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Teen certified as adult in shooting of Missouri police chief

WARSAW, Mo. (AP) — A teenager has been certified to stand trial as an adult in the shooting of a Missouri police chief.

Andrew Floyd photo Benton County

17-year-old Andrew Floyd was certified as an adult Thursday in the May 2018 shooting of Warsaw Police Chief Jason Wenberg.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Wenberg was investigating a suspicious person when he began struggling with Floyd, who as 16 at the time.

Floyd is accused of shooting at Wenberg, who was wearing a ballistic vest and was not seriously hurt. He shot Floyd, who was injured.

Cities Are Releasing Neutered Feral Cats — To Kansas Birders, That’s Unnerving

Cities in Kansas have been adopting a new approach for dealing with feral cats: neutering and vaccinating them, and then allowing the felines to roam free.

That has birdwatchers worried.

“Feral cats can be incredibly destructive to bird populations,” said Ron Klataske, executive director of Audubon of Kansas. “It does concern some of our local Audubon chapters throughout the state and elsewhere in the country.”

Wildlife conservationists accuse local governments that have adopted trap-neuter-return policies of valuing an invasive species over native birds and small mammals that the cats like to hunt.

Advocates say it’s more humane, and that neutering will reduce feral cat populations as the animals die of natural causes.

Wichita has been debating adding its own trap-neuter-return policy, or TNR, for months.

In communities, including Salina, North Newton, and Topeka, that have switched to neutering, the practice has drastically lowered the number of felines euthanized in city shelters. Lawrence is launching its program in May.

Friends of Felines, a group that’s been neutering and releasing feral cats in Wichita ad hoc for years, points to a reduction in euthanizations as proof the approach works.

Wichita euthanized more than 3,000 cats in 2013. Last year the number dropped to fewer than 1,000. Wichita police also credit freelance neutering for the reduction.

But with the animals having a lifespan of about 15 years, opponents of releasing the neutered felines back onto the streets say that’s still a lot of time for hunting.

“I see them sitting underneath my birdfeeder,” said Tom Ewert, president of the Wichita Audubon Society. “I haven’t agreed to having these feral cats running around outside.”

Ewert is wary of being labeled a cat hater — he has his own indoor cat. But he says outdoor cats devastate local wildlife.

A 2013 study estimated that domestic cats kill up to four billion birds a year in the United States, though that figure has been disputed. Cats have also been blamed for the extinction of dozens of species worldwide, including some mammals and reptiles.

While sharing the concerns for wildlife, PETA has also raised red flags about the brutal lives feral cats endure, struggling for adequate food and shelter. The animal rights group argues that care for the cats should include regular veterinary check-ups.

In Kansas cities, volunteers bring theferal cats to a veterinarian to be neutered and vaccinated, usually at the expense of the volunteer. The animals’ ears are clipped to identify that they’ve been neutered and to avoid unnecessary subsequent captures. Then they are let go.

The ordinance Wichita is considering would require the cats also be assigned to a caregiver. That volunteer would be allowed to care for up to eight cats, including their own domesticated felines. They would also have to provide some food and outdoor shelter for the animals.

Topeka’s program — adopted in 2010 — doesn’t designate caretakers but cat lovers usually step in to provide some assistance.

“Almost every colony that we come across or that are referred to us has a caregiver,” said Susan Schmitz, a founder of Topeka Community Cat Fix.

For friendly strays, adoption is one alternative that opponents of neuter-and-return suggest.

But a feral cats by definition aren’t socialized with people, making adoption impossible. For Ewert and other birders that leaves only euthanasia.

“That’s a terrible thing to say but we have a cat overpopulation right now and what are you going to do?” he said.

Stephan Bisaha reports on education for the Kansas News Service. Follow him on @SteveBisaha.

House Ag Chair Backs One-Time Payment for Flooded Grain

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says farmers ought to be eligible for federal compensation for grain lost in flooded bins this spring. At nearly the same time, House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson called for a one-time payment to flooded grain operators. Insurance policies typically cover grain bins and the equipment needed to move the grain.

However, that doesn’t apply to the contents of the grain bins. The USDA says none of the agency’s disaster programs cover stored grain hit by floods. The problem is farmers are storing larger-than-normal amounts of grain because of past bumper crops and an ongoing trade war. “I think we can do a one-time thing to try and help people with that,” Peterson says. What makes the flooding even worse for farmers is grain cannot be sold for food use if it’s been contaminated by flooding because of possible mold and fungal development.

On Capitol Hill, Perdue compared flooded grains in bins to flooded grain fields, saying, “If it was flooded prior to harvest, would we have compensated for it? Yes. Just because it’s in the bin, does that make it different? They haven’t marketed that. I think it’s something we should consider.”

Study: Missouri’s marijuana supply will outpace demand

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A government-commissioned study has found that Missouri won’t have enough demand for medical marijuana to support the number of businesses the state is required to license next year.

Three University of Missouri researchers recently told state officials that Missouri will need fewer than half of the 60 commercial growers that must be licensed by January.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the researchers predict up to 29 cultivators would grow enough medical marijuana for the estimated 26,000 qualified patients by 2022.

Missouri voters approved a constitutional amendment in November legalizing marijuana use for patients with cancer and other serious conditions, as well as for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Missouri is already planning at least 192 dispensaries, 86 manufacturing facilities and two testing facilities, in addition to the 60 cultivators.

ASF Picture Getting Even Worse

Photo courtesy Missourinet.

African Swine Fever is continuing to devastate China’s hog population while it disrupts global pork markets and forces U.S. industry stakeholders to work together on prevention efforts. David Williams of Informa Economics and Bill Even, CEO of the National Pork Board, recently gave presentations at the North American Meat Institute’s Meat industry Summit. The trade industry website Meating Place Dot Com says both presentations were very bleak.

“African Swine Fever is the worst possible disease in swine in the world,” Even said during his remarks. “China is home to half the world’s pigs, so preventing ASF in North America is critical. There is no vaccine for ASF. There’s no way to treat it.” Even says the Chinese producers they’ve spoken to describe the disease as a flow of hot, molten lava, moving slowly through their facility but killing everything. ASF has killed 18 percent of China’s herd, which topped 435 million head before the outbreak. That 18 percent is more than the entire U.S. hog population.

The disease is transmitted through sick animals, as well as contaminated feed and casings. Outbreaks are now popping up in Vietnam, Tibet, Cambodia, and South Africa. ASF is not in the United States, nor have any U.S. pigs been affected by the disease to date. It’s a viral disease that only affects pigs, so it’s not a public health threat.

Kan. school district superintendent placed on leave after DUI arrest

JEFFERSON COUNTY — A Kansas school district superintendent arrested for an alleged DUI has been placed on leave.

Martin Stessman-photo Jefferson Co..

On Saturday, The Kansas Highway Patrol arrested 55-year-old Dr. Martin Stessman, the superintendent at USD 450 Tecumseh after a 911 call reporting a reckless driver on Interstate 70, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.

On Sunday, the school district held a special board meeting that went into executive session to discuss personnel matters, according to a statement from USD 450.  Dr. Stessman was not relieved of his duties as superintendent; however, he was asked to take some personal time off.

On Thursday, the board met again and placed Stessman on administrative leave until June 1, 2019. He will forfeit twenty days of pay with those funds going toward an alcohol awareness program determined and approved by this board at a later date. During this time Matt Hirsch will act as interim Superintendent.

The board also placed Stessman on one year probation period in which he can be terminated by the board. He must complete a professional alcohol assessment, fully comply with assessment recommendations and speak to students and make this a teaching moment.

In addition, the board said, “This statement serves as a formal reprimand from the Board of Education for engaging in conduct unbecoming to Dr. Stessman’s position as Superintendent of Schools. Although the incident occurred during non-school hours and off school grounds, Dr. Stessman is reminded that as Superintendent, his conduct, during both school and non-school periods, directly reflects on the District, the Board of Education, the community, our students and their families. We expect that in the future, no similar incidents will occur, or Dr. Stessman’s employment can be terminated immediately.”

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JEFFERSON COUNTY — A Kansas school district superintendent was arrested for alleged DUI over the weekend.

Just before 8:30 p.m. Saturday, The Kansas Highway Patrol arrested 55-year-old Dr. Martin Stessman, the superintendent at USD 450 Tecumseh after a 911 call reporting a reckless driver on Interstate 70, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.

Just after 10:30p.m., Stessman was booked into jail, posted the $1000 bond and was released just before midnight.

USD 450 released no statement on the incident Sunday.

New Census of Agriculture Data Released

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the results of the 2017 Census of Agriculture. The census covers around 6.4 million points of information about America’s farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The National Ag Statistics Service collected the information that shows both farm numbers and land in farms have continuing small percentage declines since the last census back in 2012.

The average age of all farmers and ranchers continues to rise. Some of the other highlights include the fact that there are 2.04 million farms and ranches in the country. That’s 3.2 percent lower than 2012. The average farm size is 441 acres, up 1.6 percent. American farms and ranches cover 900 million acres, also down 1.6 percent. Average farm income is $43,053. A total of 43 percent of the nation’s farms had a positive net cash farm income in 2017.

Farm expenses are $326 billion, with feed, livestock purchases, hired labor, fertilizer, and cash rents topping the list in 2017. Also in 2017, over 130,000 farms sold products directly to consumers, with sales totaling $2.8 billion.

FCC to hold big 5G auction, spend $20B for rural internet

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. communications regulator will hold a massive auction to bolster 5G service, the next generation of mobile networks, and will spend $20 billion for rural internet.

5G will mean faster wireless speeds and has implications for technologies like self-driving cars and augmented reality. The rollout started last week in the U.S. and South Korea but will take years.

The Federal Communications Commission said Friday that it would hold the largest auction in U.S. history, of 3,400 megahertz, to boost wireless companies’ networks.

The FCC also says it will repurpose funds from existing programs to provide $20.4 billion connecting up to 4 million rural homes and small businesses to high-speed internet. There are 24 million Americans without access to broadband, and the problem is worst in rural areas.

Planned Parenthood seeks stay on abortion ruling at Missouri clinic

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Planned Parenthood is asking a federal appeals court to delay a ruling on a case involving whether abortions will resume at its Columbia clinic.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports a motion filed by the organization asks the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to wait until the U.S. Supreme Court decides a Louisiana abortion-related case.

In Missouri, Planned Parenthood is challenging a February ruling denying an injunction to block the state from enforcing hospital privilege requirements for doctors at abortion clinics.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a Louisiana law that also involves admitting privileges for abortion clinics from taking effect.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt says the Missouri case should proceed, alleging that Planned Parenthood wants to delay it in hopes of a more favorable outcome.

Missouri man dies after motorcycle hits sign, embankment

BARRY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 4p.m. Thursday in Barry County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Honda motorcycle driven by Gregory S. Clein, 54, Monett, was southbound on MO. 97 two miles south of Yonkersville.

The motorcycle traveled off the road, hit a sign and an embankment. Clein was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.

He was transported to the funeral home in Cassville. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

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