By Alisa Nelson (Missourinet) – The Transportation Security Administration is going through a change in leadership after agency employees failed to find 95% of the weapons undercover agents took through airport security checkpoints.

Claire McCaskill says airport security needs to do a more aggressive job of finding people who could be trying to do harm on planes.

“It is bad. It’s embarrassing. They fired the person in charge and the people who discovered that it was lacking was in fact the same agency that is lacking.”

McCaskill suggests the agency needed to refocus.

“Airport security has been about giving the American traveler the confidence that there is security, as opposed to doing an aggressive job in terms of finding those people who could be doing us harm.”

On the other hand, Senator McCaskill says it’s clear the TSA wants to do a better job if they are sending undercover agents out to check up on security.

“I think it’s good that they discovered it. Very rarely, do you see an agency policing themselves and saying to the public ‘We are failing.’ That’s unusual in government.”

McCaskill says she’s pleased TSA acting director Melvin Carraway was reassigned. The Senate has to vote on President Obama’s nominee for the post, Coast Guard Vice Admiral Pete Neffenger. In the meantime, Acting Deputy Director Mark Hatfield will lead the agency.

By Mike Lear (Missourinet) – The daughters of a man Missouri plans to execute Tuesday for killing his girlfriend and her 2-year-old daughter want his life spared, even though one of them was there the night of the murders.

Richard Strong brutally stabbed and slashed 23-year-old Eva Washington and her 2-year-old daughter, Zandrea Thomas, to death after an argument in October of 2000. When police arrived they found the couple’s 3-month-old daughter sitting on a bed next to a pool of blood and a knife.

That daughter, Alyshia Strong, is now 14, and she is asking Governor Jay Nixon (D) to stop her father from being executed Tuesday evening. She knows some people might find that hard to understand.

“My dad is the only parent I have,” Strong told Missourinet. “I live with my grandma and she’s an amazing … she’s been amazing raising me … but my dad is my dad.”

Alyshia’s half-sister Lauren Strong, 18 and also Richard Strong’s daughter, says in spite of his having been in prison most of their lives, he has been active as their father.

“In any way he could possibly have been a part of my life, he was,” Lauren said.

The two young ladies have presented Nixon with a request for clemency for Strong. Neither daughter denies his crime or attempts to excuse it, but both say he would be punished enough if he spent the rest of his life in prison and say it would only punish them to execute him.

Lauren Strong was four at the time of the murders. She says she likes to think she knows who he is now, “or on some level, the reasons why he did what he did, and I’m not going to make any excuses. It was horrible. But it’s not for anybody else to, without sounding cliché, play God.

“There is nothing good that would come out of his execution. Absolutely not one thing I can think of that’s good. But there are a hundred bad things I can think of,” Lauren added.

In the clemency request Alyshia writes that she never asked him about the night of the murders until his execution date was set by the Missouri Supreme Court in April. She told Missourinet she put it off because she wanted to protect his feelings.

“But, if my father was going to die, I needed to know everything. I needed closure. I needed to know what happened because I didn’t want him to leave and me not be able to find out,” she said.

According to her statement in the request, he told her Washington had been abused as a child, had Multiple Personality Disorder, and said his relationship with Washington was volatile.

“He didn’t mean to hurt anybody and he’s very sorry,” she told Missourinet. “I’m at peace now but I would rather him live than to die for something that [he] didn’t mean to happen.”

She said in her statement she still isn’t ready to ask why he spared her on the night of the murders, and hopes he won’t be executed so some day, she can.

Strong’s mother, Joyce Knox, is Alyshia’s legal guardian. She says Richard Strong calls Alyshia two or three times a week.

“I know they talk about important things – the same kinds of things a father would talk to his daughter about if he were living at home with her,” she writes in her statement in the clemency request. “Even though he is in prison, Richard is a very good father – he always has been.”

“At one time Richard was going to church with me, and by me being a minister he thought that he could go to Heaven off of mama’s coattails, but I know now that Richard has truly found God in his life,” Knox told Missourinet. “And he’s helped a lot of other people that are in prison with him to find God and he’s changed so much.”

She added tearfully, “I don’t want to see him die.”

Two-year-old Zandrea Thomas was stabbed nine times and had 12 slash wounds inflicted by Richard Strong.

Nixon has heard from the families, attorneys, and friends of some of the other men that have been executed in Missouri since late 2013 that those men had found religion and were positive influences on those with them in prison, as well as claims regarding some of those men’s competency to be executed – one of the claims raised now by Strong’s attorneys in seeking to keep him from being executed. Nixon has also been told that some of those men were abused as children, as has been said of Strong. None of those arguments has dissuaded Nixon from allowing any given to proceed.
Strong’s attorneys are seeking to block his execution on several other fronts, as well, including arguing that the jury was not properly instructed in how it had to consider the factors that prosecutors raised as arguments that he should receive the death penalty.

If those efforts ultimately fail, Strong will die by lethal injection at the state prison at Bonne Terre between Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Wednesday at 5:59 p.m. His would be the fourth execution carried out in Missouri this year and the 16th since Missouri resumed conducting executions on a regular basis, and began scheduling one per month in November, 2013.

Attempts to reach the family of Eva Washington and Zandrea Thomas for this story have been unsuccessful.

By Bill Pollock (Missourinet) -The Triple Crown winner American Pharoah has ties to the Show-Me-State. His name came from Margarent Baumgartner, from Barnett, Mo. located near the Lake of the Ozarks. His stable was looking for fans to name their newest two-year olds, when Margaret submitted her selection.

She used the horse’s pedigree and the fact that the owner of the horse is from Egypt, to help Baumgartner come up with the name that will now live on in history.

She attended the Kentucky Derby and after her story ran in the New York Times, the CEO of Belmont Park, invited her and her husband to attend the race after he learned the Baumgartner’s did not make plans upon hearing the race was sold out. A Missouri woman, who named the winner got to see history as it happened.

Take a listen back to this montage of the 1978 Belmont race with Affirmed along with American Pharoah’s 2015 ride…the last two Triple Crown winners. (You’ll notice the length of this audio is 2:26…the winning time for American Pharoah)

Listen to Margaret retell her story to Brad Trenago of Missourinet affiliate, KTGR Columbia, as she tries to shed some light on how the newest Triple Crown Winner’s name is actually spelled wrong.

By Alisa Nelson (Missourinet) – An abundance of rain has put corn and soybean planting in Missouri behind schedule. Gary Marshall with the Missouri Corn Growers Association says farmers have been down this road before, though.

“We know how to deal with this,” said Marshall. We’ve had this problem many times over the last several years. The farmers are really good about knowing what to do.”

Even though farmers are adapting, he says the wet weather is affecting them.

“There’s much more of a problem with standing water in corn. It’s never good and it’s happening across the state.”

Gary Wheeler of the Missouri Soybean Association says farmers in northern Missouri, especially the northwest, and in Central Missouri, have been struggling to plant soybeans.

“Southwest and southeast Missouri is pretty good, but it’s been an odd May and June,” said Wheeler. “If this continues and moves on into June 15 to 20th, then it could mean something hurtful to the marketplace.”

Wheeler says there are some reports of stem rot in soybeans, which is a pathogen that damages soybeans, especially in wet conditions.

As of Sunday corn planting in Missouri was 87% complete and soybean planting was just 23% finished.

By Mike Lear (Missourinet) – State transportation officials hope some creative thinking and new technology will come up with the best way to rebuild I-70; hopefully one that the state can afford.

They’re asking for anyone with ideas for the interstate’s future, and for funding Missouri’s roads and bridges, to submit them to the Transportation Department.

The Department has identified a team that will seek and evaluate ideas from the private sector. The project is being called “Road to Tomorrow.”

Department Chief Engineer Ed Hassinger says any company or person with an idea is being asked to share.

“We are opening up all 200 miles of I-70 across the state to anybody that’s got an innovative idea how to make transportation of the future happen,” Hassinger told Missourinet.

Transportation Commission Chairman Stephen Miller hopes the discussion will shake out some new funding ideas as well.

“The hope is that embracing technology will also open the door to new mechanisms for funding,” said Miller. “Not that we abandon the old ones,” he added, referring to recent discussions of tolling or proposed increases in gas or sales taxes. “I think the old ones are all going to be important tools.”

Miller said the kinds of innovative ideas that could be used, could include anything.

“What we can see is all kinds of ideas are popping up,” said Miller. “In the Netherlands, they’ve looked at putting small pinwheels on the roadway that would generate electricity that would provide safety lighting and markings on the roadway. Does that have a place in Missouri? I don’t know the answer to that question.”

Another idea pitched to the Commission at its meeting Wednesday would see concrete not poured into forms, but pre-formed into highway panels that would be brought to project sites and snapped into place.

“Those roadways might have embedded technology that would have fiber, electricity, etcetera, that might allow enhanced GPS, it might allow the charging of electrical vehicles, it might allow detection of when our roadways our deteriorating and the panel needs to be replaced,” said Miller. “We can see enough of these things bubbling up around the world that it makes sense to provide Missouri to be the place to come and vet those.”

Miller says projects that could require a partnership between the state and private entities would require action by the state legislature.

“If we’re going to take advantage of other revenue streams that would flow from transportation, we’re going to need different legislation in Missouri that would provide enabling legislation for what we call public-private partnerships,” said Miller. “We don’t currently have that, but I think opening this conversation up drives us to that, because we’re either going to make Missouri a state that is friendly for innovation and technology and go forward, or we’re not and we’re going to fall behind.”

Click here more information on Road to Tomorrow or to submit ideas.

By Kyle Loethen (Missourinet) – A time capsule that was sealed in 1915 will be opened at the 100th anniversary of the laying of the Missouri State Capitol Cornerstone, and Missourians are being asked to help pick what goes in the next one.

Governor Jay Nixon will reveal the contents of the time capsule at a ceremony on July 3. Records show some of the items include Missouri newspapers and a copy of the amendment to the state constitution authorizing the construction of the then-new capitol.

Nixon spokesman Scott Holste said the items will be shared with the Missouri State Archives for potential display.

“There’s going to be some surprise items in there, I’m sure, and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in there when that’s unsealed,” said Holste. “It’s very exciting from a historical standpoint.”

Holste said the ceremony will include local dignitaries, Missouri historian and former Missourinet News Director Bob Priddy, and masons whose organizations had participated in the laying of the original cornerstone. A new time capsule with items that represent the Missouri of 2015 will be sealed in the cornerstone to remain until the 200th anniversary of the Capitol. Nixon wants Missourians to make suggestions about what should go in it.

“People whose submissions are chosen will have their names placed with the items in the time capsule as well, so they too will become a part of history,” said Holste. “We encourage Missourians of all ages and from all parts of the state to submit their ideas for things to be put in the time capsule.”

Holste said it’s important to keep in mind the capsule is small.

“It’s should be small enough to fit into a 19 inch x 15 inch x 8 capsule, so it’s not all that big of space,” said Holste. “It’s not a big enough space to put very large items in, but we think there will be enough space to have an array of items that are representative of what society and life was like in Missouri during this year.”

Ideas can be submitted online at Mo.gov/TimeCapsule or on Twitter using the hashtag #MoTimeCapsule.

By Kyle Loethen (Missourinet) – A Missouri woman’s thirteen year pursuit for a Medal of Honor for her father has finally paid off.

It’s been nearly a century after his heroic efforts, but World War I veteran William Shemin was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama

Tuesday. His daughter, Elsie Shemin-Roth of Webster Groves and her sister Ina Bass accepted the medal at the White House on behalf of their father. Shemin-Roth and 64 members of her family attended the ceremony in Washington D.C.

At the ceremony, Obama described the scene as “what seems like a platoon of Shemins.”

“I want to invite his daughters Elsie and Ina, 86 and 83, and gorgeous, to accept this medal on their father’s behalf,” said Obama.

Obama said sometimes it takes America too long to honor those who have served.

“Sergeant Shemin served at time when the contributions and heroism of Jewish-Americans in uniform were too often overlooked,” said Obama. “But William Shemin saved American lives, he represented our nation with honor, and so it is my privilege on behalf of the American people to make this right.”

The late Sergeant William Shemin was recognized for leading his platoon to safety under heavy fire.

“Three times he raced through heavy machine gun fire, three times he carried his fellow soldiers to safety,” said Obama.

In 2002, Shemin-Roth saw and article about a congressional review taking place for Jewish military who felt anti-Semitism played a role in the medals they did or did not receive. That’s when Shemin-Roth began her mission to make sure her father received the Medal of Honor.

By Mike Lear (Missourinet) – Governor Jay Nixon (D) says it’s too late for the state senate to vote whether to overturn his veto of a bill to reduce the time unemployment benefits are available. Senate leaders disagree, and say they expect to attempt that overturn in September’s veto session.

The bill that would tie jobless benefits to Missouri’s unemployment rate. That would reduce the number of weeks benefits are available from 20 to as few as 13. The House voted for the overturn before the session ended.

The Senate sponsor of that bill, Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City), thinks his chamber can still follow suit.

“We believe it’s still important, and as long as counsel tells us that it’s appropriate to do, then we’re going to try to move forward with it,” Kehoe told Missourinet.
It would be up to Kehoe to make the motion to attempt the overturn.

He says the bill is needed to keep Missouri from depleting its unemployment trust fund again, and having to borrow from the federal government.

“When you have to go back to the federal government to fill that trust fund bucket back up, it’s very expensive. The federal government not only charges you interest, but they charge fees,” said Kehoe.

An advisor to Senate President Tom Dempsey (R-St. Charles), Todd Scott, told Missourinet there is no rule that specifically stops such an attempt.

“The typical rule of constitutional law would be that legislatures, unless specifically prohibited, are allowed to do what they deem wise in their own discretion,” Scott told Missourinet.

Given the Governor’s objection, the matter could have to be settled in court. Scott says there is no case that deals directly with the question, but says a case in Florida was similar. It would not be binding in Missouri, but he says it could be looked on for guidance.

By Kyle Loethen (Missourinet) – University of Missouri researchers are among supporters of an effort to take an invasive fish from jumping out of Missouri waterways, to your plate.

Eat MO Carp is the name of the effort to introduce Asian carp to restaurants and grocery stores, and at the same time reducing the number of them in Missouri rivers and streams.

Eat Mo Carp project member and MU graduate student Tim Wall said eradicating the fish has proven difficult, but turning it into delicious dishes could help control the population and could be profitable for fishermen.

“We can take the Asian carp problem and turn this biological bane into a banquet boon,” said Wall. “We’ve got so much of this fish that’s now available as a low cost, low fat, protein source, that I really hope people start taking advantage of it, and we can solve an environmental problem by eating it.”

Asian carp were introduced into American waterways in the late 1970s and threaten native species by competing for food and habitat. One Asian carp species, the silver carp, undermines the safety and quality of water-based activities such as fishing and boating, because the fish leaps from the water when startled. The carp are easily scared and could injure recreationists when the fish leap out of the water at the sound of a boat motor.

Wall said ground carp is similar to ground turkey and cheaper than ground beef.

“It sounds odd to be eating ground fish and things like that, but it’s a new paradigm in cuisine,” said Wall. “It’s very mild and it does pick up other flavors very easily.”

Wall said Eat MO Carp researchers conducted a blind taste test in which carp beat catfish by a significant margin.

“When you consider that catfish is the number one fish in Missouri and very high on the list nationwide, it shows that if carp can beat catfish, then it should be acceptable to people’s palates,” said Wall.

Broadway Brewery in Columbia is hosting a benefit concert for Eat MO Fish on June 6th. The brewery will be adding an Asian carp dish to its regular menu.