FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (AP) – An Army staff sergeant based in Missouri is accused of sexually assaulting several female soldiers since 2011.

The Washington Post reports (http://wapo.st/1nEE09S ) that Staff Sgt. Angel M. Sanchez appeared at a pretrial hearing at Fort Leonard Wood on Wednesday and could face a court-martial later this year.

Military prosecutors allege that Sanchez used his position as a drill sergeant on the Army post to threaten some of the women he’s accused of assaulting.

Tiffany Wood, a Fort Leonard Wood spokeswoman, says Sanchez is accused of sexually assaulting four women and assaulting eight others by touching them inappropriately.

Several of the women testified at Wednesday’s hearing. Sanchez’s lawyer, Ernesto Gapasin, told the paper “there are a lot of issues with the credibility of the witnesses and the government’s case.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – A Kansas City family whose son was fatally shot by police says the Iraqi War veteran would still be alive if he had received prompt attention from the local veterans’ hospital.

Issac Sims was fatally shot Sunday after a five-hour standoff with police sparked by an argument with his father. The Kansas City Star (http://bit.ly/1jwwdW5 ) reports officers were called to the 26-year-old former paratrooper’s home after he started firing shots inside and outside of the residence.

Adrian Sims says he informed officers that his son suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and told them not to shoot him.

Patricia Sims says her son was ordered by a court into treatment at the VA Medical Center in Kansas City but was told the hospital wouldn’t have a bed for 30 days.

MONETT, Mo. (AP) – A chemical discharge from a Tyson Foods plant in southwest Missouri disrupted a wastewater treatment plant and killed hundreds of fish, leaving a foul smell over the region.

Skip Schaller, superintendent of Monett’s utilities, says the problem began on May 16 when a chemical compound called Alimet was discharged from Tyson’s pre-treatment plant. Although Tyson captured most of the chemical, some of it made it to Monett’s wastewater plant and killed bacteria there. Some of the contaminated water then went into Clear Creek.

The Monett Times reports all the fish in the creek between Monett and Pierce City died, leaving a foul smell over the area for several days.

Schaller says tests indicate the chemical is gone and the city’s plant is again working as it should.

Jefferson City, MO–Gov. Jay Nixon has  appointed Janette Kay Rodecap, of Kansas City, as Associate Circuit Judge for the Sixteenth Circuit in Jackson County. Rodecap will fill the vacancy created by the death of the Honorable Margaret Sauer.

Rodecap is a Trial Team Leader in the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office prosecuting homicides, sex crimes and drug and property crimes. Previously, Rodecap has been assigned to other critical posts in the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, including the Special Victims Unit and Street Crimes Unit. Prior to joining the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, Rodecap clerked for United States District Court Judge Nanette Laughrey. Rodecap obtained her Juris Doctor with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law, and undergraduate degree from Northwestern University.

“Janette Rodecap’s depth of experience and strong leadership skills will serve her well in her new role as Associate Circuit Judge,” Gov. Nixon said. “I am pleased to appoint her to the bench where she will continue her distinguished career and service to the citizens of Jackson County.”

Rodecap was one of three applicants submitted to the Governor for consideration by the Sixteenth Circuit Judicial Commission under the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan.

WASHINGTON – The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved a provision by U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill to require TRICARE-health insurance provided to members of the military and their families-to cover breastfeeding equipment, such as breast pumps, along with support and counseling, as required by most health plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The move comes as more than 50 groups, including the National Women’s Law Center, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Academy of Nursing recently endorsed the legislation. Full text of the letter can be found HERE.

“This legislation would ensure that military families have breastfeeding coverage that is similar to the coverage provided in most private health plans,” read a statement from the groups. “Most importantly, this improvement would support these women’s efforts to successfully breastfeed and enable women and their infants to benefit from the positive health outcomes related to breastfeeding.”

“As someone who was a single, working mother, I know firsthand the importance of comprehensive, affordable healthcare when caring for a new child,” said McCaskill, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee. “New mothers in the military and military spouses deserve access to the same high standard of services we’ve achieved in the civilian sector under the health care law, and I’m glad my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have moved this commonsense legislation a step closer to the finish line.”

The National Military Family Association has also endorsed McCaskill’s bill.

Currently, as part of breastfeeding support, the ACA requires insurance plans to cover breast pump rental or provide breast pumps for new moms, as well as lactation counseling and support.

With TRICARE, members of the military and military spouses are left to pay the full costs out of pocket for these services. TRICARE benefits are not subject to the mandates of the ACA that affect private health insurance plans. As such, when the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) determined that breastfeeding equipment and support should be covered by health insurance companies under the provisions of the ACA, this requirement did not extend to TRICARE.

 OVERLAND PARK-Three children were hospitalized following a Wednesday accident in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported three vehicles were northbound on I-35 at 87^th Street in the #1 and #3 lanes.

Two vehicles slowed down with traffic to almost a complete stop.

A 1997 Toyota Camry driven by Katherine P. Hydeman, 19, Overland Park struck 2003 Toyota Corolla driven by Emily C. Lopez, 26, Kansas City, at a high rate of speed.

The Corolla turned clockwise. The Camry continued forward and struck a 2008 Mazda driven by Chavon A. Beason, 21, Raytown, Mo.,

Three children, under the age of 5, in the Camry were transported to Children’s Mercy South. The KHP reported Lopez was possibly injured but not transported for treatment. No other injures were reported.

The KHP said everyone was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers would create a permanent joint committee on the state’s criminal justice system under bills awaiting action by Gov. Jay Nixon.

The panel would review criminal laws, law enforcement, prison issues and state efforts related to terrorism and homeland security. The committee would include members of the House and Senate, with the state’s chief justice, the state auditor and the attorney general as ex officio members.

The Legislature approved a massive overhaul of Missouri’s criminal code during the session that ended May 16.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Republican delegation will visit Kansas City next week as the party continues to weigh possible locations for its 2016 presidential nominating convention.

Kansas City was chosen last week as one of four finalists for the convention, along with Cleveland, Denver and Dallas.

The Republican National Committee said its Site Selection Delegation will be in Kansas City for three days beginning June 4 to consider venues, hospitality, security and transportation. Members will also meet with local officials to discuss Kansas City’s bid.

The campaign to land the GOP convention has been a bistate effort. Donations totaling $260,000 were announced in April by officials of Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri; Johnson County, Kansas; and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.

By Dave Ranney
KHI News Service

TOPEKA — The father of a combat veteran who says that mental illness played a role in his son’s bad conduct discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps is asking Kansas legislators to introduce a bill aimed at reducing the likelihood that a mentally ill veteran would spend time in jail or prison instead of being treated.

“If you have mental illness and you happen to commit a crime, the judge in your case should have diversion as an option,” said Jim Brann a retired telecommunications executive from Overland Park. “The judge should be allowed to require you to get treatment and to take your medications. Jail shouldn’t be the only option.”

Earlier this year, legislators passed a House Bill 2655 which would allow an honorably discharged combat veteran convicted of a crime to “assert” that the combat experience and likely post-traumatic stress disorder were factors.

If these assertions are made, the court must then confirm or deny their validity. If they are confirmed, the judge may order the veteran to undergo inpatient or outpatient treatment instead of going to jail.

The new law, which takes effect July 1, would only apply in cases of lower-level crimes and would only apply to those who were honorably discharged.
I’m saying it should be applied to (bad conduct and) dishonorably discharged veterans as well,” Brann said.

Brann, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, spoke today at a meeting the Kansas Mental Health Coalition.

He said his youngest son, Billy, now 30, served two nine-month tours in Iraq and was in “extreme combat at Fallujah and Ramadi.”

He was given a bad conduct discharge in 2008.

“He and three other Marines smuggled drugs into Iraq,” Brann said. “And when they ran out of drugs, they stole morphine from a corpsman.”

Brann said his son’s actions stemmed in part from him being bipolar and having been in combat.

“He was self-medicating,” he said. “He has a lot of PTSD. He’s going through a lot of depression. When he looks in the mirror, he doesn’t like the person he sees.”

Brann said his son continued to use drugs after he left the service. He’s now an inmate at the Sedgwick County Jail.

“Ever since he left the Marine Corps, he’s been in and out of trouble with law enforcement,” Brann said, noting that his son is scheduled to be released on probation June 8.

He said the new law discriminates against mentally ill veterans whose aberrant behaviors led to bad conduct or dishonorable discharges.

“The law says the judge can divert you if you’ve been in combat and if you have PSTD, but only if you’re honorably discharged,” Brann said. “I’m saying it shouldn’t matter. My son was in some of the worst combat in Iraq, my son has PTSD, my son has a mental illness.”

Brann said he’s discussed his proposal with several legislators from Johnson County. Most, he said, appeared supportive.

Brann said he’s also asking legislators to require the state’s prisons and county jails to make mental health counseling and medication available to all inmates known to be mentally ill and upon release connect them with mental health services in their communities.

“I know we can’t make people go to counseling or take their medications,” he said. “But those services need to be there and a lot of times they’re not.”

Jeremy Barclay, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Corrections, said it wasn’t immediately clear how Brann’s proposal might affect the agency’s operations.

“The devil’s always in the details,” Barclay said. “We’re always supportive of recommendations for helping the mentally ill and, for that matter, veterans. It sounds like we’re already doing a lot of what he’s proposing. I’d have to see the bill before I could say much about it.”

During the coalition meeting, Gina Meier-Hummel, commissioner of community services and programs at the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, said the agency plans to launch a public awareness campaign on mental illness issues in September.