WASHINGTON – Former sex crimes prosecutor and U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today released the following response to the release of an independent report into the circumstances surrounding the death of former MU student-athlete Sasha Menu Courey:

“This report sets out in stark terms that the University must do better. Clearly the University wanted the unvarnished truth about their shortcomings, which is laudable. Now it’s time to get to work and make the University a model for victim support and accountability for thorough investigations.”

Menu Courey’s story was publicized after an ESPN Outside the Lines report earlier this year.

Earlier this week, McCaskill met with the leaders of the Civil Rights divisions of the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education, to continue laying the groundwork for her effort to curb sexual assaults on college campuses. McCaskill has also requested from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan specific information and data, including how the federal government oversees reporting by colleges and universities, written guidance provided to colleges and universities and local law enforcement, information on any training provided to colleges and universities, enforcement actions by the federal government, and data on how many sexual assault cases are adjudicated administratively by universities versus how many are prosecuted in the local criminal justice system.

COLUMBIA (AP) – Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and state Rep. Chris Kelly are scheduled to debate the future of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports the debate is set for May 3 at the Shannon County Courthouse.

The National Park Service issued options for a draft management plan last year. The preferred plan would close unauthorized horse trails and ban the use of motors on some river stretches. That sparked discussions of whether land should remain in federal hands or become part of the state park system.

The Kelly-Kinder debate sprang from a Twitter exchange when Kinder called for state control. Kelly says that would mean going “back the way it was with Dodge trucks caught in the rootwads. The oil in the wa\

BETSY BLANEY, Associated Press

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — The highest beef prices since 1987 are hitting the pocketbooks of home cooks and restaurant owners.

A dwindling number of cattle and growing export demand have tightened the supply and caused the average retail cost of fresh beef to climb to $5.28 a pound in February — 24 cents higher than January.

Prices likely will stay high for a couple of years as cattle producers start to rebuild their herds. Those in the in the Southwest and Midwest will need enough rain to replenish parched pastures.

Some shoppers are turning to chicken or pork, though those prices are on the rise as well.

Some independent restaurants have hiked their menu prices or switched to smaller steaks. An economics professor says chain restaurants combat the price spike by buying in bulk.

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Several vehicles on south Kansas City interstates have been shot at since last month, but it hasn’t seemed to have rattled area drivers.

Thirteen shootings have been reported since March 8, most of them in an area on the city’s south side known both as Three Trails Crossing and the Grandview Triangle. It’s where three interstate highways and U.S. 50 intersect.

Police said on Friday that 12 of the shootings are connected, but didn’t say how. Three people have been wounded, but none of the injuries are life-threatening.

A reward for information leading to an arrest is up to $10,000.

Roger Oatman, of Belton, says his daily commute involves more than 30 miles, including passing through the Grandview Triangle. He said Friday he doesn’t intend to change his route.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Purple Heart medal and other items belonging to a Kansas soldier killed in World War II has been returned to his family.

Purple Hearts Reunited presented the medal awarded decades ago to PFC Alvie Leroy Scott to his niece, Mary Strotkamp, during a ceremony Saturday at the Liberty Memorial.

Scott, who was born in Harvey County, Kan., was serving with the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division, when he was killed Jan. 24, 1945, during battle in Belgium. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, and also had been awarded several other honors, including the Bronze Star.

Scott’s medals were found at an antique store in New York. Vermont-based Purple Hearts Reunited bought the medals and other items and returned them to Strotkamp, who lives in Centralia, Kan.

 

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – A former aide to Rick Santorum’s presidential campaign is the new executive director of the Missouri Republican Party.

Matt Wills said Friday that he was chosen to succeed Shane Schoeller, who resigned from the state party to run for the Greene County clerk’s office.

Wills had served as communications director for the Missouri Republican Party since June. He was the southeastern regional political director for Santorum’s 2012 presidential campaign and later served as the political director of Santorum’s political action committee, Patriot Voices.

Wills said he wants to strengthen the Republicans’ get-out-the-vote efforts and expand the database of voter information that is available to Republican candidates.

KHI News Service
April 11, 2014

One person was injured in a Friday evening motorcycle accident in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol Reports a 1998 Harley Davidson driven by Justin T. Knapp, 20, Trenton was east bound on Mo. 190 five miles west of Chillicothe. The motorcycle skidded and overturned ejecting the driver.  Knapp was transported to Hedrick Medical Center.

The MSHP reports Knapp was wearing a helmet.