ONE DEAD IN JACKSON HOUSE FIRE
One person is dead following an early morning fire in Jackson yesterday.
According to authorities, the fire broke out at a home on Westvale Drive shortly after 3 o’clock yesterday morning. Officials say five people were in the home at the start of the fire. The victim was the only person unable to escape.
Jackson Fire Chief Jason Mouser says firefighters had a difficult time battling the blaze because of extreme cold and wind.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. DISPUTE BETWEEN BROTHERS LEADS TO FATAL SHOOTING IN BOLLINGER COUNTY
A disagreement between two brothers in Bollinger County has left one man dead.
Officers with the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Department say they were called to a rural location yesterday morning in reference to a domestic dispute.
Upon arrival, deputies found Jesse Liley with a shotgun shot wound. Jesse Liley was later declared dead by the Bollinger County coroner.
The victim’s brother, Lonnie Liley, was taken into custody at the scene. POPLAR BLUFF MAN ARRESTED ON METH CHARGE
A Poplar Bluff man is facing drug charges following his arrest last night.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 33 year old Andrew C. Hightower was taken into custody shortly before 11 pm last night in Butler County.
Hightower is facing a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine. Other charges include possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving while revoked. INVESTIGATION ONGOING INTO ATTEMPTED ARMED ROBBERY
Two people in Cape Girardeau were reportedly victims of an attempted armed robbery.
Cape Girardeau police are investigating the incident which occurred just before midnight Wednesday night. According to authorities, a man allegedly approached the victims with a gun on Olive Street and demanded money.
The man eventually fled from the area. OFFICERS IN SCOTT COUNTY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY DRUG TASK FORCE
An investigation has been started into some area law enforcement officers.
According to the Scott County Signal, Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter confirmed that the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, and several other agencies are investigating the officers.
Additional details about the investigation were not released. NEW STUDY SUGGESTS NEW MADRID FAULT ZONE COULD STILL SPAWN LARGE EARTHQUAKE
A new study published by the journal Science says that The New Madrid Fault Zone is active and could produce a large earthquake in the future.
In the winter of 1811 to 1812 there were four magnitude-7 or greater temblors centered around New Madrid. The study published on Thursday says that modern-day quakes are signs that the faults in the region are still accumulating stress—and sometimes releasing it as fresh rumblings.
USGS scientists have estimated the chance of having an earthquake similar to one of the 1811 to 1812 temblors in the next 50 years is about 7 to 10 percent, and the chance of having a magnitude-6 or larger earthquake in the next 50 years is 25 to 40 percent.
The full report is available online at sciencemag.org. JUDGE BLOCKS MISSOURI LAW REQUIRING STATE LICENSE TO SERVE AS HEALTH INSURANCE NAVIGATOR
A federal judge on Thursday granted a preliminary injunction against Missouri's law requiring of a state license to serve as a navigator to help consumers sign up for coverage through the new health insurance marketplace.
A new state law requires insurance counselors to receive at least 30 hours of training and pay a small fee in order to help online shoppers negotiate the federal insurance exchange. Missouri's Republican-led Legislature opted against setting up a state-run exchange.
The lawsuit filed in November said the requirements conflict with the federal Affordable Care Act. MISSOURI SENATE TAX CUT PLAN COMES UNDER FIRE FROM GOVERNOR NIXON
Governor Jay Nixon is criticizing an income tax cut plan endorsed by a Missouri Senate committee.
Nixon's office issued a news release Thursday calling the legislation a "fiscally irresponsible tax experiment."
The bill endorsed by the Senate Ways and Means Committee would gradually cut the top individual income tax rate from 6 percent to 5 percent. It also would gradually phase in a 50 percent tax deduction on business income reported on individual tax returns.
Republican Senator Will Kraus says his bill is a sensible and responsible way to cut taxes, because the incremental cuts only take effect if state revenues continue to rise by at least $100 million.
The Democratic governor says the legislation could jeopardize funding for schools. SENATE PANEL HEARS RESOLUTION ON BLOCKING THE SALE OF FUEL CONTAINING 15 PERCENT ETHANOL
Missouri lawmakers are considering whether to permanently block a proposal that could allow more ethanol to be blended into gasoline.
The Senate rules committee held a hearing Thursday on a resolution that would prevent stations from selling fuel containing 15 percent ethanol.
The state Agriculture Department proposed the rule last year allowing E15 gas to be sold. But a legislative panel delayed the proposal in October, citing a 2006 state law that requires a 10 percent ethanol blend. The department says it has legal authority to allow higher concentrations of ethanol.
The House and Senate would likely need to pass the resolution by early March to permanently halt the department's proposal. That would require Governor Jay Nixon's approval, but lawmakers have the ability to override a veto.
