Briefly 9/21/19

Parson is examining trucker shortage

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Mike Parson is considering changes to Missouri regulations to help address a shortage of long-haul truck drivers.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported one possibility is changing a law that takes away driver's licenses or occupational licenses from people who haven't paid child support for three months.

Parson said with an increasing shortage of truckers, the state should find another way to punish those who don't pay child support, although he offered no specific alternatives.

Parson also said he would like to give state prison inmates a chance to learn truck driving so they could help fill the driver shortage when they leave prison.

The governor said Missouri Department of Transportation trucks could supplement current programs that use simulators to teach inmates about long-haul trucking.

West Nile death did not occur in St. Louis

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- State health officials said the first West Nile death in Missouri this year was in Jackson County, not St. Louis.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said Wednesday it mistakenly reported last week the first West Nile death this year was in the eastern area of the state.

Director Randall Williams said miscommunication within the department's chain of command caused the error. He said changes are being made to prevent it from happening again.

The Kansas City Star reported 12 cases of West Nile illness have been reported so far this year in Missouri. Ten occurred in St. Louis City or St. Louis County, one was in Jackson County and one was in Boone County.

The person who died in Jackson County contracted the illness in August.

Democratic leader's assistant sentenced

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The longtime aide of former Democratic leader Mike Sanders was sentenced to six months in prison for his role in stealing campaign funds.

The sentence given to Calvin Williford Thursday was far shorter than Sanders received Wednesday, when he was sentenced to more than two years in federal prison and ordered to forfeit $40,000. Williford and Sanders pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Prosecutors said the two men stole campaign funds to pay for gambling trips and political activities. The Kansas City Star reportedWilliford was ordered to forfeit $36,000 -- or $2,000 stolen from campaign accounts for each of 18 trips that he made to Las Vegas to gamble.

Judge Rosann Ketchmark and federal prosecutors noted Williford's cooperation in two ongoing investigations.

-- From wire reports