&nbsp;STONE COUNTY— One person died in an accident just before 12:30a.m. Monday in Stone County.&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Honda ATV driven by John S. Lawyer, 52, Kimberling City, was westbound downhill on Red Oak Lane in Kimberling City.&nbsp;The ATV overturned and landed on the driver.&nbsp;Lawyer was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Stumpff Funeral Home. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man dies after ATV crash

EDINA, Mo. (AP) — One person is dead after an apparent deer hunting accident in northeast Missouri, and another hunter was wounded in the central part of the state. The deadly accident happened Sunday in Knox County in a rural area 175 miles northwest of St. Louis. The Missouri Department of Conservation confirmed the accident but declined to say where specifically it happened or to release the name of the victim. Meanwhile, a 20-year-old hunter was shot in the hip just after sunset Saturday on private land near Hallsville. Scott Rice, of the Conservation Department, says the wounded man’s friend thought he was a deer. He is recovering in a hospital. The regular firearm portion of the deer-hunting season began Saturday.

1 dead, 1 wounded In Missouri hunting accidents

ST. MARTINS, Mo. (AP) — Authorities say one person has been wounded in a road-rage incident in central Missouri. Cole County Sheriff John Wheeler said Sunday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SheriffWheeler/status/1196175030440382465" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 125, 165);">Tweet</a>&nbsp;that one person was taken into custody and the wounded person was transported to a hospital with injuries that weren’t believed to be life threatening. Wheeler says the incident is under investigation. It happened near St. Martins, which is about 10 miles northwest of Jefferson City. No other details were immediately released.

1 wounded, 1 arrested in Missouri road-rage incident

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574019099301.png">Saousoalii P. Siavii Jr., -photo Jackson Co. KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Additional charges have been filed against a former Kansas City Chiefs football player and eight co-defendants for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy that operated primarily in Eastern Jackson County, according to the United State's Attorney. Saousoalii P. Siavii Jr., also known as “Junior,” 41, of Independence, Missouri, was charged in a nine-count superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri, on November 13. The superseding indictment replaces the original indictment against Siavii and includes additional charges and eight additional defendants. The indictment was unsealed today following the arrests and initial court appearances of some of those defendants. The federal indictment alleges that Siavii, along with Marion D. McCrorey, also known as “Doug,” 40, Andrew A. Tofaeono, also known as “Drew,” 35, Isaac M. Butler, 34, Michelle M. Andrews, 37, Katie M. Thompson, also known as “Muneca,” 25, Michelle L. Morris, 25, and James J. Leach, 39, all of Independence; and Kristannie Casteel, 31, of Blue Springs, Missouri; participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from July 11, 2018, to Nov. 13, 2019. In addition to the conspiracy, Siavii is charged with two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Siavii allegedly possessed a Sturm Ruger 9mm semi-automatic handgun on Aug. 4, 2019, and a Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Aug. 24, 2019. Siavii and Andrews are also each charged with one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm. Siavii allegedly possessed a Phoenix Arms .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol on April 7, 2019. Andrews allegedly possessed a Kel-Tec .380-caliber pistol July 10, 2019.Siavii is also charged with two counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Tofaeono is also charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.Leach is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Leach, who has prior felony convictions, allegedly possessed a Ward’s Western Field 12-gauge pump-action shotgun on Sept. 30, 2019.According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Siavii was arrested on Aug. 24, 2019. Independence police officers responded to parking lot on U.S. 40 Highway, where a witness said he located his friend’s stolen 2017 Jeep Wrangler Sport. The witness told police he saw a man, later identified as Siavii, getting out of the driver’s seat of the vehicle.Officers contacted Siavii, the affidavit says, who disregarded their commands, and an officer deployed his Taser on Siavii. Siavii, who is six feet, five inches tall and weighs approximately 330 pounds, fell to the ground. Officers attempted to gain control as he began to actively resist arrest. Siavii began pushing himself up off the ground, at which time a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol fell directly in front of him within his reach An officer drew his duty weapon and put it to Siavii’s back, due to him not being under physical control, while another officer grabbed Siavii’s firearm and threw it several feet away. Officers continued to fight with Siavii, the affidavit says, while giving him commands to stop resisting and to place his hands behind his back. An officer deployed his Taser on Siavii again with little effect. Siavii was able to get on top of the officer, who was on the ground at this point. Another officer was eventually able to put Siavii in a neck restraint and render him unconscious long enough to handcuff him. Siavii continued to resist even after being handcuffed. In addition to the Aug. 24 incident, the affidavit cites several more incidents in which Siavii was arrested while in possession of illegal drugs and firearms. In one incident, when officers responded to a report of a stolen Chevrolet Silverado that was tracked by On-Star to a motel parking lot, Siavii attempted to flee on foot, then resisted arrest, and fought with officers. In another incident, Siavii led officers in a vehicle pursuit that reached speeds up to 101 m.p.h. Siavii’s vehicle eventually left the roadway and he fled on foot before being located by officers and taken into custody. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Additional charges filed against former KC Chief in drug-trafficking conspiracy 

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574088333941.jpeg">Agriculture Sec. Sonny Perdue, being interviewed at the NAFB convention/Photo by Melissa Gregory By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says the move of two research agencies at the USDA from Washington, D.C. to Kansas City puts the agencies closer to those they serve. Perdue has toured an office building near downtown Kansas City where the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture will be relocated. Perdue insists this isn’t as big a move as critics claim. “Do you know that the Economic Research Service and NIFA were the only two agencies that were not represented outside of D.C.? Ninety percent of USDA workforce is outside of D.C. and NIFA and ERS were not, but now they will be,” Perdue tells reporters during his stop at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters convention in Kansas City this weekend. Critics have claimed the two research arms of the USDA will lose valuable experience by moving out of the District of Columbia. Some contend the USDA made the move, because the Trump Administration is upset with some of their work, especially research on the potential impact of climate change. The move is an economic boost to the greater Kansas City area with 576 USDA jobs moving to the Midwest, which an average salary of between $100-and-120 thousand. Missouri Governor Mike Parson says Missouri officials worked with their Kansas counterparts to make the successful bid which landed the two agencies. “The one thing we do know, we’re hard workers and we’re going to continue to work hard and when you work hard, the results happen to be like today and this is a great moment for Kansas City,” Parson says. “It’s a great moment for our state and what it’s going to do for us in the future.” The agencies are moving to 805 Pennsylvania Avenue, just off of downtown Kansas City. The Congressional delegations of Missouri and Kansas as well as local officials across the state line worked together on the bid, winning a contest that attracted proposals from 135 locations across the country. The state of Missouri says the relocation to Kansas City puts the two agencies within 300 miles of 13 land-grant universities as well as top agricultural research universities. Melissa Gregory, KFEQ Farm Director, and the Missourinet contributed to this article.&nbsp;

USDA touting move of research agencies from DC to KC

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574083378866.png">Watters photo Joplin Police KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Authorities say an autopsy has found no signs of foul play in the death of a man whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ca01eb1124834865ac6f70457b423b07" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 125, 165);">body was found in a freezer</a>&nbsp;in his wife’s bedroom inside the couple’s southwest Missouri home. Joplin police say the autopsy also confirmed that the man was Paul Barton, whose wife, 67-year-old Barbara Watters, is charged with abandonment of a corpse. The body was found last week after a witness told police that Barton’s body had been in Watters’ freezer since his death on Dec. 30, 2018. No details were provided about how the witness knew the couple. No charges have been filed in Barton’s death. Police said before Watters’ arrest on Thursday that she has unspecified “mental disorders” and is known to carry firearms. Police say the investigation is ongoing.

No signs of foul play in death of man found in Missouri freezer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Kansas City school district is increasing the pay of its substitute teachers in a move to address a shortage that is plaguing classrooms around the metro. Michael Weishaar, interim superintendent of the Center School District, said the district decided to increase its pay rate for substitutes from $100 a day to $110 over the summer. But the district decided to bump up pay to $130 a day just a few months into the school year. "I think this makes us, hopefully, more attractive to not only substitute teachers but other individuals who are outside of education," Weishaar said. Weishaar noted that the number of available substitutes has declined gradually over the last few years. “But this year in particular is a more dire situation,” he added.Center High School Principal Edward Tate said that the lack of substitute teachers can create a significant burden on teachers who then must fill in when there are not enough substitutes. "Last week, we had a day where we had 13 teachers out," Tate said. "We're hoping with this new incentive we will see an increased presence of subs and jobs that are filled so we don't put the added stress on our teachers who have taught most of the day.”The high school had 10 teachers out sick on Tuesday, but was only able to get nine substitutes, which meant other teachers had to forgo their planning period to fill in. Steve Parker, a world history teacher at Center High School, said that time is vital is for grading papers and making lesson plans, among the other responsibilities for teachers. "Taking away that time here in school that was allotted to us really kind of adds to the already tough job of being a teacher," Parker said.He added that he hopes the pay increase will help bring in quality substitutes for the district and its students."They need consistency,” Parker said, “and if you are here for them, they love you.”

Kansas City school district increases substitute teacher pay

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573925606451.png">Reese photo Jackson County KANSAS CITY (AP) — A man who fatally shot an argumentative robbery victim has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Twenty-seven-year-old Danzel Reese of Kansas City was sentenced Thursday for involuntary manslaughter and first-degree robbery in the 2010 fatal shooting of Lance Rutter. One witness told police the original plan was to rob a drug dealer. But when the dealer didn’t show up, the witness returned to a vehicle, where he got a call from Reese saying he was “just gonna rob anybody.” The witness says he then saw Reese point a handgun at two people on a porch and fire once. The surviving victim told police that he handed his wallet to one suspect, who then took off running. The man said Rutter was shot when he argued with the other suspect.

Kansas City man killed argumentative robbery victim

<img src="https://newshub.eagleradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-17-at-1.39.11-PM-300x235.png" height="235" width="300"> Leavenworth Detention Center is owned and operated by CoreCivic, the biggest private operator of prisons and detention centers in the United States.CREDIT REBEKAH HANGE / Kansas News Service NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The head of a giant private prison company says his firm is prepared for the “worst case scenario” should a Democratic presidential candidate win the 2020 election and attempt to abolish private involvement in the prison sector. CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger addressed such a potential scenario in the company’s latest earnings conference call last week when asked about the number of top Democratic presidential candidates who favor ending federal private prisons. He said Tennessee-based CoreCivic remains upbeat that the company would continue to earn money in such a scenario and noted the federal government currently does not have the infrastructure to house inmates without relying on private facilities. “In worst case scenario, knowing half our business is with the states, nothing is going to change,” Hininger later said in a Friday phone interview with The Associated Press, echoing comments he made on the earnings call. On the call, he said CoreCivic had reported $509 million in earnings for the third quarter. He said that CoreCivic would still earn money should the federal government ever end its contract, saying his company would be able to sell or lease its real estate if that were to occur — stressing that such an effort would likely take years to phase-out and approval from Congress on appropriating enough funding to build new facilities and resources. CoreCivic currently owns an estimated 59% of all private-owned prison beds in the U.S. and manages nearly 39% of the country’s privately managed prison beds. The company operates 51 correctional and detention facilities including the Leavenworth Detention Center in northeast Kansas. They own 44 with a total capacity of roughly 73,000 beds. This has resulted in the company becoming the largest private owner of real estate used by U.S. government agencies. “We think that an option could be if there is a big push not only at federal but at state level to eliminate use of the private sector to provide real estate and services,” Hininger said. “That maybe the option that they ask us to consider is to either buy our existing assets or capacity or lease our facilities.” Top private prison firms across the country have been closely watching the growing backlash from the top Democratic presidential contenders — ranging from former Vice President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders — who strongly favor ending federal private prisons. These companies recently formed an advocacy group known as the Day 1 Alliance to rebut the criticism. Meanwhile, unease in the industry continues to linger about negative public opinion on private prisons. For example, in a recent SEC filing, Florida-based GEO Group noted that resistance to private prisons “could result in our inability to obtain new contracts or the loss of existing contracts, impact our ability to obtain or refinance debt financing or enter into commercial arrangements.” Hininger also added on the call that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Marshals do not own or operate any detention centers, making them reliant on private companies like CoreCivic to house detainees. But even if the federal government became opposed to privatization, Hininerg said state governments are increasingly showing more interest in the area. “In the last two years, we’ve had contracts with Ohio, Vermont, Wyoming, South Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky. These are states with both Democratic and Republican governors, both ends of the spectrum,” Hininerg told AP on Friday. “They’ve engaged us with solutions and I don’t see that changing.” CoreCivic’s involvement with ICE, however, has come under fire from the left as one of two private companies that operate migrant detention centers for ICE. According to CoreCivic's financial statements, ICE detention accounted for 25 percent of the company's $1.8 billion in total revenue in 2018. CoreCivic has defended contracting with ICE by countering that it doesn’t run facilities for immigrant children separated from parents, but it does have ones that detain adult immigrants, as well as one center that houses migrant mothers and their children together. In 2016, then President Barack Obama’s administration announced the Federal Bureau of Prisons would no longer use private prisons and unveiled a plan to phase-out of the contracts. That decision was quickly overturned after President Donald Trump took office.

Private prison firm preps for 2020 ‘worst case scenario’

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri-Kansas City says the removal of a controversial work of art from the school’s fine arts building display was long planned and not a response to complaints. The work is a statement on the current unrest in Hong Kong and features a depiction of an altered, torn Chinese flag, with yellow stars arranged to form a swastika. On the image is written “#CHINAZI.” The other half of the image depicts a yellow raincoat and gas mask with the words “FREE HONG KONG.” Chinese students complained Thursday to the art department and asked that the piece be removed.It was removed, but the university said Friday in a statement that student artwork is displayed on three-week cycles, and the piece had already been set for removal on Thursday.

UMKC: Removal of controversial artwork was planned

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573926755496.png"> Jones photo Johnson County KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 43-year-old Kansas City man previously freed from prison in a case of mistaken identity is facing a possible return to confinement after pleading guilty to illegal possession of a firearm. Richard Anthony Jones pleaded guilty Thursday. He wasn’t allowed to have weapons because of prior felony convictions for burglary and robbery. Jones was released from prison in 2017 after his conviction for snatching a woman’s purse at a Kansas Walmart in 1999 was overturned, in what became known as the “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5f7dddb5a5fb495cbcb6b54b627b9f03" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">doppelganger</a>&nbsp;case.” Supporters said another man, who looked like Jones, was the likely robber. Kansas paid Jones $1 million in 2018 for his wrongful imprisonment. Prosecutors say officers found handguns on Jones during two confrontations in February and March.Jones faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

Kan. man released in mistaken identity case facing return to prison

<a href="https://www.hayspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/gram___dun.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.hayspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/gram___dun.jpg" height="600" width="800"></a> Gram &amp; Dun on the Country Club Plaza. Dan Margolies BY DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/two-kansas-city-area-restaurant-chains-file-bankruptcy-five-days-apart#stream/0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kansas News Service</a> The two operators of about a dozen well-known Kansas City restaurants sought bankruptcy protection within days of one another, with both saying the restaurants will remain open for business. On Saturday, Bread &amp; Butter Concepts LLC, which owns and operates Gram &amp; Dun on the Country Club Plaza, Urban Table in Prairie Village and the Stock Hill steak restaurant just south of the Plaza, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Kansas. And on Thursday, HRI Holding Corp., which owns Leawood-based Houlihan’s Restaurants Inc., a casual dining chain, filed for Chapter 11 in Delaware. Houlihan’s operates 47 restaurants, including Houlihan’s, J. Gilbert’s and Bristol Seafood Grill, in Kansas, Missouri and 12 other states. The company was founded in 1992 and is owned by affiliates of York Capital Management, an investment management company that bought Houlihan’s about three years ago. Houlihan’s plans to sell its assets to Landry’s LLC, a Houston-based restaurant group, for $40 million, according to its bankruptcy filing. Landry’s made a “stalking horse” bid for Houlihan’s, establishing a floor for other offers that might emerge. In a court filing, Houlihan’s chief restructuring officer, Matthew Manning, attributed the filing to “various industry headwinds," including senior management changes, expensive leases and a tight labor market. Coincidentally, the founder and CEO of Bread &amp; Butter Concepts, Alan L. Gaylin, is a former Houlihan’s executive. The two bankruptcy filings were unrelated, although the same industry headwinds may have been a factor in Bread &amp; Butter’s filing. Bread &amp; Butter ran into lease problems recently with The Oliver, another restaurant it operated on the Plaza. After negotiations for a new lease with the Plaza’s owner fell apart, the restaurant closed earlier this year. <a href="https://www.hayspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/stock_hill.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.hayspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/stock_hill-300x225.jpg" height="225" width="300"></a> The Stock Hill steak restaurant just south of the Plaza. Credit Dan Margolies The company’s bankruptcy attorney, Sharon Stolte, said Bread &amp; Butter’s current restaurants, along with its separate catering service, event venue and Happy Belly Food Truck, will remain open while Bread &amp; Butter seeks to restructure its debts. “Our plans are to reorganize and to do it as quickly as possible,” she said. Bread &amp; Butter got its start nearly a decade ago when it opened BRGR Kitchen + Bar in Prairie Village. It recently sold its various BRGR restaurants, as well as its Taco Republic restaurant, to the parent company of Louie’s Wine Dive. In a declaration filed with the bankruptcy court, Gaylin said two of his business partners, both Texas residents, suffered financial reverses in the oil industry and were no longer able to fund Bread &amp; Butter’s losses or underwrite its losses. Bread &amp; Butter listed about $4.1 million in assets and $5.1 million in liabilities. In a statement, the company said, “We have every intention of coming out on the other side a much stronger company, and one that will be in Kansas City for another ten years and beyond. We will continue to operate as usual with no interruptions to our service, or our continuing commitment to our customers.” Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/DanMargolies" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@DanMargolies</a>.

Two KC Area Restaurant Chains File For Bankruptcy Five Days Apart

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573941690694.png">Skylar Waddell photo Jackson Co. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A 20-year-old Kansas City man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after a man was thrown from his pickup truck while it swerved on Interstate 435. Skylar Waddell is also charged with leaving the scene of an accident after the Wednesday death of 48-year-old Steven Norris. Norris’ wife told police her husband’s truck was on the shoulder of the interstate because it had a flat tire. When a man took off in the truck, Norris clung to the bed rail. He fell from the truck when it swerved into the median, struck the cable barrier and crashed. The truck driver, later identified by witnesses as Waddell, fled on foot and was later taken into custody.Court records don’t name an attorney for Waddell.

Kansas City man charged in death of man who fell off truck

<img src="https://newshub.eagleradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-15-at-1.04.14-PM.png" height="187" width="180"> State Rep. Stephanie Clayton courtesy photo OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas City-area lawmaker who made headlines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/0c8ecf8138744cc58dfbb880819617de" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">by switching to the Democratic Party</a>&nbsp;last year is seeking the state Senate seat of another lawmaker who did the same thing. Four-term state Rep. Stephanie Clayton of Overland Park announced Friday that she would run next year for the seat held by Democratic state Sen. Barbara Bollier of Mission Hills. Bollier is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f5df7406370444ce9b8feace3203467b" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Democrats’ leading candidate for the U.S. Senate</a>&nbsp;next year and is not seeking re-election to the Legislature. Both Clayton and Bollier were elected as state lawmakers as moderate Republicans but switched parties in December. Clayton cited her dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump as a factor. Clayton’s decision sets up a Democratic primary in Bollier’s district. Former Kansas Democratic Party Executive Director Ethan Corson of Fairway announced his candidacy in October.

Party-switching Kansas House member to seek open Senate seat

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — Police in the Kansas City suburb of Independence are investigating a double shooting that left one person dead. Officers responded just before 7 a.m. Friday to a report of a shooting, and arriving officers found two people with gunshot wounds. Both victims were taken to a hospital, where one of them was pronounced dead. The names of the victims have not been released.Police had not reported any arrests in the shooting by midday Saturday.

Police: 1 killed, 1 injured after shooting in KC suburb

<img src="https://newshub.eagleradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-16-at-11.22.50-AM-239x300.png" height="300" width="239"> Crosby Kemper III photo courtesy Show Me Institute KANSAS CITY (AP) — President Donald Trump has announced plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-individuals-key-administration-posts-21/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">nominate</a>&nbsp;the executive director the Kansas City Public Library to lead a little-known independent federal agency that the White House has tried to shutter. Crosby Kemper III will become director of the Institute of Museum of Library Sciences, pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate. Trump’s federal budget proposals for the last three years have sought to close the agency, which has an annual budget of about $242 million. The agency is tasked with supporting the nation’s museums and libraries with research, policy and grants. On Thursday, Kemper said he was under orders from the White House not to comment. The American Library Association and Republican U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt have praised Kemper’s nomination in written statements.

President Trump to nominate KC library head to federal agency

CHARLTON COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Friday in Charlton County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford Escort driven by Brandon L. Vanbibber, 35, Moberly, was eastbound on Highway 24 six miles east of Salisbury. The vehicle traveled off the road and overturned ejecting the driver. Charlton County Ambulance transported Vanbibbler to Moberly Regional Medical Center then air evac to University Medical Center where he died. Charlton County Ambulance transported a passenger Jassi M. Chamber, &nbsp;33, Iberia, to University Hospital in Columbia.&nbsp;They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man dies after ejected in crash

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Some Missouri lawmakers say they’re frustrated with General Motors’ promise to keep only 2,000 jobs at a suburban St. Louis plant, despite the offer of $50 million in tax incentives. Democratic House Minority Leader Crystal Quade told The Associated Press that the deal could amount to millions of taxpayer dollars going to a company amid layoffs. Lawmakers scrambled to pass tax incentives late last session to entice GM to expand its Wentzville plant. GM promised to invest $1.5 billion in the site and keep 2,000 jobs as part of a deal reached with the United Auto Workers last month. About 4,300 employees work there now. Republican Rep. Nick Schroer represents Wentzville. He says he has faith that state officials will negotiate for GM to keep more than half the workforce.

Missouri Lawmakers Frustrated With GM Job-Retention Promises

<a href="https://www.hayspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2019-01-14-kellyinauguration_40.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.hayspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2019-01-14-kellyinauguration_40.jpg" height="533" width="800"></a> Attorneys for Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said she's not responsible for regulating the state's foster care agencies and shouldn't be named in a class-action lawsuit. Nomin Ujiyediin / Kansas News Service\ BY NOMIN UJIYEDIN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/governor-kelly-asks-be-removed-kansas-foster-care-lawsuit#stream/0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kansas News Service</a> Attorneys for Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly have asked a federal court to remove her from a class-action lawsuit over the state’s troubled foster care program, arguing that she doesn’t actually oversee the system. The move comes as <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/parents-say-kansas-foster-care-system-chaotic-deceptive-and-traumatizing-children" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">parents and advocates say</a> that the system continues to traumatize the thousands of children in its care. <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-sued-over-foster-care-s-bounced-several-children-between-100-homes#stream/0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A year ago</a>, child welfare advocates sued then-Gov. Jeff Colyer and the heads of the state agencies in charge of the foster care system: the Department for Children and Families, the Department of Aging and Disability Services and the Department of Health and Environment. In April 2019, Kelly and the current heads of those agencies replaced them as the defendants in the suit. The lawsuit alleges that the state failed to provide adequate mental health treatment for Kansas foster children and traumatized them by moving them from house to house, sometimes more than 100 times. The suit was filed on behalf of 10 foster children, who were identified only by their initials. On Oct. 25, Kelly’s attorneys filed a motion in the U.S. District Court of Kansas, arguing that the governor is protected under the 11th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which provides states protection from many lawsuits by private citizens. Kelly is not responsible for regulating the state’s foster care agencies, the attorneys argued, and is therefore immune from being sued over this issue. “While Governor Kelly generally oversees her appointees’ administration of the foster care system,” the motion reads, “she does not enforce the statutes or regulations that control the Kansas foster care system.” Instead, Kelly’s lawyers argued, the heads of state agencies are responsible for overseeing social welfare, mental health, medical care and other duties laid out in state law. In an email, the governor’s office said it does not comment on pending litigation. Attorneys for the children suing the state have until Dec. 30 to respond. Teresa Woody, an attorney for advocacy group Kansas Appleseed, said they plan to file a response opposing the removal of Kelly from the lawsuit. “ It's not at all uncommon to name the governor in a case like this,” Woody said. “The ultimate responsibility for the executive branch of the state rests with the governor.” The judge will make the final decision to remove Kelly as a defendant, and it’s not clear when that might happen. Woody said both sides of the case met Tuesday for mediation. The governor has previously said she wants to prioritize <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/watch-these-things-new-governor-tries-fix-kansas-child-welfare#stream/0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fixing foster care</a> during her time in office. While she was a state senator, Kelly served on a task force examining the foster care system. Nomin Ujiyediin reports on criminal justice and social welfare for the Kansas News Service.&nbsp;Follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/nominuj?lang=en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@NominUJ</a> or email nomin@kcur.org.&nbsp;

Governor asks to be removed from Kansas foster care lawsuit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has proposed making it tougher for asylum-seekers to obtain permission to work in the United States while their cases are pending, a move that immigrant advocates say would unfairly punish those who need humanitarian protection the most. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said this week a proposed rule would double the time asylum-seekers must wait for a work permit to a year and bar those who crossed a border illegally from applying for work permits at all. The new rule aims to discourage immigrants who don’t qualify for asylum from seeking it to “restore integrity to the asylum system and lessen the incentive to file an asylum application for the primary purpose of obtaining work authorization,” Ken Cuccinelli, the agency’s acting director, said in a statement. The proposal is the latest in a series of measures by the Trump administration aimed at deterring immigrants from seeking asylum along the U.S.-Mexico border and in limiting immigration to the United States. There are hundreds of thousands of asylum applications pending in U.S. government offices and immigration courts. Some were filed by immigrants who were already in the country and others by people arriving in airports, at ports of entry, or stopped on the U.S-Mexico border. Currently, asylum-seekers can obtain permission to work in the United States once their cases have been pending for six months.Immigrant advocates decried the proposed rule and said it would fall hardest on the poorest and most vulnerable immigrants, who are often those who flee their homes at a moment’s notice in search of safety. “Those with strongest claims are the ones least likely to be able to support themselves because they had to leave everything behind,” said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy counsel at the American Immigration Council. Eleanor Acer, senior director for refugee protection at Human Rights First, said asylum-seekers often struggle to feed and house themselves and their families during the current six-month wait period. Making that longer, she said, would worsen their lot and place an additional burden on their communities.The public can comment on the proposed rule until Jan. 13.

US proposes tougher rules on work permits for asylum-seekers

WEBSTER COUNTY— One person died in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Friday in Webster County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Toyota Camry driven by Donald W. Tannehill, 57, Sparta, was southbound on Route A one mile south of Marshfield. The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The vehicle struck a fence and trees.&nbsp; Tannehill was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Day Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man dies after car strikes fence, trees

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573852604512.png">U.S. Ag Secretary Purdue and Missouri Governor Parson in Kansas City Friday -photo courtesy U.S. Dpt. of Agriculture KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said Friday that he has “absolutely zero regrets” about moving the headquarters of two research agencies from Washington, D.C., to Kansas City, despite continuing criticism that the move&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9f3b4c70d47e4bdf92816c5f170b29f6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">would harm agricultural research</a>&nbsp;and make it less available to federal lawmakers.Perdue joined political leaders from Missouri and Kansas in touring the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/4f29da28ecd746169ded179859c02eca" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">new headquarters</a>&nbsp;for the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food in Kansas City, Missouri, and to celebrate a move that he said would improve researchers work by placing them closer to farmers, colleges with agriculture experts and hundreds of private agribusinesses.He said he was surprised by the opposition that erupted in Washington when the plan to move about 550 employees to Kansas City was announced in June, but he still believes it was the right decision.“I thought we were doing the right thing and I am convinced today even more so having been here and seeing where we will be on the ground that we did the right thing,” Perdue said. “I applaud this decision, I celebrate this decision and I have absolutely zero regrets of beginning this process and finishing this process right here in Kansas City.”Perdue praised the congressional delegations, governors and other leaders in Kansas and Missouri for working together to win a competition for the headquarters that originally drew 136 expressions of interest from around the country. He and others said the agencies will benefit from being closer to people with agricultural knowledge.“There’s a certain culture here, and that influences your on-the-ground ability there, rather than sitting somewhere that doesn’t have any agriculture,” he said. “You’re going to find more people in this region that know about agriculture, have the challenges and stress of the year-in and year-out agriculture and be able to make decisions and policies that help inform better research and policy from the USDA.”USDA economist Laura Dodson, acting vice president of the union that represents ERS employees, called the idea that moving to Kansas City would help the agencies’ agricultural research “patently ridiculous.”“We do a national level of research,” she said. “Suggesting we could be better researchers seeing a single cornfield in one state is wrong. We are in service of national agriculture, we service all, not just one region or a specific few.”The Economic Research Service examines issues including the rural economy, international trade, food safety and programs that provide food assistance to poor Americans. The National Institute of Food and Agriculture provides grants for agricultural research.Dodson also said the move had devastated morale at the two agencies, where those who made the move are expected to do the same amount of work with far fewer employees. She used to work with 12 researchers, but her unit consists of her and one other worker.Many agency employees refused to move to Missouri, raising concerns about finding qualified researchers to replace them. Perdue said a recent job fair for 107 vacant positions at the agency drew 6,000 applications, and he expects the agencies to be fully staffed during the first quarter of 2020. He rejected concerns about a loss of institutional memory after hundreds of employees chose not to move, saying those who moved to Kansas City would quickly train new hires.Dodson predicted that the agency would have a difficult time filling highly specialized research jobs requiring difficult academic training. Even before the agencies moved from the nation’s capital, every job opening required a national search because “not many people can do what we do” and the pool of economists who could work at the agency is not deep, she said.The USDA said Friday that as of the pay period ending Oct. 26, ERS has 30 employees in Kansas City, with 69 employees permanently remaining in Washington, D.C., while NIFA has 66 employees in Kansas City, with 18 employees remaining in Washington. ERS has 16 employees and NIFA has 15 employees in Kansas City-based positions whose relocation dates have been extended to Dec. 9 and March 30, 2020 respectively. In total, ERS has 122 positions occupied and NIFA has 92 positions occupied.Both agencies also are using re-employed workers, short-term contractors and employees from other agencies “to help ensure mission continuity through the transition” and the USDA has well over 150 active recruitments in process between both agencies, the agency said.

Perdue celebrates USDA agency moves to Missouri

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped felony drug charges against the owners of a Kansas CBD store for selling hemp flower, which looks and smells like marijuana but contains only trace amounts of THC, the compound that gives pot its high. Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson’s office said in a brief statement Thursday that charges against Annie Martin, her fiancé, Sean Lefler, and an employee of their Free State Collective store in Lawrence were dropped without prejudice — meaning they can be revived — “pending further review.” It offered no explanation. Prosecutors had been scheduled to present their case against the couple on Friday. Just weeks earlier, Branson announced his office would stop filing criminal cases for simple marijuana possession offenses. Martin, a former elementary school teacher who could have faced more than 17 years in prison if convicted, says she’s “relieved,” and that she believes the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which twice raided the store, misunderstood the distinction between marijuana and hemp, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fd2307df14f6401f8a4524ebf1399228" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">a legal crop</a>&nbsp;in the United States. Martin said the case has cost her family upward of $100,000 in legal fees and that law enforcement seized equipment, inventory and cash.“It’s been a complete and total nightmare,” she said. “I never in my wildest imagination would have thought this could turn into what it did.” The store had lab reports from manufacturers showing their products contained only tiny amounts of THC. KBI documents showed some of the store’s products contained none at all. Other products were shown to contain some THC, but no testing was done to determine the actual percentage of THC, said Sarah Swain, the couple’s defense attorney. Branson’s office declined to answer The Star’s questions in August about whether it distinguishes between marijuana and hemp in prosecuting cases. A representative said only that charging documents “reflect our position that marijuana was being sold at a CBD product store.” Those charging documents allege the pair possessed products containing more than a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of THC. Lefler said the couple plans to close the Lawrence store this month and open a business in Kansas City, Missouri.___

Drug charges dropped against Kansas CBD store owner

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a drowning in Lawrence. Just before 8:30 a.m., police responded to 4706 Overland Drive, the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center, regarding a medical emergency involving a possible drowning of an adult, according to Sergeant Amy Rhoads. Officers and LDCFM arrived on scene and despite first responders’ lifesaving efforts, the patient could not be revived. There does not appear to be any foul play suspected and the victim was not a student, according to Rhoads.

The Latest: Man drowns at aquatic center in Lawrence

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri health officials say a woman’s death is the second in the state associated with the use of vaping products. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said Friday that the unidentified woman was in her mid-50s. The department says that it concluded through discussions with the woman’s doctors that vaping contributed to a chronic lung condition. The agency says that since August it has found 35 cases of lung injury from e-cigarettes or vaping.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday said the total of confirmed and probable cases nationwide is now at 2,172. More than 40 people have died.

Second Missouri Vaping Death Reported

<img src="https://newshub.eagleradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-15-at-10.54.16-AM-294x300.png" height="300" width="294"> Rowan Padgett photo courtesy <a href="https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/rowan-padgett-obituary?pid=192060853&amp;page=2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Penwell-Gabel</a> OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A 17-year-old boy originally charged with murder in a high school student’s death in Olathe has pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Rolland Kobelo pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated robbery and distribution of Xanax. The plea deal calls for him to be sentenced to 10 years in prison. Kobelo was initially charged with felony murder in the death of 17-year-old Rowan Padgett in March. Authorities say Padgett was shot during an unsuccessful drug deal for $8 of Xanax. Prosecutors accuse the would-be buyer, 18-year-old Matthew Lee Bibee Jr. of shooting Padgett. Bibee faces several charges, including capital murder. Jordan Denny, who was 16 at the time, is also charged with felony murder. Kobelo admitted that he helped set up the drug deal.

Kan. teen sentenced for killing over $8 of Xanax

<img src="https://newshub.eagleradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-15-at-9.06.34-AM-300x282.png" height="282" width="300"> Police on the scene of the crash investigation photo <a href="https://www.kctv5.com/news/local_news/child-injured-after-car-crashes-into-belton-home/article_16262e7a-075a-11ea-b31b-0fc90ed75196.htmlhttps://www.kctv5.com/news/local_news/child-injured-after-car-crashes-into-belton-home/article_16262e7a-075a-11ea-b31b-0fc90ed75196.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">courtesy KCTV</a> BELTON, Mo. (AP) — Authorities say a driver fled after crashing into a suburban Kansas City home and seriously injuring an 8-year-old child who was inside the home. The&nbsp;suspected driver was arrested shortly after the crash was reported around 8:15 p.m. Thursday in Belton. Police say the child was taken to a hospital with injuries that are believed to be serious. No one else was hurt. The crash is under investigation. Police did not release the driver's name.

Driver flees after crash into Missouri home, hurting 8-year-old

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573828107921.png">Richard Hagerty -photo Lee’s Summit PD KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A former Lee’s Summit police officer has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison without parole for robbing a bank. Richard Hagerty, of Independence, was sentenced Wednesday for armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime. Prosecutors say Hagerty robbed the Central Bank of Missouri in Lee’s Summit in August 2018. He pointed a gun at two tellers and stole about $7,000 before fleeing the bank on foot. Officers spotted him in a vehicle shortly after the robbery. A police pursuit that wound from Lee’s Summit to Grandview reached 100 mph as Hagerty drove on busy streets, through school zones and into oncoming traffic.He was arrested without incident after the chase ended.Hagerty was a police officer in Lee’s Summit from 2007 to 2016.

Former Missouri police officer sentenced for bank robbery

<img src="https://newshub.eagleradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-15-at-8.09.01-AM-300x235.png" height="235" width="300"> Marie Yovanovitch former UN Ambassador to Ukraine WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump and House impeachment hearings (all times local): Watch <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?466135-1/impeachment-hearing-ukraine-ambassador-marie-yovanovitch&amp;live" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">the hearing</a> The House has opened a second day of Trump impeachment hearings with Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine who was suddenly recalled back to the U.S. by President Donald Trump. Yovanovitch is expected to testify about her ouster, which another diplomat has called a “smear” campaign against her by Trump allies. The live public hearings by the House Intelligence Committee are being held to determine whether Trump should be removed from office over his actions toward Ukraine. The investigation centers on Trump’s July 25 phone call when he asked the new Ukraine president for a favor — to investigate Democrats and potential 2020 rival Joe Biden — as the White House was withholding military aid to the Eastern European nation. Yovanovitch and others have described Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer, as leading what one called an “irregular channel” outside the diplomatic mainstream of U.S.-Ukraine relations. __ -------------The former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine has arrived on Capitol Hill to testify in the Trump impeachment inquiry. Marie Yovanovitch is the witness for the second day of public hearings. She’s expected to tell lawmakers about her sudden ouster as President Donald Trump recalled the career ambassador back to the United States. Other diplomats testifying in the investigation have defended Yovanovitch, saying she was the target of “smear” campaign by the president’s allies. She has served both Democratic and Republican presidents. The rare impeachment inquiry is focused on Trump’s actions toward Ukraine. Democrats say it amounts to bribery, as the president withheld military aid to Ukraine while he pushed the country to investigate rival Democrats, including Joe Biden. Trump calls the probe a hoax and says he did nothing wrong.

Watch: 2nd impeachment hearing features US diplomat

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The four Catholic dioceses in Kansas will not support expanding Medicaid to thousands more low-income adults and children unless the state passes a constitutional amendment and new laws restricting abortion, the head of the Kansas Catholic Conference said. Chuck Weber, the group’s executive director, told a joint House and Senate committee on Wednesday that the dioceses in Dodge City, Salina, Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas, want an amendment to the state constitution to clarify that it does not include a right to abortion, in response to a Kansas Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">ruling</a>&nbsp;last year that the constitution protects that right. The dioceses also are seeking a law allowing medical professionals or health facilities to decline to perform certain procedures for religious reasons. Hundreds of thousands of Kansans are members of the Catholic church and, on social issues, it is influential with conservative Republicans, who hold the top leadership positions in the GOP-controlled Legislature.Weber’s statements came as the committee ended two days of hearings on expanding Medicaid to 130,000 low-income adults and children in Kansas. Medicaid currently covers about 342,000 low-income, elderly and disabled Kansas residents. Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican who chairs the committee, said Wednesday that the panel won’t advance a bill on Medicaid expansion to this year’s Legislature and won’t recommend passage of a bill. The committee’s decision to not advance a bill is not binding and lawmakers are still expected to take up Medicaid expansion in this year’s session. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has made Medicaid expansion one of her top priorities for the upcoming session. Her Republican predecessors, Govs. Sam Brownback and Jeff Colyer, successfully blocked expansion by the GOP-led Legislature. During last year’s legislative session, the House passed an expansion bill that was not acted on by the Senate. A special Senate committee in October&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/3cca5e22014345f483b5815d428483f9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">endorsed</a>&nbsp;an alternative developed by Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning of Overland Park. The committee did approve a motion by Rep. Will Carpenter, R-El Dorado, that would prohibit Medicaid expansion from broadening access to abortion and would allow health care providers to refuse to provide patient care, such as birth control, based on the providers’ personal beliefs. “You don’t care about religious beliefs of patients?” said Sen. Barbara Bollier, a Mission Hills Democrat running for the U.S. Senate.“I’m not concerned with that,” Carpenter said. Lee Norman, a physician and secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said a religious exemption in Kansas could be “perilous” and that placing ethical boundaries on Medicaid could make it difficult to attract health care providers. The joint committee also voted to add a requirement that Medicaid applicants who are able must work at least 20 hours per week or enroll in 12 credit hours of college courses to be eligible. The federal government has approved work mandates for other states but all have been blocked by the courts. April Holman, executive director of the Alliance for a Health Kansas — the state’s largest coalition supporting Medicaid expansion — said the House bill and Senate committee proposal required low-wage people signing up under Kansas’ expanded Medicaid system to pay monthly insurance premiums that could be difficult to afford. She also questioned a provision in the House bill that permanently locks out of Medicaid any person who misses three premium payments and the Senate committee’s preference to lock people out for six months if a premium payment was missed.

Kansas dioceses tie Medicaid expansion to abortion changes

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573820633574.png">Pickard Hall photo courtesy University of Missouri COLUMBIA ,Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri plans to demolish a building that has been on campus for 127 years after unsuccessful attempts to cleanup radioactive contamination. The university announced Thursday that Pickard Hall will be coming down. Work to raze the building will begin after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission approves the university’s plan, which was submitted last week. Gary Ward, vice chancellor of operations, said the decision was made only after years of study determined there was no other alternative. The demolition will cost an estimated $12 million and take about two years. The building opened in 1892 and has been closed since 2013.Chemists in the building in the early 20th century worked with radioactive material, when the dangers of the material were unknown. Contamination from that material spread from the basement up to the attic.___

Mizzou will demolish 127 year-old Pickard Hall 

LINN COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Thursday in Linn County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Cadillac CTS driven by Shawn Teagarden, 43, La Cygne, was northbound on County Road 1095 two miles west of La Cygne. The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at the Kansas 152 junction and struck an embankment. Teagarden was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after Cadillac crash into embankment

<img src="https://newshub.eagleradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-14-at-12.39.14-PM-248x300.png" height="300" width="248"> Hurt Photo Leavenworth Co. LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) — A 77-year-old northeast Kansas man has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for the attempted rape of a 4-year-old girl. Galen Hurt, of Linwood, was sentenced Wednesday to 5.5 years in prison. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/728ddb5682d54ce78a7aabe90799d51e" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pleaded</a>&nbsp;guilty in September in Leavenworth County to attempted rape and aggravated child endangerment. Hurt was originally charged in 2018 with rape of a child after the girl told her mother that he had touched her inappropriately while she was at Hurt's house.Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said he offered a plea deal to Hurt in part to prevent the girl, who is now 6, from having to testify in court.

Kansas man sentenced for attempted rape of 4-year-old

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573747594108.png">Photos courtesy Joplin Police KANSAS CITY — Authorities searching for a woman after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fbd4d800454344f19a9f213efb5a0a7d" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">finding her husband’s corpse</a>&nbsp;in a freezer have her in custody, according to a social media report from police in Joplin Missouri. Barbara J. Watters, was taken into custody Thursday afternoon with the assistance from the US Marshals Service. Authorities found the corpse in the freezer in a bedroom inside Wattters' southwest Missouri home where it may have been stored for nearly a year.Details on charges have not been released.-------------- KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Authorities are searching for a woman after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fbd4d800454344f19a9f213efb5a0a7d" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">finding her husband’s corpse</a>&nbsp;in a freezer in a bedroom inside her southwest Missouri home, where it may have been stored for nearly a year. Barbara Watters, 67, of Joplin, was charged Wednesday with abandonment of a corpse, a felony that is punishable by up to four years in prison. The grim discovery was made after a witness told police that Paul Barton’s body had been in Watters’ freezer since his death on Dec. 30, 2018, a police officer wrote in the probable cause affidavit.The witness said Watters threatened to kill him if he notified police. Watters also threatened to kill police, fireman and emergency medical workers if they attempted to come into her house, the witness said, according to the affidavit. Police said she has unspecified “mental disorders” and is known to carry firearms. Police released a photo of Watters and the license plate number for the white sedan she may be driving in a Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/JoplinPD/posts/1452830894872605?__tn__=-R" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">post</a>&nbsp;that asked the public for help finding her. Capt. Nick Jimenez declined to elaborate further on the search. Jimenez said in an interview that officers got the tip about the body Monday while investigating an unrelated Nov. 5 fire that damaged a home in the neighborhood. Officers served a search warrant Tuesday and found the body just where the witness said it would be.Jimenez declined to describe how the witness knows Watters, although the affidavit said he was at her house on Nov. 7 when officers attempted to contact the occupants. The witness said Watters stood at the door pointing a handgun at officers on the other side and refused to allow him to answer the door. The affidavit doesn’t explain why officers were at the house that day, and Jimenez said he didn’t know whether it was related to the arson inquiry. Police weren’t immediately able to provide a call history to the home. The Associated Press submitted a records request. Meanwhile, an autopsy is planned to determine the cause of death and confirm the identity of the remains. While the criminal complaint says Watters “knowingly disposed of or left” Barton’s corpse at her home without notifying law enforcement, Jimenez said formal identification of the body is pending. Watters had only minor past convictions for driving with an expired license and operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license, according to online court records in Missouri.--------------- JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — Authorities are searching for a woman after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fbd4d800454344f19a9f213efb5a0a7d" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">finding the corpse</a>&nbsp;of a man in a freezer inside her southwest Missouri home.Sixty-seven-year-old Barbara Watters, of Joplin, was charged Wednesday with abandonment of a corpse. Police said&nbsp;that the man whose body was found Tuesday hasn’t been identified.Police obtained a search warrant and located the body after learning Monday during an unrelated arson investigation that a body might be inside her home.Police Chief Matt Stewart told The Joplin Globe that there were no obvious signs of foul play. An autopsy is needed to determine how the man died. Police haven’t indicated how long the body may have been in the freezer.

The Latest: Missouri woman captured; husband’s body found in freezer

<img src="https://newshub.eagleradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-14-at-5.12.23-PM-300x258.png" height="258" width="300"> David Toland <a href="https://www.usd204.org/District/1338-Untitled.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">photo courtesy USD 204</a>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Two Kansas sheriff’s department employees have been charged over an incident with a jailed inmate, but no details have been released. The Wyandotte County prosecutor’s office announced Thursday that 47-year-old Sgt. David Toland and 34-year-old Deputy Marcus Johnson are charged with one misdemeanor count of mistreatment of a confined person. Toland also is charged with felony aggravated battery and Johnson with misdemeanor assault. The Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office has placed both employees on administrative leave. The prosecutor’s office didn’t immediately respond to an email asking whether the men have attorneys. Toland also is a member of the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville school board. He told KCTV last month that about five jail staffers were involved in the September incident. He said he was working as a supervisor at the time and that the entire encounter was recorded on video. He said “what happened was right” but provided no other details. Sheriff Don Ash also provided no specifics in a written statement but said it “does not reflect our organizational values.” The statement noted that an administrative investigation is ongoing

2 Kansas sheriff’s employees charged in jail incident

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573774378737.png">Ramiz Zijad Hodzic photo St. Louis County Jail ST. LOUIS (AP) — A Bosnian immigrant living in St. Louis County has been sentenced to eight years in prison and will be deported for raising money to support terrorists. A federal judge sentenced 45-year-old Ramiz Zijad Hodzic on Thursday. He pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and providing material support to terrorists.Prosecutors say Hodzic sent cash and military equipment to third parties in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere from 2013 to 2015.Hodzic received money from others, including five co-defendants. Some of the money went to Abdullah Ramo Pazara, also of St. Louis County, who died while fighting for the Islamic State group in Syria.Three co-defendants have been sentenced to prison. Hodzic’s wife is awaiting sentencing. The fifth suspect pleaded not guilty and awaits trial.content

Bosnian immigrant in Missouri sentenced for supporting terrorists

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (AP) — A student at the University of Central Missouri is facing manslaughter charges in the shooting death of another student. Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Russell announced second-degree involuntary manslaughter charges Thursday against 24-year-old Jeremy Manley. <a href="https://apnews.com/01158149405b4646b25ad5fb24607e51" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 125, 165);">Stephon Abron</a>, a 20-year-old student from St. Charles, died Nov. 4 after what the university called an accidental gun discharge at an on-campus apartment in Warrensburg.Abron was studying aviation. His funeral is Saturday in St. Charles.Russell says in a statement that the accident “could have been avoided if the rules of firearm safety were followed.”Manley does not yet have a listed attorney.

Missouri college student charged in classmate’s death

<img src="https://newshub.eagleradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-14-at-2.31.20-PM-300x285.png" height="285" width="300"> Google mapPOTTAWATOMIE COUNTY— One person died in a fire at a home in Pottawatomie County Sunday, according to the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s office. Just after 10:30p.m., fire crews responded to the home at 13910 Antelope Run Road in rural Westmoreland. The home had totally collapsed prior to the arrival of fire crews and deputies from the sheriff’s department. Fire crews found a victim dead in the home, according to the State Fire Marshal’s office. A positive identification of the victim will not be made until it is confirmed by autopsy. The Investigation Division of the Fire Marshal’s office has classified the cause of the fire as undetermined. Loss is estimated at $200,000. It is unknown if there were smoke detectors in the structure.

Fire Marshal: 1 dead after Kansas house fire

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573757028473.png">Braeden Bradforth and his mother-courtesy photo <a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22ROXANA%20HEGEMAN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 125, 165);">By ROXANA HEGEMAN</a> WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A scathing report following an independent investigation into the heatstroke death of a 19-year-old football player who collapsed after the first day of conditioning practice at a Kansas community college found “a striking lack of leadership.”Braeden Bradforth, a 315-pound (140 kilogram) defensive lineman for the Garden City Community College, was found unconscious outside his dorm room after practice on Aug. 1, 2018. The New Jersey teenager&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e44cd839e29f4cd897c2f0854897f3fa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">died that night</a>&nbsp;at a hospital. No lawsuits have been filed in the case. A serious lack of oversight set off a series of events that led to Bradforth’s death, according to the report by investigators, including sports medicine specialists Walters, Inc. School staff failed to assess athletes prior to the conditioning test and paid little attention to assessing Bradforth’s personal level of fitness, the report said.In particular, coaching staff didn’t consider if he had properly acclimatized to working out in summer temperatures at a higher altitude. "A cause of death was a poorly designed and administered conditioning test for an unconditioned, non-acclimatized student-athlete at an altitude with 9% less oxygen than he was accustomed to at his home” in Neptune, New Jersey, the report said.The college was not sufficiently prepared to ensure safety at practice or to deal with exertional heat illness, the report said. No college athletic training or coaching staff member and no emergency medical service or hospital emergency department personnel identified or treated Bradforth’s escalating symptoms of the heat stroke that caused his death, it found.A timeline included in the report detailed the 73 minutes that passed from the moment Bradforth left the stadium to his arrival at the hospital. "An effective plan likely would have rescued him from what turned out to be his untimely death," the report said. "The response time and significant delays between multiple opportunities for effective treatment were a cause of death."Teammates found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/30ff72c661c44b22860a792bec3d9a41" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">Bradforth collapsed in an alley</a>, according to emails obtained by The Associated Press through an open records request. Assistant football coach Caleb Young told officials Bradforth was "making a stressful moan" when he arrived on the scene, but rather than immediately dial 911 he called the head coach Jeff Sims "for instruction to see how we wanted to handle the situation."Young&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6140137-Coach-Caleb-Young-s-email.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">wrote in one email</a>&nbsp;to university officials that while he was on the phone with Sims, players were filling jugs and bottles from drinking fountains to pour water on Bradforth and attempt to make him drink. The college hired the investigators to conduct an independent review of the case under pressure from Bradforth’s family and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/45b0b7dcea8d40c29a655db280225d2b" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(28, 167, 218);">New Jersey congressional</a>&nbsp;delegation. The University of Maryland also hired Walters, Inc., after the heatstroke death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair after a workout last year.ontent

Report: Lack of leadership led to Kansas player’s death

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573743150464.png">Kallal photo Wyandotte County KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors have announced plans to retry a Kansas priest who was suspended from the ministry after he was accused of inappropriately touching a young girl on two occasions. Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Jonathan Carter&nbsp;said on Wednesday that the Rev. Scott Kallal’s new trial will likely be held in May. The 37-year-old faces two felony counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. He was accused of inappropriately touching a 10-year-old girl in 2015 at a Kansas City, Kansas, church gymnasium and again at a graduation party in Bonner Springs. His original trial ended in mistrial in September after the jury couldn’t agree on a verdict.

Prosecutors to retry Kan. priest accused of molesting 10-year-old

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Meteorite hunters are scouring farm fields for remnants of a basketball-size hunk of rock that blazed across the sky in the St. Louis area. Several Washington University researchers and a separate duo that included Science Channel show “Meteorite Men” costar Steve Arnold began their search Wednesday. They used NASA weather radar data to find a promising Warren County field about 70 miles west of St. Louis where they believed chunks of the fireball may have landed Monday. They later shifted the search to another cattle-filled pasture after data suggested that wind may have changed the meteorite’ path. The scientists called it quits after about 7 ½ hours of searching without finding anything, although they said they might try again another day.

Scientists search for remains of meteorite in Missouri

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573500771683.jpeg">Montgomery County is among more than two dozen Kansas cities and counties suing the opioid industry. Pictured above is Coffeyville in Montgomery County. Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service By CELIA LLOPIS-JENSENKansas News Service TOPEKA — More than two dozen cities and counties across Kansas have sued the opioid industry, from a small town with a population of 150 near the Colorado border to the state’s most populous county at its opposite end. More may still file suits, legal experts say. And those that don’t could get a payout regardless if opioid makers, distributors and vendors opt for a global settlement. That would not only end the massive snarl of lawsuits brought by 2,600 parties nationwide but also prevent tens of thousands of other local governments from taking them to court, too. Who’s suing in KansasCities and counties that are currently going through the legal process see settling as a way to get addiction-rattled communities resources sooner rather than later. Attorney Patrick Smith, of Pittsburg, represents the southeast Kansas counties of Neosho and Crawford. “(Lawsuits) cost money to pursue for one thing,” he said. “At some point … the money in hand is better for the client than risking additional time and litigation.” Richard Ausness, a law professor at the University of Kentucky, says pill makers, pharmacies and others see harm in going to trial. “It’s extremely bad publicity,” he said. “And no telling what kind of dirt might might turn up in this litigation.” The Kansas News Service identified 28 governments in Kansas among the nearly 2,600 parties nationally. The counties are&nbsp;Bourbon, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Dickinson, Elk, Finney, Grant, Greenwood, Harvey, Johnson, Leavenworth, Meade, Montgomery, Morton, Neosho, Pratt, Reno, Sedgwick, Seward, Stanton, Wabaunsee and Wyandotte-Kansas City Kansas. The Kickapoo Tribe is also suing, as are the cities of Elkhart, Manter, Overland Park and Ulysses. David Black is an attorney for Ulysses, Manter and Stanton County in southwest Kansas. The costs of opioid addiction, he said, play out locally in crime investigations, ambulance trips and more. “It’s stretched our resources,” Black said. “It continues to.” Plaintiffs would have to lay out their specific costs at trial, but when large numbers of lawsuits become linked into a single massive, federal case, experts say they almost always end in settlements. What happens nextA federal judge in Ohio is coordinating pretrial steps for the thousands of lawsuits under what’s called the National Prescription Opiate Litigation. The first trial would have involved two Ohio counties and served as a bellwether test of the arguments, but defendants settled for more than $325 million combined last month. The judge is encouraging a broader resolution, paving the way for unprecedented class-action-style negotiations on behalf of cities and counties across the U.S. that would ultimately ask them all to vote before finalizing settlements. The opioid industry could still settle just with the current parties, but a more global settlement would help them avoid an unending parade of suits from the rest of the nation. A global settlement could come out to billions of dollars. In a hypothetical $1 billion scenario, though, Sedgwick County would get nearly $1 million and Johnson County more than $700,000. That’s under a <a href="https://www.opioidsnegotiationclass.info/Home/FAQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">formula designed to potentially divy out the money</a> to parties and non-parties alike based on local opioid deaths and other measures. <blockquote>You can explore what each Kansas county would get in a hypothetical&nbsp;global settlement on <a href="https://allocationmap.iclaimsonline.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this website</a> set up to inform communities.</blockquote> University of Connecticut law professor Alexandra Lahav said local governments should not base expectations on what the two Ohio counties got recently. “They had a trial date that was coming up,” she said. “A defendant in many cases in general is going to be willing to pay more when the trial is tomorrow.” Where attorneys general fit inState lawsuits — like a recent trial in Oklahoma — don’t fall under the National Prescription Opiate Litigation, and some attorneys general have made clear they see suits by cities and counties as a threat. Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is <a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/kansas-v-purdue-pharma-petition.pdf?Status=Temp&amp;sfvrsn=7ff6d31a_2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">suing Purdue Pharma</a> in state court.His office and other states filed legal briefs in federal court warning that “political subdivisions will be able to extract through settlement money that rightfully belongs to the states.” State governments can best handle the money, they argue, because they protect all their communities, control statewide policy and will deal with the money fairly. Cities and counties reject that argument. The massive settlement with the tobacco industry 20 years ago went to state coffers but largely <a href="https://khn.org/news/kansas-tobacco/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">not toward anti-tobacco efforts</a>. In Kansas, money fed into funds to support programs for young children, but state leaders raided the tens of millions in annual tobacco payments <a href="https://www.cjonline.com/news/2012-04-29/oft-raided-childrens-endowment-nearly-broke" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">time and again for other purposes</a>. Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@Celia_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities and civic life.

Here are the Kan. counties, cities taking on opioid industry 

MCDONALD COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just after 6p.m. Wednesday in McDonald County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Kelli K. Lovatt, 44, Goodman, was northbound on U.S. 71 at Pineville. The SUV struck a 2013 Hyundai Elentra driven by Amun A. Omer, 24, Noel, that was southbound and attempted to make a U-turn. Two passengers in the Hyundai Nimo Omer, 19, and a 6-year-old boy were pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Amun Omer to Northwest Regional Hospital in Bentonville. EMS transported Lovall to Mercy Hospital. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri teen, 6-year-old die in 2-vehicle crash

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573733052209.png">Greenwood Police Chief Greg Hallgrimson photo courtesy Fox4KansasCIty KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -A federal grand jury has indicted a former northwest Missouri police chief&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kake.com/story/39917704/police-chief-investigated-for-use-of-force-with-man-who-allegedly-tried-to-drown-child" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(7, 130, 193);">accused of striking a handcuffed man</a>&nbsp;after the chief helped rescue the man's infant daughter from a pond. Federal prosecutors said 50-year-old Greg Hallgrimson, of Kansas City, was charged Wednesday with violating the man's civil rights. The indictment identifies the man only as "J.Z." but Hallgrimson had previously been accused of using excessive force against Jonathon Zicarelli. Hallgrimson resigned in June. Zicarelli told Greenwood police in December that he had&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kake.com/story/39656498/police-father-tried-to-drown-infant-daughter-in-pond-near-kansas-city" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(7, 130, 193);">tried to drown his 6-month-old daughter in a nearby pond</a>. Hallgrimson and another officer rushed to the pond and rescued the child. The indictment alleges Hallgrimson struck J.Z. in the face with his fist while he was restrained in a chair on the same day the child was rescued.The Kansas City Star reports Hallgrimson's attorney, Robin Fowler, said he will plead not guilty and go to trial.&nbsp;

Ex-Missouri police chief who rescued baby indicted

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573731093925.png">Narwhal from his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/macthepitbull/posts/2572118142869139" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">facebook page</a> JACKSON, Mo. (AP) — A rescued puppy is attracting a lot of attention because of his resemblance to a unicorn.The nearly 10-week-old puppy, named Narwhal, has a tail-like appendage growing from his forehead. Narwhal was rescued over the weekend and sent to Mac’s Mission in Jackson, which specializes in fostering animals with special needs.Mac’s Mission founder Rochelle Steffen says Narwhal doesn’t notice the extra tail and is otherwise a happy, healthy puppy. Although it looks like a tail, Narwhal&nbsp;cannot wag&nbsp;it. Steffen says the rescue group has been flooded with requests from people wanting to adopt Narwhal since his picture hit social media. But he’ll remain at Mac’s Mission so his caretakers can be sure the tail doesn’t grow out of proportion to his face and cause him problems.

Rescue: Missouri "unicorn" puppy born with tail growth on head

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Federal transportation safety investigators criticized the U.S. Coast Guard Wednesday for ignoring suggestions over nearly two decades to improve tourist duck boats, changes they say might have prevented last year's Missouri accident that killed 17 people. The National Transportation Safety Board released a “Safety Recommendation Report” on the July 2018 accident, when a Ride the Ducks of Branson boat known as Stretch Duck 7 sank during a severe storm. The boat’s captain and two company executives were indicted, and 30 lawsuits filed on behalf of victims’ families have been settled. Former World War II amphibious vehicles known as duck boats operate around the country as tour boats. Many, like the one in Branson, begin with land tours before the vehicles goes onto water. The NTSB says that since an Arkansas duck boat accident killed 13 people in 1999, it has repeatedly urged the Coast Guard to require the vehicles to be better able to remain afloat when flooded, and to remove impediments to escape such as canopies.“Lives could have been saved, and the Stretch Duck 7 accident could have been prevented had previously issued safety recommendations been implemented,” NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt said in a statement. “It is imperative that the United States Coast Guard adopt these life-saving recommendations now,” Sumwalt said.Coast Guard Lt. Amy Midget said the Coast Guard issued guidance in 2000, after an NTSB recommendation, urging its inspectors and vessel owners to evaluate canopy design and installation and to “evaluate the design and installation of seats, deck rails, windshields, and windows as a system to ensure the overall arrangement did not restrict the ability of passengers to escape.” In addition, the guidance “emphasized the importance of carefully evaluating proposed routes and anticipated environmental conditions and imposing appropriate safety measures and operational restrictions,” Midgett said. A new review of amphibious vessel canopies is planned based on “the NTSB's reissuance” of recommendations, Midgett said.The NTSB said duck boats’ low freeboard and open interior make them “vulnerable to rapid swamping and sinking” when they are suddenly flooded. In the Branson accident, a sudden storm caused massive waves that poured over the boat, sinking it within minutes.The safety report also found that a fixed canopy and closed side curtain impeded passenger escape and likely caused more deaths. Fourteen of Stretch Duck 7’s 31 passengers survived. “These safety issues were identified almost 20 years prior to the sinking of the Stretch Duck 7 and remain relevant to this accident,” the report said. In May 1999, the Miss Majestic sank in Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs, Arkansas. Three children were among the 13 victims.A February 2000 letter from the NTSB urged the Coast Guard to take immediate action. The NTSB said the Coast Guard responded in 2002 with a letter stating that “sufficient requirements and guidance are in place to provide to amphibious passenger vessels a level of safety equivalent to other passenger vessels of similar size and capacity.” The NTSB said it also recommended the changes to 30 duck boat operators years ago, but just one made the recommended improvements.The Missouri boat entered the lake as part of a land-and-water tour despite severe weather warnings. The dead included five children.Tia Coleman of Indianapolis survived the accident but lost her husband and three young children — four of the nine victims from one extended family. “The duck boat and Coast Guard’s failure to act on the NTSB’s recommendations to remove death trap canopies and improve the buoyancy of these boats killed my family,” Coleman said in a statement through her attorney.Ripley Entertainment, owner of the Branson boats, has settled 30 of 31 lawsuits filed on behalf of victims of the accident, Ripley spokeswoman Suzanne Smagala-Potts said. Meanwhile, a federal grand jury has indicted the boat’s captain, Kenneth Scott McKee, along with Ride the Ducks Branson General Manager Curtis Lanham and the company’s operations supervisor, Charles Baltzell.McKee faces several charges accusing him of failing to properly assess the weather and failing to tell passengers to don flotation devices as conditions worsened. Lanham and Baltzell are charged with misconduct and neglect. Indictments alleged that Baltzell got onto the duck boat before it departed and directed McKee to conduct the water portion of the excursion before the land tour because of the approaching storm. At no point after that did Baltzell or Lanham communicate with McKee about the growing intensity of the storm, including that wind gusts of 70 mph were predicted, the indictment said. The indictment accused Lanham of helping to create "a work atmosphere on Stretch Duck 7 and other duck boats where the concern for profit overshadowed the concern for safety."

NTSB: Coast Guard ignored duck boat safety proposals

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is asking people interested in honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to submit ideas to the city’s parks board within 90 days. Lucas’ announcement on Tuesday comes a week after voters chose to restore The Paseo name to a boulevard named last year for King.Lucas said the Parks and Recreation Board will hold public meetings to evaluate ideas for a new way to honor the civil rights icon.The mayor said in a news release that last week’s vote showed that voters were frustrated by the process used to name the street for King. Tim Smith, a spokesman with the group that led a successful campaign to restore The Paseo, praised Lucas’ effort to gather input from the community on the issue.

Kansas City mayor seeks ideas from public to honor King

<a href="https://salinapost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-10-at-7.00.10-AM.png" target="_blank"><img src="https://salinapost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-10-at-7.00.10-AM-300x267.png" height="267" width="300"></a> Police on the scene of the shooting investigation early Sunday photo courtesy WIBW TV LAWRENCE —The suspect in Sunday's shooting that left two injured at Playerz Sports Bar has died as a result of his injuries. The suspect is identified as 30-year-old Terry Dean Scearce III of Lawrence, according to police spokesman Patrick Compton. Just after 2 a.m. Sunday, the Lawrence Police Department responded to multiple 911 calls in reference to a shooting at Playerz Sports Bar.Officers learned that just prior to their arrival, a shooting had occurred in the parking lot resulting in serious, but non-life-threatening injuries to both a male and female victim. Police located the suspect vehicle shortly after and attempted to initiate a car stop. Scearce attempted to evade police, but eventually stopped in the vicinity of E. 23rd&nbsp;St. and O'Connell Road. Scearce&nbsp;was discovered by police in his vehicle with serious, life-threatening injuries from what appeared to be a gunshot wound and was transported to an area hospital. Both victims have been released from the hospital. The case remains under investigation, according to Compton.

Police: Suspect in Lawrence bar shooting dies

<a href="https://salinapost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-10-at-7.00.10-AM.png" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://salinapost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Screen-Shot-2019-11-10-at-7.00.10-AM-300x267.png" height="267" width="300"></a> Police on the scene of the shooting investigation early Sunday photo courtesy WIBW TV LAWRENCE —The suspect in Sunday's shooting that left two injured at Playerz Sports Bar has died as a result of his injuries. The suspect is identified as 30-year-old Terry Dean Scearce III of Lawrence, according to police spokesman Patrick Compton.Just after 2 a.m. Sunday, the Lawrence Police Department responded to multiple 911 calls in reference to a shooting at Playerz Sports Bar.Officers learned that just prior to their arrival, a shooting had occurred in the parking lot resulting in serious, but non-life-threatening injuries to both a male and female victim.Police located the suspect vehicle shortly after and attempted to initiate a car stop. Scearce attempted to evade police, but eventually stopped in the vicinity of E. 23rd&nbsp;St. and O'Connell Road.Scearce&nbsp;was discovered by police in his vehicle with serious, life-threatening injuries from what appeared to be a gunshot wound and was transported to an area hospital.Both victims have been released from the hospital. The case remains under investigation, according to Compton.

Suspect in Lawrence bar shooting dies

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — Police say they are investigating the death of a man whose body was found in a freezer at a Joplin home.The Joplin Globe reports police said in a statement Tuesday they were investigating an arson case on Monday when they were told a deceased person was found inside a different home in the neighborhood.The person’s identity has not been released. An autopsy will determine the cause of the man’s death.No further information has been released.