January 27, 2012

Missouri National Guard assisting flood victims in North Dakota

The Missouri National Guard is going to help flood victims in North Dakota.

Governor Jay Nixon (D-MO) has mobilized National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from units in Springfield and St. Joseph, to provide two C-130 aircraft with 14 Airmen and a helicopter maintenance team with 20 Citizen-Soldiers.

A press release from the Governor makes it clear Missouri is up to the task of helping out when it can:

"Missouri is always ready to help its fellow states when they need assistance in the face of natural disasters, just as they have helped us in the past."

The National Guard’s Airmen from the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph and the Soldiers from the 1107th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group in Springfield head to North Dakota on Saturday. The helicopter maintenance team will report to Grand Forks and the C-130s are awaiting specific mission assignments.

The Missouri Guard members, who are mobilized under the Emergency Management Assistante Compact – an interstate mutual aid agreement – will remain in North Dakota until they are released by the Governor of that state. 

Anderson could get extension soon

Anthony Grant, new Tide coach There is a very good possibility that Missouri Tiger head basketball coach Mike Anderson will be back next season and beyond once this magical season ends.  For starters, you can stop worrying about the Alabama coaching job rumor.

That rumor has been put to bed.  Alabama announced they are hiring of Anthony Grant (pictured) as their new men’s basketball coach.  It has been rumored ever since Mike Gottfried resigned that Anderson would have interest in going back to the state of Alabama.

Also, the Kansas City Star has reported that once the season is over, Anderson could get a contract extension in the range of $1.3 million over five years.  Anderson is in his final year of a three year deal that pays $850,000 plus incentives.

The Tigers play UCONN today with a 3:40 CT tip.

Chiefs LJ gets two years probation

Larry Johnson during happier times Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson was sentenced to two years’ probation Friday after pleading guilty to two counts of disturbing the peace for separate incidents involving women at nightclubs last year.

As part of the probation terms, Johnson can’t drink alcohol or visit any bars or nightclubs in Kansas City after 9pm.  He will also take anger management classes and perform 40 hours of community service.

He was charged with two separate incidents. One, last February when he was accused of pushing a woman’s head at a nightclub.  The other happened during the Chiefs bye week in Octobor when he was accused of spitting a drink in a woman’s face.

Guilty verdict in Shockley murder trial

A guilty verdict is returned in the West Plains murder trial of Lance Shockley, who was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Carl Dewayne Graham four years ago.

The prosecution had claimed Shockley ambushed Graham while the Sergeant was in his driveway. Graham had investigated a fatal traffic crash in which Shockley reportedly was involved and fled.

The trial has entered the sentencing phase.

Budgets and speed traps

Join the whole crew:  Bob, Brent and Steve as they discuss some rancorous debates in both the House and the Senate.

Bob also explains why the #1 speed trap in Missouri is under attack.