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Rural Kan. symphony event cancelled after storms damage tents

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Organizers have cancelled this year’s annual Symphony in the Flint Hills performance because storms did extensive damage to the tents and other equipment for the event.

Storm damage photo courtesy Symphony in the Flint Hills

The group that planned the performance doesn’t plan to offer refunds for the tickets that sold for between $50 and $95. Past events attracted roughly 7,000 people to rural Kansas.

Organizers initially delayed Saturday’s planned performance from Saturday to Sunday, but later decided that the damage from a Friday-night storm was too extensive. Sunday’s forecast also called for the possibility of more severe weather.

The event would have featured a performance by the Kansas City Symphony. The ticket sales raise money to help educate people about tallgrass prairie and preserve it.

Closed Missouri hospital will not reopen

DONIPHAN, Mo. (AP) — A small hospital in southeast Missouri that has been closed since October will not reopen.

The board of Ripley County Memorial Hospital in Doniphan voted Friday to notify state authorities the hospital will be dissolved. The vote came as the hospital’s certificate of need is scheduled to expire on June 28.

The Southeast Missourian reports the decision ends a desperate 13-month effort by the hospital board to find a health care provider to replace SoutheastHEALTH of Cape Girardeau, which announced plans to leave Ripley County in April 2018.

Karen White, CEO of Missouri Highlands Health Care, which began operating the Doniphan Family Clinic in December, said after Friday’s vote that the company is ready to begin work on opening an Urgent Care facility in the former hospital building.

2 airlifted to hospital after Caldwell County crash

CALDWELL COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 11a.m. Sunday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Ford Explorer driven by Justin J. Blakley, 18, Cowgill, was southbound on Route B one- and one-half mile east of Cowgill. The driver failed to stop at sign and turned westbound onto Mo 116.  The vehicle turned wide, crossed the centerline and struck an eastbound 2016 Ford Ford F150 driven by Michael J. Clark, 25, Cowgill.  A passenger in the Explorer Riley D. Coon, 18, Cowgill, was ejected.

A Lifeflight Helicopter transported Coon to Liberty Hospital. A LIfeflight Helicopter transported Blakley to Truman Medical Center.

Clark refused treatment at the scene. All three were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

Report: Number of Mexican immigrants in the US illegally declines

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Mexican immigrants in the U.S. illegally has declined so sharply over the past decade that for the first time, they no longer make up the majority of that category, according to an estimate by the Pew Research Center Wednesday.But the number of Central Americans in the country illegally is increasing — from 1.5 million in 2007 to 1.9 million in 2017, the study found.The numbers reflect the conundrum the U.S. is facing at the southern border: The number of Central American migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border is rising dramatically, and they are not easily returned over the border — unlike in previous years when the majority of the border crossers were single men from Mexico.

Curbing immigration is President Donald Trump’s signature political issue, but his hard-line and chaotic border policies have failed to stem the tide, and in fact, the numbers have increased since he took office.

There were about 4.9 million Mexicans in the U.S. illegally in 2017, down 2 million from 2007. The decrease was the major driver in bringing down the overall population of immigrants in the country illegally. In 2017 it was about 10.5 million — the lowest since 2004. The research group found the peak was in 2007 at about 12.2 million. Previously, Mexican nationals made up most of that population. Now, it’s a combination, with Central America having the second-largest, and Asia following with 1.4 million.

Pew based the estimates on government data and used a so-called “residual” method to determine the estimate. The method is similar to those used by Homeland Security’s Office of Immigration Statistics and other groups that track immigration, like the Migration Policy Institute and Center for Migration Studies.

The method uses U.S. census counts and government surveys to calculate the number of immigrations living in the U.S. in a particular year, followed by immigrant admissions and other official counts. The number of lawful immigrants is subtracted to get the estimate of immigrants here illegally. The estimate includes some 320,000 people with Temporary Protected Status, and about 700,000 beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, two programs ended by Trump that are on hold dude to court challenges.

Their research found that longterm residents outnumber more recent arrivals. There are also fewer people working who are not legally allowed to be in the country. Five states had increases in the number of people there illegally: Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Planned road work for northwest Missouri, June 17 – 23

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned in the Northwest Missouri region for the week of June 17 – 23.

Continued flooding may cause schedule changes in some of the planned work. There may also be moving operations throughout the region such as pothole patching, striping, signal work, etc., in addition to the work mentioned below.

All work is weather permitting and subject to change.

Andrew County

Route O – CLOSED at the Platte River Bridge for a bridge replacement project. The bridge will be closed through the end of September. More info: modot.org/route-o-platte-river-bridge-replacement.

Route B – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from County Road 121 to County Road 122, June 17, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Interstate 29 – Bridge maintenance at the Nodaway River Bridge, northbound, June 17 – 21

Route D – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from County Road 198 to County Road 217, June 18, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Route BB – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from County Road 110 to 420 Road (Gentry County) to June 19, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Atchison County

Route CC – CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE due to a damaged culvert under the roadway.

Route J – CLOSED at the Tarkio River Bridge for a bridge replacement project through the end of August. More info: modot.org/atchison-route-j-tarkio-river-bridge-replacement.

U.S. Route 136 – Pothole patching from U.S. Route 59 to 1st Street in Tarkio, June 17

I-29 – Resurfacing project from the Iowa state line to Route 111, June 17 – 22.

Routes C and F – Pothole patching, June 18 – 20

Buchanan County

U.S. Route 59 – Concrete replacement at the Route 116 intersection, June 17

I-229 – CLOSED for bridge maintenance at the ramp from northbound I-229 to U.S. Route 36, June 17 – 21

U.S. Route 36 – CLOSED for bridge maintenance at the ramp from westbound U.S. Route 36 to southbound I-229, June 17 – 21

Caldwell County

Route U – Pothole patching, June 17 – 21

Carroll County

Route C – CLOSED until further notice at the Branch of Turkey Creek Bridge due to damage from flooding.

U.S. Route 65 – Bridge maintenance at the Wakenda Creek Bridge, June 17 – 21. The bridge will be narrowed to one lane with a 15-foot width restriction.

Chariton County

Route 5 – Resurfacing project from the city limits of Marceline to the city limits of Keytesville, June 17 – 21. This includes a 10-foot width restriction.

Route E – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route 11 to Route CC, June 18, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

U.S. Route 24 – Core drilling from Keytesville to Salisbury, June 19

Clinton County

U.S. Route 169 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Castile Creek Bridge south of Gower through September.   More info: modot.org/us-route-169-castile-creek-bridge.

I-35 – The southbound Lathrop Rest Area at mile marker 35 will be CLOSED for parking lot resurfacing, June 17 – 21

Daviess County

Route KK – CLOSED for bridge rehabilitation at the I-35 overpass through mid-July. More info: modot.org/clinton-and-daviess-county-bridge-deck-replacements-over-i-35.

Route 6 – Bridge maintenance at the Grand River Bridge and the Overflow Bridge, June 17 – 21. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.

I-35 – Bridge maintenance at the Grand River Bridge and the Overflow Bridge, June 17 – 21

Gentry County

Route H – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 410 Street to 405 Street, June 17, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route V – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route AA to Jameson Trail Road, June 18, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route BB – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from 420 Road to County Road 110 (Andrew County), June 19, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route M – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route UU to 425 Road, June 20, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Harrison County

I-35 – Resurfacing project from Eagleville to the Iowa state line, June 17 – 21. A 14-foot width restriction is in place.

Holt County

Route T – Open to one lane only until further notice at Mill Bluff Road due to roadway damage. Use caution.

I-29 – Pavement repairs at the bridge over U.S. Route 59 at the north Oregon exit (Exit 75), June 17– 22

I-29 – Guardrail work, southbound only, between Exit 75 and Exit 67, June 17 – 22

Linn County

Route M – Pothole patching from Park Street to Route O, June 17 – 19

Route U – Pothole patching from U.S. Route 36 to Route 129, June 19 – 21

Livingston County

Route C – CLOSED for bridge maintenance at the Shoal Creek Drain Bridge through late June. The bridge was closed after flooding damage.

Mercer County

Route 145 – CLOSED until further notice due to culvert damage from Route B to U.S. Route 136.

Nodaway County

Route V – Shoulder repair from Icon Road to Hawk Road, June 17

Route NN – Bridge maintenance at the Platte River Bridge, June 17 – 19

Route 148 – Resurfacing project from the Iowa state line to U.S. Route 71 near Maryville, June 17– 21. A 12-foot width restriction is in place.

Route FF – Resurfacing project from the Iowa state line to Route B, June 17 – 21

Route B – CLOSED for a resurfacing project from Rotue FF to Icon Road, June 17 – 22, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Route O – Drainage work in front of Northwest Nodaway School in Ravenwood, June 18

Route P – Drainage and culvert repair in the city limits of Clyde, June 19

Route UU – Pothole patching, June 20

U.S. Route 136 – Bridge maintenance at the Mozingo Creek Bridge, June 20 – 21

Route J – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route M to 390 Street, June 21, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Putnam County

U.S. Route 136 – Scrub seal project from the city limits of Mount Moriah to Route FF, June 17 – 21. This includes a 12-foot width restriction with a pilot car directing traffic through the work zone.

Sullivan County

Route 6 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the West Locust Creek Bridge, east of Humpreys, and West Yellow Creek Bridge, east of Milan, through late August. More info: modot.org/route-6-bridge-replacements-near-milan.

Route N – CLOSED until further notice between Route B and Route Y due to damage from flooding.

Route EE – CLOSED until further notice at the Medicine Creek Bridge due to damage from flooding. The bridge is scheduled for a rehabilitation project that is set to begin in June. The roadway will remain closed until the rehabilitation project is complete.

Route PP – CLOSED until further notice at the East Medicine Creek Bridge after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is currently scheduled for replacement in fiscal year 2020. More info: modot.org/sullivan-county-route-pp-east-medicine-creek-bridge.

Route ZZ – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the West Fork Locust Creek near Harris through mid-July.

Route O – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Estes Drive to Route KK, June 17, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route 139 – Intersection and sidewalk improvements through Newtown beginning on the south end of town working north (east side of road) then south (west side of road), June 17 – 21. More info: modot.org/route-139-newtown-ada-improvement.

Route O – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Engle Drive to Route KK, June 18, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Route ZZ – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Country Drive to Brick Drive, June 20, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Worth County

Route YY – CLOSED until further notice at the Middle Fork of the Grand River after a regularly scheduled inspection revealed critical deterioration to the structure. The bridge is was originally scheduled for fiscal year 2021, but has been changed in the draft STIP to let for contractor bidding in fall 2019 as part of Governor Parson’s Focus on Bridges plan. More info: modot.org/worth-county-route-yy-bridge-replacement-over-middle-fork-grand-river.

4 adults, child hospitalized after boat explosion at Lake of the Ozarks

LAKE OF THE OZARKS — Five people were injured in an accident just before 2:30p.m. Saturday at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1993 Chris Craft had just been filled with fuel at the Millstone Marina dock.

The driver Robert C. Baber, 71, Kansas City, started the engine creating an explosion due to lack of ventilation and a mechanical failure. The explosion ejected passenger Patrick Baber, 39, Kansas City from the boat.

Life Flight transported passenger Carl Harris, 42, Kansas City, to University Hospital.

Camden County Ambulance transported Robert and Patrick Baber to Lake Regional Hospital.

Lake West Ambulance transported Kathryn G. Harris, 6, and Cynthina O. Sterling, 48, both of Kansas City to Lake Regional Hospital. The child was the only occupant wearing a life jacket, according to the MSHP.

20-year-old Missouri man dies after ATV strikes steel fence

WRIGHT COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 1a.m. Sunday in Wright County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a Honda TRX 450 driven by James M. Schmidt, 20, Grovespring, was westbound on Pyatt Road eight miles west of Hartville. The ATV ran off the road and struck a steel bar fence

Schmidt was pronounced dead at the scene. Mercy ambulance transported him to Holman-Howe Funeral Home. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Kan. High Court: State can’t limit lawsuit payouts for pain and suffering

The Kansas Supreme Court held that the cap on noneconomic damages violates the state constitution’s right to a trial by jury.
BIGSTOCK

A Kansas law that caps jury awards for noneconomic damages — things like pain and suffering — violates the right to a trial by jury, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled on Friday.

“This is huge,” said attorney Thomas M. Warner Jr., who represented Diana K. Hilburn, the plaintiff in the case. “We’ve had these caps on the books since 1986 in Kansas. Basically, the politicians decided that they would be in a better position to determine the amount of damages for noneconomic damages than juries. And so this decision allows juries to make that decision again.”

Kansas is one of many states that have limited noneconomic damages, particularly in medical malpractice cases, out of concern that runaway jury awards cause skyrocketing insurance premiums and hurts the economy.

The cap has been revised upward over the years and now stands at $325,000. It was scheduled to increase to $350,000 in 2022.

Hilburn was injured in 2010 when the car she was riding in was rear-ended by a semi-trailer truck. Hilburn sued the truck’s owner, Enerpipe Ltd., for negligence. A jury awarded her $335,000, including $301,509.14 for noneconomic losses.

Because Kansas at the time capped noneconomic damages at $250,000, the total award was reduced to $283,490.86. Hilburn appealed and the Kansas Court of Appeals rejected her argument that the cap was unconstitutional.

In reversing that decision, the Kansas Supreme Court held that the cap violates the Kansas Constitution’s Bill of Rights, which states that the “right of trial by jury shall be inviolate.”

The court rejected its own reasoning in a 2012 medical malpractice case that the right to a jury trial could be modified if certain conditions were met.

The Kansas Court of Appeals found those conditions were met in Hilburn’s case, but the Supreme Court said it should never have applied that test to a fundamental constitutional right.

“ … we simply cannot square a right specially designated by the people as ‘inviolate’ with the practical effect of the damages cap: substituting juries’ factual determinations of actual damages with an across-the-board legislative determination of the maximum conceivable amount of actual damages,” Justice Carol Beier wrote for the court.

Justice Marla Luckert dissented, saying she would have followed the 2012 malpractice case and upheld the cap.

The case drew widespread interest. The Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Kansas Association of Defense Counsel filed friend-of-the-court briefs urging the court to uphold the damage cap. The Kansas Trial Lawyers Association filed a friend-of-the-court brief urging it to find the cap unconstitutional.

“This is a game-changer,” said David Morantz, who wrote the trial lawyers’ brief. “It’s a very big ruling.”

“This has been an issue that has troubled and really hurt personal injury victims for years,” he said. “It’s been an issue of the Legislature trying to substitute its judgment for that of Kansas juries and preventing Kansas juries from deciding the full measure of personal injury victims’ damages.”

Judges will still retain the ability to rein in runaway jury verdicts, under a legal doctrine known as remittitur.

“But today’s opinion does a good job of putting these issues and questions back in juries’ hands and keeping the legislature out of it,” Morantz said.

Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor in conjunction with the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.

NW Missouri man hospitalized after ATV accident

NODAWAY COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 7p.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Honda TRX 400 driven by Kodi L. Pritchett, 31, Pickering, was eastbound on 190th Street at Jet Road just east of Pickering.

The ATV struck a clump of gravel in the road, went airborne and the driver was ejected.

Nodaway County EMS transported Pritchett to Mosaic Life Care. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man hospitalized after car travels down embankment

LIVINGSTON COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Saturday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Cruz driven by John S. Damrell, 64, Ludlow, was southbound on Route D four miles north of Ludlow. The vehicle traveled off the road, began to slide, hit a sign and traveled down an embankment.

Chillicothe EMS transported Damrell to Hedrick Medical Center. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.

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