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Watch: Trump promotes his trade policies at Farm Bureau Convention

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday left a city shut down by a funding dispute with Congress and the year’s first snowfall to promote his trade policies and the new farm law at a farm convention in Louisiana.

Trump arrived just outside of New Orleans behind schedule because a mechanical issue slightly delayed Air Force One’s departure from Washington on Day 24 of the partial government shutdown. A maintenance crew needed to reset an indicator light before takeoff, the White House said.

The president was greeted at the airport by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, whose department is among those affected by the shutdown. Trump was also welcomed to the state by a trio of Louisiana elected Republicans — Rep. Steve Scalise and Sens. John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy — and a man carrying a boxed king cake, a local treat.

Trump was expected to discuss his trade policies, which have affected farmers, and an $867 billion, 10-year the farm bill he recently signed into law.

Some farmers attending the American Farm Bureau Federation convention said they continue to support Trump despite the difficulty they’re feeling.

Outside the convention center, several hundred demonstrators gathered holding signs that said “Open the Government Now” and “Deport Trump” and chanting “Build Bridges Not Walls” and “Love Trumps Hate.”

A stalemate between Trump and congressional Democrats over $5.7 billion the president is requesting to build his long-promised U.S.-Mexico border wall led several U.S. departments and agencies to halt services deemed non-essential just before Christmas. Federal departments that were unaffected by the shutdown ended up closing Monday after Washington was blanketed by anywhere from six inches to a foot of snow over the weekend.

Richard Musel of Bennington, Nebraska, a corn and soybean farmer, described business as “marginal” but said he doesn’t blame Trump. Musel says Trump has been good to farmers and had no choice but to get tough with China. He criticized Democrats for refusing to fund the wall.

“He’s asking for such a small amount.” Musel said of the president. “All they are is a bunch of bullies. That’s the Democrats. Our president is pretty stern. His plan, it’ll work.”

Lemuel and Shelby Ricks grow cotton, soybeans, wheat and peanuts on their farm in Conway, North Carolina. They say they’ve been hurt by low commodity prices and the shutdown. They can’t apply for financial aid the federal government is giving farmers hurt by Trump’s trade policies because of the shutdown.

The Rickses said they voted for Trump and will again in 2020, contending the country will benefit from Trump’s policies in the long run.

“We’re not giving up on him now,” Shelby Ricks said.

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President Donald Trump will address the American Farm Bureau’s 100th Annual Convention on Monday, January 14th, in New Orleans, Louisiana. It’s the second-straight year that the president will make an appearance at the Farm Bureau event. The convention runs from January 11 through January 16.

Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall says his organization is honored to host the president once again. “President Trump has made agriculture a clear priority, giving farmers and ranchers a seat at the table on the top issues affecting our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities,” Duvall says. “What better way to celebrate 100 years of Farm Bureau than to welcome the president of the United States to our centennial celebration?”

The president spoke last year at the 99th event in Nashville. In remarks to the members, he said he was disappointed that it was “only” the 99th event. “You have to understand,” he told members, “100 is so much cooler, I have to be honest. So, I will be back next year.” Farm Bureau Vice President Scott VanderWal of South Dakota says a presidential speech will “really cap off the centennial.”

The Latest: Democrat Kelly sworn in as new Kansas governor

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The latest on the swearing in of Democratic Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (all times local):.

Laura Kelly takes the oath of office Monday morning on the steps of the Kansas Statehouse-image courtesy office of Kansas Governor

Democrat Laura Kelly has been sworn in as the new governor in Republican-leaning Kansas.

Kelly took the oath of office Monday on the south steps of the Statehouse in front of banners that declared, “Equality,” ”Education” and “Opportunity.”

She was a veteran state senator from Topeka who pitched herself to voters as a no-nonsense problem-solver who could work with Republicans. The GOP has supermajorities in the Legislature.

Her victory last year drew national attention partly because she defeated Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach. He’s a staunch conservative who touted an endorsement from President Donald Trump.

Kelly is the state’s 48th governor.

Her swearing-in followed those of Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers, Attorney General Derek Schmidt, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt and State Treasurer Jake LaTurner.

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By JOHN HANNA

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ new Democratic governor is expected to take office promising a bipartisan administration even as she and her supporters celebrate a sharp break with her conservative Republican predecessors.

Gov.-elect Laura Kelly was scheduled to be sworn in as the state’s 48th governor Monday, with her inaugural address likely to stress the broad themes that underpinned her successful campaign last year. A veteran state senator from Topeka, Kelly pitched herself to voters as a no-nonsense problem-solver who could work with Republicans, who control the Legislature.

“I’m hoping to hear that we’re going to have change, that we’re hopeful for the future, to get Kansas back on track,” said Kansas House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat. “Her tone so far has been bipartisanship, and I think she’ll continue that.”

Kelly’s victory drew national attention because Kansas is a Republican-leaning state and her opponent, departing Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, touted his history of advising President Donald Trump. Kobach won a narrow victory over Gov. Jeff Colyer in the GOP primary after Trump endorsed Kobach.

But Kelly made the race more about whether Kobach’s fiscal policies would align with those of former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, who pushed legislators to slash state income taxes as an economic stimulus. Most voters deemed Brownback’s experiment a failure because of the budget woes that followed, and legislators reversed most of the cuts in 2017.

The new governor has little choice but to work with Republicans, given their large majorities in the Legislature, which was set to open its annual session Monday afternoon. Even as voters were electing Kelly, in more local Statehouse races, GOP conservatives gained seats.

Top Republicans have said they will hold Kelly to a campaign promise not to increase taxes to pay for additional state spending. They will learn more about Kelly’s budget proposals later in the week, after she gives the annual State of the State address Wednesday evening.

“Any areas that we have common agreement or we can compromise and work on, we’ll do it,” said Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, a Kansas City-area Republican.

NCGA Says No To Possible Early Withdrawal of NAFTA

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The National Corn Growers Association is committed to creating new market opportunities abroad for U.S. corn producers, which means more market access around the world. It also means securing the important trade markets of Canada and Mexico, getting some stability back into those relationships with the U.S.A.’s North American trading partners.

NCGA says that the first NAFTA has been an unprecedented success in helping America’s corn producers. Going back to 1994, American corn exports to these regional partners have increased 300 percent. Mexico is now the top destination for U.S. corn exports, recent corn exports to Mexico were up 13 percent for 2017-2018 when compared to the previous year.

The total reached a record high of 15.7 million tons, or 618 million bushels. As Congress begins to consider the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, it is imperative that the Administration not withdraw from NAFTA before the new agreement is officially ratified. Earlier reports have President Trump considering early withdrawal of NAFTA as a way to pressure Congress into approving the deal. However, NCGA says those markets are vital to U.S. corn farmers and far too important to potentially put at risk.

House Passes Ag Appropriations Bill Trying to End Shutdown

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Ten Republicans joined Democrats in the House of Representatives to pass a fiscal year 2019 agriculture appropriations bill. A DTN report says the bill is not supported by Senate and House Republican leadership, or by President Trump. It’s part of an effort by Democrats in the House to end the partial government shutdown, the vote was 243 to 183.

The bill itself was the same appropriations bill that the Senate passed last year 100 to 0. As the House voting was in process, President Trump and certain cabinet members were making a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border to make his case for funding a border wall as well as other security measures.

Debate over the ag appropriations bill lasted an hour, during the discussion, Georgia Representative Sanford Bishop led fellow Democrats in urging colleagues to pass the bill as part of an effort to get the shutdown ended and government reopened. House Democrats stressed during the debate that the government shutdown is putting stress on Americans, offering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as an example. They said while the Trump Administration has a plan to get SNAP benefits out in February, there’s no plan after that.

City to honor 17 killed in Missouri tour boat accident

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BRANSON, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri city where 17 people died in a tour boat accident last year plans to honor the victims somehow but is still determining how to do so.

A Branson businessman in September proposed building a lighthouse-shaped monument to the victims of the July 19 ”duck boat ” accident on nearby Table Rock Lake. But some community members felt the monument should be closer to the lake, which is just outside of popular tourist city. Local news reports said some people worried that erecting a monument would serve as a grim reminder of the tragedy.

Aldermen voted last week to develop a memorial plan by January 2020. Mayor Karen Best said the delay is so the city can come up with the best possible tribute.

“We housed a lot of the families (after the accident), so we got to be close to the families as members of the city and staff,” Best said. “We are just so committed to making sure that what we do provides honor and tribute to them.”

The amphibious vehicle operated by Ride the Ducks Branson first took tourists on a trip through the city known for its country music concerts before it entered the lake. The vessel capsized moments later when a severe storm blew in.

The boat’s captain, Kenneth Scott McKee, was indicted in November. He is accused of failing to properly assess incoming weather before entering the water, failing to tell passengers to use flotation devices, and other violations of federal laws overseeing captains.

Report: Flu season poised to be milder than last year

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NEW YORK (AP) — It’s early, but the current flu season is shaping up to be gentler than last winter’s unusually brutal one, U.S. health officials said.

Most recent CDC Flu map- click to expand

In most parts of the country, most illnesses right now are being caused by a flu strain that leads to fewer hospitalizations and deaths as the kind of flu that dominated a year ago, according to officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccines also work better against it, said the CDC’s Dr. Alicia Fry.

So is the U.S. in for a milder flu season?

“If (this strain) continues to be the predominant virus, that is what we’d expect,” Fry said.

Last season, an estimated 80,000 Americans died of flu and its complications — the disease’s highest death toll in at least four decades. In recent years, flu-related deaths have ranged from about 12,000 to 56,000, according to the CDC.

The CDC has no estimate of deaths so far this season, partly because it’s so early. Flu usually takes off after Christmas and peaks around February.

On Friday, the CDC released its regular weekly flu update, showing that it was reported to be widespread in 30 states last week, up from 24 the week before.

The health agency also released new estimates of how the flu season is playing out. It said:

—About 6 million to 7 million Americans have become ill since flu season kicked off in the fall.

—About half were sick enough to go to see a doctor.

—Roughly 70,000 to 80,000 have been hospitalized.

The CDC usually doesn’t make those estimates until a flu season is over, but researchers have been working on the model for nearly a decade and believe it is sound enough to use while the season is still going on, officials said.

Because the model is new, CDC researchers said they aren’t able to compare those estimates to previous flu seasons.

Last season, an estimated 49 million Americans got sick from the flu, 23 million went for medical care and 960,000 were hospitalized.

Some doctors and nurses were anxious going into this flu season, considering how bad last year was, said Dr. James Steinberg, chief medical officer at Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlanta.

But so far it hasn’t been nearly as severe. “It seems more like a typical flu season,” he said.

Trial delayed for suspect in NE Kansas triple killing

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The trial of a man charged with fatally shooting three people in downtown Lawrence has been pushed back.

Roberts-photo Douglas Co.

Lawyers for 21-year-old Anthony Roberts Jr., of Topeka, said Friday that they needed more time to prepare for the trial. It had been scheduled to begin Feb. 4 but was moved to June 10. Prosecutors didn’t object to the delay.

Shaye Downing and another attorney were appointed to represent Roberts after his old attorney was kicked off the case over concerns about her competency. The concerns culminated in a judge declaring a mistrial in November.

Roberts is charged with three murder counts and one attempted murder count. Two other suspects face less series charges in the October 2017 shooting.

Tens of thousands remain without power after winter storm

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Tens of thousands remain without power and dozens of schools have canceled classes after a deadly winter blast.

Roof collapse from heavy snow at the Columbia Canine Sports Center -Photo by Barry Mangold courtesy KMIZ

The storm hit the Midwest and mid-Atlantic region Friday, dumping more than a foot of snow across parts of Missouri. Authorities say at least three died in Missouri and two in Kansas on snow-covered roads.

Kansas City Power & Light says more than 45,000 customers still had no power Monday morning.

School closings also were widespread in the Kansas City and St. Louis area. The University of Missouri’s flagship campus in Columbia says its campus will remain closed Monday, after Friday afternoon classes also were canceled.

In Columbia, snow also collapsed the roof of a dog training and event center. No one was inside the Columbia Canine Sports Center at the time.

Deadly weekend on Kansas highways

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The weekend snowstorm kept first responders busy. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported working nine injury accidents on Friday and ten on Saturday. Four of those accidents involved fatalities.

The Phillips County Sheriff’s Office released several photos from accidents they worked in the snow over the weekend.

As snow was falling just after 5p.m. Friday, a semi driver from Mexico Ernesto Rafeal Nevarez Medoza, 41,  died after the semi he was driving westbound on Kansas 156 just east of the Kansas 140 Junction in Ellsworth County collided head-on with another semi.

Lee R. Crum, 81, Oskaloosa, Kansas died in a 2-vehicle crash Friday afternoon in Jefferson County.

Fatal Friday crash scene in Jefferson County photo courtesy WIBW TV

Just after 9p.m. Friday, 62-year-old Bradley S. Horton, Topeka died when his pickup hit a barrier wall on the Kansas Turnpike.

At 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Steven R. Horn, 53, Oklahoma City, died in a head on crash on U.S. 69  just south of Pittsburg. The crash sent four Kansas teens to the hospital with serious injuries.

On Sunday, the Phillips County Sheriff reported they had a busy weekend as the snow began to fall in the area. They released  photos of accidents they worked Friday to remind everyone to slow down when road conditions deteriorate and always buckle up.

Report: Missouri is ‘promised land’ for polygamous community

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HUMANSVILLE, Mo. (AP) — For members of a polygamous community of about 400 people in rural Missouri, their enclave has always been the promised land.

Google map

Known as “The Ranch” to its residents and as “The Compound” to people in neighboring towns, the group still practices plural marriage 35 years after it was established on a 600-acre property between the towns of Humansville and Stockton in southwest Missouri, according to a report by The Salt Lake Tribune in collaboration with The Guardian that shined a new spotlight on the little-known community.

Founder Steven Laub was living in southwest Utah in November 1983 when he said he heard a voice and was called up a mountain where the Lord told him to go to Missouri and buy a ranch, according to an oral history made by community members and recorded on a CD shared with the Tribune.

Dirt roads wind through clusters of trees and homes in the community built on one of the Ozark Mountains’ plateaus. Its residents, who share a common belief in plural marriage, include people from at least three polygamous sects as well as some with fundamentalist Mormon beliefs who do not affiliate with a church.

“Missouri is the promised land,” said Sean Anderson, a 51-year-old fundamentalist Mormon from Mexico who has also lived in Arizona and Utah. He had two wives for a time, but those marriages dissolved. He moved to The Ranch in the fall with his current wife and six children.

Missouri has played an outsized historical role in the religion. Latter-day Saints began arriving in 1831, the year its founder Joseph Smith had a prophecy that Zion was in eastern Missouri’s Jackson County and that Jesus would return there one day.

But his followers had conflicts with other Missouri settlers. In 1838, at least 17 Latter-day Saints were massacred at a place called Haun’s Mill. Church members soon began fleeing the state.

The newspaper’s review of Missouri marriage license showed most residents in the polygamous community marry in their 20s, although some have married as young as 17. Typically, the husband has one legal wife and subsequent marriages are ordained in a religious service with no license on file with a county clerk.

In Missouri, someone can be convicted of bigamy if a married person “purports” to marry another person. The offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. In Utah, polygamy is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison or 15 years if it’s committed in conjunction with fraud or a violent offense.

Cedar County Prosecutor Ty Gaither said he has received no complaints about crimes at the community. He said if he had three parties who were consenting adults, he wouldn’t have a complaining witness.

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