RIVER RADIO NEWS 032714 JONESBORO MAN CHARGED WITH RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
A Jonesboro man is scheduled to appear in court today following his arrest on Wednesday.
According to KAIT, 36 year old Don Fitzgerald Black is facing charges of second degree sexual assault and rape.
Black was arrested on Wednesday following an alleged incident that involved multiple children. PUXICO MAN ARRESTED FOR STEALING CHARITABLE MONEY
A Puxico man has been arrested after being accused of stealing jars of money being collected to assist an area family.
According to Puxico Marshal Johnny Clark, 49 year old Bobbi Wegener was caught on camera taking the jars.
Clark say Wegener was issued a summons and was later was arrested on two probation parole warrants on original charges of assault and receiving stolen property. SEARCH OF HOME LEADS TO ARREST OF TWO PUXICO RESIDENTS
The search of a home in Puxico has led to the arrest of two residents.
According to Puxico Marshal Johnny Clark, officers responded to a domestic dispute call last week at a home on Bedford Street. Upon arrival, officers spoke to a 14 year old girl, who had a bite mark on her arm.
During a search of the home, police discovered drug paraphernalia and a white substance.
Officers arrested 31 year old Denise Payne and 22 year old Rocky Jerls. Payne is facing charges of assault and child endangerment.
Clark says both suspects tested positive for methamphetamine, THC and barbituiates. CAPE GIRARDEAU MAN ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES
A Cape Girardeau man is facing multiple felony charges following his arrest Thursday afternoon in Cape Girardeau County.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 23 year old Christopher A. Shepard is facing felony charges of fleeing a lawful detention; interfering with a felony arrest; possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine; and property damage.
Shepard also reportedly had warrants from the Cape Girardeau Police Department, the Marble Hill Police Department, and Cape Girardeau County. REPAIRS TO BUCK HOLLOW ACCESS COMPLETED
Buck Hollow Access on the Jacks Fork River is open again to the public.
The access had been closed since last spring due to flooding that caused severe erosion.
According to a release from the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, the road surface and drainage at the site have been improved, and the access was also altered to provide a safer gradient. In addition, seven new parking slips were added between the river access and the restroom facility.
More information is available online at nps.gov/ozar. NEW SECTION OF 67 SOUTH OPENING MONDAY
The Missouri Department of Transportation says they will be opening a portion of the new Route 67 on Monday.
MODOT Engineer David Wyman says the Department will opening Route 67, from County Road 323 to south of Route 160/158 at 10 am. The new section will include opening the new interchange at Harviell.
Wyman says traffic will be stopped for approximately 20 minutes while crews modify the traffic control to accommodate the switch.
Exisiting Route 67, north and south of Harviell, will not have an outlet to the new roadway during this time. All traffic headed north or south will need to utilize the new pavement. In addition, eastbound and westbound traffic will be restricted. MODOT OFFERING TWO BRIDGES FOR FREE
If you need a bridge, the Missouri Department of Transportation might be able to help you.
The Highway 51 Bridge over Little Whitewater Creek in Bollinger County and the Highway 61 Bridge over Hughes Creek in Cape Girardeau County are available for relocation and reuse by others, free of charge.
According to Modot, both bridges are scheduled to be replaced in 2015.
Anyone interested in obtaining a historic bridge must submit a detailed proposal describing the dismantling and relocation plan, cost and future use. A proposal checklist is available online. Proposals should be submitted no later than June 2nd.
Details about both bridges can be viewed online at www.modot.org/freebridges/. MISSOURI HOUSE PASSES 26.6 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET
The Missouri House has passed a $26.6 billion state budget that ties the amount of an increase in funding for public schools to increases in state revenue.
The chamber approved 13 bills Thursday comprising the state's operating budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The spending plan now moves to the Senate.
For public schools, the budget provides a $122 million increase from the $3 billion they now receive in basic aid. But if revenues meet more optimistic projections from Gov. Jay Nixon's administration, the increase would be $278 million.
House members used a similar two-tier approach for public colleges and universities. The budget does not include funding to expand the Medicaid health care program.
Lawmakers have until early May to approve a budget. BREASTFEEDING BILL GIVEN APPROVAL BY MISSOURI HOUSE
Nursing mothers could not be penalized for breast-feeding in public nor be required to serve on juries under legislation advancing in the Missouri House.
The House approved the measure 150 to 0 on Thursday, and it now moves to the state Senate.
Nursing mothers would be excused from jury duty with a written note. The bill also states breast-feeding in public or private would not count as sexual conduct or be considered public indecency or obscenity. Local governments could not enact ordinances that restrict breast-feeding. FINANCING FOR STATE BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS GIVEN PRELIMINARY APPROVAL BY MISSOURI SENATE
Missouri senators have endorsed a plan that could help finance hundreds of millions of dollars of improvements to state buildings.
Sponsoring Senator Mike Parson said the measure given initial approval Thursday would authorize $600 million of revenue bonds to be issued by the Board of Public Buildings.
He said about one-third of that would go to replace old buildings at a state mental health hospital in Fulton. Parson said another third would go toward a backlog of repairs at state buildings, and the final third toward repairs at public colleges and universities.
The bill had been stalled for several weeks in the Senate because some Republicans opposed raising the state's debt limit. But they relented Thursday. The bill won preliminary approval by a 26 to 7 vote.
