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Winter storm briefly closes interstate in western Missouri (AUDIO)

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Winter weather briefly closed heavily-traveled southbound I-49 in western Missouri’s Belton on Monday morning, because of numerous slide offs and unsafe driving conditions.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in St. Louis is warning about deteriorating conditions on bridges and overpasses (November 11, 2019 map courtesy of NWS St. Louis Twitter)

National Weather Service (NWS) Pleasant Hill meteorologist Jonathan Kurtz notes it’s rare for a storm to close an interstate.

“It happens from time to time when you get these pretty strong intense bursts of snow,” Kurtz says. “And we have had two rounds here in the Kansas City metro, and two pretty strong lines have come through.”

I-49, which has re-opened, is a major route for truckers, and runs in Missouri from just south of Kansas City to southwest Missouri’s McDonald County.

Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) spokeswoman Sally Oxenhandler tells Missourinet that southbound I-49 at 163rd Street in Cass County was closed for about 20 minutes today.

Kurtz says conditions on the interstate quickly deteriorated.

“I-49 was only closed for a little bit of time there due to some slick roads there,” says Kurtz. “And snow started to accumulate pretty fast. Once it started hitting the ground, it only took about 20 to 30 minutes for the road to start to get snow-covered.”

Missouri state troopers responded to several slide-offs on Highway 50 in western Missouri’s Knob Noster on November 11, 2019 (photo from Missourinet’s Ashley Byrd)

The National Weather Service is warning Missourians that the snow and falling temperatures will lead to deteriorating conditions on bridges and overpasses for your evening commute. Mr. Kurtz is urging motorists to slow down.

“My drive in was pretty slick as well, and you just have to give yourself plenty of time. And we can kind of be thrown off, especially when the day before we had highs in the 50’s,” Kurtz says.

Snow is expected to end in Jefferson City by 4 p.m. Monday and in southeast Missouri’s Farmington by 6 p.m. The NWS is urging motorists and anyone heading outside to dress in layers.

Northwest Missouri’s St. Joseph has received about an inch of snow, while mid-Missouri’s Columbia has seen about an inch as well. There’s an inch-and-a-half on the ground in northeast Missouri’s Foley.

Several schools in mid-Missouri and in the Ozarks have dismissed early because of the storm. Westminster College in mid-Missouri’s Fulton has also dismissed classes early.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and National Weather Service (NWS) Pleasant Hill meteorologist Jonathan Kurtz, which was recorded on November 11, 2019:

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Missouri group leader: Growing number of kids should be in mental health system, not foster care

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The leader of a child welfare provider group says a growing number of Missouri kids should be in the mental health system, not in foster care. During a joint legislative committee hearing on Friday, Mary Chant with the Missouri Coalition of Children’s Agencies says the state’s foster care system is not built to handle mental health issues. Missouri has nearly 14,000 foster kids.

Photo courtesy of the Missouri Children’s Division website

“When we have a child welfare response to a child that may not really be a child welfare situation, but it’s the only resource that the family can do to keep their family safe perhaps, but also to get the child the services they need, are going through the child welfare system,” she says.

Chant says the federal government has 12 programs that Missouri could get funding for.

“We need mental health resources, especially for these older youth, who they’re 17, 18, 19 years old. They’re not child welfare. They need mental health, they need developmental disability resources,” she says.

Chant says about 60% of kids are in the child welfare system for neglect, not physical or sexual abuse.

“There are other opportunities to engage earlier in the process and keep the child in the home safe with supportive services for the family, which saves both in financial costs but also just life costs,” she says.

Chant says Missouri is a few steps past doing “true prevention”. She says true prevention happens through better access to public health care, stable housing, employment and good transportation.

Rep. Hannah Kelly, R-Mountain Grove, chairs the Joint Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. To view the panel, click here.

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Marine Corps League says new members are crucial for lobbying on Capitol Hill (AUDIO)

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The Marine Corps League is working to recruit new members in Missouri on this Veterans Day weekend, noting numbers are crucial for lobbying efforts on key issues like Agent Orange and PTSD.

This logo is on the wall at the Samuel Gearhart Detachment of the Marine Corps League in Jefferson City/Apache Flats (October 2019 photo from Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth)

Alan Sanning is the activities chairman at the Samuel Gearhart Detachment of the Marine Corps League in Jefferson City.

“Whenever the American Legion, the Marine Corps League, VFW, whenever their reps go up on Capitol Hill and they start jumping up and down on congressman’s desks to make sure that those benefits are there for our veterans that lost limbs, that have PTSD,” Sanning says.

Sanning’s concern is similar to one raised by American Legion National Commander Brett Reistad, who visited Jefferson City last November. Commander Reistad told Missourinet that day that the American Legion’s membership has decreased from 3.2 million in 1992 to about 2 million today.

Sanning tells Missourinet the Marine Corps League has also lost members from World War II and the Korean War, who’ve passed away.

He says the Marine Corps League is putting up booths in some locations, emphasizing the importance of issues like veterans health care.

“We understand, especially these young guys and gals in the War on Terror, they’ve got kids at home,” says Sanning. “By the time they get home and do homework and all this stuff, we know they may not be active members right now.”

Sanning says some members can only participate in one event a year, which he says is fine.

He notes the League also helps groups like the Special Learning Center and the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, both located in Jefferson City. The Marine Corps League also barbecues for the Cole County Sheriff’s barbecue.

“We do a lot of charity work, both locally and nationally. We have a lot of local activities. It’s a wonderful organization, we do a lot of good things,” Sanning says.

The Marine Corps League is the only Congressionally-chartered U.S. Marine Corps-related veterans organization in the country. President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Marine Corps League’s Congressional Charter in 1937.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Alan Sanning of the Samuel Gearhart Detachment of the Marine Corps League in Jefferson City, which was recorded on November 1, 2019:

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Missouri vaping related illness cases continue to climb

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As of Thursday, 33 confirmed or probable vaping associated illnesses and one vaping related death have been reported to the state. Of the cases reported, more than half involve users ages 15-24.

Missouri vaping related illness cases continue to climb

Gov. Mike Parson has ordered three state agencies to develop a statewide public service campaign about the dangers of vaping among youth. The state is also doing random compliance checks this month at Missouri retailers who sell e-cigarette products. Those under the age of 18 are banned from buying nicotine vaping products in Missouri.

St. Joseph in northwest Missouri has banned all indoor use of e-cigarettes. The Smithville Board of Aldermen in western Missouri is debating whether to pull flavored electronic cigarette products from store shelves. The Columbia City Council in central Missouri is also considering a temporary ban on flavored vaping products.

Critics of vaping say kids are attracted to flavored e-cigarette products. Smithville Mayor Damien Boley tells Kansas City station KCTV the number of kids caught with vape products at school is on the rise, including students all the way down to the third-grade level.

Here is the latest information about vaping figures provided by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services:

 

Missouri Vaping Associated Pulmonary Illness Cases

As of November 7, 2019
Status Sex Age Region
Confirmed or Probable 33 Male 25 15-24 19 Central 4
Female 8 25-34  7 Eastern 15
Deaths* 1   35-44 3 Northwest 9
*Death Included in the number of cases 45-54 3 Southeast 1
55-64 1 Southwest 4
65-74
75-84

Last month, State Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams said Missouri’s vaping related illness cases reflect the national trend in the use of illegal vaping cartridges.

“If you look nationally, about 70% of those are associated with THC and illegal cartridges. The other 30% is unknown,” said Williams.

As of November 5, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say 2,051 cases of e-cigarette use associated lung problems have been reported to the CDC from 49 states and the District of Columbia. Thirty-nine deaths have been confirmed in 24 states.

Patrol: Deer-vehicle collisions peak in November in Missouri (AUDIO)

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Missouri motorists are being urged to be on the lookout for deer this month, with November seeing the largest number of deer-vehicle strikes.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol logo (courtesy of Patrol Lieutenant Collin Stosberg)

Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain John Hotz cites harvest time, mating season and the firearms deer season.

He says there were officially 4,090 traffic crashes involving deer in Missouri in 2018.

“Well you look at that and that’s roughly one deer strike every 2.1 hours in the state and we know that number is probably, actually a lot higher,” Hotz says.

Captain Hotz tells Missourinet that’s because many motorists contact their insurance company directly, and won’t file a report with law enforcement.

He says six motorists were killed and another 415 were injured in 2018 in Missouri deer-vehicle strikes.

“Most of these folks who are injured or killed are actually in vehicles who take some sort of corrective action and unfortunately they over correct and they lose control of their vehicle,” says Hotz.

He says most deer strikes in Missouri happen between 5 and 6:59 a.m. and from 6 to 8:59 p.m.

Hotz also notes that deer behavior changes due to mating season, which could cause an increase in deer sightings and roadway crossings.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain John Hotz, which was recorded on October 25, 2019:

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Missouri senators expected to hold lengthy hearing Monday about gun violence

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A Missouri Senate committee studying gun violence is expected to hear several hours of testimony Monday in Jefferson City.

State Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, speaks at the Statehouse in Jefferson City on May 10, 2018 (file photo courtesy of Missouri Senate photographer Harrison Sweazea)

The chairman of the newly-formed Senate Interim Committee on Public Safety is expecting a lengthy hearing at the Statehouse. The committee meets Monday morning at 10, and chairman State Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, tells Missourinet each of the seven senators on the committee has invited witnesses from different backgrounds and expertise.

U-S Attorney Tim Garrison has noted that St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield are three of the top 15 most violent cities in the nation, on a per capita basis.

Chairman Libla says it’s time for the senators to put their minds together and get some direction on the gun violence issue.

Republicans have a 4-3 majority on the committee, and State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, has praised Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, for forming the committee. She hopes it will come up with a blueprint to reduce the violence.

Senator Nasheed, who serves on the committee, describes increasing gun violence as a public health crisis.

“I want those individual experts to be able to come in and talk about what are the legislative best practices that we can push to help reduce the type of violence that we’re seeing in our community,” Nasheed says.

At least 13 children have been killed in St. Louis city shootings in 2019, and there have been 122 homicides in Kansas City this year. In mid-Missouri’s Columbia, there were five murders in September.

Senator Nasheed, who successfully pushed Schatz to create the committee, looks forward to a productive interim committee. She tells Missourinet the violence is “plaguing” inner cities and outstate.

“I look forward to a plan in terms of legislation so that we can be able to curb this gun violence in the city of St. Louis, Kansas City and throughout the state of Missouri,” says Nasheed.

The committee is expected to come up with recommendations by December, for the 2020 legislative session that begins in January.

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New Missouri Senate committee studying gun violence to hold first hearing Monday (AUDIO)

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A key Democratic state senator is pleased that Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, has formed an interim committee to study gun violence, saying she hopes the committee will come up with a blueprint to reduce the violence.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, briefs Capitol reporters in January 2018 (file photo courtesy of Missouri Senate photographer Harrison Sweazea)

The committee’s first hearing is Monday in Jefferson City.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, called on Pro Tem Schatz to create the committee, back in September. Nasheed describes the gun violence in her hometown as an epidemic.

“I mean when we have children dying on the street by way of AK 47’s and AR-15’s, yeah this is a massive, massive crisis,” Nasheed says.

She also says it’s a public health crisis.

“And I’m just happy that the senators are ready to roll up their sleeves and begin to look at best practices in terms of legislation so that we can help reduce the violence that’s plaguing the inner cities as well as outstate,” says Nasheed.

U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison has noted that St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield are three of the top 15 most violent cities in the nation, on a per capita basis.

At least 13 children have been killed in St. Louis city shootings in 2019, and Kansas City Police say there have been 122 homicides there this year. In central Missouri’s Columbia, there were five murders during the month of September.

The Senate Interim Committee on Public Safety is chaired by State Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff, and State Sen. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, is the vice-chair. Republicans have a 4-3 majority on the committee, which Nasheed serves on.

Senator Nasheed tells Missourinet the committee’s first hearing is Monday morning at 10 at the Missouri Capitol, where they’ll hear from expert witnesses in areas like public safety and social work.

She has also called for increased protection for crime witnesses, saying they are fearful for their safety. Governor Mike Parson (R) has also expressed that concern.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, which was recorded on October 30, 2019:

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Winter weather continues in north Missouri; freeze warning on Halloween in northern and mid-Missouri (AUDIO)

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The National Weather Service’s (NWS) winter weather advisory for northern Missouri continues through Thursday morning. NWS Pleasant Hill meteorologist Joey Welsh says northeast Missouri towns like Kirksville, Shelbyville and Edina will see the heaviest snowfall.

October 30, 2019 map courtesy of National Weather Service (NWS) St. Louis Twitter page

“Kind of in that bulls eye area is northeast Missouri and they’re expecting one-and-a-half to two inches through tomorrow morning,” Welsh says.

While central Missouri is not in the advisory, NWS meteorologist Joey Welsh says Columbia and Jefferson City could see hazardous travel conditions Wednesday evening.

“Jefferson City and surrounding areas will see the potential for some wintry mix and maybe some very light ice accumulations,” says Welsh.

Welsh says the wintry mix will begin tonight at about 6 in Jefferson City, Columbia and Sedalia, before changing to all snow by about 9 p.m. He urges motorists in central Missouri to slow down and to give themselves extra time.

Meantime, the NWS in Pleasant Hill has issued a freeze warning for Halloween throughout northern and central Missouri. Welsh warns of rapidly falling temperatures, as snow continues to fall in north Missouri and mid-Missouri sees the wintry mix tonight.

“We’ll drop down to the 20’s tonight and, combined with the winds, we’ll see wind chill values in the teens even for Jefferson City and surrounding areas,” Welsh says.

Stay tuned to Missourinet and to your local radio affiliate for winter weather coverage.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Joey Welsh, which was recorded on October 30, 2019:

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17 percent more Missouri children uninsured since 2016, national study says

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A new report by Georgetown University says an estimated 83,000 Missouri children were uninsured in 2018, an increase of about 17 percent since 2016.

The report says the factors are  efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and cut Medicaid; delays in funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP); elimination of the individual mandate penalty; cuts to enrollment outreach and advertising; inadequate oversight over state Medicaid – fear and confusion for immigrant families that discourages them from enrolling eligible children in Medicaid or CHIP.

Kids Win Missouri, representing more than 100 child advocacy groups and agencies, responded to these numbers saying they are “disappointed but not surprised.” Their statement says Missouri has seen almost 100,000 children fall off the Medicaid and CHIP insurance rolls in the past two years, even when many of those children are actually still eligible to receive coverage.

Representative David Wood, R-Versailles, says he is not surprised either, but for other reasons. He is chairman of Missouri House committee keeping tabs on the state’s Medicaid figures. He says the state’s Medicaid enrollment figures are leveling off, like predicted.  He has said Missourians dropped off the Medicaid rolls mostly because of a previous Obamacare requirement parents to put their kids on Medicaid.

Former Missouri hospital executive pleads guilty to $114 million billing scheme

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A former executive of a northern Missouri hospital pleaded guilty in federal court in Florida Wednesday to a $114 million pass-through billing scheme.

The Justice Department in Washington says former Putnam County Memorial Hospital chief executive officer David Lane Byrns pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Byrns pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge James Klindt, of the Middle District of Florida.

The criminal count was originally filed in Missouri and was transferred to Florida, where Byrns now lives. The complex case was investigated by the FBI in Kansas City, Jefferson City and in Jacksonville, Florida. The Justice Department in Washington has been involved, as has the U.S. Department of Labor and the offices of two Missouri statewide officials.

The Justice Department says Byrns used the Unionville hospital to submit fraudulent claims for blood testing and toxicology, causing the Missouri Medicaid program and multiple insurance companies to pay more than $100 million in claims.

The Medicaid program is health care for low-income residents. Unionville is in far north-central Missouri, just south of the Iowa border.

Federal prosecutors in Missouri and Florida say billing companies and labs were also involved in the scheme, describing them as “co-conspirators.”

Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway’s (D) scathing 2017 audit of Putnam County Memorial Hospital uncovered $90 million in inappropriate lab billings, and prompted calls for the federal investigation.

The Justice Department is acknowledging Galloway’s office for assistance, along with Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s (R) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

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