TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalMore than $63M spent on restoration of Oklahoma Capitol
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma has spent more than $63 million on a restoration project of its Capitol building that’s expected to be completed in five years.
The project includes the restoration of the Oklahoma Capitol’s interior and exterior features, along with infrastructure, The Oklahoman reported. Work on the century-old building is funded by bond issues.
“Since the last time we met, we’ve actually crossed over the threshold from the first issue of the first bond package,” Project Manager Trait Thompson told the State Capitol Repair Expenditure Oversight Committee.
Thompson said the project is now “into the second issue of the second bond package of the original $120 million that was authorized in 2014.” He said he’s pleased with the project’s financial situation.
Read more: http://www.swtimes.com/news/20171206/more-than-63m-spent-on-restoration-of-oklahoma-capitol
Arkansas' Medicaid changes still on hold
Already at least a month behind schedule on implementing a series of proposed changes to the state’s Medicaid expansion program, Arkansas Works, Gov. Asa Hutchinson still has received no word on the federal approval he needs to move forward.
Last week, Hutchinson met with federal officials to plead his case. “I have personally visited with numerous Administration officials making the case for Arkansas’ innovative Medicaid waiver request that would continue the reform efforts to control costs and to put into place work and responsibility requirements,” Hutchinson said in an email. “These meetings have been productive.”
In June, the state submitted a request to the Trump administration for a series of alterations, including work requirements and a change in eligibility that would remove tens of thousands of Arkansans from the rolls. Hutchinson has consistently said that he is confident that the changes will be approved, but has expressed some anxiety in recent months about the timeline. The original target start date of Jan. 1 is no longer a possibility, state officials say. The Department of Human Services told the Arkansas Nonprofit News Network last month that in order to initiate the necessary alterations in program infrastructure, it would need 60 days to implement the changes once the state receives federal approval.
In early November, a spokesperson for the governor said that Hutchinson was optimistic about receiving an answer by Nov. 7. With no response more than three weeks later, Hutchinson said that he still believes his efforts are on course.
Read more: http://www.swtimes.com/news/20171206/arkansas-medicaid-changes-still-on-hold
Employee says she didn't know Arkansas legislator used her name to get grant money
FORT SMITH — A woman who worked for an Arkansas legislator's construction company says she didn't know he used her name to obtain nearly $27,000 in state grant money for work on a sports complex.
The Times Record reported that DiAnna Gonzalez says she was an hourly employee of FFH Construction last year when Sen. Jake Files submitted bids to the Western Arkansas Planning and Development District.
Files sought $46,500. The city wired nearly $27,000 of the grant to Gonzalez's account the same day Files signed her name to a tax form. Gonzalez said she didn't know the money was grant funding.
The FBI is investigating Files for potential money laundering and wire fraud. An affidavit calls Files' bids "false and fraudulent."
Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/dec/04/employee-says-she-didnt-know-arkansas-legislator-u/
Senator Jake Files is a Republican representing portions of Sebastian County (Fort Smith).
Arkansas woman sentenced for role in scheme to steal millions in funds intended to feed children
An Arkansas woman was sentenced Wednesday to more than 12 years in prison for her role in a scheme to steal millions of dollars intended to feed children in low-income areas, authorities said.
Jacqueline Mills, 42, of Helena-West Helena, was convicted of 39 different counts, including, include wire fraud, bribery and money laundering, in April, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas said in a news release.
Mills reportedly operated 34 sites providing meals as part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture program. Her trial proved she submitted inflated numbers of meals served, and in some cases, no meals were served at all, the release said.
Mills was sentenced to 150 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution and forfeit multiple properties, according to the news release from U.S. Attorney Cody Hiland.
Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/dec/06/arkansas-woman-convicted-stealing-millions-funds-i/
3 hurt in chemical explosion at southeastern Arkansas plant
HELENA-WEST HELENA — Three workers performing maintenance duties at a chemical plant in southeastern Arkansas were injured when a decomposing product exploded.
The Helena Daily World reported the explosion occurred Wednesday morning at United Initiators, which makes peroxide. The plant is located in an industrial park in Helena-West Helena, 3 miles from the Mississippi River.
Jon Cummins, the plant's vice president of manufacturing, said the chemical involved was benzoyl peroxide. Cummins said there were no chemical releases caused by the explosion. It wasn't immediately clear how serious the workers' injuries were.
WREG-TV of Memphis reported that no fire occurred.
Read more: http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/dec/06/3-hurt-chemical-explosion-southeastern-arkansas-pl/
I guess that a benzoyl peroxide explosion might prevent a pimple explosion? 
Greene County might have used public resources to advocate for tax, auditor says
A whistleblower is alleging that public resources were misused in Greene County to advocate for the 1/2-cent sales tax ballot measure, according to the Missouri state auditor.
Auditor Nicole Galloway is requesting the authority for her office to conduct an independent audit into the allegations.
Commissioner Harold Bengsch said the county commission will "absolutely" comply with Galloway's request for an independent audit.
According to the auditor's office, county employees allegedly performed, or were asked to perform, duties related to a political action committee advocating for the sales tax, including accepting PAC donations in county offices.
Read more: http://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2017/12/06/missouri-auditor-urges-investigation-greene-county-after-potential-misuse-public-resources/926827001/
Donor sues St. Louis Priory for her $1.5 million donation back
A donor is suing St. Louis Priory School to return her $1.5 million donation, saying the school did not use it the way she specified.
Anna Polizzi-Keller, who is the trustee of the Ruth D. and Wylie Todd Charitable Foundation Trust and who says she has donated more than $7.5 million to Priory, said in a lawsuit filed Nov. 21 that she gave a $1.5 million endowment to the Catholic, all-boys high school in 2009 with specific strings attached.
She told the school to use $1 million to create a scholarship fund, $250,000 to create a Father Gregory Mohrman Chair of Music and $250,000 to create a Father Gregory Mohrman Chair of English, both named after the school’s current headmaster.
Instead, Polizzi-Keller alleged, the school did nothing with the gift for six years while the funds accrued investment value.
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/donor-sues-st-louis-priory-for-her-million-donation-back/article_bb4393d3-09b0-5f7e-9f0e-9754fb6e11c7.html
Breakups, prison time and a reference to white supremacy: Arnold cop shooter shared his life online
Chad Klahs openly documented his troubled life for all of his Facebook friends to see.
He posted about breakups, prison time, and meetings with a parole officer. He referenced a drug overdose and white supremacy.
On Nov. 3, his final word on one account, he posted an animated image that shows him breaking up into tiny pieces and dissolving. "This is hour I feel," he wrote, with a typo.
Two friends replied, asking if he was OK. No response.
Klahs, arrested Tuesday for burglary, killed himself in the back of a police SUV after shooting and critically wounding an Arnold police officer. He had been searched and police had found one gun he had taken in a burglary, but he apparently had a second weapon he was able to use to shoot the officer and then himself as the officer pulled up to the police department.
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/breakups-prison-time-and-a-reference-to-white-supremacy-arnold/article_bc9b9ff1-fa16-55f4-ad6e-ca9a8f37e079.html
Hazelwood dispatcher gambled away money raised for paralyzed police officer, charges say
CLAYTON • A former Hazelwood dispatcher who helped organize fundraisers for a police officer who was paralyzed in the line of duty was charged Tuesday with stealing some of the money to gamble.
April Briscuso, 40, was arrested in November amid an investigation into whether she pocketed some of the money she helped raise for former Officer Craig Tudor. He was paralyzed from the chest down in a car crash more than a year ago while he was on his way to a call.
Briscuso was charged Tuesday. Her bail has been set at $75,000.
St. Louis County police say between June and September, Briscuso organized several fundraisers for Tudor, and admitted to stealing at least $9,500, according to court documents.
She told investigators she took cash donations to gamble at casinos.
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/hazelwood-dispatcher-gambled-away-money-raised-for-paralyzed-police-officer/article_90172398-28fd-570f-a1b5-1af06a688fb9.html
Missouri Democrats, Josh Hawley trade punches after Trump endorses Roy Moore
Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley’s campaign and Missouri Democrats have been trading barbs after President Donald Trump’s decision to endorse Alabama candidate Roy Moore despite multiple allegations of sexual misconduct with teenage girls.
Moore, a former judge and conservative firebrand, has been engulfed in controversy since November after multiple women stepped forward to accuse the Alabama Republican of engaging in sexual behavior toward them when they were under the age of 18.
Despite the allegations, Trump endorsed Moore on Monday ahead of next week’s special election. His endorsement of Moore comes less than a week after Trump endorsed Hawley for next year’s U.S. Senate election in Missouri and promised to campaign for the Missouri Republican.
Hawley, the top law enforcement officer in Missouri, is seeking the Republican nomination to take on Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill. The Missouri Democratic Party has called on Hawley to respond to Trump’s decision to endorse Moore so quickly after endorsing him.
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/the-buzz/article188227264.html
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Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
Home country: United States
Current location: Bryan, Texas
Member since: Sun Aug 14, 2011, 03:57 AM
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