RIVER RADIO NEWS 012814
AUTHORITIES SEARCHING FOR SUSPECT IN CAPE GIRARDEAU SHOOTING
Cape Girardeau authorities are searching for a suspect in connection to the shooting that occurred Sunday night at the Arena building.
According to Patrolman Darin Hickey with the Cape Girardeau Police Department, the suspect has been described as possibly being a black male approximately 5’8” 150 pounds, with short dread locks.
Authorities believe that the suspect may have escaped in a black car, that later crashed. The passengers fled from the vehicle.
One of the victims was shot in the leg and has been released from the hospital, while another was shot in the chest and is in good condition.
TWO ARRESTED IN BUTLER COUNTY
Two Poplar Bluff residents were arrested last night in Butler County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 36 year old Scotty R. Braden and Yolanda Braden were arrested shortly before 7 pm.
Yolanda Braden was arrested on 2 counts of possession of a controlled substance, while Scotty Braden had warrants out of Butler County for unlawful use of a weapon and failure to appear on an original charge of burglary.
POPLAR BLUFF MAN ARRESTED ON METH CHARGE
A Poplar Bluff man was taken into custody Monday evening on a felony drug charge.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 33 year old Andrew C. Hightower was arrested in Butler County on a felony charge of distribution of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.
Further details about the arrest were not released.
INVESTIGATION LEADS TO BONO WOMAN’S ARREST FOR MEDICAID FRAUD
An investigation by the Arkansas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has led to the arrest of a Bono woman.
According to Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, 28 year old Amanda Fielder was taken into custody last week on a felony charge of Medicaid Fraud.
Fielder is accused of billing the state’s Medicaid program for services she did not provide.
THREE RIVERS COLLEGE NAMED ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COMMUNITY COLLEGES
Three Rivers College has been named one of the fastest growing community colleges in America by Community College Week.
The periodical ranked Three Rivers as the number one fastest growing institution among colleges with 2,500 to 4,999 students during the period from Fall 2011 to Fall 2012. During that period Three Rivers experienced a 25 percent jump in enrollment.
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION MEETING SCHEDULED FOR NEXT MONTH IN KENNETT
The Missouri Department of Transportation has scheduled a meeting for next month to discuss improvements to Highway 412.
The public meeting will be held from 4:30 pm to 7 pm on Thursday, February 20th at South Elementary in Kennett.
The proposed improvements include five-laning Highway 412 from Highway 84 to Route VV, constructing a roundabout at Route VV and four-laning from Route VV to Routes O and Y.
ARKANSAS ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY LIFTS BLOCK OF STEEL MILL IN OSCEOLA
A state environmental agency has lifted an order that blocked construction of a $1.1 billion steel mill planned for northeast Arkansas.
Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality has not yet issued an air quality permit, but the agency on Friday did clear the way for preliminary work to begin at the site in Osceola.
The mill was announced last January but construction has been delayed by having to wait for the air quality permit.
The Blytheville Courier News reports that Osceola Mayor Dickie Kennemore says the action will allow builders to take soil samples and do other preliminary work.
An administrative law judge has tentatively scheduled a February 18th hearing on the appeal for the air permit.
The plant is to employ 525 people and pay annual wages of $75,000.
COMPLAINTS SPURN INVESTIGATION INTO PROPANE PRICES
The Missouri attorney general's office will investigate rising propane prices and a possible shortage of the gas.
Attorney General Chris Koster said Monday he has received many complaints of prices topping $5 per gallon. Republican Sen. Mike Parson, of Bolivar, had called on Koster to investigate the issue to make sure companies aren't price-gouging.
The Missouri Propane Gas Association says the rising costs are caused by higher exports and increased domestic demand due to colder weather and large crop yields. Propane is used to heat homes and to dry crops after a harvest.
Koster says his office is working with nine other Midwest states in its investigation. Parson introduced a Senate resolution Monday asking the Department of Justice to also investigate the issue.
VOTER ID LAW BEING CONSIDERED BY MISSOURI SENATE COMMITTEE
A Missouri Senate committee is considering legislation to require voters to show photo identification at polling places, amid warnings from the state's top elections official that 220,000 people would be unable to vote if the bill passed.
Secretary of State Jason Kander said Monday that 150,000 registered voters currently don't have a government-issued ID that would satisfy the measure's requirements. He says an additional 70,000 voters have expired licenses.
Sponsoring Senator Will Kraus told colleagues at Monday's hearing that the bill is necessary to preserve the integrity of elections. His legislation would not apply to people born before 1941.
Previous attempts to require photo identification from voters have been struck down by courts or vetoed by the governor.
