Human remains in Cedar County brushpile identified as Joplin woman

(From the Cedar County Sheriff's Office)

Update; Through the use of Rapid DNA testing, Highway Patrol Investigators have identified the remains of the victim in this case as 27-year-old Shaniya S. Haynes, Joplin.

Earlier news release

An investigation conducted by the Cedar County Sheriff's Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol and St. Clair County Sheriff's Office has resulted in the recovery of human remains from brush and wood fire in a rural area of Cedar County. 

It is believed that the body was placed in the fire on or about January 16, 2024 in an attempt to destroy or conceal evidence of a crime. The identity of the deceased has not been confirmed at this time.

As a result of the investigation, Bradley E. Keith of El Dorado Springs, Brandon Choate of Lamar and Jimi C. Cole from Stockton have been arrested and charged with Tampering with Physical Evidence in Felony Prosecution and Felony Abandonment of a Corpse. All are currently being held in the Cedar County Jail.

Pictured are left Jimi Cole, upper right Brandon Choate and lower right Bradley Keith.

Further information regarding this investigation will be provided when it is available.

 
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

KODE back on DISH Network

One satellite company down, one more to go.

Local DISH Network viewers may have noticed that KODE, which had been off DISH for more than a year, returned this week.

According to news releases issued by both companies, they reached an agreement for retransmission rights. Details were not released.

KODE is still not available to DirecTV subscribers.

Nancy Hughes: Aliens do exist

“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” I Peter 2:11 (NIV)

“Light Beam on Mars Proof of Alien Life?” the article headlined this week, accompanied by a video supposedly showing a shaft of light coming from the planet’s surface. Immediately staunch supporters of alien life forms championed their cause and the equally strong opponents challenged every theory that was proposed concerning the light beam and aliens. And so it begins again.







It seems like we who watch from the sidelines are periodically bombarded by photos from 50 years ago to the present, touted as “absolute proof” of aliens here on Earth while scoffers explain away each sighting as fake.

There seems to be a huge fascination with the idea that aliens might be living among us and we aren’t aware of their presence. We are even treated occasionally to television shows and movies that feature a community of extraterrestrials living on Earth.

Can I let you in on a secret? Aliens ARE living here on earth. They are called Christ followers . . . Christians. Read I Peter 2:11 as Peter cautions us “as aliens and strangers in the world” to remember who we are and the war that we are fighting every day against “sinful desires” that battle to capture our souls. But why warn us in this way?

Peter understood the tendency for Christians to want to belong and fit in with people in the world around them. It’s an easy thing to do, isn’t it? We hear the old saying “When in Rome, do as the Romans.” In other words, do what you need to do to fit in, no matter where you are or who you are with at the moment. But that is the opposite of what the Lord wants us to do!

Have you ever traveled to another country where you did not speak the language or understand the customs? While it can be scary, we are urged – not encouraged – but urged by Peter to live every day as if we were in that foreign country and absolutely did not fit in.

For example, we should be speaking love and forgiveness when those around us are peddling hate and revenge. When the world is promoting wealth no matter the cost, we should be sharing the cost of the Cross with our neighbors.

While the media is glorifying the powerful as gods, we must be focusing on the One True God and sharing Him with the lost living in this foreign land. We must be very aware of anything that conflicts with the Word and counter it with truth and love from Jesus.

This is a temporary home for us. We truly must be aliens and strangers, passing through to our eternal home. I urge you today to live your life in such a way that people will look at you and say “There is absolute proof that aliens do live here on earth. They are called Christians.”

Father, I pray that I will be able to stand strong every day as I share with those around me that you are the only way to eternal life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

Have you ever been tempted to do whatever you needed to do to fit in with the crowd?

Did your decision make it clear that you were a Christian? Why or why not?

Apply

Journal situations that you are considering being a part of in your life.

Beneath each one, write “alien” or “earthly” and back up your decisions with Scripture.

Power

I Peter 2:11 (NIV) “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.”

I Chronicles 29:15 (NIV) “We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers.”

Matthew 10:22 (NIV) “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

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

Bathroom restrictions for transgender kids added to Missouri ‘parents bill of rights’

By Annelise Hanshaw

Missouri Independent

Legislation seeking to create a “parents bill of rights” in Missouri was amended in committee Tuesday morning to add prohibitions on transgender students accessing restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity.

A House hearing on standalone bills that sought to regulate school bathrooms took up the majority of a nearly nine-hour meeting last week. Missourians haven’t had a chance to testify on bathroom restrictions in the Senate this year, a fact that irked Democrats as the committee’s chairman — Republican Sen. Andrew Koenig of Manchester — briefly introduced the amendment.

Koenig added the bathroom amendment shortly before he was removed as chairman of the education committee. He lost his chairmanship Tuesday along with other members of the Senate’s Freedom Caucus following weeks of open warfare with the chamber’s GOP leadership.

Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance, said adding the bathroom amendment was an important step.

“It is a statewide issue that your biological sex matches which locker room and which restroom you’re going into,” Schroer said. “I know several of the school districts in St. Charles County have addressed it, but there’s still a need.”

Greg Razer, a Kansas City Democrat and the Senate’s only openly gay member, attempted to remove it, but his efforts fell short when only Republican Sen. Elaine Gannon of De Soto joined the Democratic committee members in favor of Razer’s proposal.

The original bill would require school staff to report to parents, within 24 hours, if a minor expresses “discomfort or confusion about the student’s documented identity” or desires to change their pronouns.

The bill also specifies that school personnel cannot “encourage a student under the age of 18 years old to adopt a gender identity or sexual orientation.”

Razer offered another amendment Tuesday that would require staff to contact the Missouri Department of Social Services whenever a parent is contacted regarding students’ LGBTQ status. The school would tell the agency that the child was at-risk of becoming homeless. His fear, Razer said, is that disapproving parents may kick a child out of their home.

“I think we all can agree that we don’t want children to be homeless,” Razer told fellow committee members.

Sen. Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, added that there was a risk of child abuse as well, stacking another amendment atop Razer’s.

“If the parent is going to be notified,” Razer said, “the department needs to be notified that they may have a homeless child or an abused child on their hands.”

Sen. Rick Brattin, a Republican from Harrisonville, said he thought the Democratic amendments were unnecessary.

“Doesn’t the current existing law mandate reporting if they believe there is abuse or anything already going on?” he said. “So this is just redundancy.”

 

Brattin said the amendments assume abuse, saying parents should be “innocent until proven guilty.” Razer thought it was best to be precautionary.

“You want to wait until the child is abused?” he asked. “You’re going to put a certain unacceptably large percentage of children at risk.”

Brattin argued with him, saying it was a “very small portion of children.”

Razer became visibly upset.

“If the law says ‘sexual orientation or gender identity,’ say a boy says, ‘I want to take this girl on a date to the dance,’ then do they have to call?” Razer asked. “If that’s not the case, then what we’re saying in your bill is you only call if the student is like me.”

Koenig said he was open to clarifying the bill’s language.

“What we don’t want is, we don’t want the teacher indoctrinating the child to make one decision or the other, or to specifically change names or pronouns,” he said.

State Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat, said teachers are not trying to change students’ sexuality or gender identity.

“Without teachers indoctrinating students, there are still conversations about students’ personal lives, who they like, who they want to take to the dance and how they’re feeling at that moment,” she said. “By putting in statute requirements of the teachers to notify parents in conversations where I think we should allow them a little discretion to make the right call, it creates all sorts of additional problems.”

Brattin said he thought the discussion of sexual orientation was “muddying the waters.” He said the bill addresses situations where teachers help children transition by providing clothes or changing their name without parental consent.

“To say that a teacher should have those sorts of conversations, I think is beyond the scope of a teacher,” he said.

Koenig’s bill passed, with the committee’s Democratic members and Gannon in opposition.



The committee’s new chairperson Sen. Curtis Trent, a Republican from Springfield, will be responsible for reporting the bill as “passed” on the Senate floor for it to continue forward. He voted in favor of the legislation.

Carthage man charged with statutory rape of his 13-year-old goddaughter

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office charged a Carthage man today with statutory rape.

According to the probable cause statement, Oscar Ramos-Vicente (DOB 1973) sexually assaulted his goddaughter at his home three times in 2020.

From the probable cause statement:

On 01/19/2024 Carthage police responded to the Carthage High School in reference to a past tense rape that occurred in 2020. 

Victim 1 stated approximately 2 years ago her godfather, Oscar Ramos-Vicente sexually assaulted her at his house in Carthage, MO. During a subsequent forensic interview with Victim 1, she disclosed she would translate for Ramos when he would go places and be in his custody, care, and control as he was her godfather. 

Ramos would buy clothes for Victim 1 and bought her a phone. 

During this time, Ramos would take Victim 1 to his residence, take her to his bedroom, lock the door and have sexual intercourse with her against her will. Victim 1 advised this occurred approximately 3 times. Victim 1 was 13 when these incidents happened as she advised they occurred towards the end of 2020. 

Ramos told Victim 1 if she told the police or her parents something would happen to her and them.

On 01/23/2024 I conducted a subsequent interview with Ramos at the Carthage Police Department, 310 W. 4th, Jasper County. Ramos corroborated the Victim’s disclosure regarding timeline and events. Ramos confessed to having sex with Victim 1 in exchange for him getting her a phone.

Ramos is also charged with tampering with a victim.

Neosho man treated for gunshot wounds, gunman still at large

 

Joplin man charged with two felonies after stealing phone wire, cutting off hospital's phone service

(Update- Justin Foust was also charged with felony stealing in Jasper County, where his bond was set at $75,000 surety or $10,000 cash.)

A Joplin man was charged in Newton County Circuit Court today with two felonies, stealing and damage to a critical infrastructure facility following the January 17 theft of phone lines that service a Joplin hospital.

Bond for Justin Chandler Foust (DOB 1996) was set at $3,500 cash or surety.

Security camera footage taken January 17 showed a silver Subaru Forester SUV dropping off a man who went to a telephone pole cutting a large amount of wire from the pole and leaving, according to the probable cause statement.

At that point, the hospital, which is not identified in the statement, was cut off from all phone services.

Six days later, the same Subaru Forester was stopped by the Joplin Police Department and a large amount of the phone line was in the vehicle, the probable cause statement said.

During an interview earlier today, Foust acknowledged he was the one who stole the wire, according to the probable cause statement.

Change-of-plea hearing set for man who fired shots at Joplin police officers

A change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. February 7 in U. S. District Court in Springfield for a Burlingame, Kansas man who shot at Joplin police officers February 24, 2023 when they were investigating him for another shooting.

Adam Everett Kastler, 36, Burlingame, Kansas, is charged with illegal possession of a firearm.

The Joplin Police Department has been searching for Kastler as a suspect in a February 7, 2023 shooting at 909 S. Monroe that sent a Joplin man to the hospital.

Officers found Kastler at 11:18 p.m. Friday when they tried to stop a white Chevrolet Tahoe at 2315 W. 7th Street, according to a department news release.

During the stop, Kastler forcefully stole the vehicle from the owner and fled the scene from officers.

During the pursuit, Kastler fired multiple gunshots at pursuing Joplin Police Officers at multiple points in the pursuit. The pursuit entered Kansas and the suspect vehicle crashed west of Galena. Kastler was taken into custody without further incident.

The news release noted that Kastler had active felony warrants out of Newton County and a Joplin Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear.

Parson delivers final State of the State message

(From Gov. Mike Parson)

Today, Governor Mike Parson delivered his sixth and final State of the State Address to the Missouri General Assembly, outlining his legislative and budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).

Governor Parson opened his final address expressing appreciation to First Lady Teresa Parson and their family for always standing by his side during his time as Governor and throughout his political career. He then continued with a commitment to Missourians that he will continue what he's done since the very beginning: putting people first.

 

"When I became Governor, we declared a fresh start and the return of stability. We committed to ensuring the next generations have their opportunity at the American Dream. We promised the return of integrity," Governor Parson said. "Above all, we promised to return a people first mentality to state government, and that's our final commitment to Missourians. Until our final day, we'll continue putting people first."

Governor Parson's speech focused largely on the legacy of achievements his administration, the General Assembly, and state government have accomplished together. A summarized list can be found below:Reshaped the Supreme Court of Missouri and judiciary as a whole – with 40 percent of the judiciary being appointed by Governor Parson;

 
-Protected second amendment rights, focused on law and order, and safeguarded Missouri’s landmark castle doctrine;

-Fought the fight for life – reducing the number of elective abortions in Missouri to zero annually;

-Streamlined state agencies and reduced the size of state government;

-Supported state team members with a more than 20 percent increase in pay, professional development opportunities, and better retirement savings plans;

-Cleared the 3,700 pending clemency applications inherited by his administration;

 
-Built over 1,000 bridges and repaired 50 percent of Missouri's entire highway system;

-Boosted higher education funding by 24 percent;

-Increased state funding for K-12 education by $700 million and increased baseline teacher pay by $15,000 (with FY25 recommendations);

 
-Secured investments to close Missouri's broadband digital divide once and for all;

 
-Cut nearly 20 percent of regulations on the books and made state government more efficient and effective while unleashing economic development;

-Maintained Missouri's AAA credit rating and achieved the lowest unemployment ever recorded in state history at 2.1 percent;

 
-Improved Missouri's GDP growth rate ranking from 42nd in the United States and last among Midwest neighbors to 23rd in the nation and Top 5 among thirteen neighboring states;

 
-Grew state revenues by 40 percent since 2018;

-Paid the state's bills and left the State of Missouri with $600 million – 53 percent – less debt than when his administration began;

-Left $1.5 billion on the bottom line for the next administration;

-Created over 110,000 jobs and brought $14.5 billion in new business investment through nearly 685 new business projects; and

-Reduced Missourians' state income tax burdens by over 20 percent with three separate tax cuts, including the largest tax cut in state history.

Workforce Development & Education

Governor Parson again called for fully funding the K-12 foundation formula for the 6th year in a row and for funding to increase baseline teacher pay to $40,000 for teachers across the state through his Teacher Baseline Salary Grant program.

Governor Parson's FY25 budget also includes a three percent core increase for both public four-year institutions and community colleges and $54 million to support MoExcels workforce training programs on college campuses. He also continues his support for youth apprenticeships with $3 million and JAG-Missouri with a $3.8 million investment.

To build on Missouri's status as a top manufacturing state, Governor Parson includes $10 million for advanced semiconductor research, development, and skills training and nearly $7 million to support critical mineral development.

Governor Parson's budget continues investments in the expansion of pre-kindergarten programs and invests $52 million to boost child care subsidy rates, all to help address the child care crisis Missouri families face and improve outcomes for Missouri children.

Infrastructure

During his speech, Governor Parson announced that, with the help of Congressman Sam Graves, Missouri will receive a more than $90 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant, the largest federal transportation grant Missouri has ever received, to support the Improve I-70 project. More information can be found on the Missouri Department of Transportation's website. [Link]

Thanks to the help of this grant and savings and interested accrued on the $2.8 billion set aside for Improve I-70, Governor Parson announced his recommendation to establish the I-44 Improvement Fund. This fund will supplement the nearly $150 million already budgeted for expansion studies and congestion and safety improvements on I-44.

Additionally, with nearly $1.7 billion former U.S. Senator Roy Blunt help secure before his retirement and past state efforts, Governor Parson announced Missouri's plan over the next five years is to close the broadband digital divide once and for all.

Government Reform

To continue efforts to recruit and retain quality state team members, Governor Parson's FY25 budget calls for a 3.2 percent cost of living increase for all state employees and an additional one percent pay increase for every two years of continuous employment for eligible state employees working in certain congregate care facilities, capped at 10 percent.

Legislative Proposals

This year, Governor Parson announced two legislative priorities: child care tax credits and stricter punishments for fentanyl.

Working alongside Senator Lauren Arthur and Representative Brenda Shields, Governor Parson announced his support to establish new child care tax credits programs included in Senate Bill 742 and House Bill 1488 to improve access and affordability for Missouri families.

To address the fentanyl crisis in Missouri, Governor Parson announced his office will partner with Senator Holly Thompson-Rehder and Representative Cameron Parker to pass legislation that guarantees stricter punishments for exposing children and minors to fentanyl.

 

Governor Parson also recommended $900,000 to support Attorney General Andrew Bailey's efforts to find, prosecute, and punish human traffickers and sexual predators in the State of Missouri.

2024 State of the State Special Guests

During his speech, Governor Parson recognized special guests for their achievements and commitment to the people of Missouri:JAG-MissouriDominik Burns – JAG-Neelyville student
Dylan Reed – JAG-Van Buren graduate
Mitchell Gant – JAG-Stockton graduate
Yajaris Guzman – JAG-Aurora graduate
“Mama Joan” Priggel Dietrich – JAG-West Plains Specialist
Shannon Davis – JAG-Neelyville Specialist
Child CareJennifer Sikes – Mineral Area College Early Learning Academy Program Director
Katherine Godier – Mineral Area College nursing student/parent
Theodore (Theo) Godier – Mineral Area College Early Learning Academy student
ApprenticeshipsPhilip King – Four Rivers Career Center Director
Isaac Lough – Four Rivers Career Center student
Jeff Fields – Wilson Logistics Director of Safety and Apprenticeship Director
Kayla Putnam – Wilson Logistics trucking apprentice
James (Ricky) Schmoll – Wilson Logistics trucking apprentice
ClemencyReverend Kenny Batson – Pastor of Grace Fellowship Interdenominational in El Dorado
AppointmentsGabe Gore – City of St. Louis Circuit Attorney
MoDOT Team MembersDoug Hood – Assistant Financial Services Director, Central Office
Nicolette Comstock – Senior Maintenance Worker, Northwest
Rhonda Marsden – Maintenance Crew Leader, Northeast
Ron Clark – Buck O’Neil Project Senior Construction Inspector, Kansas City
Mike Schupp – District Construction and Materials Engineer, Central
Sheron Thomas – I-270 North Senior Highway Designer, St. Louis
Wyatt Schubert – Motorist Assistance Operator, Southwest
Nikki Knight – Construction Inspector, Southeast

Governor Parson wrapped up today’s State of the State Address with a heartfelt message to his team in the Governor's Office – Team 57 as he commonly refers to them – and a reminder for state leaders to always put the people of Missouri first.

"The First Lady and I may never be able to fully realize the work we’ve done here alongside all of you. But that was never the purpose in the first place. The point is that all of our kids and grandkids across this state, they will," Governor Parson said. "In Missouri, our economy is strong, our democracy is strong, our people are strong, and we can keep it that way if we continue to PUT PEOPLE FIRST."

With his final words, Governor Parson expressed appreciation to Missourians and foreshadowed his and the First Lady's retirement from public office.

 

"The First Lady and I will be returning to the farm with our heads held high, and if I'm honored enough to be considered by Missourians as a “pretty good Governor” “decent guy” or “someone who never forgot where he came from," then it will all be worth it," Governor Parson concluded. "Words cannot express the sincere appreciation I have for this state and our people. So for one final time before this chamber today, I simply say to the more than six million Missourians who I have had the absolute privilege of serving, it has truly been the honor of my life to be your 57th Governor of the great State of Missouri."

To view a full transcript of Governor Parson’s speech and special guest bios, please see attachments. To view the FY2025 Budget in Brief, please click here. The FY25 Executive Budget will be available here at 3 p.m. Pictures from today's events, including special guests, will be available on Flickr.

2024 State of the State Address - Media Copy.pdf
2024 State of the State Special Guests.pdf

Parson's I-70 improvement plan receives federal funding

(From Gov. Mike Parson)

Today, during his final State of the State Address, Governor Mike Parson, alongside Congressman Sam Graves, announced that Missouri has secured a $92.8 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to improve Interstate-70.

Missouri will use the INFRA grant for specific Improve I-70 projects, including truck parking, Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), work zone safety technology, and workforce development, all to enhance the efforts of adding an additional lane to I-70.

"For decades the expansion of I-70 was talked about in the State Capitol. After decades of inaction, our administration, with the help of the General Assembly, secured a historic investment of $2.8 billion last year to add a third lane across our state," said Governor Parson. "This additional grant money will help us build upon our historic investment and continue our administration's commitment to improving our state's infrastructure. We thank Congressman Graves for his leadership in securing this grant, the largest transportation grant Missouri has ever received."

The overall goal of the Improve I-70 project across Missouri is to provide a safe, efficient, environmentally sound, and cost-effective transportation that responds to corridor needs as a national interstate. Missouri’s FY2024 budget from the General Assembly supported by Governor Parson provides $2.8 billion in general revenue for the costs to plan, design, construct, reconstruct, rehabilitate, and repair three lanes in each direction on nearly 200 miles of I-70, from Blue Springs to Wentzville.

“Thanks to the leadership of Congressman Graves, this grant award acknowledges the national importance of the Improve I-70 corridor,” said MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna. “MoDOT submitted an aggressive application for the Improve I-70 program through a federal project discretionary grant opportunity to add to the historic funding provided by the General Assembly and Governor Parson. With the award of this grant, it will allow the Improve I-70 corridor to enhance safety, increase technology, and improve innovation throughout the first three projects.”

The first Improve I-70 project's contract is scheduled to be presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission for approval at its February 14, 2024 meeting. The first phase of the project includes the segment of interstate from Route 63 in Columbia to Route 54 in Kingdom City. Construction on this first segment could start as early as summer 2024. The second project will focus on the segment from Warrenton to Wentzville and the third from Blue Springs to Odessa. Projects two and three are scheduled to be under construction in 2025.

“This grant will enable MoDOT to further stretch the funding for I-70 to include additions such as additional truck parking along I-70, and additional cameras and digital message boards used to help communicate to I-70 travelers,” said MoDOT Improve I-70 Program Director Eric Kopinski. “We will also be looking at items to enhance technology and communication efforts through smart work zone features to advise motorists during construction.”

For more information about the Improve I-70 projects and to sign up for project email updates, go to www.modot.org/improvei70.