RIVER RADIO NEWS 070214
KENNETT MAN FACING FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGE IN CONNECTION TO DEATH OF HIS WIFE
A Kennett man is now facing a first degree murder charge in connection to the death of his wife in May.
According to authorities, 51 year old Allan Branum originally faced a charge of second degree murder for the shooting death of Regena Branum. Branum is also charged with armed criminal action.
According to the Kennett Police Department, Branum allegedly shot his wife in the head with a revolver on May 22nd.
ONE IN CUSTODY IN CAPE GIRARDEAU SHOOTING
Cape Girardeau Police have a man in custody in connection to the shooting of Richard Jenkins last week.
According to the Cape Girardeau Police Department, 18 year old Deion Miguel Phillips has been charged with first degree assault and armed criminal action.
Phillips is accused of repeatedly shooting Jenkins during the incident June 27th at the 1100 block of Cousin Street. Jenkins current condition has not been released.
ESCAPED INMATE BACK IN CUSTODY
A man who escaped from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department early yesterday morning is back in custody.
Authorities say Donald Sanders walked out of the Sheriff’s Office shortly after 3 am Tuesday, after freeing himself from a restraint chair.
Sanders was returned to custody Tuesday morning when officers found him a few miles south of Greenville, where he wrecked a vehicle he had stolen.
BIG RIVER STEEL SAYS FINANCING HAS CLOSED ON NEW STEEL MILL
Big River Steel says it has closed on the financing needed to build its $1.3 billion steel mill in northeastern Arkansas.
The company announced Tuesday that it would hold a formal groundbreaking ceremony later this summer at the site in Mississippi County. The plant is expected to employ more than 500 people with an average annual salary of $75,000 once it's up and running.
Construction on the steel mill is expected to take about two years. The facility will produce steel for the automotive, oil and gas and electrical energy industries.
The project was announced early last year, and the Legislature has approved the issuance of $125 million in bonds for the mill.
COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES JULY 3 FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES LIST
Only a few days remain for Missourians to share their thoughts about the draft regional transportation priorities list that was released June 13th by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.
Local planning agencies and transportation partners worked with the commission to develop the list, which was required as part of the provisions of Constitutional Amendment 7. The comment period closes at 5 pm on July 3rd.
On August 5th, Missouri voters will decide on Amendment 7, a ballot measure to temporarily raise Missouri’s sales tax by ¾ of a cent. All proceeds from the 10-year tax would go toward transportation improvements across the state.
For more information, including the entire transportation priorities list and an online comment form, visit www.modot.org/movingforward or call 1-888-ASK-MODOT.
PARK HOSTS ALLEY SPRING INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host the annual free Alley Spring Independence Day Celebration on Saturday from 6 to 9 pm as part of its continuing 50th Anniversary recognition of events.
This event commemorates the traditional picnic celebrations that were held at Alley Spring around the turn of the twentieth century when this area was the social gathering place for local families.
Music will be provided by The Shortleaf Band, musicians from the Kansas City area with strong Ozark roots. The Western Grand Squares from the Mountain View area will perform traditional square dancing.
The freshly painted Alley Mill will be open for the public during the July 4th weekend from 9 am until 4:30 pm beginning Friday, July 4th through Sunday, July 6th. After the Fourth of July, the mill will be open every weekend through the rest of the month and daily from August 1st through August 17th.
Alley Spring is located five miles west of Eminence, Missouri, on State Route 106. For more information, call (573) 226-3945 or visit the park’s Facebook page or website at www.nps.gov/ozar.
OVER $7 MILLION IN LOW INTEREST LOANS AVAILABLE FOR ENERGY PROJECTS
The Missouri Department of Economic Development is accepting loan applications through October for energy efficient projects.
$7.5 million in low-interest loans has been made available to public schools, public/private colleges and universities, local governments, public water and wastewater treatment facilities, and public/private not-for-profit hospitals to complete energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects in Missouri.
Applications are being accepted for projects costing between $5,000 and $1.5 million. Loan applications will be evaluated on a competitive basis. If money remains after applications and have been reviewed and prioritized, consideration will be given to loans in excess of $1.5 million.
For more information about the Energy Loan Program, call toll-free 855-522-2796.
ROAD WORK SCHEDULED TODAY IN WAYNE COUNTY
Crews with the Missouri Department of Transportation will be in Wayne County today for pavement repairs on Highway 67.
During the repairs, Northbound Highway 67 will be reduced to one lane between County Roads 216 and 212 in Wayne County. Work is scheduled to be done today from 6:30 am to 5 pm.
NEW MISSOURI LAW TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED DURING MAMMOGRAMS
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has signed legislation that he says will improve breast cancer detection.
The bill Nixon signed Tuesday will require medical facilities that perform mammograms to provide patients with information about dense breast tissue.
The notices will state that dense breast tissue can hide abnormalities that might otherwise be detected by mammograms and that women with other risk factors for breast cancer could benefit from supplemental screening tests.
Mammography facilities will need to provide the notices starting next January.
ECONOMIC SURVEY SUGGESTS GROWTH FOR MIDWEST
A new monthly business survey suggests the economy in nine Midwestern and Plains states should continue growing steadily in the months ahead.
The region's overall economic index crept up to 60.6 in June from May's 60.5 to hit another three-year high.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss, who oversees the survey, says the report offers plenty of reasons to be optimistic because the job market is strong and businesses report solid new orders.
The survey results from supply managers are compiled into a collection of indexes ranging from zero to 100. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth, while a score below that suggests decline.
The survey covers nine states including Missouri and Arkansas.
