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Homeland Security: Immigrant families ignore follow-up

Homeland SecurityALICIA A. CALDWELL, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Homeland Security Department is acknowledging that tens of thousands of young families caught crossing the border illegally this year subsequently failed to meet with immigration agents, as they were instructed.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement confided to immigration advocates during a private meeting in Washington that about 70 percent of families the Obama administration had released into the interior of the U.S. never showed up as directed. The Associated Press obtained an audio recording of the meeting.

The estimate means roughly 41,000 members of immigrant families failed to appear.

The government official was not identified on the recording. The official separately said that deportation had been ordered for 860 people caught traveling as families at the border since May, but only 14 people had reported as ordered.

Two hospitalized after vehicle’s emergency brake activated

GILLMAN CITY- Two people were injured in an accident just before 1 p.m. on Thursday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Ford driven by Frances A. Stagner, 32, Gallatin, was eastbound on Route H just northwest of Gillman City. The vehicle’s emergency brake was accidently activated and it began to spin. It went off the north side of the road and struck a ditch.

Stagner and a passenger in the vehicle Noah C. McCrary, 22, Gillman City were transported to Harrison County Hospital.

The MSHP reported they were not wearing seat belts

Agency takes on preparing for the worst in September

The American Red Cross is urging people to have a plan during the month of September.

Because September is National Preparedness Month, American Red Cross Midland Empire Chapter Executive Director Angie Springs is urging the community to think about what they would do in the event of a disaster.

“it is just a month when the American Red Cross to urges families and individuals to review and practice their preparedness plans,” said Springs. “For example if you have your fire safety evacuation plan in place in your home, take time to practice that you know practice makes perfect.”

She says there are many different types of disasters to take into consideration here in the Midwest.

“We’re very prone to tornadoes, we obviously can have flooding at any time, we have the 102, we have the Platte river, lots of bodies of water that are around us in this area that they could flood at any time, winter weather is also a factor and you know we’re not very far from that,” she said.

At the very least, she said you should have a plan in place, and emergency kits on hand both in your home and vehicles.

“we just got done preparing our children to start school in August so lets prepare our families during the month of September,” said Springs. “The reason why it’s so important is because practice makes perfect. If you practice your plan now, if you go over your plan now then in the event of a real emergency you own’t be scrambling at the last minute to make sure your family is safe.”

if you haven’t prepared yet she said even though the month is almost over it’s still not too late. For more information on National Preparedness Month and what to do to make your plan contact the Midland Empire Chapter of the Red Cross at (816) 232-8439 or Click Here.

Schmidt wants to have say in Kansas Senate dispute

vote ballot electionDerek SchmidtTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt wants a chance to argue in court that Kansas Democrats are legally obligated to pick a new nominee for U.S. Senate.

Schmidt’s office Thursday asked a three-judge panel in Shawnee County District Court for permission to file friend-of-the-court arguments in a disgruntled voter’s lawsuit. A hearing in the case is set for Monday.

Democratic nominee Chad Taylor dropped out of the race against Republican Sen. Pat Roberts. The move was seen as helping independent candidate Greg Orman and hurting Roberts’ re-election prospects.

David Orel of Kansas City, Kansas, sued last week after the Kansas Supreme Court allowed Taylor’s name to be removed from the Nov. 4 ballot.

Orel is a longtime registered Democrat, though his son works on Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s re-election campaign.

Kansas City chemical company fined over storage of waste

court_gavel_1237506492KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas chemical company has been fined $1.5 million after pleading guilty to storing hazardous waste without a permit required by federal law.

The U.S. Attorney’s office says Harcros Chemicals, of Kansas City, Kansas, entered the plea Thursday in federal court.

Harcros makes industrial chemicals including surfactants and antifoaming agents. The company admitted in its plea that it stored waste chemicals from May 2006 through January 2009 without a permit to store them for more than 90 days.

The company told The Kansas City Star the chemicals were kept in cabinets and storage areas for potential future use and were never released into the environment. Harcros also said the chemicals were properly disposed of shortly after a regulatory inspection that took place in 2008.

 

Judge hears both sides in Mo. same-sex marriage ban UPDATE

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Couples challenging Missouri’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other states say there is no public interest in denying them the same rights as married heterosexuals.

American Civil Liberties Union attorney Anthony Rothert told a Jackson County judge on Thursday that refusal to honor same-sex marriages amounts to state-sanctioned discrimination.

Assistant Attorney General Jeremiah Morgan said Missouri voters approved a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage by a large margin in 2004, and that the U.S. Supreme Court has said states have the right to define marriage.

Ten couples who were legally married elsewhere are suing top state officials and the city of Kansas City for violating their due process and equal protection rights.

Circuit Judge James Dale Young didn’t say when he would have a ruling.

———–

KANSAS CITY (AP) – A Kansas City judge is preparing to hear arguments in a Jackson County lawsuit challenging Missouri’s rejection of same-sex marriages that have been performed in other states.

Ten same-sex couples who were married in other states are suing Kansas City and state officials, including Gov. Jay Nixon and Attorney General Chris Koster, for violating their due process and equal protection rights under the U.S. Constitution.

The plaintiffs say Missouri recognizes different-sex marriages performed elsewhere and that under a 2013 Supreme Court ruling it is obligated to treat same-sex marriages the same way. They are seeking a permanent injunction requiring the state to recognize all same-sex marriages performed in other states.

The lawsuit is one of at least three legal challenges to Missouri’s ban on same-sex marriages.

Chrysler recalls vehicles to fix ignition switches

ChryslerDETROIT (AP) — Chrysler is recalling nearly 350,000 cars and SUVs to fix ignition switches that could unexpectedly shut off the engines.

The recall covers 2008 Jeep Commander and Grand Cherokee SUVs, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans, and Dodge Magnum wagons. All were built before May 12, 2008.

Chrysler says the ignitions may not fully return to the “on” position after being started. The switches could move to “accessory” or “off.” That could shut off the engine and knock out power-assisted steering and other features.

Chrysler knows of one crash and no injuries from the problem. It’s telling people to use the key alone in the ignition and confirm that switches have returned to “on” after starting their cars.

Chrysler is investigating the cause. Customers will be notified when repairs are ready.

Bond set at $1M for Topeka homicide suspect

police murderTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Bond has been set at $1 million for a man who police say was running around bloodied, naked and screaming outside the Topeka home where his girlfriend’s body was found.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the suspect in the death of 22-year-old Lacie Atchison appeared Thursday in Shawnee County Circuit Court. Judge Steve Ebberts told a prosecutor the district attorney’s office would have until Monday afternoon to file charges.

For now, the suspect is being held on suspicion of premeditated first-degree murder, child endangerment, misdemeanor battery and criminal restraint.

After neighbors called Wednesday to report the nude man, police used a stun gun to subdue the suspect and then found Atchison’s body. Officers also took an uninjured child from the home and placed her in protective custody.

City to hold Free Flu Clinic

The St Joseph Health Department will be conducting its annual flu clinic on Wednesday,
October 1, 2014. The clinic will be held at the Mayes Memorial Army National Guard
Armory located at 301 North Woodbine (Faraon & Woodbine). The clinic will begin at
8:30 a.m. and run until noon or while supplies last. This clinic is open to Buchanan
County residents, aged 19 and older, and who are not pregnant. Those with privately
provided health insurance, Medicare or MO HealthNet are asked to present their card at
the clinic registration.
The flu vaccine provided by the St Joseph Health Department is a “quadrivalent”, which
means it is made to protect against four strains of flu virus. For years, flu vaccines were
designed to protect against three different flu viruses (trivalent). This included an
influenza A H1N1 virus, an influenza A H3N2 virus and one B virus. Adding another B
virus to the vaccine aims to give broader protection against circulating flu viruses.
Important facts about the upcoming flu season and flu vaccine include the following:
CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in
protecting against flu viruses.
Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine annually.  People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant
women, people who are morbidly obese, people with chronic health conditions
like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease, and people 65 years and older.
Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of
severe flu illness.
Vaccination also is important for health care workers and others who live with or
care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to high risk people.
Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too
young to be vaccinated. People who care for them and household contacts
should be vaccinated instead.
Persons who should not receive a flu shot include those who: have ever had a
severe allergic reaction to eggs; have ever had a severe allergic reaction to flu
vaccine; have a history of Guillain–Barré Syndrome; or are sick with a fever
when they go to get a flu shot (persons with fever should wait until they recover
from their illness before getting the flu vaccine).
No services will be provided at the Health Department, 904 S 10th St, on the day of the
flu clinic but will resume on Thursday, October 2nd. For more information regarding the
flu clinic, call 271-4725.

Kansas soldiers to deploy in fight against ISIS

Big Red One

FORT RILEY – The Department of Defense today identified the 1st Infantry Division as the headquarters unit to deploy as part of the upcoming transition of authority in Iraq. The deployment involves a division headquarters element to support the combatant commander’s mission
requirements.

About 500 soldiers from the 1st Inf. Div.’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion will deploy to the Central Command area of responsibility in late October. Of those 500, about 200 will deploy to Baghdad and Irbil, Iraq, as part of the 475 troops President Barack Obama authorized Sept. 10 to deploy to Iraq part of the nation’s strategy to degrade and destroy ISIL. The troops will advise and assist the Iraqi Security Forces to help them go on the offense against ISIL and conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flights. This will also increase the United States’ capacity to target ISIL and coordinate the activities of the U.S. military across Iraq.

“As brave, responsible and on-point Soldiers in the ‘Big Red One,’ we stand ready to deploy anywhere in the world to protect the United States of America, her citizens and her allies,” said Maj. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley commanding general. “We are ready for anything because we know we have the nation behind us.”

The Big Red One Soldiers will replace service members who have been in Iraq since June. These forces provide a similarly sized headquarters staff to oversee the expanded range of activities that these U.S. personnel in Iraq were assigned and expand the headquarters of the Joint Forces Land Component Command, which has operational control over activities in Iraq reporting to U.S. Central Command.

The 1st Inf. Div. Soldiers will begin to deploy in October and are preparing for a one-year mission.

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