Turner Hearing Concludes After 12 Hours
Randy Turner's fate rests with the Joplin School Board. There was a 12 hour hearing Thursday on whether Turner, a middle school teacher, should be fired for immoral conduct. The School District says links to a book Turner wrote called "No Child Left Alive" were made available on Facebook. Turner spoke to News Talk KZRG after the hearing.
"I appreciate the fact that I was given a hearing and I'll just look forward to hearing what the Board of Education has to say."
Turner says he hopes at least four of the seven Board members see things his way. No word when the Board will make its decision.
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Hartzler Supports Keystone Pipeline
The Keystone XL Pipeline project has been approved by the US House and now goes to the Senate. Missouri 4th District Congresswoman Vicki Hartzler voted for the pipeline and tells News Talk KZRG the public also supports it.
"They understand it's going to create 20,000 jobs. They understand it's going to transport 830,000 barrels of oil per day, which is half of what we currently import from the Middle East."
Hartzler says she hopes the Senate and President Obama will also approve the pipeline and not "cater to the whims of environmental extremists."
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KS Legislature Goes To OT
They're going to overtime. The Kansas Legislature wasn't able to wrap up business today, the 90th day of the session. House Majority Leader Jene Vickrey suggests legislators might be meeting next week. Majority Republicans can't agree on how much new sales tax revenue to raise to prevent budget shortfalls while enacting income tax cuts. The Kansas Constitution specifies 90-day sessions, but also grants lawmakers the power to meet longer.
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Cunningham Park Pool Vandalized
Someone drained the swimming pool Tuesday night. Not just any pool, the pool at Cunningham Park. Joplin Police say vandals broke a lock to the pool and opened the drain valve, letting over 200,000 gallons of water to be drained. Landscaping rocks around the reflecting pond were also thrown into the pool. About $4000 damage was done. Everything was fixed before Wednesday's tornado remembrance ceremony.
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Joplin Student Rally in Support of Suspended Teacher
"Let Turner teach!" was the chant heard along 32nd Street infront of the Joplin School District Administration Building Thursday morning as students and parents waved signs in support of suspended teacher, Randy Turner. Joplin High School Senior, Laela Zaidai (Lay-la ZAY-dee) organized the rally, telling News Talk KZRG they want to send a message to the administration.
"We
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Joplin Two Years After The Tornado
Joplin and Duquesne paused yesterday to remember the 161 people who died in a tornado two years ago. Hundreds of people at Cunningham Park heard from Governor Jay Nixon, Mayor Melodee Colbert-Kean and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. Jane Cage, who led the Citizens Advisory Recovery Team, also talked about Joplin's spirit and resilience.
"I've seen men and women bend but not break becneath a load of responsiblitites heaped on them by May 22nd. I've seen tired faces around the meeting table as we've pushed and planned. But I've also seen a community that dared to dream by writing their visions on sticky notes in a crowded gymnasium."
Cage was presented with the Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience for her work with CART.
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Napolitano Visits Joplin
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano took part in Wednesday's tornado remembrance in Joplin. She praised the city and its people for the rebuilding they've done in the two years after a devastating EF-5 tornado.
"It is truly remarkable to come back and see how far Joplin has come. Not just getting back on your feet, but rebuilding stronger and more resilient than ever before."
Napolitano also presented the first annual Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience to Jane Cage and the citizens of Joplin. You can see photos on News Talk KZRG's Facebook page.
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Joplin Gets $20 Million EDA Grant
There was good news Wednesday about Joplin's rebuilding from the 2011 tornado. It was announced that Joplin would receive a $20 million grant from the Economic Development Administration. That grant will be used to build a library and movie theater complex at 20th and Connecticut. Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr tells News Talk KZRG it was something city officials worked on for quite a while.
"We kept after it and were very persistent and we're happy to get to the point where it's actually announced. We'll put it to good use."
Rohr also announced that a healing garden would be built in Cunningham Park and funds are being raised to put a statute in the park honoring tornado volunteers.
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Grand Lake Boat Crash Update
The driver in a boat crash that killed two people last week had consumed beer, tequila and an anti-depressant before the crash. A preliminary report from the Grand River Dam Authority Police says 22-year-old John DeSelms of Tulsa had drunk ten beers and a shot of tequila on May 14th. Rachel Swetnam of Grove and William Varner III of Texarkana, Arkansas were killed in the crash. No word yet if DeSelms will be charged.
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OK Tornado Victims Identified
The Oklahoma medical examiner's office says it has positively identified all 24 victims of Monday's tornado that ripped across the Oklahoma City area.
The office announced Wednesday that 10 of those killed were children, including two infants.
Among the dead are 4-month-old Case Futrell and 7-month-old Sydnee Vargyas. Both babies died from head injuries.
The eight other children ranged in age from 4 years old to 9 years old. Of those, six were suffocated. The other two died from massive injuries. Seven of the children were pulled from the rubble of the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore.
The medical examiner's office says most of the adults died from multiple blunt-force injuries.
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Brownback: Finish Up Already
Governor Sam Brownback is telling Kansas legislators that it's time for them to resolve their differences on tax issues and finish their work for the year.
The Republican Governor issued his statement Wednesday after negotiations between the House and Senate on adjusting the state sales tax hit a new snag.
The legislative negotiators were unable to agree on canceling all or part of a sales tax decline scheduled for July. They planned to meet again Thursday.
Brownback wants to keep the sales tax at 6.3 percent to raise revenue so that Kansas can follow the massive income-tax cuts approved last year with more income tax reductions.
The governor said the Republican-controlled Legislature is positioning the state for economic growth.
But he added, ``It is time to wrap up the session.''
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SMB Halfway To Volunteer Goal
Southwest Missouri Bank is making progress on its goal to have employees volunteer 2500 hours by September. SMB Vice President of Marketing Peggy Fuller gives News Talk KZRG an update.
"This morning, in fact, we have hit 1,466 hours. Those are hours that SMB employees have given back to the community so far this year."
SMB wants its employees to volunteer 2500 hours to mark the company's 25th anniversary in Joplin. Fuller says if you have a community project that needs volunteers, call SMB at 623-5959.
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