Researchers at the University of Missouri are developing a new blood test for dogs that could eventually speed up blood testing in humans. Associate Professor Amy DeClue of the College of Veterinary Medicine says testing that currently takes days may ultimately take just minutes, with a test strip that can be analyzed in the vet’s office.

DeClue says her team has been looking at different biomarkers in the blood and they think they found one that requires only a simple blood test. If so, future tests could help veterinarians tailor their treatment and reduce antibiotic use. DeClue says, “The systems in dogs and people are very applicable to each other, so whatever biomarkers we find in dogs could also benefit people.”

The Corps of Engineers will cover the funds of repairing a Holt County levee.

Governor Nixon’s office announced Tuesday the Corps would reinstate the levee into it’s federal program.

The Corps recently came under scrutiny over the management of Holt County levee L497 which broke during summer flooding. That’s the levee protecting Forest City and more than 8,000 acres of farmland.

The Corp moved the levee out of it’s program last spring. Governor Jay Nixon had demanded the Corp reinstate the levee. Whether the events are connected or not, the Corps reinstated that levee into the program five days later.

Still, the Corps of Engineers say it’s not likely all levee’s in Northwest Missouri will be repaired. Officials say there is not enough time or funds to make the repairs.

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Utt of Sugar Creek snapped a picture of an all-white deer while hunting near Lake of the Ozarks November 13. He brought his camera along because he’d heard reports of an albino deer in the area. “I wasn’t sure I believed them, “ he said. He believes it now.

Conservation officials say Utt’s pictures were taken from a distance but they clearly show an all-white deer, a doe, and possibly a true albino with pink eyes. Utt says he decided not to shoot the white deer because he’d like to see it again, and possibly have some offspring. Albino deer are rare, but at least two other cases were reported during the November firearms season. In both those cases the deer were shot and the kills were confirmed by Conservation agents.  

 

A funeral and memorial service will be held next week for missing Highway Patrol trooper Fred Guthrie. He disappeared August first while on flood patrol near Big Lake. The body of his patrol dog Reed was found the next day. Despite extensive searches, Guthrie’s body has not been found. The Patrol declared him dead September 28th.

Visitation is scheduled December 13 at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty. A funeral and memorial service will be held at the church December 14, followed by a procession to Knob Noster Cemetary in Knob Noster.  

 

The Corps of Engineers confirms what many Northwest Missouri residents feared: some levees broken by this year’s flooding won’t be repaired before flooding returns. Northwest Division Commander John McMahon tells a congressional subcommittee there’s not enough money.

Money is only part of the problem. Another factor is time. McMahon says it’ll take until the end of March to complete a study of the space needed in upstream reservoirs to capture the spring runoff.

Northwest Missouri Congressman Sam Graves asked McMahon if he would rebuild behind a broken levee, and McMahon answered, “Maybe not.”  

State Senator Rob Schaaf of St Joseph has pre-filed legislation addressing a state health insurance exchange.

The republican’s proposed legislation would prohibit state-based health insurance exchanges. They could only be established by the legislature, or an act of the people like a petition.

Health insurance exchanges are required under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. States that do not create their own must participate in one created by the federal Health and Human Services department.

Schaaf calls the federal health care law “intrusive to our state sovereignty, requiring Missourians to purchase products they do not necessarily want.”

The Second Regular Session of the 96th General Assembly starts noon on Wednesday, Jan. 4.