OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A monthly economic index for nine Midwestern and Plains states has inched up again, suggesting more economic growth over the next three to six months.

A report issued Tuesday says the overall Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose to 60.6 in June from 60.5 in May, hitting another three-year high.

Looking six months ahead, the business confidence portion of the overall index rose to 63.6 from 62.5 in May.

The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth, while a score below that suggests decline.

The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

By KHI News Service
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City (HCF) is seeking applicants for its 2014 Healthy Communities Leadership Academy. Qualified individuals and agencies should be working toward creating environments that support healthy eating and physical activities and reduce exposure to tobacco.

The Leadership Academy was developed by HCF in 2013 to develop local expertise to effect changes in policy and community environments for the uninsured and underserved.

“HCF is committed to support equity-focused efforts that mobilize communities to change their policies, systems and environments to improve access to healthy eating, active living and reduce exposure to tobacco,” said Adriana Pecina, HCF program officer. “The goal of our Healthy Communities Leadership Academy is to build community capacity as we continue to work toward policy and system changes.”

The yearlong leadership academy will help participants deepen their knowledge, understanding and practice in four areas: civic leadership, healthy eating and active lifestyles (HEAL) policy and system change, community collaboration and resource leveraging.

“Although the focus of this academy is on the individual, participants are expected to bring what they learn back to their organization and community,” said Brenda Calvin, HCF program officer.

Those interested are encouraged to learn more about the Healthy Communities Leadership Academy or apply by noon July 31. For more information, call (816) 241-7006.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri home health care workers could be affected by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on union fees in Illinois.

The high court ruled Monday that Illinois workers who provide home care to disabled people through the Medicaid program cannot be compelled to pay fees to unions. A union there had collecting so-called “fair share” fees from nonmembers to cover their collective bargaining costs.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Former Kansas Lt. Gov. Gary Sherrer is comparing Democratic gubernatorial candidate Paul Davis to former Republican Gov. Bill Graves.

The Davis campaign announced Monday that Sherrer would serve as one of its two senior economic advisers. Sherrer is a lifelong Republican who served as lieutenant governor under Graves from 1996 to 2003.

Graves served two terms as governor from 1995 to 2003.

Sherrer said Davis will approach economic policy calmly and responsibly. Sherrer was critical of the personal income tax cuts championed by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

Brownback has said the income tax cuts are boosting the economy.

The Davis campaign’s other senior economic adviser is former Lt. Gov. John Moore, who served as a Democrat with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius from 2003 to 2007.

WASHINGTON – Following today’s announcement by Kenneth Feinberg about a new victim compensation plan for General Motors (GM) in relation to the defective ignition switches linked to at least 13 deaths, including a fatality in Missouri-U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, Chairman of the Consumer Protection Subcommittee, released the following statement:

“I’ll be closely reviewing Mr. Feinberg’s plan, but this is a necessary step on the road toward full accountability at General Motors. I’m hopeful that the new compensation program will help bring some closure and relief to victims and families affected by the failures of GM that took many lives, and forever changed many more. And we continue to lay the groundwork for a Senate hearing in July to address unanswered questions, and keep pressure on GM leadership and federal regulators to prevent these needless tragedies in the future.”

Earlier this month, GM released the results of an internal investigation conducted by former U.S. Attorney Anton Valukas. McCaskill announced plans to hold a follow-up hearing this summer, as she reviews the internal report. The hearing will be in July.

Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that GM agreed to pay a record $35 million civil penalty and comply with additional oversight requirements as a result of findings from NHTSA’s timeliness investigation regarding the defective switches. As part of the settlement, set forth in a Consent Order signed with NHTSA, GM agreed to provide NHTSA with full access to the results of GM’s internal investigation into this recall, to take steps to ensure its employees report safety-related concerns to management, and to speed up the process for GM to decide whether to recall vehicles.

McCaskill had previously responded to GM’s decision to put two engineers on leave as the company was conducting the internal investigation. Following the announcement, GM indicated that employees Gary Altman and Ray DeGiorgio are among those who have been dismissed from the company. DeGiorgio is the engineer who GM CEO Mary Barra acknowledged-during questioning from McCaskill-may have lied under oath about ordering replacement switches in 2006 without properly reporting.

McCaskill grilled witnesses at a hearing in her Consumer Protection Subcommittee in April about GM’s decisions over more than 10 years to not issue a safety recall-despite the fact that engineers discovered the problem in 2004-and questioned whether NHTSA has the capability, data, and resources to effectively monitor vehicle safety defects.

Individuals who were the driver, a passenger, a pedestrian, or the occupant of another vehicle in an accident involving a vehicle subject to GM’s ignition switch recall should consult www.gmignitioncompensation.com to determine whether they might be eligible to file a claim. Legal representatives of those who died in such an accident are also eligible. Claims can be filed beginning August 1, 2014 and must be submitted no later than December 31, 2014.

DETROIT (AP) — Chrysler says it’s adding about 696,000 minivans and SUVs to a 2011 ignition-switch recall.

The latest recall covers some Dodge Journey SUVs and Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan minivans from the 2007 to 2009 model years.

But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the recall doesn’t address its concerns about the switch problem stopping the air bags from inflating in a crash. The agency has asked Chrysler for more information.

Chrysler recalled 196,000 Journeys, Caravans and Town & Countrys in March of 2011 because the ignition keys could unexpectedly move from “run” to “accessory” and shut down the engine. This can knock out the power steering and disable air bags. Dealers will replace ignition modules.

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Kansas Highway Patrol

From Tuesday through July 10, the Kansas Highway Patrol will conduct a texting-enforcement initiative. Troopers will be out looking for drivers who are violating Kansas’ texting law and will be citing those observed in violation. The Kansas law states on a wireless device, drivers may not manually type, send or read a written communication, including, but not limited to, a text message, instant message or email.

According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, texting while driving creates a crash risk 23 times greater than driving while not distracted. In 2012, an estimated 421,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, this reflects a nine percent increase from the estimated 387,000 people injured in 2011. The Kansas Highway Patrol and local law enforcement enforce the texting law throughout the year, but this holiday period, the KHP will place a special emphasis focused on locating those texting while driving.

With the Fourth of July holiday, many motorists will be traveling across the nation. The KHP will be out actively looking for impaired drivers. With many celebrations across the state, drivers should make sure they are designating a sober driver. The patrol would also like to remind motorists to wear their seat belts and use the correctly fitted child safety seats, as they are the best defense should you be involved in a crash.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Widespread rainfall over several days in the past week has slowed the Kansas winter wheat harvest and caused some hail damage to crops in the northwest part of the state.

The National Agricultural Statistics Serve reported Monday that 40 percent of the wheat crop has now been cut, well behind the average of 66 percent in late June.

About 84 percent of the wheat has matured and is ready to cut.

The agency reports that weeds in standing wheat were becoming such a big problem that some farmers are spraying.

The condition of wheat still in the field continues to deteriorate, with 61 percent reported in poor to very poor shape. About 27 percent is rated as fair, 11 percent as good and 1 percent excellent.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court has set an Aug. 6 execution for a St. Louis area man convicted of raping and killing a neighbor nearly two decades ago.

Michael Shane Worthington was sentenced to death for the September 1995 slaying of 24-year-old college student Melinda Griffin at her Lake St. Louis condominium. According to court records, Worthington took drugs before cutting through a screen window at Griffin’s home and attacking her.

The court set the execution date Monday. Missouri has executed seven inmates since last November and is also scheduled to administer a lethal injection July 16 to inmate John Middleton.