Graves: Micah's Law will save unborn children

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

Earlier this year, I became a grandfather for the first time. What a joy and blessing that has been. Holding my new grandson, just as I did my own kids several years ago, reminds me of what a precious gift life truly is.

Unfortunately, not all folks recognize the value of life, and that is why I’m taking every step I can to protect it.

We know that babies in the womb feel intense pain after 20 weeks. Research from Doctors, court testimony from experts, even the Defense Attorney in the case of gruesome abortionist Kermit Gosnell - say a 20 week old baby in the womb can feel intense pain. In spite of what we know, we continue to allow abortions to occur past that 20 week mark. This puts America in the same category with China and North Korea as one of only 7 countries that allows this horror.

That's why I was proud to vote this week for Micah's Law - or the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Act (H.R. 36) - and I'm pleased to say that it passed the House! This important law makes it illegal to perform an abortion - except in cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother - after that important 20 week mark when a baby in the womb can feel intense pain.

The law is named after Micah Pickering who was born prematurely at 20 weeks. He received excellent medical care and is now a thriving healthy 5 year old! Can you imagine if his parents hadn't chosen life?

It is estimated that the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Act will save 2750 lives every year, possibly even more. It doesn't just save lives though; it keeps those unborn children from suffering an agonizing death. We don't allow a baby outside the womb to be tortured so why should it be any different for a baby still in the womb?

For years, pro-life legislators, myself included, have committed to taking every opportunity to protect the unborn. With a supportive President, this is the best chance we've had in years to do just that. The House has done its part; the Senate must now do theirs. Together, we can ensure that the right to life is more protected than it has been in a very long time.

Roy Blunt, the NRA's four million dollar man

Only two United States senators have received more money from the NRA than Sen. Roy Blunt, R-MO.

A New York Times study of campaign contributions received by legislators and money spent on their behalf shows that Blunt has received $4,551,146 from the organization, dating back through his days in the House of Representatives.

The senator at the top of the list is John McCain, R-Arizona, at $7,740,521, with much of that coming during McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.

Coming in at number two was Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., at $6,986,620.

Hartzler bill to improve FEMA response passed by Senate, awaits president's signature

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)

The U.S. Senate passed the FEMA Relief Improvement Act (H.R. 1117), sponsored by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO.), to increase the reliability of FEMA’s services during disasters. Hartzler’s bill ensures disaster victims receive better guidance, more accurate information and greater certainty from FEMA during emergencies. The legislation now heads to the president’s desk.

“A family who has experienced the devastation of a flood or a tornado needs peace of mind — not bureaucratic roadblocks and red tape,” said Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, who saw the issue firsthand when she toured Pulaski County and spoke with victims of flooding that devastated the area. “This bill requires FEMA to focus efforts on its core mission: helping people recover from disasters.”

“In the wake of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, ensuring the effectiveness of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has become more important than ever,” Hartzler added.

In the past, there have been repeated incidents of lost and misplaced paperwork, poor communication between state and federal agencies, and a general lack of information from FEMA officials, hindering disaster response and relief. In Missouri, there are still cases pending from floods that occurred in 2013.

H.R. 1117, which has overwhelming bipartisan support, would require FEMA to improve accountability by devising a plan to provide consistent guidance during disaster responses.

Specifically, the legislation requires FEMA to create an action plan to improve field transition by:

• Providing consistent guidance to applicants on FEMA disaster funding procedures during the response to an emergency or disaster;
• Conducting appropriate record maintenance and transfer of documents to new teams during staff transitions;
• Providing accurate assistance to applicants and grantees to ease the administrative burden throughout the process of obtaining and monitoring assistance;
• Implementing operating procedures and documenting retention requirements to ensure the maintenance of appropriate records throughout the lifecycle of the disaster; and
• Identifying new technologies that further aid the disaster workforce in partnering with state, local, and tribal governments and private nonprofits in the wake of a disaster to educate, assist, and inform applicants on the status of their disaster assistance applications.

Federal judge rules against Free the Nipple-Springfield, says men's and women's breasts are different

The highlight of U. S. District Court Judge Beth Phillips' order today that the City of Springfield can continue to enforce its law requiring women to cover their breasts was her statement that "men's and women's breasts are different."

She doesn't go into how she reached that conclusion, but one would assume that it did not require her to use her law degree.

A breakdown of the ruling and the events that led to it is included in my latest Blasting News article, which can be found at this link.

Check it out and if you like it, feel free to share the story. Traffic to the Blasting News articles helps support the Turner Report/Inside Joplin.

Earlier Blasting News articles


Massachusetts man sentenced to 17 years for sexually exploiting 150 underage boys

Kindergarten teacher sentenced to 10 years in jail for sex with students

Transgender teen murdered in rural Missouri, four people charged

Greitens returns from trade mission to Asia

(From Gov. Eric Greitens)

This weekend, Governor Eric Greitens and First Lady Sheena Greitens returned from a trade mission to China and South Korea. The trade mission included numerous meetings with government officials, business executives, potential investors, and cultural and educational partners in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Seoul.

“People around the world are paying attention to what we are doing in Missouri. They are interested in buying our products and investing in job-creating businesses in our state. I’m proud to fight for Missouri jobs and Missouri businesses by promoting opportunities for our state overseas,” said Governor Greitens.

During the Governor’s time in Asia, the Missouri delegation held meetings with companies and organizations in sectors including manufacturing, financial services, agriculture, and internet retail.

The Governor arrived in Beijing on Sunday, September 24, and met with U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad. The Governor and First Lady's meetings in China also included meetings with the Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yang; Vice Minister of Commerce Yu Jianhua; Party Secretary of Shanghai Municipality Han Zheng; and Vice Governor Wang Xiaodong of Hebei province, Missouri’s sister-state in China.

The delegation explored opportunities to expand on existing economic ties between Missouri and China. Missouri is already home to many Chinese companies, and many Missouri companies also operate in and export to China.

The Governor and First Lady arrived in Seoul on Thursday, September 28, where official meetings included Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon of the Republic of Korea, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa, and Vice Minister Choi Su-gyu of the Ministry of Small & Medium Enterprises and Start-Ups.

On Friday, September 29, Governor Greitens and Vice Minister Choi signed a Memorandum of Understanding to recognize the importance of small and medium-sized enterprises for economic growth and to promote small business job creation. “We’ve agreed to increase cooperation and on the need to create jobs through the promotion of business start-ups,” Vice Minister Choi said.

The Governor and the First Lady visited the Korean War Memorial to lay a wreath in honor of the 7000 Missourians who fought and the over 900 Missouri citizens who gave their lives to defend freedom on the Korean peninsula. They also spoke with American military personnel deployed at the De-Militarized Zone separating North and South Korea, and met with Missourians currently serving with the U.S. military in Korea. 

The delegation, joined by University of Missouri System President Mun Choi, also met with alumni of Missouri’s institutions of higher education. The University of Missouri’s largest alumni community outside of the state is in Korea, as a result of a scholarship and exchange program established by President Truman after the Korean War.

Missouri Department of Economic Development Acting Director Rob Dixon said, “China and Korea are two of Missouri’s largest export destinations. We look forward to Missouri’s growth in Asian markets.”

Along with Governor Greitens, Missouri Senators Sandy Crawford, Daniel Hegeman, and Robert Onder were also in attendance to support the growth of trade and investment opportunities between Missouri and Asia.

“It’s one thing to have a partnership with another nation with a successful economy, but actually traveling and meeting with business and government representatives will foster an international relationship that will help us to export more Missouri goods,” said Senator Hegeman.

McCaskill: Inaction on gun safety is no longer an option

(From Sen. Claire McCaskill)

We can’t accept this as normal.. The pain is overwhelming. The country has suffered too much.

The truth is that inaction on gun safety is simply no longer an option. It was true after Sandy Hook. It was true after Orlando. And it’s true now, after our nation experienced another senseless tragedy and the deadliest mass shooting in our recent history.

As a former prosecutor, I’ve seen what gun violence does to families and communities. No American should have to face that heartbreak. I know that our great nation can do better. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must.

Joplin City Council hands over Memorial Hall parking lot for arts center

The Joplin City Council voted tonight to donate the Memorial  Hall parking lot to the not-for-profit Connect2Culture organization to use for construction of an arts center.

In his interview with KOAM's Jordan Aubey, Clifford Wert, Connect2Culture president, claimed that the new building would not have a negative impact on Memorial Hall.

West says nearby businesses have already pledged to cover what parking spaces the proposed A&E center would eliminate.

"We have written letters of support for parking. Joplin Schools, Empire District Electric. Jasper County commissioners. Pinnacle Bank. We have identified well over one thousand parking spaces, all within one block of this (Memorial Hall parking lot) exact location. By the way, those letters specifically address both Joplin arts and entertainment center and Memorial Hall," says Wert.

Wert says Connect2Culture plans to reach out to local financial donors in order to raise $14 million for this project.

The center would serve as a clearing house for artistic endeavors in Joplin, Wert says.

Previous posts

Joplin City Council approves exploration of Connect2Culture Memorial Hall plan

A look at the group proposing the expansion of the JHS Performing Arts Center

City Council approves arts center plan after study done by group that promotes the arts

Documents indicate Joplin Progress Committee leaders tried to derail ethics investigation

Blasting News article: Kindergarten teacher sentenced to 10 years in prison for sex with students

In my latest article for the national Blasting News site, I report on a Texas kindergarten teacher who had sex with at least six students, including two at the same time.

And there may be even more victims since the teacher says she drinks so much she may not remember all of the students with whom she had sex.

Check out the article if you are interested and help support the Turner Report/Inside Joplin.

You can find the article at this link.

Previous Blasting News articles:

Transgender teen brutally murdered in rural Missouri, four people charged

Father, daughter charged with assault following beating of her ex-boyfriend

Nationally known children's singer/songwriter arrested on child pornography charge

Meth-soaked greeting card leads to four-year sentence for Texas couple

Nicodemus wrongful death lawsuit is second time Universal Construction sued for shoddy worksmanship on new Joplin schools

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Joplin High School student Spencer Nicodemus, who was killed by a collapsing basketball goal while mentoring students at Irving Elementary School March 2, is the second legal action filed against Universal Construction Company alleging negligence and shoddy workmanship on new Joplin R-8 buildings.

An earlier lawsuit, filed in 2014 by former East Middle School secretary Sue Macy, concluded with Macy receiving a settlement for an undisclosed amount.

Universal Construction served as the construction manager for all of the R-8 building projects.

In the newest lawsuit, filed August 25 in Jasper County Circuit Court, Spencer Nicodemus' parents, Chris and Kathryn Nicodemus, Universal is lifted as a defendant, along with Gared Holdings, LLC, GH Post Sale, LLC, Carroll Seating Company, Inc., and Sapp Design Architects PC.

The eight-count, 31-page petition accuses all of the defendants of negligence, and alleges liability against Gared Holdings, the company that owned Performance Sports System, which now goes by the name of GH Post Sale.

The goal that killed Spencer Nicodemus was "unreasonably dangerous when put to a reasonably anticipated use," according to the petition.

Carroll Seating entered into a contract with November 6, 2014 to provide and install the equipment. The collapsed goal was part of a change order that added four overhead basketball goals, backboards, and assemblies.

Universal Construction signed off on the equipment without ever testing it and did not do an inspection after one year as it was obligated to do.

The lawsuit, which was filed by Joplin attorney Scott Vorhees, asks for reasonable damages and costs.

Sue Macy Lawsuit

Joseph Weidhaas of Voorhees' law firm, Johnson, Vorhees and Martucci was the attorney of record on Sue Macy's lawsuit against Universal Construction, Branco Enterprises, and the Glen Alspaugh Company.

Macy was injured when cabinets collapsed in the office area at the new East Middle School. The petition alleged that the cabinets were not securely fastened to the wall.

When the cabinets fell on her, Macy suffered injuries to her head, neck, shoulders and back, according to the lawsuit.

The case was scheduled to come to trial October 7, 2016, when the sides reached a settlement and the case was dismissed June 29, 2016.

Previous Posts

Joplin High School senior Spencer Nicodemus killed in accident at Irving Elementary School

Basketball goal that killed Spencer Nicodemus was substandard

Ridder: We are investigating what happened to Spencer Nicodemus

Remembering Spencer Nicodemus

Spencer Nicodemus obituary

Cabinet collapses; East Middle School secretary injured

Sonic sexual harassment lawsuit, 40th anniversary of Barbara McNeely death, among top Turner Report posts for September

A sexual harassment lawsuit against the Rangeline Sonic, the 40th anniversary of the murder of Missouri Southern student and East Newton High School graduate Barbara McNeely at Northpark Mall and the sentencing of a veteran with post traumatic stress syndrome to 22 years in prison for threatening his ex-girlfriend with an AR-15 and a knife were among the top posts for September on the Turner Report.

The filing of the Sonic lawsuit, wich included allegations of rape, as well as the underlying sexual harassment case, topped the list, but stories related to that post, including my assault and the arrest of a former Sonic supervisor and defendant in the lawsuit for his sixth DWI were the top four posts for the month, and another one placed at number nine.

I was grateful for the number of readers who visited the post on Barbara McNeely, who was a good friend of mine and touched many lives during the short time she was with us.

A list of the top posts and links to those posts is featured below:

1. Explosive lawsuit claim: Pervasive sexual harassment at Rangeline Sonic led to rapes of two underage girls

2. Thirty minutes ago, I was assaulted

3. Sonic supervisor named in sexual harassment lawsuit cited for sixth DWI

4. Joplin Police Department issues arrest warrant for former Sonic supervisor charged with my assault

5. Jasper County man who broke into girlfriend's home, threatened with AR-15, knife sentenced to 22 years

6. Forty years have passed since the murder of Barbara McNeely

7. Neosho man "electrocuted by mobility scooter sues Wal-Mart

8. Probable cause: Joplin man beat 10-year-old son, has threatened to shoot his children, used taser on them

9. My assault, the First Amendment and the Joplin Globe

10. Joplin man facing child porn charge lived at day care center, had "creepy photos" of local children

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The Turner Report, Inside Joplin, Inside Joplin Obituaries and the other Turner Report/Inside Joplin blogs provide a strong, alternative news source for Joplin and the surrounding area and have done so for the past several years. Consider making a contribution, no matter how large or small to help this news operation continue to grow and continue to serve this area.

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