(Missourinet) – In a year when 200 shootings have wounded or killed law enforcement personnel nationally, there’s an effort in Missouri to stiffen penalties for such offenses.
Oakville Republican state Representative Marsha Haefner has pre-filed a measure to make certain infractions, including shootings against law enforcement officers, a hate crime.
She notes the bill covers many emergency responders.
“If someone knows that someone’s a police officer or a fire fighter, or drives an ambulance, any first responders that someone commits a crime against,” said Haefner. “When they know that that’s what they do for a living, the penalties for that crime, should they be found guilty, will be increased.”
Haefner says all first responders are subject to illegal aggression. She notes her legislation covers all sorts of infraction, in addition to shootings. “It’s about any crime committed against a law officer or any first responder,” said Haefner. “(It) includes assault, battery or any crime. All the attention is on the shootings, but there’s also many other crimes that this would protect them from.”
Haefner notes her latest submission – which was made on December 1st, the annual first day to pre-file bills for the next session – is the same measure she put forth in the last legislative session which was largely overlooked.
She says House Speaker Todd Richardson has assured her the bill will get serious attention in 2017.
“I’ve had several conversations with Speaker Richardson about it and he is very supportive, and will do what he can to help me get this bill across the finish line.”
Haefner thinks the backlog of about a thousand bills in the last session prevented her legislation from receiving much consideration. Her hate crime measure was assigned to a committee but never got a hearing.
Republican Representative-elect Nick Schroer of O’Fallon has pre-filed a similar measure to Haefner’s. It also covers acts of violence against other first responders in addition to law enforcement personnel.
House Speaker Todd Richardson (photo courtesy; Missourinet)
(Missourinet) – Some state House members will investigate next session allegations of harassment and retaliation within the state’s 21 prisons.
House Speaker Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff) says he will form a committee to look into the allegations after a scathing article on Pitch.com reports that several corrections employees have been victimized and even threatened based on sex, age, religion, or physical ability. In an interview, Richardson says the behavior is unacceptable.
“They’re unacceptable for our state. They ought to be unacceptable in any workplace environment,” says Richardson. “They’re doubly concerning here in Missouri because it’s leading to a huge budget impact. The cost to the state to have to settle these claims has been significant.”
The newspaper’s investigation says that between 2012 and 2016, settlements with employees or former employees making the allegations cost the state more than $7.5 million.
The line in the state budget from which money for settlements with the state comes does not have a limited dollar amount. Rather, it has an “E” at the end of that line, which stands for an estimated amount. That allows for additional money to be used on an as-needed basis.
Richardson says the House would take up a “very thorough review,” of what’s been happening at the Department.
“That will involve our budget committees but it’s also going to involve our policy committees, so we can get to the bottom of what’s going on and most importantly – how do we make the environment better than it is today,” says Richardson.
Representative Kathie Conway (R-St. Charles) chairs the House committee that’s involved in the Department of Corrections’ budget. She said the reports of harassment did not come up in her committee, even though sizable settlements have occurred.
“That is a personnel matter, and other than how many employees they have or need or have positions to fill, as far as budget goes that’s the only personnel issues we become involved with,” says Conway.
In a statement from House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty (D-Kansas City), she says the department kept lawmakers and the public in the dark. Rep. Tracy McCreery (D-St. Louis) also praises Richardson for having lawmakers look into the matter.
Richardson said details about how the investigation will move forward will be known in the coming weeks.
George Whiteman (Photo courtesy of the Katy Depot in Sedalia)
(Missourinet) – On December 7, 1941, Airman George Whiteman of Missouri was the first U.S. pilot killed when Japan attacked America’s naval base on Pearl Harbor.
During the military strikes, he rushed to his P-40B. His plane was hit by gunfire as it took off, causing it to crash and burn. The 2nd Lt. and Sedalia native was 22 years old when he died.
More than 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,100 were injured in the attack which marked America’s entry into World War II.
About eight years ago, Kathleen Boswell of Sedalia, was asked to help raise money by participating in a cemetery walk. Her job was to perform the part of someone with a military connection. She learned that Whiteman’s aunt, Mildred Rogers, was buried in the cemetery. Boswell decided to tell Whiteman’s story by portraying Mildred.
“It’s amazing how much of an impact you can have on people. I know I’m successful if I can see at least one person try to wipe away a tear because I’ve told George’s story so compellingly,” says Boswell. “Some of it has just essentially come from my heart. Being the aunt, I almost feel like I am George’s aunt now when I talk about how proud I am of him.”
About thirty performances later, Boswell continues to play the part of Aunt Mildred in other local events. She has learned many stories along the way about Whiteman. Boswell says Whiteman was fascinated with the Wright Brothers and developed a love of flying at an early age. She also learned of a story about Whiteman being known for reading a book while walking to school.
“He was incredibly intelligent. One of the details that I add is that while he was in grade school, he got advanced a year two different times,” says Boswell.
Whiteman went on to earn a college scholarship and attended the Rolla School of Mines (now Missouri S&T) for two years before enlisting in the service in 1939.
Whiteman Air Force Base near Knob Noster in west-central Missouri is named after the Missouri hero. Boswell says the only name under consideration for the base was Whiteman.
For his courage 75 years ago, Whiteman was posthumously awarded with the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the American Defense Medal with a Foreign Service clasp, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze star, and the World War II Victory Medal.
(Missourinet) – A lawsuit filed against St. Louis-based Monsanto alleges the company knowingly marketed some products to farmers without any safe herbicide.
Campbell-based Bader Farms in southeast Missouri alleges that Monsanto is responsible for damage to the farm’s crops this year because of drift from a herbicide called dicamba. Bader Farms attorney Bev Randles tells Missourinet the lawsuit, which was filed in Dunklin County, alleges that the farm has lost more than 30,000 peach trees.
“Monsanto released their Xtend crops, their soybean and cotton seeds, and they did so though without a corresponding herbicide, which is just from everything that we understand is basically unheard of,” Randles says.
In a statement, Monsanto says it has taken “many steps” both prior to and throughout the 2016 season to remind growers, dealers and applicators that dicamba was not approved for in-crop use at the time. Monsanto also says it does not condone the illegal use of any pesticide.
Randles says Monsanto “chose greed over public safety” and made farms in southeast Missouri “unwilling test labs for their defective seed system.” The lawsuit alleges that Monsanto chose to sell the Xtend seeds, knowing that destructive spraying would be inevitable.
“What we’re looking for here is truth,” Randles says. “These are people who are the lifeblood of Missouri’s economy, particularly the southeast Missouri economy, because agriculture is so important there,” Randles says.
Monsanto says while it sympathizes “with those who have been impacted by farmers who chose to apply dicamba illegally”, the lawsuit tries to shift responsibility away from individuals who knowingly broke state and federal law.
Bader Farms says it has lost millions of dollars because of some farmers spraying pesticides illegally.
Randles expects more farmers to file lawsuits.
Online court records indicate that the judge overseeing this case is former Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer. A court date has not been scheduled yet.
Missourinet spoke to State Department of Agriculture Director Richard Fordyce Tuesday at the State Capitol. Fordyce says he cannot comment on the lawsuit, because of the Department’s open and ongoing investigation into pesticide complaints.
Here is the full statement from Monsanto spokeswoman Charla Lord to Missourinet:
When it comes to maximizing performance, farmers are in need of new technology to help them combat troublesome weeds. We spent years researching and developing our best products and varieties for the Roundup Ready Xtend Crop System. In addition to the trait as another mode of action for weed control, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans and Bollgard II XtendFlex cotton were developed utilizing the latest breeding advancements to provide farmers with strong yield potential. That yield potential itself presents tremendous value for growers even without application of dicamba, and we wanted our customers to experience that advantage as quickly as possible. We did not charge growers for the trait because the herbicide had not been approved for over-the-top use. Both prior to and throughout the 2016 season, Monsanto took many steps to remind growers, dealers and applicators that dicamba was not approved for in-crop use at the time, and we do not condone the illegal use of any pesticide. While we sympathize with those who have been impacted by farmers who chose to apply dicamba illegally, this lawsuit attempts to shift responsibility away from individuals who knowingly and intentionally broke state and federal law and harmed their neighbors in the process. Responsibility for these actions belongs to those individuals alone. We will defend ourselves accordingly.
Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources logo – Image courtesy Missourinet.
(Missourinet) – An environmental watchdog group is raising concerns over the lack of adequate drinking water and restroom services at Missouri parks.
According to records obtained from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), neither amenity has been available since August at Elephant Rocks State Park, which averages 800 visitors a day.
Meanwhile, Cuivre River State Park racked up 20 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act in three years.
Laura Dumais with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) says the parks aren’t properly maintaining their water distribution.
“The way they’re doing it is essentially just putting in a lot of chlorine and hoping that will take out anything that’s bad in there,” said Dumais. “What we’re saying is what they really have to do is affirmatively go in, inspect and clean the tank in the first place. Then they’ll have to use less chlorine, which obviously is a chemical that, in itself, can have harmful effects for people.”
PEER says Missouri’s voluntary approach to compliance with regulations for water tower inspections is not working. It’s planning to notify the Environmental Protection Agency about the problem.
Dumais says the group has so far declined to bring a lawsuit against the state.
“This might be one of those problems that is best resolved politically, and not through the court system. But we’re keeping an eye on it. If there’s a potential lawsuit that we might be able to file, that might be something that we would get involved with in the future. But we’re not affirmatively taking steps in that direction at this time.”
Dumais says PEER noticed Missourians recently passed a tax extension which provides funding for parks and water conservation.
“It was something like 80 percent by voters,” said Dumais. “It’s something that the residents of Missouri really support, cleaning up their drinking water and cleaning up the state parks. And (it’s) something that we think should be an obvious thing to use the money for.”
The measure passed by voters renews a small sales tax – one-half of one percent – which raises $90 million a year for parks and water conservation. The Department of Natural Resources hasn’t stated if the money could be used to address the contamination issue.
State parks director Bill Bryan recently testified before a Missouri House committee that his department has a $212 million backlog of “unscheduled maintenance.” DNR says unscheduled maintenance refers to projects that have not yet reached a priority level.
PEER contends DNR could drastically reduce water contamination at its parks by having its water towers and storage facilities professionally inspected.
In a 2014 press release, it made mention that the agency is responsible for overseeing Safe Drinking Water Act compliance in public waterways in the state. PEER claims DNR has issued multiple publications instructing public water systems to have trained water specialists inspect their water towers at least once every five years, but is ignoring its own directive by not having water towers at state parks maintained in the same manner.
DNR contends it has spent almost $2.4 million in the last five years making improvements to drinking water at state parks. The agency says its projects have included complete system rebuilds as well as rehabilitation of water towers and various other upgrades. With regard to the situation at Elephant Rocks State Park, it says it’s spent $17,000 on system maintenance and repairs, and claims temporary restrooms are provided during recreational season.
In a statement, DNR spokesperson Tom Bastian said “there is virtually no deferred maintenance in Missouri’s nationally recognized, award winning state park system”.
A former DNR public notice coordinator for safe drinking water compliance, Patricia Ritchie, challenged her dismissal under the state whistleblower protection law after she reported concerns of drinking water safety at Missouri state parks to the State Auditor in 2003.
Greitens family (Photo courtesy of Jill Enders of KTRS/Missourinet)
(Missourinet) – A statement from Missouri Governor-elect Eric Greitens says his wife Sheena is safe but shaken after being robbed at gunpoint Monday night not far from their St. Louis area home.
Greitens says he’s grateful to law enforcement’s swift and skilled response.
“I have spoken in the past about the importance of public safety. About the need to take care of the men and women of law enforcement who have our backs. About the danger too many Missourians feel walking in their neighborhoods at night, or taking their kids to school, or going to the grocery store,” says Greitens. “If tonight’s incident has done anything, it has only served to strengthen my—and our family’s—resolve. We are, now more than ever, committed to the law enforcement officials who were by Sheena’s side within minutes. We are, now more than ever, disturbed by the violence and chaos in our communities. And we are, now more than ever, focused on the mission of creating safer neighborhoods for all of our families and all of our children.”
Greitens announced in November that his family would be moving to the Governor’s mansion in Jefferson City after he’s sworn into office.
St. Louis Police Department spokesperson Schron Jackson tells Missourinet that Mrs. Greitens had just left a restaurant in the 3900 block W. Pine and was seated inside her vehicle on the parking lot looking at her cellphone when her car door was suddenly opened by a black male suspect. The suspect pointed a gun at Greitens and demanded her property. She complied and gave the suspect her laptop and cellphone. Greitens reported that she saw several black males running from the scene.
Further police investigation revealed that another vehicle on the parking lot had been broken into. The male victim stated his cellphone had been taken from the vehicle. The victim tracked his cellphone and led officers to the 4200 block of Shreve. As the officers got behind the vehicle and attempted to stop it, the vehicle fled and was involved in an accident. Three suspects fled on foot from the scene, however, they were located and taken into custody. The suspects are ages 14, 15 and 19.
Investigation at the scene revealed the suspect vehicle had been stolen in an earlier robbery in the 3700 block of Lindell. The suspect vehicle had also been used in an attempted robbery in the 3100 block of Locust just prior to the incident on West Pine.
Property from the robberies and vehicle break-ins was recovered in the suspect vehicle. No injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing.
The Governor-elect will hold a press conference Tuesday morning to discuss the incident. It will be held near the location of the robbery.
MU Interim Chancellor Hank Foley. Photo courtesy Missourinet.
(Missourinet) – A national search is underway at the University of Missouri for Mizzou’s next chancellor.
The UM system announced Monday that it has hired Isaacson Miller, the same search firm used in hiring incoming President Mun Choi.
Dr. Hank Foley has been serving as the interim chancellor of MU since November 12, 2015. In a statement he has released, Foley says he’s interested in the position on a permanent basis.
“I have been honored and privileged to serve as interim chancellor of Mizzou this past year. The team we’ve built to lead Missouri’s premier public university is strong and uniquely positioned to continue to move MU in the right direction. The opportunity to work alongside our tremendous faculty, staff and students – to grow research, seek new funding models and improve our best-in-class programs — is an honor I’d cherish,” says Foley. “While it is my hope to continue serving as chancellor, I understand that a national search for a permanent chancellor of this university is necessary, and I applaud and support President Middleton’s and President-designate Choi’s choice to do so. I look forward to participating in the process.”
In an interview with Missourinet, State Rep. David Wood (R-Versailles) says the University of Missouri Board of Curators and Choi should consider Foley for the permanent position. Wood is the vice chair of the legislature’s Joint Committee on Education. He says Foley has been accessible to legislators.
“I think he’s done a very good job in this interim position. He’s been very straightforward, his answers have been very honest with the legislature. Not always popular, but very honest and straightforward and I think we can appreciate that,” Wood says. “So, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other candidates that would do an equally good job, but this is a proven candidate that’s here.”
Interim President Mike Middleton says one of Dr. Choi’s early priorities is to establish permanent leadership Mizzou.
“We will begin the process of selecting the next great leader of MU by launching a national search which is the customary approach for a prestigious public, land-grant AAU institution,” says Middleton.
“We believe in the tradition of shared governance, and the position of chancellor at MU demands that we honor that tradition by instituting a national search that is clear in its structure and process,” says Choi. “A detailed, comprehensive national search benefits MU’s status as one of the nation’s top public universities.”
The system also will assemble a search committee that will recommend finalists to Dr. Choi.
Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (R). Photo courtesy Missourinet.
(Missourinet) – Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (R) will leave office in January, after serving in that position since 2005.
He was re-elected in 2008 and 2012. Kinder also served in the state Senate from 1992 to 2004. He leaves office after an unsuccessful bid for Missouri governor.
Kinder says during his time in office, the number of Missouri low-income seniors on a program to assist them with paying for prescription drugs has increased from about 17,000 to 200,000. The Missouri lieutenant governor is considered the advocate for the state’s senior population.
“For a way more than 10-12 increase in the number of low-income Missourians getting assistance each month. I’m very proud of that,” says Kinder.
He also touts returning an average of 7.5% of unspent funding from his office’s budget each year for the past twelve years.
Kinder says the most critical issue that Missouri must address is economic development. He thinks by the end of March 2017, Missouri will pass Right-to-Work legislation. The election of Republican Eric Greitens as governor and both chambers of the state legislature operating with Republican supermajorities increases the chances of making Missouri a Right-to-Work state.
“That will be the single biggest economic shot in the arm to our state’s business climate and investment climate in the 195 years of statehood,” says Kinder.
The legislation would bar unions from requiring workers to pay dues as a condition for employment.
Kinder, of Cape Girardeau, is considering what to do when he leaves office in January.
“I’m investigating a couple of different opportunities in the private sector that do not include lobbying,” says Kinder. “I’ve also had some encouragement, but nothing concrete, to join the Trump administration.”
State Senator Mike Parson (R-Bolivar) has been elected as Missouri’s next lieutenant governor.
Chris Hardin PhD MU Nutrition and Exercise Physiology Department – Photo courtesy of University of Missouri/Missourinet.
(Missourinet) – A new program at the University of Missouri is aimed at helping low income families eat healthy foods.
According to the MU Family Impact Center, nearly twice as many low income people have poor diets compared to middle-class and wealthy residents. The center also points to research that children living below the federal poverty level are nearly three times more likely to be obese than children from wealthy families.
Under the new program, a registered dietitian will supervise dietetics students while they provide advice and services free-of-charge.
Chris Hardin with the MU Nutrition and Exercise Physiology Department says both students and clients will benefit.
“It give our students the experience to serve these populations, as well as having these populations served by both a dietitian and a trainee,” said Hardin.
Low income families residing in “food deserts” where full service supermarkets are scarce, could benefit from the MU program. The American Nutrition Center identifies food deserts as “parts of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods, usually found in impoverished areas”.
About finding nutritious food in such areas, Hardin said “To be able to get fresh meats and vegetable proteins and things like that isn’t so easy. With convenience stores, one is stuck with more processed foods, foods with less protein, foods with more added simple sugars. All of those things are not good for most peoples’ diets.”
Hardin says the MU program could be especially helpful with Type-2 Diabetes, which disproportionately affects low income people.
“It’s difficult to know how to shop and how to cook, not only healthy, but in a flavorful way with a diet that helps a Type-2 Diabetic. The dietetic students can council families on the right food choices and food preparation techniques, and help them identify whether certain diets are working or not to keep their blood glucose levels better controlled.”
The new dietetics program at MU is supported by a $100,000 gift from the non-profit Springfield based organization Bee Payne-Stewart Foundation.
The money will provide $15,000 annually for five years to support a dietitian supervisor, as well as $5,000 annually for five years to support the dedicated simulation training for dietetics students at the MU School of Medicine.
To become a registered dietitian through the University of Missouri requires completion of a five year program. Two years of prerequisites is followed by three years in a coordinated dietetics program.
Hardin says the school’s dietetics program is similar to a medical program in that it’s highly competitive with a limited number of slots. By accreditation standards, it can only accept up to 20 students per year.
Once the five year program is completed, graduates can take the registered dietitian exam.
(Missourinet) – An outbreak of the mumps across the country is reflected in cases reported at the University of Missouri.
As of Wednesday, the school had experienced 128 instances so far this semester, with the first four reported in early November.
As a result, the university has cancelled a popular late night breakfast during finals week, and is urging student groups to postpone their social events.
MU spokesperson Christian Basi says the school shouldn’t be singled out for having an excessive number of cases. “This is something that has been a situation across the country” said Basi. “The CDC has reported that the country has more than twice the number of mumps cases this so far this year than compared to all of last year. And we still have a month to go.”
While there have been 128 mumps cases at MU, only six entire states have reported as many as 100 so far this year. However, the numbers from those states were compiled in early November, roughly the time that MU had reported only four cases.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this year’s outbreak of the mumps is the biggest since 2006.
While admitting the university has an outbreak, MU’s Basi says the school has a strict policy toward vaccinations. “Out of more than 33,200 students, only 50 students have submitted the paperwork to enroll while not having those vaccinations.” Basi claims all the students who’ve been diagnosed with the mumps have had the vaccination.
Basi further claims the 128 cases reported at the school is misleading because the mumps typically runs its course in a week-and-a-half. “It’s important to remember that that number is the total number of students that have contracted the disease” said Basi. “Many of those students who have contracted the disease have already recovered and are back in classes.”
MU isn’t the only college campus to experience an outbreak of the mumps. Flare-ups have also been at reported at Yale and Tufts universities, although their numbers may not be as large as Mizzou’s.
Nationally, the CDC has reported 2,879 mumps infections as of November 5th. Of the six states which had reported over 100 case at that time, four sit adjacent to Missouri – Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma and Illinois. The other two are Indiana and Massachusetts.
Although a major concern at places like MU’s Columbia campus, this year’s mumps outbreak nationally pales in comparison to the eruption in 2006 when well over 6,500 cases were reported.
Mumps is a viral infection that is best known for the puffy cheeks and swollen jaw that it causes. It’s the result of swollen salivary glands
