State health officials have confirmed four more cases of the Zika virus, all of them related to travel to areas where the virus is being transmitted locally.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services says the patients, one male and three non-pregnant females, are believed to have traveled to Nicaragua, the Virgin Islands, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

These cases bring the total number of travel-related cases found in Missouri to 16.

International health officials have found a connection between pregnant women contracting the virus and a birth defect called microcephaly in their newborn infants. According to the CDC, babies with microcephaly often have smaller head sizes and brains that might not have developed properly.

According to the CDC, Zika virus has the potential to be spread through a mosquito bite, through unprotected sexual contact, through blood transfusion and an infected pregnant woman can pass Zika virus to her fetus during pregnancy.

Nearly 80 percent of people infected with the virus will have no symptoms. Typically, symptoms are mild and include fever, rash, joint soreness and/or redness of eyes.

There is not currently a vaccine for Zika virus. The best prevention measure is to avoid mosquito bites in areas with ongoing transmission. There have been no reported cases of Zika virus contracted from a mosquito bite in Missouri. Ways to avoid mosquito bites while outdoors include wearing EPA-registered insect repellent with DEET, wearing pants and long sleeves, or remaining indoors in an air conditioned environment.

The CDC is recommending pregnant women avoid traveling to Zika-affected areas which include countries ranging from Mexico into the Caribbean, Central American and South America. Since the beginning of the year, DHSS has regularly updated health care providers and the public about Zika virus in addition to coordinating the approval of Missourians for testing.

You can find out more here or click the image above to visit the Web site of the CDC.

(News Release)

President Barack Obama on Wednesday commuted the sentences of 214 people serving prison time for federal crime convictions.

Among them were five from the Kansas City area, five from St Louis, and five from elsewhere in Missouri.

The information below was collected from the Web site of the White House press office.
(Click here for the entire list)

Annette Maria Canania – DeSoto, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to possess pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine; possession of pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (December 22, 2006); amended to 210 months’ imprisonment (April 27, 2015)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Lavon A. Crockett – Kansas City, KS
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base (“crack cocaine”); District of Kansas
Sentence: 188 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (December 6, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

Richard Lawrence Davis – St. Louis, MO
Offense:
1. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri
2. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 1. 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 15, 2004)
2. 93 months’ imprisonment (concurrent) (March 4, 2005); amended to 75 months’ imprisonment (November 18, 2011)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

Charles Franklin – St. Louis, MO
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of cocaine base (crack); possession with the intent to distribute heroin; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 7, 2000)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

Michael L. Franklin – Kansas City, MO
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Western District of Missouri
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 3, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

Thomas R. Fuller – Kansas City, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine; aiding and abetting to distribute crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime; felon in possession of a firearm; Western District of Missouri
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (August 7, 2003)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

Randy P. Green – Sikeston, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 7, 2006)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

Marcell Hogans – St. Louis, MO
Offense: Distribution of cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 168 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (August 21, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on August 3, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Frederico Johnson – Kansas City, MO
Offense: Distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Missouri
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (July 23, 2007)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment.

Reba L. McIntyre – Hayti, MO
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (June 26, 2000)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

Candido Ortiz-Martinez – Pagedale, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime (two counts); distribution of cocaine; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 592 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (December 12, 1991); amended to 535 months’ imprisonment (March 30, 2015)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

Lonnie Dwayne Payne – St. Louis, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; interstate transportation of a firearm by a felon; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 324 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 25, 2003); amended to 240 months’ imprisonment (April 21, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

Richard L. Reser – Sedgwick, KS
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession of firearm while trafficking in drugs (two counts); possession of a firearm by a felon; distribution of methamphetamine; conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; District of Kansas
Sentence: 480 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (December 20, 1989)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

Noriel K. Snider – St. Louis, MO
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 196 months’ imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (June 8, 2005)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

Damion M. Wilson – Caruthersville, MO
Offense: Distribution of five grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 188 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (March 19, 2008)
Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 1, 2016.

An unusual accident in Saline County, Missouri last night claimed the life of a 72-year-old man.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Ralph Breshears of Marchall was driving a farm tractor at about 9:35 p.m. Wednesday along 190th Road at Nocturne Ave. near Marshall, Missouri.

According to the crash report, Breshears lost a hay bale and then the tractor ran over it.

That caused the tractor to leave the roadway and roll onto its side, ejecting Breshears. He was killed in the crash.

A man suspected of murder in Topeka, Kansas is now in custody in Platte County after a lengthy police pursuit and search Wednesday.

Captain Erik Holland of the Platte County Sheriff’s Office says a suspicious vehicle was spotted in the Northland shortly after 11am. The occupants failed to stop for officers and a chase ensued. The vehicle had been reported stolen in Topeka.

Two men inside the vehicle bailed out after a crash and disappeared into a wooded area near 9 highway and N.W. Coffey.

One suspect was taken into custody shortly after 1:30 p.m., and the other was arrested at about 6 p.m.

The search forced officials to close a number of streets in the Parkville area, and nearby Park University was locked down. Officers searched with dogs on the ground, as helicopters and a drone flew above the area in an effort to spot the suspects from above.

Captain Holland says both men are in custody in the Platte County Detention Center.

One of the men arrested was identified as Clarence Foy. Police in Topeka have wanted to question the 25-year-old Paola man since Saturday. That’s when the body of 18-year-old Sarah Cheyenne Crawford was found in a Topeka motel room.

A jury in Leavenworth has found a man guilty of six felony counts for a dispute last November at a Leavenworth apartment complex.

After a nearly two-day jury trial, and four hours deliberation, the panel on Tuesday found James “Duna” Madlock Jr., 34, guilty as charged

Leavenworth County Attorney Todd Thompson said in a news release that the dispute started with an argument. Witnesses said the victim asked him to leave by a resident. When the victim then entered the apartment of the resident, Madlock chased him inside against the wishes of the resident.

Madlock, a previous felon, was carrying a gun and proceeded to shoot at the victim hitting him in the head and right leg. He also pointed the gun at resident of the apartment. Madlock then took off running out of the residence. At the time of the incident, the resident had two minor children in residence.

When Leavenworth police arrived they found that four spent shell casings from a 9mm gun.

A judge will sentence Madlock September 14 at 11 a.m. on charges of attempted voluntary manslaughter, aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of aggravated endangering a child