RIVER RADIO NEWS 031314
ELDERLY MAN MISSING OUT OF INDEPENDENCE COUNTY, ARKANSAS
Authorities in Independence County, Arkansas are searching for an elderly man who was last seen earlier this week.
According to authorities, 65 year old Luther Olinger has been missing since Tuesday. Olinger has brown eyes and hair, is 6’2’ and weighs 165 pounds.
Anyone who has information on the location of Olinger should call the Independence County Sheriff’s Department at 870-793-8838.
WOMAN FOUND DEAD FOLLOWING NORTHEAST ARKANSAS FIRE
A Jonesboro woman was found dead following a fire at a home earlier this week.
According to authorities, 54 year old Karen Judy Rogers died Tuesday night. An investigation has been started into the cause of the fire.
MAN FACES UP TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON ON HEALTHCARE FRAUD CHARGE
A Tennessee man pled guilty this week a fraud charge.
According to KZIM, 47 year old Gary Wayne Bender, formerly of Ellsinore, pled guilty on Tuesday to a charge of Healthcare Fruad.
Bender reportedly falsely claimed that he received home care.
Bender faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at his sentencing on June 9th.
MAN ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE FELONY CHARGES IN CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY
A Florissant man was arrested Tuesday night in Cape Girardeau County on multiple felony charges.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 20 year old Jamal D. Hughes was arrested on felony charges of possession with intent to distribute and tampering with physical evidence.
SENATOR BLUNT’S MOBILE OFFICE SCHEDULED FOR THIS MONTH IN KENNETT
Staff Members of United States Senator Roy Blunt will be in Kennett later this month to meet with constituents.
The Mobile Office is an opportunity for Missourians to discuss their questions or concerns with the federal government one-on-one with members of Senator Blunt’s staff.
The office has been scheduled for Monday, March 24th, at the Kennett Chamber of Commerce. The meeting will take place from 2 pm to 3 pm.
RESTRIPING TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Missouri Department of Transportation crews will begin restriping roads in Southeast Missouri next week.
MoDOT's Southeast District striping crews will focus on major four-lane routes within the 25 county region throughout spring 2014.
In June and July, crews will work to re-stripe state routes within cities and towns. Additional information will be released prior to night work on major routes.
While striping is under way, the striping trucks will move between 8 mph and 12 mph. Drivers should be prepared to slow down significantly when coming up behind a slow-moving striping caravan.
LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN IMPAIRED DRIVING CRACKDOWN FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Law enforcement officers across Missouri will be participating in a crackdown on impaired driving for St. Patrick’s Day this weekend.
If you plan on drinking, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety reminds you to designate a driver or call a cab.
During a similar campaign last year, 412 DWI arrests were made according to Colonel Ron Replogle, Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
PROPOSED MINIMUM WAGE HIKE ADVANCES IN MISSOURI
A state Senate committee has advanced legislation that could raise Missouri's minimum wage to $10 an hour.
Tuesday's vote by a Senate business committee means the proposed increase could be brought up later for debate by the full Senate. But there is no guarantee that will occur, because the measure has been opposed by many Republicans who control the Legislature.
The bill by Democratic Senator Jamilah Nasheed, of St. Louis, would raise Missouri's minimum wage to $10 an hour in 2015 and continue to adjust it annually for inflation.
The state's minimum wage currently stands at $7.50 an hour - 25 cents more than the federal minimum wage. Missouri's minimum wage already is adjusted annually for inflation, as a result of a 2006 law approved by voters.
MISSOURI HOUSE GIVES INITIAL APPROVAL TO BILL THAT WOULD REGULATE RED-LIGHT AND SPEEDING CAMERAS
Missouri drivers would not have points assessed against their license for tickets issued by automated traffic cameras under legislation endorsed by the state House.
The House gave initial approval to the bill Wednesday that would regulate red-light and speeding cameras.
Photo traffic enforcement systems for Missouri municipalities have been the subject of ongoing court cases and many cities have temporary halted enforcement. The measure would require cities to meet certain standards in order to operate speeding or red-light cameras.
Supporters say the measure would streamline traffic enforcement across different municipalities and give guidance to the courts. Opponents say it circumvents the point system and could keep dangerous drivers on the road.
The bill needs one more affirmative vote before moving to the Senate.
HOUSE PANEL ENDORSES PLAN THAT WOULD MAKE EDUCATION FUNDING PARTLY DEPENDENT ON THE ECONOMY
A Missouri House panel is moving ahead with a two-tiered budget that makes education funding partly dependent on the strength of the economy.
A plan endorsed Wednesday by the House Budget Committee would add $122 million to the state's $3 billion in basic school funding. If state revenues meet Governor Jay Nixon's more optimistic projections, the House budget would provide a $278 million increase for schools.
The House plan would provide a smaller increase than Nixon sought for public universities. It would also bar the universities from offering resident tuition rates to students living in the U.S. illegally.
Nixon also wanted to expand Medicaid eligibility to more lower-income adults. The Republican-led House committee rejected that. But its plan would restore adult dental coverage that was cut from Medicaid in 2005.
