RIVER RADIO NEWS 042214
CAPITAL MURDER TRIAL DELAYED UNTIL SEPTEMBER
The murder trial of a Jonesboro woman in the shooting death of her husband is being delayed until September.
The capital murder trial of 34 year old Michelle Despain was rescheduled from the first week of May until September 8th - but a lengthy investigative report of more than 3,000 pages led her attorneys to ask for the delay.
Despain has pleaded not guilty to being part of a plot in the August 24th, 2011, shooting death of Marc Despain inside the couple's home.
Michelle Despain's father and another man have pleaded guilty to first degree murder in the case and were sentenced to prison. A third man pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension and was also sentenced to prison.
AUTHORITIES SEARCHING FOR NEBRASKA MAN IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Authorities in Southeast Missouri are searching for a Nebraska man who stole an Oregon County squad vehicle.
According to KFVS, 26 year old Jeffery Wegener allegedly took the vehicle Sunday night following an incident in Myrtle. The vehicle was reportedly driven into the Eleven Point River.
Wegener was last seen near the Ripley County line early Monday. Ripley County authorities are advising residents to alert police if they see Wegener and to also make sure your home and vehicles are locked.
STEELE TEENAGER ARRESTED ON FELONY CHARGE
A Steele teenager is facing a felony charge after her arrest on Sunday in Pemiscot County.
According to the Highway Patrol, 18 year old Adriana L. Nelson was taken into custody on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance.
GAS LEAK REPORTED IN POPLAR BLUFF
A minor gasoline leak was reported yesterday in Poplar Bluff.
According to the Poplar Bluff Police Department, the leak was located on the north end of town in the Oak Grove/James Boulevard area.
The leak was found to be only in the sewer drain water. Multiple agencies, including the Department of Natural Resources and the Poplar Bluff Fire Department, were called on to fix the problem.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY IS THIS WEEKEND
The 8th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is coming up this weekend.
The event will be held this Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm and multiple area law enforcement agencies will be participating.
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
MOBILE OFFICE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK IN RIPLEY COUNTY
Staff members of U.S. Senator Roy Blunt will be hosting a Mobile Office next week in Ripley County.
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.
The mobile office will be held on Tuesday, April 29th from 10 am to 11 am at the Ripley County Courthouse in Doniphan.
STATE SENATOR SEEKS ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OPINION ON NULLIFICATION BILL
A Republican state senator wants to know the opinion of Missouri's top law enforcement official on legislation that seeks to nullify some federal gun laws.
Senator Will Kraus, of Lee's Summit, sent a letter to Attorney General Chris Koster's office on Monday asking him to weigh in on the bill's constitutionality. The measure would declare "null and void" past, present and future laws deemed to be infringements on gun rights.
A spokesman for Koster confirmed the office received the request, but didn't comment further. The Democratic attorney general raised concerns about a similar bill last year that he said would have hurt cooperation among law enforcement agencies.
Both the House and Senate have passed the separate versions of the measure this year. Kraus voted in favor of the Senate bill.
CHANGES TO BRIGHT FLIGHT PROGRAM UNDER CONSIDERATION BY MISSOURI LAWMAKERS
Missouri lawmakers are debating an expansion of a college scholarship for top students that is designed to keep more of them in the state after graduation.
A proposal under consideration would add a forgivable loan component to the Bright Flight program. Each year a student works in Missouri after school would count toward one year of loan forgiveness. Leaving before the loan is repaid would require repaying the loan with interest.
Money for the new program was included in the House budget plan, but the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled this week to consider whether the funding should remain. Lawmakers have until May 9th to pass all budget bills.
Legislation to enact the loan program was passed by the House and debated in the Senate last week.
