KANSAS CITY (AP) – A new study says the approximately 250-mile trip from Kansas City to St. Louis could be slashed to a half-hour’s time, but an ultra-high-speed Hyperloop system across Missouri wouldn’t come cheap.
Kansas City-based Black and Veatch found in its analysis that the Hyperloop could run in the median or along the side of Interstate 70. The study was accepted Wednesday by Virgin Hyperloop One, a company working to develop the world’s first Hyperloop system.
With speeds two to three times faster than high speed rail, Missouri Hyperloop could give time back to its people – time worth up to $410 million per year. How would you spend your time saved? https://t.co/su3YQxwBYCpic.twitter.com/Ck9gUdk6bF
Hyperloop technology involves a tubular track through which a train-like pod carries passengers at speeds up to 640 mph. It’s not cheap. Some estimates have put the cost at $25 million to $27 million per mile, excluding land acquisition.
SHAWNEE COUNTY— Authorities are continuing the search for an inmate who escaped from a work crew in Topeka.
WORRELL -photo Shawnee County
The Shawnee County Department of Corrections says 27-year-old Brian Andrew Worrell ran away Wednesday on his first day with that crew. The Shawnee County Sheriff’s office confirmed late Thursday afternoon he was still missing.
Maj. Tim Phelps says that Worrell is not thought to be an active threat to any member of the public.
Worrell was part of a community work crew was helping with code compliance work. Worrell ran away when the crew supervisor began taking photos of the work. The remaining inmates were then secured.
He had been booked into the jail Sept. 20 on misdemeanor warrants charging him with theft and criminal damage to property and other charges.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Two Kansas water park maintenance workers were acquitted Thursday of impeding an investigation into the death of a 10-year-old boy who was decapitated while riding a waterslide in August 2016.
David Hughes and John Zalsman were charged with obstruction of justice in connection to the death of Caleb Schwab, who was killed on the Verruckt slide at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City. The raft Caleb was riding in went airborne, slamming him into a metal pole. Two women on the raft also were injured.
Hughes and Zalsman were they are the first employees to stand trial in the case.
Prosecutors alleged the two men failed to replace a brake mat that fell off the slide two weeks earlier but told investigators that the mat had only been on the slide during testing phases. Video evidence showed that the mat was used after the ride opened to customers in 2014, prosecutors said.
“This was not a mistake, this was intentional calculated conduct,” said Adam Zentner, assistant Kansas Attorney General.
The Verruckt rafts made a 17-story drop at speeds of up to 70 mph (110 kilometers per hour), followed by a surge over the hump and a 50-foot (15-meter) descent to a finishing pool. Jurors were told the brake mat was supposed to slow the rafts as they reached the top of the hump.
The defense said prosecutors didn’t understand how the slide functioned and questioned the testimony of Jason Diaz, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent who interviewed the defendants. The defense also noted that another Schlitterbahn employee who made false statements to investigators wasn’t charged.
“These are just two good old boys, they’re hard working guys and because they’re the only two adults in the room they get singled out and have to get charged ,” said Scott Toth, defense attorney for Hughes, as he addressed jurors.
Diaz said he didn’t believe the other employee had intentionally misled him.
Schlitterbahn has said officials have no reason to believe any employee obstructed justice.
The most serious charges in Caleb’s death have been filed against one of Schlitterbahn’s owners, Jeff Henry, Verruckt designer John Schooley and general contractor Henry & Sons Constructions. Each is charged with second-degree murder, aggravated battery and aggravated endangerment of a child. Another employee is charged with involuntary manslaughter. They have all pleaded not guilty.
The slide, which was billed as the world’s tallest, was shut down after Caleb’s was killed.
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KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Jurors on Thursday began deliberating the case of two Kansas water park maintenance workers accused of impeding the investigation into the death of a 10-year-old boy who was decapitated on a waterslide in August 2016.
David Hughes and John Zalsman are charged with obstruction of justice.
Caleb Schwab was killed as he rode the Verruckt slide at the Schlitterbahn water park in Kansas City. The raft on which Caleb was riding went airborne as it went over a hump and slammed him into a metal pole that supported a net meant to keep riders from flying off the slide. Two women on the raft also were injured.
Prosecutors said Hughes and Zalsman failed to replace a brake mat that fell off the slide two weeks before Caleb was killed, then told investigators that the mat had only been on the slide during testing phases. Video evidence shows the mat was used after the ride opened to customers in 2014, prosecutors said.
“This was not a mistake, this was intentional calculated conduct,” said Adam Zentner, assistant Kansas Attorney General.
The Verruckt rafts made a 17-story drop at speeds of up to 70 mph (110 kilometers per hour), followed by a surge over the hump and a 50 foot (15 meter) descent to a finishing pool. Jurors were told the brake mat was supposed to slow the rafts as they reached the top of the hump.
The defense said prosecutors didn’t understand how the slide functioned and questioned the testimony of Jason Diaz, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent who interviewed the defendants. The defense also noted that another Schlitterbahn employee who made false statements to investigators wasn’t charged. Diaz said he didn’t believe the other employee had intentionally misled him.
“These are just two good old boys, they’re hard working guys and because they’re the only two adults in the room they get singled out and have to get charged,” said Scott Toth, defense attorney for Hughes, as he addressed jurors.
Schlitterbahn has said officials have no reason to believe any employee obstructed justice.
The most serious charges in Caleb’s death have been filed against one of Schlitterbahn’s owners, Jeff Henry, Verruckt designer John Schooley and general contractor Henry & Sons Constructions. Each is charged with second-degree murder, aggravated battery and aggravated endangerment of a child. Another employee is charged with involuntary manslaughter. They have all pleaded not guilty.
The slide, which was billed as the world’s tallest, was shut down after Caleb’s was killed.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Testimony has concluded in the trial of two maintenance workers at a Kansas water park who are accused of deliberately misleading investigators after a 10-year-old boy was decapitated on a waterslide.
Deliberations will begin Thursday after closing arguments are made in the case against David Hughes and John Zalsman. They’re charged with obstructing the investigation into the August 2016 death of Caleb Schwab at Schlitterbahn in Kansas City.
Prosecutors say they failed to replace a brake mat that fell off a raft two weeks before it went airborne, killing Caleb. The prosecution says the men then lied.
The defense says prosecutors don’t understand how the 17-story Verruckt waterslide functioned. The park’s co-owner and the ride’s designer have also been indicted in Caleb’s death.
A Belton man was sentenced in federal court Thursday for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in north central Missouri and for illegally possessing firearms.
Robert Ryan Hicks, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 17 years and seven months in federal prison without parole.
On Dec. 4, 2017, Hicks pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and to possessing firearms in relation to drug trafficking. Hicks admitted that he was responsible for the distribution of at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy.
NITRO (the Northwest Inter-agency Team Response Operation) initiated an investigation in Grundy County in December 2014 that focused on methamphetamine distribution in the north central region of Missouri, with sources of supply in the Kansas City, Mo., metropolitan area.
Hicks was stopped by Grandview police officers on two occasions in 2015. On Jan. 20, 2015, he was in possession of 39.46 grams of pure methamphetamine, as well as pills and marijuana. On Feb. 3, 2015, he was in possession of a Hi-Point 9mm pistol and a Cobra .380-caliber pistol. On May 22, 2015, Hicks supplied a co-defendant with 27.6 grams of pure methamphetamine to sell to an undercover law enforcement officer.
Hicks is among six defendants who have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in this case. Ryan Peter Trombley, 33, of Trenton, Mo., was sentenced to 11 years and six months in federal prison without parole. Alicia Marie Grimes,50, of Trenton, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison without parole. Christopher John Vaccaro, 42, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison without parole. Crystal Renee Breshears, 27, of Belton, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. Allen Ray Watson, 45, of Blue Springs, Mo., was sentenced to five years in federal prison without parole.
Co-defendant Faron Wayne Lawrence, 51, of Trenton, also has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and NITRO (the Northwest Missouri Interagency Team Response Operation).
– Press Release from the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri –
A St. Joseph man has been charged in connection to the death of 28-year-old Clifford York on Oct. 10.
According to online court documents, 22-year-old Brandon M. Cox is charged with 2nd degree murder.
As previously reported, York was found dead in the area of North 13th and Powell Street when officers responded to a report of shots fired at 12:35 p.m. on Oct. 10. Capt. Jeff Wilson with the St. Joseph Police Department said an autopsy revealed York died of a single gunshot wound.
An arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 23. Bond is denied.
Temperatures will remain in the 50s and 60s for the rest of the week and into the weekend. Light rain moves in Friday morning, and should get most areas south of I-70 wet, with around .10″ to .25″. The light rain should move out of the area by Friday afternoon. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 66. South wind 3 to 8 mph.
Tonight: A chance of showers after 1 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 49. South wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Friday: A slight chance of showers before 1 p.m. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 65. South southwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. West wind 6 to 8 mph becoming north northwest after midnight.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 59. Northwest wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Saturday Night: Widespread frost, mainly after 4 a.m. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 31.
Sunday: Widespread frost, mainly before 9 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 55.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 42.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 42.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 61.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.
CALLAWAY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal helicopter crash and have identified the victim.
Just before 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, Callaway County Sheriff’s Office deputies were notified of a the helicopter crash in the area of County Road 101 and County Road 108 just east of Fulton, according to a media release.
Deputies arrived in the area within five minutes and made contact with numerous citizens whom reported they observed a helicopter in distress with a subsequent crash.
After an extensive search, the crash site was located at approximately 3:15p.m. in a remote area north of Bartley Lane, east of the Fulton city limits.
The only occupant of the helicopter, 47-year-old Charles Prather, of St. Peters was pronounced dead at the scene.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration has been contacted for response and federal investigation.
UPDATE: According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 22-year-old Austin P. Cross of Maryville died at the KU Medical Center on Oct. 24th.
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Two people were injured and one person was arrested after a wrong way crash Wednesday night on I-29 in Andrew County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, shortly after 6:30 p.m., 52-year-old Roger J. Moe of St. Joseph was driving a GMC Acadia north in the southbound lanes of I-29 about six miles north of St. Joseph. Moe’s vehicle hit a Jeep Patriot head-on in the passing lane.
The driver of the Jeep, 21-year-old Corey H. Brueggeman of Wentzville, was transported to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph for treatment of minor injuries. A passenger in the Jeep, 22-year-old Austin P. Cross of Maryville was transported to Mosaic, then to the Kansas University Medical Center of Kansas City for treatment of serious injuries.
According to the MSHP arrest report, Moe was arrested on investigative charges of driving while intoxicated – assault 2nd degree, driving on the wrong side of the roadway and driving 110 mph in a 70 mph zone.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill’s campaign manager is calling on her Republican rival’s office to investigate videos of her campaign taken by a conservative group.
Campaign manager David Kirby on Wednesday said he wants Republican Attorney General Josh Hawley to recuse himself and appoint a special prosecutor to investigate alleged consumer-law violations related to the videos.
The videos were taken by Project Veritas, a conservative group that produces “sting” videos intended to embarrass liberal organizations and media outfits.
Videos show an unnamed man asking McCaskill campaign staffers about her positions on guns and other issues.
A request for comment to Project Veritas was not immediately returned Wednesday. Hawley tweeted that McCaskill should come forward if she has evidence of a crime or “stop politicizing the legal process.”
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Prosecutors have charged a Bonne Terre police officer for allegedly striking a handcuffed suspect several times in the face while wearing a pair of brass knuckles.
Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley said in a news release Wednesday that his office has Travis W. Cozine with assault in the second degree, armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a weapon.
It is unclear whether he has a defense attorney yet.
Prosecutors say the Bonne Terre Police Department was called in May to investigate a domestic disturbance, and Cozine made the arrest during that investigation. Injuries to the suspect’s face resulted in a laceration that had to be closed with stitches by emergency room personnel.
The Bonne Terre Police Department requested that the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigate.
