TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is taking steps to give parents of critically ill or disabled children more control over medical decisions about whether those children receive care to prolong their lives.
Supporters of a bill signed into law Friday by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback hope it becomes a model for other states. The new law takes effect July 1.
The law will prevent hospitals and physicians from instituting do-not-resuscitate orders or similar directives if one of the child’s parents objects. A parent will be able to go to court to prevent a violation of the law.
Health care providers also will be required if parents ask to disclose their policies on when treatment is considered futile.
The law was prompted by cases in multiple states, including Missouri and North Carolina.
WENTZVILLE, Mo. (AP) — Authorities are talking to 22- and 25-year-old Maryland brothers who are suspected of traveling to Missouri and driving off with a 12-year-old girl they met online.
An Amber Alert was canceled for the girl when she was found safe Sunday in the St. Louis suburb of Wentzville. The alert was issued after the girl went missing Saturday night from her home about 275 miles away in the Kansas City of Blue Springs.
KOLR-TV reports that Wentzville Police Chief Kurt Frisz says one brother was arrested at a cafe after an unsuccessful effort to get a hotel room without paying. The girl was taken to a hospital to be checked out and released to her father.
The other brother turned himself in later Sunday afternoon to police in Columbus, Ohio.
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Update – The The Blue Springs Police Department has CANCELLED an AmberAlert for an abduction incident that occurred at 2514 NW 6th Street, Blue Springs, Missouri at 11:21 PM on 04/08/2017. Blue Springs Police said the girl has been found safe.
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Apple BriscoeDela Cruz
The Blue Springs Police Department has issued an Amber Alert for an abduction incident that occurred at 2514 NW 6th Street, Blue Springs, Missouri at 11:21 PM on 04/08/2017.
Abducted Is:
Apple S. Briscoe a white, female, age 12
Vehicle Information:
Silver 2015 Nissan Versa bearing Maryland, 6CK5071 last seen 2514 NW 6th Street, Blue Springs, Missouri
Possible suspects or associates are believed to be:
William L. Dela Cruz, a Asian, male, age 22, hgt 5’10, 220 lbs, brown hair, brown eyes
The abducted child is:
Apple S. Briscoe, is a white, female, age 12, hgt 5’03, 125 lbs, brown hair, green eyes
Brief circumstances regarding the abducted child incident:
Apple S. Briscoe met William L. Dela Cruz online and was last seen getting into his vehicle on 04/08/2017 at 11:21 PM and has not been heard from since.
Anyone seeing the abducted child, suspect, associate, or vehicle, or anyone having any information related to the Amber Alert should immediately dial 911 to contact the nearest law enforcement agency or call the Blue Springs Police Department at 816-228-0152.
DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 1.2 million cars and SUVs because the engines can fail and stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The recall covers the Korean automakers’ most popular models including 2013 and 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport SUVs and Sonata midsize cars. Also covered are Kia Optima midsize cars from 2011 through 2014, Kia Sportage SUVs from 2011 through 2013 and Kia Sorento SUVs from 2012 through 2014.
The companies say that debris left from manufacturing can restrict oil flow to connecting rod bearings. That can increase temperatures and cause the bearings to wear and fail.
Hyundai and Kia will notify owners and dealers will inspect the engines. They’ll replace the block if needed at no cost. The recall is scheduled to start on May 19.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway says she’s investigating potential conflicts of interest related to state officials’ work with a trucking technology company.
Galloway announced the investigation Friday after the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported current and former Missouri regulators have worked for the nonprofit HELP Inc. It’s the only company that provides technology allowing truckers to bypass Missouri weigh stations.
The newspaper reported Transportation Department and Highway Patrol regulators blocked competitors from coming to Missouri. A lawmaker and lobbyist told the paper the FBI is investigating, but the agency declined to comment.
Col. Bret Johnson was on HELP Inc.’s board when he was Highway Patrol superintendent and sent a letter canceling a competitor’s pilot program. Johnson says the competitor didn’t meet state requirements, and he sees no conflict with his role.
BONDURANT, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man sought as a material witness in the slayings of his parents and sister in their suburban Des Moines home has surrendered in Missouri.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that 20-year-old Chase Nicholson surrendered Friday morning to police in Neosho, Missouri. Iowa authorities had sought him on a material witness warrant. Iowa online court records don’t show that he’s been charged with a crime.
The bodies of 58-year-old Mark Nicholson, 56-year-old Charla Nicholson and 24-year-old Tawni Nicholson were discovered Thursday night in their Bondurant residence.
The Sheriff’s Office declined to provide more information about the slayings.
The Missouri State Capitol (photo courtesy Missourinet)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House has passed a state budget plan that provides more money for K-12 public schools while cutting higher education funding and a tax break for senior and disabled renters.
House members sent the $27.8 billion budget for next fiscal year to the Senate for review Thursday.
The plan provides close to $3.4 billion in basic aid for public schools, the full amount called for under state law.
The House softened proposed cuts by Republican Gov. Eric Greitens to higher education. Most public college and universities still will see a 6.6 percent cut, and the University of Missouri faces a 9 percent cut.
Also cut were tax breaks for senior and disabled renters. The Revenue Department says last fiscal year about 98,400 renters received about $56 million in refunds.
Missouri Governor Eric Greitens. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI; courtesy Missourinet.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens’ decision to give paid family leave to executive branch employees isn’t sitting well with some Republican senators.
Republican Sen. Rob Schaaf on Thursday said the GOP governor’s executive order is unconstitutional. He says the governor needs legislative authority to pay for its estimated $1.1 million cost.
Greitens’ action last month drew praise from Women’s Foundation and others but upset some Republicans who say Greitens overstepped his authority.
The Republican-led Senate for weeks delayed confirming Greitens’ appointments to boards and commissions. Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard has said that’s because lawmakers wanted to meet with Greitens.
The day after a Wednesday meeting between the governor and Republicans, the appointees were approved.
Richard says there was relief after the meeting but said discussions with Greitens are not finished.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Events took place all over the nation today for the 100th anniversary of the day the U.S. entered into World War I.
12:40 p.m.
The head of a panel behind the commemoration of the day the U.S. entered World War I credits the American involvement and its military might with ending the bloodshed.
Retired Army Col. Robert Dalessandro of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission told a crowd of thousands Thursday on the Kansas City, Missouri, grounds of the nation’s official World War I memorial that “we still live in the long shadow of (that conflict) in every aspect of our lives.”
Dalessandro added that “America entered the war to bring liberty, democracy and peace to the world after almost three years of unprecedented hardship, strife and horror.”
Thursday’s daylong observance titled, “In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace,” included patriotic music, readings from the time America declared war on Germany, and a flyover by planes that left plumes of red, white and blue smoke.
Thousands of people have gathered at a Kansas City, Missouri, memorial to mark the 100th anniversary of the day the U.S. entered World War I.
A sellout crowd of 3,000 onlookers snapped up tickets for Thursday’s event on the grounds of the nation’s official World War I monument, the Liberty Memorial.
The day of remembrance kicked off with patriotic music and a video piece about a soldier narrated by the actor Gary Sinise. It will also feature speeches and readings from the time America declared war on Germany.
Matt Naylor, who heads the city’s National World War I Museum and Memorial, says the event has been years in the making and “is commemorating, not celebrating” the day the U.S. was drawn into the war.
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12:05 a.m.
Foreign dignitaries from around the world are converging on Kansas City, Missouri, and its towering World War I monument to observe the 100th anniversary of the day the U.S. entered “The Great War.”
A sellout crowd of 3,000 onlookers also snapped up tickets for the daylong observance Thursday titled, “In Sacrifice for Liberty and Peace.”
The event on the grounds of the Liberty Memorial — the nation’s official World War I monument — will feature patriotic music, speeches and readings from the time America declared war on Germany.
As president and CEO of the city’s National World War I Museum and Memorial, Matt Naylor says Thursday’s event that’s been years in the making “is commemorating, not celebrating” the day the U.S. was drawn into war.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Senate has given first-round approval to a bill that would continue a statewide property tax for public schools for another two years.
Senators advanced the measure Thursday on a voice vote. The bill would raise $635 million for schools during the 2017-18 school year and another $663 million for 2018-19.
The Senate planned to take a final vote Friday to determine whether the bill goes to the House.
Kansas has imposed a statewide property tax to raise money for schools since 1992. The Kansas Supreme Court has said the state constitution prohibits lawmakers from imposing it for more than two years at a time.
The tax is $20 for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. The first $20,000 of a home’s value is exempt
Governor Eric Greitens’ gives the State of the State address on January 17, 2016. Seated are House Speaker Todd Richardson and Lt. Gov. Mike Parson. Photo courtesy Missourinet.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Senate has confirmed several of Gov. Eric Greitens’ appointees to boards and commissions.
Among those confirmed Thursday by a voice vote were Darryl Chatman, Jeff Layman and Jamie Farmer to the Board of Curators for the four-campus University of Missouri system. James Bean was appointed as the State Fire Marshall, and Carol Silvey and Craig Frazier were appointed to the Missouri State Board of Governors.
The Senate also approved three members to the state’s Clean Water Commission.
The appointments come after three weeks of delay and a private meeting Wednesday between the governor and the Senate Republican caucus over the governor’s decision to grant paid leave to executive branch employees.
