MARSHALL, Mo. (AP) — A central Missouri man has been sentenced to life in prison for the deaths of two Saline County residents.
Fifty-nine-year-old Donald Owens, of Marshall, was sentenced Monday after he pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and first-degree burglary. He was sentenced to life on both murder counts, plus 25 years for both counts of armed criminal action.
Owens shot and killed 35-year-old Ryan Sanders in Slater and 83-year-old Bonnie Charlene Hupp in Saline County in June 2016.
The Sedalia Democrat reports Sanders was married to Hupp’s granddaughter.
Court records say Owens said he killed Sanders to protect a family member involved in legal proceedings against Sanders. He said he killed Hupp because he believed she was responsible for his divorce.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating police impersonation reports.
A woman reported last week that she had been pulled over in Jefferson County by someone in a dark-colored passenger vehicle with red and blue lights. The patrol said in a news release that a driver in a different vehicle pulled someone over about two days later. In one instance, the suspect got out of the vehicle wearing a ski mask and hoodie.
It’s unclear if the cases are linked, although the suspect in both instances was described as being about 5-foot-10 or 5-foot-11, with a stocky build.
Anyone with information is urged to call the patrol.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Five men from Excelsior Springs pleaded guilty this week to their roles in a $4.3 million conspiracy to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in five northwest Missouri counties.
Federal prosecutors say the men distributed the drugs through Jackson, Clay, Ray, Clinton and Buchanan counties.
Those who pleaded guilty this week are 53-year-old Marion Eugene Brammer; 44-year-old Jason Lee Kirtley; 60-year-old Jackie Love; 36-year-old William Dean Campbell, and 32-year-old Steven Lee Schreier Jr.
They are the last of 26 defendants indicted in the case who pleaded guilty.
In 2010, law enforcement investigated a drug-trafficking organization distributing methamphetamine in northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas. Some co-conspirators distributed the methamphetamine throughout the five Missouri counties.
Court documents indicate conspirators sold $4.3 million of methamphetamine and heroin from 2010 to 2015.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A 26-year-old man whose friend tumbled off the roof of his sport utility vehicle and died as he drove along a central Missouri road at 35 mph has been charged with a felony.
The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that Jacob Gerhard, of Moberly, was charged Friday with causing a death while driving while intoxicated. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.
The probable cause statement says he admitted to drinking and smoking marijuana, but said he stopped hours before the death of 25-year-old Asher Kimbrough.
Gerhard failed several field sobriety tests, although breath tests to measure his blood-alcohol level measured below the state’s legal limit. Blood tests are pending.
Gerhard told authorities that Kimbrough had been on the SUV’s roof for about a mile before falling.
NEW YORK (AP) — Verizon has taken over Yahoo, completing a $4.5 billion deal that will usher in a new management team to attempt to wring more advertising revenue from one of the internet’s best-known brands.
Tuesday’s closure of the sale ends Yahoo’s 21-year history as a publicly traded company. It also ends the nearly five-year reign of Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, who isn’t joining Verizon.
Yahoo’s email and other digital services will be run by Tim Armstrong, who has been in charge of AOL. Armstrong is now CEO of a new Verizon subsidiary called Oath, which will consist of Yahoo and AOL services.
Verizon won’t be getting Yahoo’s prized stakes in two Asian internet companies, Alibaba Group and Yahoo Japan. Those will belong to a newly formed company called Altaba.
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — A former Colorado marijuana enforcement officer and a marijuana entrepreneur are among those accused of being involved with a large trafficking ring that shipped pot out of state.
Former pot officer Renee Rayton, Scott Pack and two growers were indicted June 7 by a grand jury, joining 16 others previously charged.
According to the indictment, first reported by The Cannabist on Tuesday, Pack’s businesses had marijuana licenses but allegedly never made a legal sale, serving instead as a front for the trafficking operation.
Investigators say Rayton, a former Pitkin County sheriff’s deputy, was hired away to work from her state job by Pack and profited from the illegal operation.
The ring allegedly shipped pot to Arkansas, Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri.
Steve Scalise. Photo courtesy Congressman Scalise’s website.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the shooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (all times local):
10:18 a.m.
A law enforcement official says the shooting in Virginia that injured Rep. Steve Scalise and several others is being investigated as a criminal act rather than an act of terrorism.
The official, who was not authorized to speak by name and spoke on condition of anonymity, also says the FBI is taking over the investigation, which is standard protocol in attacks involving federal officials such as a congressman. A news conference has been scheduled by law enforcement for later in the morning.
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10:12 a.m.
The White House says that it’s canceling President Donald Trump’s only public event on Wednesday due to the shooting involving members of Congress.
Trump was scheduled to visit the Department of Labor later in the afternoon to talk about apprenticeships and sign an executive order.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the chamber’s No. 3 Republican leader, was shot during a congressional baseball practice outside of Washington.
Scalise was undergoing surgery at a nearby hospital. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
Trump said in statement earlier that the White House was “deeply saddened by this tragedy.”
The White House also canceled a “listening session” on tax reform with top economic adviser Gary Cohn and auto industry leaders.
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10:07 a.m.
Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley of New York says the House sergeant at arms will be briefing lawmakers on Capitol Hill at 11 a.m. following the shooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.
Crowley says the briefing is for members of the House. He wasn’t sure if senators were also being briefed.
The sergeant at arms is an officer of the House of Representatives with responsibilities for law enforcement, protocol and administration.
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10:05 a.am.
The House has sharply curtailed its business after one of its senior Republican members, Rep. Steve Scalise, and several other people were shot during a congressional baseball practice in Virginia.
A message from the GOP leadership says no votes are expected in the House Wednesday. Members also won’t be allowed to make short speeches during what’s known as the morning hour.
The House was scheduled to convene at 10 a.m. and then recess immediately.
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10:03 a.m.
Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., says he was in the members-only House gym early Wednesday morning when House Speaker Paul Ryan was informed of the shooting in Virginia.
Carter says, “At about 7:15 a couple of security officers came in, which is very unusual because we only have members in there. And they went over and talked to the Speaker. And, you know, the look on his face was disturbing.”
Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a congressional staffer and Capitol Police officers were shot during a congressional baseball practice.
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9:50 a.m.
The office of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise confirms that he has been shot in the hip and is undergoing surgery.
The Louisiana Republicans is in stable condition at a Washington hospital.
The statement says that before the surgery Scalise was “in good spirits and spoke to his wife by phone.”
He praised the efforts of U.S. Capitol Police and other first responders.
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9:50 a.m.
The police chief in Alexandria, Virginia, has confirmed that five people were taken to hospitals after a gunman opened fire during a congressional baseball practice.
Michael L. Brown wouldn’t identify them or give their conditions.
He said Capitol Police were on the scene and returned fire.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was among those shot during the baseball practice in suburban Washington on Wednesday morning.
The police chief said nothing to shed light on the motive for the shooting. He said the FBI has joined the investigation.
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9:41 a.m.
US Capitol Police say they have ‘robust police presence’ around the Capitol, but the building is still open after the shooting in Virginia.
Rep. Steve Scalise, a number of aides and Capitol Police officers were shot during a congressional baseball practice.
In a statement, the Capitol Police say, “Out of an abundance of caution, the USCP has deployed a robust police presence throughout the Capitol Complex.”
The statement does not mention any of the victims by name. The statement says, “The incident involved a member of Congress and USCP personnel.”
The Capitol Police say they are “investigating a shooting that occurred off Capitol Grounds.”
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9:30 a.m.
Texas Rep. Roger Williams says a member of his staff was shot at the baseball practice in Virginia where Rep. Steve Scalise was wounded.
In a statement Wednesday, Williams said that at about 7 a.m. this morning, a gunman arrived at the practice and opened fire. Williams said he was not shot but that a member of his staff was and is receiving medical attention.
Williams said the gunman has been detained.
Williams, who is one of the coaches, said the Republican baseball team holds its practice every morning at 6:30 a.m. at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Alexandria, Virginia.
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9:20 a.m.
Sen. Jeff Flake says the gunman in the shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise had “a rifle of some sort” and “a lot of ammo.”
Flake says Scalise was playing second base at a congressional baseball practice when he was shot by a man standing off the third-base side of the field. He says Scalise dragged himself into the outfield to get farther away from the shooting.
Several other people were wounded, including a congressional staff member and law enforcement personnel.
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8:55 a.m.
President Donald Trump says that Rep. Steve Scalise was “badly injured” in a shooting at a congressional baseball game but says he will “fully recover.”
The president tweeted Wednesday, “Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a true friend and patriot, was badly injured but will fully recover.”
He adds, “Our thoughts and prayers are with him.”
Scalise, who is the majority whip, and a number of aides and Capitol Police officers were shot Wednesday morning. Alexandria police say the suspect is in custody.
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8:40 a.m.
President Donald Trump says he and the vice president are “deeply saddened” by news of a shooting “tragedy” at a congressional baseball game.
The president said in a statement Wednesday that “the Vice President and I are aware of the shooting incident in Virginia and are monitoring developments closely.”
Rep. Steve Scalise and a number of aides and Capitol Police officers were shot. Alexandria police say the suspect is in custody.
Trump says, “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of Congress, their staffs, Capitol Police, first responders, and all others affected.”
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8:15 a.m.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana was shot Wednesday at a congressional baseball practice, congressional officials say.
Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., said several other people also were hit, including two law enforcement officers.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A 70-year-old man who said he robbed a Kansas City, Kansas, bank so he could get away from his wife blamed his actions on depression.
A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced Lawrence John Ripple to probation.
Ripple went to the Bank of Labor — a block from the Kansas City, Kansas, police headquarters — last September and gave a note to a teller saying he had a gun and demanding money. After he was given money, Ripple waited for police.
Court records indicate Ripple wrote the robbery note in front of his wife and told her he would rather be in jail than at home.
Ripple told the judge Tuesday that heart surgery left him depressed and unlike himself before he robbed the bank.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials say the troubling rise in traffic fatalities across the state is accelerating.
AAA spokeswoman Jennifer Haugh tells the Wichita Eagle that Kansas is currently averaging more than one traffic fatality a day.
Data from AAA shows that there have been nearly 175 traffic deaths across the state this year through the end of May. That’s a 13 percent increase over the same time frame a year ago and a 44 percent increase from 2015.
Haugh says cheaper gas prices usually result in people driving more miles, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they drive safer. She says not wearing seatbelts and having short attention spans can contribute to the fatality increase.
AAA reports that there were more than 430 traffic deaths in Kansas for all of 2016.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — At a time when insurers are pulling out of offering health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act, one company says it’ll start covering more Americans.
Centene Corp. says it will begin offering coverage for insurance exchanges in Missouri, Kansas and Nevada. The company hasn’t said whether its foray into Missouri and Kansas will fill a 32-county void that will result from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City’s decision to leave that individual insurance marketplace next year.
That Blue Cross decision affects about 67,000 people.
Centene also plans to expand in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Texas and Washington.
MARSHALL, Mo. (AP) — A central Missouri man has been sentenced to life in prison for the deaths of two Saline County residents.
