Crime & Courts Archives

Missouri’s Legislative Black Caucus focusing on inclusion and maternal mortality rates

February 19, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

(UPDATE: Story updated to include comments from Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s spokesman, Steele Shippy)

Members of Missouri’s Legislative Black Caucus highlighted accomplishments on Monday at the Capitol in Jefferson City, but they also outlined challenges and key issues they’re focusing on in 2019.

Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, briefs Capitol reporters on February 18, 2019 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Ben Peters at House Communications)

State Rep. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, and other members of the caucus briefed the Capitol Press Corps during a Statehouse news conference about Black History Month.

Roberts, who chairs the caucus, tells Missourinet there are currently a record 23 members of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus. All are Democrats, except for State Rep. Shamed Dogan, R-Ballwin.

Roberts also notes that Black Caucus members hold five of the seven House Democratic leadership positions. He also tells Missourinet that the Black Caucus has monthly meetings with House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield.

A leading Missouri House Democrat wants to see Governor Mike Parson (R) appoint more African-Americans to top state department and agency positions. State Rep. Tommie Pierson Jr., D-St. Louis, the House Minority Caucus Chair, tells reporters that none of the statewide elected officials nor department directors are African-American.

But there is an African-American in a Cabinet position. Chlora Lindley-Myers is the director of the Missouri Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration. She’s been in that position since March 2017.

“And the number that I’ve been trying to keep a tally of is how many African-Americans have presented (during House Budget Committee hearings) this $28 billion Missouri budget, and that number is zero,” Pierson says.

Pierson is referring to the House Budget Committee. Lindley-Myers testified this month before the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Missouri House Minority Caucus Chair Tommie Pierson Jr., D-St. Louis, briefs Capitol reporters on February 18, 2019 (photo courtesy of Ben Peters at House Communications)

Pierson says Missouri has a problem with diversity and inclusion, and says he hopes to have a conversation with the governor about the issue.

Governor Parson’s spokesman, Steele Shippy, has reacted to Representative Pierson’s comments.

“It’s both unfortunate and apparent that this elected official does not know who the state department directors are, because Chlora Lindley-Myers, Director of Insurance, Financial Institution, and Professional Registration, is an African American woman and she testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee just last week,” Shippy tells Missourinet.

As for Representative Dogan, he spoke about the importance of criminal justice reform. He’s filed legislation that would require law enforcement agencies to adopt a written investigation policy for officer-involved deaths.

Meantime, a Missouri House committee plans a Tuesday morning hearing on legislation aimed at preventing maternal mortality. During Monday’s news conference, State Rep. LaKeySha Bosley, D-St. Louis, told reporters that African-American mothers in Missouri have a mortality rate twice that of the general population.

“Black women have a high maternal mortality rate in Missouri of 65 deaths per 100,000 live births,” says Bosley.

The Missouri House Children and Families Committee will hear testimony Tuesday on a bill from State Rep. Sarah Unsicker, D-Shrewsbury, to establish the “Healthy Mothers Initiative.”

Unsicker will present House Bill 664, which would create a committee of doctors, nurses and other professionals to study maternal mortality and recommend solutions.

Unsicker says a woman giving birth today is more likely to die in childbirth than her mother was. She told Missourinet earlier this month that “the crisis in worse in St. Louis and in the Bootheel.”

Lawmakers also discussed successes during Monday’s news conference.

A freshman lawmaker from St. Louis County has learned that he is the youngest African-American male to ever be elected to the Missouri House.

25-year-old State Rep. Kevin Windham, D-Hillsdale, spoke to reporters.

“It’s come to my attention that I am the youngest black man to be elected to serve in the Missouri House of Representatives, edging out Representative Walter Lay by just nine days,” Windham says.

State Rep. Walter Victor Lay, D-St. Louis, was elected to the Missouri House in 1948. Lay served in the military for almost three years and also founded the St. Louis Central Democratic organization’s youth division.

Other lawmakers mentioned George Washington Carver, who was born in southwest Missouri’s Diamond in about 1864.

Missouri attorney general expands new program aimed at combatting violent crime

February 15, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

Springfield in southwest Missouri and Kansas City have joined the attorney general’s efforts intended to fight and prosecute violent crime. Under the Safer Streets Initiative, Attorney General Eric Schmitt says his office will partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to have three to five attorneys take on and prosecute cases like homicides, carjackings and gun crimes in Kansas City. At least one attorney will assist in Springfield crime cases.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt

Last month, Schmitt, a Republican, launched the program in St. Louis.

“Violent crime is something that can’t be fixed at the drop of a hat, but with an unprecedented level of cooperation between state and federal prosecutors, I believe we together can continue to make great progress in making this region safer and more secure. With the Safer Streets Initiative, we can stand together against those who would bring violence to our streets, and can replace the violence with safer, vibrant neighborhoods,” Schmitt says in a press release.

In 2017, more than 160 violent crime incidents were reported in Jackson County, according to Schmitt. Jackson County includes Kansas City.

St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield are among the top 15 most violent cities in America.

Two people dead, one injured in multi-state crime spree that started in mid-Missouri

February 13, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

A kidnapping suspect is dead after taking a woman and child from a Jefferson City home Wednesday night and leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase into Illinois. A press release from the Jefferson City Police Department says a Franklin County deputy in eastern Missouri spotted a vehicle matching the description of the one identified as leaving the scene of the Jefferson City residence.

Leslie K. Austin

The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle. The car failed to yield – sparking a pursuit by officers and state troopers. Several gunshots were reportedly fired from the suspect’s vehicle during the chase.

After the car’s tires were flattened, the accused abductor, Leslie Austin, fled on foot. The woman and child escaped separately.

Austin then shot and killed someone in Illinois while attempting to hijack their vehicle.

The suspect was eventually shot to death but it’s unclear if he was killed by an officer or if the injuries were self-inflicted.

The conditions of the woman, who was shot several times, and the child are unknown. The woman’s injuries required surgery.

Criminal justice reform remains a top priority for Missouri House Democrats

February 13, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri House Democrats outlined a criminal justice reform package this week in Jefferson City, reforms they say are aimed at producing more just and effective outcomes.

State Rep. Bruce Franks, D-St. Louis, briefs Capitol reporters about criminal justice reform efforts on February 11, 2019, as House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, (right) listens (photo courtesy of Benjamin Peters at House Communications)

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, tells the Capitol Press Corps that maintaining a strong criminal justice system means addressing its weaknesses.

“If we truly want to address crime in our state, we must end counterproductive practices that come down harder on low-income defendants and make it more difficult for past offenders to find jobs and contribute to society,” Quade says.

Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Zel Fischer told lawmakers during January’s State of the Judiciary Address that too many Missourians who are arrested cannot afford bail, even for low-level offenses.

State Rep. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Chairman, has proposed a “Money Bail Reform Act.”

“When a poor defendant sits in jail awaiting trial while a wealthier defendant can go free by pulling out his wallet, it calls the fairness of our criminal justice system into question,” says Roberts.

Meantime, legislation to restore voting rights of Missourians on probation or parole has been filed by the ranking Democrat on the House Crime Prevention and Public Safety Committee.

State Rep. Bruce Franks Jr., D-St. Louis, says if we want to fully integrate former prisoners back into society, their voting rights should be restored upon release.

“There are 13 other states in the United States that their particular legislation says that you can vote as soon as you get out of jail, including Utah,” Franks tells Capitol reporters.

The state Department of Corrections (DOC) says about 59,000 Missourians are currently on probation or parole. They would be allowed to vote, under Franks’ House Bill 508.

Under current Missouri law, the voting rights of convicted felons aren’t restored until they complete their probation or parole.

Franks says excluding people from the duties and obligations of citizenship won’t make them better citizens, adding that his bill has GOP co-sponsors.

“I’ve gotten a lot of support on both sides of the aisle in both chambers (House and Senate), I’ve actually been meeting with Republican legislators, on both sides,” says Franks.

State Reps. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, and Jim Neely, R-Cameron, are co-sponsoring Franks’ bill. Rehder chairs the House Rules Committee.

Representative Franks tells Missourinet he’s also spoken to Governor Mike Parson (R) to request his support for the bill. House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, has referred Franks’ bill to the House Elections and Elected Officials Committee.

Lincoln Day is a Missouri state holiday on Tuesday

February 11, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Tuesday is Lincoln Day, which is a Missouri state and county holiday.

Lincoln Day is named for President Abraham Lincoln, the nation’s 16th president. President Lincoln led the nation during the Civil War before being assassinated in 1865.

Most Missouri state and county offices, including county courthouses, will be closed Tuesday, with the exception of emergency services such as the Missouri State Highway Patrol and county sheriff’s departments. Corrections officers will be working inside the state’s prisons.

While Tuesday is a state holiday, the Missouri Legislature will be in session and numerous legislative hearings are scheduled.

Monday will be another state and county holiday, with the observance of Washington’s birthday.

Missouri has 12 state holidays.

Documentary claims Columbia police allowed pimp to operate in exchange for drug information

February 8, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

A documentary is out alleging that Columbia police allowed a sex trafficking ring to continue for about three decades, to protect a pimp named Barry Manthe as a drug informant. Nanette Ward with the Central Missouri Stop Human Trafficking Coalition says if the claims are true, it’s discouraging.

Barry Manthe

“We are, as a culture, more concerned about the War on Drugs,” she says. “That’s just who we are right now. We have not moved to really embracing the fact that there are victims of this horrific crime of human trafficking.”

Ward tells Missourinet affiliate KSSZ in Columbia that local agencies need more training to investigate and prosecute traffickers.

“Most of it’s being done at the federal level,” Ward says. “In time, we need to get that experience. We need to have those local cases here in Missouri, here in Boone County, but we’re not there yet.”

A local filmmaker and police accountability group called Citizens for Justice released the film titled “Police Protected Pimp”.

The Columbia Police Department tells Missourinet an administrative review is underway of the video and the facts surrounding it.

Hartzler discusses opioid epidemic, transportation and broadband with Missouri lawmakers (AUDIO)

February 8, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A congresswoman who represents a large portion of central and western Missouri traveled to Jefferson City this week to meet with state lawmakers from her district.

U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, meets with Missouri lawmakers on February 4, 2019 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Congresswoman Hartzler’s office)

U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, says it makes sense to join forces with state lawmakers, since they both serve the same constituents.

“And I feel so honored that so many of our state reps and senators from the Fourth District came to spend a little time discussing issues that impact both at the federal level and state levels,” Hartzler says.

More than a dozen state lawmakers from across the sprawling Fourth Congressional District met this week in Jefferson City with Congresswoman Hartzler. She says numerous topics were discussed during the “Working Together for Missouri Summit.”

“Such as the opioid crisis, the need for rural broadband, need for affordable, accessible health care, transportation, infrastructure,” says Hartzler.

Governor Mike Parson, a Republican, says about ten Missouri school districts currently lack access to high-speed broadband. The governor calls that “unacceptable.” Hartzler says broadband continues to be a big issue in rural areas.

Governor Parson has also proposed a $350 million infrastructure plan, aimed at repairing or replacing 250 bridges across the state. The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says more than 900 Missouri bridges are in poor condition.

Congresswoman Hartzler’s district includes Columbia, Moberly, Sedalia and Fort Leonard Wood. She represents all or parts of 24 counties. Hartzler, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, supports GOP President Donald Trump’s border wall.

“Because 90 percent of the heroin that is ending up in our districts and people are overdosing and dying, is coming across the southern border,” Hartzler says.

She tells Missourinet the overwhelming majority of her constituents favor the wall.

Hartzler says 70,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2017 and adds that Congress has approved $10 billion in funding for states to fight the opioid epidemic.

State Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, and State Reps. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, Robert Ross, R-Yukon, Glen Kolkmeyer, R-Odessa and Donna Pfautsch, R-Harrisonville, were among the lawmakers who participated in Monday’s meeting.

Click here to listen to Missourinet news director Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, which was recorded on February 4, 2019 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City:

Missouri Congressman Smith: “We need to have strong border security” (AUDIO)

February 7, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A Missouri congressman who serves as the GOP Conference Secretary praises President Trump’s (R) State of the Union Address and backs the president’s call for a border wall.

President Donald Trump and Missouri Congressman Jason Smith (right) in Washington on February 5, 2019 (photo courtesy of Congressman Smith’s office)

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, tells Missourinet having an unsecured southern border leaves a threat to all Americans.

“We do need to have barriers along the southern border,” Smith says. “We need to have strong border security, because there’s all kinds of illegal drugs that are coming across the border.”

Smith notes federal agents made the largest seizure of fentanyl in U.S. history last week in Arizona. NBC News reports federal agents discovered 254 pounds of fentanyl, which is the synthetic opioid blamed for the majority of overdose deaths.

State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, told Missourinet this week in Jefferson City that those 254 pounds of fentanyl could have killed millions of Americans.

Congressman Smith says there’s a humanitarian crisis at our southern border, a crisis he says will only be solved with a physical barrier.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, disagrees with Smith. Congresswoman Cleaver, who also represents rural Lafayette, Saline and Ray counties, tweeted Tuesday night that “Illegal immigration is not a security crisis. Illegal border crossings are down 80 percent since 2001.”

Smith says the president has laid out a vision for the nation that all Americans can get behind. Congressman Smith praises President Trump for saying five million Americans have been lifted off food stamps and that African-American unemployment is the lowest on record.

“Well just put it this way, the president’s message to our country tonight was very clear to me: America’s First leadership is returning American greatness,” says Smith.

Smith represents 30 counties across southeast and south-central Missouri. His sprawling district includes Ava, Farmington, Sikeston and West Plains. Smith notes the president carried his district by 56 points in 2016.

Smith was one of the congressional leaders in both parties who escorted President Trump into the House chamber on Tuesday night. Smith says it was exciting.

“The relationship I’ve been able to cultivate with the president over the last couple of years has been very beneficial to the people of Missouri, and I was honored to be part of the escort committee,” Smith says.

Smith tells Missourinet President Trump told him Tuesday that the November Cape Girardeau rally is one of the best rallies he’s ever had.

U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, issued a statement after the State of the Union Address. It reads, in part: “The State of our Union is broken because of the damage and pain that Donald Trump has inflicted on the American people.”

Clay’s statement also says: “The President has worked tirelessly to deepen the divisions of racial hatred and intolerance in our nation in order to advance his own personal politics and to placate his extremist supporters.”

Democrats currently control the U.S. House 235-200. Republicans control the U.S. Senate 53-47.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, which was recorded on February 5, 2019, following President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address:

Law enforcement backs Missouri bill toughening penalties for fentanyl (AUDIO)

February 6, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Legislation to increase penalties for trafficking and possessing fentanyl was heard by the Missouri House Judiciary Committee Tuesday evening in Jefferson City.

State Rep. Nick Schroer speaks to Capitol reporters in December 2017 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Fentanyl is not included in Missouri’s current drug trafficking statutes.

The bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, notes federal agents made the largest seizure of fentanyl in U.S. history last week in Arizona.

“Right after this (bill) was called for a hearing, we had the largest bust of fentanyl coming across our border in history. It was 254 pounds,” Schroer testifies.

Schroer tells Missourinet those 254 pounds of fentanyl could have killed millions of Americans.

NBC News reports U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers valued the fentanyl at $3.5 million, adding that fentanyl is the synthetic opioid blamed for the majority of overdose deaths.

The Judiciary Committee heard testimony about Schroer’s bill, which increases criminal penalties for fentanyl. It makes trafficking at least 60 grams of fentanyl a class A felony.

Schroer tells State Rep. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, that much of the fentanyl is being made in Mexico and China.

“Do you know what percentage of it is being made outside the country?” Trent asks Schroer.

“The vast majority of it,” Schroer responds.

“It would be nice to have some border control, wouldn’t it gentleman?” Trent says. “It would be nice,” Schroer says.

The longtime prosecutor in western Missouri’s Platte County says it’s time to add fentanyl to Missouri’s statutes. Republican Eric Zahnd testified for Schroer’s bill.

“Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous street drug, which is killing people at alarming rates,” Zahnd says. “It needs to be added.”

Sheldon Lineback of the Missouri Police Chiefs Association and Brad Thielemier of the Missouri State Troopers Association testified Tuesday night for Schroer’s bill. So did a representative for anesthesiologists.

No one testified against the bill.

Schroer’s bill also toughens penalties on “date rape drugs”. The House Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on the bill next week.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and State Rep. Nick Schroer, which was recorded on February 5, 2019 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City:

Missouri House Democrats outline health care agenda, including PDMP (AUDIO)

February 5, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri House Democrats say Missouri is in a health care crisis and have unveiled a legislative agenda they say is aimed at improving health care access and outcomes.

State Rep. Sarah Unsicker, D-Shrewsbury, (left) and House Minority Leader Crystal Quade brief Capitol reporters on February 4, 2019 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

They held a news conference Monday at the Statehouse in Jefferson City, and the measures they outlined address the state’s opioid crisis and the issue of maternal mortality.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, says approving prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) legislation is a top priority for House Democrats, who are outnumbered 115-47 in Jefferson City.

A PDMP is an electronic database that collects data on controlled substance prescriptions within a state to look for cases of drug misuse. Missouri is the only state in the nation without one.

Leader Quade says PDMP could go to the House floor this week.

“So we’re very excited that this bipartisan supported initiative to help folks who are addicted to opioids and help the opioid crisis is going to be moving through,” Quade says.

Quade tells Missourinet House Democrats support the PDMP bill from State Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, which has been approved 13-3 by the Missouri House Insurance Policy Committee.

Rehder’s bill now heads to the House floor, and House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, also supports it.

Rehder says about 6,000 Missouri children are removed from substance abuse homes annually.

Meantime, legislation aimed at preventing maternal mortality has been filed by a St. Louis County state lawmaker. State Rep. Sarah Unsicker, D-Shrewsbury, the ranking Democrat on the House Children and Families Committee, says a woman giving birth today is more likely to die in childbirth than her mother was.

State Rep. Martha Stevens, D-Columbia, briefs Capitol reporters on February 4, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

“The crisis is worse in St. Louis and in the Bootheel and we’re working to address that, but it is a problem overall in the state,” says Unsicker.

She tells Capitol reporters that African-American mothers have a mortality rate twice that of the general population.

Her legislation would establish the “Healthy Mothers Initiative,” which would create a committee of doctors, nurses and other professionals to study maternal mortality and recommend solutions.

A mid-Missouri Democratic state lawmaker has filed legislation to create a pilot program offering free sterile needles and syringes in exchange for new items.

State Rep. Martha Stevens, D-Columbia, says Missouri has a drug addiction crisis and that the pilot program would reduce the spread of disease like HIV and Hepatitis C among intravenous drug users.

“Needle exchange programs serve also as vital bridges to treatment and to prevention services,” Stevens says. “These programs exist in 35 other states as a means of intervention.”

Stevens says research shows an individual is five times more likely to enter treatment if they’re utilizing a needle exchange program.

Under Rep. Stevens’ bill, the state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) would have at least one exchange site in each of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. The pilot program would also provide educational materials, counseling and testing.

House Democrats also support Medicaid expansion. Governor Mike Parson (R) and new state Medicaid Director Todd Richardson told Missourinet in October that they’re focused on reforming Medicaid, not expanding the program.

Richardson says the Medicaid budget is now about 35 percent of Missouri’s $28 billion operating budget.

Click here to listen to the full news conference with Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, and other House Democrats on February 4, 2019 in Jefferson City: