RIVER RADIO NEWS 031914
WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN BLYTHEVILLE
A 55 year old Blytheville woman was found dead earlier this week.
According to Blytheville Police, the body of Barbara Faye Jackson was discovered lying face down on her porch by a neighbor Monday morning.
The body has been sent to state officials for an autopsy.
TWO FLOWN TO HOSPITALS FOLLOWING STODDARD COUNTY COLLISION
Two people were flown to hospitals following a collision Tuesday evening in Stoddard County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the wreck occurred when a vehicle ran off the side of Highway 25 near Dexter, over corrected and travelled into the path of another vehicle.
The driver of the first vehicle, 21 year old Brooke M. Patterson, of Bernie, was seriously injured and flown to a St. Louis hospital. The driver of the second vehicle suffered moderate injuries and was taken by air evac to a Cape Girardeau hospital.
BERNIE MOTHER ADVOCATING FOR MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION
Tres Johnson wasn't expected to live through his first day. Ten years later, his mother calls him "our little miracle," but says medical marijuana could greatly improve her child's life. Now, Brandy Johnson is joining the effort to decriminalize marijuana in Missouri.
Tres, of Bernie, was born with diprosopus, which is Greek for "two faces." It is commonly referred to as cranial duplication. The Dexter Daily Statesman reports that there are just 35 known cases throughout the world.
Tres is inquisitive, enjoys toys, likes discovering new places. But Johnson says he suffers up to 120 seizures per day.
Johnson and her son were in Jefferson City earlier this month, where she testified in favor of a House bill that would decriminalize marijuana.
POPLAR BLUFF CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO SELL CITY CABLE
The Poplar Bluff City Council has voted to sell the city’s internet and cable television services.
According to the Daily American Republic, the services were sold to Rural Broadband Investments of Overland Park, Kansas for $17.5 million dollars.
The council voted 6 to 0 in favor of the sale Monday night.
Rural Broadband Investments is the parent company of NewWave Communications, which provides services in many Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas cities, including Dexter and Piggott.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS WOMAN TAKES HOME THREE MILLION DOLLAR LOTTO PRIZE
A Northeast Arkansas woman recently won $3 million dollars, but was very close to winning much more.
Miranda Huffman, of Lepanto, won the money with a Mega Millions lottery ticket. She matched 5 numbers, along with the megaplier option, to win three million dollars; but was just one number off from winning the $353 million dollar jackpot.
She later said that it was the first Mega Millions ticket she had purchased for herself.
MOBILE OFFICE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK IN VAN BUREN
Citizens will have the opportunity to speak with members of United States Senator Roy Blunt’s staff next week in Van Buren.
Senator Blunt’s staff will be holding a Mobile Office from 10 am to 11 am on Thursday, March 27th, at the Float Stream Restaurant in Van Buren.
Mobile Offices are opportunities for Missourians to discuss their questions or concerns with the federal government one-on-one with members of Senator Blunt’s staff.
MISSOURI BILL WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR SOME MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO REGISTER TO VOTE
Some Missouri lawmakers want to make it easier for members of the military to vote when they return from deployments.
Missouri now requires people to register about a month in advance to be eligible to vote. The law sets the registration deadline as the fourth Wednesday before an election.
But a Senate-passed bill now pending in the House would make an exception for members of the armed forces and their families who have been stationed elsewhere. They would be allowed to register to vote as late as the Friday before an election.
The exception also would apply to civilian government employees and their families who are working outside the U.S., and to members of religious or welfare organizations who are assisting service members.
HARSH WEATHER CITED FOR RISE IN MISSOURI UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
Missouri's Economic Development Department is citing "harsh winter weather" as a likely reason for a rise in the state's February unemployment rate.
Figures released Tuesday show Missouri's jobless rate was 6.4 percent last month. The department previously reported that unemployment held steady at 6 percent from December to January.
The national jobless rate in February was 6.7 percent.
Despite the unemployment rate increase, the department said Missouri added 1,300 jobs during February on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Missouri's civilian labor force of about 3 million people grew by nearly 5,400 during February. The labor force includes people with jobs and those who are on unemployment but looking for work.
