-county-bridge-deck-replacements-over-i-35</a>Route DD –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for bridge rehabilitation at the I–35 overpass through early December. More info:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.modot.org/clinton-and-daviess-county-bridge-deck-replacements-over-i-35" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.modot.org/clinton-and-daviess-county-bridge-deck-replacements-over-i-35</a> Grundy CountyRoute O –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a culvert replacement from Route Y to Northeast 18th&nbsp;Avenue, Nov. 25, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Holt CountyRoute 111 – Resurfacing project from Route T to U.S. Route 59 through early DecemberRoute T –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;until further notice&nbsp;at Mill Bluff Road due to roadway damage Linn CountyU.S. Route 36 – Concrete replacement from Route 5 to Route F, Nov. 25 – 26. Includes overnight lane closure. Nodaway CountyU.S. Route 136 – Shoulder work at the west edge of Burlington Junction, Nov. 25 – 26Route 46 – Shoulder work at Route HH, Nov. 25 – 26U.S. Route 136 – Shoulder work from Liberty Road to Route 46, Nov. 25 – 27Route 46 – Shoulder work from Route 113 to Maryville, Nov. 25 – 27Route 46 – Shoulder work from Ravenwood to U.S. Route 169 (Worth County), Nov. 25 – 27 Sullivan CountyRoute PP –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;until further notice&nbsp;at the East Medicine Creek Bridge after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is currently scheduled for replacement in fiscal year 2020. More info:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.modot.org/sullivan-county-route-pp-east-medicine-creek-bridge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.modot.org/sullivan-county-route-pp-east-medicine-creek-bridge</a> Worth CountyRoute YY –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement project at the Middle Fork of the Grand River. The bridge is part of Governor Parson’s “Focus on Bridges” program. The bridge will remain closed until spring 2020. More info:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.modot.org/worth-county-route-yy-bridge-replacement-over-middle-fork-grand-river" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.modot.org/worth-county-route-yy-bridge-replacement-over-middle-fork-grand-river</a>Route 46 – Shoulder work from U.S. Route 169 to Ravenwood (Nodaway County), Nov. 25 – 27

Planned road work for northwest Missouri, Nov. 25 - Dec. 1

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574353892810.jpeg">Aetna Better Health of Kansas CEO David Livingston attended the KanCare hearings this week. Stephen Koranda / Kansas News Service&nbsp; By STEPHEN KORANDAKansas News Service Though its Medicaid contract is still at stake, Aetna Better Health is making progress, Kansas lawmakers and state regulators said this week.&nbsp; “There has been a good response from them,” Kansas Secretary of Health and Environment Lee Norman told a panel of lawmakers Tuesday. State regulators had put Aetna on<a href="https://www.hppr.org/post/kansas-officials-put-aetna-deadline-youre-failing-medicaid-contract" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> notice in July</a> that it wasn’t in compliance with its state contract and risked being fired. The state initially rejected Aetna’s proposal to correct issues this summer, but approved an updated plan in September that included concrete deadlines to fix specific issues like delayed payments to hospitals. Company executives<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/we-get-it-aetna-apologizes-kansas-pushes-fix-medicaid-problems" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> took responsibility</a> for the challenges in August, and said Tuesday that improvements were happening. “The work is not done yet, but we’ve come a long way,” Aetna national Medicaid CEO Randy Hyun said. Among the changes are new processes to make payments to hospitals quicker and fix incorrect payment rates. The company also enrolled more health care providers, from 17,700 in March to 32,600 by the end of September. The company also replaced top Kansas officials, and the new head of Aetna’s Medicaid program in Kansas said he is focused on the improvements and the quality of care Medicaid recipients receive. Aetna provides health care coverage for about one quarter of the nearly 400,000 low-income Kansans on Medicaid.&nbsp; “What I will personally promise is there’s going to be a never-ending focus on quality and outcomes,” state Aetna CEO David Livingston told lawmakers. “It’s our contractual obligation. It’s a moral obligation.” Lingering issuesDespite the improvements, hospitals told lawmakers this week that they still see delays getting paid by Aetna, and there can be issues signing up to become an in-network provider. “When you submit the same information to the same place over and over again, it just becomes very frustrating,” said Paula Pedersen, Abilene Memorial Hospital’s director of patient financial services.&nbsp; Lawmakers expressed relief that Aetna was on firmer footing, despite the remaining issues.&nbsp; “I’m pleased to see that big picture things are moving forward,” Republican Rep. Susan Concannon said. “In my district, I’m still hearing complaints.” The head of KanCare noted that Aetna has set deadlines to make additional changes, and that the threat of firing them still stands.&nbsp;&nbsp; “Our goal is to work them into compliance,” Medicaid Director Adam Proffitt said. “This will not continue in perpetuity.” He added that the state expects to see additional progress by the end of the year. “We’re continuing to enforce high standards on them,” Proffitt told lawmakers. “We are not taking our foot off the gas.” Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio and the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. Follow him on Twitter<a href="https://twitter.com/kprkoranda" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;@kprkoranda</a>&nbsp;or email skoranda@ku.edu.

 Payments aren't aways timely, but Kan. says Medicaid contractor making progress 

CLINTON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 10a.m. Friday in Clinton County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Ranger driven by Saul M. Cruz, 19, Kansas City, was northbound on Interstate 35 just north of Lathrop. The pickup traveled off the road, came back on the road and the driver lost control. The pickup rolled five times. Tri-county ambulance transported Cruz and a passenger Monica Escalante, 19, Kansas City, to Liberty Hospital. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.