WEST PLAINS MAN KILLED IN SINGLE VEHICLE WRECK
A West Plains man has died following in a single vehicle wreck Thursday.
According to the Highway Patrol, a vehicle driven by 32 year old Christopher Evans travelled off the side of Route CC in Howell County and overturned. Evans was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
A child in the vehicle, 4 year old Caiden Evans, was seriously injured and taken by air to a Springfield hospital.
SHOOTING REPORTED IN CHARLESTON
Authorities in Charleston are investigating a reported shooting.
According to authorities, the incident occurred Thursday evening when a vehicle was shot at numerous times. A person in the vehicle received upper body injuries.
The victim was taken to an area hospital. Police do not have anybody in custody at this time in connection to the shooting.
SILVER ALERT ISSUED FOR MISSING NORTHEAST ARKANSAS MAN
A silver alert has been issued for a Northeast Arkansas man who has been missing since Tuesday.
According to the Arkansas State Police, 65 year old Luther Ray Olinger was last known to be at 190 Chester Street in Batesville, Arkansas.
He has brown eyes, short brown hair, and is 6’2’ and weighs 165 pounds.
Olinger was last seen wearing a blue work shirt and blue jeans. Anyone who has information on Olinger’s whereabouts should contact the Independence County Sheriff’s Department at 870-698-2450.
CAPE GIRARDEAU STUDENT CLAIMS FIRST PLACE AT REGIONAL SPELLING BEE
A Cape Girardeau student has earned a trip to Washington DC by winning the fifth Annual Regional Spelling Bee at Three Rivers College.
The competition was won by Jade Ray Samanta, a student at Trinity Lutheran, after he correctly spelled the word “ribosome.” Samanta will represent Southeast Missouri in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.
STEELE MAN ARRESTED IN BUTLER COUNTY
A Steele man was taken into custody Thursday afternoon on multiple charges.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 25 year old Mark A. Stigall is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Stigall was arrested at 1:15 pm Thursday in Butler County.
PARAGOULD MAN ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGE
A Paragould man is facing a drugs charge following his arrest Thursday.
According to KAIT, 41 year old Jamey Lee Hooper was taken into custody after Jonesboro Police reportedly found suspected meth in Hooper’s vehicle during a traffic stop.
Hooper is facing a charge of possession of methamphetamine or cocaine, less than 2 grams.
CELL PHONE TRACKING BILL PASSED BY MISSOURI HOUSE
Law enforcement could not track the location of an electronic or cellular device without a warrant under a bill passed by the Missouri House.
The legislation passed with a 134 to 13 vote on Thursday and now moves to the Senate. It would prohibit law enforcement from using technology to track an electronic device unless the device was reported stolen by the owner or there is a possible life-threatening situation.
The measure is sponsored by Republican Representative Robert Cornejo, of St. Peters. He says the bill is intended to protect privacy rights and give direction to courts on warrants involving electronic tracking. Opponents say the legislation could hinder law enforcement.
PERFORMANCE BASED FUNDING FOR COLLEGES APPROVED BY MISSOURI HOUSE
The Missouri House has passed legislation that would implement performance-based funding for public universities and community colleges.
Under the bill, the schools would work with the Department of Higher Education to develop goals, such as graduation and retention rates, that would then be used to determine part of their funding.
The performance-based goals would apply in years the state can afford to increase higher education funding. In those years, 90 percent of a school's funding increase would be determined using the goals. Ten percent would go toward resolving historic funding inequities among the Missouri's public colleges.
The House voted 143 to 3 on Wednesday to send the bill to the Senate. Senators have already passed their own version of the bill, but it doesn't include community colleges and would expire in 2016.
MEDICAID REVAMP ADVANCED BY SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE
After a month of hearings, a state Senate committee has advanced legislation that would revamp the way Medicaid is administered in Missouri.
The bill endorsed Thursday would shift more children and adults into managed care policies that more closely resemble private insurance.
It also would cover many seniors and disabled through a new kind of arrangement called a coordinated care organization. The groups could include regional partnerships among hospitals, doctors and pharmacists that coordinate care for Medicaid patients.
The 6 to 4 vote by Senate health committee means the legislation now can be debated by the full Senate.
The legislation does not include a provision sought by Governor Jay Nixon and other Democrats to expand Medicaid eligibility to hundreds of thousands of low-income adults.
