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Homes of Hope Breaks Ground
Ground was broken Friday on three homes that will be built by a non-profit group called Homes of Hope. The homes will be built at 26th and Oliver, which was in the path of the May 22nd tornado. Crystal Wolfe, co-founder of Homes of Hope, tells News Talk KZRG about the project.

"We are building three, three-bedroom two-bath homes.  They will go to people who lost their homes to the May tornado who are not homeowners.  This will go to first-time home-buyers."

Wolfe says the homes could be finished by May. In all, Wolfe says Homes of Hope wants to build 20 homes in Joplin.  You can apply for one of the homes at Homes of Hope Joplin dot org.
 

Payless Re-opens in Joplin
A Joplin business that was destroyed in the May 22nd tornado re-opened today. Payless Shoe Source built a new store at the 15th and Range Line location where their old store had been. Rob Hallam of Payless tells News Talk KZRG about the importance of rebuilding in the same spot.

"It's an excellent location, it's a very high traffic location.  But just for the associates to be able to work in the same store and just begin again.  And begin again on the same location.  They have very fond memories of this site and this store."

Payless had kept their Joplin employees on the payroll while the store was being rebuilt, assigning them to other stores in the region.

5 Charged With Dealing Heroin
Five people from Joplin have been indicted for dealing heroin, which authorities say led to a man's death. 33-year-old Lavar Beard, 24-year-old Ashley Henson, 31-year-old Jason Hirshey, 26-year-old Haley Ferguson and 26-year-old Brian Ferguson were charged in a nine-count indictment in federal court in Springfield. The five allegedly conspired to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin in Jasper County from June to September last year. The use of heroin allegedly led to the death of 26-year-old Ryan Cockrell of Joplin last August 19th.

Joplin Habitat Raises Walls on New Joplin Home
A Joplin family that lost their home in the May 22nd tornado got to see walls go up on their new house today courtesy of the Habitat for Humanity. Jennifer Nelson tells News Talk KZRG she and her family have seen their lives changed in more than one way since the storm.

"It's the greatest experience we've ever been through. It's truly humbling, for everyone to have donated

Firefighters Investigating Early Morning Blaze
A Joplin home went up in flames early this morning. The Joplin Fire Department tells News Talk KZRG the east side of the home at 1630 East 3rd street was engulfed when they arrived at 2:07am... nobody was hurt but the carport and kitchen areas of the home were extensively damaged. Firefighters are currently investigating the cause of the blaze.

McCaskill's Campaign Fund Grows
Missouri U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill raised about $1.4 million during the last quarter of 2011 and has nearly $5 million in the bank for her re-election campaign. McCaskill, a Democrat, is seeking her second, six-year term in the Senate. Candidates have until Tuesday to file their quarterly campaign finance reports.

Joplin Businesses Reopening
It's going to be a busy day for shoppers in Joplin, as two stores destroyed by the May 22nd tornado reopen today. Academy Sports and Outdoors held a ribbon cutting and private shopping spree for about forty students from Irving Elementary School yesterday... today's their first official day open to the general public. Also, Payless ShoeSource will be holding a grand opening ceremony
Joplin Businesses
Reopening

St. John's Demolition Begins Sunday

A Joplin hospital that became a landmark and lasting image of the May 22nd tornado will start coming down Sunday. Demolition on Mercy St. John's Hospital will begin with a ceremony open to the public at 2:30pm that will include a retrospective on the building plus a celebration of plans for its replacement, which will see a groundbreaking of its own two hours later. Of the 161 people
St. John's
Demolition

Target & "Ellen" Give To Joplin Schools
The Joplin School District has another $100,000 for rebuilding tornado-damaged schools, thanks to Target and the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Ellen's viewers were asked to nominate schools that need help and Joplin was nominated. The gift is a pleasant surprise to Superintendent Doctor CJ Huff.

 "When those kind of surprise donations come along, we sure are appreciative.  And we appreciate people thinking of us as those opportunities come up and it was nice of whoever that was to nominate us for that opportunity."

 

Genandt Death Accidental Drowning
Authorities have a better idea how Ronnie James Genandt of Joplin died. The 33-year-old man was found Tuesday night in a pond near the 4000 block of East 7th Street. A preliminary autopsy says his death was an accidental drowning. Captain Derek Walrod of the Jasper County Sheriff's Office tells News Talk KZRG they're still trying to piece together Genandt's last days.

"We've narrowed it down and we have people that have seen or talked to him in early January, but nobody has seen or talked to him since approximately January 4th to the time we found the body."

Genandt's body had been in the water for at least 48 hours by the time he was found Tuesday night.

Miami's Snowball Classic Saturday
You'll get a chance to spend some time with a Major Leaguer and maybe pick up a souvenir this weekend. Matt Carnes says the second annual "Snowball Classic" will be in Miami on Saturday night.

"Brett Gardner with the New York Yankees is coming to hang out with us.  We'll be having a VIP dinner. Tons of sports memorabilia, a Heisman Trophy football signed by 27 of the guys, some Derek Jeter items, Mariano Rivera, Albert Pujols, just to name a few."

It all starts Saturday at 5pm at the Coleman Theater. Tickets are $10 per person; call 918-542-4472 to find out more.

World Series Trophy Coming To Joplin
How'd you like to see the Cardinals' World Series trophy? It's going to be in Joplin next week.

"US Cellular is excited to team up with the St. Louis Cardinals to give the best fans in baseball, really, a rare opportunity to see and take a photo with the 2011 World Series trophy."

Adam Crawford of US Cellular tells News Talk KZRG the trophy will be at their Joplin store next Thursday, February 2nd from 3 to 7pm. The store's located at 2609 East 7th Street. The Cardinals are taking the trophy on a 50 city tour of Missouri, Illinois and Oklahoma. 

MO Supreme Court Staying Out of Redistricting
The Missouri Supreme Court is declining to weigh in on the constitutionality of new state House districts at least for now.

The high court had been asked in a lawsuit to block a new map for the 163-member House from being used in this year's elections. The plaintiffs contend the new maps violate requirements that districts have similar populations and be contiguous and compact.

They asked the Supreme Court to consider the case without having it argued first in a trial court.

The Supreme Court declined Thursday, saying the case involved disputed issues of fact. The order allows the legal challenge to be filed in a state trial court and if that occurs instructs a judge to decide quickly.

Candidates start filing for office Feb. 28.

 

Martin Now Running For AG
St. Louis attorney Ed Martin is dropping his congressional campaign to instead seek the Republican nomination for attorney general.

Martin announced the switch Thursday while attempting to link Democratic incumbent Chris Koster to the policies of President Barack Obama.

This is not the first time Martin has changed course for the 2012 election. He originally set out to run for U.S. Senate but switched last year to the Second Congressional District race in suburban St. Louis.

Martin also ran for Congress in 2010, narrowly losing to Democrat Russ Carnahan. He served as chief of staff to former Republican Gov. Matt Blunt and has worked for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis and as an attorney for anti-abortion and school-choice groups

Martin is the only announced Republican challenger to Koster.

 

Jackson: "Timing Is Right" For Commission Run
He's been a part of the local news scene in Joplin since 1980, but Jim Jackson has a new position in mind: a seat on the Newton County Commission. He tells News Talk KZRG deciding to potentially leave news for politics was a tough choice to make.

"I enjoy current events, and with broadcasting, you never know what to expect from day to day. It's always exciting, and you're

Freeman Doc: Night of Tornado Was Like A War Zone
If you don't work in a hospital, you might imagine the emergency room in Joplin's Freeman Hospital after the May 22nd tornado was like something out of "MASH." Emergency Room Doctor Frank Veer says Freeman's staff saw high-velocity injuries similar to what you'd see in war.

"In the military they'll get one, two, a dozen of those patients at once. We got
Freeman Hospital
Tornado Response

Lawmaker Pushing To "Limit" Animal Rights
A Missouri state lawmaker wants to make sure humans have more legal rights than animals. House Republican Ward Franz, of West Plains, has introduced legislation that would prevent animals from having rights or privileges equal to or greater than those of humans. The bill grew out of last year's contentious debate on rules for Missouri dog breeders. Franz says it appears some organizations

Sexual Predator Committed After A Second Jail Term

An area man called a sexually violent predator by a Dade County jury will be committed to a rehab and treatment center. A judge has committed 40 year old Jessie Parnell to a center in Farmington; Attorney General Chris Koster says he was asking for Pernell to be committed after he spent 13 years in prison for sodomy of a 15-year-old boy in Marionville, and previously spending
Sexual Predator
Committed

Body Found in Duquesne Pond ID
Part of the mystery surrounding a man whose body was found Tuesday night in Duquesne has been solved. Captain Derek Walrod of the Jasper County Sheriff's Office tells News Talk KZRG who the victim was.

"The deceased person was identified as Ronnie James Genandt, 33 years old of Joplin."

What remains a mystery is how Genandt died. He was found face down in a pond near the 4000 block of East 7th Street. An autopsy is underway. Walrod says until they know the cause of death, they're treating Genandt's death as suspicious. 

Nixon Thanks Freeman Physicians
Wednesday night, Freeman Health System paid tribute to the physicians who treated those injured in the May 22nd tornado. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon was there to give his thanks, as well.

"Your renewed dedication to your work and this community has not gone unnoticed or underappreciated.  And I thank you for that....each and every one of you."

More than 1700 people injured by the tornado were treated at Freeman. Following Nixon's speech, Freeman CEO Paula Baker unveiled a plaque that will be displayed in all the hospital's campuses thanking everyone for their life-saving work on May 22nd. 

Crowder College Growing
Crowder College isn't just in Neosho anymore. President Doctor Alan Marble tells News Talk KZRG they've opened several locations in their nine county service area.

"Mount Vernon, Greenfield, Monett, Lamar, due to requests from the community.  As a community college we try to serve the community in the best way possible."

Crowder also has branch campuses in Webb City, Nevada and Cassvile and Marble says one is in the works for McDonald County that should be open in the next year. 

Body Found In Duquesne Pond

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office is dealing with a mystery involving a man's body found in a Duquesne pond. Sheriff Archie Dunn tells News Talk KZRG the body was found yesterday, but had been in the pond for at least 48 hours, and how he died is currently unknown.

"We don't know if it's an accident. There aren't any visible signs of injuries, but of course
Death
Investigation

"Voices of Joplin" Seeks To Tell Tale of Tornado And Aftermath

The May 22nd tornado, told in your own words. That's what a new group calling themselves "Voices of Joplin" is looking for. Director Carole Liston tells News Talk KZRG if you were impacted by the tornado, she'd like to hear from you.

"One of our real burdens is that we get stories from the people, and that they're credible, done right, not tainted. We've
Voices of
Joplin

Tyson Shift Changes Wednesday
Due to road construction, Tyson Foods in Noel has some changes for its day shift Wednesday.  Evisceration will start at 10am and cut-up and filet begins at noon.

Stickers At MO Capitol Investigated
Missouri Capitol Police are investigating the discovery of orange gun-target stickers found outside the offices of several state lawmakers.

The stickers were discovered Tuesday near the doorways of at least five Democratic state senators and at least one Republican state House member.

It wasn't immediately clear if the stickers were a prank or a threat. But some senators are taking them seriously, vowing to seek punishment for the act.

The stickers were found as senators were debating a bill related to President Barack Obama's health care law. Democratic senators have opposed the Republican-backed bill. It would require legislative or voter approval before the state could take steps to implement a health-insurance exchange.

 

CertainTeed To Close Joplin Plant
A Joplin business will close in March, taking 90 jobs. Pennsylvania-based CertainTeed is shutting down its Joplin vinyl siding plant. Company spokesman Mike Loughery tells News Talk KZRG a rough housing market led to the decision.

"The severe decline in housing, where the outlook really is not any brighter for the next few years.  And we got to a point where it was really difficult to sustain the operation in Joplin based on those numbers."

Loughery adds the majority of CertainTeed's customers for vinyl siding are in the northeastern US and there's little demand for it in the midwest. 

 

Joplin Family Y Creates Center At Taylor Park
The Joplin Family YMCA will partner with several local groups to build what's called a human services campus at the Officer Jeff Taylor Memorial Park in Joplin, where the FEMA trailers are set up. Kim Gray with the Y tells News Talk KZRG what services the center will have.

"Mental health, recreation, also some health care, as well, I think we'll have dental services out there, legal services, domestic violence.  It'll really be driven by the need of that community."

Gray says the center should be open by mid-February. A $181,000 gift from the Heart of Missouri United Way of Columbia is paying for the center.

KS Unemployment Improves
The Kansas unemployment rate edged lower in December to a seasonally adjusted 6.3 percent,. That's down two tenths of a point from November. While Kansas lost about 5,600 seasonal jobs in December, the state Labor Department also says Kansas added 12,400 nonfarm jobs in the 12 months ending in December, including 12,000 in the private sector.

Joplin Businessman Sentenced
Three years in prison and six and a quarter million dollars in restitution. That's the sentence given to former Joplin business owner Robert Landis Tuesday in federal court. Last August, he pleaded guilty to not paying employee payroll taxes to the government. Landis owned temporary employment firms Priority Personnel of Missouri and Kansas, as well Loma Landis, which managed villas and golf courses. 

Joplin "Volunteer House" To Be Moved, Preserved
What's left of a home on South Joplin Avenue that was hit by the May 22nd tornado will be preserved to tell the story of the volunteers that came to help Joplin recover. Tim Bartow tells News Talk KZRG volunteers started leaving messages of hope on his walls.

"It all started with me just spray-painting an inspirational message to try and inspire people passing by. The volunteers took
S&T to build a solar house for annual competition
The U.S. Department of Energy has picked at team from Missouri University of Science and Technology to compete in this year's Solar Decathlon. Twenty schools from throughout the world  have been chosen to compete in a contest to build a solar-powered house. The teams will spend the next couple of years developing their entries on their [...]
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Ex-Boston Mayor White, led in turbulent '70s, dies

Kevin H. White, a four-term mayor who led Boston through years of racial violence and economic stagnation and was credited with putting the city on a path to prosperity, has died. He was 82....
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Tenn. chemical company buys St. Louis-based Solutia Inc.
A Missouri based specialty chemicals company has been sold for almost $3.4 billion dollars. Solutia Incorporated of Town and County is being bought by Eastman Chemical Company of Kingsport, Tenn.  Solutia's products are used in the architectural and automotive industries. Solutia shareholders have to approve the deal. Eastman says its paying a 42 percent premium [...]
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Wash.: 8 sea lions found dead, apparently shot

Washington wildlife officials say eight sea lions have been found dead in the Puget Sound region in recent weeks — all apparently shot.
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Kansas City visitor numbers up
Kansas City's Convention and Visitors Bureau sees another indication that the economy is recovering. The bureau says room demand and revenue for hotels in the metro area has been growing for 22 months in a row. Last year 6.6 million rooms were rented, a new record.
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Georgia man sentenced to more than 200 years in jail for setting girlfriend on fire

A Georgia man who poured gasoline over his girlfriend and set her on fire was Friday sentenced to more than 200 years in prison.
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Heroin dealer arrested after fatal dose
A Columbia man has been arrested after another man died of a fatal heroin overdose last Monday night. A court document says the man found dead had pawned a ring then met another man and bought some heroin that he later injected shortly before he died. Police say they used text messages and cell phone [...]
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Popular Hawaiian singer jailed for abusing young girls in Los Angeles

Cecilio Rodriguez, of the popular Hawaiian singing group Cecilio and Kapono, was sentenced to a year in jail Friday after pleading no contest to sexually molesting two young sisters in Los Angeles in the late 1990s.
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Trial det set on priest sex abuse case
A trial date has been set for the Kansas City-St. Joseph Catholic Diocese and Bishop Robert Finn on charges they failed to report suspected child sex abuse to authorities. A circuit judge says the trial will be Sept. 24. A grand jury has indicted Finn and the diocese for failing to report that a priest, [...]
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Ex-Boston Mayor White, led in turbulent '70s, dies

Former Mayor Kevin H. White, who led the city for 16 years including racially turbulent times in the 1970s and was credited with putting it on a path to prosperity, died Friday, a family spokesm...
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Warmer winters shift growing zones
The federal agriculture department says more kinds of plants can be grown in Missouri than before — because our winters are getting warmer. The USDA has issued a new map that divides the country into planting zones Most of Missouri is in zone 6a and 6b, an upgrade from the last map published 20 years [...]
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BP emails reveal company veiling spill rate

On the day the Deepwater Horizon sank, BP officials warned in an internal memo that if the well was not protected by the blow-out preventer at the drill site, crude oil could burst into the Gulf...
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St. Louis man gets four years for ATM theft
A man who moved some of the loot from St. Louis' biggest robbery in history has been sent to prison for almost four years. The federal prosecutor says James Wright took thousands of dollars from the ATM Solutions robbery to Texas, where it was buried. He later took the money to Georgia.
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Justice Dept. turns over docs in Fast and Furious

Newly released Justice Department emails sent to Capitol Hill for a congressional inquiry into a gun-smuggling operation indicate that the head of the department's criminal division suggested le...
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Deputies charged with stealing inmates? pills
Two former Clinton County sheriff's deputies are charged with taking prescription medication from inmates at the county jail.  They're charged with taking hydrocodone, Vicodin, Valium, and Xanax from the medication packets of inmates.
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Joplin Schools Superintendent CJ Huff on KZRG Morning News Watch




Huff talks with Chad and Josh about the state of Joplin Schools' rebuilding efforts, plus a controversial proposed bond issue.

State Rep. Charlie Davis on the KZRG Morning News Watch




Davis gives Chad and Josh the MO Legislative Update for the week of 1/23 /12.

Dr. Frank Veer, Freeman Hospital




Dr. Veer tells News Talk KZRG what it was like to deal with the thousands of injured people the night of the May 22nd, 2011 tornado.

"Voices of Joplin" on the KZRG Morning News Watch




Jeff Pi0trowski and Carole Liston talk about their new initiative.

US Congressman Billy Long on the KZRG Morning News Watch




Congressman Long talks with Josh Marsh about the 2012 State of the Union address.

One on One: w/ GOP MO Gov. Candidate Dave Spence




Spence goes one-on-one with KZRG's Darrin Wright on his campaign and the questions surrounding his degree.
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