Joplin hospital officials concerned over rising Covid-19 cases

JOPLIN, Mo. —“I think we all were very very hopeful that we had got around that curve, and we weren’t gonna have this level of the disease again, but unfortunately, it has returned with a vengeance,” said Paula Baker, President, and CEO of Freeman Health System. 

Freeman Health System officials are warning the public of another Covid-19 case surge in the Joplin area

They say during the current surge of Covid-19, the population of those being hospitalized is much younger than what was seen during an uptick in cases last winter.

“The age of our population of Covid in patients is going down. Now we’re into the teens at times,” said Dr. Robert McNab, with Freeman.

Over at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, they’re seeing a similar pattern.

“The winter wave in November, I guess we didn’t have kids, didn’t see that. But we are starting to see children test positive this time around,” said Jeremy Drinkwitz, President of Mercy Hospital in Joplin.

Most new hospitalizations at Freeman are occurring in the unvaccinated.

“So currently inpatient 57, active Covid patients are in the healthcare system are right now being treated. 92% of them are unvaccinated completely,” McNab said.

Mercy is seeing the same, which is why they urge anyone still on the fence, to get their shot.

“The numbers are clear, ninety-four percent of the patients we have in the hospital are unvaccinated…if people could step back and have a different motivation for vaccination then just that they don’t like it…the numbers prove it here at this hospital vaccinations work,” Drinkwitz said. 

Those in the hospital that are vaccinated, have been able to leave sooner.

“Most of them have been significantly less severe, and don’t require as long hospitalizations.”

This is why officials urge anyone unvaccinated, to do so as soon as possible.

“We have to get as many people vaccinated as possible, that’s the only exit out of the pandemic, we have to get to herd immunity,” McNab said.

Mercy hospital has a vaccine clinic open Wednesday through Fridays from 8:00 am-4:00 pm on a walk-in basis.

First ever “Route 66 Heritage Festival” held in Miami

MIAMI, Okla. – The City of Miami is hosting the inaugural Route 66 Heritage Fest.

The Route 66 Heritage Festival in Miami is hosting a number of events, from live music, to food trucks, a car and bike show, and so much more. For local band “Until Now”, it’s the opportunity to play for their greatest fans. Band member Joe Redden says “To be honest with you, we’re mind blown with it, we’ve been excited with it for about two months now, we’ve been getting ready, we’re just super excited to play in a crowd this size and play on a stage like that, so we’re super excited.”

The concert series features eight groups, four Ffriday evening and four more Ssaturday, as it pays tribute to the musical heritage of Ooklahoma. Redden says “It’s great, it’s absolutely great, couldn’t ask for anything better than this man, it’s really great, really excited for the car show, bike show, all that stuff, I mean, something like this hasn’t happened in Miami for a long time and it’s really great to see the community coming together like this.”

That musical heritage is what brought Oklahoma’s Lieutenant Governor, Matt Pinnell, to the festival, so he could make an announcement about two of Mmiami’s more famous musicians. “Miami has a lot of great musicians that have come through the Miami, Oklahoma area, but the Gaines, part of Lynyrd Skynyrd, will be inaugurated tonight into our Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.”

Pinnell sees it as a great opportunity for the community as a whole. “For a town to be playing to their strengths, talking about how amazing Route 66 is, the American experience you can get here, along with promoting the Oklahoma Music Trail and all the musical heritage, I think it’s a winning combination and one that’s going to pay dividends for this town and make small business owners here a lot of money.”

The festival continues tomorrow with more live music beginning at 4:00pm.

6 southwest Missouri residents indicted for kidnapping, murder

SOUTHWEST MISSOURI – A federal grand jury indicts six southwest Missouri residents for their roles in a kidnapping conspiracy that led to the victim’s death.

The jury charged the following in a five-count indictment on Thursday, July 29, 2021.

  • Freddie Lewis Tilton, also known as “Ol’ Boy,” 48, of Joplin, Mo.
  • Carla Jo Ward, 47, of Joplin, Mo.
  • Amy Kay Thomas, 38, of Webb City, Mo.
  • James B. Gibson, 39, of Neosho, Mo.
  • Lawrence William Vaughan, also known as “Scary Larry,” 49, of Newton County, Mo.
  • Russell Eugene Hurtt, also known as “Uncle,” 49, of Greenwood, Mo.

The federal indictment alleges that each of the six defendants participated in a conspiracy to kidnap the victim, identified as “M.H.,” in July 2020. KOAM covered a standoff in July 2020, when they found the body of Michael Hall after a standoff with Freddie Tilton. (Police identify body found after standoff in Newton CountyBody found after wanted man captured in Newton County)

Alleged Events

According to the indictment, Ward picked up M.H. and took him to Vaughan’s residence.

Tilton, Thomas, and Gibson allegedly arrived at Vaughan’s residence in the early morning hours of July 15, 2020. They bound M.H.’s hands with handcuffs, and duct tape was placed around his mouth and other parts of his body. In Vaughan and Ward’s presence, the indictment says, Thomas cut M.H. repeatedly with a knife and Gibson beat M.H. with a club. Tilton fatally shot M.H. in the head. They wrapped M.H.’s body in plastic wrap and transported it to Hurtt’s property.

Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hurtt’s property on July 28, 2020, based on information that a deceased body was located on the acreage. When officers attempted to contact the occupants of the residence, the indictment says, Tilton fired multiple shots from inside the residence at the officers. Tilton was apprehended. Officers found M.H.’s body on the property. (Body found after wanted man captured in Newton County)

In addition to the conspiracy, the indictment charges each of the six defendants in one count of kidnapping resulting in death and in one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, resulting in murder.

Tilton, Thomas, Gibson, and Ward are also charged together in one count of being felons in possession of a firearm on July 14, 2020.

Tilton is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms on July 28, 2020. Tilton allegedly was in possession of a Rigarmi .25-caliber pistol, an Ithaca .22-caliber rifle, a Remington .22-caliber rifle, a Harrington and Richardson 12-gauge shotgun, a Ruger 9mm handgun, and a Taurus 9mm handgun at the time of his arrest.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Neosho, Mo., Police Department, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, and the Cherokee County, Kan., Sheriff’s Department.

Walmart mandates vaccines for workers at headquarters

NEW YORK – Walmart is requiring that all workers at its headquarters as well as managers who travel within the U.S. be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 4.

The Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer is also reversing its mask policy for its employees, including vaccinated ones, who work in stores, clubs, distribution facilities and warehouses. Going forward, they will be required to wear masks in areas with high infection rates.

The moves are part of a series of sweeping measures the nation’s largest retailer and private employer announced Friday to help curb the spread of the virus and drive more of its workers to get the shot in the arm.

The vaccine mandate excludes frontline workers, who the company says have a lower vaccination rate than management. But it’s hoping that management will serve as an inspiration for its workers.

“We’re asking our leaders, which already have a higher vaccination rate, to make their example clear,” said Walmart spokesman Scott Pope in an email sent to The Associated Press. “We’re hoping that will influence even more of our frontline associates to become vaccinated.”

Pope declined to break out the vaccination rate for frontline workers and the rest of its employees.

Walmart is encouraging customers to wear masks in stores located in areas with surging cases and will be adding back signs at the entrances. It will also bring back so-called health ambassadors who will be stationed at the entrances and hand out masks.

Walmart is also doubling the incentive for workers in stores, clubs, as well as other facilities like distribution centers to get the vaccine for $150. Those who already received the $75 incentive will receive another $75 in their paycheck dated Aug 19.

The steps come three days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed course on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the delta variant of the coronavirus is fueling infection surges.

Walmart’s move to require vaccinations of its workers at its headquarters follows Google’s steps announced earlier in the week that it’s postponing a return to the office for most workers until mid-October and rolling out a policy that will eventually require everyone to be vaccinated once its sprawling campuses are fully reopened. Google’s announcement was shortly followed by Facebook, which also said it will make vaccines mandatory for U.S. employees who work in offices. Exceptions will be made for medical and other reasons.

Various government agencies already have announced demands for all their employees to be vaccinated, but the corporate world so far has been taking a more cautious approach, even though most lawyers believe the mandates are legal.

Delta and United Airlines are requiring new employees to show proof of vaccination. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are requiring their workers to disclose their vaccination status, but are not requiring staffers to be vaccinated.

However, given Walmart’s outsized influence on the economy, more companies could make similar announcements. Grocery chain Kroger announced Friday afternoon that it is now encouraging all customers, workers and suppliers, including those who received the shot, to wear masks at its stores.

Walmart’s dramatically shifting policy reflects the growing worry about the rising infection rates.

“We continue to watch with deep concern the developments of the pandemic and the spread of variants, especially the delta variant,” wrote Donna Morris, Walmart’s chief people officer, in the memo circulated to employees that was shared by Walmart. “We know vaccinations are our solution to drive change. We are urging you to get vaccinated and want to see many more of you vaccinated.”

In a separate memo sent to employees who work at the company headquarters, Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart Inc., wrote, “The virus is not over, and the delta variant has led to an increase in infection rates across much of the U.S.”

Pope told The Associated Press that the retailer has seen a “positive response” to the first financial incentive and is anticipating the sweetened perk will drive a similar response from workers.

Pope stopped short of saying that office workers who declined to be vaccinated would be terminated but said that Walmart is working through the process. He noted that the exceptions would be those who can’t get vaccinated for medical or religious reasons.

When asked why frontline workers won’t be required to get the vaccine, Pope said that its approach with its large number of workers in frontline facilities has been “to inform them, encourage them, make it easy and to reward then financially for choosing to receive the vaccine.”

Walmart Inc. said it is also implementing a new process for verification of vaccine status for U.S. workers. It says it will share those details in the future.

A few days after CDC eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people back in May, Walmart, along with a slew of other retailers, said it wouldn’t require vaccinated shoppers to wear a mask in U.S. stores, unless state or local laws said otherwise. Walmart also said that vaccinated workers could go maskless.

At that time, Walmart said that customers wouldn’t be asked but rather held to an “honor system” regarding their vaccination status. Walmart workers who didn’t wear masks also had to confirm they were vaccinated by filling out a daily questionnaire, though it was not requiring proof.

MyPillow advertiser shunning Fox for refusal to air ad

NEW YORK – One of Fox News’ most visible advertisers, Mike Lindell and his MyPillow line of products, has pulled commercials from the network over a refusal to air an ad promoting discredited claims of election fraud.

Fox confirmed the moves on Friday, which were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Lindell’s face is well-known to Fox viewers. He told the Journal he spent $50 million last year advertising on Fox.

Lindell has publicly promoted Trump’s false allegations of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election he lost to President Joe Biden and had sought to promote a symposium next months where some of the claims are to be presented.

“It’s unfortunate Mr. Lindell has chosen to pause his commercial time on Fox News given the level of success he’s experienced in building his brand through advertising on the number one cable news network,” Fox said in a statement.

Judge agrees to destruction of Kraft massage parlor video

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A video recording of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and other men allegedly engaging in massage parlor sex will be returned to prosecutors for destruction, a Florida judge ruled Friday, ending a two-year saga that tarnished the reputation of one of football’s most successful luminaries.

Palm Beach County Judge Leonard Hanser agreed with prosecutors and Kraft’s attorneys that the recording given to him before he ruled it inadmissible at trial was not part of the permanent court file and will be returned for destruction.

Prosecutors dropped misdemeanor solicitation charges last year against Kraft and almost two dozen other men after a state appeals court upheld Hanser’s 2019 ruling. He determined that the warrant allowing the installation of hidden cameras inside a Jupiter, Florida, massage parlor didn’t sufficiently protect the privacy of innocent customers who received legal massages. Prosecutors chose not to challenge the ruling with the state Supreme Court.

Kraft and the others had been charged in February 2019 after an investigation into possible prostitution at the Jupiter massage parlor. It stemmed from a wider investigation into whether Chinese women were being sex trafficked to Florida. It ended without any significant convictions.

Police say they recorded Kraft, a widower, paying for sex acts at the spa on consecutive days in January 2019, including the morning of the AFC Championship game that the Patriots won in Kansas City that evening. Two weeks later, they won their sixth Super Bowl championship under his 28-year ownership, more than any team during that period.

Kraft, 80, had pleaded not guilty and his high-priced attorneys led the fight to get the evidence against him and the other men dismissed. He issued a 2019 public apology for his conduct, saying he had “hurt and disappointed” his family and Patriots fans. He could still receive punishment from the National Football League. According to Forbes Magazine, Kraft is worth almost $7 billion.

The Patriots declined comment Friday. The NFL did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

If Kraft had been convicted, he would have likely received a fine, community service and other sanctions that did not include jail time.

The recordings, which have not been made public, were the only known evidence that Kraft and the other men paid for sex at Orchids of Asia Day Spa. When the recordings were barred from trial, prosecutors had no choice but to dismiss the charges.

Of the other men charged, 19 cases were dropped. Three men went through a pretrial diversion program before the ruling, paying more than $5,000 in court costs. One pleaded guilty and paid $323. Another went home to Norway.

The investigation into Orchids of Asia was part of a broader, multi-county probe into possible sex trafficking of women to work in massage parlors. Law enforcement leaders said that while they suspected several women employed by the parlors had been trafficked, none cooperated with prosecutors and no one was charged with trafficking.

Felony charges against Orchids of Asia management were also dropped after the videos were barred.

Hua Zhang, the Jupiter parlor’s owner, pleaded guilty last year to misdemeanor charges of soliciting another to commit prostitution and renting space for prostitution. She received a year probation and paid $6,600 in court costs and fines.

Lei Wang, the spa’s manager, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of soliciting another to commit prostitution and received a year probation. She paid a $5,000 fine.

Gooding Jr. could owe millions after ignoring rape lawsuit

NEW YORK – Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. could be on the hook for millions of dollars in damages after failing to respond to a lawsuit that accused him of raping a woman in New York City in 2013.

U.S. District Judge Paul Crotty issued a default judgment against Gooding on Thursday, saying it appeared the Oscar-winning “Jerry Maguire” star was willfully ignoring the lawsuit and that waiting for him any longer would be unfair to his accuser.

Judge Crotty said that under the law, the 53-year-old Gooding’s failure to respond and defend himself in the lawsuit constituted an admission of liability.

The judge gave Gooding a final deadline of Sept. 7 to participate in the case. After that, the judge said, he’ll decide on damages.

The plaintiff in the lawsuit, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, alleged Gooding raped her without protection after meeting her at a Greenwich Village VIP lounge and luring her to his hotel room under false pretenses.

She is seeking $6 million in damages.

No lawyer was listed for Gooding in the federal court docket. A message seeking comment was left with his lawyer in his New York City criminal case.

Attorney Mark Heller, who represent Gooding in the criminal case, said the events alleged in the lawsuit “never took place” and suggested the plaintiff was somebody “looking for some glory to bask in the publicity and notoriety of Cuba Gooding Jr.’s case.”

Citing case law, Crotty said in his order Thursday that he will invite both sides to argue over damages in court before deciding what Gooding owes.

The accuser originally sued Gooding in August 2020. The case was dismissed and then quickly reopened in March over a technical issue. Gooding was served with court papers April 22 and failed to respond to an initial May 13 deadline, Crotty said in his order.

In his criminal case, being tried in state court in New York, Gooding is accused of violating three different women at three different Manhattan night spots in 2018 and 2019. One of the women alleged Gooding pinched her buttocks. Another said he squeezed her breast.

Gooding has pleaded not guilty. An Oct. 18 hearing is scheduled to set a trial date.