Month: June 2021

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced Wednesday the settlement of a lawsuit against Jim Bakker and Morningside Church Productions.

The AG sued Bakker’s organization over claims made in March 2020 that “silver solution” was a potential cure for coronavirus.

“Today I’m pleased to announce that the Missouri Attorney General’s Office has obtained a consent judgment against Jim Bakker and Morningside Church Productions that results in $156,000 in restitution and strong safeguards to prevent the marketing of ‘silver solution’ as a cure or treatment for COVID and other medical issues,” Attorney General Schmitt said in a statement. “My Office will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of Missouri consumers, and will not hesitate to take action when those consumers are being defrauded.”

The judgment says that Bakker and his television ministry is not allowed to sell or advertise “silver solution” as a way to “diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure any disease or illness.” They also have to return $90,000 to consumers who bought silver solution between February 12, 2021 and March 10, 2021.

The Attorney General’s office says Bakker has already refunded customers, that when you combine the total of previous refunds to the $90,000 ordered in the agreement, totals about $156,000 in restitution.

consent-judgment-bakker-signed

Springfield police say a domestic dispute led to a standoff at the John B. Hughes Apartments on north Clifton Tuesday night.

Officers evacuated the surrounding units as a precaution.

Investigators say a woman was assaulted by a man in one of the apartments.

She left to call 911 and left a child behind.

Police were able to get the child out of the apartment.

Everyone was allowed to go back inside around 9:00 p.m.

There are no reports of serious injuries.

Governor Mike Parson announced Tuesday he will be calling for a special legislative session beginning Wednesday to focus on extending the Federal Reimbursement Allowances and related items necessary for funding MO HealthNet.

The Governor is making the move after saying he will need to make cuts to state spending to fund MO HealthNet without legislative action.

“After laying out the grim reality of our state’s financial future if FRA is not extended, I believe legislators have now agreed to a compromise that will end this stalemate, so today I am announcing a special session to begin tomorrow at noon,” Governor Parson said in a press statement. “We appreciate the continued efforts of House and Senate leadership to work with us towards a solution, and we are thankful that we are now in a position that warrants a call to special session.”

“Let me be clear, now is a time that demands leadership among legislators and not an opportunity to play games with billions of dollars and millions of livelihoods in pursuit of narrow political interests,” Governor Parson added. 

The special session call from the Governor has these focuses:

• Extend the expiration of the ground ambulance service reimbursement allowance
• Extend the expiration of the nursing facility reimbursement allowance 
• Extend the expiration of the Medicaid managed care organization reimbursement allowance
• Extend the expiration of the FRA program
• Extend the expiration of the pharmacy tax
• Extend the expiration of the intermediate care facility for the intellectually disabled assessment
• Prohibit abortifacient drugs and devices 
• Prohibits funding for abortion facilities under the Uninsured Women’s Health Program
• Allow the Senate to consider appointments that require the advice and consent of the Senate

“The FRA program reduces the burden of MO HealthNet expenditures on the state budget and maximizes federal dollars coming to Missouri, and House and Senate leadership and Missourians know the detrimental consequences if FRA is not extended,” Governor Parson said. “It is unacceptable to jeopardize critical investments in priorities like education, workforce development, and infrastructure, and we must get this done quickly to protect Missourians and continue investing in Missouri’s future generations.”

A man who was shot on June 10, 2021, at 1403 North Broadway in Springfield died Saturday from their wounds.

The Springfield Police Department says that the victim is Travis D. Rogers, 44, from Springfield.

On June 10, officers were called to the North Broadway address because a 911 caller said a man had been shot. Officers found Rogers, whose injuries at the time were considered to be life-threatening.

A suspect has been identified by SPD but they have not been located or arrested.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Springfield Police Department at 864-1810 or call anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 869-8477.

Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller announced Monday that absentee ballots for the August 3, 2021 election will be available starting Tuesday, June 22, 2021.

Because the only items on the ballot in August are in the Republic R-3 School District, Walnut Grove R-5 School District, and Brookline Fire Protection District, only voters in those areas will be able to obtain a ballot.

The eligible voters can pick up an absentee ballot at the clerk’s office at the Greene County Archives/Elections Center, 1126 N Boonville Ave, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The absentee ballots will be available until Monday, August 2, 2021.

Absentee ballots can be requested by mail, either handwritten or from a fillable form on the Greene County Clerk’s website, and must be mailed to the Clerk’s office so they arrive no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 21, 2021.

Anyone with questions can contact Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller’s office at 417-868-4060.

A teen boy suffered critical injuries Sunday after an accident involving the Branson Coaster.

Branson officials confirmed that an incident took place around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 20. According to a statement, Branson Fire Rescue was called about an injured rider at the self-described “alpine coaster” located on West 76 Country Boulevard near Walmart.

When emergency responders arrived, they found a 12-year-boy was trapped “under a coaster” with serious injuries. The crews immediately began emergency medical treatment while they worked to remove the boy from the ride.

Branson Professional Firefighters Local 152 said in a social media posting the rescue took an hour and forty minutes, calling it a “very technical rescue.”

Once the boy was free of the ride, he was taken by Mercy Life Line helicopter to Springfield. His condition was called “very serious” by firefighters, but the hospital has not been released the boy’s current condition to the media.

The Missouri State Fire Marshal will be investigating the incident

Strong to severe thunderstorms moved through areas north of Springfield in the overnight hours of Monday morning.

The National Weather Service says several trees and limbs are down in Humansville.

South central Missouri could get some strong to severe thunderstorms Monday morning, but otherwise, the threat for severe weather is low.

Flooding is an issue for some areas south and west of Springfield, where a Flood Advisory is in effect for eastern Barry, southern Stone and western Taney Counties until 11:30 a.m. Monday.

One to two inches of rain fell in these areas overnight Monday morning, with minor flooding expected in the Branson, Forsyth, Hollister, Kirbyville and Blue Eye areas.

There will be cooler weather behind a cold front Monday, with temps dropping into and staying in the middle 60’s.