Ed Emery in critical condition after collapsing during speech in Randolph County

 

Former State Senator Ed Emery, R-Lamar, who is a candidate for the Fourth District Congressional seat, collapsed during a speech to the Randolph County Republican Women's organization Tuesday night and is critical, but stable condition at University Hospital in Columbia.

The Lamar Democrat reports CPR was performed on the 71-year-old Emery, who served eight years in the Missouri Senate and eight years in the House.

Parson said he would pardon the McCloskeys and he did

It's not often a governor issues a pardon for a candidate for U. S. Senate, but that's what Gov. Mike Parson did this week and for good measure, he pardoned the candidate's wife, too.

In a news released issued Tuesday, Parson announced the pardons of a dozen people, including Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who waved guns at protesters last year and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor firearms charges.

As usual, Parson made no comments about any of his pardons, but the McCloskeys were grateful.

Mark McCloskey issued a statement, which included the following:

The prosecutor dropped all charges against me, except for a claim that I put other people in imminent fear of physical harm. That’s exactly what I did, that’s what the guns were for. And any time the mob comes and threatens me, I’ll do the same thing again to protect my family.

Attorney General files lawsuit to stop Kansas City mask mandate- Someone's running for the Senate

(From Attorney General Eric Schmitt)

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt Tuesday filed a lawsuit to halt the recently imposed mask mandate in Kansas City. The suit, which was filed this afternoon in Jackson County, argues that the mask mandate imposed is unreasonable, unconstitutional, and arbitrary and capricious.

The suit names Mayor Quinton Lucas, the Kansas City, Missouri Health Department, and the Director of the Kansas City, Missouri Regulated Industries Division Jim Ready.

“Today, I filed suit against Kansas City to stop the imposition of a mask mandate on the people of the Kansas City region. This continued unconstitutional and unreasonable government overreach must stop, especially in the face of a widely available vaccine. Requiring schoolchildren to mask all day while in school is not based in science and is completely ridiculous,” said Attorney General Schmitt. “I will always stand up for the liberties of the people of Kansas City and Missouri.”

The lawsuit incorporates seven counts, and asks the court to invalidate the mask mandate and issue injunctive or other appropriate relief.

The lawsuit argues that the Kansas City mayor, on July 25, 2021, previously stated that no mask mandate was needed, but then reversed course and in a July 27, 2021 tweet and a July 28, 2021 press release announced that Kansas City would be imposing a mask mandate. The lawsuit notes that in that two-day interim, there were no major changes in data for Kansas City, and no material change in any of the reasons listed by Kansas City for imposing a mask mandate, underscoring the lack of justification for the reversal and imposition of the mandate.

In its first count, the lawsuit argues that the mask mandate should be subject to the requirements of § 67.265, RSMo, which was put into place by recently passed and signed House Bill 270, placing limits on the power of health authorities to impose health orders.

The second and third counts relate to the imposition of a mask mandate on schoolchildren, stating that those requirements are unlawful and arbitrary and capricious. As the lawsuit notes, the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 and transmission in schoolchildren is low, and requiring schoolchildren to wear masks is in fact harmful as it could hinder “verbal and non-verbal” communication and development.

The fourth count argues that the mask mandate is arbitrary and capricious, stating, “The Mask Mandate is arbitrary and capricious because it requires vaccinated individuals to wear masks, unless they know all persons present are fully vaccinated.”

The fifth count argues that the mask mandate is unlawful, stating, “the Mask Mandate is not an appropriate disease control measure and is not adequate to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

The sixth count states that the mask mandate should be declared unconstitutional due to the vagueness of the order itself.

Lastly, the seventh count argues that Mayor Quinton Lucas, who issued the order, does not have the authority to do so under the regulation that authorizes public health orders since only the local health authority may issue public health orders. For this reason, the lawsuit contends that “the Mask Mandate was not issued by a person authorized to issue such orders, and it is therefore invalid and unlawful.”

The full lawsuit can be found here: https://ago.mo.gov/docs/default-source/press-releases/kc-mask-petition---final.pdf?sfvrsn=7ecf0e57_2

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office also recently sued St. Louis City and County over their mask mandates. On Tuesday, a St. Louis County judge entered the temporary restraining order sought by the Office.

Billy Long announces bid for Senate seat, met with Trump Tuesday

By Jason Hancock

Missouri Independent

U.S. Rep. Billy Long made it official Tuesday night, announcing in an interview on Fox News that he would be a candidate in 2022 for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt.

Long, 65, is a former auctioneer and radio show host who was first elected to Congress in 2010. He’s joining a crowded field of contenders seeking the Republican nomination. In his interview with Tucker Carlson, he said he is the best candidate to hold onto Blunt’s seat and help his party regain control of the Senate.

“You aren’t going to do anything until you get the Senate back,” he said, “and I’m the guy who can win that Senate seat in Missouri.”

Like every candidate seeking the GOP nomination, Long is publicly courting the former President Trump’s support. Politico is reporting that Long met with Trump on Tuesday afternoon to discuss his candidacy. He also hired former President Trump aide Kellyanne Conway as his senior advisor and pollster.

Trump won double-digit victories in Missouri twice, and every candidate in the Senate race is competing for his endorsement.

In entering the race, Long joins U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, disgraced former Gov. Eric Greitens, recently-pardoned attorney Mark McCloskey and state Attorney General Eric Schmitt. Other than Hartzler, who kicked off her campaign with a traditional rally in her district, each candidate has announced their Senate bid on Fox News.

Long giving up his southwest Missouri seat in Congress is sure to set off yet another crowded GOP primary to replace him.

Among those who are thought to be considering the race are state Sen. Eric Burlison, former Blunt aide Joelle Cannon, former House Speaker Elijah Haahr, state Sen. Lincoln Hough and state Sen. Mike Moon.

Lawsuit claim: Jasper County Sheriff's Office, Carthage PD actions led to death of Carthage man

A controlled meth buy set up by the Carthage Police Department led directly to the death of a Carthage man, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed July 22 in Jasper County Circuit Court.

When Daniel Holden Jr., 38, was arrested July 26, 2018,, he swallowed 13 grams of methamphetamine and died, according to the lawsuit, which was filed by his parents, Daniel and Leisha Holden and his children.

Listed as defendants in the lawsuit are Jasper County Sheriff Randee Kaiser, the City of Carthage, Carthage Police Chief Greg Dagnan, CPD officers Brandon Walker, Marcus Wicks and Justin Butler and Jasper County corrections officers Becky Stevens, Donald Frossard and Cameron Phinney.

The events that led to Holden's death are detailed in the petition:

On July 26, 2018, Officers Brandon Walker and Justin Butler of the Carthage Police Department worked out a plan to set up Mr. Holden and arrest him for possession of methamphetamine.

Officer Walker states in his report he received information from (a woman) alleging that Mr. Holden was at another location and was in possession of a firearm and methamphetamine.

Officer Walker, and Sgt. Justin Butler, who was also present, directed (the woman) to pick up Mr. Holden and "drive northbound on S. Baker and westbound on W. Macon."  (The woman) did as she was told and Officer Walker at 1:25 a.m. initiated a traffic stop as the vehicle traveled west on Macon Street.

In his report, Officer Walker states that the stop was initiated based on the vehicle swerving in and out of both lanes of travel, while in body cam footage Officer Walker states the stop was made due to a license plate bulb not working.

Immediately after the stop is made, the focus is turned to the passenger of the vehicle, Mr. Holden and Sgt. Butler directs him to exit the vehicle and he is searched finding nothing on his person and the "firearm" is found in the car and officers note that it is only a BB gun.

For approximately 15 minutes, officers search the car and question Mr. Holden. While he is restrained and being detained, other law enforcement officers with Carthage Police Department visit freely with (the woman) behind a separate patrol car and get ideas from her as to where Mr. Holden put the methamphetamine he allegedly had in his possession.

Although officers found no firearm and had not found any illegal substance on Mr. Holden's person he was detained, read his Miranda rights at 1:35 a.m. and transferred to Jasper County at 1:39 a.m. while officers performed a pretend sobriety test on (the woman) in order to give Mr. Holden the impression that she was being investigated for DWI until a car was a sufficient distance away from the scene that (the woman) could be released safely on her own recognizance.

Upon information and belief, Officer Walker and Sgt. Butler were well aware that there was methamphetamine in Mr. Holland's possession as they had given the methamphetamine to (the woman) for purposes of exercising this "controlled buy operation" and were aware of the amount of methamphetamine, approximately 13 grams, that was in his possession. This belief is further supported by the officer's behavior in body cam footage received by Plaintiffs.

At approximately 1:47 a.m., Officer Wicks with the Carthage Police Department arrived at the Jasper County Detention Center with Mr. Holden and with the assistance of Corporal Frossard of the Jasper County Sheriff's Office took pictures of Mr. Holden's face because he had a white, powdery substance in and around his mouth.

At 1.58 a.m. Officer Wicks reported to dispatch "it looks like he ate it- there is blood all in his mouth."

Corporal Frossard then enlisted the help of Sgt. Phinney and moved Mr. Holden to the "booking shower" and conducted a strip search. During the search, a "small clear bag" was found and then officers dressed Mr. Holden and according to Corporal Frossard's report, placed him in the attorney room for observation.

Approximately 2:10 a.m., Deputy Tiffany reports Mr. Holden was "shaking violently and was spitting up a clear substance," and notified Corporal Frossard who also observed Mr. Holden shaking violently and spitting up.

Instead of immediately calling for an ambulance to get immediate medical care, Sgt. Phinney, Corporal Frossard and Deputy Tiffany went to the attorney room and interrogated Mr. Holden as to whether he had swallowed anything before he was arrested and brought to the jail, according to Deputy Tiffany's report.

Deputy Tiffany further reports that there were three attempts to get a blood pressure on Mr. Holden with no result because the cuff that was being used showed an error. Then he left the room and when he returned Corporal Frossard had applied a pulse ox to Mr. Holden which showed a "BPM of 100 and an O2 of 88."

After receiving this information, Deputy Tiffany reports that Sgt. Phinney went to retrieve a drug field test kit and he tested the "spit up" and it tested positive for methamphetamine.

According to reports, it was approximately 16 minutes after they noticed Mr. Holden violently shaking and puking that Corporal Frossard attempted to contact higher ranking individuals to get guidance, still not having contacted emergency medical personnel. It wasn't until 2:45 a.m. that EMS was notified to respond to the jail.

Upon information and belief Jasper County Jail supervisors including Becky Stevens had instituted a standing directive that emergency medical services were not to be called until cleared by a supervisor. Correctional officers tried for more than half an hour to get clearance from Deputy Stevens to contact EMS.

At 3 a.m. EMS arrived at the jail and was advised that Mr. Holden had ingested "an unknown amount of methamphetamine." At 3:05 a.m. he was placed in the ambulance and at 3:10 a.m. Mr. Holden "appeared to stiffen up in a seizure" and restraints were removed.

CPR was started at 3:11 a.m. and Carthage Police Department was notified and Deputy Potts with Jasper County Sheriff's Office told them that since Mr. Holden's charges were with them that they should notify next of kin. 

At 3:23 a.m., CPD Deputy Potts received a call back from CPD asking if they were going to notify next of kin. It wasn't until 3:20 a.m. while EMS was en route to the hospital that Captain Stevens of the Jasper County Sheriff's Office advised deputies to release Holden from custody.

CPD responded to the residence of Leisha Holden and Daniel Holden, Sr. to notify them their son was at Mercy Hospital in Carthage and while speaking with them the officer at the residence was notified of Mr. Holden's death and he contemporaneously notified the parents.

After approximately 35 minutes of attempts to resuscitate Daniel D. Holden Jr. was pronounced dead at 3:46 a.m. July 26, 2018. The medical examiner, Ransom A. Ellis IV, D. O. later declared the cause of death to be "acute methamphetamine intoxication."

The three-count lawsuit alleges wrongful death, failure to provide medical care and lack of training and improper policies by the two law enforcement departments, including the Carthage Police Department's use of controlled buys.

The plaintiffs are asking for actual, compensatory and punitive damages and policy changes, as well as  apologies from each defendant.

Carthage R-9 School District has 102 new staff members

(From the Carthage R-9 School District)

The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, July 19, 2021, 6:00 pm, at Carthage Junior High. Present were Board members Lee Elliff Pound, Jeff Jones, Ryan Collier, Bill Lasley, Patrick Scott, and Karen Wilkinson. Niki Cloud was absent. 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Lee Elliff Pound, Board President. Board of Education Work Session provided information regarding Plans for a Healthy and Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan (SRCSP) for the 2021-2022 school year. Refocusing moving forward from a rapidly changing global society to in person classes was also discussed. 

The Board approved the Consent Agenda for the purpose of approving the meeting agenda, minutes of previous meetings, authorize payment of bills, approve district financial report, set date for Tax Rate Hearing, award contract for North Technical Center remodel project, and approved  change order #3 South Tech Center expansion. 

Janeane Myhre, Food Service Director, provided an evaluative report on Food Service, Missouri School Improvement Area G-8(9), including providing free nutritionally balanced meals available to all students in accordance with federal and state Child Nutrition Program regulations and guidelines. Ms. Myhre also discussed data analysis findings from free/reduced meals throughout the previous years. 

Jeff Fries, Transportation Director, provided an evaluative report on Transportation, Missouri School Improvement Area G-8(10), including determining transportation needs necessary to accommodate future expansion and to continue to reduce the number of traffic accidents involving bus drivers. Mr. Fries also expressed the dire need for bus drivers. 

Dr. Baker updated the Board regarding the following items: 

 • An update on the budget 

• New district website 

 • School starts on a Monday NOT a Thursday 

• 102 new staff members for the 2021-2022 school year. 

The Board met in closed session immediately following the regular meeting to discuss legal and personnel matters in compliance with Section 610.021 (1), (3), and (13) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. 

In closed session the Board accepted the following personnel actions: 

Approved contracts and employment of certified and support staff presented contingent upon receiving a clear criminal record check from the Missouri Highway Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation, and a clear check of the Adult Abuse/Neglect Registry maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services for all employees new to the district: 

Certified Staff: 

Stephanie Keck Kindergarten Teacher Mark Twain 

Allison Hawkins 5th Grade ELA/SS Teacher Intermediate Center 

Kimberly Culp School Psychologist District 

Darleen Moore Part-time Practical Nursing Instructor Technical Center 

Support Staff: 

Melissa Dunnic Administrative Assistant Technical Center- South 

Amanda Witt Administrative Assistant Technical Center- North 

Leslie Loyola Grijalva Administrative Assistant Administrative Office 

Ayla Christie EL Paraprofessional Intermediate Center 

Christina Rose (Letterman) Administrative Assistant, Special Services Administrative Office 

Abigail Rose Cook Intermediate Center 

Laura Nichols Cook High School 

Jennifer Swinehart Administrative Assistant Junior High 

Michelle Kurz Title I Paraprofessional Steadley 

Meagan Adams Administrative Assistant Steadley 

Audrey Webster Bus Driver Transportation 

Robin Root Bus Driver Transportation 

LeAndra Nevills Bus Aide Transportation 

Susan Oliverio Bus Aide Transportation 

Noemi Granados Technology Liaison to Students Technology 

Additional Duties: 

Amie Riley Assistant Girls’ Swim Coach High School 

Melissa Youngworth Assistant Boys’ Swim Coach High School 

The Board was notified of the following personnel changes: 

Resignations 

Dayli Alvarez School Liaison/Translator Fairview 

 Preston Weathers Custodian Intermediate Center 

Christopher George Custodian High School 

Jessica Linder SPED Paraprofessional Steadley 

Scott Brauburger Bus Driver Transportation 

Karla Shumny Administrative Assistant High School 

Priscilla Pettie Nurse Mark Twain 

Resignations Additional Duty 

Brynn Skaggs Assistant Boys Swim Coach High School 

Brynn Skaggs Assistant Girls Swim Coach High School

Nancy Hughes: The silence

“When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”

Revelation 8:1 (NIV)

The discouragement on my friend’s face was visible the minute she stepped out of her car and walked up to meet me on the porch. She had called earlier and asked if she could come by.

“What’s going on?” I asked her as I gave her a hug and invited her into the living room. She shook her head. “I just need to talk. I am so frustrated right now, all I want to do is cry” she continued and then shared a situation that, in spite of her prayers for several years, only seemed to have become worse and not better.

“I’m beginning to think that, no matter how much I pray, it’s not going to change a thing. It’s almost like whatever is going to happen will happen, prayer or not,” she confessed through tears of discouragement.

Have you ever felt that way? Uh huh. Me, too. But Revelation 8:1 gives us a totally different picture about how much prayer means to God. In Chapter 8 of Revelation, John is describing what he is seeing in heaven after the seals have been broken on the scrolls that tell about human sin, violence and God’s judgment. And then he shares in verse 1 that “there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”

Silence in heaven? We know there is praising and singing and activity without end and yet John says heaven was completely quiet for 30 minutes. Why? What happened? If you continue reading verses 1 through 5, you will find that the reason it is totally silent is that someone is praying and all of heaven has stopped so the prayers of the righteous can be lifted up before God.

I know we get caught up in looking at everything happening around us and wonder “Do my prayers really matter? Do they matter to God? Does He even hear me?”

They matter. And in Revelation they matter enough to God that He stops everything going on in heaven for 30 minutes so prayers can be lifted before Him. Our prayers are heard. And they are answered.

So don’t stop praying! Don’t stop going before the Lord with your concerns and problems and please don’t stop lifting up your unsaved loved ones to Him. Your requests are important enough to the Almighty Creator that He commands silence in heaven just for you.

Father, thank you for listening to our prayers because the requests and praises of your children are important to you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

Have you ever felt like your prayers weren’t really being heard by God?

When that happened, did you keep praying or decide it didn’t really matter?

Apply

Make a daily time – if even just for a few minutes – when you are silent before the Lord.

Then lift your prayers and praises to Him, knowing that He commands silence because of the importance of your prayers to Him.

Power

Revelation 8:1 (NIV) “When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.”

Psalm 145:18-19 (NIV) “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.”

Proverbs 15:29 (NIV) “The Lord is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”

(For more of Nancy Hughes' writing, check out her blog, Encouragement from the War Room.) 

Paul Richardson: A gathering of influence

I have a lunch engagement today. That seems to happen often with people, but you normally hear more about the gatherings when the girls plan and execute one. Well, guys do it, too. Sometimes it is the morning coffee drinkers club where the area in the local café is marked with a sign that reads, “Local liars gather here”. We like to demean ourselves with labels like that.

A couple years ago, I started stopping by a business owned by an old acquaintance of mine. His brother would join him for lunch and on occasion I would just be there, hanging around. Then one day knowing that I would be arriving about the time that they usually ate, I checked to see if the meal plans were already in place. 

Discovering that nothing had been preplanned for that day, an order for pizza was placed for delivery at the right time. Following that, my attendance at lunch began to happen frequently.

As garden ripe tomatoes came on, a comparison of likes and dislikes revealed that everyone present was in for sandwiches that would incorporate the tomatoes, the essential Miracle Whip, liverwurst, onion, sharp cheddar, and white bread. Nothing fancy, the basic sandwich with a component that is not in everyone’s wheel house. 

During my formative years, liverwurst was a lunchmeat that I could consume, but not my favorite. It was, however, a favorite of my dad and my sister. Probably an acquired taste, one that has developed in me over time.

I recall my family’s weekly trips to town on Friday evening when my dear mother would make all of her regular food purchases. There were certain essentials that were always on the list and these required visits to some particular markets. 

If my memory serves me correctly, there was Berry’s Market near the intersection of Coler and College Streets and, of course, Fuller’s Market, there was a market on Park Street at the intersection of Park Street and Hearrell Avenue. Sherman Street hosted a market, just east of the intersection of Sherman and High. 

A market that was more upscale was located at the corner of Coler and High Street. Another market that supported very high traffic was at the corner of Baxter Street and North Lincoln Street. An intersection where North Lincoln Street ends and North Main Avenue begins, just a fun fact there.

These lunch dates bring back lots of memories, as you can imagine. Since a couple of the other lunch attendees are at or near my age, these are paths that we have walked together and can recall together. That can be good, that can be problematic. 

The above paragraph may be full of holes, memory holes that is. I may have a name wrong, or it could be because I didn’t attach names to some of the markets. That is simply because I can’t remember the name that was on that market at that time. But whatever the results of today, it is certainly a gathering of influence, good or bad influence remains to be seen!

Tyson Foods to require all workers to receive COVID-19 vaccinations

(From Tyson Foods)

To protect team members, their families and their communities, Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN), is requiring its team members at U.S. office locations to be fully vaccinated by October 1, 2021. All other team members are required to be fully vaccinated by November 1, 2021, subject to ongoing discussions with locations represented by unions.

This action makes Tyson Foods the largest U.S. food company to require COVID-19 vaccinations for its entire workforce. Almost half of Tyson Foods’ U.S. workforce has been vaccinated and coronavirus infection rates among team members remain low.

“Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the single most effective thing we can do to protect our team members, their families and their communities,” said Dr. Claudia Coplein, Chief Medical Officer, Tyson Foods. 

“With rapidly rising COVID-19 case counts of contagious, dangerous variants leading to increasing rates of severe illness and hospitalization among the U.S. unvaccinated population, this is the right time to take the next step to ensure a fully vaccinated workforce.”

A memo to Tyson Foods team members from President & CEO Donnie King can be found here.

Since February, Tyson Foods has hosted more than 100 vaccination events for team members across the country and more than 56,000 U.S. team members have been vaccinated so far. Additional onsite vaccination events will be scheduled, and the company will continue to collaborate with local health

departments and healthcare providers to make the vaccine more accessible.

To support efforts to fully vaccinate all team members, the company will also provide $200 to its frontline team members, subject to ongoing discussions with locations represented by unions. This is an expansion of the company’s existing policy of compensating workers for up to four hours of regular pay if they are vaccinated outside of their normal shift or through an external source.

Exceptions to the vaccination mandate will involve workers who seek medical or religious accommodation.

“Tyson Foods and Matrix Medical have worked together since the beginning of this pandemic to develop and implement strategies to mitigate the risk of the virus to Tyson employees and their families, as well as the communities where they live and work,” said Matrix Chief Medical Officer and Group President, Daniel Castillo, M.D., M.B.A. “Matrix clinicians and Tyson team members have worked hand-in-hand to implement a broad array of workplace safety measures at Tyson, and we now feel the rising number of new cases across the U.S. warrants advanced clinical strategies – including requiring vaccinations.”

To date, Tyson Foods has spent more than $700 million related to COVID-19, including on efforts to combat its spread, such as buying masks, face shields and temperature scanners, installing protective barriers and providing on-site testing and vaccinations. It also partnered with an independent medical provider to bring medical services on site, hired an additional 200 nurses and its first Chief Medical Officer. In addition, Tyson Foods has invested countless hours educating our team members, in dozens of languages, about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

Contributors pay $28,000+ for Billy Long to hold event at Mar-A-Lago, more than $1,000 in Vegas for meals, casino visit

It costs a lot of money for a potential U. S. Senate candidate to kiss up to former President Donald Trump.

Seventh District Congressman Billy Long, has scheduled an August 11 event featuring Trump aid Kellyanne Conway in which he will make "an announcement," which is expected to be that he will run for the Senate seat currently held by Roy Blunt.

Long's quarterly report with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) shows he spent $28,633.20 of his contributions June 14 at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, "food, drink, facility rental."

Long also spent $1,188.48 April 28 for lodging at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, and another $686.26 the following day at the same location for "lodging, food and beverage."

On April 30, Long spent $496.48 for lodging at the Omni Orlando Resort and he forked over an additional $2,358.63 to Hertz Regal Rent-A-Car in Orlando on May 3, the same day he paid $1,177.66 for lodging at the Ritz Carlton in Sarasota.

Long's Florida expenses did not keep him from spending campaign money in Las Vegas, something he has done regularly over the past several years.

The documents indicate that Long took his campaign to the Four Queens Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas June 7 where he spent $426.07 on a meal. On the same day, Long paid $687.99 for another meal at the Guy Savoy restaurant in Las Vegas.