(Missourinet) – A former funeral home owner in northwest Missouri has been charged with stealing and financial exploitation of the elderly.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster’s office Tuesday filed eight felony counts in Ray County Circuit Court against Toby Polley, 47, of Lawson. Five of those counts are for financial exploitation of the elderly. Bond has been set at $50,000 cash-only, and the court has banned Polley from any contact with the alleged victims.

Polley made his initial court appearance on Tuesday in Richmond.

Koster is assisting Ray County Prosecutor Camille Johnston in the case. Koster says Polley allegedly stole from consumers by taking payment for pre-arranged funeral and burial services, and then failing to maintain the money in accounts to provide services at a later date. Koster says many consumers had to pay again for funeral services that were already paid for.

“Polley defrauded consumers who were trying to make sure their families would not bear their funeral costs at the time of their death,” Koster said in a statement. “The Attorney General’s office is committed to seeking justice for vulnerable consumers victimized by these schemes.”

Polley owned and operated funeral homes in three northwest Missouri towns: Richmond, Lawson and Excelsior Springs. They were known as Polley Funeral Homes, LLC.

Koster says anyone who believes that they may have been a victim can file a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General’s office by calling the Consumer Protection Division Complaint Hotline. That number is 1-800-392-8222.

(Missourinet) – A key Missouri lawmaker plans to file right-to-work legislation.

State Representative Holly Rehder (R-Sikeston) plans to file the bill in January. If Attorney General Chris Koster (D) wins the Governor’s race, Rehder will try to bypass Koster and have the measure placed on the statewide ballot. While 60 percent of Missourians voted against right-to-work in 1978, Rehder says things are different now.

“You know it’s been back in the 70s when it failed at the ballot box,” Rehder said. “However, union membership was about 30 percent where now it’s less than eight.”

Right-to-work says that a person cannot be required to join or refrain from joining a labor organization, as a condition of employment. Rehder, who chairs the House Select Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations, says states that have passed right-to-work have seen increased employment, including more union jobs. Rehder disagrees with union leaders who say the measure will lead to lower wages.

“When you look at these other states, the only reason that the union bosses stay concerned about right-to-work is because at the point that it is passed, they are the only ones it affects, the union bosses,” Rehder said. “They then have to start working to retain membership, working to get new members.”

But Koster and other Democrats disagree. Koster says he would veto right-to-work, saying states that have passed it have lower wages, fewer benefits and more dangerous workplaces.

“Public service should aim to move the rights of the people forward – not backward to a time without even a minimum wage,” Koster wrote in a “Missouri Times” September 5 op-ed.

Koster also says right-to-work states, on average, saw smaller median income growth than Missouri.

Koster faces Eric Greitens (R) in November. Greitens supports right-to-work.

Rehder is unopposed in November. She’ll begin her third House term in January.

(Missourinet) – The Missouri Conservation Department’s ban of feral hog hunting on conservation areas is underway.

MDC’s Commission voted in June to prohibit the hunting of wild pigs on conservation areas in an effort to eradicate the animals. Spokesman Joe Jerek says about 30 of the department’s 1,000 conservation areas are having problems with feral hogs.

“It’s hard to determine the total economic costs on conservation areas of feral hog damage, but what’s easy to see is the actual damages,” said Jerek. “If you think about it, a single feral hog can really root up and destroy a whole field in one night.”

Jerek says several private landowners are also having problems with the destruction caused by feral hogs.

MDC officials say hunting wild pigs causes them to scatter, making it challenging to trap large herds.

“In research from other states, we know that hog hunting actually increases feral hog numbers and locations because oftentimes it provides an incentive for the illegal release of feral hogs for future hunting,” said Jerek.

He also says the animals can carry diseases that could spread to livestock and compete for food with wildlife.

The ban isn’t embraced by all, including some state lawmakers. Opponents of the ban, like Representative Robert Ross (R-Yukon), say it’s counterproductive to the ultimate goal of eliminating feral hogs. He has questioned the costs incurred by the Conservation Department for trapping and killing the animals. Opponents of the ban contend that private landowners killing the hogs saves the state money.

Violators could be fined and lose hunting privileges if they are caught hunting feral hogs on MDC land.

According to Jerek, about 3,600 wild pigs have been killed in Missouri this year by MDC.

(Missourinet) – Missouri Republican U.S. Senator Roy Blunt calls free college “foolish” without a way to pay for it. His Democratic challenger, Secretary of State Jason Kander, says no-cost tuition would be too expensive.

That was one notable agreement between the two opponents during a forum Friday in Branson. Kander, Blunt, Libertarian Jonathan Dine, Constitutionalist Fred Ryman and Green Party candidate Johnathan McFarland participated in the debate that was hosted by the Missouri Press Association.

Blunt says year-round Pell grants for college students should be restored. The need-based grants are for lower-income individuals.

“If you get full Pell in our state, there’s no community college that that doesn’t pay for all tuition, all books and all fees,” says Blunt. “A couple of our four-year schools, it pays for all tuition, all books and all fees.”

Kander took several jabs at Blunt during the debate, including when he accused Blunt of cutting Pell grants to college students, then endorsing restoration of the funds. Blunt said that move was supported by Democrats.

“Senator, somebody who sets a fire and then puts it out is not a fireman, they’re an arsonist,” says Kander.

Kander wants to allow students to refinance college loans and cap the interest they pay for those loans.

Recent polling shows Blunt and Kander in a close race. Democrats need to win a net of five seats to regain control of the Senate—or four if Hillary Clinton is elected president.

(Missourinet) – State lawmakers are looking to improve conditions for Missouri school students with dyslexia.

A legislative task force was formed last month to deal with the learning disorder.  It’s the product of a measure passed this year which seeks to develop guidelines for screening dyslexic students and provide classroom support for them.

Republican Senator Bob Onder comes to the task force with the experience of having a son with dyslexia.  He says schools currently don’t offer much assistance to such students.

“By and large the school districts do not do anything to recognize it,” said Onder.  “When it is brought to their attention, often parents are told that dyslexia is a medical diagnosis, it’s not and educational or learning related diagnosis.  And these kids aren’t given help.”

Onder said he thinks he knows how the task force will operate.

“To listen to testimony. To gather evidence about best practices. (To find out) the things that can be done, the things that have been tried and succeeded in other states.”

The twenty member task force includes a bipartisan group of three state senators, along with people from a range of professional backgrounds.  They’ll advise the state’s education agency (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) on guidelines for supporting dyslexic students.

The legislation calls for a program to be in place by 2018 and for it to be implemented beginning in the 2018-2019 school year.  Included in the measure is a requirement that teachers take two hours of training on dyslexia provided by school districts.

Last month, Republican Senate Pro Ron Richards announced ten members of the task force of which he appointed eight. Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven will also be a member, as will eight people appointed by Republican House Speaker Todd Richardson.

At this point, Senator Onder said he isn’t sure what conclusions the group with come up with.

“I can’t say, at this point, I have all the answers as to what the state ought to be doing, or the schools ought to be doing.  But again that’s the purpose of this task force.”

(Missourinet) – Sarah Parker Pauley will become the first female Director in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s 79 year history. The Missouri Conservation Commission selected Pauley as the permanent director.

“As a lifelong conservationist, hunter, and outdoorswoman, Sara Parker Pauley appreciates and understands the value of Missouri’s fish, forest, and wildlife resources,” says Conservation Commission Chair Dave Murphy. “Sara has a breadth of experience and a proven track record of success to lead the Department.”

Since December 2010, Pauley has served as the Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Pauley previously worked as a project manager for D.J. Case & Associates, a natural resources communications firm. She worked with federal and state agencies on policy development, marketing, and environmental compliance. From 2001 to 2005, Pauley served as the deputy director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. She also served as chief of staff to former Missouri House Speaker Steve Gaw.

Pauley, a native of Columbia, has been an executive committee and board member of the Conservation Federation of Missouri. She was a member of the board of the American National Fish & Wildlife Museum, where she served as director of conservation programs. She has published a number of articles on wildlife and natural resources management.

“I look forward to this opportunity the Commission has entrusted me with,” Pauley says. “I began my career working for the Department and I look forward to working with the staff, dedicated volunteers, and committed partners to lead this agency into the future.”

Pauley replaces Robert Ziehmer, who resigned in July to work in the private sector. Tom Draper is serving as Interim Director. Pauley begins November 1.

(Missourinet) – The Monday night Schnucks union employee vote was an overwhelming rejection of the grocers latest contract offer to St. Louis area workers.

The 89 percent of employees who cast ‘no’ ballots not only shunned the three year agreement, they also authorized a strike.  Major concerns include potential cuts to pensions, lower salary caps for incoming employees and a more difficult path from part-time to full-time status.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 spokesperson Collin Reischman thinks it’s hard to overstate how bad the contract is.

“I have no qualms about saying on the record that, look, this is an atrocious contract,” said Reischman.  “It’s bad across the board. It’s far more bad than good. And I think that’s reflected by the huge vote we got.  When almost 90 percent of over 2,000 people that show up vote against it, that’s pretty resounding.  If somebody won the presidency by 89 percent, you’d be like, wow, that’s quite the mandate. It’s huge.”

1,934 of 2,194 casting ballots Monday voted no.

The rejected contract also would’ve capped paid vacation at two weeks for new hires, and would’ve potentially opened the door to the hiring of more non-union employees for management positions.

The union says it doesn’t want workers to strike immediately, but wants to keep its options open if expected upcoming negotiations fall through.

Company CEO Todd Schnuck claims the grocer wants to satisfy worker needs, but needs to stay competitive with the 580 non-union stores it competes against.

In a statement, Schnuck said, “As we’ve said before, taking care of our people and delivering the kind of shopping experience our customers want and deserve is what’s most important. Success in those two areas is what has made Schnucks the choice for our customers for more than 75 years, and it is how we will succeed going forward.”

The labor breakdown only affects 4,500 union Schnucks employees in the metro St. Louis area.

(Missourinet) – State Rep. Mike Kelley (R-Lamar) tells Missourinet he’s interested in filing a proposed constitutional amendment that would make daylight saving time the new standard time.

He says he will probably re-file the daylight saving time legislation, if he’s re-elected in November.

“There still seems to be a lot of interest, a lot of people support it. I think people are tired of the switch, it doesn’t serve a purpose in today’s society,” Kelley says.

Kelley has filed similar legislation three previous times. Under Kelley’s proposal, if voters approve the plan, Missourians would no longer change clocks in the fall and spring.

“You know, the country is in four different time zones. And our companies don’t just deal with people in Missouri. So obviously, they’re already used to dealing with different time zones and things and once people get used to it it’s just the new standard,” Kelley says.

Opponents worry about the potential impact on businesses near the state’s borders, if operating on a different time. During a February hearing at the Statehouse in Jefferson City, State Rep. Tracy McCreery (D-Olivette) said that the “vast majority of Missourians live along the border.”

Kelley also says the proposed constitutional amendment would reduce the number of vehicle crashes.

Kelley is seeking his fourth and final term in the Missouri House in November’s general election. He faces an independent challenger. He represents Barton, Cedar, Dade and Jasper counties in the House.

(Missourinet) – An anti-bullying measure is impacting operations in Missouri public schools.

Republican state Representative Sue Allen of Town and Country championed legislation which went into effect in the current school year.

The law modifies the definition of “bullying” to include intimidation, unwanted aggressive behavior, or harassment which interferes with education or school operations.

Allen contends the measure is centered on information about bullying, and how that information is communicated.

“There should be a significant awareness so that families know what to do,” said Allen. “And that’s the issue, is the parents, the students have some support in how to respond if they are being bullied, or if they see somebody being bullied.”

Allen is a pediatric physical therapist who’s worked extensively with public schools in St. Louis. She has firsthand experience with disabled kids being bullied, but says the mistreatment is widespread.

“I’ve had families whose daughters were cheerleaders, beautiful young women, good grades and everything, and they were bullied. So there is no specific child description, student, who is bullied.  It happens.”

Allen tried to push through anti-bullying legislation five times before a bill finally passed on the sixth try. She says it finally passed because its language was modified.

“We focused on the behavior of bullying as opposed to who is bullied, because nobody should be buried.”

Lawmakers approved the measure after wording to designate sexual orientation as a protected class was dropped.  Early on, the primary focus of the measure was to expand the enumerated category to include sexual orientation.

Another early version of the anti-bullying measure centered on allowing local districts more autonomy in developing procedures.  It also failed to get traction.

The new law requires each school district to include its anti-bullying policy in student handbooks and directs them to revise procedures when necessary. It also defines cyber-bullying and requires all policies to treat all students equally.

Beginning next school year, the measure calls for educators to receive training in youth suicide awareness and prevention. Allen says she’s heard from at least one district which has modified anti-bullying policies as a result of the law. Union schools in eastern Missouri has also changed its procedures.

Allen is in her final year in the Missouri House due to term limits. She hasn’t decided if she’ll seek election to the state Senate.

(Missourinet) – The state Transportation Department’s renewed an agreement with “sheltered workshops.”

Those organizations will continue providing janitorial services at state rest stops and welcome centers.

Sheltered workshops are non-profit businesses which employ people with disabilities who otherwise might not be able to find work.

Republican state Senator Dan Hegeman of Andrew County is a strong proponent of MoDOT’s ongoing relationship with the workshops.

“The Employees are eager and very friendly. They’re very accommodating to the travelers that come through, very welcoming. They maintain (the facilities) in an immaculate manner in my perception. I think they do a fantastic job.”

Hegeman says the workshops have supplied janitorial services at state rest areas for almost 30 years, although in recent times MoDOT has outsourced management of the facilities to third parties.

The new three year agreement for services goes into effect October 1st at a cost of slightly more than $19 million – $6.4 million per year with two options to renew for two years each without having to go through an evaluation process.

Hegeman contends sheltered workshops provide special opportunities for intellectually challenged people.

“Many of them get great satisfaction out of it,” said Hegeman.  “Many of the families and their communities support these sheltered workshops as well. And that’s why it’s so important to have this continued relationship with the Missouri Department of Transportation in maintaining these travel centers.”

MoDOT works with two outside companies who employ the disabled workers to supply janitorial services. Infrastructure Corporation of America handles the western half of the state, while DeAngelo Brothers LLC is charged with maintaining facilities in the eastern portion of Missouri.

The workers are dispatched to take care of eight rest area locations as well as seven welcome centers and eleven truck parking facilities that have bathrooms. The welcome centers are also staffed with personnel from the state Division of Tourism.

Rest areas and welcome centers are spaced out in distances of 50-to-75 miles apart on five major Interstate Highways in Missouri – I-70, I-44, I-55, I-29 and I-35.

Missouri has 89 non-profit sheltered workshops statewide which employ 7,500 people. Senator Hegeman thinks the disabled workers are well served by these operations.

“It’s a great place for these people to go and congregate, and join together in doing something productive for their community. It also provides great meaning to the clients as they work toward a satisfying goal of producing a product.”

Sheltered workshops aren’t without critics. Opponents say the disabled workers are underpaid and are better served when employed in traditional workplaces.  A number of states have phased them out.