FERGUSON, Mo. (AP) — The city of Ferguson, Missouri, says it working hard to better connect with the community and learn from the “discord and heartbreak” that followed the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a police officer.

The St. Louis suburb put out a statement Tuesday saying that Mayor James Knowles III, members of the City Council and city employees have been meeting with residents, religious and elected leaders to address concerns raised following Brown’s death on Aug. 9. Officer Darren Wilson is on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

The statement from the city says it wants to get more black officers onto the police force, and to rebuild the West Florissant Avenue business district that has been ravaged by nightly confrontations between police and protesters.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State health officials say a man from Republic County has the first reported case of West Nile virus in Kansas this year.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment did not release any more information about the man in a news release Tuesday.

West Nile virus can be spread to people by infected mosquitoes but not from person to person.

Symptoms range from a slight headache and low-grade fever to swelling of the brain and in rare cases, death.

The state had 92 reported cases of West Nile last year. The health department says it is not found a positive mosquito sample in Kansas so far this year.

BRANSON (AP) – A Missouri State Highway Patrol report said a Tennessee man died when the scooter he was riding was hit near Branson late Monday night.

Joshua Wood, a 29-year-old man from Big Sandy, Tennessee, died Monday night in the collision on Highway 65 about a mile north of Branson.

The patrol said Wood was either slowing down or stopped on the highway when a Jeep Cherokee hit his scooter from behind. He died at the scene.

The driver of the Jeep was not injured.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson says a Mass for Peace and Justice will offer prayers for Ferguson, Missouri.

The mass is at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Cathedral Basilica. A collection will be taken to assist food pantries and parishes in the Ferguson area, and to help those affected by looting and property destruction.

The St. Louis suburb has been the site of sometimes violent protests since Aug. 9, when 18-year-old Michael Brown was killed by a police officer.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) released the following statement after his conversation with President Barack Obama today about the recent tragedy in Ferguson, Mo.:

“I spoke to President Obama today, and I plan to join Attorney General Holder along with Senator McCaskill in Ferguson on Wednesday.

“I explained to the president that I’ve been pleased with my conversations with the Attorney General and civil rights division regarding their helpful understanding that they aren’t taking over this investigation, but are conducting a parallel review of the events that led to Michael Brown’s death. I continue to believe that this is the best possible way to arrive at a transparent explanation that would be largely acceptable to all of those who have been impacted in the community by this tragedy.

“I’ve thought from the start that a parallel federal investigation into the death of Michael Brown is important. I also believe that our state and local elected officials have been given a responsibility by the people who they work for to get to the bottom of this tragedy. While the federal government can assist with that investigation, the federal government should not assume the state and local governments’ responsibilities.”

DETROIT (AP) — Recaro is recalling more than 39,000 child safety seats because they can let a child’s head move too far in a crash.

The recall covers ProSport model 385 seats made from June 16, 2010, to Jan. 31, 2013. The problem happens when the seats are installed with the lower latch anchors and without the top tether.

Recaro will notify owners and provide set of new instructions telling owners not to use the lower latch system with a child weighing 40 or more pounds. The company also will send a new instruction label for the seat.

The problem was discovered in testing by Recaro. The company says in documents sent to U.S. safety regulators that it cannot determine if the problem caused any injuries.

In addition, Brita is recalling approximately 242,500 children’s water filter bottles due to a possible laceration hazard.

The company said Tuesday that the lid of the hard-sided bottles can break into pieces with sharp points.

Brita has received 35 reports of lids breaking or cracking. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled bottles include a violet bottle with Dora the Explorer, a pink bottle with Hello Kitty, a blue bottle with SpongeBob Square Pants and a green bottle with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Each bottle has a Brita logo and white lid.

The bottles were sold online and at various retailers for about $13 to $19.

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the bottles and to contact Brita for a postage-paid shipping package to return the bottles for a full refund.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that former Mamtek CEO Bruce Cole committed fraud to obtain almost $1.3 million from bond funds that were to be used to build an artificial sweetener plant in Moberly.

In a ruling issued Friday, U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey rejected all claims raised by Cole and his wife, Nanette Cole, in a bankruptcy case. She ruled that $904,167 transferred to the Coles’ personal accounts and $360,000 sent overseas to Cole’s creditors must be repaid.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that Friday’s ruling focused on Bruce Cole’s obtaining money from a fund established with proceeds from the bonds.

MONETT (AP) – Tyson Foods is the subject of a federal criminal investigation of its role in the discharge of a food supplement into a southwest Missouri town’s wastewater treatment plant.

The Joplin Globe reports the discharge in May allegedly caused the wastewater plant in Monett to fail, leading to a fish kill in nearby Clear Creek, with more than 100,000 fish dying.

Tyson revealed the Environmental Protection Agency’s criminal investigation earlier this month in its quarterly notice to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said in a statement Monday that it is cooperating with the investigation.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has filed a six-count lawsuit against Tyson in connection to the discharge.

By KHI NEWS SERVICE

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City has awarded $711,452 in grants to 18 nonprofit organizations.

“We are proud to award these Applicant Defined Grants to support organizations in our service area who are working diligently to help eliminate barriers to quality health for the uninsured and underserved,” said Dr. Bridget McCandless, president and chief executive of the foundation.

Following are details about the grants:

Allen County — $2,475

To provide funds to produce a video for new Drug Court participants to view in order to help orient them to the program and allow the judge to have more significant courtroom interactions with them.

Community Mediation Center — $47,000

To support a mediation coordinator position and additional program evaluation.

Freewheels For Kids Inc. — $30,847

To support bike clubs for youth in Wyandotte County.

Gillis Center Inc. — $35,000

To support mental health services to uninsured Kansas City residents in the Northland.

Hope House Inc. — $20,000

To increase accessibility of Hope House’s campuses and facilities for domestic violence victims with physical disabilities.

Hope Network of Raytown — $20,400

To provide salary support for a nurse practitioner, part-time dentist and part-time hygienist who will provide services to the medically indigent population.

Humboldt school district — $37,000

To support a registered nurse position that will provide health care services to staff and students, including the uninsured and underserved.

Kansas City Kansas Community College — $45,000

To support the University of Kansas Medical Center Medical Camp and Internship program, which has been operating since 2010. Support of this program will help to ensure that more youth from under-resourced communities enter the health care workforce and are successful in their higher education.

Lee’s Summit Cares Inc. — $40,000

To support a mental health therapist position that will continue to provide on-site counseling services to students attending the four lowest-income schools in the Lee’s Summit school district.

Mattie Rhodes Center — $49,066

To help reduce the agency’s waiting list by increasing the number of student interns who will provide mental health services under the supervision of a full-time, clinically licensed social worker.

Mid America Chapter, National Multiple Sclerosis Society — $25,000

To support a navigator who will provide comprehensive social services to low-income people with multiple sclerosis.

Missouri Budget Project — $75,000

To support two advocacy staff positions to strengthen public policies that provide funding for health and mental health services.

Missouri Jobs with Justice — $40,000

To organize community support for economic justice, including access to quality, affordable health care.

NEWHOUSE Inc. — $48,787

To support a certified substance abuse counselor program for women and their children affected by domestic violence.

Operation Breakthrough Inc. — $22,877

To support conversion to an electronic mental health records system to assist with collecting, tracking and analyzing client data.

Oral Health Kansas Inc. — $45,000

To support advocacy, education and public awareness activities.

Rose Brooks Center Inc. — $68,000

To support trauma-informed therapeutic services for domestic violence survivors.

United Community Services of Johnson County — $60,000

To support staff, training and consulting costs related to integrating trauma-informed practices and policies.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State agriculture officials say new leadership, more money and increased scrutiny has improved the accuracy of heavy capacity scales.

The scales are used to weigh millions of dollars of goods every year in Kansas, including truckloads of scrap metal, recyclables and agricultural products.

In early 2013, state inspectors approved just 26 percent of the large scales they tested.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports almost 50 percent of the scales tested did not weigh accurately enough and others did not meet state specifications.

In the first half of fiscal year 2014, inspectors approved 45 percent of the scales they checked and only 27 percent were found to not be weighing accurately enough.

Kansas Agriculture Secretary Chad Bontrager noted the improvement but says he wants the progress to continue.