RIVER RADIO NEWS 022014
ABDUCTED SIKESTON CHILDREN FOUND
Two children who were abducted Tuesday from a Sikeston home have been found.
Authorities with the Scott County Sheriff’s Department say 6 year old Paige C. Cullen and 4 year old Riley Cullen have been located and that they are safe. They say the two children were taken by their biological mother after custody was granted to their biological father.
The two children have been returned to their father
STEEL PLANT ACCIDENT LEAVES ONE DEAD
Authorities say a man was killed at a Newport, Arkansas steel plant when a ladle of liquid steel apparently spilled in the facility's melt shop.
Sheriff David Lucas told KAIT on Wednesday that an estimated 38 tons of the liquid steel may have spilled at Arkansas Steel Associates. The man's name and details of the accident were not immediately released.
A plant official did not immediately return a phone call to The Associated Press for further comment.
The company's website says it produces specialty products for the railroad industry.
MAN STABBED IN THE STOMACH IN JONESBORO
A 28 year old man was reportedly stabbed in the stomach yesterday in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
According to authorities, the incident occurred Wednesday afternoon and the victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Authorities are searching for a suspect in the stabbing.
MAN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO SHOOTING INCIDENT
One man has turned himself in to authorities in connection to a shooting in Jonesboro.
According to authorities, 20 year old Kwane’ Hudson, of Jonesboro, is facing charges of first degree battery and simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm.
The charges stem from an incident where 19 year old Casey Lewis was reportedly shot in the leg.
FORMER ARKANSAS OFFICER CHARGED, ACCUSED OF TAKING DRUGS FROM TAKE BACK BOX
A former member of the Arkansas State Police is facing a felony charge after being accused of taking prescription medications from a drug take back box.
Authorities say 38 year old Seth M. Higginbottom, of Cave City, has been charged with breaking and entering in connection to the incident. They say Higginbottom admitted to taking over 50 Oxycodone pills from the box at the Sharp County Sheriff’s office.
Higginbottom joined the Arkansas State Police in 2004. He resigned one day before the charges were filed.
CAPE GIRARDEAU MAN ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE DRUG CHARGES
A Cape Girardeau man has been taken into custody in Cape Girardeau County on multiple drug charges.
According to the Highway Patrol, 26 year old Christopher J. Hicksberry was arrested last night on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, xanex; and attempt to distribute a controlled substance, marijuana.
Hicksberry is also facing a charge of failure to drive in a single lane.
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE FOR TODAY
A Hazardous Weather Outlook issued by the National Weather Service says that there is the possibility for some strong storms today.
According to the Outlook, scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to develop today across an area which covers Southeast Missouri, Western Kentucky, Southern Illinois, and Southwest Indiana.
Storms that develop today could have the potential to become severe, however the severe potential will be greatest from 3 to 8 pm, generally over Western Kentucky.
Damaging winds are expected to be the main threat today, and a wind advisory will be in effect from 9 am to 8 pm. A few brief tornados, in addition to flooding, are also possible.
SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT TO BE HELD NEXT MONTH IN BUTLER COUNTY
The Missouri State Highway Patrol tells us that troopers are planning for a sobriety checkpoint to be held next month in Butler County.
According to Captain George Ridens, sometime during the month of March, Troop E officers will conduct a sobriety checkpoint and a driving while intoxicated saturation enforcement operation.
The checkpoint will be in Butler County, while the DWI saturation will be located in 7 counties including Butler, Stoddard, Dunklin, and Pemiscot.
INCOME TAX CUTS ENDORSED BY MISSOURI HOUSE
The Missouri House has endorsed a pair of tax cut plans that could reduce state revenues by hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
The bills given initial approval Wednesday in the Republican-led chamber could set up another showdown with Democratic Governor Jay Nixon, who vetoed an income tax cut bill last year.
One of the bills could eventually cut taxes by $700 million annually. It would gradually reduce Missouri's top individual income tax rate to 5.3 percent from 6 percent and phase in a 50 percent deduction for business income reported on individual tax returns.
The other bill includes a similar business income deduction paired with a 50 percent cut in Missouri's corporate income tax rate. It's projected by legislative researchers to cost up to $347 million annually.
GOVERNOR NIXON APPROVES BILL ON FILING PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has signed legislation that could give deployed military members and the disabled a chance to be listed first on a ballot if they run for office.
Missouri uses a random drawing to determine the ballot order for candidates who file in person on the first day of a filing period.
The legislation allows proxies to draw numbers for candidates who cannot be physically present because they are disabled or deployed on active military duty.
Nixon signed the bill Wednesday at the secretary of state's office, where candidates for state offices and Congress will line up next week to begin filing for the August primary election. The legislation takes effect immediately and is the first bill to become law this year.
