HOWELL COUNTY — A Missouri man died in an accident just before 6p.m. Wednesday in Howell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1994 Chevy 3500 driven by Gregory L. Spoor, 20, West Plains, was northbound on Route E two miles south of South Fork.

The truck hit a deer that came through the windshield and hit the driver. The truck traveled off the road, through a fence, struck an embankment and a tree.

Spoor was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Robertson Drago Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on NBC’s firing of longtime “Today” host Matt Lauer: (all times local):

7:20 a.m.

Matt Lauer says he is “truly sorry” to anyone he is hurt by his words and actions in his first public comments since being fired by NBC.

Lauer’s former “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie read a statement from Lauer at the top of Thursday’s show, a day he was fired by NBC for “inappropriate sexual behavior.” Published reports accuse Lauer of crude and habitual misconduct with other women around the office.

 

Lauer says in the statement: “Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized. But there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed or ashamed.

He says “repairing the damage will take a lot of time and soul searching” and says he’s “committed to beginning that effort.”

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12:05 a.m.

Fired “Today” host Matt Lauer is the biggest media figure brought down by sexual misconduct allegations since Bill O’Reilly and Roger Ailes were ousted from Fox News Channel.

Lauer’s exit comes amid a wave of accusations sweeping through the media, Hollywood and politics.

He has long been a valuable and highly visible part of NBC News and one of the highest-paid figures in the industry.

Lauer was fired Wednesday for what NBC called “inappropriate sexual behavior” with a colleague.

The announcement was quickly followed by a published report accusing him of crude and habitual misconduct with other women around the office.

SHAWNEE COUNTY  —The investigation of a fatal officer-involved shooting has been forwarded to the Shawnee County District Attorney’s office for review.  Topeka

Earlier this month, Topeka Police had asked the Lawrence Police to investigate the shooting that killed Dominique White.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Lawrence Police Department reported in a media release they completed the investigation of the incident that occurred on September 28. Just after 9:30p.m. that night, police responded to the 300 Block of Southeast Lawrence, in Topeka regarding a report of a disturbance with shots fired in the area.

Officers responding encountered a suspicious person identified as Dominique Tyrell White, 30, Topeka. White had a handgun.  In the process of trying to secure the firearm, the White struggled with officers and attempted to flee.

While fleeing from officers, White reached for the pocket containing the firearm, causing the officers to fire their weapons. White sustained life-threatening injuries as a result.
Officers immediately provided medical assistance and summoned AMR who transported White to a local hospital where the he was pronounced dead.

White’s gun was recovered from the scene. Kansas Department of Corrections records showed White went to prison in 2015 for felony burglary and was discharged in August 2016.

The records show he returned to prison in October 2016 for illegal possession of a firearm as a felon and was released in May.

White Family spokeswoman Heather Joyce says police aren’t providing any information in the case. Police also have denied requests from media seeking the identity of officers involved in the shooting.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – A Springfield man who tampered with the brakes of his ex-girlfriend’s car and sent her several threatening texts will serve 120 days “shock time” in prison and serve probation.

The Springfield News-Leader reports 23-year-old David Piatchek was sentenced Tuesday for aggravated stalking, tampering with a motor vehicle and violating a protection order.

Prosecutors say Piatchek terrorized his ex-girlfriend, including finding her car at Missouri State University in September 2016 and draining the brake fluid.

His attorney, Larry Catt, said the girl was never in serious danger in her car. He also argued that Piatchek was a good person who suffered from anxiety and depression. He also told the judge Piatchek is getting treatment for alcoholism.

The victim also asked that Piatchek not be sentenced to prison.

GARDNER, Kan. (AP) — A judge has found sufficient evidence for a woman to be tried in the death of her fiance’s 2-year-old daughter.

The Kansas City Star reports that 25-year-old Lindsey Thomasson entered a not guilty plea after she was bound over for trial Tuesday on a charge of first-degree murder. Prosecutors allege that Presley Porting died of child abuse in February in Gardner.

A trial date could be set at her next court appearance in January. Thomasson is jailed on $2 million bond.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – A Parkville man has been sentenced for hacking into his former employer’s computer system and for viewing thousands of images of child pornography.

Thirty-eight-year-old Jacob Raines was sentenced Wednesday to six years in federal prison without parole.

Raines was an information technology manager for American Crane & Tractor Parts in Kansas City, Kansas, from July 2004 until March 2014. Investigators found the company’s proprietary source code files and file folders were copied to Raines’s remote server in May 2014.

Prosecutors say it’s not clear if Raines transferred the source codes to a third party but he had the connections to provide them to at least one of the firm’s largest competitors.

Investigators also discovered Raines used his home computers and hard drives to access thousands of images of child pornography.

JACKSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on numerous charges following a high-speed chase.

Just before 8:30p.m. Tuesday, a Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop a northbound Pontiac G-6 driven by Rachel Dawn Hudson, 41, of Atchison County at 302 Road in Jackson County for an alleged speeding infraction. 

The vehicle failed to yield to the deputy and continued northbound into Brown County.  A Brown County deputy deployed a tire deflation device which deflated two tires on the vehicle. 

The vehicle eventually came to a stop several miles north of the Powhattan exit on US Hwy 75. 

Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Kickapoo Tribal Police and the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with Hudson’s arrest.  She was transported to the Jackson County Jail where she faces charges for driving under the influence, fleeing and eluding a law enforcement officer, transporting and open container.

Hudson is well known to Kansas law enforcement. She was arrested and brought back from Iowa following the Kevin Stanley murder in January 2013. 

Following a joint sting with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and U. S. Marshals, Hudson was found with three others. The murder suspect Lloyd Wabaunsee and Desiree Shopteese were found wrapped in blankets and hiding in the trunk of Hudson’s vehicle in Urbandale, Iowa. 

Hudson, Aaron Lofton, Shopteese and Wabaunsee were all extradited back to Kansas.  Hudson has had other contacts with law enforcement since that time.  She was convicted for Obstructing apprehension/prosecution; person with a felony, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas, man died after he was confronted by a carjacker and was dragged down the street.

Kansas City, Kansas, police said Frank Davila, 86, died during the confrontation Wednesday. The carjacker fled in Davila’s pickup truck.

The victim was known as Frankie D, the name of the bar and grill he owned on Kansas Avenue for more than 40 years.

His son, also called Frankie Davila, said his father had just dropped off his sister after they had breakfast when he was attacked.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – A Springfield teacher is suing the Missouri Board of Education over a closed session it held last week during a controversy over removing Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, Laurie Sullivan alleges the board violated the state’s open meetings law by holding a closed meeting Nov. 21 to discuss Vandeven’s future.

Tim Sumners of Joplin and Missy Gelner of Springfield were appointed and then removed from the board by Gov. Eric Greitens. He appointed Jennifer Edwards hours before the Nov. 21 meeting. Sumners and Gelner participated in the closed meeting but only Edwards was able to vote.

The Springfield News-Leader reports Sullivan’s lawsuit contends Sumners and Gelner were not properly removed from the board. Sumners on Tuesday sued Greitens to challenge his remova

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A Joplin man who was appointed to the Missouri Board of Education and then blocked from voting on the fate of the state education commissioner is suing Gov. Eric Greitens.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Cole County, John Sumners asks the court to determine if he remains a board member and whether Greitens broke the law by rescinding his appointment earlier this month.

Sumners publicly alleged in mid-November that the governor’s staff pressured him to vote to during a board meeting Nov. 21 to replace education Commissioner Margie Vandeven.

Less than a day before that meeting, Greitens tried to rescind Sumners’ nomination and instead nominate Jennifer Edwards of Springfield.

The lawsuit names Greitens, Edwards and seven board members.

The governor’s spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.