House Republican leaders have outlined the floor schedule for the week (week of July 23rd) and the farm bill is not on it. Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson notes that leaves just four legislative days to consider the bill before Congress adjourns for the August recess. He said Friday that there is no excuse not to bring the farm bill to the floor – adding that there’s no good reason to put one of the nation’s economic bright spots – the rural economy – at risk. According to Peterson – the last two weeks were wasted on political messaging bills that are going nowhere. He says the House Republican leadership would bring the farm bill to the floor if they were serious about creating jobs and growing the economy. Peterson says the bill passed by the House Agriculture Committee is a strong, bipartisan bill. He stressed the importance of continuing to move forward so differences with the Senate measure can be resolved and a final bill delivered to the President before the current bill expires on September 30th. While Peterson is still hopeful that can be accomplished – he said time is running out.
Category: Local News
Charges Pending After Traffic Fatality
Criminal charges are pending against a 19-year-old St Joseph man in connection with a traffic fatality in St Joseph over the weekend. At about 5 p.m. Saturday a truck collided with a dirt bike at West Valley and Gordon streets. The motorcyclist was rushed to Heartland Regional Medical Center, where he later died.
On Monday, St Joseph Police identified the victim as Timothy Belding, 26, of St Joseph.
Refresh this post for more information as the case makes its way into the court system.
Gov. Nixon Declares State of Emergency Because of Prolonged Drought
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency in Missouri today due to the prolonged drought.
The governor cites the affect on agriculture and public health for the executive order that authorizes state agencies to assist local agencies with emergency response.
“The high temperatures and dry conditions across the state are taking their toll on Missourians,” Gov. Nixon said. “Our farmers are suffering tremendous losses in crops and livestock, and we’re seeing more heat-related deaths and emergency room visits, particularly among seniors.”
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has confirmed 25 heat-related deaths in the state, including 20 in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The department also has received hospital reports of 829 heat-related emergency department visits from May 1 through July 22.
On June 29, Gov. Nixon issued an executive order activating the Missouri State Operations Center in response to the severe heat, dry conditions and fire risks. Last Friday, he called on the State Soil and Water Districts Commission to take emergency action allowing livestock producers to conduct flash grazing, haying and watering on livestock exclusion areas currently under contract.
Maryville City Council Seeks Volunteers
Maryville city officials are taking applications for board members to help oversee city departments.
Volunteers are needed to assist the City Council such as on the Housing Authority Board or the Parks and Recreation Board among several others. All boards must be filled by residents of Maryville.
Even if a board is full, applications will be considered when terms expire. For Maryville residents interested, they need to fill out this application and return it to City Hall.
The boards are:
Airport Board
Nodaway County Extension
Board of Code Appeals
Planning and Zoning Commission
Housing Authority
Park & Recreation Board
Library Board Planting Committee
Board of Zoning Adjustment
Cemetery Board
Mozingo Advisory Board
Mom At 14 Tries To Regain Custody Of Kids At 21
FALLS CITY, Neb. (AP) – A Nebraska mom whose marriage in Hiawatha, Kansas at age 14 generated headlines is trying to regain custody of their children.
Four of Crystal Koso’s children, by two fathers, have been in state custody since 2010.
The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the now 21-year-old Crystal, and 29-year-old Matthew Koso were in court last week.
They listened as Judge Curtis Maschman told them an attorney for the children was seeking to end their rights to be parents.
They said they understood and had no questions.
But Crystal, the mother, Matthew Koso and Dominic Pagnano Jr., the fathers, denied the allegations in the petition. Matthew Koso was assigned his own attorney, and he and his wife were provided guardian-ad-litem attorneys to look after each of their best interests.
It’s a new chapter in the story of the girl who got pregnant and married young, and the man who served 15 months in prison for having sex with her from the time she was 12. They married in Kansas, where it’s legal, when she was 14. He was 22.
The couple gained national attention in 2005 after Crystal Koso became pregnant and they married in Hiawatha, Kan. with her mother’s permission. At the time, such a marriage was allowed with parental consent. The case led Kansas lawmakers to set a minimum marriage age of 15.
Nebraska allows people as young as 17 to marry with parental consent.
Man, 75, Dies After Walking Away From Northland Nursing Home
Kansas City police blame heat and a balky ankle monitor for the death of a 75-year-old man who walked away from his assisted living facility.
Authorities say George Macias suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. He walked away from the Cherry Hills Nursing Home early Sunday. A search commenced, and about nine hours later authorities found his body in a ravine behind a home on NE Barry Road.
Temperatures topped 100-degrees Sunday.
Macias wore an ankle monitor, but the device apparently malfunctioned.
Pedestrians Injured Leaving Atchison Fireworks
Four pedestrians were injured after they were hit by a car Saturday night in Atchison just as the fireworks were winding down.
The Kansas Highway Patrol says a motorist was attempting to leave a parking lot on South Second Street. Investigators say the Ford Explorer suddenly accelerated rapidly and hit four people walking nearby.
An eight-year-old Atchison girl suffered disabling injuries. Jessica Sutton of Atchison is being treated at Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Lisa Sutton, 38, of Atchison is being treated at the KU Medical Center.
An Atchison man, Michael Watts, 20, and Franklin Cox, 52, of St Joseph were both taken to Atchison Hospital for treatment.
Naval Demonstration of Biofuels
Because the nation’s reliance on foreign oil is a significant and well-recognized military vulnerability – U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus says the Navy is pursuing alternatives. A U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group was operating on advanced biofuel for two days to test the fuel’s performance in an operational setting. The demonstration took place off the coast of Hawaii as part of the Rim of the Pacific Exercise. Mabus observed operations – including fueling helicopters and jets from the deck of a nuclear-powered carrier, completing arrested landings of aircraft onto a carrier – the first ever using biofuels, refueling a destroyer while underway and air-to-air refueling. Mabus says the successful demonstration was a unique opportunity to witness the seamless integration of advanced biofuel and energy efficient technologies in some of the Navy’s most sophisticated air and sea platforms. U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the historic significance of the Navy’s operation on biofuels should not be underestimated. According to Vilsack – we can, as a nation, change the fuel production and distribution paradigm in the world if we are consistent in our efforts to increase our production and use of domestic biofuels which are important to our energy and national security as well as create jobs.
Rolling Out The Red Carpet For The Chiefs
Chiefs training camp opens this week, and Saint Joseph is getting ready. A Red Carpet Blitz Thursday will help businesses in high-traffic areas near the camp show visitors the best possible customer service. It’s set for 8 am Thursday at the Chamber of Commerce office.
A Red Rally will kick off at 2 Friday afternoon near the entrance of camp on the Missouri Western campus. Attractions will include a band, a balloon artist, and free hot dogs and soft drinks to the first 500 celebrants. Camp gates will open at 2:20 and the first practice will start an hour later.
LakeFest 2012 Tops Expectations
Chris Young, Jerrod Niemann and Sunny Sweeney rocked the natural amphitheater at Warnock Lake for LakeFest 2012, part of the 15th annual Amelia Earhart Festival in Atchison, Kansas.
Thousands of people turned out for amusement park rides, all manner of musical events, an ice cream social, a historic church service and library-related events.
California artist John Cerney unveiled his new art installation “Amelia Comes Home” along US 73 highway, two miles south of the city.
Coordinator Jacque Pregont says the festival was “very, very successful,” although she had not tallied total sales or admission figures by Sunday afternoon. Pregont says the crowd for Friday night’s concert was one of the biggest in this history of the event.