(AP) – A mid-Missouri man accused of killing his grandmother will be given more time to undergo a mental evaluation.
Callaway County judge Kevin Crane on Monday granted the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s request for another 30 days to complete an evaluation for 19-year-old Ryan Koebel.
Koebel is charged with first-degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action and three counts of assaulting a law enforcement officer. Prosecutors say he stabbed and shot his grandmother, Karen Cates, in January 2012 at their Holts Summit home. After he left the house, Koebel allegedly pointed a gun at drivers and at law enforcement officers.
Another case review is scheduled March 7. Koebel is scheduled to be tried May 12.
Northwest Missouri State University’s Student Activities Council will host legendary rapper, political activist, author, publisher, radio show host and producer Chuck D for its next SAC Speaks lecture.
Chuck D will speak at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom. The lecture is free and open to the public.
“We chose Chuck D because of the diversity he offers,” said Emily Doss, SAC’s director of lecture programming. “He’s a hip hop legend who is knowledgeable on a variety of topics. He will address major issues like technology, politics, rap and soul music, and race in America. His lecture will benefit the audience as he gives emphasis to the intersection of popular culture and politics.”
Chuck D co-founded the renowned rap group Public Enemy. In 1987, the group redefined rap music and hip hop culture by releasing its first album, “Yo Bum Rush the Show.” The album broke boundaries by describing the realities facing black people in the late 20th century. Today, the group continues to stress the importance of history and self-determination.
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine named Public Enemy “one of the 50 most important performers in rock ‘n’ roll history.” In 2007, Ebony magazine included Chuck D as one of its 100 most influential black Americans. Last year, Public Enemy was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Chuck D has been featured or included in more than 50 documentaries about music, technology, politics and race. He has appeared in several public service announcements advocating for national peace and the Partnership for a Drug Free America. He has also been a spokesperson for Rock the Vote, National Urban League, Americans for the Arts Council and the National Alliance for African-American Athletes.
In the past five years, Chuck D has hosted Air America’s On the Real/Off the Record, interviewing important musical and political figures. He continues to make music and write about technology, politics, rap and soul music, and race in the U.S.
(AP) — A judge has withdrawn guilty pleas entered by a Kansas City woman accused of locking her severely malnourished daughter in a closet.
The mother pleaded guilty in January to felony child abuse, child endangerment and assault charges in the abuse of her 10-year-old daughter.
The Associated Press is not naming the woman to protect the child’s identity.
On Monday, Jackson County Circuit Judge John Torrence withdrew the woman’s guilty pleas. He said she had contacted him and The Kansas City Star in January to say she didn’t mean to plead guilty to two of the three felonies. She said her public defender forced her into the plea deal.
Torrence said the case will be put back on the court docket for a jury trial.
BEAVER CREEK, Colo. (AP) — A Missouri oil tycoon has died after he was found unresponsive on a Beaver Creek ski slope.
Vail Resorts says Gary Parker, a 64-year-old oil entrepreneur, was skiing on an intermediate run in Beaver Creek’s Larkspur Bowl on Friday when the ski patrol was called to the scene because Parker was unresponsive.
It was unclear whether his death was related to skiing injuries or another condition and resort officials would not comment.
Parker was CEO of G.P. & W. Inc., which does business as Center Oil and Center Ethanol companies in St. Louis and is one of the community’s largest privately held companies.
Parker is survived by his wife, Karman, and their six children.
(AP) – The Missouri University of Science and Technology has received approval to add a doctoral program in explosives engineering.
The Rolla school said Tuesday that the decision was made by the state Coordinating Board for Higher Education.
Missouri S&T says it was the first U.S. university to offer undergraduate and post-graduate minors in the field in 2005. In 2010, the university added a master’s degree to its explosives engineering program.
Explosives engineers work in the mining, construction and demolition industries, among others.
Gov. Nixon getting a refresher on the Krebs cycle in Savannah High’s college biology class
Good schools are vital to Missouri’s ability to compete and create jobs in the global economy, Gov. Jay Nixon said Tuesday, during a visit to Savannah High School. Gov. Nixon and Missouri Agriculture Director Richard Fordyce visited Savannah to visit with area FFA students and discuss “Good Schools, Good Jobs,” which will provide the resources to help the Savannah R-III School District expand technology in the classroom, and fully fund the state’s K-12 foundation formula by Fiscal Year 2016.
“From our smallest towns to our biggest cities, it’s clear that creating good jobs starts with investing in good schools,” Gov. Nixon said. “That’s why my Good Schools, Good Jobs plan will provide local schools with the resources they need to prepare students to compete in the global economy. With Missouri’s economy picking up steam and our unemployment rate continuing to drop, the best way to build on this momentum is to invest in our students and our schools.”
Gov. Nixon’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget proposal includes an increase of $278 million for K-12 classrooms, putting the state on a path to fully funding the foundation formula in two years. The K-12 foundation formula, passed into law in 2005, establishes the state’s funding level for K-12 schools. This would increase funding for Savannah public schools by more than $840,000, which the district will use to expand students’ access to technology, make WiFi available at additional school buildings, and make targeted investments to attract and retain quality teachers.
“Savannah Schools have a tradition of high academic standards and a focus on individual students’ success,”said Dr. DavidBrax, Savannah Schools Superintendent. “The Governor’s proposal to put Missouri on a path to fully funding our schools will allow districts like Savannah to continue preparing students for 21stcentury careers by putting better technology and great teachers in every classroom.”
Gov. Nixon has made public education in Missouri a top priority of his administration. Math and reading scores have increased on his watch and Missouri’s high school graduation rate is now the eighth highest in the nation. Over the past five years, Missouri has also led the nation in minimizing tuition increases at its public universities.
Graves et al. letter to DOL re small farms- Click for a closer look
After the Department of Labor announced that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) withdrew its controversial enforcement guidance regarding small family farms, Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) issued the following statement:
“As one of the few farmers left in Congress, I constantly see the disconnect between Washington bureaucrats and America’s farm families,” said Congressman Graves. “If the Department of Labor had maintained its controversial policy, it would have meant a dramatic intrusion into family farms and overturning 35 years of established precedent. The administration made the right call by backing off.”
BACKGROUND: Since 1971, OSHA has been responsible for enforcing federal workplace safety and health standards. However, since 1978, Congress has adopted statutory language preventing OHSA from inspecting farms with 10 or fewer employees. This policy has been signed into law by presidents of both parties dating back to the Carter administration.
In 2011, without any public notice or review, the Obama administration released guidance that redefined “farming operations” in order to allow OSHA inspectors onto family farms, once again circumventing both the law and the will of Congress. Congressman Graves joined a number of his colleagues in raising concerns over this policy to the Department of Labor. That letter may be viewed here.
Late yesterday, the Congressmen received a response noting the withdrawal of the guidance, which may be viewedhere.
Shaylin Miller sings the national anthem at Chief Master Sgt. Randy Miller’s assumption of authority ceremony at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, Mo., Feb. 8, 2014. Miller assumed authority of the 139th Airlift Wing’s highest enlisted position, command chief master sergeant. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Theo Ramsey/Released)
Chief Master Sgt. Randy Miller has assumed authority over the 139th Airlift Wing’s enlisted force. A weekend ceremony was held signaling his selection to the position of command chief master sergeant.
Col. Ralph Schwader, commander of the 139th Airlift Wing, officiated the ceremony, and Miller’s daughter, Shaylin Miller, sang the national anthem.
Miller called for personal accountability as his primary message to the Wing.
“You need to know when your next promotion is coming, so you are never caught off guard and there are no excuses,” said Miller.
A native of Mound City, Mo., Miller enlisted in 1984 and has deployed three times during his career including Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom.
(AP) – A Missouri Senate committee has endorsed a constitutional amendment that would protect legislative oversight of proposed rules and regulations.
Oversight of state agency proposals already exists under current law, but the measure adopted by the rules committee Tuesday would place that procedure in the Missouri Constitution.
Lawmakers can reject proposed executive department regulations by passing a resolution that is also signed by the governor. The proposed amendment would take the governor out of the process, but require the Legislature to block a regulation by a three-fifths vote.
Action on the measure comes as lawmakers are considering whether to block a proposed Agriculture Department rule to allow gas stations to sell fuel with a higher ethanol blend.
The amendment would also need to be approved by Missouri voters in November.
A driver was injured in a late night crash in Clay County.
According to the Missouri State Highway patrol 43-year-old Wayne Walker of Gladstone was driving a 2000 Chevy Cavalier north on I-435 at I-35 just before midnight Tuesday. Walker swerved to avoid a prior crash that was blocking the highway.
He lost control and hit the concrete barrier. Walker was transported to North Kansas City Hospital. He was wearing a seat belt.
(AP) – A mid-Missouri man accused of killing his grandmother will be given more time to undergo a mental evaluation.
