We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Brief: McCaskill Questions for Court Nominee, Rain Totals, Record-Low Temps

Claire McCaskill prepares to meet the Supreme Court nominee.

McCaskill said the high court’s 2010 Citizens United decision has led to a flood of spending from outside groups, ones that may spend tens of millions of dollars ahead of the November midterm, when she is up for re-election.

“It’s absolutely out of control. I’ve said many times, if Missourians knew who was paying for the ads against me, they would like the enemies I’ve made,” McCaskill told reporters earlier this month. “And it doesn’t matter if it’s for me or against me, if you don’t know who’s paying for it, you shouldn’t pay any attention to it.”

McCaskill said she also wants to know where Kavanaugh, an appeals court judge in Washington, D.C., stands on the federal health care law, specifically whether certain provisions should be overturned in the courts or in Congress.

Speaking of campaign finance:

In the race for a Senate seat in Platte and Buchanan counties, Missouri Senate Conservatives Fund spent $490,000 over the campaign’s final month to assist the eventual winner, Tony Luetkemeyer.

Luetkemeyer and his opponent, Harry Roberts, combined to spend $432,000 during the same period.

 

We received much-needed rain yesterday into today.

Low temps accompanied the rainfall.

The National Weather Service predicts 71 for today’s high in St. Joe.

 

The Brief is a daily roundup from St. Joe Post and around the web. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Rain likely throughout the day with temps near 70

Damp today, with off and on showers and drizzle, but never fear, beautiful weather is on tap for pretty much Tuesday onward. In fact, the National Weather Service has “issued” a Patio Watch. A patio watch means that conditions are looking favorable for outdoor leisure activities, such as relaxing on a patio! Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today: Showers likely, mainly between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 68. West northwest wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tonight: A chance of showers, mainly before 7 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. North northwest wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 80. North northwest wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. North wind 5 to 8 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. North wind 3 to 5 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 87.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 91.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

Planned road work for northwest Missouri, Aug. 20-26

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The following is a listing of general highway maintenance and construction work in the Northwest Missouri region planned for the week of Aug. 20 – 26 from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

In addition to the work listed below, there may be other road work conducted throughout the region. Many of these will be moving operations and could include lane closures with delays. All scheduled maintenance and construction projects are subject to change.

MoDOT reminds the public to stay alert, watch for road work, buckle up, slow down, and drive with extreme caution through work zones and in changing weather conditions.

For more information about a project, please contact MoDOT at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (888-275-6636) or visit www.modot.org/northwest/. You can also follow MoDOT’s Northwest Missouri District on Twitter @ModotNorthwest and on Facebook.

Andrew County

Interstate 29 – Bridge deck replacement project at the Nodaway River Bridge. A 13-foot width restriction is in place.

Route D – Resurfacing project, Aug. 20 – 25

Atchison County

U.S. Route 59 – Pothole patching, Aug. 20 – 24

I-29 – Resurfacing project from the Iowa state line to Route 111, Aug. 20 – 25

Buchanan County

U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance at the 10th Street Bridge, Aug. 20

I-229 – CLOSED from U.S. Route 36 to Highland Avenue for a routine inspection of the Double Decker Bridge and all ramps, Aug. 20 – 23

U.S. Route 36 – Shoulder work from Route AC (Riverside Road) to I-29, Aug. 20 – 23

U.S. Route 169 (Belt Highway) – Pedestrian crossing improvement project at U.S. Route 36, Aug. 20 – 24

U.S. Route 59 – Shoulder work from U.S. Route 45 to the Kansas state line, Aug. 20 – 24

U.S. Route 45 – Shoulder work from U.S. Route 59 to the Platte County line, Aug. 20 – 24

Route 116 – Shoulder work 0.5 miles east of Route 371, Aug. 20 – 24

Caldwell County                                               

U.S. Route 36 – Guardrail work from just east of the DeKalb County line to just east of U.S. Route 69 (DeKalb County), Aug. 20 – 24.

Route B – Pothole patching, Aug. 20 – 24

Carroll County

Routes C, CC and FF – Pothole patching, Aug. 20 – 23

U.S. Route 65 – Striping from the north city limits of Chillicothe to the Iowa state line, Aug. 20 – 24. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.

Route D – CLOSED for railroad maintenance at the Kansas City District and Marceline Sub railroad crossings, Aug. 24, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Clay County

Route C – Resurfacing and shoulder project from Route CC to Clinton County line, Aug. 20 – 24. A pilot car and flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone.

Clinton County

Route PP – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Moore Road to U.S. Route 69, Aug. 20 – 24, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Daviess County

Route 13 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Honey Creek Bridge. The road will be closed through September. A signed detour is in place.

I-35 – Concrete replacement southbound from mile marker 58.3 to mile marker 56.3, Aug. 20 – 24. Lane closures will remain in place overnight.

DeKalb County

U.S. Route 36 – Guardrail work just east of U.S. Route 69 to just east of the Caldwell County line, Aug. 20 – 24.

U.S. Route 36 – Resurfacing project eastbound lanes from Route 31 North to Route 33 North, Aug. 20 – 24. A 16-foot width restriction is in place.

Gentry County

Route C – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route FF to County Road 570, Aug 20, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route C – Pothole patching from Route FF to Route J, Aug. 20 – 22

Route C – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from County Road 570 to County Road 558, Aug. 21, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Route A – Pothole patching, Aug. 23 – 24

Grundy County

Route 146 – Pothole patching, Aug. 20

U.S. Route 65 – Bridge maintenance at the Honey Creek Bridge, Aug. 20 – 21

U.S. Route 65 – Striping from the north city limits of Chillicothe to the Iowa state line, Aug. 20 – 24. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.

Harrison County

Route 13 – Driveway entrance repair one mile north of Route H, Aug. 21

Holt County

I-29 – Bridge deck replacement at the Nodaway River Bridge. A13-foot width restriction is in place.

I-29 – Resurfacing project from Route W to Route 118, Aug. 20 – 25

Linn County

U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance at Higgins Ditch west of Laclede, Aug. 20 – 24. This includes a 14-foot width restriction.

Route 129 – CLOSED for railroad maintenance north of the Bucklin city limits at the Marceline Sub railroad crossing, Aug. 22 – 23

Livingston County

U.S. Route 65 – Striping from the north city limits of Chillicothe to the Iowa state line, Aug. 20 – 24. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.

Mercer County

U.S. Route 65 – Striping from the north city limits of Chillicothe to the Iowa state line, Aug. 20 – 24. This includes a 12-foot width restriction.

Route M – Pothole patching from Route W to the Iowa state line, Aug. 20 – 24

Nodaway County

Route PP – CLOSED for a culvert replacement from Route 46 to 215th Street, Aug. 20, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

U.S. Route 71 – Shoulder work from Route AB to U.S. Route 136, Aug. 21 – 22. A flagger will direct motorists through the work zone.

Routes A and V – Pothole patching, Aug. 20 – 24

Route K – Pothole patching from Route E to 140th Street (Worth County), Aug. 20 – 24

Putnam County

U.S. Route 136 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the West Locust Creek Bridge. The road will be closed through September. A signed detour is in place.

U.S. Route 136 – CLOSED for a bridge replacement project at the Elm Branch Bridge. The road will be closed through September. A signed detour is in place.

U.S. Route 136 – Shoulder work, Aug. 20 – 21

Route 5 – Shoulder work, Aug. 23 – 24

Worth County

Route 246 – Pothole patching from Route 46 to Route E, Aug. 20 – 24

Route K – Pothole patching from 140th Street to Route E (Nodaway County), Aug. 20 – 24

Route W – Pothole patching one mile west of Route Z to Route 46, Aug. 23 – 24

Dog park temporarily closing for upgrades

The dog park in St. Joseph will be closed for part of this week for upgrades.

According to the City of St. Joseph Parks, Recreation, and Civic Facilities, the dog park will be closed Monday through Wednesday so agility equipment can be installed in the small and large dog park areas.

The dog park is scheduled to reopen on Thursday.

UPDATE: Driver facing manslaughter charge after rollover crash

The driver of a vehicle in a crash Saturday in Worth County is facing an involuntary manslaughter charge.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrest report, 28-year-old Sudeana L. Reno of Grant City was arrested Saturday. According to online court records, she faces a felony first degree involuntary manslaughter charge in relation to a Saturday evening crash that killed six-year-old William Straughn.

An arraignment is scheduled for Monday.

=====

WORTH COUNTY— One person died in an accident just after 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Worth County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a Ford Explorer driven by Sudeana L. Reno, 28, Grant City, was southbound on Old Highway 69 one half mile south of Grant City.  The driver attempted to negotiate a curve and lost control of the SUV on gravel and overturned.

The driver’s 6-year-old son William Straughn was ejected from the SUV.  Worth County Ambulance transported Reno and the boy to Northwest Medical Center where he died.

The driver’s daughter Adriana Straughn, 9, Grant City, was not injured.  All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Shoulder work planned this week for section of Route 36

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Traffic will be narrowed on a section of U.S. Route 36 between Route AC (Riverside Road) and Interstate 29 this week.

Crews from the Missouri Department of Transportation will mill off the old roadway surface of the inside shoulder of westbound U.S. Route 36 beginning Monday. They plan to work between 6 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20, through Thursday, Aug. 23.  At least one lane of westbound U.S. Route 36 will remain open during the work. Motorists may want to use an alternate route to avoid delays and congestion.

For more information call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) or visit modot.org/northwest.

Troop H offers inside look of MSHP through Community Alliance Program

An opportunity to get an inside look at the Missouri State Highway Patrol will be offered starting in September.

Highway Patrol Troop H will be holding a Community Alliance Program at the Troop H Headquarters in St. Joseph.

“A lot of people see the Highway Patrol and they think we’re just that vehicle they see out on the roadway that pulls you over for speeding and writes you a ticket,” Sgt. Jake Angle with Troop H said. “We’re a lot more than that, we’re a multi-faceted agency, we’re involved in a lot of things and we’re a full service agency to the citizens of the state of Missouri. We hold these programs for an opportunity for people to be able to see exactly what we do and show them really what the Highway Patrol is all about.”

Angle said the hands-on program will include the Patrol K9, the Marine Division, simulated traffic stops and more.

“It’s a fun time, it’s a really informative time, people get an opportunity to get questions answered,” Angle said.

The classes will meet from 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesdays starting September 18th. The program will conclude with an awards banquet on Tuesday, October 16th. The Highway Patrol is accepting applications for the free Community Alliance Program through August 31st. Twenty participants will be selected based on a first-come, first-serve basis. Selection includes an evaluation of an application and a criminal record check.

The program is geared toward citizens ages 21 and older. The Highway Patrol offers a similar program for students every other year.

For more information, contact Highway Patrol Troop H at (816) 387-2345.

Missouri deputies seize nearly $1M worth of marijuana

PLATTE CITY, Mo. (AP) – Sheriff’s deputies in northwestern Missouri’s Platte County say they’ve seized more than 200 pounds of marijuana from a van that led them on a chase.

Deliz -photo Platte County

The incident happened Friday afternoon when a white van refused to pull over, despite a squad car’s lights and sirens behind it.

Authorities say when the van finally pulled over, deputies searched it and found the marijuana, valued at $922,000.

Browning-photo Platte County

Deputies arrested a man and a woman identified as Destiny Browning, 37, Louisville, Kentucky, and Paul Deliz, 41, Mesquite, Texas, according to Platte County Jail report.

They are being held on suspicion of felony delivery of a controlled substance. Browning who was driving, also faces traffic charges.

Double-decker bridge closure planned

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Beginning Monday, Missouri Department of Transportation crews will close the Interstate 229 “Double-Decker” Bridge for a routine, bi-annual inspection.

For the safety of both motorists and workers the bridge and all ramps will remain closed from Highland Avenue to U.S. Route 36 through Thursday, Aug. 23.

Crews from MoDOT’s Central Office travel around the state conducting in-depth inspections throughout the year. This program of inspection, repair and maintenance of the more than 10,000 bridges across the state ensures the bridges are kept in the best possible condition for as long as possible for those traveling across Missouri’s roadways.

Maintenance crews will also be utilizing the closure to clean drains and make repairs to the bridge deck, joints and roadway signs and lighting. During the closure, motorists will need to use an alternate route.

The bridge inspections and maintenance will be completed prior to the Sound of Speed Airshow weekend Aug. 25 – 26.

Other upcoming bridge inspections scheduled in the area include:

Andrew County:

  • Route K bridge over Interstate 229 (no work zone anticipated, but workers will be present)

Holt County:

  • Bridges over I-29 on U.S. Route 59, Beagle Road, Elmwood Road, Graystone Road, and Ironwood Road (no work zone anticipated, but workers will be present)

Week of Aug. 27:

Atchison County:

  • U.S. Route 136 over the Missouri River (lane closure)

Daviess County:

  • Route B bridge over I-35 (no work zone anticipated but workers will be present)

Harrison County

  • Bridges over I-35 on Route A, Route N, East 200th Avenue, East 120th Street, East 245th Avenue (no work zone anticipated, but workers will be present)

For more information about this and other MoDOT projects, call 1-888-ASK-MODOT (888-275-6636) or visit modot.org/northwest.

Brief: St. Joe Crime Strike, Super PAC Ramps Up in Kansas, Drought Worsens

A big crime crackdown occurred in St. Joe Thursday. Law enforcement agencies were out in striking numbers.

64 Citations issued 35 warning citations 9 Warrant arrests 6 Felony arrests (New Cases) 2 DWIs 1 Driving while suspended

 

A Republican super PAC sends workers to two Kansas congressional districts. The Congressional Leadership Fund recently set up offices in Kansas’ 2nd District and 3rd District.

In the 2nd District, Democrat Paul Davis faces Steve Watkins, a GOP newcomer. In the 3rd District, Rep. Kevin Yoder is facing Democratic newcomer Sharice Davids.

 

Senator Roy Blunt says half of rural Missouri lacks high-speed internet.

 

A Missouri woman who is charged with killing her 5-year-old daughter and critically injuring her 1-year-old son by intentionally driving into the Kansas River told authorities she wanted to die and didn’t want anyone else to have her children, according to court records.

The probable cause affidavit says she told police she had been voluntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital for several hours on Aug. 2, one day before she plunged into the river in downtown Lawrence, about 160 miles west of her hometown of Columbia, Missouri.

 

Drought conditions persist.

The Brief is a daily roundup from St. Joe Post and around the web. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File