RIVER RADIO NEWS
MALDEN TEENAGER KILLED IN SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK
A single vehicle wreck Wednesday evening resulted in the death of a Southeast Missouri teenager.
According to the Highway Patrol, 16 year old Nicholas R. Holt, of Malden, was driving on Route WW near Campbell when his vehicle went off the side of the road and overturned.
Holt was not wearing a safety device and was ejected from the vehicle. He was later pronounced dead at an area hospital.
KENNETT MAN FOUND DEAD IN DUNKLIN COUNTY
A Kennett man reportedly died while swimming Wednesday afternoon in Dunklin County.
According to the Highway Patrol, 63 year old Darrell L. Batchelor was swimming in the St. Francis River when he began to struggle, went underwater and did not resurface.
He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
SIKESTON POLICE INVESTIGATE ROBBERY OF BUSINESS
The Sikeston Department of Public Safety says it is looking for a man who robbed a business in that city this week.
Authorities say they responded to a panic alarm at the Check Into Cash on South Main Street shortly before 4 pm Tuesday. When officers arrived they spoke with an employee who said a black male had entered the store and demanded cash.
It was believed that the offender was armed, so the employee gave the man an undetermined amount of cash. She was not injured during the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sikeston DPS at the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 573-471-1500.
DISTURBANCE CALL TURNS INTO DRUG ARREST IN SCOTT COUNTY
Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter reports a Benton woman is now in custody on drug charges in a case that started as a disturbance.
According to Walter, 28 year old Amber Thomure, of Benton, has been charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.
Walter says a deputy responded a call about a disturbance at a home on County Road 346. While speaking with Thomure, the deputy discovered what he believed to be drugs and paraphernalia. A field test revealed the substance to be methamphetamine.
PUXICO WOMAN ARRESTED ON HEROIN AND COCAINE CHARGES
A Puxico woman was taken into custody Wednesday morning on multiple drug related charges.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 30 year old Laura L. Tanner is facing felony charges of possession of a controlled substance for heroin and cocaine.
Tanner also reportedly had a warrant out of St. Francois County.
PEMISCOT COUNTY ROAD TO BE CLOSED TODAY FOR PIPE REPLACEMENT
Route A in Pemiscot County will be closed today so Missouri Department of Transportation crews can replace a pipe under the roadway.
The work zone will be located between Route EE and County Road 228.
Weather permitting, work will take place today from 6:30 am to 4:30 pm.
MANY SOUTHEAST MISSOURI PROJECTS INCLUDED ON PRIORITY LIST FOR TRANSPORTATION TAX
The Missouri Highways and Transportation commission has approved a list of hundreds of projects that could be implemented if voters approve a three-quarter of a cent sales tax increase in August.
According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the Southeast District would see 472 miles of roadway resurfacing, the addition of 200 miles of paved shoulders, improvements to 47 bridges, completion of the last four-lane sections of Routes 67 and 412 to the state line, and increased connectivity with the construction of new interchanges.
The full list of improvements is available online at modot.org/movingforward.
SCHOOL TRACKING LEGISLATION VETOED BY GOVERNOR NIXON
Governor Jay Nixon has vetoed legislation that would have prohibited Missouri's public schools from tracking students electronically.
The legislation rejected Wednesday sought to bar districts from using "radio frequency identification technology" to monitor or track the location of students.
Nixon said it would have eroded the ability of local school officials to decide what's best for their students.
Lawmakers who supported the measure said they weren't aware of any Missouri schools using the technology but that schools elsewhere already have done so.
Nixon said he doesn't want to preclude that option in Missouri. He said the tracking devices could be a public safety tool to locate students during emergency situations or natural disasters.
LEGISLATION APPROVED THAT WILL GIVE A WAY FOR PARENTS TO COMPARE CHILD CARE PROVIDERS
Parents could gain a way to compare the quality of child-care providers under legislation signed by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.
The bill signed Wednesday requires the state to develop a "system of quality indicators" so people can know whether child-care centers are meeting certain criteria.
The website will track whether child-care providers are licensed, meet health and safety standards, use curriculum and comply with staff training requirements.
The bill also requires the state to run a hotline for parent complaints about child-care providers.
The provisions take effect in October 2015.
Nixon said they are necessary for Missouri to continue to receive more than $100 million annually in federal funding to help offset child-care costs for lower-income individuals.
ONLINE MUGSHOT WEBSITES THE FOCUS OF NEW LAW
People humiliated by online mugshots of their past arrests will soon have greater legal options in Missouri.
Governor Jay Nixon has signed legislation making it a misdemeanor to publish police booking photos on websites and then seek money to take the photos down. The new crime will be punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
The legislation also says people who suffer "humiliation or embarrassment" by such websites can sue for actual and punitive damages.
The Missouri legislation also applies to any information about a person's name, address or charges that is published with the solicitation or acceptance of money to remove it.
