Missouri

Columbia Refuge: Fleeing Afghanistan and finding a home in Missouri

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2022

Columbia Refuge: Fleeing Afghanistan and finding a home in Missouri

For Nani Agha’s household, it took nearly a whole month to reach at their new dwelling in Columbia. The household is from Kandahar, a area in south-central Afghanistan, and fled first to Kabul. From there, they boarded a tightly-packed aircraft to Qatar, then to Germany and at last to the U.S.

Agha is a former Afghan Particular Power unit officer who labored with the U.S. army. When the Taliban seized energy in his dwelling nation in August 2021, his household was designated as a goal of the militant group.

Kandahar has traditionally been a Taliban stronghold. Patrol teams routinely stopped ladies and kids within the streets to acquire details about who they had been and if that they had allegiance to the Afghan authorities. As a result of ever-present risk of the Taliban, Nani Agha couldn’t ship his sons to high school or really feel secure when he left his dwelling. At college, children quickly could be requested for details about their fathers.

“My spouse would communicate with me about it over the telephone,” Agha mentioned. “A few of my buddies’ kids had been kidnapped.” Agha mentioned the Taliban typically lower the youngsters’s fingers and despatched movies to the guardian in order that he would go away his job.

When the Taliban lastly overthrew the Afghan authorities, Agha knew his household had no different possibility however to depart the whole lot behind. At this time, the household lives in a quiet dwelling, the youngsters attend college and life is seemingly regular. But the troubles and ache of their escape are a continuing reminder of one of many hardest moments in Agha’s life.

“We’re, due to Allah, pleased with this life as effectively,” Agha mentioned. “Slowly, with time, our life will enhance right here. The Afghans who got here right here inform us that our lives will enhance right here.”

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Missouri

Missouri star Caleb Grill taken to hospital, is responsive after scary head and neck injury in win over Lindenwood

Published

3 hours ago

November 28, 2024

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Missouri star Caleb Grill taken to hospital, is responsive after scary head and neck injury in win over Lindenwood

Missouri Tigers guard Caleb Grill was taken to the hospital after going down with a scary head and neck injury on Wednesday night. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images/Reuters)

Missouri star Caleb Grill was taken off the court on a stretcher on Wednesday night after he went down with a scary head and neck injury in their win over Lindenwood.

Grill was transported to a local hospital. A team spokesperson told the Columbia Daily Tribune that Grill is responsive, and that he was taken to the hospital out of caution. Further specifics on his injury are not yet known.

Grill was fighting for a rebound in the lane during the contest at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, but he was awkwardly hit in the head at just the right angle that caused his neck to snap back hard as he was in the air. Grill immediately fell to the court as play moved elsewhere, and he curled up into a ball while holding the back of his head.

He remained on the court for nearly 10 minutes receiving treatment before he was stretchered off the floor. He gave a thumbs up to the crowd on his way out.

Official update on Caleb Grill per @MizzouHoops
“Caleb suffered a head and neck injury in the first half. He is responsive and was taken to the hospital out of precaution.”
Grill gave a thumb’s up as he was taken off the court pic.twitter.com/KFBqjBtjhQ
— Ben Arnet (@BenArnetKOMU) November 28, 2024

“We’re awaiting results of a CT scan,” Missouri coach Dennis Gates said after the game, via the Daily Tribune. “Whenever you have a head or neck injury, you want to be [cautious] and have some caution with that. And that’s what that was all about, making sure that he was OK. He was responsive, talking the entire time when I was down there in the huddle with him. He even rolled out with his thumb up. So, that was a good sign to see in that respect.”

Grill had two points and one steal in seven minutes when he went down with the injury. Grill, the team’s leading scorer, missed most of last season with a wrist injury. He’s averaging 15.5 points per game while shooting nearly 59% from the field and better than 55% from behind the arc.

“To my knowledge, he was responsive with us, leaving this arena with his thumbs up, rolling out,” Gates said. “And again, (caution) is the area we’re going to always take when you get an elbow in the back of the neck, head area. So, credit to our team, our EMS team. They did a great job, and I’m very thankful.”

Missouri holds a 6-1 record on the season after the win. The Tigers’ lone loss came to Memphis in their season-opener. They’ll take on Cal next on Tuesday.

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Missouri

Missouri judge upholds law requiring photo ID for voting

Published

10 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Press Room

Missouri judge upholds law requiring photo ID for voting

A Missouri judge upheld a law on Tuesday that requires voters to present government-issued photo identification in order to vote.

What Is the Ruling?

The ruling, made by Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem on Tuesday, solidifies the 2016 voter-approved constitutional amendment enabling lawmakers to impose such photo ID requirements, despite pushback from voting rights advocates.

The Missouri law offers alternatives for voters without photo ID, allowing them to cast provisional ballots, which are counted if they return with proper identification the same day or if election officials verify their signatures.

In addition, to mitigate accessibility concerns, the state provides free photo ID cards to those who need them.

Missouri joins 36 other states that either request or mandate identification for voters, with at least 21 specifically requiring photo IDs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem asks questions during a hearing in Cole County Circuit Court in Jefferson City, Missouri, on May 23, 2018. Beetem upheld a law on Tuesday that requires voters to…

Julie Smith/The Jefferson City News-Tribune/ AP

What Do Supporters of the Law Say?

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, praised the decision, asserting that photo ID requirements are integral to election security. “To maintain a secure system for voting, it only stands to reason that a photo ID should be essential,” Ashcroft said in a statement.

Supporters of voter ID laws argue that they prevent fraud and bolster public trust in elections.

What Do Critics Say?

Critics, however, contend that these laws disproportionately burden vulnerable groups, including seniors and people with disabilities, by creating hurdles to obtaining valid identification.

Opposition groups—including the Missouri NAACP and the League of Women Voters, along with two individual voters—challenged the law in 2022 filing a lawsuit, alleging it places undue obstacles in the path of voters and increases the likelihood of provisional ballots being rejected.

Despite these claims, Judge Beetem dismissed the lawsuit, emphasizing that none of the plaintiffs experienced specific harm since the law’s implementation.

“Their claim that their provisional ballots may be rejected is purely speculative,” Beetem wrote. “In addition, the evidence at trial confirms that rejection rates for provisional ballots are low, and the rates specifically for signature-mismatch are exceedingly low.”

In his ruling, Beetem argued that the photo ID requirement enhances election integrity, stating it “protects the fundamental right to vote by deterring difficult to detect forms of voter fraud.”

The plaintiffs, represented by the Missouri ACLU and the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, plan to appeal the decision.

Marilyn McLeod, president of the Missouri League of Women Voters, criticized the ruling, saying: “The League believes the state should be making it easier, not harder, for Missourians to exercise their fundamental right to vote.”

“There’s no evidence of voter impersonation in Missouri, so these restrictions don’t make our elections any safer or more secure,” McLeod added.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

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Missouri

What Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said about Arkansas

Published

18 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Press Room

What Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said about Arkansas

Arkansas football continues its 2024 season against No. 24 Missouri in just four days at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri, and Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz spoke to the media Tuesday to preview the matchup.

Missouri hasn’t quite had the year it hoped for entering the season, but the Tigers still sit with a 9-3 (4-3) overall record with wins over teams like Boston College, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Oklahoma and Mississippi State.

Under Drinkwitz’s leadership, Missouri has accumulated a 36-24 (21-20 SEC) overall record in five seasons. This year, the Tigers boast the No. 61 total offense (393.4 YPG) and No. 73 passing offense (224.6 YPG) in the country.

This will mark the 16th meeting between the two teams, as Missouri leads the series 11-4. The Tigers have won the last two meetings, which includes a blowout last year in Fayetteville, 48-14. Arkansas last won in 2021, a 34-17 victory at Razorback Stadium. The Hogs have never triumphed in Columbia.

Here’s everything Drinkwitz had to say about Pittman, the Razorbacks and the game this weekend:

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On Arkansas and and its coaching staff:

Drinkwitz: “Now to the game this week, Arkansas, the Battle Line Rivalry. It’s a great rivalry and a really good football team. I think Coach [Sam] Pittman has done a tremendous job at the University of Arkansas. I just saw a stat today where I think he’s the first coach in their history that’s gone to four bowl games in the first five seasons that he’s been there. He’s done an excellent job recruiting and reshaping that roster from last year.

“They’re very talented, went into the transfer portal, got the right pieces, continually makes great hires. When you look at the hires that Coach Pittman has had in his coordinator positions since he’s been there, he’s done an excellent job. Coach [Barry] Odom, who did a tremendous job while he was there as the DC and obviously now at UNLV. Coach [Kendal] Briles while they were there.

“Coach [Scott] Fountain, his special teams coordinator, who I worked with at Auburn, has been consistently good. Travis Williams, now the defensive coordinator. They play fast, they play physical, they play inspired football. They beat Tennessee at home, a top-10 team this year. They did an excellent job. Then obviously Coach [Bobby] Petrino on the offensive side of the ball. One of the best play callers in college football, one of the best offensive minds in college football. There’s really not a scenario or situation that’s going to be new or unique to him. So, it’s a really, really challenging football game.”

On possibly playing in snow against Arkansas:

Drinkwitz: “Well, the first thing we do is we practice in the weather that we play in. So, we’ll be outside all week instead of in the indoor (practice facility) and try to get used to the bodily temperature. There are two different types of snow. There’s dry snow (and) wet snow. Wet snow sticks and compacts (and) makes it a little bit more difficult to throw, catch, make a slicker ball.

“You have to be more cognizant of the way that you’re utilizing your cleats and running because the snow will clamp and be a factor in route running and slippage. So, there are some things as a staff that we’ve already put in place to prepare for, but the reality of it is, that’s just part of the game.”

On Arkansas’ best players:

Drinkwitz: “They’ve got a really good quarterback, Taylen Green, running back Ja’Quinden Jackson, the tight end Luke Hasz, the wide receiver Andrew Armstrong. I mean, really, really good skill positions, and Coach Petrino uses them in the right way. Defensively, Landon Jackson is one of the best defensive ends in our conference. I think the linebacker group plays really well downhill. Xavian Sorey is a guy that bounces off the tape at you.

“In the back end, Hudson Clark, we’ve played him for five-straight seasons. I remember playing him as a true freshman out here during the COVID season. A lot of these guys, similar to South Carolina, we’ve played a lot and have a lot of respect for them as a football team and as a program.”

On how Drinkwitz has seen Arkansas’ program change through the years:

Drinkwitz: “Obviously, last year they were going through some coordinator stuff and changes within their team. But I do think the defensive identity under Coach [Sam] Pittman has been consistent. Relentless pursuit to the football. They’re playing a little bit more of a three-safety defense the last three games, which is very similar to what they did with Coach [Barry] Odom. So, you can tell there’s a program style, complimentary football. Coach [Travis] Williams does a tremendous job getting those guys playing hard, playing fast.

“Since I’ve been here coaching, Arkansas has had really, really good linebacker play, and that’s consistent through Coach Williams, who was an elite linebacker himself at Auburn, and so those guys really stand out. Their defensive line has continued to improve. They retained some really good players and then added some players, so they’ve got more depth there.

“On the offensive side of the ball, Coach Petrino is well known for his quarterback prowess, and he’s done a tremendous job with their quarterback. And Ja’Quinden Jackson – Coach Petrino has always believed in having a big [running] back. They really establish the run and then are explosive in the passing game. So, it’s complimentary football.”

On containing Andrew Armtrong:

Drinkwitz: “I think contain is the wrong word. I think you’ve got to limit yards after catch. I think he is an explosive route runner. Obviously, he’s got great length and can get over the top. So, you’ve got to do a great job of keeping on top of the routes and then we need to do a good job of tackling. They do a really good job of creating yards-after-catch through some of their crossing schemes.

“So, we’re going to have to do a really good job of tackling. The weather could be an intriguing factor in this game. I haven’t played in a snow game and it’s looking like we might get one of those. I don’t know if anyone here is a weather person but it’s looking like that, right? So, it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.”

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