WASHINGTON (AP) — The GOP is calling on supporters to buy a ticket to the movie “The Interview” if theater owners reverse their decision not to show the film amid threats of retaliation for its comedic take on assassinating North Korea’s leader.
The Republican Party chairman, Reince Priebus (ryns PREE’-bus), says in a letter to theater chain executives that he’s concerned that a foreign regime would be allowed to dictate the movies Americans can and cannot watch.
Noting that Hollywood and the GOP have had their differences, Priebus says the situation with “The Interview” is about freedom and free enterprise.
Priebus says he will ask Republican supporters to buy tickets “to show North Korea we cannot be bullied into giving up our freedom,” and suggests part of the proceeds go to military charities.
LONDON (AP) — Entertainer Elton John and longtime mate David Furnish officially married Sunday on the ninth anniversary of the day they entered into a civil partnership.
The couple converted their civil bond under new laws implemented in England earlier this year that allow same-sex marriages.
On Sunday the couple posted an Instagram picture of themselves preparing to sign official documents. “That’s the legal bit done. Now on to the ceremony!” they wrote.
John and Furnish planned a celebration at their estate near Windsor Castle west of London. An A-list crowd is expected — even if the festivities are likely to be much more sedate than the parties in John’s hell-raising rock ‘n’ roll days.
The singer — known for an impressive string of hits dating back decades — promised to post pictures of the festivities to fans around the world.
The nuptials came as no surprise: John had tweeted about his plans earlier in the week, and earlier in the year had praised England for embracing same-sex marriage. He said there had been a remarkable change in a country where homosexual acts had long been deemed criminal offenses.
John said the wedding would be a joyous occasion shared with the couple’s two sons, Zachary and Elijah.
The singer had said earlier this year that he and Furnish planned to take advantage of the changes to the law, even though they already had a civil bond recognized by the courts.
“We shouldn’t just say, ‘Oh well, we have a civil partnership, we’re not going to bother to get married,” he said.
John and Furnish met in 1993. Both have been active in a number of charities, with John focusing on efforts to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS.
He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 in recognition of his charitable works.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Police are investigating after three people were shot in east Kansas City, with one person seriously injured.
Authorities were called around 10 p.m. Saturday, KSHB-TV reported (http://bit.ly/1xzTRO6 ). It said when they arrived, they found two people had been shot — one of them with a life-threatening wound.
Police later found a third person who had been shot, whose injuries were not considered life-threatening, the report said.
The Outbreaks report provides the public, policymakers and a broad and diverse set of groups involved in public health and the health care system with an objective, nonpartisan, independent analysis of the status of infectious disease policies; encourages greater transparency and accountability of the system; and recommends ways to assure the public health and healthcare systems meet today’s needs and work across borders to accomplish their goals.
By Dave Ranney
KHI News Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kansas is among the nation’s least prepared states for responding to outbreaks of severe infectious diseases, according to a national report.
The report, released Thursday by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, found that Kansas met three out of 10 key measures having to do preventing, detecting, diagnosing and responding to outbreaks.
Six other states — Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio and Wyoming — scored three as well. Only Arkansas fared worse, meeting two of the indicators. Missouri scored four.
The five top-scoring states — Maryland, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia — met eight of the 10 measures.
The scores were based on data from publicly available sources and from information provided by public officials.
The indicator categories included:
• Adequacy of public health funding.
• Preparation for emerging threats.
• Childhood vaccination rates.
• Flu vaccination rates.
• Climate change adaption plans.
• Health care-acquired infection rates.
• Sexually transmitted infection and disease rates.
• Response to foodborne illness outbreaks.
According to the report, Kansas earned points in food safety, preparation for emerging threats and one of two vaccination categories.
During a media call with reporters Thursday, Dr. Jeffrey Levi, executive director at the Trust for America’s Health, was asked what low-scoring states could do to improve their rankings.
He replied: “For most states, the place to start would be their public health budgets. The primary role of government — even in these difficult fiscal times — is to protect people from things they do not have control over, and infectious disease is a perfect example of that fundamental role. That would be a good starting point.”
According to the report, Kansas’ spending on public health in the last two fiscal years fell by almost 13 percent.
Of the 22 states that cut spending on public health, West Virginia led the nation with an 18 percent reduction. Kansas was second.
Sara Belfry, a Kansas Department of Health and Environment spokesperson, said the agency is — and has been — addressing the shortcomings cited in the report.
“Since 2011, KDHE has taken a closer look at our core public health mission, and have implemented a strategic approach to budgeting for programs across the agency to better align our spending with our core public health mission,” she wrote in an email to KHI News Service.
Last year, the state’s flu vaccination rate increased 7 percent, she said, adding, “We strongly recommend all Kansans get their flu vaccine to protect themselves and their loved ones from getting the flu.”
The department, she said, recently launched an initiative aimed at improving its processes for tracking sexually transmitted diseases.
“This would require a change in our administrative regulations, which requires a public comment period and publication in the Kansas Register,” Belfry wrote. “KDHE is in the process of revising these regulations.”
Michelle Ponce, executive director at the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments, said the findings reflect her members’ concerns.
“Recent events, such as the Kansas measles and pertussis outbreaks and the national response to the Ebola virus, underscore the necessity of maintaining a strong public health system,“ she wrote in an email.
The Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are nonprofit, nonpartisan organizations dedicated to the improvement of public health.
Dave Ranney is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.
The search is on for a new superintendent in the Maryville R-2 School District.
At a special meeting Friday, the school board accepted the resignation of Larry Linthacum. Mr. Linthacum is stepping down effective at the end of the current school year in June.
Linthacum is stepping down after four years in the Maryville district to accept the superintendent’s post with Jefferson City Public Schools. His resignation is effective June 30th, 2015.
BY DENNY BANNISTER
Christmas is not just for those in the city where stores are abundant and bright lights shine pretty.
Dwellers in big towns would no doubt be shocked to find out that farmers keep Santa Claus stocked.
Now don’t get me wrong, the elf makes the toys and delivers them worldwide to good girls and boys.
But animals get hungry working hour by hour and reindeer don’t run on nuclear power.
St. Nick, he would tire without milk and a snack, but the reindeer must haul that fat elf and his pack,
So Santa must feed them to finish his task – the farmer will tell all who take time to ask.
’Twas the night before Christmas, and all ’cross the farm the cattle were mooing as if in alarm.
I sprang from my bed and put on my wrap, but neglected to button my long-handles flap.
That wakes you up fast on a cold winter’s night, so I went back inside and fastened it right.
I picked up my flashlight and rifle, what’s more, and fully awake again stepped out the door.
Visions of wrong-doers ran through my mind, rustlers or poachers I expected to find.
The cattle were herding ’ore the hill that cold night, so I followed their lead toward a very strange light.
When you follow a cow, as all farmers know, you don’t look ahead but directly below.
Old habits like that are not easy to break, but I gazed straight ahead since much more was at stake.
To the top of the hill the cattle I followed, to the source of the light by the hay in the hollow.
A whiskered fat man was re-harnessing his team – they had stolen my hay, or so it would seem.
I angered not much for the cost of the hay, but who wants to toss bales on Christmas day?
“Hold it right there,” I yelled at the elf. “You really should be quite ashamed of yourself.
I planted and harvested a good fescue crop, and you pause here as if it’s a roadside rest stop.”
Looking my way, he laughed with a roar. He regained his composure, then ho-ho’d some more.
My rifle and threats had caused him no fear, and why do I feel such a draft from the rear?
Looking behind me expecting a trap, I saw nothing more than my unbuttoned flap.
Ho, ho, ho, he laughed with delight. I guess he was laughing at the ridiculous sight
Of this farmer in long johns with flashlight and rifle, ranting and raving while exposed just a trifle.
Embarrassed and angered, I was prepared to do battle – I pushed my way through that big herd of cattle.
His laughter continued as we met eye-to-eye, and I was finding it hard to be mad at the guy.
We ha-ha’d and ho-ho’d for an hour together at my careless exposure, to be sure for the weather,
But even the best of good times must soon halt, so I bade him good-bye and said “Leave without fault.”
For the use of my pasture and consumption of hay, he kindly and generously offered to pay,
But I wouldn’t hear of it – it gave me a lift to think that just once he was given a gift.
He picked up the reins and got on his way. The reindeer took off with that magical sleigh,
I made my way back to my home and my bed, and laughed to myself at the last words he said
As he steered north by the stars without aid of a map, “Merry Christmas to you – and button your flap.”
I know that my story has taken a while, but the time was well spent if it brought you a smile.
Merry Christmas from farmers who plow up the furrow, and Denny Banister reporting for the Missouri Farm Bureau.
Denny Banister, of Jefferson City, Mo., is a retired broadcaster from Missouri Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization.
The City of St Joseph on Friday announced its selection for the new municipal prosecutor.
Ms. Laura B. Lutz will replace the current city prosecutor, Rebecca Spencer, who will become an Associate Circuit Judge.
Interviews for the position were conducted during the week of December 8, with all four attorneys on the city’s legal staff serving on the interview panel. Further evaluation of those interviewed occurred last week, leading up to the selection of Ms. Lutz.
Ms. Lutz is a graduate of Missouri Western State University and Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska. During her time in Omaha, Laura worked with the prosecutor’s office there. Since returning to St. Joseph, she has worked as a staff attorney for Legal Aid of Western Missouri. Laura is looking forward to this new chapter in her legal career and is excited to officially begin her duties on Monday, January 12, 2015.
Ms Spencer will be leaving her position at the end of this year after having been elected to serve as an Associate Circuit Judge in Division 6.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has signed legislation renewing dozens of costly tax breaks for millions of businesses and individuals.
The bill signed Friday extends the breaks through Dec. 31. Taxpayers will be able to claim them on their 2014 income tax returns.
But the fate of the tax provisions beyond this year will again be uncertain.
Congressional analysts have estimated that the breaks will add nearly $42 billion to the budget deficit over the next decade.
The provisions benefit big corporations and small business, struggling homeowners and residents of states without a state income tax. More narrow provisions include tax breaks for filmmakers, racehorse owners and rum producers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The bill includes a provision letting people with disabilities open tax-free savings accounts.
BOSTON (AP) — The Kennedy Presidential Library wants to remind the world that not even the threat of thermonuclear conflict can stop Santa Claus from making his rounds.
The library has republished the text of a 1961 letter from President John F. Kennedy reassuring a little girl who was worried about possible Soviet nuclear tests at the North Pole.
Kennedy’s letter to 8-year-old Michelle Rochon says he shares her concerns, not just for the fate of Santa but all people. The president added that he had talked to Santa just a day earlier and all is well.
The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum reissued the letter Friday as a holiday greeting on YouTube.
The family of Michael Brown, who was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, has released a statement condemning the shooting deaths of two New York City officers.
The statement posted Saturday on Twitter by the Parks & Crump law firm says Brown’s family rejects “any kind of violence directed toward members of law enforcement. It cannot be tolerated.”
It calls on citizens to “work together to bring peace to our communities.”
The brief statement concludes saying, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the officers’ families during this incredibly difficult time.”
A Missouri grand jury refused to indict the white officer who shot Brown, an unarmed black 18-year-old.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The GOP is calling on supporters to buy a ticket to the movie “The Interview” if theater owners reverse their decision not to show the film amid threats of retaliation for its comedic take on assassinating North Korea’s leader.
