Latest news with #MissouriDepartmentofCorrections
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Woman sentenced for DWI crash that killed bicyclist in Riverside
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City woman was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday after she was convicted in a 2024 drunk driving crash that resulted in the death of a bicyclist. According to court records, 25-year-old Emily Davis pleaded guilty to one count of driving while intoxicated, resulting in the death of another, back in March. On Monday, she was sentenced to serve a decade in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the deadly crash. Kansas City condo owner surprised by 153% increase in assessment said that on Sept. 16, 2024, 25-year-old Xavier Anderson was riding a bicycle on Northwest Tullison Road near Highway 9 and Argosy Casino in Riverside at about 5:30 a.m. when a Chevrolet Cruze hit him. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that Anderson was hit in the rear, forcing him to be ejected from the bike. Anderson was then taken to North Kansas City Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by hospital staff just before 9 a.m., the highway patrol said. The driver of the Chevrolet was later identified as Davis. She was subsequently charged with DWI resulting in death. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Missouri prisons get ‘brutally hot.' In solitary, it's even worse
(J. Marshall Smith for The Marshall Project) Last summer, Kenneth Barrett recalls spending 46 days — about half the summer — in solitary confinement at Algoa Correctional Center, a minimum security prison in Jefferson City. In segregation, he was confined to a cell roughly the size of a parking spot for 23 hours a day. Barrett said he had brown tap water to drink, chilled only by the occasional delivery of ice. There were no electrical outlets to plug in a fan, he said. And no escape from his cell except for a warm or hot shower, three times a week. This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project – St. Louis, a nonprofit news team covering Missouri's criminal justice systems. Subscribe to their email list, and follow The Marshall Project on Instagram, Reddit and YouTube He said he remembers a correctional officer telling him that it was 107 degrees outside his cell one day, which made sense, because the overhead vents only recirculated hot air. Algoa, a nearly century-old facility, is one of four prisons in the state with no air conditioning in any of the housing units, according to the Missouri Department of Corrections. As Barrett tells it, conditions throughout the prison are 'among the worst' he's experienced in his more than six years in prison. But it was in solitary confinement where he feared for his life: His cell had no button to push in case of a medical emergency, he said. On May 12, attorneys with the MacArthur Justice Center, a civil rights legal organization, filed a class action lawsuit against officials at the Missouri Department of Corrections on behalf of people incarcerated at Algoa, alleging that the prison's 'brutally hot' conditions constitute cruel and unusual punishment for those forced to endure dangerous temperatures with little to no relief. In interviews with The Marshall Project – St. Louis, and sworn statements to The MacArthur Justice Center, men incarcerated at Algoa, Ozark Correctional Center and Moberly Correctional Center described the effects of unrelenting heat in facilities with limited or no air conditioning. Their experiences underscore the unique dangers of extreme heat for people in solitary, also known as administrative segregation (ad-seg for short), or the hole. Barrett was among nearly two dozen incarcerated men who provided sworn statements in support of the civil rights complaint. Accounts of his experience are drawn from his sworn testimony. 'When medical emergencies like heat stroke occurred, we had to kick on the doors and scream for help,' Barrett wrote in his sworn statement. 'Often, it took over an hour for anyone to come. Sometimes, no one came to help.' When correctional officers did respond to the noise, Barrett said, officers frequently punished people for speaking up by writing them up for a disturbance. When he experienced his own symptoms of heat stroke — lightheadedness, nausea, and chest pains that made it hard to breathe — he reported himself to medical, but still wasn't allowed to leave his cell, he said. The complaint calls for the Missouri Department of Corrections to develop a heat mitigation plan to respond to future heat emergencies at Algoa, including maintaining a 'safe indoor temperature between 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit' inside every unit in the prison. The new safety plan should also include revised policies for solitary confinement, and for medically vulnerable populations. If the state is unable to implement a plan, the complaint argues three of the incarcerated petitioners with less than a year left on their sentences should be released. Missouri Department of Corrections Communications Director Karen Pojmann said ice is delivered to restrictive housing units, such as solitary confinement, three or more times a day. She added that Centurion, the prison's medical provider, has 'numerous protocols in place for all institutions' when temperatures rise above 90 degrees, including 'additional checks on elderly residents, chronically ill residents and residents taking certain medications.' However, the accounts of men incarcerated during the summer at several Missouri prisons suggest the state's heat mitigation efforts have fallen short. 'Some of these rooms down in ad-seg can get easy triple digit heat indexes for days at a time,' David Blackledge, who is incarcerated at the partially air-conditioned Moberly Correctional Center, wrote using the prison's email system to The Marshall Project – St. Louis in response to questions about his experience. He described a heat so oppressive that it was impossible to get more than 2 to 4 hours of sleep a night. When the ice machines worked, rather than using the ice to cool his water, Blackledge said he would use the ice to chill his bedsheets. 'At bedtime I take my clothes off, wrap my body in the frozen sheet, and then mummify myself,' he wrote. 'I really thought I was going to die from heat stroke last year,' he wrote. 'The heat gets so bad it often causes panic attacks. Hallucinations are not uncommon.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Extreme heat makes being in the hole even worse. The heat is a 'compounding force' that exacerbates existing physical and mental health challenges that often come with solitary confinement, according to David Cloud, a postdoctoral researcher at Duke University School of Medicine. Cloud published a study in 2023 on the correlation between extreme heat and suicide watch in solitary. In Louisiana prisons without air conditioning, Cloud found the rate of daily suicide watch incidents increased by 29% when the heat index reached the 'caution' level, defined for the study as 80-89 degrees Fahrenheit. Daily incidents increased by 36% when the heat index reached 'extreme caution,' defined as 90-103 F. Since people in solitary have exceptionally limited freedom of movement, Cloud said extreme heat not only can cause physiological harm, but increases the likelihood of 'that slow agony of psychological pain.' The temperature reached 97 degrees last year in Jefferson City, where Algoa and another state prison are located, according to Extreme Weather Watch, an archive of historical weather patterns. But temperature alone is an incomplete indicator of how hot it really feels in humid places. In an expert report for the civil rights case, University of Arizona postdoctoral fellow Ufuoma Ovienmhada recorded a heat index (a temperature measurement that also includes humidity) of up to 110 degrees outside Algoa some days last summer. She also noted that the temperature inside the prison was likely hotter because the building materials absorb the sun's heat all day. The risk of heat exhaustion is ever-present in prison. The first signs of heat exhaustion include profuse sweating, lightheadedness, clammy skin and a weak pulse. The symptoms can quickly turn to heatstroke. If left untreated, heatstroke can lead to organ failure, permanent neurological damage, and disability or death. The key to avoiding death or long-term injury is to treat symptoms swiftly by cooling the body down externally, and by hydrating with plenty of fluids. People in prison don't have that option, said Dr. Fred Rottnek, former medical director at the St. Louis County jail. The traditional ways to 'self-cool' such as taking a cold shower, going to a cooling center or turning on the AC aren't available. Incarcerated people's health during a heat emergency is almost entirely dependent on 'the ability to get help from staffers, either medical or security,' Rottnek pointed out. Extreme heat intensified medical and mental health conditions for Allen Fuller, who was incarcerated at Algoa in the summer of 2024. Fuller wrote in his sworn statement that he has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder (characterized by symptoms of both schizophrenia and mood disorders such as bipolar disorder) and suicidal tendencies, and also struggles with another medical condition that causes near-daily vomiting. 'I hear voices that get more pronounced when I am hot. My mind starts playing tricks on me,' Fuller wrote. 'When I told staff I was hearing voices, they told me to stay under my fan,' he said, adding that he also vomits more frequently in the heat. 'The staff response to anything seems to be to send people to the hole,' Fuller continued, adding that incarcerated people's pleas for help are often met with yelling and screaming. 'I know we did wrong and that is why we are here, but we are still humans and have rights.' Incarcerated people said extreme heat also makes prison conditions worse. In the humidity, beds begin to sweat until they rust. Cockroaches are driven out of their crawlspaces and into people's cells. Irritability and desperation cause fights to break out over the last cup of ice, or the final spot in the rec room. 'You just lay in your bunk and wanna die,' Cole Ogle, who is incarcerated at Ozark Correctional Center, another facility with no air conditioning, told The Marshall Project – St. Louis. Ogle said the heat at Ozark, a minimum security prison that focuses on substance use treatment, exacerbates an already tense atmosphere. Even the personal fans, available only to a subset of the prison population who can afford them or land a spot in the coveted free fan program, do little but blow more hot air around the cells. The prison often cancels outdoor recreation on the hottest days, Ogle added, even if it's slightly cooler outside. Pojmann, the spokesperson for the Missouri DOC, said in an email that facilities without air conditioning in the housing units 'have the means to effectively circulate air through the wings' and keep residents cool using 'industrial fans, misting fans, sprinkling stations, cold drinking water and ice machines.' If ice machines struggle to keep up with the demand for ice, Pojmann said, 'facility administrators are instructed to purchase as much supplemental ice as necessary.' While air conditioning might seem like the most straightforward solution to the problem, implementing AC is costly, and not always possible. Prison renovations can cost taxpayers millions of dollars. And some of the oldest prison buildings can't be outfitted with air-conditioning units throughout the building due to their age, according to Pojmann. Incarcerated people report that even these buildings noticeably have air conditioning in administrative offices, classrooms, clinics and other areas where staff work — just not in the housing units where incarcerated people live. Access to air conditioning can also be weaponized in prison. Ovienmhada, the postdoctoral fellow, who is also one of the lead authors of a national study of extreme heat in US prisons, pointed to examples from incarcerated people she's interviewed of correctional officers coercively withholding air conditioning, or blasting the AC to dangerously low temperatures as punishment. Because these prisons are unable to offer meaningful reprieve from the heat to incarcerated people, Ovienmhada and Cloud have suggested the release of vulnerable people from prison as one solution. 'Building new prisons with air conditioning is not the solution,' said Cloud, the Duke University researcher. 'We have to talk about closing prisons that keep people in these types of conditions.' The MacArthur Justice Center lawsuit calls for swift policy change at Algoa. Jefferson City has already seen a handful of days in the 80s this year, including a high of 86 degrees in April. Shubra Ohri, one of the lead attorneys in the case, stressed that steadily rising temperatures across the state each summer mean that danger is imminent. A heat emergency could strike in a matter of weeks, she said, and, 'Algoa isn't ready.' As a minimum security prison, Algoa largely houses people who are nearing the end of their sentences. Because of extreme summer temperatures, some — like Arnez Merriweather, who is scheduled for release in October — worry they may never make it home. Merriweather recently learned his kidneys are failing, which increases his risk of life-threatening consequences from extreme heat. 'If you want to know what Hell feels like, it is summer at Algoa,' Merriweather wrote in his sworn statement. 'I need to survive this summer so I can get home… and I'm terrified of what will happen.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
General aviation crucial for businesses and communities, but privatization could harm
Since the recent tragic aircraft accident near Washington, D.C., discussions about air traffic control privatization have resurfaced. Although improving aviation safety is vital, privatization could inadvertently shift resources from smaller airports, potentially hurting businesses and communities across Kansas. Maintaining congressional oversight is essential to ensure equitable access and reliable services for all aviation users. At Berry Companies, headquartered in Wichita since 1957, general aviation is integral to our daily operations. With more than 60 branch locations across nine states, our aircraft enable us to swiftly reach remote suppliers, maintain strong internal communication and quickly respond to business opportunities. General aviation isn't simply a convenience; it's a necessity that allows us to conduct essential customer visits and manage extensive operations effectively. Congressional oversight of air traffic control helps preserve the critical connections provided by general aviation, keeping Kansas businesses competitive and communities connected. It ensures that air traffic control resources are distributed fairly, maintaining access for smaller airports that are often lifelines for rural and regional economies. Without such oversight, vital services and opportunities could be compromised, making it more challenging for businesses and communities to thrive. Let's continue to protect these vital resources and maintain public accountability of our airspace. - Walter Berry, President and CEO, Berry Companies, Wichita Betty Jane Frizzell's May 31, 2023, guest commentary 'Poor, rural women fueling Missouri's prison growth' (8A) was a horrifying glimpse into Missouri's legal system. It concerned a rural, employed single mom who was pulled over by her local sheriff for not using her turn signal. He claimed he saw cannabis and was able to search her car without a warrant. He found none. He did find a plastic bag with methamphetamine dust (zero drugs — only dust). This was her first offense. Yet she suddenly plummeted through a trap door of rapidly escalating legal fees and imprisonment. I wonder two things: 1) How many affluent-appearing white men have been pulled over for not signaling a turn, let alone been subjected to a search? 2) How could we have better served the self-reported casual meth user as well as the taxpayers? Surely there are more constructive, humane and just ways to apply the law. The Missouri Department of Corrections reports the state has the fastest-growing female prison population in the U.S. in recent years. Who is benefiting from imprisoning our poor rural women? - Mary Schultis, Kansas City MORE2, the Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity, urges Kansas Citians to vote yes on the Kansas City Public Schools bond request April 8. KCPS has regained accreditation. Test scores in reading and math are trending up. Graduation rates are at 90%, and enrollment is growing. From all corners, progress is being made. Funds from this bond request would maintain buildings, put a middle school in the former Southwest High School building, significantly renovate several other buildings, expand Hale Cook Elementary and fund building projects in multiple charter schools. The KCPS website states its purpose is to 'provide a quality education that prepares all of our students, regardless of background or circumstances, for success in college, career and life.' To do this, the district must have the resources required to achieve that purpose. If Kansas City truly wants to be world class, the education of its most vulnerable population must be one of its highest priorities. Voting for this bond request is a good start. Now is the time for the people of Kansas City to show their students that they support the great work being done throughout the district. Vote yes for the bond issue April 8. - Ron Carter and Jan Parks., MORE2 Education Task Force, Kansas City President Donald Trump bases his assault on the government and our Constitution on the false claim of a mandate from the American people. He asserts this lie repeatedly, hoping it will be accepted. He doesn't have a mandate from all the people. He won the election, but fewer than half of the 155 million who voted, more than 78 million, voted against him — hardly a mandate. Congress best represents the political will of the people. Republicans have only narrow margins in the House and the Senate. This is why Trump relies on executive orders. He knows he doesn't have enough votes in Congress. Trump has a mandate from his most loyal supporters, but some independent voters and perhaps even some from his base regret voting for him, given the chaos and damage he's caused. He's risked inflation and recession, aligned us with adversaries, set us crossways with our neighbors and allies and put many Americans at risk by destroying institutions and programs. Instead of making us great again, Trump is isolating us and making the rest of the free world view us negatively. Autocrats, of course, think we're great. - Mike Souder, Prairie Village
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Springfield man sentenced to 25 years for car theft at knifepoint
UPDATE 3-6-25 — Daryll Lamont Carter was sentenced to 25 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for robbery in the first-degree, armed criminal action, and resisting arrest. Original Story 4-16-23 GREENE COUNTY, Mo. — Deputies with the Greene County Sheriff's Office have arrested a man for stealing a woman's car at knifepoint. According to a Facebook post from the Greene County Sheriff's Office, a Springfield woman reported she had been robbed while inside her open garage on April 1. Ozarks Amphitheater building severely damaged by fire The woman told deputies she was unloading items from her car when a man armed with a knife approached her. The man, later identified as 47-year-old Daryll Lamont Carter, demanded money and the keys to her car. Deputies searching the area later saw the stolen car being driven by a man matching Carter's description. When deputies tried to pull Carter over, he drove away but ran off the side of the road and crashed the car before being taken into custody. Amber Alert issued for abducted child canceled Carter was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries from the crash. He was later booked into the Greene County Jail and is currently held without bond. Charges against Carter are pending and have not yet been formally filed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
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Real public safety in Missouri is about more than just creating longer prison sentences
(). The Missouri General Assembly is at a crossroads this legislative session as their constituents demand they do something, almost anything, to put a stop to violent crime. It's no secret that Missouri ranks in the top 10 states in the U.S. for both violent crime and property crime, and several Missouri communities lead the nation with high crime rates. As lawmakers consider solutions, what's most important: looking tough or getting dangerous criminals off the streets? Proposals that claim to be tough on crime could do more harm than good with the policies of House Bill 862, House Bill 314 and House Bill 389 focusing on increasing Missouri's minimum sentencing. Almost tripling the number of felons required to serve extended prison terms would cost billions of taxpayer dollars, overcrowd Missouri's current prisons or require new ones. All of these bills also ignore the thousands of violent criminals in Missouri slipping through the cracks. The Missouri Department of Corrections underscores these issues in a fiscal note stating that HB 862 would mean a total of 6,674 additional people in Missouri prisons, with the other two proposals adding 3,637 to prisons. With more than 23,000 people in state prisons, the department's website states: 'Our correctional facilities are over capacity and projected to continue growing.' In contrast, in 2022, an astonishing 62% of violent crimes reported to police across Missouri have gone unsolved. Ask yourselves, would a criminal worry that lawmakers might tack on extra years to a prison sentence, or do they prefer the odds they'll never be caught? Missouri already has some of the strictest sentencing laws in the nation, requiring dangerous felons to serve 85% of their sentences, and anyone with three or more previous felonies serving 80% of their sentences. Both HB 314 and HB 389 would increase punishments for people who have committed their first or second felony. This is a misguided approach to lock up first-time, non-violent offenders with hardened criminals. And it could potentially derail the good work already happening at the department of corrections, which has reported a decrease in recidivism over the past three years. Data consistently shows that the strongest deterrent to crime is the probability of getting caught. Unsolved crimes embolden criminals and leave victims vulnerable. I'm a mom, and I know that if I stick my toddler in time-out for five minutes instead of three minutes, it won't prevent him from drawing on the walls or other undesirable behavior. Instead, it's knowing that he will be caught that deters his future bad behavior. At risk of simplifying a complex issue — and tarnishing my 4-year-old's reputation — there are plenty of smarter approaches to address Missouri's public safety concerns than simply extending punishments. Other states have attempted to use minimum sentencing increases with disastrous results. In Wisconsin, for example, similar policies increased the prison population by 14% and drove corrections costs over $2 billion. In Georgia, mandatory sentences made prisons more violent and increased crime rates after release. Some alternative solutions in other states that actually work include Texas and North Carolina as they've pioneered alternative response units, allowing law enforcement to focus on violent crimes leaving non-violent situations in the hands of mental health professionals and social workers. Lawmakers in Tennessee and Arkansas offer state grants to local law enforcement to help police departments fund staffing, new equipment, and enhanced investigative techniques and training. The right tools can empower law enforcement to clear more cases and restore public confidence in their work. Expanding the use of advanced DNA testing, facial recognition, and crime hot-spot identification can speed up investigations and solve cases faster. Reducing backlogs in crime labs and updating outdated systems can help solve more cases. The solution to Missouri's crime problem lies not in creating longer sentences but in increasing clearance rates and supporting law enforcement with the tools they need to protect the citizens they serve. With the right resources and targeted legislation that promises proven results, we can reverse the trend of declining clearance rates and create a safer future for Missouri communities.
