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Chrysler recalls SUVs for air bag defect

RecallDETROIT (AP) — Chrysler is recalling 184,215 SUVs worldwide because a wiring problem could disable their air bags and seat belt pretensioners.

The recall involves the 2014 model year Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Most are in the U.S., but 57,443 SUVs are in Canada, Mexico and elsewhere.

Chrysler says a short circuit in the restraint control module could cause the air bag warning lamps to illuminate. If that happens, the air bags and seat belt pretensioners may not work. Pretensioners tighten belts during a crash to hold occupants in place.

Chrysler says it’s unaware of any injuries related to the problem.

Ford recalled 850,000 vehicles last month for the same issue. Both companies used restraint control modules made by auto supplier Bosch.

Chrysler dealers will replace the modules for free.

Facebook CEO, wife donate $25M to CDC for Ebola

Screen Shot 2014-10-14 at 9.27.45 AMNEW YORK (AP) — Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, are donating $25 million to the CDC Foundation to help address the Ebola epidemic.

The money will be used by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Ebola response effort in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and elsewhere in the world where Ebola is a threat, the foundation said Tuesday.

The grant follows a $9 million donation made by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen last month. Zuckerberg and Chan are making the grant from their fund at the nonprofit Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

Supreme Court rejects appeal over memo on phone call records

cell phone textingWASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won’t hear an appeal from a civil liberties group that wants to make public an internal Justice Department memo that allows the FBI to informally obtain phone records.

The justices on Tuesday let stand an appeals court ruling that said the Justice Department could refuse to release the 2010 memo under an exception to the Freedom of Information Act.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation argued that the public has a right to see how the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel authorized the FBI to access phone call records from telephone companies for terrorism investigations.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said the memo was part of the government’s internal deliberations and therefore exempt from disclosure.

Nondiscrimination ordinance approved in Springfield

gender gay lesbian LGBTSPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — After years of debate, the Springfield City Council has approved a bill that expands the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance to include protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.

The council voted 6-3 Monday to pass the stronger of two proposed ordinances on the issue. The change, which prohibits discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations, takes effect immediately.

The Springfield News-Leader reports the weaker bill would have provided protections for housing and requested more study on discrimination in employment and public accommodations.

Calvin Morrow, spokesman for an opposition group called Springfield Citizens United, said an effort would begin immediately to gather signatures for a referendum petition that, if successful, would put the issue to a public vote.

Baby wipes recall

Screen Shot 2014-10-14 at 8.12.44 AMIn an email, Sam’s Club is alerting customers that their Simply Right baby wipes were being pulled from shelves for contamination.

Our supplier, Nutek Disposables, Inc., has advised us that some Simply Right branded baby wipes offered for sale at Sam’s Clubs beginning June 30th of this year may be contaminated with B. cepacia bacteria.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, this bacteria “poses little medical risk to healthy people. However, people who have certain health problems like weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases, particularly cystic fibrosis may be more susceptible to infections with B. cepacia.”

Tuesday is voter registration deadline in Kansas

test vote exam TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Time is running out for Kansas residents to register to vote in the Nov. 4 elections.

The deadline is Tuesday, one day before advance voting begins in some of the state’s 105 counties.

People can register using a paper form, either printed from the Kansas secretary of state’s website or obtained from a county election office. They also can register online through a site operated by the secretary of state and the Kansas Department of Revenue.

Applications can be submitted in person to county election offices before the close of business or faxed, mailed or emailed by midnight Tuesday.

Kansas residents registering to vote for the first time must submit a birth certificate, a passport or other proof of their U.S. citizenship.

Kansas State to end equestrian, add women’s soccer

Screen Shot 2014-10-14 at 7.23.33 AMMANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State University plans to drop equestrian as a sponsored sport and replace it with women’s soccer.

The university announced Monday the equestrian team will compete through 2016. The women’s soccer program will start in 2017.

The university said fewer than 40 NCAA institutions sponsor equestrian as a sport and only 19 are Division I schools.

Athletic director John Currie said equestrian is no longer projected to count as one of the NCAA’s approved school-sponsored varsity programs. He says the Kansas State needs to sponsor 16 varsity programs to remain a Division 1 FBS program.

Kansas State is the only Big 12 school without a women’s soccer program.

In 14 years of competition, the school’s equestrian program won five individual national titles and three team Reserve National Championships.

 

Mo. man killed in bicycle accident

FatalJefferson City- A Missouri man was killed in an accident just before 6 p.m. on Monday in Cole County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported Christopher T. Gill, 21, Jefferson City, was riding his bike in the ditch along Heritage Highway just north of Wheat Lane.

The bicycle entered the road and was struck by 1998 Chevy Blazer driven by Jeffery L. Thompson, 46, Jefferson City.

Gill was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Houser-Millard Funeral Home.

Topeka will vote on future of Heartland Park

Screen Shot 2014-10-14 at 6.19.51 AMTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Topeka residents apparently will vote on the city’s plan to buy the Heartland Park racing park.

Shawnee County election commissioner Andrew Howell said Monday a petition drive to put the issue to a vote collected more than the 2,132 valid signatures needed to force a vote on the issue.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports  city officials will schedule the election after wording and other legal requirements are met.

Organizers of the petition drive want to overturn the city governing body’s vote to buy the financially troubled racing facility and expand its redevelopment district. They contend it’s not a financially good deal for the city.

City officials say buying Heartland Park would help address the need to cover about $8 million in STAR bond debt on the property.

 

Despite tragedy, annual boat race sets fundraising high

Lake of the OzarksCAMDENTON (AP) – An annual boat race at Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks has set a new fundraising high for area charities.

The Lake Sun Leader in Camdenton reports the August event raised $125,000, about $10,000 more than the record set last year.

The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout started in 1988 as a fundraiser for area fire departments to buy water rescue equipment. It’s grown over the years to become one of the nation’s largest unsanctioned boat races.

This year’s event was marred by tragedy. Racer Mike Fiore, of Rhode Island, died from injuries he suffered when his boat flipped several times while traveling over 140 mph.

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