By Mike Lear (Missourinet) – Governor Jay Nixon was asked in October to consider clemency for 14 women in Missouri’s prisons. A group called the Community Coalition for Clemency says many of those women were victims of domestic violence that contributed to their crimes.

Nixon said those requests are being considered.

“Each one of the 14 cases is different, but the public can rest well assured that we’re looking to make sure that the punishments that are meted out are appropriate and fair for the crimes that were committed,” Nixon told Missourinet.

Nixon has said that with the legislative session over, more time can be spent reviewing clemency requests.

“I think that the team that’s working on this sort of stuff will probably want to look at all 14 of those before they make any recommendations,” said Nixon.

Amy Lorenz-Moser represents some of those 14 women.

“We understand that theses clemencies take time to consider carefully,” Lorenz-Moser told Missourinet. “We hope the governor’s giving all 14 women serious consideration and that a clemency in each case is granted, which is the right choice.”

Some of those women are said to have received sentences far more harsh than those given to men convicted of the same crimes.
Nixon could not offer a specific time for releasing a decision.

By Mike Lear (Missourinet) – The families of Eva Washington and Zandrea Thomas say justice has been done to the man who murdered their loved ones.

The two were brutally murdered more than 14 years ago by Richard Strong in the apartment he shared with Washington in St. Ann. Last night, members of their families watched as Strong was put to death by the State of Missouri.

Washington’s sister, Virgil Sammant, said she wishes she had more time with her sister and niece.

“I dread the day that my sister met this man,” she said after witnessing the execution. “I will pray very hard for forgiveness for this man, but right now I have no compassion for him. One day it will come, but for right now I don’t give a damn. He can go rot in hell.”

Zandrea’s aunt, Petrina Thomas, said Strong had to take responsibility for the murders.

“Richard Strong had a chance to watch his daughter grow up, laugh and smile with her. We never got a chance to see Zandrea’s first day or school or graduations, or watch her go to prom, and my brother will never get a chance to walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day.”

Sammant also urged people to communicate about domestic violence before it escalates.

“Everyone should at least have a code or a system for their loved ones, if something is not right. Please go ahead and have a code or a system for your family,” she said .

No members of Strong’s family witnessed the execution.

Governor Jay Nixon (D), who declined to grant clemency to Strong at the request of his daughters and mother, asked Missourians to remember Washington and Thomas.

“There have been many lives deeply affected by these crimes, and our thoughts and prayers go out on their behalf this evening,” Nixon said in a statement.

Attorney General Chris Koster, whose office opposed appeals filed by Strong’s attorneys even in the final hours before the execution was carried out, also issued a statement.

“While nothing can make up for the terrible events of that day,” Koster said of the day of the murders, “at least Richard Strong’s execution can give the victims’ family some measure of closure.”

Petrina Thomas said it would do just that.

“We are at peace now, and so glad that this is finally over,” she said. “Thank you, everyone, that was involved in this day happening. Thank you, State of Missouri.”

By Kyle Loethen (Missourinet) – A piece of history that was hidden in the Missouri State Capitol Cornerstone in 1915 was revealed Tuesday.

Just inside the Office of Administration within the cornerstone was a time capsule, placed there during the Capitol building’s construction.
Director of Communications Ryan Burns said historical records showed where it was located, but the time capsule was actually seven feet above ground.

“There’s a stone that you can see from the exterior of the building that’s engraved, but we weren’t completely certain once we came to the inside of the building where we would be able to access that stone at,” said Burns. “We started with an approximate location to chip away at some of the items that were blocking the limestone and the cornerstone, and then we used a concrete imaging device to actually locate where the time capsule was within the cornerstone.”

Burns said it took crews weeks to find it.

“We had contractors coming in and we had to cut through different layers of HVAC, ductwork, there was some clay tile, limestone, until we could finally reach the time capsule and cut a cavity out to remove that time capsule,” said Burns.

Burns said archivists will examine the capsule’s contents and attempt to preserve them for potential display.

“We will be taking it along to the health lab here in Jefferson City to store for safekeeping until we open the capsule,” said Burns. “It looks to be soldered shut on the outside, so that will become part of our conversation that we have with the archivists in the coming weeks as to the best method of opening a copper box that has been soldered shut and left for a 100 years, so as to not damage or disturb the items inside.”

Burns said historical records show it includes copies of old newspapers from St. Louis, Kansas City, and Jefferson City.

“There was a Holy Bible that was inside,” said Burns. “A copy of the laws that actually created the Capitol Commission and authorized the construction of the Capitol building.”

2015 marks the 100th Anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone. A new capsule will replace it at a celebration July 3.

Governor Jay Nixon is urging Missourians to help pick out what should go into the new time capsule that will remain sealed until 2115. Ideas can be submitted online at Mo.gov/TimeCapsule or on Twitter using the hashtag #MOTimeCapsule.

By Mike Lear (Missourinet) – Members of the family of the woman and two-year-old girl brutally murdered by Richard Strong 14-years ago say they hope his execution will be carried out as scheduled, later today.

Eva Washington was 23 when she was murdered by Richard Strong in October, 2000. Court documents say she was stabbed 21 times, with five slash wounds, and the tip of the knife used to stab her was embedded in her skull.

Richard Strong is scheduled to die by lethal injection at the state prison in Bonne Terre between 6 p.m. today and 5:59 p.m. Wednesday. Strong brutally stabbed and slashed 23-year-old Eva Washington and two-year-old Zandrea Thomas to death after an argument in October, 2000 at the couple’s apartment in St. Ann.

Strong spared his own daughter that he had fathered with Washington, Alyshia Strong, who was 3 months old at the time. She has asked Governor Jay Nixon to commute his sentence to life in prison, saying that he is an important part of her life.

A member of the family of Washington and Thomas who declined to give his name called Missourinet and said that they are, “sorry for the parents … his parents … and of course the daughter, our cousin, but right now he has to pay for what he’s done, and we’re ready for closure. Right now we would like for this man to be executed today and that would give us closure.”

Several members of the families of Washington and Thomas will be at the prison in Bonne Terre to witness the execution. Strong’s mother also had plans to be there.

If Strong’s execution proceeds it would be the fourth this year. His attorneys are seeking a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court on three different sets of grounds, and Governor Jay Nixon (D) still must act on the request for clemency for Strong.

By Alisa Nelson (Missourinet) – More than 1,000 fireworks stands will open later this month throughout the state. Fireworks can be purchased in Missouri from June 20th to July 10th.

State Fire Marshall Greg Carrell hopes people will use common sense when shooting off fireworks.

“We ask that young children not be allowed to shoot off fireworks,” said Carrell. “If you have teenagers that are going to be shooting off fireworks, we certainly want them to be supervised. If your festivities are going to include adult beverages, I recommend that you have a designated shooter.”

Carrell says the number of fires increases during the fireworks season. He urges people to keep their distance from homes, vehicles and anything else that could catch fire when lighting those colorful displays.

“The end of June and first part of July, generally conditions are pretty dry. We do have grass fires, fireworks that land on someone’s roof and catch the roof on fire. Occasionally, we’ll have a house catch on fire.”

Missourians are encouraged to check with local fire or police departments to learn about local fireworks ordinances.

By Mike Lear (Missourinet) – The Missouri Housing Development Commission is meeting this week to take public comment on a proposal meant to help survivors of domestic violence get housing assistance.

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) proposed the commission include in its definition of individuals with special needs, survivors of domestic violence.

That would include them in a group that is served by projects supported by one-third of Missouri’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.
Zweifel said those survivors need a place to go.

“They often might have access to a shelter but not that sort of in-between housing that helps them gain the independence that they need to be able to go off on their own,” Zweifel told Missourinet. “We also know that they often need a variety of support services. Mental health support services, counseling services, job training or placement services.”

Jennifer Carter Dochler with the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence says survivors without options can wind up back in an abusive situation.

“Often times they have a difficult time for several financial reasons, housing being one of them, that they end up going back, so this creates new opportunities,” Dochler said.

Zweifel says the change would also free up room in Missouri’s domestic violence shelters, which are operating at or over capacity.

“One shelter last year in Springfield alone turned down 2,326 women and children, so there is a huge demand, unfortunately for these services,” Zweifel said. “The idea that we can do this in a holistic way and really help provide them the bricks and mortar housing, but also the support services that they need to grow, is really important.”

Meetings taking public comment on the proposed change continue today in Columbia and St. Louis and tomorrow in Springfield. The commission is expected to vote later this month.

By Kyle Loethen (Missourinet) – Spring showers and flooding have some Missourians wondering how this year is shaping up in comparison to the flood year of 1993.

It’s been more than 20 years since that flood, but the recent string of severe thunderstorms has many people concerned water levels could reach those historic benchmarks again.

Meteorologist Spencer Mell with the National Weather Service in Kansas City compared the summer of 1993’s monthly precipitation with 2015’s totals. Mel said Missouri has had more rain in the months of May and June than it did in 1993.

“1993 was the 22nd wettest May and June on record for Kansas City, where as currently for May and June of this year, we actually already rank sixteenth,” said Mell. “We still have 22 days to go in June, so we’re going to be well up there as far as wettest May and June on record for Kansas City.”

Mell said much of the water in the flood of 1993 came from upstream and a snowpack North of Missouri. He said the upstream conditions haven’t been quite as bad this spring, but the potential for river flooding to get worse will continue if Missouri has a prolonged wet pattern.

“The conditions in 1993 were a little worse in the fact that they did have the higher snowpack in Montana, and then heavier rain falls upstream in Nebraska and Iowa during the spring months,” said Mell. “By the time you got to the summer in July, they received some big time rainfall, so that just kept the flooding going through pretty much the whole season of ’93.”

By Mike Lear (Missourinet) – It is now up to the U.S. Supreme Court and Governor Jay Nixon (D) whether Missouri will carry out the execution of Richard Strong tomorrow.

Three arguments have been presented to the Supreme Court.

One is that the lethal injection poses a risk of pain and suffering that would violate his rights under the Constitution; another is that he has a serious mental illness that renders him incompetent to be executed. Neither of those, when raised, have been successful in blocking the past 15 executions in Missouri.

The other argument is that the jury that sentenced Strong to death was given improper instructions.

Governor Nixon has not decided whether he will grant clemency to Strong, as his daughters and mother have requested. Nixon has only once granted clemency in a death penalty case, and has never stated his reasoning in that instance.

Barring an outcome that favors Strong in any of those efforts, Missouri will execute Strong sometime tomorrow night or Wednesday for the murders in 2000 of his girlfriend Eva Washington and her two-year-old daughter, Zandrea Thomas.

By Mike Lear (Missourinet) – The Kansas City Chiefs, the St. Louis Rams, and other NFL teams could soon stop receiving federal dollars to honor the U.S. military.

The U.S. Senate has voted to keep the Defense Department from spending any more taxpayer money to honor the military at sporting events. Arizona Senator John McCain (R) offered an amendment that has been added to the national defense budget to that end, in response to reports that the Pentagon spent nearly $7-million for NFL teams to honor troops during games.

“I and so many other Americans were shocked and disappointed to learn that several NFL teams weren’t sponsoring these activities out of the goodness of their own hearts, but were doing so to make an extra buck,” McCain said in offering the amendment.

The Senate agreed to the amendment with unanimous consent.

It also calls on the NFL to donate an amount of money equal to what it was paid to honor the Armed Forces to military-related charities.

“The NFL raked in revenues totaling some $9.5-billion. The absolute least they can do to begin to make up for this misjudgment is to return those taxpayer dollars to charities supporting our troops, veterans, and military families,” said McCain.

McCain said it is additionally troubling that the expenditures came as the military is enduring budget cuts under sequestration.

“At the same time the [National] Guard was spending millions on pro sports advertising, it was also running out of money for critical training for our troops,” said McCain. “At the end of fiscal year 2014, the National Guard Bureau and Army National Guard announced they were facing $101-million shortfall in the account used to pay National Guardsmen and could force a delay in critical training and drills because they couldn’t afford to pay soldiers.”

According to reports, The Kansas City Chiefs have received $250,000 in the past four years for honoring the military, while the St. Louis Rams received $60,000.

The Senate is continuing debate of that budget authorization bill.