WASHINGTON —The 116th Congress was sworn in Thursday. The ceremony included Missouri’s new Junior Senator Josh Hawley.
I am honored to represent the state of Missouri in the US Senate! pic.twitter.com/vRMYBuDIIS
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) January 3, 2019
At the age of 39, Hawley is the youngest member of the U.S. Senate and the first new senator from Missouri in eight years. Roy Blunt, Missouri’s senior senator was elected in 2010.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Republican Eric Schmitt took the oath Thursday as Missouri’s attorney general, pledging to pursue issues such as the opioid epidemic and vowing that neither he nor his staff would use a message-deleting app on work phones.
The Attorney General’s Office is steeped with history. Being sworn in as the lawyer for 6M Missourians is the honor of a lifetime. I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me and I vow to uphold the rule of law and lead an office of integrity and professionalism. pic.twitter.com/oMkC5v5Yor
— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) January 3, 2019
Missouri Chief Justice Zel Fischer gave Schmitt, 42, the oath of office in the Jefferson City Supreme Court building as his wife and three children surrounded him.
“Now it is time to get to work, with the humility and conviction necessary to honor this office, and fight for all 6 million Missourians,” Schmitt said in prepared remarks.
Schmitt said he’ll focus on the opioid epidemic and supporting local prosecutors during his time in office.
He declined to comment when asked by a reporter whether he’ll continue investigations started by his predecessor, Josh Hawley, who is leaving to join the U.S. Senate after unseating Democrat Claire McCaskill in November.
Schmitt said no one in his office will use a message-deleting app called Confide on their work phones, and he’s encouraging staff not to use it on their personal phones either.
The app raised concerns about government transparency because staffers under former Gov. Eric Greitens, who resigned amid personal and political scandal in June, used it.
Schmitt also said there will be a “bright line” between his political campaign and official work by staffers, a response to pushback Hawley received for hiring political consultants who advised official staff.
When asked whether he plans to run to keep his seat in 2020, Schmitt said he’s “very focused on this job now.”
Schmitt served roughly two years as the state’s elected treasurer until Republican Gov. Mike Parson named him as Hawley’s replacement.
Hawley’s departure set off a chain reaction of vacancies. Parson just weeks ago named the next treasurer, state House Budget Chairman Scott Fitzpatrick, to fill Schmitt’s seat.
Fitzpatrick will be sworn in Jan. 14, a slight delay that will give him the chance to serve two four-year terms on top of the close to two years left of Schmitt’s term, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Under Missouri’s term limits, most statewide elected officials can only run for two terms. But state law allows appointees to run for two full terms if they serve less than two years in their appointed position.
Fitzpatrick told the newspaper that there were other factors aside from term limits that factored into the delayed start date, including reviewing his personal holdings and investments.
A man has been charged with felony assault after a shooting Sunday night injured one person.
According to the St. Joseph Police Department, the shooting occurred at 11 p.m. on Dec. 30th, in the 4000 block of East Ayrlawn Drive. Police say the shooting appeared to stem from a family dispute. One person was hit by a gunshot in the arm. They were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Cliff K. Lippwe, 41, of St. Joseph has been charged with third degree felony assault in relation to the shooting.
An arraignment is scheduled for Friday morning. Bond is set at $75,000.
For those already tired of the cold weather, don’t worry; the sun will dominate today into Saturday, ultimately helping lift our temperatures well above normal for early January for the weekend. However, by the end of the weekend, clouds and moisture will be streaming back into the region, likely bringing widespread rain to the area late Sunday night into Monday. Currently, temperatures for Sunday night into Monday look to keep all the precipitation as simple a cold rain. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 46. South southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 26. Southwest wind 3 to 6 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 53. West wind 3 to 6 mph.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 27. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 56. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52.
Sunday Night: A chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 51.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 48.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports eight people died in traffic crashes during the 2019 New Year’s holiday weekend.
Last year, there were seven fatalities. The 2019 New Year’s counting period ran from 6 p.m., Friday, December 28, 2018, through 11:59 p.m., Tuesday, January 1, 2019. The Highway Patrol investigated the following:
2019 New Year’s Holiday Traffic Statistics
Crashes ― 352
Injuries ― 112
Fatalities ― 7
DWI ― 127
The remaining fatality was investigated by the Columbia Police Department.
[Note: During the 2018 New Year’s counting period, the Patrol investigated 229 traffic crashes, which included 77 injuries and five of the seven fatalities. Troopers also arrested 129 people for driving while impaired during the 2018 New Year’s holiday. There were no boating crashes. No one drowned over the 2018 New Year’s counting period.]
One fatality occurred in each of the Troop A, Lee’s Summit, MO, Troop C, Weldon Spring, MO, Troop F, Jefferson City, MO, Troop G, Willow Springs, MO, Troop H, St. Joseph, MO, and Troop I, Rolla, MO, areas; two of the fatalities occurred in the Troop D, Springfield, MO, area.
One fatality occurred during the counting period on Friday, December 28, 2018. John R. Egly, 39, of Mountain View, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving ran off the roadway, overturned several times, then came to rest on its top. Egly was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Howell County on County Road 2790 west of Mountain View. Howell County Coroner Tim Cherry pronounced Egly dead at the scene.
No traffic fatalities occurred on Saturday, December 29, 2018.
Two fatalities occurred on Sunday, December 30, 2018. Amanda L. Keathley, 40, of Spickard, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving failed to negotiate a curve, left the roadway, struck a culvert, and overturned. Keathley was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle. The crash occurred in Ray County on Missouri Highway 13 at Missouri Route FF. Dr. Luis Robles pronounced Keathley dead at Ray County Memorial Hospital. The Ray County Fire and Emergency Medical Services also responded to the scene of the crash.
Savannah V. Green, 16, of Urbana, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving ran off the roadway and overturned. A passenger in Green’s vehicle sustained moderate injuries. Neither were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The crash occurred in Hickory County on County Road 302 northwest of Urbana. Dr. Riley pronounced Green dead at Citizens Memorial Hospital.
Three fatalities occurred on Monday, December 31, 2018. Jessica M. Vincent, 37, of Nixa, MO, died when the vehicle she was driving failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the center line, and struck another vehicle head-on. Vincent was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured; he was wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Christian County on Missouri Highway 14 west of Nixa. Dr. David Lee pronounced Vincent dead at Cox South Hospital.
Ramya Bharathi Bharathi Mohan, 34, of Eden Prairie, MN, died when the vehicle in which she was a passenger traveled off the east side of the roadway into the median and struck an emergency crossover. The vehicle became airborne, impacted the ground, and overturned multiple times before coming to rest on the roadway. Bharathi Mohan was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected from the vehicle. Another passenger sustained minor injuries; she was in a child safety seat. The driver was not injured; he was wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Daviess County on Interstate 35 at the 65.2-mile marker north of Cameron, MO. Daviess County Coroner David McWilliams pronounced Bharathi Mohan dead at the scene. Daviess County Fire and Daviess County Emergency Medical Services also responded to the scene.
Phillip E. Farrar Jr., 53, of Steelville, MO, was walking eastbound in the westbound lane of Missouri Highway 8 when he was struck by a vehicle. The driver and a passenger in the vehicle both sustained minor injuries in the crash; both were wearing a seat belt. The crash occurred in Crawford County on Missouri Highway 8 east of Steelville, MO. Crawford County Coroner Paul Hutson pronounced Farrar dead at the scene.
Two fatalities occurred on Tuesday, January 1, 2019. Andrew J. Lucas, 27, of Festus, MO, died when the vehicle he was driving crossed the center line and was struck by another vehicle. Both vehicles then traveled off the right side of the roadway. Lucas was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. The driver of the other vehicle was wearing a seat belt; he sustained moderate injuries. The crash occurred in Jefferson County on Mapaville Hematite Road north of Missouri Highway P. Emergency Medical Services personnel pronounced Lucas dead at the scene.
Jason Harvey, 44, of Lake Ozark, MO, died after he was struck by a vehicle while standing in the right lane of U.S. Highway 63 near Prathersville Road in Columbia, MO. The driver of the vehicle that struck Harvey was not injured in the crash. The Columbia Police Department investigated the crash.
St. Joseph police are investigating after an overnight shooting sent one person to the hospital.
According to police, the shooting occurred sometime after midnight in the 1100 block of South 18th.
One person was injured and transported to Mosaic Life Care for treatment of what police say appeared to be serious injuries.
Police are still investigating and no one is in custody at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.
Deputy Nicholas Leadbetter has been assigned as K-9 handler for the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).
According to a LCSO press release, Deputy Leadbetter has been working with Zaki since Deputy Mueller announced his resignation in December.
According to Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox, “Nicholas is an excellent and hardworking deputy sheriff for our county and excels in many areas including criminal investigations and drug enforcement.”
Zaki and Deputy Leadbetter will attend a K-9 training course in the near future.
(Missourinet) – The number of Missouri school districts holding class four days a week continues to increase.
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) spokeswoman Nancy Bowles tells Missourinet the number of districts on four-day weeks has increased from 18 in September 2017 to 25 now.
North Callaway R-1 in mid-Missouri and Drexel R-IV in western Missouri are two of the districts that have gone to four-day weeks, in the past year.
Former Governor Jay Nixon (D) signed the optional four-day school week into law in 2011. The bipartisan bill moved from requiring 174 days of instruction to a total of 1,044 hours for districts that wanted to go to four days.
Missourinet Moberly affiliate KWIX reports the Bucklin and La Plata School Districts in northern Missouri are considering going to four-days. The La Plata district’s website says 88 percent of students and 66 percent of parents support a four-day school week.
Harrisburg R-VIII Superintendent Steve Combs tells KWIX that four-day school weeks have increased teacher retention in Harrisburg and have saved the district money with transportation and food service.
The 25 districts with four-day school weeks are all smaller districts, in rural communities.
Outgoing State Rep. Bill Reiboldt, R-Neosho, who helped pass the 2011 law, has described it as another “tool in the toolbox” for districts. Reiboldt has said he’s received great feedback from rural communities in his region.
Northwest Missouri’s Lathrop R-II was the first district to make the change, after the 2011 law passed.
DESE’s Nancy Bowles says the 25 Missouri districts that are currently on four-day weeks are:
** Community R-VI
**Miami R-1
** Harrisburg R-VIII
** North Callaway Co. R-1
** East Lynne 40
** Drexel R-IV
**Stockton R-1
** Lathrop R-II
** Everton R-III
** Albany R-III
** Walnut Grove R-V
** Jasper County R-V
** Laclede County C-5
** Miller R-II
** Pierce City R-VI
** Maries County R-II
** Holliday C-2
** Wellsville Middletown R-1
** Montgomery County R-II
** East Newton County R-VI
** Roscoe C-1
** Orearville R-IV
** Crane R-III
** Bradleyville R-1
** Niangua R-V
A Minnesota woman died in a one vehicle crash Monday morning on I-35.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, shortly before 7 a.m., 36-year-old Babu Selvam was driving a Nissan Rogue south on I-35 about 11 miles north of Cameron. According to the patrol, the driver was traveling too fast for conditions and the vehicle went off the road, into the median, hit an emergency crossover, went airborne and rolled multiple times.
A passenger, 34-year-old Ramya Bharathi Mohan, the wife of the driver, was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.
A one-year-old passenger was transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City for treatment of minor injuries. No injuries were reported for the driver.
All the occupants were from Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
Today’s rain is expected to persist through the morning hours; finally shifting northeast out of eastern Kansas and Missouri this afternoon and evening. However, a cold, breezy wind will sweep in behind the exiting rain; pushing temperatures below freezing tonight, and for the New Year. This might result in a bit of freezing drizzle and/or flurries this evening as what is left of the precipitation exits, but will also most likely result in slick surfaces tonight as any wet roads or surfaces freeze overnight. Tuesday will be the coldest day of the week, with conditions starting to moderate as we move into the weekend. Otherwise, we will be watching a storm system Thursday moving across the Plains States, but currently it looks to pass through southern Missouri, thus not providing much of a chance for precipitation across northern half of Missouri. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Rain likely before 3 p.m., then a chance of sprinkles between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., then a chance of flurries after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight: A slight chance of freezing drizzle before midnight, then a chance of flurries between midnight and 3 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 13. Wind chill values between -1 and 9. North northwest wind 16 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
New Year’s Day: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 19. Wind chill values between -3 and 7. North northwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11. North wind 3 to 8 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 29. Light and variable wind becoming west southwest around 6 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 17.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 38.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 47.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 50.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 47.
