DOUGLAS COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating an officer-involved shooting.
Police on the scene of the officer-involved shooting investigation-photo courtesy WIBW TV
Just after 5p.m. Tuesday, an officer with initiated a traffic stop on W. 6th Street just west of Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, according to officer Drew Fennelly.
Moments later, the officer called in distress for emergency assistance. As officers arrived to assist, some type of struggle was occurring and an officer fired a weapon, striking the subject.
The subject is in stable condition at an area hospital.
A knife was recovered at the scene, it is unknown at this time if it was involved.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in in charge of investigating the incident.
Police released no additional details late Tuesday.
FAIR GROVE, Mo. (AP) – A southwest Missouri man has pleaded guilty in the shooting death of his girlfriend in 2016.
Wallace -photo Greene Co.
As part of a plea deal, 40-year-old Carlton Wallace was expected to spend 20 years in prison for the death of 26-year-old Lindsay Arnold in February 2016 in Fair Grove.
The Springfield News-Leader reports Wallace’s mother called sheriff’s deputies after her son would not let her enter an outbuilding where he lived with Arnold. He was arrested at a Walmart in Springfield hours after the killing.
Deputies found Arnold dead under a blanket with red foam around her mouth and a gunshot wound to the back of her head.
Wallace’s mother told police Wallace and Arnold had an extensive history of domestic violence and authorities came to the property numerous times.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, a sometimes brash outsider whose unconventional resume as a Rhodes Scholar and Navy SEAL officer made him a rising star in Republican politics, abruptly announced his resignation Tuesday after a scandal involving an affair with his former hairdresser led to a broader investigation by prosecutors and state legislators.
Gov. Greitens booking photo courtesy St. Louis Police Department
The 44-year-old governor made the announcement nearly 17 months after taking the oath as Missouri’s chief executive with a pledge to root out “corrupt career politicians.” The investigations of him widened to include questions about whether he had violated the law in financing the campaign.
Greitens said his resignation would take effect Friday.
A St. Louis grand jury indicted Greitens on Feb. 22 on one felony count of invasion of privacy for allegedly taking a photo of the woman without her consent at his home in 2015, before he was elected governor. The charge was dismissed during jury selection, but a special prosecutor was considering whether to refile charges.
In April, the local St. Louis prosecutor’s office charged Greitens with another felony, alleging that he improperly used the donor list for a charity that he’d founded to raise money for his 2016 campaign.
Less than two weeks ago, the Missouri Legislature began meeting in special session to consider whether to pursue impeachment proceedings to try to oust Greitens from office.
A special House investigatory committee had subpoenaed Greitens to testify next Monday.
Greitens’ brashness alienated some GOP legislators even before his affair became public in January.
The woman’s then-husband released a secretly recorded conversation in which she described the alleged incident. The woman later told a Missouri House investigative committee that Greitens restrained, slapped, shoved and threatened her during a series of sexual encounters that at times left her crying and afraid.
Greitens said the allegations amounted to a “political witch hunt,” and vowed to stay in office. But the report’s release created a firestorm, with both Republicans and Democrats calling for his resignation.
His departure elevates fellow Republican Lt. Gov. Mike Parson to the governor’s office.
Greitens’ administration was thrown into chaos the night of Jan. 10, when a St. Louis TV station aired a report about Greitens allegedly taking the compromising photo and threatening to blackmail the woman if she ever spoke of their encounter. The report aired shortly after Greitens delivered his State of the State address to lawmakers.
Greitens admitted to having an affair but denied any criminal wrongdoing. He said the criminal case was politically motivated and called St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, a Democrat, a “reckless liberal prosecutor.”
Lawmakers from both parties immediately began questioning whether Greitens could continue to lead the state in the wake of the scandal. The House authorized the legislative investigation a week after the indictment.
Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley also launched an inquiry into a veterans charity Greitens founded. Federal law bars 501(c)(3) charities such as The Mission Continues from intervening in political campaigns on behalf of candidates.
The Associated Press first reported in October 2016 that Greitens’ campaign had obtained a list of individuals, corporations and other nonprofits that had given at least $1,000 to The Mission Continues. The AP reported that Greitens raised about $2 million from those who had previously given significant amounts to the charity.
Hawley, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, turned evidence over to Gardner, saying April 17 that he believed Greitens had broken the law. Her office charged him with tampering with computer data for allegedly disclosing the donor list without the charity’s permission.
A May 2 report from a special House investigatory committee indicated that Greitens himself received the donor list and later directed aides to work off it to raise money for his gubernatorial campaign. A former campaign aide testified that he was duped into taking the fall when the campaign tried to explain how it had gotten the list.
The invasion-of-privacy indictment stated that on March 21, 2015, Greitens photographed the woman and transmitted the photo “in a manner that allowed access to that image via a computer.”
During her testimony to the House investigative committee, the woman said Greitens invited her to his home and offered to show her “how to do a proper pull-up.” The woman said she initially thought “this is going to be some sort of sexy workout.” But once in his basement, Greitens taped her hands to pull-up rings, blindfolded her, and started kissing and disrobing her without her consent, according to her testimony.
Then she saw a flash and heard a click, like a cellphone picture, she said. The woman testified that Greitens told her: “Don’t even mention my name to anybody at all, because if you do, I’m going to take these pictures, and I’m going to put them everywhere I can. They are going to be everywhere, and then everyone will know what a little whore you are.”
Greitens, a married father of two young boys, repeatedly denied blackmailing the woman. He declined to say whether he took a photo.
Greitens, who had also served as a White House fellow and written a best-selling book, entered the 2016 gubernatorial race as a brash outsider. He won an expensive Republican primary, then defeated Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster in the general election to give Republicans control of the governor’s mansion for the first time in eight years. Some considered him a potential future presidential contender.
Republicans also controlled the Missouri House and Senate, but there were frequent clashes between lawmakers and Greitens, who compared them to third-graders and labeled them “career politicians.”
He confronted criticism from some educators and lawmakers for working to pack the State Board of Education with members who would fire the education commissioner. Greitens’ use of a secretive app that deletes messages after they’re read also sparked a review by Hawley.
ST. LOUIS (AP) – New legislation passed in Missouri means that as early as next year, public school students in kindergarten through 12th grade could have the option of taking online courses for free.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Missouri House and Senate in May approved what’s been dubbed the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program. If Gov. Eric Greitens signs the law, it could become effective next summer.
The main intent is to expand course access for high school students in small, rural or financially-troubled schools that may not be able to afford teachers in advanced courses such as chemistry, Chinese or creative writing.
Under the new program, the school district or charter school would pick up the tab, not the student’s family.
WASHINGTON (AP) — German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG has agreed to the U.S. government’s demand that it sell about $9 billion in agriculture businesses as condition for acquiring Monsanto Co., a U.S. seed and weed-killer maker.
Antitrust regulators at the Justice Department say it’s the biggest divestiture ever required for a merger. The regulators say they directed Bayer to divest assets such as vegetable oils, seeds and seed treatments to ensure fair competition in the market after the massive agriculture business deal goes through. The assets will be sold to BASF, a German chemical company.
Bayer’s $57 billion takeover of Monsanto has been watched by competitors and environmental groups, which are fearful that the number of players in the business of selling seeds and pesticides will shrink further and give a single company an exclusive grip on the food chain.
Monsanto, based in St. Louis, is one of the world’s biggest seed companies. The merger would make Bayer the largest supplier in the world of pesticides and seeds for farmers.
The divestiture proposal will be filed in federal court and opened to public comment for 60 days.
In March, the European Union approved the merger on condition that Bayer sell $7.4 billion in assets to BASF to eliminate overlaps in seed and pesticide markets. The U.S. Justice Department said after the European action that it continued to have concerns over the proposed merger, especially its potential impact on American farmers and consumers, which could differ from its effects in Europe. Genetically modified seeds, for example, are used widely in the U.S. but mostly banned in Europe.
The merger also has won approval from China, Brazil and Australia.
Bayer said it has now secured nearly all the needed government clearances for closing the deal.
“Receipt of the (Justice Department’s) approval brings us close to our goal of creating a leading company in agriculture,” Bayer CEO Werner Baumann said in a statement. “We want to help farmers across the world grow more nutritious food in a more sustainable way.”
Some antitrust experts had warned that the merger would eliminate direct competition between two of the biggest players in the seed industry, giving the new company lopsided control over U.S. cotton acreage, and commercial seed development for canola, soybean and corn.
Two big mergers last year already have reshaped the global seed and pesticide market: Dow Chemical’s combination with DuPont last year, and China National Chemical Corp.’s acquisition of Syngenta, a Swiss seed and pesticide maker.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western State University Board of Governors formally approved a contract Tuesday with the Kansas City Chiefs to keep the NFL team’s training camp in St. Joseph this year.
According to a press release, the contract, which formalizes the agreement Missouri Western and the Chiefs announced in January, also includes an option for an additional one-year extension that would cover training camp in 2019.
“We are quite proud of our relationship with the Chiefs, and we’re pleased to welcome them back this summer, and we hope for many years to come,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president.
Under the agreement, the Chiefs and Missouri Western agree to cost-reducing measures related to rental equipment and labor expenses. Other conditions of the 2015 contract amendment and the original 2009 contract remain in place.
“We are pleased that the Missouri Western Board of Governors approved the contract agreement that we reached early in 2018,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. “The entire Missouri Western community and the city of St. Joseph have fully embraced Chiefs training camp and have provided our team with tremendous facilities and service for almost a full decade. We are very excited for the upcoming season and know our fans are going to enjoy getting their first glimpse of the 2018 team on the campus of Missouri Western this summer.”
The Chiefs have held training camp on the campus of Missouri Western every year since 2010, when the club returned its training camp to the state of Missouri for the first time in 20 years. The 2018 version of Chiefs Training Camp will mark the ninth year at Missouri Western.
The Chiefs expect to announce this year’s training camp schedule next month.
Nine people died in traffic crashes over the 2018 Memorial Day weekend.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, last year, nine people were killed during the three-day weekend. During the counting period of 6 p.m., Friday, May 25, through 11:59 p.m., Monday, May 28, 2018, the Highway Patrol investigated 294 traffic crashes which included 124 injuries and eight fatalities. Troopers also arrested 121 people for driving while intoxicated and made 102 drug arrests. During the 2017 Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Patrol investigated 345 traffic crashes which included 128 injuries and five of the nine fatalities. Over last year’s holiday weekend, troopers arrested 107 people for driving while intoxicated and made 125 drug arrests.
There were zero boating fatalities over the 2018 Memorial Day weekend. Marine operations troopers investigated 12 boating crashes involving 10 injuries. There were no drownings during the 2018 Memorial Day holiday. Marine operations troopers arrested 16 boaters for boating while intoxicated and made 29 drug arrests. There were zero boating fatalities over the 2017 Memorial Day weekend. Troopers investigated 14 boating crashes involving seven injuries. Three people drowned over last year’s Memorial Day holiday. Troopers arrested 20 people for boating while intoxicated and made six drug arrests.
Of the nine traffic crash fatalities, eight were investigated by the Patrol. Three fatalities occurred in both the Troop A, Lee’s Summit area, and the Troop C, Weldon Spring area. One fatality occurred in both the Troop D, Springfield area, and Troop H, St. Joseph area. The St. Louis County Police Department investigated the remaining fatality.
No traffic fatalities occurred on Friday, May 25, 2018, during the counting period.
Five people died in traffic crashes on Saturday, May 26, 2018. Kristen D. Moore, 18, of Independence died when a possible vehicle defect caused the vehicle to skid and travel off the right side of the roadway. The vehicle overturned multiple times and came to rest on the grassy embankment. Moore and three passengers were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, they were all ejected from the vehicle. The three passengers sustained serious injuries in the crash. A fourth passenger was wearing a seat belt and was not ejected. The fourth passenger sustained serious injuries. The crash occurred in Saline County on Interstate 70 at the 68-mile marker. RN Michele Duckett pronounced Moore deceased at Centerpoint Medical Center. The Sweet Springs Police Department and the Saline County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the scene of the crash.
Jerald R. McDaniel, 38, of Bethany died when the motorcycle he was riding began skidding, overturned, crossed the center line, and came to rest off the west side of the roadway. McDaniel was ejected from the motorcycle and came to rest off the east side of the roadway. The Harrison County coroner pronounced McDaniel dead at the scene. The crash occurred in Harrison County on southbound Interstate 35 at the 98.8-mile marker, north of Bethany. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and NTA Ambulance also responded to the scene.
Christopher H. Kent, 48, of St. Louis and Anthony J. Nolda, 62, of St. Louis died when the vehicle Kent was driving traveled off the right side of the road and struck a mailbox, then re-entered the roadway, traveled off the left side of the road, overturned, and struck a utility pole. Neither Kent nor Nolda were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Sullivan EMS personnel pronounced Kent deceased at the scene. Dr. Kunkel pronounced Nolda deceased at Missouri Baptist Hospital. The crash occurred in Franklin County on westbound Missouri Route W east of Twin Springs Road. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the scene.
Alan Landis, 79, of St. Louis died when another vehicle struck the motorized scooter he was operating. Landis was ejected from the motorized scooter. He was pronounced dead at Mercy South Hospital. The other driver was not injured in the crash; he was wearing his seat belt. The crash occurred in St. Louis County near the intersection of Telegraph Road and Barracksview Road. The St. Louis County Police Department investigated the crash.
Three people died in traffic crashes on Sunday, May 27, 2018. Charles W. Ridenour, 48, of Cadet died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the center line and struck another vehicle head-on. Ridenour was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the second vehicle was not injured; he was not wearing a seat belt. A passenger in the second vehicle sustained minor injuries in the crash; she was wearing a seat belt. Dr. Michael Kutmas pronounced Ridenour deceased at Washington County Memorial Hospital. The crash occurred in Washington County on Missouri Highway 21 south of Thomlinson Road.
Ruth King, 88, of Wichita, KS, died when the driver of the vehicle in which she was a passenger went off the roadway into the median, crossed the roadway, struck an embankment, and overturned. King was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver was not wearing a seat belt; he sustained serious injuries in the crash. The crash occurred in Lawrence County on Interstate 44 west of Halltown. Dr. Courtney Beard pronounced King deceased at Mercy Hospital.
Larry G. Kelly, 75, of Kansas City, KS, died when the driver of a second vehicle crossed into the path of Kelly’s vehicle and struck its front. Kelly was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. AMR EMS Paramedic James Dir pronounced Kelly dead at the scene. The driver of the second vehicle was not wearing a seat belt; she sustained serious injuries in the crash. A passenger in the second vehicle was wearing a seat belt; she sustained serious injuries in the crash. The crash occurred in Platte County on Missouri Highway 9 after Riss Lake Drive. The Parkville Police Department also responded to the scene.
One person was pronounced dead due to a traffic crash on May 28, 2018. Richard Watson, 23, died when the motorcycle he was riding traveled off the right side of the roadway and overturned. Watson was ejected from the motorcycle and came to rest in some trees. The crash occurred in Ray County westbound on Missouri Highway 210 after Missouri Highway EE. It is unknown what day or time the crash occurred; Watson was reported missing on May 28. Ray County Coroner Bart William pronounced Watson deceased May 28 at the scene. The Ray County Sheriff’s Department also responded to the scene.
.@State_IRF Ambassador-at-Large Sam Brownback on the 2017 International #ReligiousFreedom Report: “Our goal is to protect the freedom of conscience for all people … We’ve seen some progress. But there’s so much more work to be done.” pic.twitter.com/LSY8eYeBoY
The Trump administration says ethnic cleansing targeting Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar has not stopped despite growing condemnation from the international community.
In November, the United States declared that violence against the Rohingya in Myanmar’s Rakhine state constituted ethnic cleansing, and the U.S. imposed sanctions. U.S. Ambassador Sam Brownback said Tuesday as he unveiled the State Department’s annual report on international religious freedom that the violence is continuing.
The report estimates that about 680,000 people fled Myanmar to neighboring Bangladesh to escape the violence.
The report covering 2017 also highlighted other U.S. concerns about religious freedom abroad, including some 80,000 to 120,000 political prisoners are being held in prison camps in North Korea, some for religious reasons.
“Protecting and promoting global respect for #ReligiousFreedom is a priority of @POTUS Administration… we are committed to promoting religious freedom around the world – both now and in the future.” – @SecPompeopic.twitter.com/V3pR3Foklg
It says hundreds of thousands of Uighur Muslims in China have been forcibly sent to re-education centers.
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The Trump administration is estimating that 80,000 to 120,000 political prisoners are being held in prison camps in North Korea.
That’s according to the State Department’s annual report on international religious freedom. It says some of the prisoners are being held for religious reasons. The report adds that prisoners are held “under horrific conditions” in remote areas. Yet it also notes that North Korea’s constitution guarantees “the right of faith” to citizens.
The report covering 2017 also says that “hundreds of thousands” of Uighur Muslims in China have been forcibly sent to re-education centers in China.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is formally unveiling the report Tuesday.
RICHMOND, Mo. (AP) – The Missouri State Highway Patrol says a 23-year-old man who was missing during the Memorial Day weekend was found dead in rural Ray County.
The patrol says Richard Watson of Richmond died when his motorcycle went off of Missouri 210 in a rural area of the county and overturned. Watson was thrown from the motorcycle.
It was clear exactly when the crash occurred but Watson had been missing since late Saturday, as he left Richmond.
We will get a break from the storms for part of the day today, but storm chances return late afternoon through the overnight hours. A storm or two could become strong to severe with hail and damaging winds being the main concerns. Storm chances continue for Wednesday and Thursday as well, with some potential for strong to severe storms Thursday. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Light southeast wind increasing to 9 to 14 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.
Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 10 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southeast wind 5 to 14 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 89. Light south southwest wind becoming west southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. South southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 93.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
