A 21-year-old soldier from the St Louis area was killed in action Tuesday in Afghanistan.

The Defense Department says 21-year-old Army Specialist Jeffrey L. White of Catawissa, Missouri died April 3 in Khost province of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Five other Soldiers were wounded in the incident.

 

 

White was was assigned to the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Spc. White joined the Army in October 2009 and graduated from Basic Training, Advanced Individual Training and the Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Ga. He arrived in Alaska in April 2010 and deployed with the Airborne brigade in December 2011. This was Spc. White’s first combat deployment.

The winner of Kansas’ largest jackpot prize ever has claimed a share of the $656 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot.

But officials with the Kansas Lottery say the winner has chosen to remain anonymous.

 

Kansas Lottery authorities presented an oversized check for an estimated $218 million to a cardboard cutout figure with a smiley-face and the words “anonymous jackpot winner” printed on its chest.

Executive Director of the Kansas Lottery Dennis Wilson said in a press conference at Lottery headquarters the person purchased the ticket at Casey’s General Store, 940 N. Main St., in Ottawa.

For selling a jackpot-winning ticket, Casey’s 2668 will receive a $10,000 selling bonus from the Kansas Lottery. Robert Pizzini, District Manager, was present at the press conference to accept the bonus check for the convenience store.

The winner had the choice of taking the annuity option of $218.6 million, which is paid in 26 installments, or the cash option of $157.9 million paid in one lump sum. After taxes the winner will receive a check for $110.5 million.

Federal income withholding taxes (25%) on the prize are $39,470,517.50; state income withholding taxes (5%) amount to $7,894,103.50; bringing the total taxes withheld to $47,364,621.00.

The jackpot amount was originally estimated at $640 million but with sales from all 44 Mega Millions jurisdictions calculated and totaled, the final jackpot amount for the drawing came to $656 million dollars. That record-shattering amount was the result of unprecedented sales in all jurisdictions where Mega Millions is played.

The other tickets were bought in Illinois and Maryland.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bank of America has sued U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, his wife and their Kansas City company for more than $1.5 million the bank says it is owed from a 2002 loan.

A petition filed in Jackson County Circuit Court names the Democratic lawmaker, his wife and the Cleaver Co. The lawsuit, which was first reported by Kansas City blogger Tony Botello, said they failed to make payments on more than $1.3 million borrowed for a car wash in suburban Grandview.

The petition seeks unpaid principal of roughly $1.2 million, plus interest of $240,000, late fees of more than $54,000 and $12,000 in other fees. The bank said interest is accruing at the rate of $158 a day. In the suit, the bank also sought the appointment of a receiver to operate the property.

Calls to a Cleaver spokeswoman were not immediately returned. Bank of America attorney Joseph Trad said it was against bank policy to release information to the media.

During Cleaver’s 2004 congressional campaign, unpaid taxes on the car wash for 2002 and 2003 became an issue. As of 2005, the car wash was operated by someone else, although the congressman still owned it.

Cleaver is a former two-term Kansas City mayor who is serving his fourth term in the U.S. House for Missouri’s 5th Congressional District.

Dr. Judy Grimes has been named interim vice president for student affairs at Missouri Western State University.  Her appointment was announced Friday by Dr. Robert Vartabedian, president of the university.

Dr. Grimes has been sharing leadership of the division with Dr. Jeanne Daffron, the university’s provost and vice president for academic affairs.  The appointment frees up Dr. Daffron to return her focus to those duties.

The pair have been working in partnership leading the department since March, when the school announced it would not renew the contract of their predecessor, Dr. Esther Peralez.

“Dr. Daffron and Dr. Grimes have done an excellent job of leading the student affairs division through this period of transition,” Dr. Vartabedian said. “Dr. Grimes has been a valued member of the university’s staff since 1996 and will be a capable leader. I appreciate her willingness to accept this responsibility.  I also appreciate Dr. Daffron’s special efforts during the transition.”

Dr. Grimes earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in Education and a Ph.D. in Higher and Adult Education from the University of Missouri at Columbia. She has served as the associate vice president and dean of students since 2010.  She first joined the Missouri Western staff in August, 1996 as acting director of freshman year experience and has risen through various administrative positions since.

Before coming to Missouri Western Dr. Grimes spent 11 years at the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and worked four years as director of the Applied Language Institute, a joint program of the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the Metropolitan Community Colleges.

Tomorrow is St Joseph resident’s last chance to participate in the city’s “Clean Sweep” program.

The program assist St Joseph resident’s in maintaining their property.

Yard waste, trash and appliance are some of the items accepted at the landfill through the program. Yard waste must be separate from trash and there is a limit of six tires per day.

No toxic items such as oil or batteries will be accepted. The landfill hours today are until 4:30 and tomorrow from 7:00 to 2:00.

 

Rules and Regulations:

1. Eligibility for “Clean Sweep” is based upon City taxes on personal property (Look for SJ be‐
side tax amount on County tax receipt). Present tax receipt and picture ID prior to entering
the Landfill
2. If you were non‐assessed (didn’t own a vehicle) you have to obtain a non‐assessment card
from the Buchanan County assessor’s office and present the card along with picture ID pri‐
or to entering the Landfill.
3. Individual(s) using “Clean Sweep” must notify gate attendant prior to entering the Landfill
that they are using the “Clean Sweep” program. If the gate attendant is not notified, the
individual(s) will be charged the normal rate.
4. Individual(s) using the “Clean Sweep” must be present and have some form of picture ID.
5. No company vehicles may be used under “Clean Sweep” operations; even if, household
materials are being hauled.
6. Only vehicles that are normally charged a flat stated rate may be used for “Clean Sweep”;
such as, automobiles, pickups, and two‐wheeled trailers. You cannot use four‐wheeled
trailers, dual‐wheeled trucks, or rent‐all vans.
7. Individual(s) may not use multiple vehicles. Example: Using three pickups on one person(s)
“Clean Sweep”.
8. There will be no refunds because individual(s) did not follow proper procedures, whether it
is that day’s business or prior day’s business

A man stabbed in Saint Joseph this morning is recovering at Heartland but is not cooperating with police. A passerby saw the wounded man in the midtown area shortly after 2 am and called 911. He was taken to the hospital with stab wounds in the leg and stomach. Officers say the wounds do not appear to be life-threatening. Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to call the Tips Hotline at 238.TIPS.

The first criminal case against a sitting U.S. bishop for clergy sex abuse will go forward.

That’s the word from a Jackson County judge in a response to a series of motions to dismiss the charges.

Bishop Robert Finn, head of the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese, must stand trial on charges of failing to report suspected child abuse.

Judge  John Torrence rejected motions filed by Finn’s lawyers that charges against the bishop were unconstitutional.

 

They also questioned whether Finn can be considered a “mandated reporter” according to Missouri law.

Judge Torrence issued a ruling Thursday in which he found that the evidence in the case is sufficient to allow a jury to decide.

The charge against Finn centers on the case of Father Shawn Ratigan, the priest who was arrested last May on charges of possession of child pornography. While the bishop said he was aware of questionable images on the priest’s laptop as early as December 2010, the Diocese did not report Ratigan to police for about six months.

In separate indictments in October, prosecutors charged both Finn and the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese as a whole with criminal misdemeanors in the case. They have pleaded not guilty.

The ruling clears the way for a trial, now tentatively scheduled September 24.