REEDS SPRING, Mo. (AP) – Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels and his wife, Heidi, are donating a mansion and 100 acres of land in southwest Missouri to charity that provides camps for children with special needs and chronic illnesses and their siblings.
The mansion and land is near Table Rock Lake near Reeds Springs. Heidi Hamels grew up in Buffalo, Missouri.
An attorney for the couple said they thought the mansion would be their dream home. But when Hamels was traded to the Rangers, they moved to Texas and never moved into the Missouri house.
Hamels said in a news release Friday that he and his wife wanted to help the charity make children’s dreams come true.
CAMDEN COUNTY — A Missouri woman died in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Saturday in Camden County.
The Missouri Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Ford Escape driven by Delilah R. Taylor, 42, Kansas City, was northbound on Route D just north of Brush Arbor Road.
The vehicle crossed the center line and collided with a 2014 Chevy Equinox driven Lauren A. Rubi, 26, Camdenton, head-on.
Rubi was pronounced dead at the scene. An air ambulance transported Taylor to University Hospital in serious condition.
Taylor was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.
NEW YORK (AP) — Health leaders say they are alarmed about reports that officials at the nation’s top public health agency are being told not to use certain words in official budget documents, including “fetus,” ”transgender” and “science-based.”
The health community was reacting to a story in The Washington Post , which said the prohibition arose at a meeting of senior budget officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An anonymous source told the newspaper the seven words and phrases are not to be used in documents being prepared for the next presidential budget proposal.
A CDC official confirmed Saturday there was a recent meeting in which officials were given feedback to reconsider language in budget documents. But another federal official called it a mischaracterization to say certain words have been banned.
DETROIT (AP) – A Missouri kayaker who’s trying to paddle around all five Great Lakes has stopped her journey because of the rigors of wintry weather.
Traci Lynn Martin says she paddled 3,582 miles (5,764 kilometers) since March and completed lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan. In a Facebook video posted Saturday , the nurse says she’s been covered with ice as temperatures consistently stay below freezing.
Martin says “it’s not safe” and “it’s going to get worse.” Her Facebook post said she was in Ontario, Canada.
Martin, who is from the Kansas City, Missouri, area, began her trip in Michigan on March 9. She says she wants to try again in 2019.
She thanked many people for supporting her on what she called an “adventure of a lifetime.”
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region planned for the week of Dec. 18 – 24 from the Missouri Department of Transportation. In addition to the work listed below, there may be pothole patching, shoulder work, bridge maintenance, striping, brush cutting, guardrail repairs and other road work conducted throughout the region. Many of these will be moving operations and could include lane closures with delays. All scheduled maintenance and construction projects are subject to change.
MoDOT reminds the public to stay alert, watch for road work, buckle up, slow down, and drive with extreme caution through work zones and in changing weather conditions.
For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (888-275-6636) or visit modot.org/northwest. You can also follow MoDOT’s Northwest Missouri District on Twitter @ModotNorthwest and on Facebook.
Atchison County
U.S. Route 59 – Shoulder work from the city limits of Tarkio to the Iowa state line, Dec. 18 – 22
Buchanan County
U.S. Route 36 – CLOSED for sign installation at the ramp from westbound U.S. Route 36 to northbound Interstate 229, Dec. 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
I-29 – Bridge maintenance at the U.S. Route 36 overpass, Dec. 18 – 22
Route JJ – Sealing, Dec. 18 – 22
Chariton County
Route F – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from U.S. Route 24 to Route M, Dec. 18 – 20, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Clinton County
Route Z – Shoulder repair from U.S. Route 169 to the Clay County line, Dec. 18
Route 33 – Drainage work from Route PP to Isley Road, Dec. 19 – 22. A temporary traffic signal has been installed to direct motorists.
Daviess County
Route O – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Quick Avenue to the end of state maintenance, Dec. 18 – 20, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Route T – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route AA to 110thStreet, Dec. 19, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Harrison County
Route 13 – Shoulder work from the city limits of Bethany to Route H, Dec. 19 – 21
Linn County
U.S. Route 36 – Shoulder work from Route 11 to the West Yellow Creek Bridge, Dec. 18
U.S. Route 36 – Pavement repair westbound from Route F to Route 11, Dec. 18 – 19. This includes an overnight lane closure.
Route V – Pothole patching from Route M to Route C, Dec. 18 – 19
U.S. Route 36 – Sealing eastbound from Route F to Route 5, Dec. 20.
Mercer County
U.S. Route 136 − CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Muddy Creek Bridge. The road will be closed through February 2018.
Nodaway County
Route N – Drainage work from 300th Street to 310th Street, Dec. 18
U.S. Route 136 – Drainage work from Route 46 to Olympic Road, Dec. 18 – 19
Route C – Shoulder and drainage work, Dec. 18 – 20
Route AH – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route VV to 370thStreet, Dec. 20 – 21, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Route 246 – Pothole patching from Route 46 (Worth County) to Route E, Dec. 21 – 22
Worth County
Routes E, K and Z – Shoulder work, Dec. 18 – 20
Route 246 – Pothole patching from Route 46 to Route E (Nodaway County), Dec. 21 – 22
JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accident that sent a man and his dog for treatment.
Just before 6p.m. Saturday, sheriff’s deputies received a report of a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle at approximately just east of Holton on K16 Highway, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.
Sean Coop, 22, of Holton was riding a skateboard westbound in the center of the westbound lane of the highway with his Dalmatian dog.
A 2007 Chevy Impala driven by Dana Scheele, 58, of Holton was headed westbound on K-16 Hwy, came over the hill and struck the man and the dog.
Coop was transported by Jackson County EMS with non-life-threatening injuries to a Topeka hospital.
The dog was treated and transported to a local veterinarian. The Holton Police Department also assisted with the incident. The sheriff department did not released details on possible citations for the driver.
At its meeting on Dec. 15, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved recommendations by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) for 2018-2019 turkey-hunting and deer-hunting season dates.
2018 SPRING AND FALL TURKEY HUNTING DATES
Spring Youth Portion: April 7 and 8
Regular Spring Turkey Season: April 16 through May 6
Fall Firearms Turkey Season: Oct. 1 – 31
2018 – 2019 ARCHERY DEER AND TURKEY HUNTING DATES
Archery Season: Sept. 15 through Nov. 9 and Nov. 21 through Jan. 15, 2019.
2018 – 2019 FIREARMS DEER HUNTING DATES
Firearms Deer Early Youth Portion: Oct. 27 and 28
Firearms Deer November Portion: Nov. 10 – 20
Firearms Deer Late Youth Portion: Nov. 23 – 25
Firearms Deer Antlerless Portion: Nov. 30 through Dec. 2
Firearms Deer Alternative Methods Portion: Dec. 22 through Jan. 1, 2019
Details on hunting regulations, harvest limits, allowed methods, required permits, and other related information will be available in the Department’s “2018 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information” and the “2018 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information” booklets. Both will be available where permits are sold prior to the related seasons.
Buy Missouri hunting (and fishing) permits from numerous vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/buypermits, or through MDC’s free mobile apps, MO Hunting and MO Fishing, available for download through Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices.
CAllegations of sexual misconduct may have doomed Republican Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race. But there were other factors that also could come into play in Kansas congressional elections next year, including U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder’s re-election bid. FILE PHOTO / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
At first glance, the Alabama Senate race doesn’t appear to offer many clues about what the 2018 election has in store.
There isn’t likely to be another campaign in which a marginal candidate attempts to hold serve for a sharply divided party while fighting unprecedented allegations of sexual misconduct under a national spotlight.
“To be sure, Roy Moore was a flawed and controversial candidate,” said Patrick Miller, a University of Kansas political scientist. “He put a race into play that never should have been in play.”
Even so, Miller said, other things factored into Democrat Doug Jones’ improbable win — factors that also could come into play in some upcoming congressional races in Kansas.
They include Democrats — particularly black voters — turning out in numbers not typically seen in non-presidential elections, Miller said.
“For much of the year it looked like black voters were less engaged than they had been normally,” Miller said, attributing it to a possible “post-Obama effect.”
“But in Virginia and now Alabama, we’ve seen them close the engagement gap,” he said.
In addition, Miller said growing discontent with President Donald Trump helped Jones make inroads with college-educated white voters in the suburbs around Alabama’s major cities. Jones scored his biggest gains among college-educated white women but also bested Hillary Clinton’s totals among educated white men.
If the trends seen in Alabama and a handful of recent special elections continue into next year, it could spell trouble for some Republican members of Congress, Miller said. Particularly those who represent districts that Clinton either won in the 2016 presidential race or lost by fewer than 10 points.
“The number one Republican that imperils in Kansas is Kevin Yoder since he holds a high-education, suburban Clinton district,” Miller said.
Yoder is seeking a fifth term in the 3rd District, which includes all or parts of three metro Kansas City counties: Johnson, Wyandotte and Miami.
In a statement Wednesday, Niermann, a high school history teacher from Prairie Village, said recent election results could be seen as “a canary in the coal mine for ultraconservatives like Yoder.”
“We’re making the case that a career educator from the middle class can appeal to both parties here in Kansas,” Niermann said, echoing one of Jones’ themes.
Six Democrats, including Tom Niermann, are competing for the chance to challenge Yoder in the 3rd District. CREDIT FILE PHOTO / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
Despite facing what appear to be growing headwinds, Yoder in a recent interview expressed confidence that 3rd District voters would continue to support him.
“I’ve been a voice of reason, trying to reach across the aisle (and) work with Democrats and Republicans to solve problems,” he said.
He highlighted one such effort Wednesday, issuing a news release about his efforts to preserve a tax deduction for teachers in the final version of the Republican tax cut bill.
The House bill that Yoder voted for in November eliminated the deduction, which helps teachers who spend their own money on school supplies. The Senate version not only maintained the deduction, it raised it from $250 to $500.
Yoder is now urging members of a conference committee to adopt the Senate provision.
“I’ve listened to many teachers and advocates who recognize the educator expense deduction as one small way to show teachers our appreciation for their hard work,” he said. “This important deduction should remain in our tax code.”
In addition to Niermann, candidates for the Democratic nomination in the 3rd District include Leawood attorney Andrea Ramsey, Reggie Marselus, Chris Haulmark and 2016 nominee Jay Sidie, who lost to Yoder by 11 points.
Jim McLean is managing director of the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
Northwest Commencement exercises Dec. 15, 2017. Bilal Clarance addresses graduates. Photo by Todd Weddle | Northwest Missouri State University.
Northwest Missouri State University awarded 495 bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and education specialist certificates Friday during its winter commencement ceremonies.
“Take the time to get to know your new colleagues, or just the folks you will interview with, as you venture into your first postgraduate positions,” Bilal Clarance said during his address to the graduates. “Listen and learn from anyone and everyone you can, from your manager to your peers. And when entry-level people like yourselves join, do not discard them, especially as you advance in your career, because if your heart is open you will learn from them as well.”
Clarance, a 2005 Northwest alumnus and software engineering manager at a Silicon Valley technology giant, reflected on his career, having found professional success as a co-founder and developer with several tech start-ups. A native of Copenhagen, Denmark, he came to Northwest as an international student and was a member of a Bearcat basketball team that advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight and was inducted into Northwest’s M-Club Hall of Fame. He continued his basketball career after earning his college degree, playing for clubs throughout Europe and he captained the Danish men’s national team.
Northwest Commencement exercises Dec. 15, 2017. Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski interacts with graduates on the floor of Bearcat Arena. Photo by Todd Weddle | Northwest Missouri State University.
Reflecting on Clarance’s message during his own remarks, Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski encouraged graduates to make Northwest proud and “contribute to the societal good” as they enter the workforce.
“It’s making sure that we connect, not just as Bearcats but with people worldwide,” Jasinski said. “In this day and age, Bearcats learning, connecting, caring and especially practicing civility and showing pride is more important now than ever before. Your diploma is testament to your decision to live and work as an educated person. Our society needs you now more than ever.”
Geographically, 51 percent of the graduates were Missouri residents, and another 34 percent hailed from Iowa and Nebraska. International graduates represented the countries of Argentina, Colombia, Germany, Nepal and India.
Members of the graduating class ranged in age from 20 to 69.
