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Dec. 15 (UPI) — A transgender lady in Missouri sentenced to be executed on Jan. 3, is asking the state’s governor for clemency, citing psychological well being struggles.
Legal professionals on Monday appealed to Gov. Mike Parson, R-Mo., to commute the dying sentence for Amber McLaughlin.
The jury that convicted McLaughlin, 49, by no means heard about her psychological well being state or abusive childhood.
If executed, McLaughlin would turn out to be the primary overtly transgender lady recognized to be executed in america.
McLaughlin, who glided by the title Scott on the time, was convicted of killing her 45-year-old ex-girlfriend Beverly Guenther on Nov. 20, 2003.
A jury convicted McLaughlin of first-degree homicide. McLaughlin was additionally charged with raping Guenther earlier than stabbing her and disposing of her physique close to the banks of the Mississippi River, in South St. Louis, Mo.
Parson has declined to grant clemency to the 5 males executed since he turned governor in June 2018.
A District Courtroom Choose vacated the dying sentence in 2016, ruling a jury didn’t correctly weigh aggravating components, and {that a} jury, not a choose, must be the one to weigh these components.
The jury was deadlocked in the course of the penalty section of the trial, leaving the choice as much as the trial choose.
The eighth U.S. Courtroom of Appeals disagreed in 2021 and reinstated the dying sentence.
“Folks ought to know I am mentally unwell,” McLaughlin mentioned in a short interview with the St. Louis Publish-Dispatch.
“I do not agree with it. I am making an attempt to remain calm.”
An utility for government clemency was submitted Monday to Parson’s workplace, detailing McLaughlin’s life rising up. That life included an abusive childhood, mind injury and fetal alcohol syndrome as effectively melancholy as a baby and suicide makes an attempt as an grownup.
The submitting argues that the jury was by no means made conscious of these aggravating components.
Average gasoline prices in Missouri have risen 7.2 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.74 per gallon Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 3,940 stations in Missouri.
However, prices in Missouri are 6.7 cents per gallon lower than they were a month ago and stand 11.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to a news release from GasBuddy. The national average price of diesel has declined 1.3 cents in the last week and stands at $3.503 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Missouri was priced at $2.34 per gallon on Sunday, while the most expensive was $3.69 per gallon.
The cheapest gas in Columbia was priced at $2.69 per gallon on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s website. Jefferson City’s cheapest gas was priced at $2.64 per gallon.
St. Louis gas prices have risen 13.4 cents per gallon from last week with gas prices currently at $2.91 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. Kansas City gas prices have risen 10 cents per gallon, and gas prices are approximately $2.75 per gallon.
The national average price of gasoline has fallen 1.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.01 per gallon Monday. The national average is down 11.2 cents per gallon from a month ago and stands 23.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, according to GasBuddy data compiled from more than 11 million weekly price reports covering over 150,000 gas stations across the country.
“Ahead of Thanksgiving, motorists continue to be teased by the prospect of a $2.99 per gallon national average, a level now seen in 32 states. But for the last few weeks, the stars just haven’t quite aligned,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in the news release.
De Haan said in the release that Russia’s threats after Ukraine used long-range U.S. missiles have contributed to a hike in oil prices.
“Now, some promotions ahead of Thanksgiving are pushing gas prices back down, even as oil remains elevated,” De Haan said in the release. “For now, we’re just pennies away from the national average falling to $2.99, but for a third year, we may again fall short. As Americans prepare to hit the road for Thanksgiving, we’re seeing the lowest national average price of gasoline since 2021, with a far better economic picture than when gas prices were last this low.”
It’s state semifinal week for Missouri high school football.
Trips to next week’s state championship games in Columbia are on the line. All games across the state are scheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Championship on Dec. 7 at 3 p.m.
Championship on Dec. 6 at 3 p.m.
Championship on Dec. 7 at 11 a.m.
Championship on Dec. 6 at 11 a.m.
Championship on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
Championship on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.
Which Missouri high school athlete had the best week?
Each week, SBLive scours the state for the top fall and winter sports performers, from football to basketball from all contests in the week of Nov. 17-23. That included the state championships in boys soccer this past weekend.
Congrats to SLUH‘s Connor Dunker, who ran away as the leading vote-getter with 56% of the votes to win SBLive‘s Missouri Athlete of the Week for Nov. 11-16.
The junior won the 200-yard freestyle and was on the winning 400-yard freestyle relay. He also two medals for the Jr. Bills by taking third in the 500-yard freestyle and on the 200-yard freestyle relay.
Scroll down, read up on the nominees and cast your vote for your winner. Voting closes Sunday, Dec. 1 at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
If you would like to make a nomination in a future weeks, email swanson@scorebooklive.com.
Henry Acorn, Rockhurst cross country
Competing in the Nike Cross Midwest Regional Championship on Sunday, the Virginia signee took sixth place. The Hawklets took second overall and advanced to the Nike National Championship.
Addilyn Amos, Troy Buchanan girls wrestling
Competing in her first Schuman Scramble, the team’s home meet, the freshman went 5-0 with five pins — three in the first period.
Terance Bills, Lafayette Wildwood football
The junior wide receiver caught a pair of touchdowns — 25 and 27 yards — in a 30-18 win over Cardinal Ritter in the Class 5 playoffs on Saturday.
Anna Bowles, Francis Howell girls wrestling
The junior posted a 5-0 mark to take first place for the Vikings at the St. Clair Scramble. She won the 125-pound title with five tech falls. Francis Howell won the team title as well.
Nic Calvaruso, Jefferson City Helias Catholic football
The junior booted a 36-yard field goal in OT to help the Crusaders claim a 24-21 win over Republic on Saturday, avenging a loss in the playoffs last year to the Tigers.
Jack Cooley, Hamilton Penney football
The running back scored twice and added an interception that led to a touchdown in the Hornets’ 35-13 win over North Platte in a district title game on Friday.
Zyree Collins, St. Mary’s South Side boys basketball
The Dragons scoring standout picked up where he left off last year. He scored 27 points, hitting 10 of 11 2-point shots, in an 86-34 St. Pius X Festus on Nov. 22.
Jackson Crews, St. Joseph Bishop LeBlond football
In what was a crazy finish to an 8-man game, LeBlond intercepted a hail mary at the buzzer and ran it back and then the senior got a lateral pitch and scored to give the Eagles a 60-54 win over Rock Port on Friday.
Jacob Eberhart, Kirkwood football
The wide receiver had seven catches for 158 yards and a touchdown and also had his first rushing touchdown of the season as the Pioneers beat Jackson on Friday.
Will Geary, Valley Park boys soccer
One of the best soccer players ever in MSHSAA capped off his career by leading the Hawks to the Class 1 title. He tied the state tournament record with 5 goals in a semifinal win and then added 2 goals and an assist in the title win. He broke the MSHSAA championship site record for most goals (7) and most points (15 points).
Josie Hosea, Kirkwood girls wrestling
At the Lady E. Ford Memorial Tournament in Affton, Hosea took first place in the 190-pound bracket. She won four of the five by pins in the first period.
Loganne Love, Principia girls basketball
The freshman had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds on Saturday in a 79-42 win over St. Pius X (Festus) in Farmington.
Colton Miller, Adrian football
In the Class 1 District 3 championship game, he threw a touchdown, ran for a touchdown and kicked the game-winning field goal for the Blackhawks in a 17-16 win over Marionville.
Roman Miller, Seneca football
In a 55-26 win over Mount Vernon in the Class 3 quarterfinals, Miller accounted for three touchdowns on the ground for the Indians.
Jonathan Moore, Lutheran North football
The sophomore became the Crusaders’ single-season record holder for touchdowns in a season with 35, which happened during a playoff game on Saturday.
Sheek Pearson, John Burroughs boys basketball
The 6-foot-10 junior dropped in 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 72-57 win over Ladue Horton Watkins on Nov. 22.
Henry Sanders, SLUH boys soccer
The junior midfielder had the lone goal in 1-0 win against Liberty North in a Class 4 semifinal game on Friday. SLUH then beat De Smet on Saturday to win the state title.
Alyzah Scaggs, Festus girls basketball
The Lady Tigers got 25 points from the junior in a 64-49 win over West County (Leadwood) in the Farmington Tournament on Saturday. Scaggs drained six 3-pointers on the night.
Dane Schlotzhauer, Tipton football
The junior connected with Paxton Pyle for the game-winning touchdown with less than a minute left to give the Cardinals a 42-36 win over Harrisburg to claim Class 1 District 2 finals. It was the first district crown for Tipton since 2012.
Sadie Sehnert, Wright City girls wrestling
The junior didn’t have to wrestle for more than 1:05 in her five matches on Saturday at the Wright City Invitational. She had two pins in 30 seconds or less to win the 135-pound bracket.
Jordan Speiser, Lutheran St. Charles girls basketball
The Lady Cougars picked up a 61-57 win over Alton, Ill., on Saturday behind Speiser’s 29-point effort. The Kansas State signee went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line and hit 5 3-pointers.
Carter Temple, Kearney football
The Bulldogs starting quarterback ran for four touchdowns as the Bulldogs won their 24th straight in a 49-14 triumph over Warrensburg on Friday.
Seaton Thompson, Ladue Horton Watkins boys soccer
He stopped every shot in the state semifinals and finals and helped the Rams win the Class 3 title. He had shutouts in both wins.
Wyatt Vincent, Nixa football
He caught the game-winning touchdown with 10.4 left in the fourth to help the Eagles rally for a 21-20 win over Lee’s Summit North in a Class 6A playoff game.
Niko Vuong, Clayton boys soccer
The junior scored a goal in a 4-0 win over Logan-Rogersville in the semifinals and added a goal in a 3-0 win over St. Michael the Archangel in the Class 2 finals on Nov. 21. The state title was the first for the Greyhounds.
Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll are intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes who receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified
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