A three-judge panel with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday declined without comment David Zink’s claims that the death penalty is unconstitutional.
The St. Louis-based court on Monday rejected Zink’s challenge of the drug process used in lethal injections.
The nation’s high court is still weighing Zink’s case, and Gov. Jay Nixon is reviewing Zink’s clemency request.
Zink is scheduled to be put to death at 6 p.m. Tuesday for the killing of a 19-year-old Amanda Morton.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A religious liberty group is now threatening to sue over the ongoing Native American sweat lodge dispute at the VA hospital in Wichita.
The Liberty Institute sent another letter Tuesday to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs alleging discrimination against Native American religious practices of veterans at the Robert J. Dole Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
The sweat lodge’s spiritual leader, who is a substance-abuse counselor at the center, has been indefinitely suspended. Members of the sweat lodge have been unable to meet for religious worship there without him.
Their letter calls the VA’s effort to replace July’s ceremony with a meal and a movie an act of “religious insensitivity.”
The VA did not immediately comment, but has previously said it supports the religious practices of its staff, volunteers and veterans.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A federal investigation into the University of Kansas for its handling of a sexual assault complaint is still unresolved amid a national backlog of cases.
The U.S. Education Department released a list in May 2014 that showed colleges that were under investigation. At that time, there were 55 open investigations nationwide. The number has since increased to 134.
A department spokesman says 11 cases have been resolved since May 2014. The department says it doesn’t comment on individual cases.
A spokeswoman says the school is cooperating with the department but declined to say more.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has signed a bill to allow some mental health workers more access to medical records of people who have been civilly committed.
The legislation that Nixon signed Monday makes more records available to community mental health liaisons. Those liaisons work with law enforcement and the courts to connect people with behavioral health problems with treatment.
They’ll have access to records kept at mental health programs, including medications and dosages. Nixon says the goal is to help liaisons provide resource and follow-up care to those who have been committed.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A 26-year-old man has entered a not guilty plea to charges stemming from the death in Springfield of his girlfriend’s mother.
Nicholas Godejohn pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the stabbing death last month of 48-year-old Clauddinnea “Dee Dee” Blanchard.
His lawyer declined comment Monday.
Prosecutors say Godejohn was in an online relationship with Dee Dee’s daughter, Gypsy Blanchard, for two years. Gypsy Blanchard faces the same charges in her mother’s death. They have a preliminary hearing July 24 and are being held in the Greene County Jail on $1 million bond.
Authorities also have said the Blanchards claimed to be Hurricane Katrina victims in a financial fraud scheme that included receiving community and government funds.
WEST PLAINS, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri jury has awarded a West Plains family $6.7 million in a wrongful death lawsuit against the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission.
Laurie Holesapple and her family sued the commission after her husband was killed in a 2013 traffic accident on U.S. 63.
The lawsuit claimed Joshua Holesapple died when his car was hit head-on by another car on U.S. 63 during road construction. Testimony showed the driver of the other car saw his lane was blocked by traffic cones, so he entered the northbound lanes, striking Holesapple’s car.
The Howell County trial ended Saturday.
Commission attorney John William Koenig said he was disappointed in the verdict but because of judgment limits, the commission will have to pay only about $409,000.
SALEM, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri county commission has voted to lower the flags at the county courthouse and the judicial building to “mourn” the legalization of same-sex marriage.
The Dent County Commission voted Monday to observe one year of mourning of the Supreme Court’s June 26 ruling. The commission plans to lower the flags below half-staff on the 26th of each month for a year, running from July to June.
County Commissioner Gary Larson said the Supreme Court’s decision is “just one step backward.”
According to Recorder of Deeds Cindy Ard, the county is issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, and one couple has applied so far.
Dent County resident Alex Sellers has begun an online petition to stop the commission’s act of mourning. The 26-year-old Sellers said he wanted people to know not all Dent County residents agreed with the commissioners.
CALLAWAY, Neb. (AP) — The grave of a Civil War soldier has a new headstone thanks to the efforts of a local organization in central Nebraska.
Before the headstone was put in place, the only memorial at Henry Barnacassel’s grave was an old silver marker with slide-in letters falling off and an incorrect emblem of his service.
Vice commander Tim Hiatt of the Sons of the American Legion in Callaway says the group simply set out to do the right thing by getting a headstone for Barnacassel.
The project led the organization on an unexpected journey, bringing members and Barnacassel’s family together to honor the soldier more than 90 years after he died.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Democratic Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has signed a measure that could allow those convicted of driving while intoxicated to get back on the road sooner.
Those convicted of offenses related to drunken driving can regain their licenses, but must use an ignition interlock device on their car for at least six months. The devices test blood alcohol content. Currently, anyone who tests above .08 or tampers with the device must keep the devices on their car for another six months.
The measure signed Monday by Gov. Nixon changes that to require another three months of restricted driving if someone tests above the limit in the last three months of their probation.
They’d need to have no violations for three consecutive months to regain full driving privileges.
COLUMBUS, Neb. (AP) — A new medical invention that’s helping shoulder surgery patients has roots in Nebraska, thanks to an orthopedic surgeon from Columbus.
Dr. Edward Fehringer wanted to have a device that was small, simple to implant and able to preserve bone better than the options already on the market.
He and a team of other surgeons and engineers came up with a shoulder replacement prosthesis called the Tornier Simpliciti Shoulder System. It has been used in around 100 patients nationwide.
The titanium device is different from other devices mainly because of its shorter stem, or the part that’s inserted into the bone of the upper arm during shoulder replacement surgery. The stem is only 2 centimeters.
