May 22, 2012

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AG Koster recommends changes to MO domestic violence law (AUDIO)

February 9, 2011 By

Attorney General Chris Koster speaks at a press conference, flanked by state legislators supporting the recommendations

Attorney General Chris Koster says of the dozen recommendations, one of them that may seem the most simple may be the most important. He wants legislators to make sure the language used in domestic violence laws isn’t confusing or contradictory.

“For example, ‘adult’ is identified in one section (of the law) as someone 18 years or older. But in another section it’s defined as 17 years or older. Such simple disparities result in confusion throughout the system, leaving officers unsure as to enforcement, court uncertain regarding their jurisdiction, and victims unclear as to their available protections,” Koster said.

Koster says it’s been thirty years since the general assembly made a comprehensive update of domestic violence laws. He says these changes are needed now. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Law Enforcement, Legislature, Politics & Government

Expert stresses need for electronic health records (AUDIO)

February 8, 2011 By

A Missouri Health Policy expert is stressing the need for one of the Obama administration’s health care reforms.

The federal healthcare overhaul is a hot topic of debate, as Republicans in the U.S. House try to overturn it. But Nancie McAnaugh with the University of Missouri Center for Health Policy says the grant money to encourage health care providers to move to electronic medical records should be left alone.

“People ask, ‘Why should we move to electronic health records if health care reform is going to go away? What we really try to stress to them is these are really two different programs. I mean, the ‘Hi Tech Act’ was a federal law that was passed separately from health care reform. There’s been no conversation at all about repealing that act. When you go and look out there, everyone from Newt Gingrich to the RAND Corporation are talking about the fact that we really need to be moving to an electronic system. It just makes the most sense and it will, over time, improve quality and cost,” McAnaugh said. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Politics & Government

Report: Average MO payday loan interest rate at 445% (AUDIO)

February 7, 2011 By

A state reports shows some interesting developments in Missouri’s payday loan industry.

Brenda Procter with the University of Missouri Extension helps educate Missourians on predatory lending. She explains the findings of the 2011 Payday Lender General Assembly report.

“The number of licenses being issued is down by roughly 19% and the number of loans are down. What’s, I guess, disturbing to me is that the interest rate being charged on the loans, the typical interest rate, is now 445% APR. So the costs are going up, and the number of participants in that market is going down,” Procter said. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, Finance, Legislature

Carnahan calls for top-to-bottom review of John Cochran VA Medical Center (AUDIO)

February 4, 2011 By

All surgeries have been cancelled for the time being at the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis after unclean surgical equipment was found during a regular inspection. St. Louis-area Congressman Russ Carnahan is calling for a top-to-bottom review of the facility, which has had its problems in the past.

“This all started with a problem with instruments not being properly sanitized in their dental clinic. We’ve heard from many Veterans that use services there; we’ve heard from many employees that work there with ongoing issues. There are several pending investigations to get to the bottom of the problems there,” Carnahan said.

Last year there was the announcement that as many as 1,800 veterans may have been exposed to HIV and Hepatitis at John Cochran. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Military, Politics & Government

Farmers assist in rescue of woman near death in Randolph County

February 3, 2011 By

What could have been a tragedy Tuesday night turned out to be a life-saving effort by the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department and two area farmers. Sheriff Mark Nichols says his department tried to respond to a call of a possible stranded motorist on a County Road southwest of Moberly, but their patrol cars got stuck en route. Nichols says two farmers nearby brought out their tractors and broke up the snow drifts.

“Proceeded down the road and found the stranded vehicle, however the occupant was not inside. Turned down 2450… searching down that road, and found the victim lying in the ditch on a snow bank. We responded, he busted up the drifts and we were able to get through there. She was unresponsive but was breathing. We loaded her into my patrol vehicle and immediately got out onto the highway,” Nichols said. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agriculture, Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Law Enforcement, Transportation, Weather
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