DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS THIS WEEKEND
It is time for your clocks to spring forward once again.
Daylight Savings Time will begin at 2 am Sunday morning. Remember to set your clocks forward one hour before you go to bed Saturday night. This is also a good time to replace your smoke detector batteries.
Daylight savings time is set to run this year through November 1st.
LOOK OUT FOR BLACK ICE
Many roads in Southeast Missouri have been cleared, but authorities want motorists to be on the lookout for black ice.
What snow that was left froze overnight, so the Poplar Bluff Police Department is warning citizens about possible black ice on roadways, driveways and sidewalks.
Temperatures will also be bitterly cold this morning with wind chills possibly dropping below 0.
TOW TRUCK DRIVER HIT ON INTERSTATE 55
A pedestrian was hit by a vehicle Thursday afternoon in Pemiscot County.
According to the Highway Patrol, a tow truck driver was attempting to remove a vehicle from the median of Interstate 55 when a freightliner lost control on the snow covered interstate and struck the tow truck driver and the vehicle.
The identity or condition of the tow truck driver was not available.
THREE ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES IN WAYNE COUNTY
Three Sikeston teens are facing drug related charges in connection to their arrest Wednesday night.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 19 year old Justin Staggs, 18 year old Rashon Council, and a 17 year old male were each taken into custody in Wayne County on a marijuana related charge.
Staggs is also facing a charge of possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine while Council was also charged with possession of a controlled substance – hydrocodone and resisting arrest.
JOHN J PERSHING VA MEDICAL CENTER TO HOLD TOWN HALL MEETING IN SIKESTON
The John J. Pershing VA Medical Center will be holding a town hall meeting next week in Sikeston.
The meeting will begin at 5:30 pm on Tuesday at the VFW Post 3174. Attendees will be able to receive information about VA services and benefits. The event will also give medical center management an opportunity to gather feedback from patients, family members and the community.
The meeting is expected to last about an hour.
MISSOURI SENATE’S STUDENT TRANSFER BILL COULD COST $224 MILLION
(AP) - A Senate bill intended to fix issues with Missouri's student transfer law could cost more than $200 million to implement next fiscal year.
Legislative researchers this week estimated the legislation could cost $224 million between state and local government expenses.
The bill would give students in struggling schools more options to transfer to better-performing ones within their home district.
The most expensive provisions would require dyslexia screening and St. Louis County schools to hold students back if they score poorly in English and math.
Those costs threaten the bill's chances of passing at a time when Governor Jay Nixon already is restricting spending because of slow revenue growth.
The House has passed a similar bill without as many pricey provisions that's estimated to cost about $13.5 million next fiscal year.
MISSOURI SENATE OKS HIGHER WEIGHT LIMITS ON LIVESTOCK TRUCKS
(AP) - A measure to set higher weight limits on trucks carrying livestock on most Missouri roads has won Senate approval.
Senators on Thursday voted 33-0 in favor of the legislation, which expands current exemptions for milk trucks.
Livestock trucks could carry as much as 85,500 pounds, up from the current 80,000-pound limit.
The bill by Republican Sen. Mike Parson, of Bolivar, is similar to provisions in a larger bill aimed at spurring agricultural growth.
Parson's bill would apply to all Missouri highways except interstates. The legislation also would allow trucks to exceed weight limits by 10 percent for grain products during harvest seasons.
No senators spoke against the bill Thursday, but Democrats have raised concerns about putting more weight on roads without additional taxes to pay for potential damages.
MISSOURI HOUSE SENDS TAX AMNESTY MEASURE TO SENATE
(AP) - A measure that would waive penalties for those who agree to pay overdue Missouri taxes has gained approval in the House.
House members voted 141-7 Thursday to send the tax amnesty proposal to the Senate.
Delinquent taxpayers would need to pay their bills between July 1 and Sept. 30 to qualify.
Legislative researchers estimate the measure would bring in nearly $20 million in additional general revenues next fiscal year.
That additional revenue is included in the proposed 2016 budget approved by the House Budget Committee on Tuesday.
But similar tax amnesty proposals have stalled in previous years in the Senate.
Democratic Rep. Gail McCann Beatty criticized colleagues for including the tax amnesty revenues in the budget plan even though the bill's Senate prospects are uncertain.
